A James Bond Fan Reviews the Franchise

[Rush Limborg]

I agree, that Tiger Tanaka was AWESOME! Gotta love his easy cameraderie with Bond--including his teasing Bond on the latter's hairy chest, with 007 responding with his "Old Japenese Proverb"!

Also...you mentioned that things started to get silly. I think a big example was the "mini-copter" Little Nellie--flimsy-looking, and goofy--it looks like something out of a cartoon.

Fortunately, here, we have Tiger acknowledge how rediculous it is ("Bond--it's a toy!").

BTW...on the volcano. Recall that, in the book, SPECTRE's hideout was in a castle. As there are no "castles" to speak of in Japan...they had to look elsewhere.

I think it works...but that's just me.

But I agree, in that it was not as good at the ones before. Still...it's nice to see Blofeld at last--played by an excellent actor.

Also gotta love how Bond think's he's "seduced" Miss Brandt to the good side ("The things I do for England...")--but she gets him into more trouble. Bond's weakness is starting to catch up with him....

BTW...there's a girl you may have missed, Shran. What about the Chinese girl he romances in the pre-credits sequence?

 

[Warped9]

I'm enjoying these reviews. I find them quite insightful and spot on. And so far I agree overall with your ratings. Dr. No is quite good, From Russia With Love is awesome and then things slowly start to slip.

Some of your remarks I assessed in terms of realizing you hadn't read the original books, which I have---all of them.

I'm looking forward to more of your reviews.

 

[Skywalker]

IBTW...on the volcano. Recall that, in the book, SPECTRE's hideout was in a castle. As there are no "castles" to speak of in Japan...they had to look elsewhere.

That's not entirely correct.

I'm really enjoying these reviews. They make me want to dig up my Ultimate Edition DVD sets (which I got for a bargain a couple years ago). Looking forward to reading your thoughts on the rest of the franchise.

 

[Admiral Shran]

BTW...there's a girl you may have missed, Shran. What about the Chinese girl he romances in the pre-credits sequence?

That's Ling. They were just starting when the guys came in to fake his death. They later "finish" the deed when Ling comes back while Bond is getting a massage at Tanaka's house.

 

[Rush Limborg]

BTW...there's a girl you may have missed, Shran. What about the Chinese girl he romances in the pre-credits sequence?

That's Ling. They were just starting when the guys came in to fake his death. They later "finish" the deed when Ling comes back while Bond is getting a massage at Tanaka's house.

Hmm...so you're not counting the agent of Tanaka's who shared a mutual attraction to Bond--and died taking the poison meant for him?

Or...was that the same girl, too? I haven't seen the film in a while....

 

[Admiral Shran]

That was the same girl.

She was MI6's Chinese agent in Hong Kong who later aided Bond and Tanaka in Japan.

In the pre-credit sequence they were just starting to "get in the mood" when the gunmen came in. Then, later while Bond is getting a massage, she comes back and they finish what they started. It was her who got poisoned.

You're probably thinking of the female agent of Tanaka's who lured Bond into Tanaka's office. However, once Ling comes back into the picture, we never see that agent again.

What I find most odd is that Bond never slept with his Japanese "wife." They were about to do the deed when the submarine surfaced underneath them at the end of the movie and Moneypenny was able to stop them, much to her delight.

If you haven't seen the movie in a while, I can understand why it's confusing. There's Ling (who disappears only to come back later) the female Japanese agent (who does look a lot like Ling), all the massage girls, and Bond's "wife."



Also, glad to see you're following the reviews Warped9, as it was your "Favorite Bond Movie" thread that got me interested in doing these reviews in the first place.

 

[Admiral Shran]

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (***½)

This is undeniably the movie with the most character development thus far, and that's a great thing. We get a lot of insight into the characters and their relationships with each other. One dynamic I noticed was the relationship between Bond, M, and Moneypenny. Very well done.

Here in the second movie of the "Blofeld Trilogy," we get another actor as Bond and another for Blofeld. Telly Savalas does a passable job as Blofeld; he's no Donald Pleasence, but he stills delivers an enjoyable performance. As for Lazenby, well, therein lies the greatest problem with this movie. Lazenby channels far to much of the kinder, gentler side of Bond for my tastes. Now there is nothing wrong with Bond being gentle and compassionate. That's a valid part of his character. But, it shouldn't be the only part. Where's the cold, brutal Bond? There are flashes of him in Lazenby's performance, but they are far too infrequent.

Another problem is Bond's romance of Tracy. While I'm not opposed to the idea of Bond settling down and committing to one woman, this romance feels very rushed. It seems like right from the get-go Bond is head-over-heels in love with her. The movie does it's best to provide us with scenes of them falling for each other, but it's just not enough. I can completely accept Bond committing to this woman, as she's a troubled soul who could complete him in many ways, but a little more hesitation on his part would have been better.

Also, a minor problem I had with the plot - how did Blofeld not instantly recognize Bond? We had to go through the process of Bond accidentally giving his identity away. As soon as Blofeld laid eyes on "Sir Hilary," he should have known it was Bond.

Now, that all being said, this is still an enjoyable movie. There's great character development, excellent action (it's probably the best choreographed movie yet) and some good humor (Bond beats the hell out of some guy, eats some caviar and says "Hmm, Royal Beluga, north of the Caspian" = ). It also has a very methodical atmosphere, similiar to Dr. No, which I appreciate. And, while I do criticize Lazenby's take on Bond, the final scene is simply unforgettable.

Now, I guess this is the best time to talk about this. There are two views in Bond fandom - 1.) that each actor is playing the same ageless character, and 2.) that each actor represents a new character in the same universe. Probably the most famous adherent to the second view is the director of Die Another Day, who has stated that the name James Bond is just a code, like 007, that MI6 bestows on their top operative. Count me firmly as an adherent to the first view - it's the same character. This movie, in fact, goes out of it's way to make that obvious. The opening credits sequence shows clips from all the previous movies and there is a scene where Bond even goes through his office and remembers the previous movies with momentos from those events. Also, in a couple of Roger Moore's movies, his marriage to Tracy is directly referenced. It's even referred to in one of Dalton's movies. So, yeah, same character.

That's Amore: 16
Bond slept with Tracy, Ruby Bartlett, and another patient at Blofeld's clinic.

Body Count: 73 (+5)
That's a record low for a single movie.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ Ah but one of Bond's first lines in OHMSS is 'This never happened to the other guy!', which surely adds to the different-men-with-the-same-codename' theory. And if Lazenby Bond is a different man to Connery Bond, it explains why Blofeld doesn't recognise him.

(Of course, Savalas Blofeld is a different man to Pleasance Blofeld. Curses)

I actually also adhere to the 'one ageless man' concept but it's fun to argue the other side.

 

[Kirkman1987]

Sparked by your thread, I'm watching all the Bond films right now as well (out of order however, I'd get bored watching all the Connery or Moore films in a row.)

I love OHMSS. Lazenby wasn't perfect, but I'm very impressed with him considering his limited experience. I would have loved to see him in a few more films, and I think he would have grown into the part very well.

It struck me too on this viewing how rich the characters are this go round. The wedding scene at the end with M, Q, and Moneypenny were very touching. It's sad that this kind of thing wouldn't be seen again in a Bond film for a very long time.

At the same time, I can't complain. I love the campy Bond just as much. Big fan of little Nellie, Roger Moore, and even that idiotic Sherriff J.W. Pepper has his charms, although we will get to that soon.

 

[Rush Limborg]

I have to say...this film actually strikes me as one that would have been PERFECT for Pierce Brosnan's Bond. Brosnan, particularly in Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough, played him as quite conflicted in matters of actual Love. I really feel, had OHMSS been "put off" until Brosnan, we'd have gotten the "hesitation" with Tracy.

(BTW...there is also a possible brief reference to Tracy in The World...--when Elektra asks Bond if he's ever been in love...you can see Bond heistate in a brief moment of sad nostalgia....)

But anyhow--yes, Lazenby wasn't particularly impressive, for the most part. A lot of the gags and quips seemed pretty goofy and out-of-place. (The scene where he checks out a Playboy is pretty cringeworthy, to say nothing of his interactions with the "allergy patients" in the dinner scene.) At worst, he's an exaggerated Roger Moore (in the bad ways).

At his best, however, he is a good, complex Bond. His acting was excellent in the final scene with Tracy's death.

On Tracy...she is an excellent Bond Girl. The perfect actress for the role is picked--confident, strong-hearted, cool--in every sense, the woman for a man like Bond.

A shame she died so soon. It would have been nice to see her in the next film as Bond's wife/sidekick on the mission, Avengers style....

On that note...what if Sean Connery had been Bond in this one? Perhaps that would have happened, had it been him....

 

[Saga]

OHMSS is my second favorite Bond film. and yes, Blofeld should have recognized Bond right away, but they followed the novel so closely that they didn't take into account that Bond had met Blofeld previously in the film You Only Live Twice.

the Blofeld actors seem to get worse and worse. Plesance was spot on as Blofeld. never cared for Telly Savalas in the role, though i find him better than Charles Gray.

 

[Kirkman1987]

OHMSS is my second favorite Bond film. and yes, Blofeld should have recognized Bond right away, but they followed the novel so closely that they didn't take into account that Bond had met Blofeld previously in the film You Only Live Twice.

the Blofeld actors seem to get worse and worse. Plesance was spot on as Blofeld. never cared for Telly Savalas in the role, though i find him better than Charles Gray.

I think Charles Gray was excellent in the role, with exception to his infamous crossdressing scene.

 

[ClayinCA]

with exception to his infamous crossdressing scene.

Dear god, I'd forgotten all about that....

 

[Captaindemotion]

I love OHMSS. Lazenby wasn't perfect, but I'm very impressed with him considering his limited experience. I would have loved to see him in a few more films, and I think he would have grown into the part very well.

It struck me too on this viewing how rich the characters are this go round. The wedding scene at the end with M, Q, and Moneypenny were very touching. It's sad that this kind of thing wouldn't be seen again in a Bond film for a very long time.

I agree. I posted something along those lines a few weeks ago. my point was that Connery really hit his stride with Goldfinger, Moore with The Spy Who Loved Me, each one their third outing. How good might George have gotten with time?

The other thing to remember is that Lazenby was only 30 when OHMSS was made, born in 1929, as oppose to Moore's 1927. He could well have played the part convincingly until the mid-1980s - he would have been 45 if he'd appeared in View to A Kill, as oppose to Moore's 58. Dalton was 43 in TLD, Brosnan 42 in Goldeneye. We'd have been spared the embarrassing sight of an elderly Rog running about unconvincingly chasing skirt young enough to be his grandchildren.

I have to say...this film actually strikes me as one that would have been PERFECT for Pierce Brosnan's Bond. Brosnan, particularly in Tomorrow Never Dies and The World Is Not Enough, played him as quite conflicted in matters of actual Love. I really feel, had OHMSS been "put off" until Brosnan, we'd have gotten the "hesitation" with Tracy.

(BTW...there is also a possible brief reference to Tracy in The World...--when Elektra asks Bond if he's ever been in love...you can see Bond heistate in a brief moment of sad nostalgia....)

Hmmm, I agree that Brosnan did a great job in bringing together all the best bits of his predecessors - Connery's ruthlessness, Lazenby's vulnerability, Moore's humour, Dalton's humanity. But I'd really like to see Craig in OHMSS. The scenes in CR where he and Vesper were falling in love were very reminiscent of the Bond/Tracy sequences in OMHSS.

But anyhow--yes, Lazenby wasn't particularly impressive, for the most part. A lot of the gags and quips seemed pretty goofy and out-of-place. (The scene where he checks out a Playboy is pretty cringeworthy, to say nothing of his interactions with the "allergy patients" in the dinner scene.) At worst, he's an exaggerated Roger Moore (in the bad ways).

Totally disagree. Yes, some of the scenes are a bit odd and the humour has dated but I don't get any Moore vibe from him at all. I think even Connery would have struggled with the writing in those scenes.

At his best, however, he is a good, complex Bond. His acting was excellent in the final scene with Tracy's death.

On Tracy...she is an excellent Bond Girl. The perfect actress for the role is picked--confident, strong-hearted, cool--in every sense, the woman for a man like Bond.

A shame she died so soon. It would have been nice to see her in the next film as Bond's wife/sidekick on the mission, Avengers style....

On that note...what if Sean Connery had been Bond in this one? Perhaps that would have happened, had it been him....

I'd like to have seen Lazenby in DAF hunting down Blofeld and seeking revenge. Some fans speculate that the intensity of Connery's initial scenes in that movie are fuelled by revenge but that's offset by Bond's usual promiscuity and the campness of the movie. Not to mention that we have the 3rd Blofeld in as many movies and that Bond too has changed faces. But if it had been the same Bond and the same Blofeld - what a grudge match!

 

[Rush Limborg]

OHMSS is my second favorite Bond film. and yes, Blofeld should have recognized Bond right away, but they followed the novel so closely that they didn't take into account that Bond had met Blofeld previously in the film You Only Live Twice.

the Blofeld actors seem to get worse and worse. Plesance was spot on as Blofeld. never cared for Telly Savalas in the role, though i find him better than Charles Gray.

Yeah...Plesance always defines Blofeld for me--the scar, the immense confidence and calm when facing Bond. Now...I could accept Savalas, because the story allows for his having a different appearance (he changes it, and his voice, for cover)--but Gray was too different from the others. (He has HAIR! And a BRITISH accent!)

And of course...Gray already had a role in You Only Live Twice--the guy who messed up and gave Bond "Stirred, not shaken".

(What are we to make of this? Was he the REAL Blofeld, after all?)

 

[scotpens]

^You're not missing much on Never Say Never Again. It has some good moments...but by and large, it's just mind-numbingly dull.

agreed. its worth watching once, but in the end its just an inferior remake of Thunderball.

You beat me to it...
I also seem to recall that there were legal issues that surrounded it prior to it being made.http://www.mjnewton.demon.co.uk/bond/nsna.htm

Never Say Never Again came about because of a lawsuit by writer-producer Kevin McClory, who collaborated with Ian Fleming and two other writers on a number of Bond stories, outlines and treatments, one of which became Thunderball. Long story short, McClory was awarded a co-writing credit (and presumably a royalty percentage) on future printed editions of the novelization of Thunderball, as well as the right to remake the film a minimum of 10 years after the original's release.

NSNA was a mildly enjoyable romp, even with some campy self-referential lines ("I hope we're going to see some gratuitous sex and violence") and Michel Legrand's jarringly inappropriate music score.

. . . I will say, though, that the ONE thing Never did that was on par to the original version...was the girl playing Domino. In both cases...she was--.

(Frankly, though, the Thunderball Domino was better characterized....)

Both actresses who played Domino were certainly gorgeous, but Claudine Auger in the original film was boring and wimpy. And Kim Basinger couldn't act her way out of a paper bag.

The coolest thing about Thunderball was the Disco Volante, the luxury yacht that was revealed to be a super-fast hydrofoil after shedding its back half. That was a real boat -- a full-scale practical effect. Today something like that would probably employ CGI and look slick but fake.

 

[Starkers]

Agh! Playing catchup time!

Thunderball- Literally one of my least favourite Bond films. I find the whole second half quite tedious. Domino isn't very interesting, and neither is Largo. As has been said, the underweater stuff goes on way too long, and the climax on the boat...well it seems kind rushed. Been a long time since I saw NSNA, but I don't recall it being any worse.

YOLT- Has its flaws, and yeah it is ridiculous, but so what, we need a ridiculous Bond film every once in a while. Hollowed out volcano, Pleasence as THE definitive Blofeld, a great John Barry score...

OHMSS- Probably my favourite Bond film pound for pound. Personally I find the romance here works far better than in Casino Royale. You can see what Bond sees in Tracy, I'll never understand what he sees in Vesper. Also here you get the romance first, then the adventure, whereas in CR its reversed screwing with the pacing. Lazenby's Bond I find very interesting. Not quite as overtly masculine as Connery, he's perhaps more comfortable in Bond's skin, and has a vulnerability that Connery lacked, which is why that final scene works so well, and why Diamond's fails. I like Savalas, but he was terribly miscast here. All three Blofeld's are so utterly different (not only in looks, here Savalas is a scientist yet Charles Grey will remark "Science was never my strong suite") Interesting that when Moore's Bond dropped a familiar face down a chimney, it was patently Savalas' Blofeld.

As I think's been stated, Tracy was referenced twice with Moore (as well as sight of her grave in FYEO, XXX mentions her in The Spy Who Loved ME--and for anyone who doesn't think Rog can act just not the look on his face when she does mention her) and once in Licence to Kill with Dalton.

Oh yeah, one last point re OHMSS (aside from it clearly having the coolest Bond acronym ever) just how fantastic is Barry's instrumental score?

 

[Saga]

i have all the Bond music and OHMSS is my favorite. hands down. The Living Daylights is also great.

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

That was the same girl.

She was MI6's Chinese agent in Hong Kong who later aided Bond and Tanaka in Japan.

In the pre-credit sequence they were just starting to "get in the mood" when the gunmen came in. Then, later while Bond is getting a massage, she comes back and they finish what they started. It was her who got poisoned.

You're probably thinking of the female agent of Tanaka's who lured Bond into Tanaka's office. However, once Ling comes back into the picture, we never see that agent again.

What I find most odd is that Bond never slept with his Japanese "wife." They were about to do the deed when the submarine surfaced underneath them at the end of the movie and Moneypenny was able to stop them, much to her delight.

If you haven't seen the movie in a while, I can understand why it's confusing. There's Ling (who disappears only to come back later) the female Japanese agent (who does look a lot like Ling), all the massage girls, and Bond's "wife."

I'm sorry, that is completely and absolutely wrong. Ling, played by Tsai Chin, is the girl in Hong Kong. She's only in the pre-titles sequence. Tanaka's agent in Tokyo is Aki, played by Akiko Wakabayashi. She meets Bond at the sumo match, she rescues him from the gunmen outside Osato's office, she goes to Kobe Docks with him, she is the main Bond girl for the first two thirds of the movie. It's she who gets poisoned in bed with Bond. Miss Wakabayashi gets credited second after Connery, whereas Miss Chin is some way down the cast list. The track on the soundtrack album for her death scene is even called "The Death of Aki". And they don't look anything like each other. One's Chinese, the other's Japanese, for a start.

 

[Admiral Shran]

Both actresses who played Domino were certainly gorgeous, but Claudine Auger in the original film was boring and wimpy. And Kim Basinger couldn't act her way out of a paper bag.

The coolest thing about Thunderball was the Disco Volante, the luxury yacht that was revealed to be a super-fast hydrofoil after shedding its back half. That was a real boat -- a full-scale practical effect. Today something like that would probably employ CGI and look slick but fake.

Having not seen NSNA, I can't comment on Kim Basinger. However, as for Claudine Auger, I have to disagree. She didn't seem boring or wimpy to me. In fact, she was the one who killed Largo.

As for the Disco Volante, I'll agree there. Practical effects almost always win the day over CGI.