Thunderball

Starring:Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi, Rik Van Nutter, Guy Doleman, Molly Peters, Martine Beswick, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell, Roland Culver, Earl Cameron, Paul Stassino, Rose Alba, Philip Locke, George Pravda, Michael Brennan, Leonard Sachs, Edward Underdown
Director: Terence Young
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

James Bond's fourth adventure takes him to the Bahamas, where a NATO warplane with a nuclear payload has disappeared into the sea. Bond (Sean Connery) travels from a tiny health spa (where he tangles with a mechanized masseuse run amuck) to the casinos of Nassau and soon picks up the trail of SPECTRE's number-two man, Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), and his beautiful mistress, Domino (Claudine Auger), whom Bond soon seduces to his side. Equipped with more gadgets than ever, courtesy of the resourceful "Q" (Desmond Llewelyn), agent 007 escapes an ambush with a personal-size jet pack and takes to the water as he searches for the undersea plane, battles Largo's pet sharks, and finally leads the battle against Largo's scuba-equipped henchmen in a spectacular underwater climax. This thrilling Bond entry became Connery's most successful outing in the series and was remade in 1983 as Never Say Never Again, with Connery returning to the role after a 12-year hiatus. Tom Jones belts out the bold theme song to another classic Maurice Binder title sequence. --Sean Axmaker

Description

The thrills never let up as James Bond dives into this riveting adventure filled with explosive confrontations and amazing underwater action sequences! Sean Connery brings his characteristic style, humor and magnetism to Agent 007 as he travels to Nassau

Customer Reviews:

Get the Ultimate Edition.......2007-06-27

This DVD was like that old stereotype of Chinese meals: half an hour later you're hungry again.

In this case, the restoration is wonderful and the watchability of the film itself is great. However, when it's done, you have a great curiosity about all sorts of production elements, alluded to in the two separate commentary tracks furnished with this edition.

So, get the "ultimate edition" to learn more about this film.

As to the movie itself, it brings the commericial and cultural success of "Goldfinger" into the next level. Other reviewers here have alluded to "self-parody" and really intolerable sexism.

What can one say? They're absolutely right. It is awful for its sexism, sexual aggression and cliche, especially in hindsight.

If we know those traits for what they are, and reject them in the "here and now," are we intelligent enough to cull the better aspects of this film?

In any event, if you want more information about it, get the two-disk issue.

If you want less, don't buy it.

The greatest Bond?.......2007-06-12

While many rank GOLDFINGER as the best Bond ever, THUNDERBALL has always been my favorite. To me it had all the Bond ingredients (gadgets, lots of sharks, the Aston Martin, scuba diving, gorgeous babes & plenty of action) as well as a cohesive plot. Spectre remains one of the most formidable villains in Bond history, even after all these years.

The underwater brawl between the Spectre divers and the Navy(?) divers remains a classic climactic scene in all of the Bond movies. I'm just guessing that they were Navy (SEALS?) as usually Army guys are not trained in scuba operations.

Connery's final Bond movie, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, was more-or-less a remake of THUNDERBALL. There were a few variations here & there, but the basic plotline & many of the elements remained the same. This goes to show just how enduring THUNDERBALL was to the Connery Bond movies.

Saddled with age and parody.......2007-04-25

Bad guys steal a couple of nukes from the French. Bond has to find them. So much for the plot.

The most striking thing about this film is how badly it has aged. For one thing, parody has taken its toll. When Mike Myers's mined the 007 films for his "Austen Powers" series, Thunderball made for a most generous lode. From evil genius Emilio Largo's pet cat (turned hairless for Powers) to the shark-filled swimming pool (just add lasers) to the death-dealing chairs (substitute flames for electricity and voila!) the movie is already a parody of itself. Add to this Bond's brutal sexism -- the scene in which he forces an uninterested female doctor to kiss him is truly retch-inducing - and you have a real embarrassment. I recently watched this on a school trip with a bunch of teens and felt, in spite of the PG rating, that this film was a much more problematic movie than the R-rated "Blood Diamonds."

Whateverr. Enjoy the film for its anachronistic war of the sexes and for the quite silly (to modern eyes) evil twists. Also, watch for bizarre plot holes. In one scene, Bond is dallying with one of his lady loves. A bad guy sneaks up off camera. Bond quickly pulls out a spear gun and skewers the poor man to a tree. Then he and the lady just walk off, leaving the corpse to...whom exactly? And the poor drowned devils who died when their plane sank in the Caribbean? In spite of the prevalent sharks, they are quite well-preserved when Bond finds them a week later. Cheers!

Thunderball.......2007-03-19

Movie was delivered in a timely manner. Quality of DVD is excellent.
An excellent upgrade for an older Bond film. Recommend purchase.

The Thunderball Phenomenon: Skip the Special Edition for the 2-Disc Ultimate Edition.......2007-03-17

In the wake of the enormous success of GOLDFINGER, THUNDERBALL became one of the most anticipated films in cinema history. "Bondmania" was at a fever pitch in the 1960s and that lended a certain air of confidence to the cast and crew. By Bond's fourth adventure, everyone was assured of success and everything was done on the largest scale possible. THUNDERBALL is often regarded, along with GOLDFINGER, as one of the better Bond films. It contains all of the elements of a good Bond flick at a time when Bond was not tired or clichéd. Bond's fourth adventure finds him taking to the sea, culminating in some of the most spectacular underwater fight footage ever recorded. And with Terence Young once again taking the director's chair after his temporary hiatus, the audience and the film is in good hands.

After the opening "gun barrel" sequence, re-shot for the first time in widescreen format with Sean Connery playing the part, we are greeted with the opening pre-credits "teaser." Audiences loved GOLDFINGER's teaser and the producers knew that they would have to arise to the occasion. We find Bond in France discreetly attending the funeral of Colonel Jacques Bouvar, SPECTRE's Number Six, who we learn is personally responsible for the death of two of Bond's colleagues. Thanks to Bond's sharp eyes, he determines that the Colonel has faked his own death and Bond makes it a priority to finish the job personally. After a brutal fight sequence, Bond strangles Bouvar and escapes using a jet pack. The Bell Rocket Belt used was a functioning jet pack, capable of a flight time of twenty one seconds. The scene is spectacular, all the more so because of the real jet pack. Bond makes his way to his waiting Aston Martin DB5 (first seen in GOLDFINGER) and prevents his enemies from reaching him with the use of rear-firing water canons--a new feature of the DB5. The water rushes over the screen and seamlessly morphs into the opening credits. Maurice Binder serves up a great title sequence featuring the naked silhouettes of female swimmers being chased by armed scuba divers. The colors are rich and vibrant and maintain the visual themes of the previous title sequences. Tom Jones belts out the title track, containing some awkward lyrics about our protagonist. I suppose it's hard to work Thunderball into song lyrics, leaving us only with "He strikes...like Thunderball."

The plot of the film is, once again, larger than life and would end up being a frequently copied and parodied theme. SPECTRE, this time represented by one-eyed Number Two, Monsieur Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), has managed to penetrate NATO forces and hijack two nuclear missiles. SPECTRE threatens to destroy two cities if NATO does not agree to cough up 280 million. It is described as SPECTRE's most ambitious project to date. Blofeld makes his second appearance, though once again we cannot see his face, in a secret French lair. The set is wonderful, containing a long table with all of SPECTRE's top officials present. Here we meet Numbers Seven, Ten, Five (obviously, they have replaced the previous Number Five of FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE), Nine, and Eleven. We also get a sense of the range of SPECTRE's activities (blackmail, assassination, crime consultation, and narcotics) and also the brutal efficiency of Number One, who kills Number Nine on suspicion of embezzlement. It is a sign to all those present of what the consequences of failure are. Number Two must not fail in his NATO plans!

The first part of the film is filled with wonderful espionage as we learn how SPECTRE has penetrated NATO security. The actual hijacking of the missiles is spectacular. After SPECTRE has transmitted its demands to Britain, MI6 is called into action to find those missiles at all costs. All of the 00 agents are called in on this one and sent to different parts of the world to try and discover the hiding place before it is too late. Bond asks to be reassigned to Nassau because he believes he has a lead on the case, stemming from his experiences early on in the film. Of course, his instincts are correct and soon Bond finds himself playing a game of cat and mouse with Emilio Largo, who is all to aware of who Bond is and what he intends to do. What follows is a terrific storyline in which Bond inches his way closer to Largo's operation to discover the villain's secrets, with all of the destruction, love-making, and mayhem that entails.

Many have complained that THUNDERBALL is too long (at 130 minutes) and that the last half hour of the film is incredibly slow. Shot entirely underwater, the last bit of the film can seem long due to the slow movement of underwater action. But I do not think its pace suffers at all. I can remember seeing the film on television and thinking that it was a bit dull. But with the enhanced sound of the score pushing the beautifully restored images of the Ultimate Edition, I believe these sequences shine. They truly look spectacular and it is certainly the most ambitious underwater fight sequence I've ever seen. A seemingly endless supply of divers swim from all angles, launching an equally endless supply of harpoons at each other. The underwater images are surprisingly clear and we can honestly say that we haven't seen anything quite like it before (or since). Bond breaks new ground here and I think the action is as suspenseful as ever. In fact, the lack of sound underwater (besides the score) can actually increase the tension of the moment, in a manner reminiscent of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, produced three years later).

Connery, once again, is impeccable as Bond. Reunited with director Terence Young, whom many say is the real inspiration for Bond's class and sophistication, Connery plays the role with a renewed sense of vigor and style. I particularly enjoyed the increasing chemistry between Q (Desmond Llewelyn) and Connery. If they were slightly antagonistic in GOLDFINGER, they are thoroughly annoyed with each other here. Q is back with a host of new gadgets suited to the underwater nature of the film: a homing device pill that Bond can swallow, a watch that doubles as a Geiger counter, a waterproof camera that doubles as a Geiger counter, a mini signal flare, and a small rebreather (capable of giving Bond an extra few minutes of air underwater in a pinch). Bond is fitted with these devices in the field and, naturally, they all get put to use before the film is out.

The Bond girls in THUNDERBALL are some of the most beautiful Bond girls of all. Former Miss France, Claudine Auger, plays the main role of Domino Derval, an absolutely stunning beauty who proves to be both elegant and athletic. Her beauty and grace remind me of Audrey Hepburn. She is everything a Bond girl can hope to be. Opposite her is the film's female protagonist, femme fatale Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi), a deadly girl who seduces Bond (or is it Bond who seduces her?). Unfortunately, their play is not long lived, for the girl capable of stopping traffic with her beauty is also capable of stopping bullets--particularly when Bond throws her deliberately into their path! Also of Bond girl note is Bond's assistant, Paula Caplan, played by Martine Beswick. Bond fans will remember her as first appearing in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE as Zora the gypsy dancer.

Our villain Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), for my tastes, is a bit bland. Perhaps it is because he seems merely SPECTRE's pawn, but Largo seems to lack the necessary evil of his predecessors. Of course, he is evil. But he is out for blackmail money and doesn't seem personally invested in the affair other than to generate profit for SPECTRE. Besides his personal shark pool and his excellent taste for women, there really isn't much going for him. Indeed, Bond's immediate threats in this film seem to revolve around the dangers of being underwater--hand grenades used as depth charges, killer sharks, and an army of henchmen armed with powerful harpoons--rather than from menacing villains and uniquely skilled henchmen. Whatever the case, THUNDERBALL still manages to be a roaring success and the action is still quite good. It won't be the last time that the evil villains are left a little underdeveloped.

All in all, I believe THUNDERBALL is one of the best of the Bond series. Connery is fantastic in his role, Terence Young's directing is superb, the women are some of the most beautiful we have seen yet, and the action breaks new ground in special effects. Make sure that you get the 2-disc Ultimate Edition set. The Ultimate Edition, like all of these releases, is absolutely wonderful. The DTS sound is amazing and really bring the action and John Barry's terrific score to life. The picture is amazing and blows the old television and DVD releases out of the water (I had to say it). Plus, it is packed with extras, including a "Making of" documentary, a documentary about the "Thunderball Phenomenon" created by the film, and a 45 minute television production released at the time exploring "The World of James Bond." I highly recommend it to any Bond fan or anyone interested in classic action pictures. THUNDERBALL holds up well to the test of time.

James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 2 (A View to a Kill / Thunderball / Die Another Day / The Spy Who Loved Me / Licence to Kill)

Average customer rating:

Picked up whole collection in one pack - great deal
Second of the Dazzling Remastered Bonds is Fabulous Fun!
Happy Valentines Day
JAMES BOND VOL II
Great restoration

James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 2 (A View to a Kill / Thunderball / Die Another Day / The Spy Who Loved Me / Licence to Kill)
Starring: Roger Moore , Christopher Walken , Tanya Roberts , Grace Jones , and Patrick Macnee
Director: John Glen (II) , Terence Young , and Lee Tamahori
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( J ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Ultimate Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 1 (The Man with the Golden Gun / Goldfinger / The World Is Not Enough / Diamonds Are Forever / The Living Daylights)
James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 4 (Dr. No / You Only Live Twice / Octopussy / Tomorrow Never Dies / Moonraker)
James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 3 (GoldenEye / Live and Let Die / For Your Eyes Only / From Russia With Love / On Her Majesty's Secret Service)
Casino Royale (2-Disc Widescreen Edition)
Never Say Never Again

ASIN: B00000BCPF
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Description

Disc 1: *Thunderball (1965) THE COMPLETE SPECIAL FEATURES LIBRARY: MISSION DOSSIER Audio Commentary Featuring Terence Young and Others

Disc 2: **Thunderball Bonus Disc DECLASSIFIED: MI6 VAULT The Incredible World of James Bond - Original 1965 NBC Television Special A Child's Guide to Blowing Up a Motor Car - 1965 Ford Promotional Film On Location With Ken Adam Bill Suitor: The Rocket Man Movies Thunderball Boat Show Reel Selling Bonds - Original 1965 Television Advertisements 007 MISSION CONTROL Interactive Guide Into the World of Thunderball Audio Commentary Featuring Peter Hunt, John Hopkins and Others The Making of Thunderball The Thunderball Phenomenon The Secret History of Thunderball MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA Original Trailers, TV Spots, Photo Gallery & Radio Communications

Disc 3: *Die Another Day (2002) THE COMPLETE SPECIAL FEATURES LIBRARY: MISSION DOSSIER Audio Commentary Featuring Director Lee Tamahori and Producer Michael G. Wilson & Pierce Brosnan

Disc 4: **Die Another Day Bonus Disc DECLASSIFIED: MI6 VAULT From Script to Screen Shaken and Stirred on Ice Just Another Day The British Touch: Bond Arrives in London On Location With Peter Lamont 007 MISSION CONTROL Interactive Guide Into the World of Die Another Day Audio Commentary Featuring Pierce Brosnan and Rosamund Pike MI6 DataStream Additional DVD-ROM Features Available! Madonna 'Die Another Day' Music Video MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA Photo gallery

Disc 5: *The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) **The Spy Who Loved Me Bonus Disc Newly Recorded Audio Commentary Featuring Sir Roger Moore THE COMPLETE SPECIAL FEATURES LIBRARY: MISSION DOSSIER Audio Commentary Featuring Director Lewis Gilbert, Production Designer Ken Adam, Co-Writer Christopher Wood and Michael G Wilson

Disc 6: DECLASSIFIED: MI6 VAULT 007 in Egypt Roger Moore: My Word Is My Bond On Location With Ken Adam 007 Stage Dedication Original 1977 Featurette Escape From Atlantis: Storyboard Sequence 007 MISSION CONTROL Interactive Guide Into the World of The Spy Who Loved Me Inside The Spy Who Loved Me Ken Adam: Designing Bond MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA Original Trailers, TV Spots, Photo Gallery & Radio Communications

Disc 7: *A View To A Kill (1985) **A View To A Kill Bonus Disc Newly Recorded Audio Commentary Featuring Sir Roger Moore THE COMPLETE SPECIAL FEATURES LIBRARY: MISSION DOSSIER Audio Commentary Featuring Director John Glen and Members of the Cast and Crew

Disc 8: DECLASSIFIED: MI6 VAULT Film '85 BBC Report Float Like A Butterfly Test Footage Deleted Scenes & Expanded Angles with Introductions by Director John Glen 007 MISSION CONTROL Interactive Guide Into the World of A View to a Kill Inside A View to a Kill The Music of James Bond Duran Duran 'A View to a Kill' Music Video MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA Original Trailers, TV Spots & Photo Gallery

Disc 9: *License To Kill (1989) THE COMPLETE SPECIAL FEATURES LIBRARY: MISSION DOSSIER Audio Commentary Featuring Director John Glen and Members of the Cast Audio Commentary Featuring Michael G Wilson and Members of the Crew

Disc 10: **License To Kill Bonus Disc DECLASSIFIED: MI6 VAULT Deleted Scenes With Director John Glen Introductions Bond '89 On the Set With John Glen On Location With Peter Lamont Ground Check With Corkey Fornof 007 MISSION CONTROL Interactive Guide Into the World of Licence to Kill Inside Licence to Kill Production Featurette "Behind the Scenes" Kenworth Trucks Featurette Gladys Knight 'Licence to Kill' Music Video Patti LaBelle 'If You Asked Me To' Music Video MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA Original Trailers & Photo Gallery

Customer Reviews:

Picked up whole collection in one pack - great deal.......2007-06-14

Great deal for the hard code Bond fan

Second of the Dazzling Remastered Bonds is Fabulous Fun!.......2007-06-14

"James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 2", the second volume of the frame-by-frame restorations of the 007 Library, offers an eclectic collection of titles (with 3 actors' final appearances as Bond), and a quality of picture and sound that WILL take your breath away!

"A View to a Kill" (1985), Roger Moore's swansong as 007, is, sadly, the worst of his seven Bonds. Looking far too old for the role, he battles youthful villain Christopher Walken, beds Amazonian henchwoman Grace Jones (which should have, by itself, killed him!), and winds up with staggeringly inept Tanya Roberts...While it's a joy to see Moore work with lifelong friend Patrick Macnee, the Silicon Valley plot is dumb, the action sequences, silly, and you'll wish Roger had retired after "For Your Eyes Only". (1 1/2 stars out of 5)

"Thunderball" (1965), the BIG Bond hit from the peak of the 007 craze, has so MUCH spectacle that it nearly sinks the story! SPECTRE crashes a NATO bomber, using the nuclear weapons to blackmail the world, and it's up to 007 Sean Connery to save the day! Sexy women (Claudine Auger and Luciana Paluzzi), a sneering villain (Adolfo Celi), and glorious Bahamas locations are highlights; the climactic underwater battle does, however, become boring, and the film seems overlong...but Connery is magnificent! (4 1/2 stars out of 5)

"Die Another Day" (2002), Pierce Brosnan's final 007, begins spectacularly (with Bond captured and tortured by the North Koreans), then collapses into silliness (an invisible Aston-Martin???). Much was made of Halle Berry as 007's CIA counterpart, Jinx, but she looks far better than she acts. The weapon is simply a rehash of the "Diamonds Are Forever" laser satellite, and even a terrific, near-superhuman henchman (Rick Yune), can't save this mundane tale. Brosnan deserved a better send-off! (2 stars out of 5)

"The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977), Roger Moore's third 007 outing, is a bona fide Bond classic, reworking the character and plot line into more of a 'Connery' mode. Working with sexy Soviet counterpart Barbara Bach against a fish-like megalomaniac (Curt Jurgens), the film is best-remembered for 7'2" Jaws (Richard Kiel), the best villainous henchman of the entire series. Whether in Egypt, on a train, or in the ocean, Jaws gives 007 Moore all he can handle! (5 stars out of 5)

"Licence to Kill" (1989), Timothy Dalton's second (and last) appearance as 007, is considered a 'lesser' Bond, which is unfair. If you enjoyed Daniel Craig's portrayal as Bond, give this a try, as Dalton goes 'renegade' to take out the drug dealer (Robert Davi) who mutilated best friend Felix Leiter (David Hedison), and murdered Leiter's wife. Hard-edged and gritty, with little of the 007 campiness, featuring future stars Benicio Del Toro and Carey Lowell, this is a Bond far closer to Ian Fleming's vision. Though a box-office failure, it is truly a gem! (4 stars out of 5)

Another 'must' collection for every Bond fan!

Happy Valentines Day.......2007-05-12

License to Kill came with scratches on it, but I didnt open it for too long after I received it, so I am not worried. I havent tried watching it but I cant imagine it wont work. My boyfriend loves these sets. I just bought volume 3 and plan to get the 4th next month.

JAMES BOND VOL II.......2007-03-13

IT WAS EXACTLY AS I EXPECTED. VERY HAPPY WITH MY PURCHASE.
I WILL CONTINUE TO SHOP ON AMAZON

Great restoration.......2007-02-24

Bond fans who loved the originals will marvel at technological film transformations! Better than the originals!

Average customer rating:

The Thunderball Phenomenon: A Bond Classic that Goes Underwater to Break New Ground
Another Great Classic of the Bond Series
bond 'innovateur', bond 'explosive'
The Incredible World of James Bond

Thunderball - 2-Disc Ultimate Edition

Manufacturer: MGM/UA
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Ultimate Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Goldfinger - Ultimate Edition
You Only Live Twice - 2-Disc Ultimate Edition
From Russia With Love - 2-Disc Ultimate Edition
Dr. No - Ultimate Edition
Diamonds Are Forever - 2-Disc Ultimate Edition

ASIN: B000LY5HO4

Product Description

Two Disc Collector's Edition

Customer Reviews:

The Thunderball Phenomenon: A Bond Classic that Goes Underwater to Break New Ground.......2007-03-17

In the wake of the enormous success of GOLDFINGER, THUNDERBALL became one of the most anticipated films in cinema history. "Bondmania" was at a fever pitch in the 1960s and that lended a certain air of confidence to the cast and crew. By Bond's fourth adventure, everyone was assured of success and everything was done on the largest scale possible. THUNDERBALL is often regarded, along with GOLDFINGER, as one of the better Bond films. It contains all of the elements of a good Bond flick at a time when Bond was not tired or clichéd. Bond's fourth adventure finds him taking to the sea, culminating in some of the most spectacular underwater fight footage ever recorded. And with Terence Young once again taking the director's chair after his temporary hiatus, the audience and the film is in good hands.

After the opening "gun barrel" sequence, re-shot for the first time in widescreen format with Sean Connery playing the part, we are greeted with the opening pre-credits "teaser." Audiences loved GOLDFINGER's teaser and the producers knew that they would have to arise to the occasion. We find Bond in France discreetly attending the funeral of Colonel Jacques Bouvar, SPECTRE's Number Six, who we learn is personally responsible for the death of two of Bond's colleagues. Thanks to Bond's sharp eyes, he determines that the Colonel has faked his own death and Bond makes it a priority to finish the job personally. After a brutal fight sequence, Bond strangles Bouvar and escapes using a jet pack. The Bell Rocket Belt used was a functioning jet pack, capable of a flight time of twenty one seconds. The scene is spectacular, all the more so because of the real jet pack. Bond makes his way to his waiting Aston Martin DB5 (first seen in GOLDFINGER) and prevents his enemies from reaching him with the use of rear-firing water canons--a new feature of the DB5. The water rushes over the screen and seamlessly morphs into the opening credits. Maurice Binder serves up a great title sequence featuring the naked silhouettes of female swimmers being chased by armed scuba divers. The colors are rich and vibrant and maintain the visual themes of the previous title sequences. Tom Jones belts out the title track, containing some awkward lyrics about our protagonist. I suppose it's hard to work Thunderball into song lyrics, leaving us only with "He strikes...like Thunderball."

The plot of the film is, once again, larger than life and would end up being a frequently copied and parodied theme. SPECTRE, this time represented by one-eyed Number Two, Monsieur Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), has managed to penetrate NATO forces and hijack two nuclear missiles. SPECTRE threatens to destroy two cities if NATO does not agree to cough up 280 million. It is described as SPECTRE's most ambitious project to date. Blofeld makes his second appearance, though once again we cannot see his face, in a secret French lair. The set is wonderful, containing a long table with all of SPECTRE's top officials present. Here we meet Numbers Seven, Ten, Five (obviously, they have replaced the previous Number Five of FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE), Nine, and Eleven. We also get a sense of the range of SPECTRE's activities (blackmail, assassination, crime consultation, and narcotics) and also the brutal efficiency of Number One, who kills Number Nine on suspicion of embezzlement. It is a sign to all those present of what the consequences of failure are. Number Two must not fail in his NATO plans!

The first part of the film is filled with wonderful espionage as we learn how SPECTRE has penetrated NATO security. The actual hijacking of the missiles is spectacular. After SPECTRE has transmitted its demands to Britain, MI6 is called into action to find those missiles at all costs. All of the 00 agents are called in on this one and sent to different parts of the world to try and discover the hiding place before it is too late. Bond asks to be reassigned to Nassau because he believes he has a lead on the case, stemming from his experiences early on in the film. Of course, his instincts are correct and soon Bond finds himself playing a game of cat and mouse with Emilio Largo, who is all to aware of who Bond is and what he intends to do. What follows is a terrific storyline in which Bond inches his way closer to Largo's operation to discover the villain's secrets, with all of the destruction, love-making, and mayhem that entails.

Many have complained that THUNDERBALL is too long (at 130 minutes) and that the last half hour of the film is incredibly slow. Shot entirely underwater, the last bit of the film can seem long due to the slow movement of underwater action. But I do not think its pace suffers at all. I can remember seeing the film on television and thinking that it was a bit dull. But with the enhanced sound of the score pushing the beautifully restored images of the Ultimate Edition, I believe these sequences shine. They truly look spectacular and it is certainly the most ambitious underwater fight sequence I've ever seen. A seemingly endless supply of divers swim from all angles, launching an equally endless supply of harpoons at each other. The underwater images are surprisingly clear and we can honestly say that we haven't seen anything quite like it before (or since). Bond breaks new ground here and I think the action is as suspenseful as ever. In fact, the lack of sound underwater (besides the score) can actually increase the tension of the moment, in a manner reminiscent of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, produced three years later).

Connery, once again, is impeccable as Bond. Reunited with director Terence Young, whom many say is the real inspiration for Bond's class and sophistication, Connery plays the role with a renewed sense of vigor and style. I particularly enjoyed the increasing chemistry between Q (Desmond Llewelyn) and Connery. If they were slightly antagonistic in GOLDFINGER, they are thoroughly annoyed with each other here. Q is back with a host of new gadgets suited to the underwater nature of the film: a homing device pill that Bond can swallow, a watch that doubles as a Geiger counter, a waterproof camera that doubles as a Geiger counter, a mini signal flare, and a small rebreather (capable of giving Bond an extra few minutes of air underwater in a pinch). Bond is fitted with these devices in the field and, naturally, they all get put to use before the film is out.

The Bond girls in THUNDERBALL are some of the most beautiful Bond girls of all. Former Miss France, Claudine Auger, plays the main role of Domino Derval, an absolutely stunning beauty who proves to be both elegant and athletic. Her beauty and grace remind me of Audrey Hepburn. She is everything a Bond girl can hope to be. Opposite her is the film's female protagonist, femme fatale Fiona Volpe (Luciana Paluzzi), a deadly girl who seduces Bond (or is it Bond who seduces her?). Unfortunately, their play is not long lived, for the girl capable of stopping traffic with her beauty is also capable of stopping bullets--particularly when Bond throws her deliberately into their path! Also of Bond girl note is Bond's assistant, Paula Caplan, played by Martine Beswick. Bond fans will remember her as first appearing in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE as Zora the gypsy dancer.

Our villain Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), for my tastes, is a bit bland. Perhaps it is because he seems merely SPECTRE's pawn, but Largo seems to lack the necessary evil of his predecessors. Of course, he is evil. But he is out for blackmail money and doesn't seem personally invested in the affair other than to generate profit for SPECTRE. Besides his personal shark pool and his excellent taste for women, there really isn't much going for him. Indeed, Bond's immediate threats in this film seem to revolve around the dangers of being underwater--hand grenades used as depth charges, killer sharks, and an army of henchmen armed with powerful harpoons--rather than from menacing villains and uniquely skilled henchmen. Whatever the case, THUNDERBALL still manages to be a roaring success and the action is still quite good. It won't be the last time that the evil villains are left a little underdeveloped.

All in all, I believe THUNDERBALL is one of the best of the Bond series. Connery is fantastic in his role, Terence Young's directing is superb, the women are some of the most beautiful we have seen yet, and the action breaks new ground in special effects. The Ultimate Edition, like all of these releases, is absolutely wonderful. The DTS sound is amazing and really bring the action and John Barry's terrific score to life. The picture is amazing and blows the old television and DVD releases out of the water (I had to say it). Plus, it is packed with extras, including a "Making of" documentary, a documentary about the "Thunderball Phenomenon" created by the film, and a 45 minute television production released at the time exploring "The World of James Bond." I highly recommend it to any Bond fan or anyone interested in classic action pictures. THUNDERBALL holds up well to the test of time.

Another Great Classic of the Bond Series.......2007-03-13

This movie was the next in the Bond series after "Goldfinger." This movie builds upon the tradition of the previous movie, giving you more of everything. More gadgets, more action, a more involved plot, an even more nefarious villain, and more women.

The plot is simple. S.P.E.C.T.R.E.'s #2 man leads a rather complex scheme to steal two nuclear bombs carried by a British Vulcan bomber. All the double-Os are mobilized to find who stole the bombs and to get them back to prevent having to pay the $100 million ransom, a rather princely sum in 1965. Thanks to a fortuitous meeting with Count Lippe (Guy Doleman) at a spa, James Bond believes he may have a lead on where the bombs went. You might guess it is not Canada, where M wants to send him.

Up until the bombs are captured by Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi), this movie is a classic spy movie with minimal gadgets (except right at the very beginning, where Bond gets to escape from a villa with a rocket pack and then zooms off in his Aston-Martin DB-5, which is a fun car in any era with machine guns, ejection seat, and numerous other goodies no spy should be without) and lots of spy movie action. Once Largo takes the bombs, the tech gets higher as does the action.

There is lots of maneuvering in the Bahamas while looking for the bombs until an underwater fight that has to be the best hand-to-hand underwater fight ever filmed, and foreshadows the battle in space in "Moonraker." Of course, Largo has a getaway plan, which involves a hydrofoil, very state-of-the-art in 1965.

There are a number of other fun technical devices that appear throughout the movie, but it is more interesting to find them yourself than have me tell you about them.

The title song was sung by Tom Jones, who in 1965 was near the peak of his popularity, with a large number of hit songs and his own tv show. Tom Jones was perhaps the first well-known pop star to sing a Bond title song, but he would not be the last.

This movie is another of the best of Bond movies. James Bond gets to do some tongue-in-cheek, but again it is very natural and fitting with his super-spy image. There are really bad people. So bad that you would be happy to exterminate them yourself. There are some very lovely and strong women. In fact, one of the opposition is a very strong woman who takes care of Count Lippe in a dramatic way, and then makes an escape that is just as dramatic.

This movie is classic in many ways, and enjoyable time after time. I highly recommend it as a spy film, a Bond film, and a classic 60's film. Somewhat dated, but enjoyably so, it is one of the best of a genre and an era.

Enjoy!

bond 'innovateur', bond 'explosive'.......2007-02-28

The ulitmate Bond continues to charm his way through another adventure! Many sights and sounds in this re-master! Trevor Young makes a comeback and follows in the footsteps of Guy Hamilton's success. Young, challenges the series and makes it even more contemporary for its time, with very successful results! Quick-paced, a multi-cast and villainous, it's very entertaining and becomes a staple for the Bond series. The editing is great, except for an awkward carnival chase scene. The story drags towards the last third part of the movie, but with fantastic underwater sequences that were probably one of their kind up to that point and an explosive, exciting ending, we are definitely entertained!

The Incredible World of James Bond.......2007-01-05

Very Nostalgic and Endearing early Bond Film. This film somehow sums up a feeling of nostalgia and endearment for the way it engulfed audiences, myself included, into the wonderful world of James Bond. Sean Connery did it with such effortless and natural charm and aplomb like no other. He's a tough and resourceful blunt instrument with a level of intelligence sophistication still impressive to this day. The world of THUNDERBALL is elegant where the villains live an opulent style of life which is a veneer for their sinister plans. In a bit of irony James Bond lives in that same world and he is up to the challenge to foil whatever mayhem they concoct.

After a one-film hiatus SPECTRE returns. So has Sean Connery as he was finally groomed to perfection as the definitive screen incarnation of James Bond in GOLDFINGER. Terence Young is also back as director. However, he seems to have been influenced over the fine-tuning that Guy Hamilton brought to the main character and overall tone of GOLDFINGER. Due to that film's success Young seems to be floundering here being diverted from his vision of the character that he helped bring to the screen. Young is 180 degrees from being the auteur he envisioned himself to be.

The film seems loosely constructed and leisurely acted. Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo looks the part but he never seems a real threat to Bond. In fact he seems to lose every encounter with Bond whether it be at the gambling tables or engaging in idle banter on the merits of women vs. guns. Bond outdoes him in skeet shooting without even looking at the target.

What makes the film very memorable is John Barry's rich score and Lamar Boren's beautiful and colorful underwater photography. The two went hand in hand. I also thought the villains' plot to hijack a Vulcan jet was extremely well filmed and executed. This film has a very British feel to as it should have.

This film has always been a favourite with diving and snorkeling enthusiasts. I met a very young couple this summer at the beach club. I happened to mention James Bond. These two half my age immediately said, "Thunderball!" Do you like "Thunderball?" I replied, "Absolutely. And by the way I see you are drinking Red Stripe Beer. Did you know that when Bond tosses Quarrel into those corrugated cartons in DR. NO those are cases of Red Stripe Beer?" And so I met some new Bond fans.

The James Bond Collection, Vol. 3 (Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Good set if you want to see the movie like it was.
Why is this set so valuable? I really want to know.
Good Movie Collection, but...
Probably the weakest of the 3 Special Edition boxsets
Good Set

The James Bond Collection, Vol. 3 (Special Edition)
Starring: Sean Connery
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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The James Bond Collection, Vol. 2 (Special Edition)
The James Bond Collection, Vol. 1 (Special Edition)
Never Say Never Again
Casino Royale
The James Bond Story (1999)

ASIN: B0000BYRO9
Release Date: 2003-11-18

Amazon.com

Thunderball, Sean Connery's fourth excursion as 007, upped the Bond ante with the most ambitious adventure--and budget--to date, and turned out to be his most successful venture in the series. George Lazenby, a handsome Australian model with a self-effacing confidence, made his first and only appearance as James Bond in the underrated On Her Majesty's Secret Service, a witty and action-packed adventure that makes 007 history when Bond marries the girl (the lovely and talented Diana Rigg, fresh from her duties as the butt-kicking spy on the TV series The Avengers). Roger Moore brought an altogether lighter tone to 007 with Live and Let Die, softening Connery's rough edges with a more romantic persona as the films became even more exotic. Octopussy, a colorful cold war thriller and one of Moore's better outings, stars Louis Jourdan as a corrupt Afghan prince and Maud Adams (making her second Bond appearance) as the ringmaster of an all-babe traveling circus team that unknowingly carries a nuclear bomb. Christopher Walken hams it up under a platinum-blond hairdo while his Amazon bodyguard, Grace Jones, growls through A View to a Kill, a silly but often visually impressive adventure that made it obvious Moore was too old and stiff to carry on the Bond legacy. No such problem with Pierce Brosnan, whose fourth outing, Die Another Day paired him with sexy American agent Jinx (Halle Berry) to take on a genetically altered North Korean villain (Rick Yune) armed with a satellite capable of destroying just about anything.

Description

Includes the following films: Die Another Day, A View to a Kill, Live and Let Die, Thunderball, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and Octopussy.

Customer Reviews:

Good set if you want to see the movie like it was........2007-02-25

I have all three of these original sets. They're fine. I also have all of the Ultimate Edition sets. They're better. If you're an Bond fan, you'll like both. If you're trying to test the limits of your home theater, get the Ultimate Edition, or wait for it to be re-released a third time on Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. (whichever one finally wins that battle)

Why is this set so valuable? I really want to know........2006-12-27

I really would like to know why set #3 (and also #2) is so sought after by collectors? I see people pay very high prices for it on eBay, and for #2, as well (but everyone ignores set #1). Is there anything really better here than on the Ultimate Editions now out and at lower prices? What is it that I am not understanding? I really do want an answer tot his.

Good Movie Collection, but..........2006-11-25

Don't buy this set! My comments have nothing to do with the movies. I love all of the Bond movies, but this set is an absolute RIP OFF!!!! I have purchased all 3 sets in this collection, and have bought the Volumes 1 & 2 in the Ultimate Editions (UE'S). After watching the 1960's quality of the volumes in this set and the amazing restoration of the movies in the Ultimate Editions, not to mention the great special features, I can say BUY THE ULTIMATE EDITIONS. For crying out loud you can almost buy all 4 sets of the UE's brand new for the same price volume 3 will cost you used in this collection. I wonder if these reviews here saying this is a "MUST HAVE SET" isn't written buy those who are trying to rip you off selling this at $188. In addition to the poor picture and sound quality in this collection, my copy of "A View to a Kill" had a tiny blemish on the disk causing it to skip like 2 min. of the movie. Of Course, no reply from MGM when I tried to contact them. Anyway, BUY THE ULTIMATE EDITIONS!!!

Probably the weakest of the 3 Special Edition boxsets.......2006-08-19

This boxset isn't bad, in fact it's great. It was the first 007 boxset I got. It's just that it isn't as good as the other 2 Special Edition boxsets. There's one Sean Connery movie here, "Thunderball" (007 hunts SPECTRE agent Emilio Largo, who has stolen two nuclear bombs and is holding the world ransom). "Thunderball" is my least favorite of the Connery movies. The underwater scenes are slow and not that exciting, dragging the movie down. There's George Lazenby's one Bond movie, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (007 hunts down Blofeld, and 007 also falls in love). Lazenby's one movie is one of the best Bond movies, certainly one of my favorites, and is extremely underrated. There are 3 Roger Moore movies, "Live And Let Die" (007 vs. a powerful drug dealer and his voodoo army); "Octopussy" (007 must prevent a nuclear bomb from exploding in a American airbase in West Germany); and "A View To A Kill" (007 must stop a madman from destroying Silicon Valley to increase the price of microchips). "LALD" is a good movie, not Moore's best, but still entertaining. "Octopussy" I don't like very much, the entire movie is ridiculous, even more so than "Moonraker", in my opinion. "AVTAK" is ok. It's silly entertainment, and one of Moore's weakest, but it's still an ok movie. Finally, there is Pierce Brosnan's latest, "Die Another Day" (007 goes up against a mad business man who will use a satellite made of diamonds to destroy the DMZ between N. and S. Korea). Yes, the plot for "DAD" is kind of out there, but it's my favorite Brosnan movie. It's fast paced, exciting, with some futuristic gadgets (but hey, Bond movies SHOULD have fururistic gadgets, or none at all). This boxset only has 6 movies, which is a bit of a letdown, but there was no 7th movie to put in. Overall an ok boxset, good for the beginner fan, as it has a good mix of movies in it (some great, some not so great).

Good Set.......2006-04-08

An overall good set, the movies are a must for any true Bond fan. DO NOT pay $250 for the set. I bought all the movies in the set separately and paid right around $160. I don't know who these yahoos are trying to sell these sets for that much.

Average customer rating:

Get the Ultimate Edition
The greatest Bond?
Saddled with age and parody
Thunderball
The Thunderball Phenomenon: Skip the Special Edition for the 2-Disc Ultimate Edition

Thunderball
Starring: Sean Connery , Claudine Auger , Adolfo Celi , Luciana Paluzzi , and Rik Van Nutter
Director: Terence Young
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Thrillers | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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Scuba Diving | Sports | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Goldfinger
You Only Live Twice
From Russia With Love
Diamonds are Forever
Dr. No (Special Edition)

ASIN: B00000K0E9
Release Date: 1999-10-19

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Get the Ultimate Edition.......2007-06-27

The greatest Bond?.......2007-06-12

Saddled with age and parody.......2007-04-25

Thunderball.......2007-03-19

Movie was delivered in a timely manner. Quality of DVD is excellent.
An excellent upgrade for an older Bond film. Recommend purchase.

The Thunderball Phenomenon: Skip the Special Edition for the 2-Disc Ultimate Edition.......2007-03-17

Average customer rating:

Dr. No gets boiling mad
Setting the Standard for Britain's Dedicated Civil Servant

Dr. No THX Edition

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

From Russia With Love THX Edition
Thunderball
Goldfinger
Never Say Never Again
From Russia With Love

ASIN: B000IMMC4C

Product Description

Format: DVD Jan 1997 Rated PG Recording Mode: (unknown) Sound: THX, HiFi 111 min. Color Movie Description With DR. NO, the first of the James Bond films, director Terence Young and leading man Sean Connery set the precedent for what would become one of the most popular, influential, and long-lasting series ever made. Bond makes his first famous introduction, "Bond, James Bond," in an upscale casino, to a saucy brunette named Slyvia Trench (Eunice Gayson), who he promptly coaxes into a dinner date. Back at Secret Service Headquarters, M (Bernard Lee) assigns Bond to a mission in Jamaica. An agent who was investigating strange activity with nuclear weapons in Cape Canaveral has disappeared, and Bond is to take up where he left off. His contact, CIA operative Felix Leiter (Jack Lord) reminds Bond that his title, "007," means he has license to kill, not be killed. This advice comes in handy in Jamaica as assassins relentlessly emerge from the woodwork, desperately trying to bring Bond down. Bond makes his way to Crab Key Island to find evil scientist Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman), the primary suspect. There he is met with the obstacle of Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress), a deadly beauty who emerges from the sea in a tiny bikini with a knife holster slung about her hips, in one of the most seductive Bond-girl moments of all time. With a striking lack of gadgets, DR. NO is a heartier mystery than subsequent films in the series, providing for some excellent adventures in which Bond must rely on his own clever spy skills to get out of sticky situations. Credits Cast: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress Director: Terence Young Producer: Albert R. Broccoli, Harry Saltzman Film Notes DVD Features: Region 1 Encoding Keep Case Theatrical release date: May 11, 1963.

Customer Reviews:

Dr. No gets boiling mad.......2006-09-28

This 1962 movie based on Ian Fleming's book contains the first or our favorite charters, including Sean Connery as James Bond, Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder, and Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny. A surprise and shocker is seeing Jack Lord playing the U.S. CIA agent Felix Leiter.

The earlier Bond movies required more acting than fancy gadgets. However you will still recognize his puns.

Dr. No is suspected of being up to no good. A previous agent on the trail of this mysterious Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman) seems to have disappeared. And there are no more transmissions from the local outpost in Jamaica. So it is up to James Bond to find out what happened and finish the project. Naturally he finds trouble form the beginning; however this is noting compared to what he will find on Crab Key.

Setting the Standard for Britain's Dedicated Civil Servant.......2006-09-22

I always considered DR. NO to be one of the better Bond films and closer to the literary James Bond created by Ian Fleming. Sean Connery's performance is that of the no-nonsense dedicated civil servant. His screen presence alone conveys the physical, intellectual and moral conviction of the character. He is essentially a modern day version of the white knight slaying the dragon for Queen and country.

Joseph Wiseman as Dr. No is one of the best villains of the series. His steel mono-toned performance is eerily unsettling. He remains one of the most enigmatic villains in the series. He is a villain moved more by unfounded revenge than by greed or riches. You almost sympathize with him as he makes futile overtures to Bond imploring him to join his organization. It seems that Bond is the only man capable of appreciating his intellect. Not even Dr. No's backers, Blofeld and S.P.E.C.T.R.E. are worthy of his talents.

Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder leaves one of the most indelible images of the series as she emerges from the sea clad in her white bikini. She is characterized by the simplicity of her goodness and naivet as she is drawn into a vortex of worldliness that Bond further engulfs her in. Rather than that of a supposed sex object, she exudes a raw femininity found only in nature. Bond can not help but feel that he has corrupted her both deliberately and inadvertently in his blind quest to revenge the deaths of fellow agents. This is the very strength of Richard Maibaum's script, here and on subsequent Bond films.

These films, the better ones, are about Bond, his adversaries, his loves and his friendships. Jack Lord was the first of many actors to play Felix Leiter, Bond's CIA friend. "Friend" in the world of James Bond is not a word used casually. Lord seemed the one actor to visually convey the camaraderie that existed between these two characters. John Kitzmiller gave a very good performance as the loyal Quarrel, one of the most important characters in he entire series. This character epitomized the dormant qualities found in the instincts of the common man. When called upon in the death struggle of good vs. evil he is prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Anthony Dawson as Professor Dent seems perfect as a man who knew better than fall into an inescapable web of subterfuge that Dr. No has spread from his island to the mainland. Zena Marshall as Miss Taro is a more willing participant, as she appears eager to overtly display her sensuality and share her sexual appetites openly with Bond. She is supposed to lure Bond to his death. Finding this not the case she enthusiastically offers herself to Bond. It is in these scenes that Sean Connery displays a certain animal screen presence that no other actor has ever equaled in the role.

Many elements that distinguish a James Bond movie were introduced in this film. The opening gun barrel trademark, "The James Bond Theme," Bernard Lee's portrayal of the inimitable M, Lois Maxwell's portrayal of the desirable Miss Moneypenny, Ken Adam's innovative and distinctive production designs, Maurice Binder's unique main titles, the "Martinis shaken not stirred," just to name a few are all here.

Director, Terence Young, always boasted and took relish in how he supposedly shaped the look and feel of the James Bond series. This is quite possibly true when looking at DR. NO. It is a film visually rich with well-detailed and defined characters. It also has an uncanny feel for the settings inspired from the Ian Fleming novels whether it be Bond's intelligence headquarters in London, the exotic sights and sounds of Jamaica or the incongruity of Dr. No's plush lair hidden in the mosquito invested swamps of Crabe Key.

DR. NO is also characterized by quick paced editing by Peter Hunt. Hunt's innovative technique keeps the story moving visually and unobtrusively which also further defines the cinematic world of James Bond.

But coming full circle, it is Sean Connery's performance and screen presence that intrigues and captures the imagination of the viewer. Given the sets, the music, the script, the locations and all the other elements, it all comes down to how Sean Connery fits and moves through this cinematic world that has been created for James Bond. Sean Connery's performance is indeed that of Britain's dedicated civil servant. DR. NO is the benchmark.

Average customer rating:

After All these Years it Remains the BEST James Bond Film
The BEST James Bond Film

Goldfinger THX Edition

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000IMQ0X6

Product Description

Format: DVD Jan 1997 Rated PG Recording Mode: (unknown) Sound: THX, HiFi 111 min. Color Movie Description In James Bond's third cinematic adventure, the dangerously suave spy (Sean Connery) must stop the criminal capitalist Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe) from contaminating Fort Knox's gold with atomic radiation. Aiding the villain is the alluring Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) and the imposing Oddjob (Harold Sakata). Bond, on the other hand, is armed with his trademark charm and, of course, a slew of gadgets, courtesy of Q (Desmond Llewelyn). Encountering the usual bevy of beautiful women and perilous traps, 007 sets out for America to foil Goldfinger's financial fiasco. Based on Ian Fleming's 1959 novel, GOLDFINGER marks the appearance of a more carefree, wisecracking Bond and is widely considered to be one of the best films in the series. In fact, with stylized elements such as the gold-painted girl, the wince-inducing laser beam, Oddjob's razor-sharp bowler hat, and Bond's modified Aston Martin car, the film is quite possibly the most memorable Bond outing, and would be famously parodied decades later in the AUSTIN POWERS series, particularly GOLDMEMBER. Credits Cast: Sean Connery Director: Guy Hamilton Film Notes DVD Features: Region 1 Encoding Keep Case Theatrical release: December 25, 1964. Shot in Technicolor.

Customer Reviews:

After All these Years it Remains the BEST James Bond Film.......2006-09-27

GOLDFINGER contains a well-balanced level of depth and action leaving one emotionally charged, thrilled and entertained. This is Sean Connery's finest James Bond film and perhaps the definitive James Bond film of the entire series giving the outstanding and underrated ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE serious competition in that department after much contemplation.

The golden girl, Oddjob's bowler hat, Goldfinger's lethal laser, the Astin Martin DB5 with modifications introduced by Q, and Shirley Bassey's legendary rendition of the theme song belted out over the titles immediately became an integral part of the James Bond lore and remained in the psyche of the public.

Director Guy Hamilton, screen writers Richard Maibaum and Paul Dehn and editor Peter Hunt were able to produce a solid, well balanced, entertaining film that does not rely totally on the spectacle and whimsy that would weaken the subsequent entries in the series.

Production designer Ken Adam and art director Peter Murton gave the production a stunning and lavish distinction. The Fort Knox set and Goldfinger's playroom at his stud ranch was a testament to imagination and achievement. John Barry finally honed his distinctive style to perfection with this memorable score and set a benchmark of distinct and stylistic scoring for the James Bond series.

Sean Connery's performance as James Bond is a well honed mix of determination, humor and dedication to that end of getting the job done at all costs. He brings a wry humor to the role in this film, demonstrates compassion for the opposite sex (despite what he detractors may say) and eliminates all those who present evil and malevolence to our way of life with cold detachment. He is that blunt instrument of his government but Connery does it with such aplomb.

The BEST James Bond Film.......2006-09-27

GOLDFINGER is a very good movie. Perhaps it is the best James Bond film of he entire series. This one film contains many definitive aspects of all the James Bond films in the series. GOLDFINGER is very different from its two predecessors. The level of sophistication is much higher. Visually it is more stunning and is lavishly produced establishing a high standard for many of the cinematic elements associated with a James Bond film. Sean Connery gives his most sophisticated and distinguished performance as James Bond in GOLDFINGER. His friendly and easygoing approach in this film combined with his look of determination and confidence, wit, charm and a physical dexterity all add to his arsenal for self-preservation in order to see the job of eliminating the opposition to fruition. Even the main villain Goldfinger, who is more menacing and cunningly diabolical than his predecessors, is given greater depth by screenwriters Richard Maibaum and Paul Dehn. Gert Frobe's performance and visual presence as Goldfinger is one of the highlights of this film and the series. He is a constant menace to Bond as they play a cat and mouse game throughout the film. The intriguing golf game is a highlight of their confrontation. Once again another distinctive element to the Bond formula is introduced during the golf game in the form of Oddjob, the main villain's henchman who kills his victims with a steal edged bowler hat. Returning to Richard Maibaum and Paul Dehn, it can be seen that the script of GOLDFINGER is perhaps the best structured and balanced giving the plot elements, action sequences and the familiar Bond gadgets integrated treatment producing a solid story. Their script is also rich with character development meticulously incorporated into the story, which is never intrusive to the film's flow but is part of the cohesiveness of all the visuals skillfully directed by Guy Hamilton and expertly edited together by Peter Hunt. Of those visuals it is Production Designer Ken Adam's distinctive set designs that also help define the film's "Bond look" where he creates a unique look of functionally modern almost futuristic sets that dominate the screen with his iconic style. Cinematographer Ted Moore did some of his best work on this film utilizing photographic techniques to produce a dynamic and lavish look to this film. John Barry composed (along with lyricists Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley) the main title to GOLDFINGER sung by Shirley Bassey, which is probably the most recognizable song from the series and immediately brings to mind images of James Bond to this day. This melody used and often referred to throughout the score integrates the James Bond Theme along with John Barry's own distinctive musical motifs and style once again lending credence that this is the definitive Bond film when combined with all the other superlative elements presented in GOLDFINGER. The "Bond Girls" and their specific role in the Bond formula are best represented yet uniquely presented in GOLDFINGER seeing that the formula in this film is tweaked a bit. Usually the formula dictates that Bond has one leading female partner who accompanies him on and off during his exploits. There is also the sacrificial lamb that becomes sexually involved with Bond but along the way pays the ultimate sacrifice, which only intensifies Bond's resolve to vanquish the villain. Also, there may be a female villain who Bond also becomes sexually involved in and her fate varies from film to film. GOLDFINGER as a film stands on its own. It is good filmmaking. As a James Bond film it could easily be considered the best of the series.

Average customer rating:

An Ambitious Bond Film based on Fleming's Novel
Connery at His Unadulterated Best

Thunderball [Region 2]
Starring: Sean Connery , Claudine Auger , Adolfo Celi , Luciana Paluzzi , and Rik Van Nutter
Director: Terence Young
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004TYXB

Customer Reviews:

An Ambitious Bond Film based on Fleming's Novel.......2006-12-05

This is one of the few Bond films that actually adapted a good portion of its story from the Ian Fleming title of the same name. It was always of interest that this novel was based on an original screenplay by Fleming and others. ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (George Lazenby) and CASINO ROYALE (Daniel Craig) are the only subsequent Bond films to return to Ian Fleming's novels for their basic plots.

This film somehow sums up a feeling of nostalgia and endearment for the way it engulfed audiences, myself included, into the wonderful world of James Bond. Sean Connery did it with such effortless and natural charm and aplomb like no other. He's a tough and resourceful blunt instrument with a level of intelligence sophistication still impressive to this day. The world of THUNDERBALL is elegant where the villains live an opulent style of life which is a veneer for their sinister plans. In a bit of irony James Bond lives in that same world and he is up to the challenge to foil whatever mayhem they concoct.

After a one-film hiatus SPECTRE returns. So has Sean Connery as he was finally groomed to perfection as the definitive screen incarnation of James Bond in GOLDFINGER. Terence Young is also back as director. However, he seems to have been influenced over the fine-tuning that Guy Hamilton brought to the main character and overall tone of GOLDFINGER. Due to that film's success Young seems to be floundering here being diverted from his vision of the character that he helped bring to the screen. Young is 180 degrees from being the auteur he envisioned himself to be.

The film seems loosely constructed and leisurely acted. Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo looks the part but he never seems a real threat to Bond. In fact he seems to lose every encounter with Bond whether it be at the gambling tables or engaging in idle banter on the merits of women vs. guns. Bond outdoes him in skeet shooting without even looking at the target.

What makes the film very memorable is John Barry's rich score and Lamar Boren's beautiful and colorful underwater photography. The two went hand in hand. I also thought the villains' plot to hijack a Vulcan jet was extremely well filmed and executed. This is a very ambitious film combing elements of the literary James Bond with the refinements made for the cinematic version of Ian Fleming's creation.

Connery at His Unadulterated Best.......2006-06-15

Double entendres abound in this aquatic tale of intrigue, action and adventure 007 style. And make no mistake about it; Sean Connery makes this his picture. This may not have the narrative flow of a GOLDFINGER but Connery's confident and energetic performance and the villain's well-laid out caper makes this one of the most entertaining, realistic and tongue-in-cheek films in the series. This film was made at the pinnacle of the James Bond phenomenon and it shows. No cost was too great. This movie is big and it looks and feels big in every way. The underwater bellicose -ballet is one of the best pieces of action ever put on film thanks to Lamar Boren's colorful and beautiful photography and John Barry's original, innovative and intuitive scoring. The opening fight scene between Bond and Jacques Boitier in the chateau is one the best choreographed and edited of the series. What really makes this film is the dialogue. Connery's one-liners, his banter with Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo and Luciana Paluzzi as Fiona Volpe and his delivery is brimming with aplomb, wit, humor and confidence all rolled into one. Claudine Auger, Molly Peters, Luciana Paluzzi and Martine Beswick are the ultimate `Bond Girls.' Production designer Ken Adam, Art design Peter Murton, Cinematographer Ted Moore, Special effects expert John Stears, Editor Peter Hunt, Composer John Barry, Screenwriter Richard Maibaum and Director Terence Young make this one of the best Bond films of the series. Bernard Lee as "M," Lois Maxwell as Moneypenny and Desmond Llewelyn as "Q" all give their best performances. One of the best looking Bond films!

Average customer rating:

Thunderball
Starring: James Bond Ultimate Collection
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

You Only Live Twice - 2-Disc Ultimate Edition
Goldfinger - Ultimate Edition
Dr. No - Ultimate Edition
Diamonds Are Forever - 2-Disc Ultimate Edition
Casino Royale (2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B000KLQUXK
Release Date: 2006-11-28

Average customer rating:

Get the Ultimate Edition
The greatest Bond?
Saddled with age and parody
Thunderball
The Thunderball Phenomenon: Skip the Special Edition for the 2-Disc Ultimate Edition

Thunderball [Region 2]
Starring: Sean Connery , Claudine Auger , Adolfo Celi , Luciana Paluzzi , and Rik Van Nutter
Director: Terence Young
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00004SH4R

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Get the Ultimate Edition.......2007-06-27

The greatest Bond?.......2007-06-12

Saddled with age and parody.......2007-04-25

Thunderball.......2007-03-19

Movie was delivered in a timely manner. Quality of DVD is excellent.
An excellent upgrade for an older Bond film. Recommend purchase.

The Thunderball Phenomenon: Skip the Special Edition for the 2-Disc Ultimate Edition.......2007-03-17