The original Mr.Connery takes up his post where he left it in 1971's "Diamonds Are Forever" in this likable and entertaining kind of remake of 1965's "Thunderball". It is also classed as the controversial unofficial Bond film.
Kevin McClory, who wrote the original story along with Jack Whittingham and Ian Fleming, excorsized his rights to make his own big screen version of the James Bond classic, and in the long run it appears to work. "Never Say Never Again" can't hold a torch to "Thunderball", but to have Sean Connery back in the role of 007 is a great bonus for this movie.
It is quite unique in the fact that Bond is portrayed as an ageing operative for Her Majesty's Secret Service who hasn't been 'out in the field' for a long time. The disappearance of two nuclear warheads that have fallen into the hands of 'S.P.E.C.T.R.E.' soon gets our man back in the field. There are some nice stunts and set-pieces along with that usual mix of action, thrills and humour plus some great exotic locales.
A fine cast is in support of Connery especially where the villains are concerned - Klaus Maria Brandauer and the sexy Barbara Carrera also make this a more than amicable movie to view. It's a fine updated take (at the time) on one of the biggest grossing Bond films in the franchise, and it's a shame that "Never Say Never Again" gets all the heavy criticism because of the nature of the movie and the nature in which it was made.
I certainly feel that a couple of the Bond movies of recent times deserve more criticism for being too OTT compared to this movie, and I also feel the 'unofficial' tag should be dropped from this one.
So, love it or hate it - he's back, it's Bond, deal with it!
Kevin McClory, who wrote the original story along with Jack Whittingham and Ian Fleming, excorsized his rights to make his own big screen version of the James Bond classic, and in the long run it appears to work. "Never Say Never Again" can't hold a torch to "Thunderball", but to have Sean Connery back in the role of 007 is a great bonus for this movie.
It is quite unique in the fact that Bond is portrayed as an ageing operative for Her Majesty's Secret Service who hasn't been 'out in the field' for a long time. The disappearance of two nuclear warheads that have fallen into the hands of 'S.P.E.C.T.R.E.' soon gets our man back in the field. There are some nice stunts and set-pieces along with that usual mix of action, thrills and humour plus some great exotic locales.
A fine cast is in support of Connery especially where the villains are concerned - Klaus Maria Brandauer and the sexy Barbara Carrera also make this a more than amicable movie to view. It's a fine updated take (at the time) on one of the biggest grossing Bond films in the franchise, and it's a shame that "Never Say Never Again" gets all the heavy criticism because of the nature of the movie and the nature in which it was made.
I certainly feel that a couple of the Bond movies of recent times deserve more criticism for being too OTT compared to this movie, and I also feel the 'unofficial' tag should be dropped from this one.
So, love it or hate it - he's back, it's Bond, deal with it!