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"Don't worry, I'll tell the chef ": Thunderball Appreciation & Discussion

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  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,676
    AnotherZorinStooge wrote: »
    I think Thunderball was the beginning of the Austin Powers-esque caricature within Bond movies. Spectacle over plotting. Very much The Goldfinger Effect.

    Has some great casting, though. Guy Doleman, Luciana Palluzzi and Earl Cameron. Caludine Auger is terrible, though and I guarantee Adolfo Celi has done better, too.

    The biggest let-down was Connery. It's only three years in but he already looks bored with it and his Bond suffers as a result. He needs constant 'tarting up' to prove he's 'still got it'. The awkward tryst with Fearing is testament.

    The vaunted effects now just look naff. I remember watching it with my wife (she's not arsed) and her shriek of laughter whenever the doppelgänger appears the door. The underwater scenes are unfairly stigmatised but rightly criticised.

    A so-so entry.

    I think the fact that TB was the basis of so many spoofs is testament to it's greatness. Only the best films get spoofs that work. Take Top Gun/Hot Shots.

    I also disagree with Claudine's performance, which I think is perfect for the character she's playing. A kept woman, who's used to beeing (ab)used, taking a stand because of the loss of the only person she ever trusted.
    Same goes for Adolfo. He may not have the imposing stature that Fleming gave the character, but his calm but vengeful demeanor is far more threatening than many other bad guys, especially compared to DAF's Blofeld.
    COnnery is hardly phoning it in. He actually seems to be enjoying himself far more in this film (do you mind giving me something to put on?). At the same time, his reactions whilst clandestinely searching the villa are as serious as can be.

    The effects even gave the film an oscar. So perhaps looking back they're not that much, but they were certainly state of the art.

    I also disagree on the underwater scenes, something that was never done before. For the public in 1965, travel to the Bahamas in itself was an increadable adventure (the Boeing 747's maiden flight was three years later), let alone an underwater fight with huge groups of men! And all done for real! Does it last long? yes. And perhaps they could've shortened the recovery of the bomber, but it was so outlandish and spectacular, I can't blame the director for expanding on that. Are we less impressed nowedays? Hell, the average shot now lasts no longer than 2 seconds! Perhaps we should start appreciating the quality of these longer shots again.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 17,863
    DEKE_RIVERS wrote: »
    I think Connery is perfect in TB. Except for the toupee, of course.

    It's funny because this is when the formula is established and the films seem more modern to today's audiences, yet people complain that Connery was bored.

    You can't win them all, I guess.

    NSNA is "the alternative sequel to Goldfinger" and in some ways closer to it.



    Yeah I think he was at the top of his powers here; when he walks in the hotel lobby and everyone is looking at him -which is quite funny- I can also buy it.
  • DEKE_RIVERSDEKE_RIVERS
    edited April 30 Posts: 1,862
    I can understand people not liking underwater scenes, but the rest is priceless.

    Connery being Connery, the girls, the dialogue, the epic tone as if it were the greatest adventure ever told...

    YOLT tried to match it but it couldn't. I think being a "faithful" adaptation of the book and not being a greatest hits helped a lot.
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,551
    CommanderRoss wrote: »
    AnotherZorinStooge wrote: »
    I think Thunderball was the beginning of the Austin Powers-esque caricature within Bond movies. Spectacle over plotting. Very much The Goldfinger Effect.

    Has some great casting, though. Guy Doleman, Luciana Palluzzi and Earl Cameron. Caludine Auger is terrible, though and I guarantee Adolfo Celi has done better, too.

    The biggest let-down was Connery. It's only three years in but he already looks bored with it and his Bond suffers as a result. He needs constant 'tarting up' to prove he's 'still got it'. The awkward tryst with Fearing is testament.

    The vaunted effects now just look naff. I remember watching it with my wife (she's not arsed) and her shriek of laughter whenever the doppelgänger appears the door. The underwater scenes are unfairly stigmatised but rightly criticised.

    A so-so entry.

    I think the fact that TB was the basis of so many spoofs is testament to it's greatness. Only the best films get spoofs that work. Take Top Gun/Hot Shots.

    I also disagree with Claudine's performance, which I think is perfect for the character she's playing. A kept woman, who's used to beeing (ab)used, taking a stand because of the loss of the only person she ever trusted.
    Same goes for Adolfo. He may not have the imposing stature that Fleming gave the character, but his calm but vengeful demeanor is far more threatening than many other bad guys, especially compared to DAF's Blofeld.
    COnnery is hardly phoning it in. He actually seems to be enjoying himself far more in this film (do you mind giving me something to put on?). At the same time, his reactions whilst clandestinely searching the villa are as serious as can be.

    The effects even gave the film an oscar. So perhaps looking back they're not that much, but they were certainly state of the art.

    I also disagree on the underwater scenes, something that was never done before. For the public in 1965, travel to the Bahamas in itself was an increadable adventure (the Boeing 747's maiden flight was three years later), let alone an underwater fight with huge groups of men! And all done for real! Does it last long? yes. And perhaps they could've shortened the recovery of the bomber, but it was so outlandish and spectacular, I can't blame the director for expanding on that. Are we less impressed nowedays? Hell, the average shot now lasts no longer than 2 seconds! Perhaps we should start appreciating the quality of these longer shots again.

    Agreed on all counts. And I'd add that the chemistry with pretty much all Bond girls, including the platonic ones, is perfect.
  • Reflsin2bourbonsReflsin2bourbons
    Posts: 385
    I have to say, Claudine Auger's Domino is a damp squib compared to the novel's version. Yes, some of the fire went to Fiona as the femme fatale but the film's Domino feels like a dulled down version of Honey Ryder.
  • AnotherZorinStoogeAnotherZorinStooge Bramhall (Irish)
    Posts: 200
    CommanderRoss wrote: »
    I think the fact that TB was the basis of so many spoofs is testament to it's greatness. Only the best films get spoofs that work. Take Top Gun/Hot Shots.

    I think it's a greater testament to its 'spoofability'. The silliness has taken over. Also, not all spoofs work. See 'Spy Hard' or 'Austin Powers' for details.

    It has its moments, sure, however the greatest compliment I'd bestow is it provokes the need of a OHMSS or FRWL, and provides those entries a welcome ring of permanence.
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