Customer Reviews
Connery looks great, but the film does not really deliver - By: K. M Pizzi, 15 Jul 2008 
For many Bond fans, the return of Sean Conneryin this "unofficial" Bond entry, was an exciting opportunity to experience the Connery magic & charisma before the earlier pre-Roger Moore years. Releasedin 1983, the film competed head-to-head against Moore's entry, "Octopussy" which, to some critics of note, one of the better Roger Moore efforts. Obviously, this production had a more engaging cast, an entertaining story, & some good actors: Maude Adams & Lois Jourdan as Bond's nemesis than "Never Say Never Again."
While it's good to have Connery back, looking actually fitter than he didin "Diamond Are Forever"in 1971, & wearing a faultless toupee, the film manages to fall short on a number of levels. Viewers should note, it is a different film; for instance, no gun barrel logoin the pre-credits sequence, or the familiar incidental Bond theme music we all recognize.
Bearin mind this film,in actuality, is simply a remake of Terrence Young's "Thunderball" (1965), that represented the apogee of the James Bond franchise. Some of the other leads turnin a respectable performance, Bernie Casey, as an African-American Felix Leiter, is adequate as is Klaus Maria Bandauerin the role of "Maximillian Largo," a change from "Emilio Largo" from the '65 film, originally played by Adolfo Celi. But he is simply not menacing enough. The sequence at the casino between Largo & Bond is rather odd; they play a silly tabletop video game called "World Domination" rather than baccarat or chemin-de-fer. Not really effective, nor does this really belongin a Bond film.
Barbara Carrera as Fatima Blush, reprises the role of Fiona Volope(Lucianna Paluzziin "Thunderball") the film's femme fatale,in what could be considered an over-the-top-performance that borders on the hysterical with her outlandish costumes, hats & formal evening attire. Kim Basinger, as Domino, although lovely to look at, comes off as rather dull & uninspired. We long for an actress like the lovely former Miss. France, Claudine Auger, who, although not an actress by a long shotin the original "Thunderball," managed to bring an aura of sophistication, beauty, & unavailability shared by most Bond heroines before they succumb to the charms of 007.
"M" played by Edward Fox, is competent & irascible, but too young for the role--only illustrating how much we truly miss Bernard Lee & Lois Maxwell (Moneypenny) from the original series. In all, the film has a distinct look & pace that strikes one of a lavish made-for-tv production; not a quality Bond feature despite some exotic locations & interiors.
Despite Bond's rocket powered motorcycle, & an explosive fountain pen, the gadgets are few (thankfully), & the film is really an opportunity for Connery to prove, once again, HE is the James Bond everyone recognizes, knows, & respects above all othersin the franchise's forty-five plus year history.
Good remake and a welcome return for Connery - By: NoWireHangers, 30 Jun 2008 
I know many fellow Bond fans disagree, but I always thought "Thunderball" was the weakest of Connery's Bond movies. So, it was the perfect candidate for a remake, & for copyright reasons, that's just what Never Say Never Again is. And it's a welcome return for Connery as Bond.
Being made by different producers, the movie doesn't have the classic gun barrel sequence or the Maurice Binder opening credits, but it still feels like a bona fide James Bond movie, much thanks to great locations, fun gadgets & Klaus Maria Brandauer's great villain.
My main problem with Thunderball is the sleep inducing underwater sequences. Even though this movie is just as long as Thunderball, the underwater sequences are shorter, & there's more excitement before the climactic scenes (I actually enjoyed the admittedly very dated video game scene).
So I'm going to be blasphemous & say I actually enjoy this movie more than Thunderball. It's a fun movie, & a must see for all Bond fans.
Many dislike, but I disagree! - By: Axey the Pax, 31 Mar 2008 
Many think that this a weak effort of Sean Connery's, but I think it's one of his best! Klaus Maria Brandauer is brilliant as villain Maximillian Largo & Barbara Carrera is suitable as SPECTRE's no. 12, Fatima Blush. It is basically a remake of Thunderball, & agree or disagree, I prefer this to Thunderball. It was Bond versus Bondin 1983, & this beats Octopussy by miles. Considering Lorenzo Semple Jr wrote campy scripts like Batman TV showin the 1960s & Flash Gordonin 1980, & he proved his talent - that he could write both campy & serious action-adventure. Brilliant!
Slick, enjoyable but not quite premium Bond - By: Trevor Willsmer, 12 Dec 2007 At once the victim of impossible expectations after years of false starts & rumors about Connery's return to Bondage & also a breath of fresh air as the Roger Moore Bond films increasingly floundered, Never Say Never Again was a welcome riposte to the worst excesses of the EON franchisein 1983, but time hasn't been that kind to it. There are certainly some horrible miscalculations, Carrera's cartoonish villainess Fatima Blush (like Faye Dunaway on steroids), Edward Fox's self-parody as M, Pamela Salem's moronic Moneypenny & an embarrassingly over-the-top Rowan Atkinson's horribly unfunny Nigel Small-Fawcett among them, not to mention that problematic & much-despised easy listening score from Michel Legrand.
A famously troubled production, with Cubby Broccoli frightening studios, investors & co-stars away through years of lawsuits & Connery taking against the film's inexperienced producer Jack Schwartzman so violently that he would reportedly hide whenever the actor came anywhere near his office, most of the scars aren't visiblein the finished product. Thankfully the worst excesses of the legendary unfilmed but sadly rather silly & OTT script Connery & Len Deighton pennedin the early 70s, Warhead (which climaxed with a hang-glider attack on the Statue of Liberty & boasted a villain with his own underwater lair), were also toned down, albeit largely for budget reasons. With only a watered-down version of their radio-controlled sharks remaining, this version is at least a little more grounded than the rampant silliness that had seen the Bonds stray unrecognisably far from their rootsin Ian Fleming's novels. Despite uncredited co-writers Ian La Fresnais & Dick Clements pilfering their earlier movie spinoff of Porridge for some of the jokes, the more streamlined screenplay flows better than Thunderball, which was always the clunkiest of Bond scriptsin its desperation to throw everything including the kitchen sink into the mix, but it's also less fun. Odder still is the very American feel to the film, with a clean, spare look that's uncomfortably at odds with Connery's previous outings.
On the plus side, Klaus Maria Brandauer is particularly good as Largo, Bernie Casey brings an easy familiarity to his role that makes him one of the best of the many Felix Leitersin Connery's tenure, & Alec McCowen & Max Von Sydow are finein undemanding parts while Robert Rietty, who voiced Largoin Thunderball as well as numerous other Bond characters over the years, turns up briefly onscreen for a change. It's also thankfully light on the gadgets that got particularly out of controlin the EON series during the 80s & the action scenes are for the most part well-handled, with an excellent fight with Pat Roach the standout despite a particularly lame gag ending.
Enjoyable but no enduring classic. It's worth noting that a special edition of this title will also be released some timein the future.
Scrapes by on Connery's charisma alone - By: Mr. Stephen Kennedy, 06 Nov 2007 
At a time when Roger was playing Bland, James Bland... the prospect of an unofficial Bond movie enticing Sean Connery to return to the role was mouthwateringly tantalizing. And at the time it came outin 1983, the competition was one of Moore's weakest efforts, Octopussy, making the Bond versus Bond clash seem one sidedin this movies favour. Never Say Never Again has a larger budget, stronger cast & is based on an Ian Fleming story.
Alas, the end result turns out to be not much better than a parody of the earlier Bonds, & despite a strong cast the script is so clunky & obvious that the wit & panache of Bond is missing. Worse, the music is anachronistic & dated. Of course, for legal reasons, they could not use John Barry's timeless themes, but all the more reason one would have thought to spend more time getting the score just right for the tone of the movie. Perhaps the most serious crime of all.. it is more than a bit dull. You find yourself waiting for an action scene to come along, then when one comes along, you wish they would get it over with. Aside from an effective bike-chasing-car scene, no other action scene resonates after the credits have rolled.
It's not all bad.. Kim Basinger is a lithe & lovely Bond girl, & Klaus Maria Brandauer is a deliciously quirky villain. A few scenes hold up - the dance scene when Bond tells Domino her brother is dead, the fistfight at Shrublands with Pat Roach (from Auf Wiedersehen pet), & at least we don't have the dreadful speeded up boat scene from the original & superior 'Thunderball'.
Finally, with the `official' Bond movies so well digitally remastered & sound remixed, the very poor quality of the sound mix & blemished print are all the more obvious. Sound is very boomy & with no surround mix - speech is muffled, & I had to turn up the volume much higher than usual to hear any detail. Aside from one trailer, there are no extras.
The worst of Moore's Bond outings can still be enjoyed, even when the grin is mixed with a groan... here though, the grin has become a fixed grimace, & the pleasures are few & far between. Connery's charisma pulls us through without feeling obliged to give up half way through - but the temptation is never far away. Worth watching only for nostalgia's sake, to see Connery's Bond swansong.
