My Movie Review on Thunderball (Plus, a Story-Related Announcement) · 2:55pm Sep 17th, 2021
Greetings and salutations, my friends.
This is your top-of-the-line film, TV show, and episode reporter here with another review.
Today, for my fourth analysis on a member of the James Bond franchise, I'm gonna give you guys my take of Sean Connery's fourth outing as the title character: "Thunderball".
Here's the rundown of this adventure:
Led by one-eyed mastermind Emilio Largo, the terrorist group known as SPECTRE hijacks two warheads from a NATO plane and threatens widespread nuclear destruction unless they are given 100 million pounds.
Despite not having much of a lead as to where the warheads are, British secret agent James Bond (codenamed 007) believes he found a clue in the form of a deceased French Air Force pilot named François Derval, whom was apparently killed so that an imposter could take his place. Requesting that he take on the case of finding the warheads, Bond visits the Bahamas so that he can make contact with the late pilot's sister, Domino, who is under the guardianship of a millionaire named Emilio Largo. Ironically enough, Largo is suspected of being the mastermind behind the warhead thievery somehow.
As with the previous James Bond movies I reviewed, "Thunderball" was one that I had been looking for any opportunity possible for reviewing. Particularly after I watched "Goldfinger".
Interestingly, "Thunderball" was the second James Bond film I watched in my lifetime several years before. The reason for why I don't remember, but I believe it was out of interest thanks to it having sharks. Back then, I was into animals more than anything else in the world, so if not for my animal-fanaticism the movie likely wouldn't be one of the first 007 movies I saw.
Now that I'm a person who has a variety of interests instead of only one, I really must say that this movie is truly one of the very best James Bond movies around. And not just because of it having tiger sharks either!
For instance, the direction by Terence Young, the story by Kevin McClory, Ian Fleming, and Jack Whittingham, and the screenplay by Whittingham, Richard Maibaum, and John Hopkins, were awesome!
As the third and final 007 film to be directed by Terence Young, I think "Thunderball" proved to be a fitting final entry. Whether he intended on retiring from being a 007 director is something I don't know, but it looked like he was willing to go bigger and deeper with this movie than he did with "Dr. No" and "From Russia with Love". He created one of the most exciting James Bond movies yet, and the moments of thrills and suspense were so good that I was on the edge of my seat every step of the way. Plus, the story and overall mystery were intriguing to a tee, and there was a great amount of wit, heart, and emotion to help the film not be a soulless endeavor.
The action sequences the film had were fun too. At one point, I read that many reviewers were openly critical of the underwater battle featured in the climax. I really can't see why, though, because I thought the underwater fight sequence was deeply absorbing and fun to watch. A particular credit for why goes to the film's use of Panavision, which can help viewers not feel lost in the action.
The music by John Barry was as magnificent as ever, if I may add.
I know that I've already commented in my reviews of "From Russia with Love" and "Goldfinger" on how much I enjoyed his music, but his material in "Thunderball" was so great that I couldn't resist commenting on it. In every scene, there was a melody that I found to be immediately captivating, and the way Barry's score fit the overall emotional and cinematic scope was nothing short of amazing. When it came to capturing the spirit of the franchise while making sure the material was fresh, Barry never seems to stop!
Also, I really can't deny that the movie's title song is one of my favorites in the James Bond franchise. The crescendo that was incorporated in the song was phenomenally powerful, and Tom Jones was a perfect choice for singing a 007 song. The special thing about Jones's singing is not just because he has an amazing voice, though. The way he hit and projected every lyric made the "Thunderball" song instantly fun and memorable, and there was an unpredictable nature that helped it be something people wouldn't expect.
Lastly, the acting, characters, and character development were brilliant!
As with the previous James Bond films I reviewed, Sean Connery played the character flawlessly. Not only did he portray Bond with as much personality and wit as before, but the way he took on the physically-demanding and action-oriented moments was like he wasn't afraid of breaking a limb or more. Bond himself was as three-dimensional as ever, and his growing caring side for Domino helped him not be without development.
The addition of Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo was enjoyable too, and so was the voice dubbing by Robert Rietty. Largo may be what many would call the usual criminal mastermind of the Bond franchise, but his personality, intelligence, and sense of calm malice help him to stand tall and be among the best Bond villains. His development throughout the movie was terrific too, and his growing personal dislike towards Bond aided the character in being very human.
In conclusion, "Thunderball" is a movie that I'm happy to have revisited, and it's one of the most entertaining 007 films around. For me, it's also one of my top favorite James Bond films.
So, I rate "Thunderball" five out of five stars.
On a note that’s completely unrelated to this review, I’d like to give a story-related announcement:
Many people may say that my Equestria Girls and Three Stooges crossover, “From Repair to Despair”, was abandoned in the long run. Much of that may come from how focused I’ve been on reviewing more than storytelling, now that I think about it.
However, that’s really not the case at all. I’m not interested in cancelling or abandoning “From Repair to Despair” in the slightest
I’m actually all-in for coming back to the story and finishing it. I know where I want to go with the rest of the story, but the reason I haven’t updated it since the latest chapter is because I hit a roadblock. The most troubling aspect currently is trying to figure out what sort of gags can be used for the computer as the Stooges are trying to fix it, because compared to something like a piano or a TV...the options seem to be surprisingly limited. Especially when you’re trying to figure out what gags would make the most sense and feel natural for a computer.
It’d mean a lot if I had some help, that’s for sure. As a matter of fact, I’d love to have a co-writer for the chapter to help me move forward. Someone who’d not only help me with the problems I’m having but share my vision for the overall story.
Anyone want to help?
Try thinking of ridiculous ways you can be hurt by a computer that are very avoidable.
Loved this classic as well!
Thunderball's underwater fight sequences are excellently done and very realistic. It's doubly impressive when you remember the entire film was done with practical effects; no CGI here!
Nice review! 👍
Oh man, I love the Sean Connery era of James Bond super spy movies. The movie op. themes are real classics and memorable.
