Reviewing 'Thunderball': Countdown to Bond 25

CINEMATIC 007 -- "You wish to put the evil eye on me, eh? We have a way to deal with that where I come from." The Countdown to Bond 25 continues with a review of 'Thunderball.'
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[@thomasthomas2418]

Guys; The reason Bond put on the sunglasses when he broke the news to Domino was because he could not bear to look her in the eyes when her heart was broken. Look as his hand trembles as he hands her the watch and identity disc; watch his unease and discomfort. Putting on those shades also provides him with the distance he needs to ask for her help. It's one of Bond's most human moments and Connery plays it brilliantly!

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

Connery also in one scene at the dance festival looks afraid and helpless kinda like Lazenby is in OHMSS at the Christmas Fayre.

[@huskerjpg]

I always thought it was just an opportunity for him to put on a pair of cool sunglasses and look cool.

[@TheLolapuff]

That too.

[@pvthitch]

You young folks may not remember, but the whole concept of SCUBA itself was less than 10 years old. They made whole TV shows and comic books about this new, space-age technology. Everybody called them Frogmen. It was all the rage. Frogmen and Astronauts. It was all brand new.

[@TheLolapuff]

You’re right. I was obsessed with Jacques Cousteau and Bond so this one blew my 11 y/o mind. Plus the magnificent Domino!

[@erikdolnack2737]

Thunderball is, in my opinion, easily one of the best Bond films. I'm glad you guys agree. Thunderball never gets the recognition it deserves. Terence Young was the best Bond director and his films are the benchmarks of the entire series. Connery is outstanding in this film. Bond's flirtatious by-play with Fiona Volpe is some of the best dialog and delivery of all the Bond films to date.

[@Mike-wf1nm]

Easily my fave of the Connery films.

[@stevenmorley1639]

One of my favourites, so cool 😎...

[@manosxatzidakis4930]

This movie is for me the Epitome of the James Bond movies. And the peak of Sean Connery as James Bond. Actually in this movie Connery IS James Bond. Everything you say is true about it as a movie. I would only like to comment Connery,s performance which is unique here. In Dr No he is magnificent but yet a little stiff and in search of how to portray his character. In FRWL he adds more and becomes more Bond. In Goldfinger he almost reaches perfection. But in Thunderball he superpasses it. He seems more self confident than ever. He is dark and gritty but also suave and charming. He is tough and ruthless and at the same time witty and sensitive. He's style here is unreachable. I cannot tell a favorite scene because they are multiple during this outstanding film. It's a great 10 and my Number 1 favorite Bond film of all time

[@christhornycroft3686]

And it’s all downhill from here LOL.

[@FernandoLlera]

My all time favorite Bond film has always been THUNDERBALL...so I really agree 100% with this review. Very interesting and fun to watch! I saw THUNDERBALL in 1965, when it premiered and I think it has withstood the test of time.

[@Durchblicker2010]

There is reason given for Bond being in Shrublands: he's recuperating from being hit with the fire poker in the chateau in France, pre title. It's mentioned in the film.

[@WithLincolnProductions]

The M scene explains it. It's coincidence that draws Bond into it.

[@phila3884]

I used to think the underwater battle scene went on too long, but then I really watched the whole sequence again, and it's an amazing piece of stuntwork. This movie also has the best Connery-era quotes, too.

[@garybryant1501]

I love the underwater scenes they add an exotic element to the film which at the time would be lapped up by the audience and shows how expansive SPECTRE's plan is Sean Connery is on top form like a cat cruising a back alley and coming out unruffled

[@mancal5829]

These reviews are excellent. You guys make a great duo.

[@SuperPrince1007]

Thunderball is my all time favorite James Bond Movie. I give it a 10 and Sean Connery was at his very best in this movie. No other James Bond actor comes close to Sean Connery's performance in Thunderball. He also looked his best too. I would've loved to have seen it in the movie theater when it came out in 1965. I heard the lines for Thunderball went around so many blocks and everybody went out to see it. Unfortunately, I wasn't even two years old when this movie came out.

[@JOEMORRISSEY70]

In the movie Bond is sent to Shrublands because of the beating he took with the fireplace poker from the PTS

[@LloydNance]

Y’all didn’t talk about the soundtrack. John Barry’s contribution to this film is what makes the slow underwater photography exciting. Claudine Auger is my favorite Bond. Thunderball to me is the Bond formula at its best. Love the podcast Joe. I hope have a wonderful time at Secret Cinema.

[@TheYojimbo6]

Scott here. You're right Lloyd! We didn't mention John Barry's amazing soundtrack! Shame on us..I will definitely make it a point to talk more about Mr. Barry in our You Only Live Twice episode..

[@LloydNance]

@@TheYojimbo6 You Only Live Twice is my favorite film. Can't hear your thoughts. Definitely Barry's influence is a major part of that film. I love the reviews and love that you two don't agree on everything. i think it makes it more interesting to hear different points of views other than my own. Keep up the great work.

[@renekauts8323]

THUNDERBALL(1965): What a great James Bond film! I love-love the story! Best Blofeld scene ever! And it's a gorgeous looking movie! Aspect ratio 2,35:1 is sooooooo beautiful/elegant! It's like day and night compared to other formats(1,66:1 & 1,85:1)! Terence Young and Ted Moore(DP) were brilliant filmmakers! Sean Connery was at his best! Claudine Auger(Domino Derval) was a goddess! Awesome movie!

[@tomchris60]

Claudine Auger's voice was actually dubbed by Nkki van der Zyl. In the Thunderball Special Editions, her's and Adolfo Celi's real voice can be heard in a scene using the production's original soundtrack.

[@Romans8-9]

Same actress that dubbed Honey Ryder?

[@Mike-wf1nm]

@@Romans8-9 Saw that feature. Adolfo's voice seems a little meek and very Italian-tinged, IMO. But Claudine had a lower voice than in the finished film, but I think her real voice could've worked just fine. I think the producers at the time were a little over-reliant on re-voicing (as was the industry).

[@martincarlos3759]

THIS the first Film what the Series James Bond made so unique. So larger than life. Followed right after by You only live Twice. Gigantic Movies which are one of its kind.

[@diogocatalano9557]

Thuderball is so classy, iconic. Pure Sean Connery James Bond at the golden age of 007 movies.

[@SpaceCattttt]

Thanks for mentioning Vargas. He's my favorite henchman in the series, because he doesn't do anything. He doesn't drink or make love. All he does is mope around and eventually get shot. But he's got the coolest of names.

[@robertjudge7459]

I think he got the point

[@fanboy2015]

RIP Claudine Auger

[@baldwincollins4344]

This film was classic cold war Era at it's Best, Especially the special effects.

[@noelgordon3943]

bùùubìùbúbúbùbùbbùbù558ğffffffffĺijp

[@purplebondsaiyan2987]

@BeingJamesBond You got to convince @CalvinDyson how good this Movie is as a Whole also it was the Highest Grossing Box Office Bond Film of All Time!!!! I'll watch this Movie Again and Again!!!!

[@camelbean1]

Another great one guys! Thanks so much for doing these.

[@TheYojimbo6]

Scott here. Thank YOU so much for watching! You rock!

[@camelbean1]

@@TheYojimbo6 Hey Scott! No, THANK YOU for these new videos, as well as the ultimate reviews you did in podcast form years ago! I love it when you are part of the podcast due to your encyclopedic knowledge and chemistry with Joe.

[@JamesBondCanada]

Always loved this movie.

[@Beingjamesbond]

Same here!

[@albertbuhr1202]

Great discussion, but it must also be mentioned: sharks in pools!

[@johnrigs6540]

Thunderball...an epic James Bond movie in every way! Great review as always...and Joe I agree with you-that scene where 007 meets Domino is magical somehow-a classic moment in the series. (I think every man alive was in awe of James Bond there..”Wow!He could even pick up women UNDERWATER!”) BTW-I saw those laserdiscs at the end ....boy,what ever happened to those great 007 posters!? Some of my favorite artwork of all time-why in the world have those been replaced by these static photos that are the posters in today’s movies? There’s just no comparison!

[@curiouscase0075]

Good stuff as always! Just on the sunglasses scene... It's not that he's shedding a tear for Domino, but to just mask his vulnerability and stay objective as he delivers the news. It's cold, yeah, but he needs her help to locate the bombs and needs to stay in control of the conversation. I find it particularly Flemingesque.

[@TheYojimbo6]

Great point Curious Case!!

[@LoneSoldierCobra]

This was my thought too.

[@chrisschrecker5497]

You guys do a superb job!! Love your series and spot on observations and opinions.

[@danlugo4365]

Magnificent movie

[@andrewbevan4662]

My favourite, even bigger in scope than Goldfinger but keeping a fairly believe plot, not going into ridiculous territory like films that followed

[@jwa007]

Ah, The Green Slime. I remember that movie, I too got taken to see that when I was a child, by my brother, who was eight years older than me. And I remember we came out of a movie one night in downtown Huntsville, and there were buttons all over the place, someone had gone around and put these buttons up on all the doors of the shops in the downtown area the "The Green Slime was coming." and I thought those were so cool and so we took a couple home with us. I wish I still had one of those buttons. Coolest thing to a five year old, or maybe I was four.

[@johnnyzeee5215]

' Thunderball ' pre - title : " My dear Colonel Bouvard, I don't think you should have opened that car door by yourself...."

[@aivarandressoo6721]

What a great movie! Terence Young and Ted Moore(DP)! And the most beautiful Bond girl: Claudine Auger!!! Well, she's voice was dubbed I think? Monica Van Der Zyl? Can't remember she's name correctly... O.K., "Thunderball": the best of Connery's! "TSWLM": the best of Moore's! "TLD": the best of Dalton's and "GoldenEye": the best of Brosnan's!

[@richposports7030]

What a call to make!! THE most beautiful woman in the Bond series!?! It's a list that you would happily take...from top to bottom!!:))

[@ryanhunter130]

Something I’m just now thinking-do you think Bond goes to Schrublands after every taxing mission? Great review, I give Thunderball a 10-This is everything I want in a Bond flick; great locations, beautiful women, a memorable villain, high stakes, excellent Bond suits, and a great score-Connery was never cooler :) ❤

[@JOEMORRISSEY70]

Love Thunderball but clearly a troubled production in some ways as they had to make their yearly release date and they got in over their heads so they just threw money at it. After this the movies were released every two years. As for the "soggy" bits, I think Peter Hunt could have trimmed a little bit of the initial hijacking of the Vulcan sequence. Cut a few shots of the bad guys hammering in the camouflage netting for example. Was also very surprised to see him use "wipes" so extensively. That was becoming passe by then. Strange, because he helped usher in a new age of editing with Dr. No and yet here he's falling back on old tricks. Anyway, love the vacation feel of the film and Connery is once again superb as Bond.

[@str.77]

Thunderball - or portions thereof - was the the first Bond film I saw on TV. The scenes I first ran into were the shark tunnel scenes. Later on, I can remember wondering about the bomb hijacking and underwater scenes - hard to understand what was going on for a kid, and Blofeld messages. Of course, I thought the jetpack escape great back then - though nowadays I wish they had done a pre-title sequence more in line with the one in Never Say Never Again, giving Bond a reason to be at Shrublands.

[@supremelc3667]

Greatest. Bond. Film. Ever.

[@jedi666sith]

All the underwater settings, I never felt them bad or dull. I can't agree more with you Joe. I love Thunderball is one of my favorite Bond Movies. I can't wait to have the O.B. outfit hehe at least the cardinal shirt because I already bought the Sunspel Thunderball shorts and if I get the shirt, It doesn't matter for me which beach I'll be, I'm pretty sure I'll feel like Bond in Thunderball hehe :P

[@MickeyLeeBukowski]

I like Thunderball a lot, it's my third favorite Connery Bond. But the big issue is that they give away the baddies' whole plot in the beginning of the movie and we spend the next 2 hours waiting for Bond to catch up with where the audience already is. They fixed this in You Only Live Twice (as well as the Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker) by leaving the audience with a big mystery that Bond needs to solve.

[@goops1071]

Great job guys. Visually it’s a stunner of a film with those seriously hot Bond girls Domino & Fiona, the locations in the Bahamas. The villain Largo is cool. Connery is on fire as Bond. Only problem for me is the storyline seems to go on forever especially those underwater scenes as Scott said. I found it a bit of a chore to finish watching on my first viewing. It does get easier after a few watches once you know it better though. I found YOLT an easier watch as a whole movie.

[@jaycotton7142]

A great movie. I got to meet Tom Jones and he was kind of impatient and just seemed to want to leave. I got him to sign my CD and as he did, I said to him, "Thanks for "Thunderball, Mr. Jones" and he very cheerfully said, "You're welcome, mate !".

[@harrywallin6565]

In 40 years of watching Thunderball I never had a problem with the Shrublands plot point. Its not explained I agree, I just alway thought he was there to heal from getting a poker wiped over his back.

[@trekkiedave7910]

It’s in the book - M is concerned with Bonds medical evaluation because of his insane levels of alcohol and nicotine Im not kidding - CLASSIC Bond!

[@harrywallin6565]

@@trekkiedave7910 I remember that and they use it in NSNA. There are some stills that survived from other scenes at Shrublands that where filmed for Thunderball. Maybe it was explained better in there but then ended up on the cuttingroom floor. As is it is not needed.

[@susannevanberkum5724]

Also thought Largo was more impressive and sinister than Goldfinger was as a villain. Did think his torturing of Domino would be more of a casual Sunday for a 50 Shades of Grey couple. Thought that both of your least favorite bits were just funny when I watched it. It was almost like going camping with getting the camouflage net down. Really enjoyed your in-depth review again!

[@kevinharkness2108]

The sped up boat with poor back projection scene at the end is more than made up for when i see largo getting to throw a couple of punches at bond during the fight with a massive grin of pure pleasure! Lol.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Largo was merely an efficient villain and not particularly memorable. He did his job and that was it. Goldfinger was far more fascinating because, unlike most Bond villains, he actually felt like a human being. He was driven by a need to over compensate (he surrounded himself with women he paid for) and he was obvious jealously of Bond's ease of attracting his girls. He had actually had a motivation outside of playing a role in a film.

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

Agreed. To me Goldfinger would only kill ppl who double crossed him or interfered with has plot where as Largo really seems Sinister like hed do it for fun. But Goldfinger is without doubt the more fascinating character.

[@jlazor1]

Wooo!!! So excited to watch this after work!!!

[@BrozzaBond4007]

I prefer this movie overall over Goldfinger! It’s great I do agree with the finale in it your points are bang on. I’d also give this a 9 score in the series

[@robertharvey2604]

Yes, it's long and the underwater scenes can drag, but I still think it's a great adventure. It's Connery's last great Bond film. Largo is an okay villain. Domino has an adequate backstory and is a decent character. Future Bond Girls would be given much less to work with. I love the Terence Young films. They're gritty, which is what I want from my Bond films. I think this one reaches a good balance between the first two films and the spectacle of Goldfinger. Later films would not. All in all this is vintage and a classic.

[@antoniomckay8802]

My top 4 Bond films Thunderball,Goldfinger,Goldeneye and Casino Royale

[@matthewpayne6122]

The best thing about this movie is the underwater scenes.

[@phmwu7368]

Learn about the April 1956 military spy event with Navy commander Lionel Buster Crabb... a story well-known by Ian Fleming and used in 1961 Thunderball novel.

[@Michael1966W]

The guy right by Connery in that scene with M at the table looks like Ringo Starr

[@sawchiefs29]

My favorite Sean Connery Bond film

[@IcePakOG]

I rewatched Thunderball based on this review and while I enjoyed it more than previous viewings, I still can't get past the serious storytelling flaws, especially towards the end, meaning it's still a low ranking film in the series for me. That said, there's a lot of love here: the Bahamas location; Connery's stellar performance as Bond, even if he looks a little rough around the edges; the Domino subplot; Largo as a villain; most of the score, except for the overly brash moments; Fiona Volpe as the femme fatale; and more.

[@jaycotton7142]

I've seen "Thunderball" a million times and I think Joseph Wiseman - "Dr. No", did Blofeld's voice. The film sources say that isn't true but I think it is.

[@donaldwolpert6356]

Good review of a good movie. Just to point out: Bond went to the health spa due to his back injury, with a poker, in the pre-credit sequence. I fully agree with you about the lack of use of Paula. She was the "sacrificial lamb" of the film, but, we did not get enough of her to make an emotional investment to have her death a big impact. I found that the "super scuba tank" was way too much and didn't seen right for this film. It would have been better to have Largo equipped with such an over the top gear. Bond doesn't need such gadget. Rest of the film looks great, Connery looks great, everyone else also looks great. Vargas could have been established more to support his "menace" before being "offed" by Bond. I still consider the first three films better, but this make a solid fourth best. Great review, and great info!

[@rjs1959]

Love you guys. Peter Hunt had to edit by himself as Terrence Young was gone on his next film and also the dust on the Aston Martin in the beginning was there because there was no ejection seat roof cutout. Thanks for the reviews. Original cut was about 4 hours long. I wonder where that footage is? Probably gone.

[@jedi666sith]

Joe Darlington, my friend, I really love these reviews! I felt like if I was listening to two friends talking about my favourite films. When are you going to do this type of review but to the video game 007: Nightfire? That game is the only one that makes me feel like I am Bond and that is as good as a good movie! Waaaaay better than Die Another Day, I dare to say. Hehe

[@captainz72100]

This is a great movie, interestingly for me it's lower tier Bond (but still great). Boat fight at end excepted, it looks amazing. Connery is on career best form. The Fiona character and her death is a James Bond film high for treatment of a Hench woman.

[@billkoenig1552]

Re: Luciana Paluzzi and The Man From UNCLE. Her scenes also appear in a TV episode titled The Four-Steps Affair. They took "extra" footage (to make movies out of TV episodes) then came up with a new plot to include it. Also, re: The Green Slime -- it was co-written by Bill Finger, co-creator of Batman

[@TheYojimbo6]

Scott here. You're right Bill! Boy, the folks over at The Man From UNCLE didn't waste any footage, did they? I highly, highly recommend checking out that amazing first season of The Man From UNCLE. Great stuff!

[@billkoenig1552]

@@TheYojimbo6 The Man From UNCLE episode guide was my first foray on the internet. Here's the URL for the Season One page. uncleepisodeguide.wordpress.com/about/season-one-1964-1965/

[@chitown1782]

20,000 leagues under the sea had great underwater photography

[@spyboy1964]

While I don't think that it is Sean Connery's best Bond outing, I do think that Thunderball is a top ten Bond film and is vastly underrated by the general public. Connery's performance in it is on par with his best Bond performances even if the movie itself is not quite as good as the first three. Even so, Thunderball's premise is ahead of its time. As far as I know, it is the first film to depict a terrorist organization hijacking nuclear weapons, which is a real world threat today. The underwater cinematography is great and the underwater battle royale near the end of the movie not only influenced many of the Bond films to follow, but in particular, the laser battle in outer space at the end of Moonraker. P.S. - The skyhook scene in the Batman movie The Dark Knight, they got that idea from Thunderball.

[@noelwalsh5898]

Sean Connery was James Bond 007

[@niels25chr1]

Terence Young was the man. From Russia Woth Love is probably Connerys best Bondfilm but I might go as far as to put Thunderball as my number 2 Connery film. I actually like it better than Goldfinger. I think Telly Savalas nailed the Blofeld part pretty nicely.

[@jamesbiggs8187]

This one gets an 8 from me. Not quite at the level of the first three movies in the franchise. That said, from here on in (give or take a couple of exceptions) the movies would never be as good as this again. I sit firmly in the camp that found the underwater scenes of the uncut version too long. These mark the beginning of the stock overlong 'shootouts' which are not at suspensful unless you really think the plot will allow Bond to be a casualty in true Butch Cassidy fashion. Disappointed with you guys for not talking about the music - "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" - surely the best Bond theme that never was? And seeing as you mentioned Luciana's other work in the genre you might have given a mention to Guy Doleman's stint as Ross in the Harry Palmer movies. Otherwise great review as always fellas.

[@jamesgrassia844]

Domino was originally offered to Raquel Welch.

[@michaelproctor8100]

Correct, she actually had a signed contract but at the request of Richard Zanuck who was head of 20th Century Fox, Cubby released her so she could join Zanuck's Fantastic Voyage project.

[@deacondavis5098]

James Grassia She also almost became Tiffany Case in Diamonds Are Forever

[@billolsen4360]

I like the villains in Thunderball much better than Goldfinger. The female one was dedicated to crime to the end & the male was an active person, not a blubbery old man asleep in the back of his Rolls Royce. And to get to watch a Vulcan in flight! Sexiest bomber ever made.

[@stuartie6000]

Actually very faithful to the book, magnificent until the finale. Connery all but purrs here.

[@JeremiahEmbury]

Bond was at shrublands because he was recovering from his injury from the fire poker when he fought the cross dressing jack Bouva struck him with the fire poker which bruised bonds ribs that's why he was at shrublands

[@cwilliams6762]

Brilliant film: so entertaining and Connery is terrific

[@eabcool]

actually he's wrong about the editing. Peter Hunt told them he couldn't deliver a good film on time and they moved the release date back 3 months. Also he says he like Claudine's delivery of "Francois..." but she was dubbed.

[@markwrede8878]

That we can tell who's who in the underwater fight is a cut above.

[@ben8447]

The guy on the left reminds me of Joe from Impractical Jokers

[@leecoates7601]

Probably Sean connerys best bond movie

[@greatwuta]

I enjoyed Thunderball alot. I even enjoyed the underwater scenes as well. Domino is so hot. I loved how James Bond interactions with Fiona Volpe. I even enjoyed the final fight with Largo on the Disco Volante. Yeah I know that back projection is not that great but still. Even though I ranked this #11 but I might push it to 10. I see some ppl say that FRWL or Goldfinger is Connery's best Bond film. I disagree, Thunderball is better than both of them

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

Totally agree with the Guy Hamilton films being so much more camp. Youngs three films are AWESOME. Dont get me wrong Goldfinger is Iconic but Just didnt like Hamilton's tone. Also if u look at it Lewis Gilbert made the same film 3 times!!!

[@simonbrunner3062]

Totally agree about the sunglasses scene. I've heard so many people praise it as a subtle display of Bond's vulnerability, but it just doesn't work for me, and I'm glad I'm not the only one. Where I have to disagree is the overall score. For me it's a 6/10 at best. I'm not a big fan of Terence Young's style, but I do appreciate his work on the first two Bond movies a lot. Here however he brings nothing new to the table. And he seems to struggle to strike the right tone when it comes to the characterization of Bond. There are several scenes with Bond that are obviously indended to emulate the more playful tone Guy Hamilton had established in Goldfinger, like Bond taking the time to throw flowers upon Bouvier's body while being pursued, eating grapes while examining a stranger's room, notoriously having to touch every single gadget during Q's briefing or pretending to ride a motorbike when asked to get on the contrived deathtrap machine (for lack of a better name) in the clinic. Some may find that funny or classic, but Bond is acting just a tad too childish and silly for my taste. This is clearly not Young's original vision of Bond, and it seems jarring compared to the tone of the rest of the movie or his previous work. Well, at least Bond's character isn't underdeveloped, which can't be said for Paula, Vargas or the Polish guy who singlehandedly saves the day by disarming the bomb and freeing Domino. Also, some of the dialogue in this movie is quite bad. You've already covered the "Paula's dead - Okay" bit. Then there's the incredibly lazy answer to the question who the previously mentioned Polish guy is: "I don't know, but he helped me." Or this gem: "What a coincidence. - Yeah, so convenient." Fiona's fourth-wall-breaking speech seems a bit stilted as well. If you really need to hammer home the fact that you're not Pussy Galore, just trap Bond in a crashing airplane and parachute off in the last second, he'll get the point. Not a fan of the underwater stuff either. It's marvellously photographed, but an underwater setting slowes down everything. Which is a problem if you plan to set up a grand action showdown in that environment. Thunderball is not a bad Bond movie, but it doesn't reach the quality of its predecessors and it just doesn't get me excited.

[@donaldmcauliffe7653]

I felt sean Connery did good job in this movie in many ways it better than goldfinger he able to be himself MORE l believe he was enjoying himself at times

[@andrews527]

Bond is at the spa because he hurt his back fighting J Bouvard. It's in the conversation with the physical therapist hottie.

[@moodyguymick]

Bond was at Shrublands because he was injured with a poker in the PTS.

[@str.77]

Did he then have PTSD?

[@christianpoint0888]

My dad was part of the Aqua Troopers !

[@yes_head]

Just saw this again and still really enjoyed it (the whole Vulcan bomber sequence was -- and still is -- beyond cool). Most of the shortcomings -- especially the rear projection stuff -- I tend to chalk up to the film being 'of its time', before special effects as we know them were possible. Audiences in 1965 (and the early 70's, when I first saw 'Thunderball' as a kid) were well acquainted with rear projections scenes, and how fake they could look. Could it have been better? Sure, although given the schedule they had to make these movies I tend to cut them some slack. I'm surprised you didn't also mention the running time of 130 minutes, which was crazy long for 1965. I feel like that contributed to the sense that the movie was dragging in places, especially that last underwater fight scene.

[@donaldmcauliffe7653]

During the middle of doing this movie sean Connery was told he going to do on her majesty for next ONE he had told they planning for it he like the storyline of on her majesty four months after they made this movie he told they could not do on her majesty because of bad weather they do you only live twice NEXT he let know he only do one MORE after this movie but he did like the storyline of on her majesty

[@matthewpayne6122]

As much as people want to trash the remake Never Say Never Again the villain Largo wasn’t cartoonish in that movie. But he is in this .

[@demetrisross17]

My question is where’d you get the first song? That James Bond remix.

[@syncof1190]

My 2nd favourite Bond film, only The Living Daylights beats it

[@ENCwwe]

Your intro is really cool!

[@pauldeblond6230]

The name is James Bond, not Band and the actor playing him is Sean Connery, not Cannery. Remember it’s the Queen’s English. 😉🎬🍸

[@anssirulamo2298]

There is a lot of good stuff in this movie, but I think the plot is quite boring, there's not the feeling of mystery and discovery like in Goldfinger or You Only Live Twice as the viewer already knows the villains' plot at the beginning. And the "special effects" at the end are just terrible, as a kid it took me completely out of the movie when I started wondering why does the movement of Disco Volante look so weird. It took me a few viewings before I realized that they were trying to simulate it going very fast...

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

Wow the Women in this film are STUNNING.

[@alexdas2000]

I rewatched the putting on sunglasses part and they show a couple of shots of Connery before while Domino is crying and Connery has sadness in his eyes, so I think him putting on sunglasses is more than him just being cool.

[@Phovhan]

I just think it makes it easier for him to deliver bad news.

[@andreascharles7562]

James Bond was at shrublands because he was wacked by a poker by the widow...ty for the pods...cant wait for each installment

[@MGEX8206]

Seen this one twice and like FRWL...it took two goes for me to particularly like it. Connery is Connery, his era is pretty consistent but it isn't really vintage for my money. 7/10.

[@beelez-xi1fi]

With tighter underwater scenes and a slowed down boat fight it would be up there but sadly its not for me.

[@loui4898]

Teaser? You mean opening sequence?

[@christhornycroft3686]

I miss the Cold War spy thriller aspect of From Russia With Love, and this gets pretty cheesy and goofy in parts as well as an over the top, ridiculous theme, but it’s iconic in its own way. This to me is where the goofiness of Diamonds and the Roger Moore stuff begins. There’s still good, spy thriller stuff here, but it’s definitely got some corny moments that I’m not a huge fan of. I prefer the more Flemingesque, serious Bonds. But certainly Goldfinger is not without its fromage either. That’s why I detest the Brosnan era for the most part, with the exception of Goldeneye. Bond is a Cold War spy. How many times is he that in the movies?

[@Icecreamforcrowtoo]

Fair enough, but for my money, Goldfinger was way goofier to me. I still like Goldfinger but Thunderball was more a 'return to form' for me... just on a larger, more high stakes scale than From Russia With Love. Probably not a common take among Bond fans, but that's how I feel. The tone here is more menacing throughout the film than it is in Goldfinger. Goldfinger to me is overrated and Thunderball is underrated and underappreciated.

[@christhornycroft3686]

@@Icecreamforcrowtoo I agree with you there. I liked Goldfinger when I first watched it as a teenager in the 90s, but as an adult, I find it overrated and sort of showed the first signs of the Austin Powers type of stuff we'd see in the Roger Moore era. By the 90s, Bond was already a self-parody, with Dalton being the exception. Also, nothing against my Welshman Tom Jones, but Thunderball in comparison to Goldfinger is more grounded and an over-the-top, cheesy theme song you're not meant to take seriously at all was probably a bit too much for this kind of Bond movie. But it's still Connery at a stage where he hasn't completely checked out of the role, so I can't help but like it. At least he doesn't drive a moon buggy in this one.

[@fanboy2015]

I heard the sunglasses were a product placement for some sunglasses brand.

[@JOEMORRISSEY70]

Bond and sunglasses: No he wasn't hiding a tear but he was distancing himself deliberately being cold.. Check out the song lyrics.

[@ivorbacon3825]

The film is great but not as exciting as Goldfinger. I think if it was made today, there would be tighter editing. Check out the Fleming original novels. Apart from The Spy Who Loved me - a kind of romantic women's book ( a good one though) and Casino Royale. Royale is boring in parts but the Craig film was brilliant. The original books are brilliant. Connery was Bond, not Moore. Nuff said.

[@bradfirebird295]

In the opening pre-title sequence, it would have been better to have poisonous gas come out of Bond's car to neutralize the villains who were firing guns at him and his Asian-French assistant in the Aston Martin. Bond's car couldn't possibly hold that much water in it. Besides, poison gas was used in Thunderball to kill the military pilot, François Derval (actor Paul Stassino) before they replaced him with a SPECTRE double AND that same enemy pilot/(double) agent used gas to murder all the other pilots on the Avro Vulcan jet (a NATO jet bomber). Bad writing made them use WATER to squirt on the henchmen in the opening scene rather than using gas because some genius thought it would "fit" into the narrative of WATER (most of the movie takes place near and under (ocean) water. It doesn't work like Oddjob in Goldfinger crushing a golf ball with his hand (only Superman and the Hulk could do that... LOL). Some things in the Bond movies just don't work! I wonder what Alfred Hitchcock would have thought of the two aforementioned errors?

[@garybryant1501]

The Bond formula Blueprint Goldfinger first draft Thunderball. second draft Then it's set from there on in various forms

[@greatwuta]

Thanks to sorta.app I got this film ranked #12 out of 24.

[@Zoricbojan-hk8fl]

Najaci bond Sean coneri

[@harleyhartley3168]

fucking hate this film but glad y'all enjoy it

[@therealmovieman]

Not the worse Connery and the height of 60s Bond but I feel this movie drags and Bond is playkmg catch up to the audience which imo is never a good thing.