DVD Sean Connery returns as James Bond when SPECTRE steals two nuclear warheads and threatens the world with catastrophe unless its enormous ransom demands are met.
Details
After apparently being killed during a routine training exercise, James Bond is ordered to a health clinic to improve his fitness and shake off the years of wear and tear brought about by life as a secret agent. His enforced rest is interrupted when he becomes suspicious of the activities of a mysterious American patient and his overbearing nurse.
Bond's suspicions prove well founded when SPECTRE infiltrates a NATO airbase and steals two nuclear warheads, threatening to detonate them unless the world's governments pay a multi-billion dollar ransom. With little time to spare, Bond is assigned to track down the organisation before its deadline expires.
The investigation leads Bond to the Bahamas, where wealthy businessman Largo appears to be the respectable face of an international shipping empire. As Bond draws closer to Largo and the beautiful Domino, the race begins to recover the stolen missiles before SPECTRE can carry out its devastating plan.
Picture & Sound
The picture quality is rather disappointing. Although the transfer benefits from a respectable bit-rate and avoids obvious artefacts or edge enhancement, it suffers from noticeable grain, numerous print imperfections and a general lack of restoration. Colour reproduction is acceptable, but this release falls well short of what many catalogue titles are now capable of.
The Dolby Surround soundtrack is functional rather than spectacular. Dialogue remains clear throughout and the action scenes provide occasional use of the surround channels, particularly during the missile test sequence and the finale, but this is understandably no match for the more modern Dolby Digital mixes found on the official Bond releases.
Menu & Extras
Bond fans have been spoilt by the wealth of material included on the official 007 releases, making this disc something of a disappointment. Aside from an effective animated menu and the original theatrical trailer, there is virtually nothing to explore.
Overall
There can be little argument that Sean Connery remains the definitive James Bond, but his unofficial return in this remake of Thunderball is a considerable disappointment. From the moment the opening credits begin - looking more like a particularly dreadful episode of Dallas than a Bond film - you know you're in for a rather bumpy ride.
Connery's trademark dry wit is about the only thing that keeps the film afloat, while Klaus Maria Brandauer makes a suitably eccentric Largo and Barbara Carrera clearly enjoys every minute as the unhinged Fatima Blush. Unfortunately the sluggish pacing, uninspired action sequences and increasingly implausible attempts to convince us that a fifty-something Bond can still perform superhuman feats and attract women who are old enough to be his daughter make the film feel more like a parody than a genuine 007 adventure.
Perhaps that's inevitable when revisiting a story that had already been filmed far more successfully as Thunderball. Despite a handful of enjoyable moments and the novelty of seeing Connery back in the tuxedo, this is one Bond outing I'll happily leave on the shelf. A film for Bond fans only.
Special features
- Theatrical Trailer
