SPECTRE returns in grand style in this movie, with the dastardly plan of stealing a couple of nukes in a bid to hold the world to ransom. Less than 20 years after the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, such a premise would have held audiences deeply in its thrall.
Following from
Goldfinger was a tall order, but as we’re whisked from English health spas to
yachts cruising in the Bahamas we’re soon sucked into another Bond classic. As
I mentioned in my review of Dr. No, Thunderball was originally going to be the
first Bond movie, but producers had to deal with copyright issues so they
changed their minds. Would James Bond history be different if Thunderball had
been first in 1962?
Known for its
lengthy underwater scenes, which many have criticised for being too long,
Thunderball offers us plenty of lethal spearguns and underwater battles, not to
mention the spectacle of Sean Connery flying a jet pack. This surely pushes the
bounds of realism ever so slightly, but I’m all for that and think Daniel Craig
in a jet pack might have helped both Skyfall and Spectre, but that’s another
story for another day.
After attending a
funeral in France, Bond ends up chasing Emilio Largo and his eye-patch around the Bahamas before getting kidnapped, escaping, and then working with US Navy SEALS to bring Largo down. But Largo is having none of it, and makes a break for it on his ship, the Disco Volante. Of course, Bond eventually gets on top and ends the plan to annihilate Miami... and all's well in the end.
Nice co-starring roles from a BSA motorbike and of course the Aston DB5 also add some class and excitement to what is still, even after all these years, a good fun film.
My rating: 8/10
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