jab@uokvax.UUCP (10/09/83)
#N:uokvax:3900001:000:529 uokvax!jab Oct 7 22:41:00 1983 I haven't seen that much about the new James Bond flick, "Never Say Never Again", so here goes... Gene Siskel's review (Chicago Tribune) claims that "they turned back the clock" and created a James Bond movie in the spirit of the 1960's Bond movies. Siskel dismissed the Roger Moore movies as "forgetable" and gave this movie three-and-a-half stars. I wouldn't know; I never saw a James Bond movie with Sean Connery before this. All I know is that I found the movie *QUITE* entertaining and recommend it as a "good $4 show".
ber@gummo.UUCP (10/09/83)
#R:uokvax:3900001:gummo:34600001:000:97 gummo!ber Oct 9 14:44:00 1983 Is it more than coincidence that the plot was almostly exactly the same as that of Thunderball.
hstrop@mhuxt.UUCP (10/10/83)
The plot of Never Say Never Again and Thunderball were intended to be essentially identical. Because of legal restrictions, the story for Thunderball was the only 'Bond' story available to Connery, et. al. I saw the film this past weekend and enjoyed it very much. In many ways it is reminiscent of the Dr. No and From Russia With Love films. I especially enjoyed the performances of Barbara Carrera and the actor who played Largo(can't recall his name right now.) By the way, the character of Felix Lieter, the CIA agent, has been played by FOUR previous actors prior to this film, one being Jack Lord in Dr. No. Harvey S. Trop mhuxt!hstrop
ajy@hou2b.UUCP (10/11/83)
A few months ago somebody had an explanation of why there were two Bond movies this year. I don't remember exactly but I think the rights to Thunderball are not owned by the company that owns the rights to most of the Bond stories. Thus, the company puting out "Never Say Never Again" must have owned or had access to the "Thunderball" rights and could do what they pleased. I presume thay did not have the rights to the Bond music, which is why it isn't heard in "Never Say Never Again". Come to think of it, the original "Thunderball" didn't have the Bond theme, either. Ken Kretsch hou2b!ajy
bill@hp-pcd.UUCP (10/12/83)
#R:uokvax:3900001:hp-pcd:6500016:000:948 hp-pcd!bill Oct 11 10:38:00 1983 No, it's not coincidence, because "Never Say Never ..." IS essentially a remake of "Thunderball". I read that the exclusive rights to the original "Thunderball" only lasted 15 years or so, and recently ran out, thereby making it legal for someone else to do a remake (I don't recall if "Never" is a Broccoli-Saltzman production). Anyway, whoever did "Never" figured that the original Bond (Sean Connery, I don't count Niven) is still the best Bond, and I have to agree. I'm not sure about the title, but supposedly when Connery finished his last Bond film 10 or 15 years ago, he said something to the effect of "Never again." The next Bond film was "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", the first and last with George Lazenby as James Bond. In the middle of filming "On Her Majesty's ..." Lazenby apparently started making unreasonable demands ($$$) about his *next* film, which, consequently, they didn't let him make. bill frolik hp-pcd!bill