Movie Info:
Writer: Ian Fleming, Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham
Director: Terence Young
Cast: Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi, Rik Van Nutter, Guy Doleman, Molly Peters, Martine Beswick, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell, Roland Culver
Rating: PG
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Info:
Theatrical Release: December 29, 1965
DVD Release Date: October 21, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $23.95
If you look up the term Thunderball in the dictionary you will see that it’s a term used by soldiers to describe the mushroom cloud that was seen during atomic bomb testing. Anyone that has seen a James Bond movie and the terrorist cells that he often fights should think this is a fair title. Like in every Bond film, you can expect a healthy dose of action, espionage, and excitement from the classiest, most debonair spy there ever was.
Thunderball has the distinction of being the one Bond film that won a special effects Oscar. In 1966, John Stears won for Best Effects at the Academy Awards for Thunderball. While other Bond films have been nominated, this was the only one to win. The effects may not seem as impressive as something you might see these days, but for what was available at the time they are quite impressive.
Thanks to the success of all of the previous Bond films, Thunderball had a bigger budget than all of the previous films combined. Connery made a bigger contribution to this film, as many of the stunts were done by him rather than stuntmen like in the previous films. Some of the most notable stunts include the opening scene and the underwater scene with the sharks. Originally, there was a wall around Connery to protect him, but the wall only went so high. So, when the fear became evident in Connery’s reactions it was completely real and a shark was getting too close for comfort.
This was the fourth Bond film to make it to the big screen. It was not only a success, but it showed how powerful the series could become, as it was bigger than all three films before it combined. The film earned over $140 million worldwide and broke box office records in numerous countries. It’s hard to deny the success of the franchise and it’s more than obvious why these movies are still made decades later.
There was no question that Connery would play Bond, but the role of Domino Derval did have a number of possible actresses lining up or being considered for the part. Julie Christie was immediately considered, but the idea didn’t pan out once the filmmakers had a chance to meet with her. Raquel Welch was next in line, and though they did like her, they agreed to let her go so that she could do Fantastic Voyage instead. Even Faye Dunaway was considered. After going through a string of European talent, Miss France, Claudine Auger was finally cast.
This is the final film that Terence Young would direct in the Bond franchise. It’s also one of the best of the early Bond films. If you’re a Connery Bond fan it won’t get much better than this. If you prefer Roger Moore, you still should be able to appreciate this, if nothing else.
The Thunderball Plot
In this, the fourth installment of the Bond series, Bond brings out the action immediately when he takes out a SPECTRE agent that is involved in a faux funeral. Soon after, it is learned that the SPECTRE organization has hatched an evil plot to destroy the world. The group commandeered a British Vulcan bomber that was holding two atomic bombs. These bombs are what will be used for ransom. If SPECTRE doesn’t receive $100 Million then the bombs will be detonated and the world will suffer their wrath. Naturally, it is up to Bond (Connery) and the other 00 agents to stop this from happening.
Bond travels all over the world to save millions of people from harm, ending up in the Bahamas where the plane is found. Of course, finding the plane isn’t enough. There is still plenty of work to do. Bond ends up hooking up with Dominique “Domino” Derval (Auger), which leads him to SPECTRE. He has quite a task ahead of him and as the clock ticks down, the question of whether or not he will save a coastal city and its inhabitants remains to be seen.
If you like Bond, you’re going to love this movie. The action is intense and the acting is better than it’s ever been in the series to this point. Connery doesn’t disappoint for a second and the rest of the cast does a competent, if not outstanding job. As usual, it’s the incredibly action that makes this movie what it is. Watching Bond get into and out of amazing situations is what makes this series so much fun. Of course, the sexy Bond girls and the tricked out cars certainly don’t hurt the series either.
We all know how the show ends, even if you haven’t seen it, because there are many more Bond movies to come. That being said, Thunderball is still worth watching and owning. Connery is one of many Bonds though he is certainly the best. He was part of the initial success and this new release deserves to be celebrated for its entertaining nature and the amazing quality that makes the movie look almost brand new.
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Audio/Visual:
Thunderball looks better than it ever has. This blu ray is so gorgeous that it is hard to do it justice with mere words and screenshots. The folks that did the remastering went all out and it truly shows in each specific frame. Thunderball is presented in the original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and it’s been encoded with AVC. This is a top of the line blu ray presentation with details so crisp it will be hard to imagine this is a film that was made in the 60s. The colors are gorgeous, the detail is staggeringly clear, and there is not one noticeable speck that is misplaced. It does not get better than this presentation, blu ray or otherwise.
The audio presentation of Thunderball is not as impressive as the video, but it’s definitely amazing for a film that is as old as this one is. The speakers rumble to life thanks to the 24 bit DTS-HD audio. The action sequences are clear and forceful, the score is simply amazing, and the dialogue is consistent throughout. If you’re looking at the fact that this is a 40+ year old movie the audio should get five stars on that alone. Of course, there are some rare moments when the sound tends to waver. Still, this is an amazing track. Also included are the original theatrical track, tracks in Spanish and French, and subtitles in English and Spanish.
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Bonus Features:
Say what you will about many of the recent Blu Rays that have been released by MGM, but Thunderball special features section is more like a work of art than you would expect. The time that went into these DVDs is hard to imagine. A number of the special features were redone in HD, which is amazing considering the age of many of these features. Rather than go on and on about how great they are, you can find more information about them if you keep reading.
“The Thunderball Phenomenon” is one of the numerous features available in HD. This particular documentary deals with the film and how it was being released during a Bond merchandising event. High points discussed are how the soundtrack was released prior to the score of the film being finished and how songs were switched around. There is a ton of artwork here that’s great to look at, as well even if the documentary doesn’t appeal to you.
“The Making of Thunderball” is also in HD and lasts nearly as long as “Phenomenon” at just under 30 minutes long. Actors and crew are interviewed for this feature with a variety of topics being discussed. Some of the most common discussions revolve around the films legal troubles, various portions of the film itself, and the casting process (various tests were done with famous actresses to fill the role of Domino). Bond fans will enjoy this making of and all the information that is offered during the playing.
Other HD features include “The Secret History of Thunderball“, which shows the differences of the various film releases and discusses the issue of differing audio, there is an alternate title sequence, a bit about “Locations” that looks at all of the spots used in the film, and “007 Mission Control”, which lumps together a little bit of everything from popular sequences to characters in the film.
John Cork moderates both audio commentaries that are offered. While there are other people in the commentaries, Cork seems to stand out far more than anyone else. Both commentaries are a little out of place. Both offer viewpoints from a number of people. The first is more like a series of interviews with the speakers only giving a brief look at their thoughts on the film or scene they are discussing. The second track seems to have a slower pace and appears more technical in nature. If I had to pick a better track, I would say the second is better than the first, though both suffer from their own flaws.
The other features in this section have been carried over from other releases of this film. They were not remastered and it shows in the quality. These features include “The Incredible World of James Bond”, an hour long television special that promoted James Bond and the entire film franchise, the promotional, short film, “A Child’s Guide to Blowing up a Motor Car” and “On Location with Ken Adam,” which is a series of home movies that looks at location scouting among other things. A couple of smaller featurettes are available in “Billy Suitor: The Rocket Man Movies” and the “Thunderball Boat Show Reel.”
“Ministry of Propaganda” takes a list of all the promotional items that the series spawned. A number of radio spots are included, as well as a few commercials for Bond merchandise that was popular around the release of the film. Some photo galleries and a free movie ticket to Quantum of Solace round out this extensive list of special features.
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Bottom Line:
The underwater setting that is used in much of this Bond film was quite interesting. Bond fans will revel in this and the other five Bond Blu-Ray movies available with this one. The picture and sound quality are excellent, there are too many special features to name, and the movie is quite entertaining. Connery does a fabulous job. Previous Bond releases were unsatisfying based on poor audio and video quality, but that won’t be the case here. Thunderball should meet or beat every expectation that you have in this blu-ray. If you are a fan or have one in your life, this will make the perfect gift. If you aren’t sure by now, this one comes highly recommended.
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Technorati Tags: James Bond, Ian Fleming, 007, Thunderball, Blu Ray, Movie Review, Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Luciana Paluzzi, Martine Beswick, Lois Maxwell
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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.
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