The Inconsistent Writer

Reevaluating the Sean Connery Era (1962 - 1971, 1983) NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN (1983) Directed by Irvin Kershner Written by Lorenzo Semple, Jr., Dick Clement (uncredited), Ian La Frenais (uncredited) Based On An Original Story by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, Ian Fleming Running Time: 134 minutes Since I never provided an original verdict and score for Never Say Never Again , I'll share some backstory of how this film ever happened in the first place. In 1958, Ian Fleming approached film producer Kevin McClory to help develop and produce the first James Bond motion picture. McClory didn't feel that any of Fleming's novels were very adaptable but knew that the James Bond character would translate well onto film. McClory, with the help of screenwriter Jack Whittingham, developed the new James Bond character through several treatments and screenplays resulting in Thunderball . In the two years it took to produce the film, Eon Productions swooped in and purchased

Reevaluating the Sean Connery Era (1962 - 1971, 1983) DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER (1971) Directed by Guy Hamilton Written by Richard Maibaum, Tom Mankiewicz Ian Fleming (novel) Running Time: 120 minutes Original Verdict: Because of Connery's high fee, the film's special effects budget was significantly scaled back, which was apparent on screen. Let us also not forget the "gay" assassins as well. Rating: 3 out of 5 . THE REEVALUATION The Cold Open: James Bond is on the hunt! Hunting down Blofeld for murdering his wife, or at least that's my assumption. Bond moves from henchmen to henchmen until he finally locates him at a Plastic Surgery Clinic and Spa. Disguised as a doctor, Bond is found out, has a very clumsy fight, and disposes of Blofeld in what we presume is molten clay. I guess Blofeld is now dead? It feels rushed, disheveled and completely unsatisfying. That's not how you treat a lady, double-oh seven. The Story: Diamonds Are

Reevaluating the Sean Connery Era (1962 - 1971, 1983) YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967) Directed by Lewis Gilbert Written by Roald Dahl Additional Story Material by Harold Jack Bloom Ian Fleming (novel) Running Time: 117 Original Verdict: This Bond film really wasn't my cup of tea. Besides, are we actually suppose to believe that Connery can pull off being Japanese (even for a brief period of time)? I also have a hard time believing Donald Pleasence as a serious villain. The set designs are great but when space is involved in Bond films, I have a hard time suspending my disbelief. Rating: 3 out of 5 . THE REEVALUATION The Cold Open:  All elements of this cold open are great, but it feels kind of clunky. They don't really mesh well together and I feel it would have worked better if they had recut it in this sequence: a) Gun barrel sequence, b) Bond's assassination, c) opening credit sequence, d) spacecraft hijack. But that's just my personal opinion. This col

Reevaluating the Sean Connery Era (1962 - 1971, 1983) THUNDERBALL (1965) Directed by Terence Young Written by Richard Maibaum, John Hopkins Based On An Original Screenplay by Jack Whittingham Story by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, Ian Fleming Ian Fleming (novel) Running Time: 130 minutes Original Verdict: A rather enjoyable film as Connery comfortably fills the shoes of Bond once more. However, you might not like me after stating this, but I preferred the remake Never Say Never Again released by Warner back in 1983. Rating: 4 out of 5 . THE REEVALUATION The Cold Open:  At the funeral of Colonel Jacques Bouvar, James Bond discovers that Number 6 of SPECTRE is still alive disguised as his grieving widow. Bond follows him to a château where he and Number 6 proceed to have a relatively brutal fight to the death. Bond then flees to the rooftop where he straps on a conveniently placed jet pack and narrowly escapes his pursuers. While fun, it is completely and absolute

Reevaluating the Sean Connery Era (1962 - 1971, 1983) GOLDFINGER (1964) Directed by Guy Hamilton Written by Richard Maibaum, Paul Dehn Ian Fleming (novel) Running Time: 110 minutes Original Verdict: By far my favorite Bond film and usually hailed by most fans and critics alike as the quintessential James Bond movie. Talk about gadgets: the Aston Martin DB5 makes it debut with rotating license plates, water jets, smoke screen, radar and ejector seat. Auric Goldfinger (Gert Fröbe) set the standard as the perfect Bond villain, while Oddjob became one of the best henchmen of the Bond Franchise. Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) starts the list of my Top 5 Bond Girls. Rating: 5 out of 5 . THE REEVALUATION The Cold Open: We finally get our first fully developed pre-title sequence and it's spectacular. It's everything you want in a cold open: A mission that has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the film, a well-timed explosion, the white tux reveal from un

Reevaluating the Sean Connery Era (1962 - 1971, 1983) FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963) Directed by Terence Young Written by Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood Ian Fleming (novel) Running Time: 115 minutes Original Verdict: A classic romantic adventure film with a startling opening of James Bond being killed. Includes the introduction of some of the first gadgets Bond is issued including the briefcase with hidden compartments. Also had another one of my Top 5 Bond Girls, Tatiana Romanova (Daniela Bianchi). Rating: 5 out of 5. THE REEVALUATION The Cold Open: The film opens with James Bond being tracked by a blonde-haired man through a hedge maze. This man eventually kills Bond, shocking the 1963 audience until... the bright lights kick on, a mask is removed from who we thought was Bond, and we're actually watching a live training session at night on SPECTRE Island. It's a wonderful way to open the film, which apparently suffered from some narrative issues early on d

Reevaluating the Sean Connery Era (1962 - 1971, 1983) When we last left James Bond, we were reminded that someone had to bridge the gap between Sean Connery and Roger Moore. And while that someone was kind of forgettable, the film wasn't. Now we go back to where it all started... My obsession with James Bond came in phases. Phase 1 was boyhood, where the floor to the ceiling was covered by Roger Moore (metaphorically speaking, that is). In my final year of high school, with the advent of disposable cash and trips to the mall, my James Bond obsession dramatically shifted into Phase 2. I'm not saying that I never watched a Connery Bond film before high school, I just don't immediately recall it from memory like I can with Roger Moore. As stated previously, plenty of my time and money were wasted at Suncoast , where the purchase of the then 16-title James Bond VHS Box Set in letterbox (yes, I was that nerd) lead me down the path of denying Roger Moore. And who could b