Thunderball versus You Only Live Twice

IcePak · November 2016

It's pretty much unanimous that Diamonds Are Forever is Connery's worst Bond film. However, discounting the unofficial NSNA, which is the next weakest?

For me it's hard to decide between Thunderball and You Only Live Twice.

While Connery is still in fine form in Thunderball, Fiona Volpe is a wonderful femme fatale, and the film retains the essence of the novel, the suspense needed to keep audiences entertained is ruined by showing us exactly what the villains are up to, meaning the film simply follows Bond from one situation to another without much intrigue. Moreover, the film contains a huge supporting cast of secondary characters who, due to the massive number of them, are never fleshed out and come across as one dimensional. And no one wants to sit through the tedium of the underwater sequences more than once.

You Only Live Twice, on the other hand, strays completely from the source material and has probably the most outlandish story in the series (next to Moonraker and Die Another Day). Further, Connery delivers his most wooden performance in the series and Helga Brandt is a poor and short lived Fiona Volpe rip off. Still, the hollowed out volcano lair is spectacular, John Barry's score is one of his best, and Donald Pleasance gives a sinister interpretation of Blofeld.

What do others think of these two films? Which do you think is superior?

Matt S · November 2016

I think You Only Live Twice is better than Thunderball. It's ridiculous, but I appreciate that.

Chriscoop · November 2016

Thunderball has long been one of my most watched bond films, i love the location, the score, the suiting and I simply love sc's demeanour, from him stopping to throw the flowers on bouviers body to pinching the grapes from the fruit bowl. The fight scene at the end is a bit comical, but every summer thunderball gets a viewing.
YOLT is on a par with sc's other films, it has a brilliant score and is so outlandish it's brilliant, love the roof top fight sequence, Blofelds lair is incredible and when it was first released must have been mind-blowing. Only draw back I have is the whole Austin powers thing!

Napoleon Plural · November 2016

NSNA is an abomination.

The others may not always be great Bond films, but they are a matter of taste. I mean, I very much enjoy DAF, the jokes are great. YOLT is great for spectacle if you like all that (but of course the spectacle has dated somewhat now) and TB falls between two stools a bit, not being able to be taken quite seriously, but getting bogged down in running though the pedestrian plot esp for the second half.

Both TB and YOLT do suffer from the inevitability of the big reveal/action showdown at the end which palls on repeated viewing. Films like FRWL, LALD, OP and TLD benefit to some extend by not having that.

chrisisall · November 2016

Thunderball has a lot going for it, but in the end You Only Live Twice is just more fun. Funny, my Son thoroughly dislikes TB (AND GF) because he says Bond is too rapey in them... 8-)

The Domino Effect · November 2016

I love TB. One of my all-time fave Bonds although with tighter editing I think it could be a lot better, whereas YOLT is one of my least favourite of all Bonds. I actually even prefer DAF to YOLT! Yes it's far-fetched, but my main problem with YOLT is Connery. I find him generally distracted and disinterested and I just can't get over his toupee.

Wadsy · November 2016

That's an easy vote for me, which goes to Thunderball being the winner.
Yes, both films are heavily flawed like (as someone mentioned), Bond is too rapey in TB which is extremely cringe-worthy, the film feels like a Dr No rip off, poor cinematographic quality, and long and a tad boring in places. It is definitely weaker than the previous three films, but it is still good, unlike Connery's first swan song: YOLT.

I do not like YOLT at all, though I used to. It got worse and worse on every repeat viewing and the entire thing for me feels flat and tired. The locations are nowhere near as good as before, Lewis Gilberts' unrealistic directing is a huge problem particularly in the volcano and I would even go as far as to calling it one of the worst Bond movies. The main Bond girl Kissi is among one of my least favourites, she just doesn't do anything. The PTS is pretty bad and the second half of the film up until the volcano where Bond disguised as a Japanese is both dull and bad for Connery's look. For me, YOLT has absolutely no redeeming qualities, except for Donald Pleasence's portrayal of Blofeld and the theme song.

Revolver66 · November 2016

Some interesting and differing opinions on this thread! Firstly, I absolutely love both of these films. For me they're both classics of the series and will always be pretty high up on my list of the best Bond movies. Having said that I'm going to give Thunderball the edge in this one. I just love it. I actually think the underwater cinematography is superb, and very groundbreaking for the time. Connery is excellent, the locations are amazing, there is a bevy of great Bond girls (probably the best ensemble in the series for my money) and the score is great. Plus its Spectre stealing nukes and ransoming the world in the 60s man! It doesn't get any better than that.

You Only Live Twice is a film I used to not like but I now love. It's a bit crazy and completely ridiculous but it's done so well and is so much fun it's just a blast of pure entertainment. Connery is definitely not interested however it's still great to see him as Bond and there's so much else going on around him that I can overlook his phoned in performance. Amazing sets, music, great actions scenes and the Japan setting is just brilliant.

Both films do have some flaws. Thunderball has a few pacing issues and some dodgy editing/back screen projection at the climax fight on the speedboat, however for me these are minor quibbles. I for one actually enjoy the more leisurely pace that this film takes. You Only Live Twice has some story line flaws, however it's not meant to be a serious, gritty action thriller and most Bonds have similar story line flaws so it doesn't bother me too much.

As I said I love both but Thunderball for me -{

heartbroken_mr_drax · November 2016

Both have dragged out endings, both suffer from over-indulgence. But TB has the best 1960s, Playboy feel of the lot. It's a sumptuous film that drags you wonderfully through a holiday and unlike YOLT, has a great, charismatic cast full of chemistry.

TND22 · November 2016

Depends what mood I'm in, currently Thunderball:)

Chriscoop · November 2016

TND22 wrote:

Depends what mood I'm in, currently Thunderball:)

Yes mood is everything, I wouldn't watch tb at Christmas but I would ohmss or FYEO, YOLT though is a good watch anytime

chrisisall · November 2016

Chriscoop wrote:

YOLT though is a good watch anytime

{[]

James Suzuki · November 2016

Thunderball I never use to like at all. Watched it last year and I have a new respect for it. Connery in his prime, a great Barry score and the visuals of the Bahamas. I find it really tough to compare them to be honest, but I do love the whole finale of YOLT a lot!

superado · December 2016

For me, TB is a phenomenon in which the parts are greater than the whole; I really love individual elements of it, like the PTS fight, jetpack, Tom Jones vocals, Connery in beach wear, Fiona, a cool Felix Leiter, etc., etc., but as a whole it drags a bit and falls short of being a totally bad *ss Connery Bond movie, but just a tad.

As a package, YOLT delivers as one of the more exotic Connery outings in a relatively alien setting that rivals Turkey in FRWL, as far East he'd gone and one can really feel it. Many consider its formulaic structure as a negative, but I like it because it delivers you the essence of Bond, trumping all the Bond imitator cliches flooding the cinemas at the time with its own cliches!

Napoleon Plural · December 2016

TB may have aged better than YOLT because of the better, bigger flatscreens allowing it to be seen in all its Nassau glory, while on a small standard TV it just got truncated. YOLT suffered less for being on a small screen with its different set pieces and gimmicky scenes.

welshguy34 · December 2016

Thunderball for me is the better film of the two and is one of Connery's best. I do like YOLT, especially for all the Japanese culture scenes, like the Sumo match. Diamonds are forever is my least favourite Bond film and I don't like NSNA much either.

ichaice · December 2016

Thunderball is my favourite Sean Connery Bond film and maybe my second favourite of the lot after Casino Royale.

Barbel · December 2016

TB hands down. And I'd disagree with NP's post above- YOLT really does suffer on a small screen.

CoolHandBond · December 2016

I love both films - TB was the height of Bond mania with Connery in top form and YOLT is sheer fun and spectacle from start to finish - I always tend to think one is better than the other after viewing but to me they are very close in enjoyment.

The Wicker Man · December 2016

My vote goes to Thunderball. Little niggles aside the film has class. Fiona and Domino are two of my favourite Bond girls and I think Largo makes for a menacing villain (the eye patch helps). Love the locations, characters, score and the script - the one liners really hit the mark. Connery's performance is brilliant and I even enjoy all those underwater scenes.
YOLT on the other hand while having plenty going for it (the score is right up there with the best of the series) and is a lot of fun to watch doesn't quite hold my attention like Thunderball does. Connery will always be the man but his performance here is flat, the villains are not as interesting (Blofeld aside who doesn't get that much screen time). And the whole turning Japanese thing... Jeez. But that volcano lair and final battle, still amazes after all this time.

zaphod99 · December 2016

The Wicker Man wrote:

My vote goes to Thunderball. Little niggles aside the film has class. Fiona and Domino are two of my favourite Bond girls and I think Largo makes for a menacing villain (the eye patch helps). Love the locations, characters, score and the script - the one liners really hit the mark. Connery's performance is brilliant and I even enjoy all those underwater scenes.
YOLT on the other hand while having plenty going for it (the score is right up there with the best of the series) and is a lot of fun to watch doesn't quite hold my attention like Thunderball does. Connery will always be the man but his performance here is flat, the villains are not as interesting (Blofeld aside who doesn't get that much screen time). And the whole turning Japanese thing... Jeez. But that volcano lair and final battle, still amazes after all this time.

Thunderball for all its faults has a real gloss to it. Bizarrely YOLT looks cheap by comparison. Also Fiona is a major benefit. Connery looks great (despite the dodgy rug) and I love the PTS.

CoolHandBond · December 2016

zaphod99 wrote:

The Wicker Man wrote:

My vote goes to Thunderball. Little niggles aside the film has class. Fiona and Domino are two of my favourite Bond girls and I think Largo makes for a menacing villain (the eye patch helps). Love the locations, characters, score and the script - the one liners really hit the mark. Connery's performance is brilliant and I even enjoy all those underwater scenes.
YOLT on the other hand while having plenty going for it (the score is right up there with the best of the series) and is a lot of fun to watch doesn't quite hold my attention like Thunderball does. Connery will always be the man but his performance here is flat, the villains are not as interesting (Blofeld aside who doesn't get that much screen time). And the whole turning Japanese thing... Jeez. But that volcano lair and final battle, still amazes after all this time.

Thunderball for all its faults has a real gloss to it. Bizarrely YOLT looks cheap by comparison. Also Fiona is a major benefit. Connery looks great (despite the dodgy rug) and I love the PTS.

YOLT and cheap do not belong in the same sentence. I agree with most of what TWM says apart from Connery being flat - I agree that it is a lesser performance than the first four but it still holds up very nicely.

Oakvale · December 2016

I think that Thunderball is objectively the better film, but You Only Live Twice is the better Bond movie and my personal favorite between the two. The cast of characters and side villains in YOLT is far better than Thunderball (Mr. Osato).

chrisisall · December 2016

Oakvale wrote:

I think that Thunderball is objectively the better film, but You Only Live Twice is the better Bond movie and my personal favorite between the two. The cast of characters and side villains in YOLT is far better than Thunderball (Mr. Osato).

I agree, but really, they're both very cool. -{

blame_thatcher · December 2016

You Only Live Twice is the weaker of the two films, but more enjoyable to watch. Thunderball is frequently lumbering, bloated and tedious.

welshboy78 · December 2016

Thunderball easy!

Paradise
Best Bond Girls
A Vulcan Bomber
Largo!

chrisisall · December 2016

But YOLT has....
"KILL BOND! NOW!!"

Thunderball versus You Only Live Twice

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