Review of Never Say Never Again (1983) by Vijay L — 20 Nov 2010

Hilarious spoof of the Bond franchise with Bond played by Sean Connery again. The story is the same as Thunderball, with a few adjustments. The moviemakers play around, allowing some scenes and characters to be quite over-the-top, while some others are made more realistic than their licensed Bond counterparts.

Bond is clearly aged and showing it (at least at the start, when it is of interest to show his age). He is also off fieldwork and now 'teaching'. The new M is an incompetent. He sends Bond to a resort to 'improve his health' ("Free radicals!"). Q, on the other hand is a bit more cynical - and it is learned that his inventions can blow up in one's face.

SPECTRE is alternately shown as over-the-top and as realistic. Femme fatale Fatima shows up in absolutely wacky outfits. Blofeld is totally unmysterious, his face is visible and he does not execute any of his own staff. His evil has to be recognised by the actions of his organisation, not by hiding his face. Even the main villain Largo is much more humanly evil, not crazy.

The most shocking scene come early in the movie: Bond is actually shown researching at his computer - something that the Bond of the movie has not been seen doing before or since. Don't expect a Bond movie as you know it.