Review of Thunderball (1965) by Stuart K — 04 Sep 2011

He 4th Bond film, and the one that's been the subject of long and convulated legal complexities. But, after the success of Goldfinger (1964), that gave the producers enough clout to make the next one their biggest Bond film yet.

It still stands the test of time, and it did break ground with it's underwater photography and sequences, plus to this day, it's still the most financially successful Bond of them all. This one has SPECTRE stealing two atomic bombs from a NATO flight, in an operation led by SPECTRE agent Emile Largo (Aldolfo Ceri).

Meanwhile, Bond (Sean Connery) is recuperating at a health spa, and he discovers strange goings on there, which are linked to the eventually theft of the bombs. This takes him to the Bahamas, where the NATO flight was light tracked near.

He investigates where the jet went, who is responsible and follows up leads. While this Bond is not very big on plot, (about a third of the film takes place underwater), and when it does get to the action, it's very good and makes up for many of the films shortcomings.

Connery is as charming as ever as 007, and it has some good humour, but it would have been better without all the underwater action.