IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN SEAN CONNERY IN NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN THEN YOU HAVEN’T SEEN JAMES BOND 007!

When SPECTRE steals two nukes as part of an extortion scheme against the world, James Bond (Sean Connery) cuts his vacation short. 

This film is not part of the official Bond series as it was made by other hands. A remake of Thunderball (1965), the movie looks like it was made by people who don’t really like Bond; it is much too jokey in tone (you’d be forgiven for thinking this is a spoof) and the execution seems rather half-hearted.

Still, some of the ingredients are OK and the cast is fine; Connery will always be a terrific 007.

1983-U.K.-U.S. 137 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Irvin Kershner. Music: Michel Legrand. Cast: Sean Connery (James Bond), Klaus Maria Brandauer (Max Largo), Max von Sydow (Ernst Stavro Blofeld), Barbara Carrera, Kim Basinger, Bernie Casey, Edward Fox, Rowan Atkinson. 

Trivia: The original story for “Thunderball” was written by Ian Fleming, Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham; after a legal battle in the 1960s, McClory retained the rights to film the story. The Never Say Never Again title refers to a statement Connery made after Diamonds Are Forever (1971), where he said he would never play James Bond again. Richard Donner was offered to direct this film.