I’ve got to admit, I was slightly disappointed by Thunderball on this rewatch.

It has the usual flair of the Connery Bonds, and the opening sequence is spectacular but the central storyline is lacking. Domino is a forgettable Bond girl and the villain has an incredible look but not much interesting character development. We spent so many short stints around the evil lair, I feel like it would have been better to have one or two major sequences there instead. 

The location is great, and Connery sports his best outfits of the series. It also has the SPECTRE conference room which is impossible to watch without thinking of Austin Powers. The underwater fight sequences alternate between grand and slow. It’s very impressive that they were able to pull it off but it doesn’t make much sense why both sides would set up for an underwater battle. It’s hard to make the hits feel real the same way they would on land.

Why would I rate this so high if I have so many problems with it? Because I just love James Bond. I’m not loyal to many franchises but I’m just here for whatever they turn out, and the movie still has an energy to it that is irresistible. With Connery being charming and seducing women and fighting bad guys, there is a high floor. That floor though is really going to be tested with Diamonds are Forever and Never Say Never Again, a direct remake of Thunderball. All things considered it’s kind of a middle of the road Bond with some real highlights.

I’ve got to admit, I was slightly disappointed by Thunderball on this rewatch.

It has the usual flair of the Connery Bonds, and the opening sequence is spectacular but the central storyline is lacking. Domino is a forgettable Bond girl and the villain has an incredible look but not much interesting character development. We spent so many short stints around the evil lair, I feel like it would have been better to have one or two major sequences there instead. 

The location is great, and Connery sports his best outfits of the series. It also has the SPECTRE conference room which is impossible to watch without thinking of Austin Powers. The underwater fight sequences alternate between grand and slow. It’s very impressive that they were able to pull it off but it doesn’t make much sense why both sides would set up for an underwater battle. It’s hard to make the hits feel real the same way they would on land.

Why would I rate this so high if I have so many problems with it? Because I just love James Bond. I’m not loyal to many franchises but I’m just here for whatever they turn out, and the movie still has an energy to it that is irresistible. With Connery being charming and seducing women and fighting bad guys, there is a high floor. That floor though is really going to be tested with Diamonds are Forever and Never Say Never Again, a direct remake of Thunderball. All things considered it’s kind of a middle of the road Bond with some real highlights.

This one was a little boring.

This one was a little boring.

Upon this last rewatch, I’ve grown to really love this film. It’s still not my favourite Sean Connery Bond film, but I like it’s definitely moved up in my ranking.

Also, this film has one of my favourite title tracks of the series, it’s sooooo good.

Upon this last rewatch, I’ve grown to really love this film. It’s still not my favourite Sean Connery Bond film, but I like it’s definitely moved up in my ranking.

Also, this film has one of my favourite title tracks of the series, it’s sooooo good.

Opening a conversation with a widow with a punch is not my first idea as conversation starter. But I guess it works 🤷‍♂️

How the hell do they always end up in the water on a boat or life preserver

Opening a conversation with a widow with a punch is not my first idea as conversation starter. But I guess it works 🤷‍♂️

How the hell do they always end up in the water on a boat or life preserver

The only Bond movie (so far) that I find genuinely boring thanks to the underwater sequences which go on for too long and slow the pacing down to a halt.

Title Song - 10/10, Really hypes you up for the movie. +1 Bonus point for the pre title sequence being hilarious.
Bond - 7/10, Great as usual, sadly not even he can save me from falling asleep.
Bond girl - 5/10 - I like that she avenged her brother
Villain(s) -5/10, - Largo is nothing special. Fiona saves him with +3 points. She deserved way more screentime.
Fun factor - 4/10, The movie is fun in the first half, but has constant pacing issues in the middle and end parts, most of those are the underwater sequences. This really drags the movie down for me. The most glaring problem is how we know the villain's whole plan before Bond even makes it to the main location, so the movie relies solely on its villains, which aren't that interesting.

OVERALL : 3 ⭐
The song really saves this movie.

Favorite scene: The pre title sequence, cool twist, awesome fight and the jetpack is just amazing.

The only Bond movie (so far) that I find genuinely boring thanks to the underwater sequences which go on for too long and slow the pacing down to a halt.

Title Song - 10/10, Really hypes you up for the movie. +1 Bonus point for the pre title sequence being hilarious.
Bond - 7/10, Great as usual, sadly not even he can save me from falling asleep.
Bond girl - 5/10 - I like that she avenged her brother
Villain(s) -5/10, - Largo is nothing special. Fiona saves him with +3 points. She deserved way more screentime.
Fun factor - 4/10, The movie is fun in the first half, but has constant pacing issues in the middle and end parts, most of those are the underwater sequences. This really drags the movie down for me. The most glaring problem is how we know the villain's whole plan before Bond even makes it to the main location, so the movie relies solely on its villains, which aren't that interesting.

OVERALL : 3 ⭐
The song really saves this movie.

Favorite scene: The pre title sequence, cool twist, awesome fight and the jetpack is just amazing.