Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2258 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-04-23
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English, French, German
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 128 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
After years of enduring Roger Moore in the role of James Bond, it was good to have Sean Connery back in 1983 for Never Say Never Again, a one-time-only trip down 007's memory lane. Connery's Bond, a bit of a dinosaur in the British secret service at (then) 52, is still in demand during times of crisis. Sadly, the film is not very good. In this rehash of Thunderball, Bond is pitted against a worthy underwater villain (Klaus Maria Brandauer); and while the requisite Bond Girls include beauties Kim Basinger and Barbara Carrera, they can't save the movie. The script has several truly dumb passages, among them a (gasp) video-game duel between 007 and his nemesis that now looks utterly anachronistic. For Connery fans, however, this widescreen print of the Irvin Kershner (The Empire Strikes Back) film is a chance to say a final goodbye to a perfect marriage of actor and character. --Tom Keogh

Special Features
16:9 Wide Screen
DVD 9
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital Surround English
Dolby Digital Surround
Original Theatrical Trailer
Featurette
English

Synopsis
In this remake and updated version of the 1965 THUNDERBALL, James Bond (Sean Connery), who has been primarily teaching for the last few years, is quite happily yanked out of semiretirement to deal with the deadly SPECTRE organization's newest plan for the destruction of the planet. (The Bond story line mimics Connery's semiretirement from the role, which he had last played in 1971's DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER.) Agent Number 2, also known as Maximilian Largo (Klaus Maria Brandauer), has managed to steal two cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads, and Agent Number 1, Blofeld (Max von Sydow), has threatened to explode them in areas with large populations if a huge, and almost impossible, ransom demand from the NATO countries is not met. The film features an excellent gaming battle between Largo and Bond, as well as stunning turns by Barbara Carrera and Kim Basinger. Technically not an offical Bond movie, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN was released around the same time as OCTOPUSSY, starring Roger Moore.

Customer Reviews

Finally my Bond collection is complete!
I know many people are disappointed with this film, but I have to say I kinda like it. I watch Bond flicks frequently, and I've returned to this one over and over again. In fact, the more I watch it the more I like it. It's entertaining, Sean (excuse me, SIR Sean) is in his prime, and the settings are very beautiful. Overall a wise purchase I would say. Hey, there's a hilarious scene where Sean poses as a masseur in order to extract information from Kim Basinger! I laughed and laughed...

A unique Bond movie and to be enjoyed as such
When Kevin McClory teamed up with the Eon company to make the movie Thunderball in 1965 he was contractually obliged not to exercise his rights to the James Bond character for ten years, Sure enough in 1975 McClory started pitching a 007 script titled Warhead to all the competing studios, but it wasn't until 1983 that Never Say Never Again actually made it to the silver screen opening opposite the lame Roger Moore vehicle Octopussy. Never Say Never Again (a title suggested by Sean Connery's wife) has on display a variation of the plot that McClory had produced almost 20 years earlier. There are slight differences and the look of the film bears a stark contrast to the EON produced series. Despite a rather slim plot, the movie does showcase one the best villains of any Bond movie with the brilliant Klaus Maria Brandeur hamming it up as the megalomaniacal Largo. In addition to his sterling performance and a (too short) appearance by Max Von Sydow as Blofeld, there is the delicious Barbara Carrera as the villainess, a role that allows her to frolic around in various stages of undress. Not to be outdone the movie also features an early performance by Kim Basinger as the "Bond girl" and her character seems to display more depth than either Maud Adams or Kristina Wayborn were able to convey in the rival EON movie of that year. After the movie was obtained by MGM-UA (the company that produces the EON production) there was talk among fans as to the possibility of the gun barrel sequence being added to make it part of the "canon", I for one do not think that this unique James Bond 007 movie should be tampered with in that manner and was equally happy to see it emerge on DVD. I heartily recommend this movie

Don't be too hard on Sean
I read all the reviews of this Bond film and think folk are being a little hard. Yes, it is no "Goldfinge"r or "For Your Eyes Only" but it is a good film nonetheless. The point about Connery looking old is the 'point' methinks. Bond has been through a hard life (being orphaned, expulsion from school, becomming widowed etc. See learn your facts before criticising) and it is this hard life that shows in the film. Although a superhero he is still human!!
And the criticism about no action scenes??? What film were you watching?? There is a wonderful motorbike sequence, a great horse ride and a super Bondesque fight scene with none other than Pat Roach (The huge wrestler from Aufweidersein Pet.) Also for Coronation Street fans the late Maxine Peacock's mother is in it!!!!!!! (but don't let that put you off)
I am not old enough to remember Connery first time round but believe this is a worthy edition to the 'proper' James Bond films. As for the on line reports about Connery acting like a dirty old man, I know many girls around 25 years old who still say he is the sexiest man on earth some 20 years after the film, so there.