When I first watched THUNDERBALL, I found it a big comedown after the excellent GOLDFINGER. I didn't care for the underwater sequences and found it overlong. This is, however, a strong Bond film for the female characters, with no less than three important women popping up during the film's course. The first is sexy assassin Luciana Paluzzi, the second the pneumatic femme fatale Claudine Auger whose red-headed fieriness is one of the film's highlights. The third female is the beautiful Martine Beswick, only a couple of years away from her Hammer debut and looking fine as usual. Adolfo Celi is a passable villain who feeds the odd enemy to his pet sharks (!); the rest of the cast is packed with familiar and welcome faces, so there's no fault there.
Of course, it's as well made as usual, with good effects, gorgeous scenery in the Caribbean setting, cool music and fine acting from Connery and co. On my second viewing, I realised that the stylish underwater sequences (shot by Ricou Browning, no less) actually make THUNDERBALL stand out from the crowd by offering something new. The ending manages to feel fresh and exciting and with an increased level of violence, with all manner of bloody stabbings and impalings that wouldn't be allowed were the action taking place above ground. Sure, the sped-up action is a little cheesy, but then that's all part of the fun.
Of course, it's as well made as usual, with good effects, gorgeous scenery in the Caribbean setting, cool music and fine acting from Connery and co. On my second viewing, I realised that the stylish underwater sequences (shot by Ricou Browning, no less) actually make THUNDERBALL stand out from the crowd by offering something new. The ending manages to feel fresh and exciting and with an increased level of violence, with all manner of bloody stabbings and impalings that wouldn't be allowed were the action taking place above ground. Sure, the sped-up action is a little cheesy, but then that's all part of the fun.