Thunderball [Blu-Ray]

Thunderball [Blu-Ray]

BY Robert BellPublished Nov 10, 2008

By the time Thunderball, the fourth Bond film, rolled out, the formula was essentially complete, featuring a mostly irrelevant and overdone opening fight sequence involving a man in drag and a jet pack, a lengthy title sequence with naked women swimming around to a sassy Tom Jones ditty and a much smarmier Bond sexually harassing anything with tits. After spending a good 20 minutes all but nude in a spa, tied to slightly perverse stretch tables and banging feisty nurses in steam rooms, Bond (Sean Connery) takes off to Nassau for some underwater spy adventures. The reason: SPECTRE is extorting money from the British government by threatening to detonate nuclear warheads on an unknown city somewhere in the world. When not dealing with flesh-eating sharks and various doe-eyed lasses (Claudine Auger), Bond figures out that the missiles are aimed at Miami and rushes in to save the day. At no point is there any doubt that any expense was spared in the production of this particular entry, as the action is better than ever before and the underwater sequences are quite impressive, for their time. This is certainly one of the stronger entries into the Bond legacy, aware of both its tongue-in-cheek hokum and sleuthing spy necessities. The Blu-Ray includes the same previously available commentaries and interview clips, as narrated by John Cork of the Ian Fleming foundation. Like all commentaries of this sort, they’re dry but informative. Hardcore fans will likely already be familiar with them. Featurettes include a 50-minute 1965 NBC special titled "The Incredible World of James Bond,” which, as one can imagine, is much like many old school TV specials designed to sell a movie. Also included are "A Child’s Guide to Blowing up a Motor Car,” which is again vintage, and "On Location with Ken Adam,” which is a look at the Thunderball sets. Extra footage from the rocket sequence is available, as is a promo for a boat show.
(MGM)

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