Never Say Never Again -james Bond 007- «Popular · 2025»
However, Kershner clashed constantly with the producers. McClory wanted a pure remake; Connery wanted to deconstruct the myth; Kershner wanted a psychological thriller. The result is a fascinating Frankenstein. The tone lurches violently from cartoonish (Fatima Blush feeding a man to a shark via a waterslide) to grim (Bond strangling a man with a medical respirator).
The narrative mirrors Thunderball but with a contemporary, self-aware twist. An aging, bypassed James Bond is languishing as an instructor, deemed a relic of the Cold War by a new, bureaucratic M (Edward Fox). When SPECTRE executes a brilliant plan to steal two American cruise missiles via a surgically altered pilot, MI6 is forced to reactivate Bond.
To direct this alternative Bond, the producers hired Irvin Kershner, fresh off his monumental success with The Empire Strikes Back . This choice signaled that Never Say Never Again would not just be a cheap imitation, but a sophisticated, character-driven blockbusters. A Different Kind of 007: Plot and Tone
“Bait,” Bond said. “She’s proud. She will respond to a challenge.”
Released in 1983, is one of only two feature-length James Bond films produced outside of the official Eon Productions series. It marked the high-profile return of Sean Connery as 007, twelve years after his previous outing in Diamonds Are Forever (1971). The film was directed by Irvin Kershner and served as an unofficial remake of Thunderball (1965). The "Battle of the Bonds" Never Say Never Again -James Bond 007-
“Retirement’s a rumor,” Bond replied. He kept his gun low, the tense courtesy of a man betting on conversation before violence. “You can still walk away.”
They are more "prototype" in nature, fitting the theme of an aging spy in a changing world.
Released in 1983, Never Say Never Again is a unique entry in the James Bond series, famously known as the "unofficial" 007 film because it was produced outside of Eon Productions
Activated back into service, Bond travels to the Bahamas and the French Riviera to infiltrate Largo's inner circle, seduce his beautiful mistress Domino Petachi (Kim Basinger), and locate the missing warheads. The Distinct Vibe of an Unofficial Bond Film However, Kershner clashed constantly with the producers
Produced by Jack Schwartzman and executive produced by Kevin McClory under Taliafilm.
To understand Never Say Never Again , you have to understand the legal battle over Thunderball (1965). Author Ian Fleming wrote the novel Thunderball based on a film treatment he had co-authored with Kevin McClory and Jack Whittingham. When legal issues arose regarding screen rights, McClory was awarded the literary and film rights to the story in 1963.
Upon release, the film was a box-office success, earning over $160 million worldwide.
exists because one man sued Ian Fleming, another writer stole a script, and a Scottish former milkman decided that “never” was just a suggestion. It is the film that shouldn’t exist, starring the man who said he wouldn’t return, fighting a villain from a book he didn’t originally write. The tone lurches violently from cartoonish (Fatima Blush
The year 1983 stands as a unique anomaly in cinematic history, hosting a box-office battle colloquially known as the "Battle of the Bonds." In one corner stood Octopussy , the official fourteenth installment of the Eon Productions franchise starring Roger Moore. In the other stood Never Say Never Again , an unorthodox, non-Eon James Bond film that marked the miraculous return of Sean Connery to the role that made him a global icon.
Bond didn't turn. He recognized the scent: jasmine and danger. Fatima Blush stepped into the light, her eyes gleaming with the predatory sparked of a woman who enjoyed her work too much.
. Ironically, Connery was three years younger than the "official" Bond of the time, Roger Moore Key Differences from "Official" Bond Films
The film is a time capsule of ego, legal absurdity, and creative risk. It is not a great Bond film. It is arguably not even a good Bond film by the standards of Goldfinger or Casino Royale . But it is a fascinating Bond film.
You can currently stream "Never Say Never Again" on various platforms, including:
The film currently holds a 6.1/10 rating on IMDb. Modern criticism often focuses on what the film lacks: the iconic James Bond theme, the classic gun-barrel opening, and the polished sheen of an Eon production. However, it is also praised for its "great cast" and for being a "good substitute" for the real thing.