Diamonds Are Forever
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Movie Reviews of Diamonds Are Forever
Movie Review: Connery's penultimate appearance as 007 is a terrific looking DVD-still entertaining if a bit dated.
Summary: 3 Stars
Sean Connery's penultimate appearance as James Bond (his last being the "unoffical" Bond film "Never Say Never Again" a remake of "Thunderball") isn't the best Bond film but it sure is a lot of fun. Introducing the more humor infused elements that came to dominate the Roger Moore films (eventually to their detriment I might add)Ernst Blofield returns in a plot to try and dominate the world using stolen diamonds. Bond also finds himself in the crosshairs of a pair of gay killers (Bruce Glover--a marvleous character actor and Putter Smith)and pulls off some cool escapes in Las Vegas as he tries to also track down a reclusive millionaire (the late Jimmy Dean)trying to find out what the connection is between these four men. Could Blofield want...a million dollars?
"Diamonds" became the basis for the "Austin Powers" movies along with "Dr. No". It hasn't aged quite as well as some of the other Bond films but it is still fun although more than a bit sexist (hey, it's a movie of its time). The plot isn't really all that important as its really all about the one liners and action sequences and there are a couple of really good ones particularly the car chase through downtown Vegas (which looks amazingly vacant compared to today).
The DVD has a nicely done restoration by Lowry Digital and I'm looking forward (now that MGM has their legal issues behind them)to a Blu-ray release for this film. It's a pity that Sean Connery couldn't have been pulled in to be involved in the special features. The edited commentary track features director Guy Hamilton, co-screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz, composer John Barry, actors Jill St. John, Joe Robinson, Marc Lawrence, Lana Wood, Bruce Glover, Shane Rimmer, Trina Parks, Jimmy Dean and Putter Smith, production designer Ken Adam, set decorator Peter Lamont, continuity supervisor Elaine Schreyeck, stunt man George Leech and lyricist Don Black, all of which is hosted and introduced by Bond historian David Naylor.
We get a 1971 Sean Connery BBC Interview presented in fullscreen: "Lesson #007: Close Quarter Combat" focusing on the action sequences; a mini-featurette about the oil rig attack, with commentary from producer Michael Wilson; test footage of the satellite and commentary from Wilson; one minute, 53 seconds of explosion test footage, again presented in anamorphic widescreen with commentary from Wilson; alternate/expanded scenes of the following sequences--elevator fight, moonbuggy chase, Vegas car chase, Bambi & Thumper and Bond arrives on the oil rig as well as six deleted scenes.
"007 Mission Control" is the same on all of the DVD releases are playable all together or separately. There's no narration or other information; it's quite literally brief clips from each film. We also get "Inside 'Diamonds Are Forever'," presented in fullscreen and the "Cubby Broccoli: The Man Behind Bond special.
Featuring the lovely Jill St. John and 007's love interest, "Diamonds Are Forever" works due to Guy Hamilton's breezy direction and the fact that screenwriters Richard Maibuam (who died in 1991 and co-wrote the script for the 007 film "From Russia With Love")and Tom Mankiewicz (who passed away in 2010 and wrote "The Eagle Has Landed", "Live and Let Die" and "The Man with the Golden Gun")don't allow the tongue-in--cheek humor get in the way as the action sequences.
"Diamonds Are Forever" isn't the best Bond film but the makers brought a stronge touch of humor to this late Connery outing recognizing that the original Bond formula had been used and abused by other film producers and allowing the producers to both satirize their own excesses and still present an enjoyable Bond flick.
Movie Review: Feels like a Roger Moore film--only starring Sean Connery.
Summary: 3 Stars
Sean Connery returns for the last (official) time in Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
The film begins with James Bond pursuing Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Charles Gray) for revenge after the murder of his wife, Tracy. Bond tracks Blofeld down by interrogating several of his henchmen and confronts him in a surgical facility where he is having one of his associates physically altered to look like him. After killing Blofeld and returning to England, M (Bernard Lee) sends Bond on a mission to uncover a diamond-smuggling ring. Impersonating a smuggler named Peter Franks, Bond goes to Amsterdam to find another smuggler named Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) and pick up the diamonds. Meanwhile, the REAL Peter Franks (Joe Robinson) comes to see Tiffany Case as well and Bond is forced to kill him then sneak the diamonds into the United States with his corpse. When the diamonds are revealed to be fake, 007 contacts Felix Leiter (Norman Burton) to deliver the real ones to Las Vegas, where Bond is staying. As Bond and Case follow the diamonds from location to location, Bond investigates the reclusive millionaire Willard Whyte (Jimmy Dean), who hasn't been seen in public for many years. All the while, Bond is chased by the creepy assassins Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd (Bruce Glover and Putter Smith, respectively). All the mysterious events seem to add up to an even bigger conspiracy with stakes that could involve the world.
After On Her Majesty's Secret Service, George Lazenby chose not to stay on as James Bond, producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman really wanted Sean Connery back. Connery considered himself retired from the part, so the producers paid through the nose to get him. Diamonds are Forever is simply not the same style Bond film as previous films. It focuses more on humor than thrills, and although it has some pretty funny jokes, the film as a whole is just not as good. In my opinion, Jill St. John is one of the least attractive Bond girls ever. It feels like a precursor to the slapstick comedy of the Roger Moore films. The film also follows the previous Sean Connery Bond film You Only Live Twice's example with regard to Ian Fleming's storyline.
Overall, if you are looking for a lighter, comedic Bond film, this might be the one for you! To me personally, it will never be one of the best Sean Connery James Bond films, let alone one of the best Bond films ever.
Movie Review: Average Bond
Summary: 3 Stars
The last official Bond movie with Sean Connery in the leading role is a strange mixture of the best of Bond and some of the worst. For me it has very happy memories as it was the first James Bond film I saw at the cinema. The opening scenes in particular are very impressive on the big screen, and on rewatching again recently I could see why as a teenager I was so impressed by the film.
On the plus side it has Connery of course, who remains the best Bond. At the time of this film he was 41 and its still amazing to think he was replaced by Roger Moore who was 3 years older. Connery is fine in Diamonds are for ever, displaying the usual Bond dry sense of humour and playing the role with typical panache. Charles Gray as Blofeld also deserves a mention for his role.
However watching the film now its seems a little shallow, not very believeable (what Bond film is though?) and perhaps because we've seen so many Bond films over the years any sense of originality has been lost. Also after the terrific opening scenes the film gradually loses momentum with the escape in the moon buggy perhaps being the low point.
Seeing it in widescreen again is certainly good, and if you just let it wash over you its an OK way pass a couple of hours, but their are better Connery Bonds films than this to be bought first.
Movie Review: diamonds are forever
Summary: 3 Stars
It is a nice movie performed by sean connery.Despite being an old film there is technology that has paved way for strides in todays scienceMovie Review: Only if you need to escape into 007 world
Summary: 3 Stars
Great opportunity to see Sean Connery in the role that only he can play. Screenplay and supporting actors are awful.