You Only Live Twice
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Movie Reviews of You Only Live Twice
Movie Review: JAMES BONDs Dichotomy of Styles East meets West
Summary: 5 Stars
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE contained elements of espionage, action, thrills, adventure and science fiction. Looking back it somehow worked loosely when put together yet till this day I can not determine what the cohesive element was. Looking at it closely the film is a real dichotomy of styles. The first hour is excellently filmed and works very well. We get to see James Bond the spy, working with recognition codes, breaking into safes, going under cover and the like. There is an excellently choreographed fight scene between Bond and a sumo wrestler. This is also the first time he developed a good working relationship with a fellow intelligence head, Tiger Tanaka, similar to that of Kerim Bey in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE. We also see that "M" has absolute confidence in his man. "This is the big one," he tells Bond knowing that 007 is the only one capable of pulling off this assignment. There is also quite a bit of very witty dialog in the first hour of this film. In the first hour the pace is deliberate, but never boring or unentertaining. It ends with Bond flying "Little Nellie," delivered by "Q," into an aerial dogfight with four helicopters. As it moves into the second hour more of the science fiction and fantasy elements start to take center stage. The film starts to look untidy and meanders along till it gets to the excellently filmed battle between Tanaka's ninjas and Blofeld's private army in his Volcano lair. It's not a bad Bond film, but it should have been a lot better. I think the culprit was the editing. Russian and American manned space capsules were being snatched out of orbit by an "intruder missile." Bond had to find the location and the identity of those responsible before World War III breaks out. The filmmakers decided not to surprise us at the end of the film, but instead show us, not Bond, that this "intruder missile" is in fact owned by SPECTRE and is being launched from Blofeld's Volcano lair in Japan. That comes a little past the hour mark. That being the case there was a good opportunity to develop suspense, as Bond has to locate the launch site. When Bond finally does find the volcano he has very little reaction to his discovery. He in fact seems to have come prepared with suction cup kneepads, which he uses to climb upside down and into the volcano. Tanaka shows up with his men, the battle ensues and Bond saves the day. It just could have been done much better considering how well the first half of the film was handled. The massive sets designed by Ken Adam were highly innovative and stylized and are probably the best of the entire series. M's office aboard the submarine, M-1, was also pretty innovative incorporating furniture and decorations from his office from the Ministry of Defense back in London. John Barry wrote a brilliant score. His music for the "Capsule in Space" was eerily ominous. He also incorporated sections of the "James Bond Theme" very effectively subsequent to Henderson's death and the fight in Osato's office. Barry's "Mountains and Sunset" went beautifully with Freddie Young's Cinematography. This and his score for ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE were the last to contain his best action pieces for the series. These were little snippets here and there written to give the action a little more punch. I thought Sean Connery gave some his best performances as James Bond in this film. Bond's scene with Henderson was very good. His repartee with Moneypenney was one of his best. Sean Connery did return as James Bond in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER but one era had already ended with ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE and a new one would begin with his return.
Movie Review: Only ONE Person We Know Carries This Licence
Summary: 5 Stars
The transfer is much improved with crisper images and increased resolution. The sound is outstanding. As for the movie, the odds have never been greater or the stakes higher. World War Three hangs in the balance of the success or failure of James Bond. This is the `Big One' and it looks every bit of it. We thought all the stops had been pulled out for "Thunderball" but not quite, "Thunderball" was just practice! "Thunderball" was the pinnacle of the James Bond phenomena and rightly so. However, "You Only Live Twice" pushes the envelope continuing in the same vein as "Thunderball." Still, Sean Connery is James Bond, the contemporary hero in today's age of uncertainty. S.P.E.C.T.R.E. continues to harass James Bond by day and disturb his tranquility by night. The script by Roald Dahl, based in-very-little-part on the Ian Fleming novel, is refreshing, imaginative and in some respects innovative. Bond finally comes face to face with Blofeld in the form of Donald Pleasence. I believe there are at least two schools of thought on his portrayal usually in extreme approval or disapproval. In any event, we get a good dose of S.P.E.C.T.R.E.'s usual form of justice that it doles out to its unsuccessful employees the same as we have seen in "From Russia With Love" and "Thunderball." The scene between Osato and Helga Brandt and Blofeld in his incredible lair accompanied by John Barry's haunting score is one of the best in the entire series. In fact there are quite a few good scenes in this film filled with very witty yet intelligent dialogue. This is a step up from "Thunderball" in that respect. One feature perhaps not that noticeable is the extraordinary flow and pace of "You Only Live Twice" or more accurately the reason for that flow and pace. This can be attributed to editing and the film's combination of plotting, action, dialogue and its great visuals and music. I think the contribution of Ken Adam's massive yet simple production designs, John Barry's continuing incredible innovation in scoring, Bob Simmons' incredible stunts and choreography and Sean Connery's perfect portrayal of James Bond make "You Only Live Twice" one of the most memorable of the series. Yes, I thought Connery gave a perfect performance. Connery does not walk through this one. If you separate and examine his performance from the rest of the film I think you will find that it is very credible. Connery gives us a perfect balance of the best of what he brought to the first four films. It is not 100 percent Fleming but is perfect for the cinema version of his creation. For that reason I think many fans find it hard to say they like "Thunderball" over "You Only Live Twice" and visa versa. I think that "Thunderball" has a real Fleming feel to it while Connery though very energetic and captivating approaches that assignment with unusual aplomb. And that is not a bad thing. "Thunderball" is a very beautifully filmed aquatic adventure and John Barry's score melds the whole experience into some type of Fleming aura for the viewer. I think the overall premise of "You Only Live Twice" is so incredible yet brilliantly delivered cinematically that Sean Connery's performance is overlooked.
Movie Review: The most enjoyable of the Connery films
Summary: 5 Stars
You Only Live Twice is a Bond film only Connery could have pulled off without the film falling into the lowest pits of camp. In a movie that includes spaceship eating spaceships, a miniature attack helicopter, a man-eating piranha tank, rocket-bullet firing guns, and pistol toting ninjas; this is a case where only Sean Connery's charm could save a film from being dominated by its cheese...Even when he's wearing poor make-up to make him "Japanese."
The film begins with James Bond's untimely death, but don't fall for that trap! That clever Agent 007 has faked his own death and funeral at sea so as to pull away from the evil SPECTRE organization, which is now operating out of Japan. What could they do in Japan? How about attack American and Soviet spacecrafts and send to Cold War in to an all out nuclear war between The United States and Soviet Union? That sounds evil enough for one movie!
Since they now believe Bond to be dead he is able to infiltrate their infrastructure and discover their plans for World War III. With the help of Tiger Tanaka (head of Japanese Special Forces), his army of modern ninjas, and the beautiful Aki, Bond is set to take down this sinister plot.
Of course this time SPECTRE isn't holding any punches, for their faceless leader, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, is in Japan personally overseeing this operation (a great performance by Donald Pleasance). The criminal mastermind is determined to eliminate his pesky foe once and for all. Whether it be by submerging the smooth talking agent in a manmade lake filled with flesh-eating piranhas, poison taken in through the mouth, or a simple shot to the head.
This entire film is built on a series of elaborate actions sequences, including two stand-out scenes in which Bond engages multiple SPECTRE helicopters with "Little Nellie" (the newest gift from Q) and a massive firefight between Tiger Tonaka's modern ninjas and the forces of SPECTRE in their hollowed out volcano lair.
If you haven't noticed by this brief summary You Only Live Twice could very well could have been the one to set the foundation for the camp-filled Bond films of the 1970s. The exotic locations and over the top ideas are things that would be exaggerated and expanded upon in Diamonds Are Forever (Connery's last film) and all throughout the Roger Moore era of the character.
So for these reasons You Only Live Twice is probably Sean Connery's most enjoyably fun entry in his run as the character.
Movie Review: A Bond Gem with minor flaws
Summary: 5 Stars
"You Only Live Twice" seems to often go overlooked by many fans. To me it still ranks somewhat with the best of the early Connery reign. The films many attributes include outstanding action, spectacular sets and Sean Connery. Yes, Sean Connery (albeit slightly disenchanted with the role) still keeps us immersed in his "serious" approach to Bond. Granted, his disappointment with the producers was a major issue in what may seem, at times, to be an uneven performance but there are other factors to consider as well. Script, direction and editing (in this case, add a couple of wardrobe mistakes) also play an important part in almost any performance. It just so happens that this project, especially toward the end, was rushed to meet a deadline and, let's face it, Connery himself was just not as fit, groomed, or inspired as he was in his previous outings as Bond.
The major flaw with YOLT is that it is too long. This was also the case with "Thunderball". After the success of the first three installments, especially "Goldfinger", the producers had so much more money to play with that they wanted it all on the screen. The pacing of these two films suffers as a result. Whereas Connery's terrific performance in "Thunderball" helped that film immensely, YOLT, out of necessity, must rely on its sets and action to boost its entertainment value. A telltale snippet of dialogue is when Bond, having just experienced an array of awesome Ninja warriors, wryly asks Tanaka, "What about ME ?"
Personally, I have long held the notion that the producers, were they so inclined, could probably offer us superior versions of both "You Only Live Twice" and "Thunderball" by intelligently re-editing and deleting about 5 to 10 minutes of each film. The "theft of the warheads" and "wedding" scenes come to mind immediately.
Nevertheless, YOLT is a superior entry in the series. In addition to the aforementioned facts, it contains great cinematography work and yet another excellent music score by John Barry. It is, in many ways, the Bond version of "Alice in Wonderland". As repeated viewings will prove, it is certainly far better than ANY of the Roger Moore films. By the way, this latest remastered version (the same as the Ultimate 2-disc package) is the one to get.
Movie Review: The one with the hollowed out volcano lair - a fun ride
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes, it's the one with the hollowed out volcano and what a fun ride it is too. It should come as no surprise to anyone that for me (who ranks the earily similar plot-wise TSWLM at #2 of Bond movies and is a fan of Roger Moore's portrayal) that "You Only Live Twice" is high on my list of favorite Connery movies.
It's fun and zany and like a Godzilla movie on steroids Bond is plunged into a kinetic, energized Japan. A country that is reeling from an identity crisis following a humiliating defeat in WWII for the traditional nation and the onslaught of 1960s pop culture of which the Bond phenomenon was a major part.
Connery for his part looks bored and tired with the role and so the film makers understandably have loaded this movie with special effects, martial arts fighting, gimmicks and yes, a hollowed out volcano. All in the hopes that Connery will get lost in the mix and his lack of enthusiasm for the part less evident as the viewers senses are assaulted by a vibrant concoction composed of all the spectacle and wonder that screenwriter Dahl and director Lewis Gilbert could conceive.
The mission seems ripped from the headlines to use an old cliché. The time is the late 1960s and with the US and USSR locked in a race for the dominance of space, the two nations are both having capsules hijacked by some unknown power. Of course in the hyperactive paranoia of the Cold War - each blames the other. But Britain, in its infinite wisdom, stands by their claim that their tracking placed the object (that seized an American rocket) land somewhere in the sea of Japan.
The movie begins with one of my all-time favorite pre-credits sequences. Bond is in bed with an attractive Chinese girl. In what appears to be a double-cross however she pushes a button that sends the bed into the wall before letting a couple of assassins in who pepper the bed with bullet holes. Having the hero "killed off" at the beginning of the movie is a gimmick that has been copied often (and in fact first echos the opening of "From Russia With Love." But Gilbert crafts it expertly.
A solid entry in the Bond series - too light for some, but certainly a lot of fun throughout.