You Only Live Twice
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Movie Reviews of You Only Live Twice
Movie Review: Bond in the Orient...
Summary: 4 Stars
1967's "You Only Live Twice" was Sean Connery's fifth outing as James Bond and his growing disenchantment with the role unfortunately shows through. This movie also marks a decided movement towards increasing implausible story premises and spectacular special effects at the expense of ties to Ian Fleming's original novels.
The movie opens up with a pre-credit sequence in which Bond is apparently assassinated, a nice set-up for the outstanding theme song "You Only Live Twice." The actual plot concerns an attempt by the evil SPECTRE organization to start a war between Russia and the US by hijacking their spacecraft in orbit. British Intelligence sends Bond to Japan in search of arch-nemisis Blofeld, where he works closely with his Japanese counterparts, including at least one attractive female agent. Bond and his Japanese allies will ultimately find and assault the SPECTRE headquarters, located in an extinct volcano, in a splashy finale featuring dozens of ninja warriors.
This movie never quite hits the stride of its predecessors. Bond seems out of place in Japan. Donald Pleasence's urbane, cat-petting Blofeld is a less than menacing villain, while the special effects seem to be covering for a less convincing storyline. It all still makes for a good show, highly recommended for fans of the 007 franchise.
Movie Review: Megabudget Japanese Ken Adam extravaganza.
Summary: 4 Stars
Of all the classic James Bond films, this is the one I had not seen in the longest time. I remembered this was where the series really lost its spark and went into absurd Austin Powers territory.
Although some of the criticism is still valid, YOLT is actually one hell of a mid-60s Albert Cubby Broccoli affair. For one thing, virtually the entire film takes place in Japan and makes impressive use of many locations, e.g. the ninja training academy is on the lawn of Himeji castle. Ken Adam was given about ten sets to design, one of them simply gargantuan. My opinion is that they are are a far stretch from his finest work but still spectacular. John Barry's music is gorgeous as always, with just the perfect asian influence.
Yet like so many Bonds the film is a pretty jumbled affair, with an on-again off-again plot that never rises much above a simmer. Donald Pleasance is a big letdown as Blofeld, as is his henchman. The romance is non-existent. So, not really a good film by any stretch. But for sheer eye candy it's outstanding. And the DTS sound is incredible.
Movie Review: Not the best Bond, but the best collection of Bond hallmarks
Summary: 4 Stars
The story kind of sags and plods along at points. But it has some of the greatest classic elements of the franchise. The soundtrack is by far one of John Barry's best. It's classic Bond and fits the action like a glove. I'm surprised they didn't recycle the outer space theme in future Bond films as they with with the 007 theme (not to be confused with the signature James Bond theme). It's note perfect suspense.
One of the greatest Bond gadgets (some will argue THE greatest) appears in the form of "Little Nellie", the one man auto-gyro that arrives in large suitcases. Once assembled, Bond flies this over Blofeld's volcano lair, while taking down several well armed helicopters.
Finally, there's Ken Adam's spectacular volcano lair set. The set piece is so over the top that not only does it launch and land a spacecraft munching rocket, it has it own monorail to shuttle Blofeld's evil minions about.
So while this isn't the best Bond story, it has some of the best Bond stuff ever. It's worth the price of admission simply for it's spectacle.
Movie Review: This is the BEST BOND EVER!
Summary: 4 Stars
No doubt about it. This is the quintessiential Bond flick. Why? Because it delivers action packed excitement, torrid romance, a very exotic locale and perhaps the greatest Bond theme song ever. The movie pulls you in and you can't turn it off! For a 1960's film, the effects are really good and the Japanese actors (and actresses!) are believable and sexy. There's plenty of action, what with a great helicopter dogfight, high tech Bond weapons and Ninja warrors. My only criticism is that when the Soviet spacecraft is launched in space (later to be intercepted) they show a United States GEMINI rocket launch instead!!! BLOOOPER!!! But this faux pas not withstanding, it is the only Bond film I recall when James has his cocktail STIRRED NOT SHAKEN! REALLY! This is a blast. Excitement galore. YOU MUST SEE IT!Movie Review: You can watch more than twice.
Summary: 4 Stars
You only live twice is not one of the best Bonds, but it was a big budget spectacular. There are loads of gadgets, great fights, sexy women, and the orient. James Bond may only live twice, but you can watch him live over and over again with this fun action packed movie.
Who doesn't love modern ninjas fighting inside of a volcano?