ElMaruecan82
"You Only Live Twice" is the only James Bond movie I ever recorded on VHS, and by the law of statistics, it was naturally the one I saw the most, but my connection with the film is only limited with these nostalgic trivia and if I have a soft spot for this 'Bond', I guess it is only because it grew on me "by default". Said differently, I wish I had recorded "Dr. No", "From Russia With Love" or "Goldfinger" which are far better than the last Connery's Bond… of the 60's. But don't get me wrong, the film is far above average, and average by Connery's standard is still good enough.First of all, let's give it the credit it deserves, in terms of special effects, it is quite impressive. You can tell that the series reached maturity judging by the art-settings and pyrotechnics. I read that some critics thought the idea of a spacecraft hi-jacking another one was ludicrous, but the scene showing the unidentified vessel literally swallowing a spacecraft had nothing to envy from a classic of the next year, "2001: A Space Odyssey". That opening scene was well-done, and it was followed by other promising moments: a tense reunion where US diplomats throw the ball back at their Soviet counterparts, and Bond having an intimate moment before being gunned down in his bed. This is not the first time they try to fool the audience and the title is enough of a hint, so I doubt many then-viewers watched the opening sequences with concerns about their favorite Secret Agent's life. And speaking of the title, whatever rating I give to the film, there's one star owed to the magnificent score by Nancy Sinatra, there's something so hypnotic, sensual and strangely morose about this song that makes it unique in Bond's discography. But let's get back to the film, Bond is supposed to be dead. The film goes on the same joke and even features a funeral ceremony, where Bond's body is dropped to the sea, and this is where he's intercepted by a submarine and can be assigned his new mission. Sometimes, I love the Bond films for their opening sequences only, the mission is never as interesting as the little debriefing from M and a flirting session with Moneypenny. In "You Only Live Twice", the mission isn't as interesting as the setting in Japan, Bond must find out which mysterious country or organization is trying to ignite a war between USA and Russia. This is where the film really takes off and while there are many good things to appreciate in this first part, it's the immersion in the Japanese culture that provides some of the best moments, especially the trap door sliding leading to the meeting with Mr. Tanaki and the following massage session in his house, oddly enough, one of my all-time favorite Bond scenes.We all noticed Connery's athletic body and hairy chest in the previous films but it is quite uncommon that the physical attributes actually influence the dialogues. You can't tell if Ian Fleming wrote Bond with Connery's features, but it gave a realistic touch that the masseuses would indeed be fascinated by the hairy chest. Bond stops being a standard hero, but a character also defined by very specific physical attributes. I liked that part, and all the macho innuendo. Those were the days!After that, Bond encrypts a document stolen from a crooked Japanese businessman named Osato, and meets with the beautiful secretary Helga Brandt. I don't remember much from the first time I saw the film (I was twelve) but I remember very well that I had watched enough Bond films to know exactly what was going to happen. Ever since "Goldfinger", I knew the Bond movies always featured three Bond girls, two had to die, and the last one was kept for the final kiss, so I already knew the poor Aki would kick the bucket and poor Brandt would die in a way or another. But this isn't the best vintage of Bond girls anyway and the film kind of loses its pace during its middle section. To give you an idea, I remembered most of the film, but I had totally forgot about the helicopter chase, and I guess what it says is that many scenes could have belonged to any Bond film, which is the worst compliment you could give. Pussy Galore could only work in "Goldfinger", Red Grant was too serious to even work for Goldfinger but in "You Only Live Twice", the film needed to get straight to the final setting because that volcano headquarters was the highlight. But it's too short for the film's own good.Indeed, the climactic sequence finally confronts Bond to his archenemy Ernst Stavro Blofeld, played by a scary Donald Pleasance, but nothing really emerges from this confrontation, except for a few chitchat, and many opportunities to eliminate Bond, except that, for some reasons, Blofeld's priorities were to dispose of his useless henchmen, making useless points before killing Bond when someone could rescue him. Since I mentioned Red Grant, I remember that he refused Bond's plea for a cigarette, Blofeld accepted. That he'd fall for a trick that didn't fool a henchman says a lot about how overrated this villain is. Or maybe he was just victim of this weird feeling of rush and urgency that couldn't exploit the climactic setting to its fullest."You Only Live Twice" isn't the freshest Bond, but at the very least, it's one of the Top 10 best of the series, marking the last Connery appearance, as he was afraid to be typecast and felt it was time to live twice… a second cinematic career.
LeonLouisRicci
The Fifth James Bond Film was a Sharp Decline from the Previous Entries in the Series. The Cringe Factor Invades on a Regular Basis. The Cultural Phenomenon that is James Bond had Peaked and the International Super-Spy Disappointed True Bond Fans with this Barely Mediocre Movie.It's No Wonder Why Sean Connery Bailed after being Involved in this Bloated Mess. To be Fair, there are a Few Scenes Worthy of Ian Fleming's Fictional Icon. A Few Jokes that Work, out of Many that do not, and the Japanese Panoramic Travelog Type Scenes are Beautiful but this is the most Artificial Looking of the First Five. The Sci-Fi is more than Intrusive with a LOL Huge Spaceship Devouring Smaller Spaceships like so many Fish in the Sea. The "Little Nellie" Scene is so Contrived as to have Bond Click Off the Weapons with just the Perfect amount of Enemy Helicopters and is about as Suspenseful and Exciting as a Cooking Recipe.Overcooked with Bond "Becoming Japanese" (is there a Pop Song waiting to happen), the Ninja School, and a Bikini Clad "Bond Girl" Climbing the side of a Volcano, not Once but Twice.The Sets are Elaborate and Impressive, especially the Hidden Spectre Operation and Donald Pleasance is Menacing Enough as Blofeld, but the Film had Lost its Way even before the Ridiculous Ending Shootout.Probably not the Worst James Bond Movie, but it is so Disappointing Considering what had come before, that it must take Full Responsibility for being Clueless and Blinded by the Success of the Series.Thinking that "Anything Goes", and "Bigger is Better", James Bond became just another Product to be Exploited with Little Regard for the Integrity of the Character or the Fans for that Matter, that made James Bond a Four Time Champion of the World.
TankGuy
The superpowers gear themselves for war following the hijacking of U.S and Soviet spacecraft in earth's orbit. Agent 007 rises from the dead and travels to Japan to investigate, finding himself once again up against the diabolical SPECTRE organisation. However he gets more than he bargained for when he finally comes face to face with SPECTRE chief Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who is in the process of instigating a nuclear apocalypse which will allow SPECTRE to emerge as the dominant world order...Sean Connery's fifth and supposedly final Bond outing is, in my less than humble opinion, one of the series' best instalments. With it's breathtaking volcano set, terrific John Barry score and top notch action sequences, YOLT is an absolute blast!(no pun intended). The Japanese locations are beautifully photographed and with a script by acclaimed children's writer Roald Dahl, this is one of the more surreal Bond adventures(of which there would be many). Donald Pleasence makes for a superb Blofeld and Connery seems to be enjoying himself. The climatic battle in Blofeld's elaborate volcano lair is just insane and truly spectacular in it's own right, so much chaos!. The stunts and special effects in this sequence alone never cease to amaze me and the bodycount is staggeringly high. An exhilarating foot chase around Kobe docks and the airborne melee featuring the Little Nellie Gyrocopter are also worthy of high praise, even if the effects in the latter are a little clunky. Oh and there's also a brilliant car chase in which are car full of nasty gunmen is amusingly disposed of. After all, it's just a drop in the ocean really.As a child I always wanted a model of Blofeld's volcano lair, in fact to this day I still long for one. YOLT is one of the reasons why I love the Bond franchise so much. True and unapologetic escapism! 10/10
tomasg-69814
By 1967 James Bond were "bigger than Jesus" on screen, to use a well known phrase from John Lennon, himself peaking his Beatle career with Sgt. Pepper the same year. Sean Connery had developed his 007 character to the fullest, and started to feel some boredom in the series, according to later interviews. But the Bond-machine itself was in top gears, now building multi-million dollar stages to simulate volcanoes and other things. This fifth movie in the James Bond series is better than the precursor, by thin margin, and was for sure an entertaining continuation for the already blessed 007-fans. This movie was the end of the era I use to call JB Mk.I. (62-67.) No strings attached, by the release of You Only Live Twice the production team delivered a well remembered movie. Many classic scenes and a good intrigue, with a bombastic final. But what would the future hold for a restless MI6-agent? By then I think none was prepared of what to come up on screen in a few years.....
