Kim Basinger Movie:

		List Price: $19.98		Label: MGM Salesrank: 9958 Released: March 24, 2009
		Our Price: $7.99
		Used Price: $6.43
		MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 03/24/2009 Run time: 133 minutes Rating: Pg

Never Say Never Again (Collector's Edition) Reviews:
The worst of the best.
2009-11-19 - The James Bond movies constitute one of the greatest movie franchises in history. This is the worst of the entire series. This being said, it is still pretty good. Sean Connery was at an all time low between his fit and smart-aleck youth and his suave, poised maturity. The script was lifted from Thunderball. The gimicks and gadgets weren't terribly creative.

Still, it moves at a good pace, the jokes are OK, the villians are fairly sinister, Kim Basinger gives a passable performance, and if you're not comparing it to other Bond films, it is pretty good.

Even at its worst, Bond is still better than most.

E. M. Van Court

Battle of the Bonds
2009-09-08 - 1983 was a big year; especially for movies with 3s (Return of the Jedi, Superman, Jaws and even this, Connery's third final Bond film). Not only that, it was the Battle of the Bonds. EON Productions "official" Roger Moore film Octopussy vs. the triumphant return of Sean Connery in this "unofficial" remake of Thunderball (due to a lawsuit of Kevin McClory against Ian Fleming then Cubby Broccoli). Though many plot elements are similar (the theft of two nuclear warheads, SPECTRE, Domino, etc.), there are also a lot of differences. Largo (played by Klaus Maria Brandauer) is a philanthropist, whose vessel The Flying Saucer (the English translation of Largo's boat from Thunderball Disco Volante) is a fully functional villain hideout, which is one of the pluses of the film. Another plus is to the characterization of Largo. In the first film, he was more intimidating and involved. In this, he's slightly insane (even admitting to it in one of my favorite scenes). But he's also involved and very sophisticated, who doesn't let Bond's antics seem to bother him as much as in Thunderball. Domino (played by Kim Basinger) I'm kind of on the fence. In this she pretty much wants to be with Largo (though insinuating earlier that she might leave him, though only playfully bringing it up) and doesn't seem to mind being his mistress until Bond tells her about the death of her brother. In Thunderball, she's much more vulnerable and emotional towards Bond and actually doesn't like being kept around by Largo. And when it comes to evil henchwomen, Fiona Volpe wins out over Fatima Blush (played by Barbara Carrera). Carrera plays Blush to over the top but she does mix elements of Volpe and future Bond bad girl, Xenia Onatopp. As far as action goes, this ones very light on it. The fight in the health spa could've been trimmed a bit. And even though the motorcycle chase doesn't have any gadgets, its still quite exciting. And the final assault on Largo is also quite fun and exciting, saving the big explosvies for the finale. And lastly, music wise, this is near the bottom of my list (but above DAD and QOS). The music is jazzier and can be, at least to me, quite obnoxious. It doesn't seem like a Bond score at all (which may be the effect they were going for anyway, but at least David Niven's Casino Royale had a big brassy score. Coincidentally Herb Alpert, who played the theme of that film) does have a solo in the end credits). And Lani Hall's voice I just don't like, she sounds off key sometimes to me. I wish they used the recently discovered unused theme performed by Phyllis Hyman, now that sounded like a Bond song.

You Can't Go Bond Again
2009-06-07 - The idea of an older Sean Connery revisiting his performance as 007 is a pretty irresistible one. And while Sean looks great he's not afraid to show his age and not look indestructible. Particularly in the film's early scenes, he's very good and you hope for the best from the picture. Unfortunately, the filmmakers had to recycle the story of Thunderball one of the best of the EON series and a peerless production. Once the story gets going, the proceedings just aren't very convincing. Indeed, things here somehow manage to look even more dated and tacky than the Moore movies made around the same time. There's a "tense" video game face-off with the villain that was probably dated when the film first screened and is ridiculous now. (There's also a terrible 80s era VH1 theme.) The film meanders on to a forgettable conclusion, especially when measured against the original film. The documentaries and director's commentary on the DVD make no bones about the film's flaws. Pity, as Klaus Maria is a really terrific villain and both the ladies are fine as are the witty comic support from Edward Fox and Rowan Atkinson. For Bond completists, others beware.

The return of Sean Connery as Bond
2009-05-25 - It was good to finally have a clean, crisp copy of this unique piece of Bond paraphernalia. The commentary was enlightening & the extras so-so but well worth having in the collection. This is a work often jealously overlooked because it was not part of the franchise per se. If you're a Connery as Bond fan then its a must.

Never Say Collector's Edition Again
2009-04-13 - For me, when I was a kid, 1983 had some big highlights; a "final" Star Wars movie and not one but 2 James Bond films. I didn't know or care about the legalities, I was just happy both bonds were on the big screen and I loved both Octopussy and Never Say Never Again. What can I say I was 11. As for seeing NSNA know, I believe others here have explained it well enough but, I must say, that NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN holds up very well despite being slightly off kilter in comparison with the official EON films.

But let's talk upgraded COLLECTOR'S EDITION. Here's the lowdown:

1. Commentary: Irvin Kershner and Bond historian Steven Jay Rubin
2. THE BIG GAMBLE featurette (16:25)
3. SEAN IS BACK (8:05) featurette
4. GIRLS OF NSNA featurette (10:06)
5. Photo gallery
6. Theatrical trailer (1:27)

Certainly, not the most overwhelming lot but despite being a maxed out 2 disc set, it's priced right and what feature there are a certainley entertaining. Kershner himself is quite forthcoming about involvement and