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- Review count22
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- First reviewApril 15, 2013
- Last reviewNovember 12, 2016
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![Diamonds Are Forever [Blu-ray] [1971]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/304b2327-370a-41e7-956a-951dd4939472.png)
Customer Rating
4
Sean Connery's last official Bond movie
on January 5, 2014
Posted by: luckydragon
from houston
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER is Sean Connery's last official James Bond movie (his very last Bond movie, NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN, was not produced by Eon Productions). Connery was induced to return to the Bond series with a then-record $1 million salary following his departure after YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE.
DIAMONDS is a good but not great Bond movie, with its most redeeming feature being Connery, the definitive James Bond, returning after the dismal performance of George Lazenby in ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. Also, John Barry's theme, sung by Shirley Bassey, is one of the very best in the Bond movies.
Its three biggest negatives are excessive campy humor, the disappointing climatic battle scene on the oil rig and co-star Jimmy Dean.
The oil rig battle scene was originally supposed to be a highlight of the movie, but due to the budget (i.e. Connery's huge salary) and a schedule problem, the battle scene was greatly reduced---removed were military frogmen who were supposed to drop from the helicopters and assault the oil rig making it resemble other exciting Bond battle scenes such as YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE and ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. Also, the special effects were also affected by the budget constraints and were cheaply made so that the exploding helicopters are very cheesy-looking. This is certainly not expected from big-budget, mega-hits like the Bond movies.
Lastly, the terrible acting by Jimmy Dean as the Howard Hughes-like billionaire Willard Whyte is a real blemish.
A lesser negative is that explanatory scenes showing how and why Plenty O'Toole is found drowned in the swimming pool were deleted from the movie (the deleted scenes show James Bond and Tiffany Case in bed together as Plenty returns to their hotel room and finds Tiffany's address in her purse. She then visits Tiffany's home to confront her over Bond and is drowned by the two assassins who mistake her for Tiffany).
Charles Grey, who stars as SPECTRE villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld, co-starred as a British secret agent in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. Bruce Cabot, star of the original KING KONG, stars as Willard Whyte's evil assistant. Lana Wood, sister of Natalie Wood, plays Bond Girl Plenty O'Toole (Lana and Natalie Wood starred together in John Wayne's THE SEARCHERS in which the sisters played younger and older versions of the kidnapped girl). Bruce Glover, father of Crispin Glover (BACK TO THE FUTURE), co-stars as one of the two assassins.
Overall, DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER is one of the better Bond movies, and it is a must-have for the Bond fan who wants to see Sean Connery in his last official Bond movie.
DIAMONDS is a good but not great Bond movie, with its most redeeming feature being Connery, the definitive James Bond, returning after the dismal performance of George Lazenby in ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. Also, John Barry's theme, sung by Shirley Bassey, is one of the very best in the Bond movies.
Its three biggest negatives are excessive campy humor, the disappointing climatic battle scene on the oil rig and co-star Jimmy Dean.
The oil rig battle scene was originally supposed to be a highlight of the movie, but due to the budget (i.e. Connery's huge salary) and a schedule problem, the battle scene was greatly reduced---removed were military frogmen who were supposed to drop from the helicopters and assault the oil rig making it resemble other exciting Bond battle scenes such as YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE and ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. Also, the special effects were also affected by the budget constraints and were cheaply made so that the exploding helicopters are very cheesy-looking. This is certainly not expected from big-budget, mega-hits like the Bond movies.
Lastly, the terrible acting by Jimmy Dean as the Howard Hughes-like billionaire Willard Whyte is a real blemish.
A lesser negative is that explanatory scenes showing how and why Plenty O'Toole is found drowned in the swimming pool were deleted from the movie (the deleted scenes show James Bond and Tiffany Case in bed together as Plenty returns to their hotel room and finds Tiffany's address in her purse. She then visits Tiffany's home to confront her over Bond and is drowned by the two assassins who mistake her for Tiffany).
Charles Grey, who stars as SPECTRE villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld, co-starred as a British secret agent in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. Bruce Cabot, star of the original KING KONG, stars as Willard Whyte's evil assistant. Lana Wood, sister of Natalie Wood, plays Bond Girl Plenty O'Toole (Lana and Natalie Wood starred together in John Wayne's THE SEARCHERS in which the sisters played younger and older versions of the kidnapped girl). Bruce Glover, father of Crispin Glover (BACK TO THE FUTURE), co-stars as one of the two assassins.
Overall, DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER is one of the better Bond movies, and it is a must-have for the Bond fan who wants to see Sean Connery in his last official Bond movie.
My Best Buy number: 574961271
What's great about it: Sean Connery in his last official James Bond movie
What's not so great: disappointing ending, excessive campy humor
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures [5 Discs] [Blu-ray]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/db06d087-7ebf-4ed9-beca-d6bef3603e47.jpg)
This box set serves up the first four Indiana Jones films, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, as well as a wealth of behind-the-scenes and making of footage for each of them.
Customer Rating
4
almost an excellent set
on August 23, 2013
Posted by: luckydragon
from houston
Verified Purchase:Yes
Of the four Indiana Jones movies in this set, THE LAST CRUSADE is head and shoulders above the rest and reaches the apex of the Indiana Jones formula of high adventure, action, humor and special effects. The combination of film history's two great action stars, Sean Connery and Harrison Ford and the excellent rapport between them as father and son is unsurpassed in the series. The script is excellent and easily the best of the series with the clever action gags on the tank being unbeatable and pure entertainment.
On the flip side is the much-maligned KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL which starts out very well with the sci fi angle of the Roswell UFO incident but then rapidly self-destructs when it transitions to the mythological crystal skull angle. The son of Indiana Jones (Shia LaBeouf) was another negative aspect of this movie. Sean Connery turned down THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL---perhaps because it was a cameo role---but it turned out to be a good decision because the excessive CGI-laden movie looked phoney and the concept was too farfetched---even for an Indiana Jones movie.
However, I highly recommend this set for its non-stop action, clever writing and high adventure escapism.
On the flip side is the much-maligned KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL which starts out very well with the sci fi angle of the Roswell UFO incident but then rapidly self-destructs when it transitions to the mythological crystal skull angle. The son of Indiana Jones (Shia LaBeouf) was another negative aspect of this movie. Sean Connery turned down THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL---perhaps because it was a cameo role---but it turned out to be a good decision because the excessive CGI-laden movie looked phoney and the concept was too farfetched---even for an Indiana Jones movie.
However, I highly recommend this set for its non-stop action, clever writing and high adventure escapism.
My Best Buy number: 0574961271
My Best Buy number: 0574961271
What's great about it: THE LAST CRUSADE
What's not so great: THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
Roger Moore's best James Bond movie
on April 21, 2013
Posted by: luckydragon
from houston
THE SPY WHO LOVED ME is the best of Roger Moore's James Bond movies (and Moore's personal favorite Bond movie). The plot involves a madman shipping tycoon who hijacks US, British and Soviet nuclear submarines in order to start a war between the US and the USSR so he can repopulate the world with his own undersea society.
The movie's opening scene is regarded by many as the most impressive opening scene in the entire Bond series as 007 skis off a mountain cliff with the villains in pursuit. Bond then opens a parachute emblazoned with the British flag.
Barbara Bach (Mrs. Ringo Starr) is arguably one of the most exotic-looking Bond Girls in the series, but unfortunately she is also one of the least-talented---but this is a James Bond movie, so who cares about her acting? Curt Jurgens is disappointing as the villain in that he underplays him throughout the movie, but "Jaws" (Richard Kiel) compensates for Jurgens by becoming one of the most memorable Bond villains (so much so that fan demands resulted in Jaws returning in MOONRAKER). Shane Rimmer co-stars as the US sub's commander after having brief appearances in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE and DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER.
The ship models, production design by the legendary Ken Adam and special effects are excellent in this movie.
Carly Simon's theme song "Nobody Does It Better" was one of the most popular Bond themes ever, but the rest of Marvin Hamlisch's weak score just proves how outstanding John Barry was at composing the 007 scores.
Despite some substandard acting by Bach and Jurgens, Roger Moore is at his best in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME making it one of the best Bond movies in the series.
The movie's opening scene is regarded by many as the most impressive opening scene in the entire Bond series as 007 skis off a mountain cliff with the villains in pursuit. Bond then opens a parachute emblazoned with the British flag.
Barbara Bach (Mrs. Ringo Starr) is arguably one of the most exotic-looking Bond Girls in the series, but unfortunately she is also one of the least-talented---but this is a James Bond movie, so who cares about her acting? Curt Jurgens is disappointing as the villain in that he underplays him throughout the movie, but "Jaws" (Richard Kiel) compensates for Jurgens by becoming one of the most memorable Bond villains (so much so that fan demands resulted in Jaws returning in MOONRAKER). Shane Rimmer co-stars as the US sub's commander after having brief appearances in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE and DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER.
The ship models, production design by the legendary Ken Adam and special effects are excellent in this movie.
Carly Simon's theme song "Nobody Does It Better" was one of the most popular Bond themes ever, but the rest of Marvin Hamlisch's weak score just proves how outstanding John Barry was at composing the 007 scores.
Despite some substandard acting by Bach and Jurgens, Roger Moore is at his best in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME making it one of the best Bond movies in the series.
What's great about it: great special effects and production values
What's not so great: co-stars' mediocre acting
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
James Bond prevents a war between England & China
on April 21, 2013
Posted by: luckydragon
from houston
TOMORROW NEVER DIES is the second James Bond movie starring Pierce Brosnan and is probably the best of his four. The plot involves a mad media mogul, inspired by William Randolph Hearst (who also inspired CITIZEN KANE) who tries to instigate a war between England and China so he can step in and get the news media monopoly for the largest nation on Earth. This plot is recycled from earlier Bond movies such as YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE and THE SPY WHO LOVED ME in which the villain tries to start a war between two superpowers.
Terri Hatcher is stunning as one of the Bond Girls although her appearance is relatively brief. Vincent Schiavelli (GHOST) steals the show and provides the best humor as a doctor who moonlights as a ruthless assassin. Look for Michael G. Wilson, co-producer and Cubby Broccoli's stepson, in a cameo role as one of the villain's media henchmen.
TOMORROW NEVER DIES is not only Pierce Brosnan's best Bond movie, but is also one of the better Bond movies in the entire series. After TOMORROW NEVER DIES, the Bond scripts were written by the team of Purvis and Wade and the script quality of most of the Bond movies declined considerably.
Terri Hatcher is stunning as one of the Bond Girls although her appearance is relatively brief. Vincent Schiavelli (GHOST) steals the show and provides the best humor as a doctor who moonlights as a ruthless assassin. Look for Michael G. Wilson, co-producer and Cubby Broccoli's stepson, in a cameo role as one of the villain's media henchmen.
TOMORROW NEVER DIES is not only Pierce Brosnan's best Bond movie, but is also one of the better Bond movies in the entire series. After TOMORROW NEVER DIES, the Bond scripts were written by the team of Purvis and Wade and the script quality of most of the Bond movies declined considerably.
What's great about it: The best Pierce Brosnan James Bond movie
What's not so great: none
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
James Bond stops SPECTRE from nuking Miami
on April 21, 2013
Posted by: luckydragon
from houston
THUNDERBALL was the sequel to the classic GOLDFINGER and is one of he best Bond movies in the series (it was later remade as NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN with Sean Connery playing 007 for the last time).
The plot has SPECTRE hijacking an RAF Vulcan bomber and stealing its two nuclear bombs. Bond has to stop SPECTRE from detonating one of the bombs in Miami.
Claudine Auger is the main Bond Girl in this movie and my personal favorite of all the Bond Girls (Raquel Welch was originally signed for the role but left to star in FANTASTIC VOYAGE). Martine Beswick portrays an MI6 agent after playing one of the two fighting gypsy women in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE.
Perhaps the only small complaint I have with THUNDERBALL is the climatic battle scene which, because it occurs underwater, is slower and quieter than the similar battle scenes in GOLDFINGER and in
later Bond movies such as THE SPY WHO LOVED ME and YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE.
Producer Kevin McClory has a cameo as the seated man smoking as Bond enters the casino (McClory obtained the movie rights to THUNDERBALL after a plagiarism suit against Ian Fleming).
The movie's impressive theme song was written by John Barry and sung by Tom Jones, who almost fainted while singing the song's relatively lengthy ending.
THUNDERBALL is a must-have for the Bond fan.
The plot has SPECTRE hijacking an RAF Vulcan bomber and stealing its two nuclear bombs. Bond has to stop SPECTRE from detonating one of the bombs in Miami.
Claudine Auger is the main Bond Girl in this movie and my personal favorite of all the Bond Girls (Raquel Welch was originally signed for the role but left to star in FANTASTIC VOYAGE). Martine Beswick portrays an MI6 agent after playing one of the two fighting gypsy women in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE.
Perhaps the only small complaint I have with THUNDERBALL is the climatic battle scene which, because it occurs underwater, is slower and quieter than the similar battle scenes in GOLDFINGER and in
later Bond movies such as THE SPY WHO LOVED ME and YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE.
Producer Kevin McClory has a cameo as the seated man smoking as Bond enters the casino (McClory obtained the movie rights to THUNDERBALL after a plagiarism suit against Ian Fleming).
The movie's impressive theme song was written by John Barry and sung by Tom Jones, who almost fainted while singing the song's relatively lengthy ending.
THUNDERBALL is a must-have for the Bond fan.
What's great about it: One of the very best James Bond movies.
What's not so great: none
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
James Bond prevents space hijackings
on April 21, 2013
Posted by: luckydragon
from houston
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE is among my top four best Bond movies. The plot has Bond trying to prevent SPECTRE from starting World War III by hijacking US and USSR space capsules and misleading the two superpowers into thinking they themselves are responsible and launch retaliatory nuclear attacks on each other.
Donald Pleasence (HALLOWEEN) does an excellent job as SPECTRE's Ernst Stavro Blofeld who is seen in full for the first time, and look for Charles Grey as a Bond ally who played Blofeld in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER.
Although Bond's Aston Martin DB5 is not featured in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, its absence is admirably filled by Little Nellie, a gyrocopter armed with machine guns, missiles, air mines and a flamethrower.
Lastly, Nancy Sinatra sings the theme song composed by John Barry which is my personal favorite among the Bond movies.
Donald Pleasence (HALLOWEEN) does an excellent job as SPECTRE's Ernst Stavro Blofeld who is seen in full for the first time, and look for Charles Grey as a Bond ally who played Blofeld in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER.
Although Bond's Aston Martin DB5 is not featured in YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, its absence is admirably filled by Little Nellie, a gyrocopter armed with machine guns, missiles, air mines and a flamethrower.
Lastly, Nancy Sinatra sings the theme song composed by John Barry which is my personal favorite among the Bond movies.
My Best Buy number: 574961271
What's great about it: One of the very best James Bond movies.
What's not so great: none
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
James Bond prevents an attack on Fort Knox
on April 21, 2013
Posted by: luckydragon
from houston
GOLDFINGER is arguably the best Bond movie ever made. While the first two Bond movies (DR. NO and FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE) were hits, GOLDFINGER made the 007 franchise a worldwide phenomenon and established the blueprint for most of the future Bond movies. It also was Sean Connery's finest performance as James Bond and set the standard for his portrayal of Bond which no other actor has equaled.
It was the first 007 movie to introduce high tech gadgets such as the Aston Martin DB5 ("the most famous car in the world") with its ejector seat, machine guns, bullet-proof rear shield, etc. and also introduced the first larger-than-life Bond villain in Auric Goldfinger and his henchman Oddjob.
Q also became a prominent character in the Bond movies for the first time introducing the DB5 after a minor role in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE.
Another first was the major battle scene involving the attack on Fort Knox which led to future final battle scenes in THUNDERBALL, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, MOONRAKER and others.
Lastly, John Barry's theme for GOLDFINGER (sung by Shirley Bassey) is perhaps the best Bond theme song recorded in the franchise's long history and a classic movie theme.
The remastered Blu-ray video quality is extremely impressive, especially when taking into account GOLDFINGER was released in 1964.
GOLDINGER set the gold standard for the Bond movies, so if you only could buy one Bond movie, this is the one.
It was the first 007 movie to introduce high tech gadgets such as the Aston Martin DB5 ("the most famous car in the world") with its ejector seat, machine guns, bullet-proof rear shield, etc. and also introduced the first larger-than-life Bond villain in Auric Goldfinger and his henchman Oddjob.
Q also became a prominent character in the Bond movies for the first time introducing the DB5 after a minor role in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE.
Another first was the major battle scene involving the attack on Fort Knox which led to future final battle scenes in THUNDERBALL, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, MOONRAKER and others.
Lastly, John Barry's theme for GOLDFINGER (sung by Shirley Bassey) is perhaps the best Bond theme song recorded in the franchise's long history and a classic movie theme.
The remastered Blu-ray video quality is extremely impressive, especially when taking into account GOLDFINGER was released in 1964.
GOLDINGER set the gold standard for the Bond movies, so if you only could buy one Bond movie, this is the one.
What's great about it: The best James Bond ever made.
What's not so great: none
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
3
Disappointing movie based on Tom Clancy novel
on April 20, 2013
Posted by: luckydragon
from houston
This was Ben Affleck's first and deservedly last role in playing Jack Ryan. Affleck pales in comparison to Harrison Ford in the role. The movie is unfaithful to the novel in its choice of villains (which weakens the movie's credibility). Overall, this is a very uneven movie with Affleck and the unbelievable choice of villains, but it has some high points such as Liev Schreiber stealing the movie as John Clark and Ciaran Hinds as the Russian leader. Unlike the two Jack Ryan movies starring Harrison Ford, SUM OF ALL FEARS has a lot of special features, the best of which is the commentary by Tom Clancy and director Phil Alden Robinson. In the commentary, it's enjoyable to see Clancy voice his criticism over how the movie was unfaithful to his novel.
What's great about it: Liev Schreiber, Ciaran Hinds
What's not so great: Ben Affleck, the wrong villains
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Executive Decision [Blu-ray] [1996]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8ee3d7e0-35ed-433c-8c7a-47e72f328e0f.jpg)
Posted by: luckydragon
from houston
Kurt Russell stars as a civilian terrorist expert who accompanies US special forces led by Steven Seagal in a modified F-117 stealth jet. They must link up with an airliner hijacked by Arab terrorists who plan to disperse nerve gas on the US and prevent the nerve gas from being dispersed on the US. This is very good political thriller/action movie with Russell carrying the movie after Seagal is surprisingly killed off early in the movie (supposedly after a dispute with the producers). Halle Berry is very good as a stewardess who helps Russell and the commandos in their effort to stop the terrorists before they reach US airspace. This movie was overshadowed by Harrison Ford's AIR FORCE ONE which premiered a year later, but it has its own share of plot twists and action with Kurt Russell shining in the role of the surprising hero.
What's great about it: very good political thriller/action movie
What's not so great: Very few special features
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
4
Jack Ryan saves the Royal family
on April 20, 2013
Posted by: luckydragon
from houston
Harrison Ford's is excellent in his first Jack Ryan movie after replacing Alec Baldwin who starred in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. The movie plot has Ryan saving a member of the Royal family from being assassinated by a renegade IRA splinter group who then seeks revenge on Ryan. Sean Bean is impressive as the renegade IRA leader who travels to the US to kill Ryan after Ryan killed his brother. The movie is enjoyable, although very contrived at times which weakens its credibility.
My Best Buy number: 574961271
What's great about it: very good political thriller
What's not so great: Very few special features, contrived ending
I would recommend this to a friend!
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