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Sean Connery, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Max von Sydow, Barbara Carrera, Kim Basinger ... see more see more... , Bernie Casey , Alec McCowen , Edward Fox , Pamela Salem , Rowan Atkinson , Valerie Leon , Milos Kirek , Pat Roach , Anthony Sharp , Prunella Gee , Gavan O'Herlihy , Saskia Cohen Tanugi , Tony Alleff , Derek Deadman , Joanna Dickens , Lucy Hornak , Brenda Kempner , Sylvia Marriott , Vincent Marzello , Michael Medwin , Billy Mitchell , Ronald Pickup , Manning Redwood , Robert Rietty , Wendy Leech , Anthony Van Laast , Dan Meaden

The title of the 1983 James Bond adventure Never Say Never Again is a self-mocking reference to star Sean Connery's insistence back in 1971 that he would never play Bond again. Reportedly, the huge sa... read more read more...lary offered Connery was but one consideration that brought him back to the 007 fold; the other was the producers' assurance that Connery would have full control over all aspects of production, a promise that was not kept often enough to the star's liking. Essentially, this film is a remake of the 1965 Bond flick Thunderball (the producers were able to get away with this due to a legal tangle involving the original 1961 Ian Fleming novel). Bond emerges from cozy retirement to cross swords with Largo (Klaus Maria Brandauer), a megalomaniacal business exec who steals several nuclear missiles, intending to bring the World Powers to their knees. Kim Basinger plays Domino, Largo's mistress, whose loyalty Bond secures when she learns that Largo was responsible for the death of her brother. In addition to Basinger, the film boasts a toothsome villainess by the name of Fatima Blush (played by Barbara Carrera). After wrapping Never Say Never Again, Sean Connery swore that this was his absolutely final performance as James Bond; thus far, he's kept his word. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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47% liked it

50,424 ratings

Critics

65% liked it

34 critics

PG, 2 hr. 17 min.

Directed by: Irvin Kershner

Release Date: October 7, 1983

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DVD Release Date: October 17, 2000

Stats: 1,418 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,418)

  • ajv2688
    January 16, 2011
    ajv2688
    Never been a fan of Bond movies, and I don't know why I've seen so many of them since I'm not a fan. Anyway, I didn't care for this one as usual, and I don't even remember what it was about so yeah...
  • CloudStrife84
    December 22, 2010
    CloudStrife84
    This last Bond film with Sean Connery is sadly also his weakest. Not because of his age (he still packs as good of a punch as when he was younger), but due to the blandness of the script. It's kind of like a re-make of Thunderball, only less exciting. Kim Basinger, whom I'... read moreve never cared much for as an actress, is her usual boring self and doesn't add much to the movie. It was cool to Max von Sydow though, in the role of one of the main villains. But I'm afraid not even two distinguished actors like him and Connery, can save this from the mediocracy pile. Not a bad film on the whole, but I think I'll refer to this from now on as "Never gonna see again".
  • SirPant
    September 23, 2009
    SirPant
    Never Say Never Again? Don't worry, I wont!
  • sononothing
    March 30, 2009
    sononothing
    What a ballsy film to do! Honestly, this is a James Bond film that doesn't have Monty Newman's theme, the gun barrel sequence, or Desmond Llewelyn. What it does have, back for one last go, is Sean Connery.

    Never Say Never Again is essentially a remake of 1966's Thunderball, whic... read moreh finds Bond stumbling onto a conspiracy to hijack two nuclear warheads and ransom the world to avoid detonation. Along the way he runs into the femme fatale Fatima Blush (Barbara Carerra) and the innocent victim Domino (Kim Basinger) while trying to stop SPECTRE agent #1 Maximillan Largo (Klaus Maria Brandauer).

    This film is really a novelty. It had been 12 years since Connery bowed out in Diamonds Are Forever and he is the main draw of this film. It's played as an older Bond, which is an interesting concept even though we've seen the same story before. This film was Irvin Kershner's follow up the the magnificent Empire Strikes back and even though this film doesn't come close to the perfection of that movie it is still a solid action adventure with a few surprises. It's hokey at times, but Connery proves even at that age he is still James Bond.
  • matertenebraum
    November 26, 2008
    matertenebraum
    Never Say Never Again got its title because Sean Connery had said in the 1970s (shortly after Diamonds Are Forever) that he would "never" do another Bond film. However, in 1983 he was persuaded to return to the role for a one-off special, a remake of his fourth entry Thunderball,... read more and his wife rather humorously said to him that in the future he should make a point never to say never again. This film actually came out close to a Roger Moore entry in the series (Octopussy), and although Connery had more admirers as 007 than Moore, it was surprisingly Octopussy that scored a bigger box office hit.

    Connery's Bond is older and more vulnerable than we remember him. His boss, M, doesn't hold him in very high regard and actually suggests that he take some time off in a plush health spa. During his time here, Bond uncovers a strange plot and the further he delves into the mystery the more he discovers. It seems that his old adversaries SPECTRE, fronted by the nefarious Blofeld (Max Von Sydow) have stolen two nuclear warheads which they will detonate if they are not paid an extortionate ransom. Chief overseer of this hideous plan is Emile Largo (Klaus Maria Brandeur), and Bond pursues Largo around the globe in an attempt to stop him, visiting such places as Monte Carlo and North Africa during the course of the mission.

    The music by Michel Legrand is poor by series standards. It sounds rather similar to his music for the sleazy 1981 movie Your Ticket Is No Longer Valid, and is really ill-suited to this Bond production. However, in terms of villains, they've come with a couple of great ones for this film. Largo, as personified by Brandeur, is smooth but deadly, and hench-woman Fatima Blush (the sensual Barbara Carrera) is uncommonly disturbing. Rowan Atkinson also has a fairly good role as a dim-witted agent assigned to "help" Bond. The big action sequences are quite good, especially the horse chase around the North African sea-fortress and the motorbike chase, although some of the underwater moments are tough to understand because it's hard to figure out who is who behind the diving masks.
  • Deano78
    September 6, 2008
    Deano78
    A pretty good bond film from what I remember.
  • Chiefilms
    March 1, 2008
    Chiefilms
    Why?
  • ceWEBrity
    November 22, 2007
    ceWEBrity
    This is by far the most forgettable James Bond movie I've ever seen (not that I've seen many). I forgot the title until I saw this on Flixster, if that gives you any idea.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    July 6, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    Aw, c'mon kids, it's not that bad! It's better than Thunderball, eh? The women are sexier; who can beat Kim Basinger? There are decent action sequences. The title song is really boring and laughably weak, but there's plenty of action throughout. I liked the painful videogame Jame... read mores Bond was playing with Largo. We don't have to endure the cheap boat chase and long boring underwater fights which Thunderball had. This movie is forgettable however. If it was the summer of '83 again, I'd have a hard time choosing to see this or Octopussy; both were bland.
  • RossCollinsUK
    January 14, 2007
    RossCollinsUK
    Breakaway Bond sees Connery return in an entertaining tounge-in-cheek version, with a classic 3D computer game!

View All Never Say Never Again Reviews

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr
October 13, 2008
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Without absolute conviction, no action film can survive: if there's no belief, there's no danger. Full Review

Mary Corliss
October 13, 2008
Mary Corliss, TIME Magazine

It is good to see Connery's grave stylishness in this role again. It makes Bond's cynicism and opportunism seem the product of genuine worldliness (and world weariness) as opposed to Roger Moore's mer... Full Review

Variety Staff
October 13, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

After a 12-year hiatus, Sean Connery is back in action as James Bond. The new entry marks something of a retreat from the far-fetched technology of many of the later Bonds in favor of intrigue and rom... Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Ah, yes, James, it is good to have you back again. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

It's a major disappointment that, having lured back the original 007, the film makers couldn't offer him something better than this drawn-out, hackneyed story. Full Review

Christopher Null
May 5, 2009
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

a cheeseball experience with a strange and horrible pedigree Full Review

Peter Canavese
April 17, 2009
Peter Canavese, ON Magazine

Connery proved plenty fit for one more outing...a likeable but somewhat mediocre adventure handsomely mounted in the traditional Bond style...[Blu-ray] Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
February 18, 2009
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

It's an aging and unenthusiastic Connery who returns to play Bond, who doesn't have the physicality to do justice any more to the demanding muscular role. Full Review

October 13, 2008
Empire Magazine

Connery was perhaps wise to call it quits the first time round. Full Review

October 13, 2008
Film4

Connery has style, if not quite the energy quotient (he was 53 at the time) -- some nifty editing and a redundant dance routine make him look good. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Largo: Do you lose as gracefully as you win?
    • James Bond: I don't know, I've never lost.
    • Miss Moneypenny: Have you got a mission, James?
    • James Bond: Yes. I am to eliminate all free radicals.
Submit a Fact | View All

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Never Say Never Again Trivia

  • Although not an official James Bond movie, which film released in 1983 is a remake of Thunderball.  Answer »
  • Sean Connery reprised his role as James Bond in 1983's Never Say Never Again, therefore making himself the first, third and fifth actor to portray James Bond.  Answer »
  • How does James Bond respond to Fatima at the movie "Never say Never Again", when she says "Oh,how reckless of me!I've made you all wet".  Answer »
  • What is the final movie in which Sean Connery portrays British secret agent James Bond on film?  Answer »
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