I like the story where Sean Connery and Roger Moore ran into each other at an airport as they were going from one location to the next and talking about what they're doing in their respective Bond films.

I love the Orion Pictures intro at the beginning of the video. It's so 80s that it deserves a like for this video alone.

My jaw dropped during the video game sequence. "umm... what's going on now?.... Wait, what?"

Honestly this movie is a major guilty pleasure for me, largely because of how brilliant Barbara Carrera is in this film, so charismatic, so fun/entertaining, one of the best Bond henchmen, chewing the scenery with every second of screen-time, over-acting in the best way you could ask of a Bond villain. She's clearly loving every minute of making this film, compared to some of the other more sleepy performances in this film, after she dies the film really goes downhill. Very memorable actress of a few 80s b-movies and the Masada miniseries. Also a clear precursor to Famke Janssen's Xenia Onatopp in the very eccentric energy that Fatima Blush has, love the scene where she demands Bond admit she was the 'greatest rapture of her life'. What an odd film, but has many fun moments.

Never Say Never is like the proto version of that thing they do a lot now, reviving legacy IP and wheeling out the old stars (with dubious results lol).

Barbara Carrera was likely cast after her performance in spy spoof Condorman, which 100% deserves a retrospective. The official Bond series also used a few ideas from it as well.

There’s a fantastic book called “The Battle For Bond” by Robert Sellers, and it highlights the Thunderball rights issues.

This is a guilty pleasure for me.

Octopussy is one of the most underrated of the James Bond films. There maybe too much humour in the film for some, but it was typical feature of the Roger Moore films. The pre-credit sequence alone is one of the best in the series.

RIP Pamala Salem (Miss Moneypenny)

This was my introduction to Sean Connery's James Bond. As a kid, I liked the video game scene.

27:15 I like how in the end credits at the end, they just say fuck it and let Herb Alpert rip on the horn

What timing. Considering the actress who played Miss Moneypenny in this just recently passed away.

I cannot WAIT to get off work to watch this! These 007 Retrospectives are the best!

Yes!!!! I love your retrospectives! Please do more, yours are the best and most comprehensive on YT

This one used to be on tv all the time when I was a kid in the 90s so ive seen it a million times. The intro is one of my favorite Bond intros because of how different it is, I loved the jungle aesthetic and Bond wearing the gloves, using all of these tricks and different methods of dispatching bas guys. The music never quite matched but I loved how 80s SLEAZE it was if that makes sense. Great video as always Oliver!

"You know that making love to Fatima was the greatest pleasure of your life." "Well, to be perfectly honest...there was this girl in Philadelphia." This may not be the greatest Bond movie, but it's a solid film with some cracking one-liners. Great review!

I’m actually one of the few people who is a die hard bond fan who actually enjoys this movie. Irvin Kershner knows how to direct an action movie and this is no exception but the Behind The Scenes on the film is absolutely fascinating and deserves a movie of its own like The Disaster Artist

I really enjoyed Barbara Carrera's performance. I got the impression that she was having fun too.

Pamela Salem, Miss Moneypenny passed away 2 days ago (21/02/2024). RIP.

I think the best (and possibly the most realistic) Bond movie Connery was ever in is actually a non-Bond movie called "The Russia House", based on a book by John Le Carre. Co-starring Michelle Pfeiffer (who shares an unforgettable screen chemistry with Connery here) and Klaus Maria Brandauer, who happens to play Largo in Never Say Never Again.

The first Retrospective/Review of 2024! Awesome as always. As I said in the community post, this is the first Sean Connery "James Bond" movie, and its technically not an official James Bond movie. Honestly, the behind the scenes stuff about this movie does indeed sound more interesting than the actual movie itself. Side note: Awesome new intro! :D

Last Sean Connery Bond was in 1995 “The Rock”

It has some good bits, I really liked the gag of him scaring a guy into not moving by saying a small metal case is an explosive that explodes if he moves, and later it turns out to just be his cigar case.

I caught some of this movie as a child and the death of Blush royally freaked me out. 22:22 It's the way she laughs maniacally after the dart hits her, and promptly explodes.

It's kind of eerie how you released this video on the same day that Pamela Salem's death hit the news

Awesome review. Re watched this movie and loved it. Even parts of the score were pretty sweet and I want to sample it to make a beat out of it lol.

Fabulous work again Olly. Thank you I love your bond retrospectives.

For me this is not only a great final story for Connery's Bond but also James Bond in general. Bond retiring in the Bahamas with Domino is such a perfect conclusion for a character who definitely deserved a happy ending.

Thunderball is one of my favorite Bond movies

If they ever make a movie about the making of never say never again, they should cast Timothy spall as mclory and Geoffrey rush as flemming

Oh hellz yes it must be my birthday because theres a new OLIVER RETROSPECTIVE you rock dude. Better than any official documentaries about movie

How tf does he still only have 230K?! Such an amazing channel

*This is actually my favorite 007 film*

For me, Barbara Carrera was the best 'bond girl' ever. Honestly, incredibly attractive and most importantly, captivating. It's a real shame she didn't have a much bigger career as a result.

I really appreciate this channel! Keep it up!

Gavan O'Herlihy played one of the most infamous characters in U.S. sitcom history: Chuck Cunningham during the first season of Happy Days.

Great job, Oliver Harper!!!!

Brilliant review. It made my day. Also loved your movie. Thanks

Great review and rundown of a troubled production. I have to be honest I always enjoy NSNA not without caveats though. The music wrong and using title song killed any build up of tension at the beginning of the movie. Pamela Salem (sadly whose death was announced today) makes a good Miss MP. Klause Maria brandeur and Barbara carrea make two of the Bonds most accomplished villains and Bernie ?? A great Felix leiter. It is still amazing that Schwartzman managed to release and MAKE NSNA and if he had brought in a line producer his problems would have lessened (although how many people would volunteer to do it ) knowing the power of EON productions. Finally Schwartzman sank 15 million of his own money into NSNA so should be applauded for courage if nothing else

Connery looks in better shape than he did in diamonds are forever😀

I Love how informative these retrospectives are!

Both never say never again and octopussy are fantastic films. They both made a huge amount of money at the box office. If I had to choose I would choose octopussy first, however like I said they are both good movies and are both in my library.

I watched this film recently for the first time since the 90's when it would play regularly on tv. I have to say that I was genuinely surprised not only how well it holds up as a film, but how much better the experience was to see it in it's entirety without it being cut for commercial breaks. It might actually be Connery's best performance as Bond aside from maybe Goldfinger. In my opinion, it is a better film than Thunderball and far more entertaining. It does have it's 80's cringe (especially the music) but that's part of it's charm. Fatima Blush is the true villain of the film and she is not only beautiful but believable. At the time I first saw the film, it was one of my least favs of the series. Now it might be in the top 10. It's a really fun ride that never takes itself too seriously, and that's what's been sorely missing from Bond these last 20 years.

Great retrospective as usual. Btw, love the clip from Stella Street!

Love love love LOVE THE NEW OPENING!

Very good video, Oliver! I've never liked this movie, only watched it once and never again, good thing 'Octopussy' beat it at the Box Office. But I do find it fascinating on a behind the scenes basis, and I always enjoy watching these Reviews/Retrospectives. Thanks again!

Right in time for dinner...Brilliant!

I was listening to the soundtrack a few months ago and I really like this one. I think that the themes are perfectly cued in the movie, especially how the main theme starts up at the end where we transition from the underwater fight to Bond enjoying the swimming pool with his lady. I have to say I had a smile on my face for your entire retrospective, really nice research you did and the work you put into the images was phenomenal.

You have put together a most interesting summary of one of my favourite James Bond films. You’ve included clips I had never seen. And your discussion of the special effects is fascinating. The goal of “Never Say Never Again” was to be different from the Eon productions. In the case of “Octopussy,” one is justified in saying, “Thank Heaven!” Sean Connery’s main inspiration was “From Russia With Love,” emphasizing character and plot over sets, gadgets, and action for its own sake. This was meant to be an older Bond dealing with a changing MI6, and facing a nuclear threat even more relevant than at the time of “Thunderball.” (Sorry, but targeting Miami doesn’t seem as nerve-wracking as Washington DC and the Middle East!) Irvin Kershner praised Connery as the creative glue that held the production together. Despite the legal, budgetary, and script problems, Kershner said how much he loved his actors. But Connery was unfair to Jack Schwartzman, whose legal skills put the deal together in the first place. And it was Schwartzman who had to spend his time fighting Eon in the London High Court! On the topic of legal issues, fans should realize that, you don’t get to use theme music developed and owned by another corporation. (Schwartzman had enough problems!) Michel Legrand did a good job on short notice; his scoring for the French Riviera and Fatima’s underwater trap were excellent. And it was a refreshing change from John Barry’s increasing staleness. The theme song was good, well-done by Lani Hall. “Worst Bond score ever produced?” As opposed to “Diamonds Are Forever” or “Man With The Golden Gun”? And I challenge anyone to cite memorable passages from the Brosnan or Craig films. Personally, I found “Thunderball” more boring than you did. The characters are poorly developed, the underwater scenes really drag, Connery is going through the motions, and the whole thing is a Bahamas travelogue. (News flash: the director, Terence Young, was not fond of it, either!) The ending irritates me, as well. “Never Say Never Again” has a better one: Bond enjoying a blissful retirement in the Bahamas - like Connery himself - and saying farewell with a sly wink to camera.

Love your James Bond retrospectives!!!

As always: great retrospective! And you right in every regard concerning that lackluster score... What a shame they couldn't hire James Horner.

Hi Oliver...Love, Love...LOOOOOVE your adaptation of the old ORION movie intro. Top tier, my friend.

"THERE WAS THIS GIRL IN PHILIDELPHIA." LOL!!!!

Ah, what a great intro!

As a kid I never questioned there being 2 different actors playing Bond at the same time, I just cared about if the movie was entertaining or not.

Knickers in a twist. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Brilliant, Oliver!

Well done Oliver. It is sad there are so many actors who have passed away.

REALLY enjoy these. thank you.

The fight between Bond and the thug in Shrublands in this film, Bond vs Grant, and the fight between the butler and Necros in The Living Daylights are all S tier.

Excellent video on this crazy movie. Thanks Oliver

A retrospective from Oliver Harper on a Connery Bond film. What a pleasant surprise!

- Barbara Carrera could have been in Octopussy (Octopussy? Magda?) but chose the non-EON film in order to have a chance to work with Connery and/or Kershner; - Had Bernie Casey not played Felix Leiter would Jeffrey Wright have been cast as the EON version thereof, decades later? - Another splendid retrospective by Oliver; still patiently waiting for your in-depth video of Octopussy (followed by all the 1960s Bond films, including the David Niven/1967 version of Casino Royale) ! 😉📽

Don't even like the Bond movies for the most part, but I'll always tune in for a new Oliver retrospective!

Great review., I love this film even though it's a rival film. It was really good. Sean Connery brought back a lot of that toughness that was missed in the previous Bond films with Roger Moore. Thanks for doing another 007 flick, I loved all the other 007 reviews you did. *Hoping "Bond 26" will be a reality not a what if.

I was 9 when Never Say Never released. Until then, I had onky known Roger Moore as Bond, so I didn't get it. My dad had to explain to me that Connery had been the original. While I do think Octopussy is the better of the two, I do enjoy Never Say Never and it is part of my Bond collection.

Great video!

Its funny how two prominent Bond actors had calamitous relationships with 90s action stars. Roger Moore expressing discontentment with his time on The Quest with Van Damme and Seagal breaking Sean Connery's wrist on this film. Those boys were a menace.

Another greatv video.but can I just say that Hans Zimmer man of steel score/theme reigns supreme. Such a powerful piece of music. No cheese just brilliant

Great job oliver 👏

Screenwriter Lorenzo Semple Jnr is best remembered for the Batman66 pilot and movie.

What I love most about your videos is that you never bother with silly things like the correct pronunciation of actors’ names… 🤣🤣🤣

This channel is great!

I do like the Orion logo, I actually watched this back to back with Thunderball a few weeks ago, there's stuff I like but really I never thought it was anything then an oddity movie

Love the intro Oliver👍👍

barbara carrera presence in this movie woke up a lot of things in me when I watched it at 11 years old back in 94.

Pamela Salem who played Moneypenny passed away.

I watched/have a fan cut that used John Barry music and the gun barrel sequence in this movie. It... kinda worked. The fan cut used the Shirley Bassey/Propellerheads "History Repeating" song as the main title song and that REALLY worked.

I always liked this one as a kid. Never knew it was 'unofficial'

V enjoyable review

I have a soft spot for this movie despite its issues. The title song is actually my favorite of any Bond film, it’s jazzy in a synth 80s way I very much enjoy. Also if you squint your eyes hard enough, the opening scene with Bond infiltrating the armed base in fatigues could give an idea of what a Metal Gear movie could be like, it’s very cool.

I am from McClory's hometown and he is featured as one of Dun Laoghaire's highlighted celebrities at the train station. I just can't get behind him though, due to so much squabbling and legal issues with Fleming and EON Productions. You can feel the legal issues seeping into the final film. That said, having alternate versions of M, Q, Leiter and Blofeld is interesting, as is Connery's older Bond being pulled off better than later films doing the 'too old for this' theme.

I personally LOVED it, was a HELL of a lot better than some of Brosnan's efforts :)

Epic Review, thanks

Great intro!

Nicely done, Agent H!

I once bumped into Klaus Maria Brandauer in Schipol airport in the early 90s. He was wearing a big fur coat, had a stunningly beautiful girl hanging onto each arm and had a huge shit-eating grin on his face. He was obviously three whets to the wind and was saying hello to everyone he passed. Top bloke!

Ohh dude, prolly my favorite Connery Bond movie. Specially because of Kim Basinger ❤🥰

Decent movie but they didn't have Cubby Broccoli's $$ and it shows but Connery is great and Barbra Carerra is gorgeous

For all its flaws I love this film for having one of the best bond villain performances.

Great video

I guess plenty of people know this already, but Bond's original car in the books was a Bentley.

My first Bond, and still my favorite.

According to John Barry himself he was approached to score the film but declined out of loyalty to eon

You can see bits of that original "Old Bond" stuff in the story: M's dismay at the training exercise, Bond acting as a teacher more than an agent, Bond entering a casino to find arcade machines instead of gamblers. NSNA has some great aspects to it but feels like an unfinished film. Feels like an unfinished edit, they couldn't decide what to cut and what to keep. The editing doesn't always have energy. Least much of the main cast is great, especially Connery.

Absolutely sensational video - and a superb analysis of this movie and everything that surrounded it. Fantastic work! When this came out it I remember it was a HUGE deal. The film got terrific reviews and I even remember all of us really loving it at the time. But it was probably just because Sean Connery was back. In the years since, of course, things have changed dramatically! I watched it again not too long ago and actually found a lot to enjoy. There were some fresh takes on a lot of the Thunderball material and the film seemed to move fast and have energy. Sean Connery was as great as ever in his return as James Bond and the villains were all terrific. The two main problems really were the action - which , outside of the fight at Scrublands and the Bike chase were pretty tepid and boring. And that music. I wouldn’t just call the score the worst of the Bond series - because of the iconic nature of James Bond music, you could even say it was one of the worst in movie HISTORY. It probably stands as one of the best examples ever of how vitally important music is to a movie. A great score could completely elevate a film and a poor score could absolutely sink it. Which is what happened here. I would love to see a re-release with a new score but I suppose the fan made ones are the only ones we’ll ever see! I’m still very happy this movie is out there - and I still rewatch it from time to time. It seems like a nice finale to Connery tenure as 007 and it’s just great seeing him back in action as James Bond one last time. ( that is - until The Rock years later! But that’s a story for another Oliver video!)

27:02 Phyllis was devastated by this move

GREAT OPENING TITLE!!!!!!

The positives: Connery, Barbara Carrera, and Klaus Maria Brandauer. The negatives: Just about everything else.

I think this is a very fair evaluation of this film. The casting is good (love Barbara Carrera as Fatima Blush), as are the locations and action. I completely disagree, however, with your assessment of Thunderball. That is my absolute favorite of all the Bond films.