At The Movies

Thunderball (1965), PG, 2 hr 10 min Franchise: James Bond Franchise #: 4 (Release Order: Fourth film in the official Eon Productions James Bond series) Tagline: Look up! Look down! Look out! James Bond is back! Main Cast Sean Connery as James Bond Claudine Auger as Domino Adolfo Celi as Emilio Largo Luciana Paluzzi as Fiona Volpe Bernard Lee as M Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny Desmond Llewelyn as Q Rik Van Nutter as Felix Leiter Guy Doleman as Count Lippe Martine Beswick as Paula Caplan Reviews Synopsis When two nuclear warheads are stolen by the criminal organization SPECTRE, James Bond heads to the Bahamas to track them down. His mission pits him against the eye-patched villain Largo and his henchmen, both above and below the sea. With underwater battles, harpoon fights, and Bond-style seduction, this one cranks up the exotic locations and Cold War stakes. Overview Thunderball is bold, colorful, and ambitious. It has a bit more underwater footage than most fans bargained for, but it...

Critical Overview Jaws: The Revenge is the weakest entry in the beloved Jaws series. The plot stretches all credibility—featuring a shark that swims over 1,900 miles in just a few days to stalk Ellen Brody (Lorraine Gary) in the Bahamas. The shark exhibits impossible behavior, including roaring and targeting a family thanks to some supernatural vendetta, which turns what was suspense into unintentional farce. Roger Ebert famously called it "not simply a bad movie, but also a stupid and incompetent one." Even the special effects, including a shark that explodes at the end, parody the film's own absurdity. Critics agree it killed the franchise with embarrassment rather than suspense.  Despite Lorraine Gary’s earnest efforts and Michael Caine in a paycheck role, the implausible premise, sloppy pacing, and inert suspense make this a low point in franchise history. It's tough to watch—even ironically. Bottom Line Jaws: The Revenge feels more like a parody of itself than a...