You Only Live Twice (1967)

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Starring: Sean Connery, Donald Pleasence

More Info: IMDB

Tagline: You Only Live Twice...and "TWICE" is the only way to live!

Plot: Agent 007 and the Japanese secret service ninja force must find and stop the true culprit of a series of space highjackings before nuclear war is provoked.



My Rating: 7/10

Would I watch it again? Sure

After the near snoozefest that was THUNDERBALL (1965), Bond is back and it's a lot more fun. He's been all over the world and now it's time for a nice little detour to Japan.

I suppose for a lot of film goers in 1967 this was their first, or most extensive, film visit to Japan. That would make the following exchange in the film legitimate for some people. I'm sure they were asking themselves the same thing...

Bond: Why do Japanese girls taste different from all other girls?
Ling: You think we better?
Bond: No. Just different.

Well, there you go. But we're still no closer to the truth. Yarrrrr.

"Look familiar?"

There's a lot more action this time out and the beautiful Japanese locations are stunning and a welcome change. THUNDERBALL suffered in part by giving us a tropical location (albeit a different one) much like DOCTOR NO (1962).

The whole James Bond marriage thing is pretty lame and adds little to the film. The big star is Ken Adam's immense set for Blofeld's volcano base. WOW! Most impressive. The big battle at the end is more in line with how the franchise would follow and it's a lot of fun. It's nice to have Pleasence in the role of Blofeld but he's not really given much to do. Blofeld, so far, hasn't really presented himself as much of a threat. He's the man that pulls the strings. Not with the next film, though. It's Bond vs. Blofeld and it's one of the best.

Scorethefilm will return with his thoughts on...

ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (1968)