Never Say Never Again

Name: Never Say Never Again
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Released: October 7, 1983
Duration: 134 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Kim Basinger, Sean Connery

1983

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 38 Ratings

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5.6

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5.6	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 38 Ratings

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Never Say Never Again

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: October 7, 1983 | PG

Starring: Kim Basinger, Sean Connery

Summary: A SPECTRE agent has stolen two American nuclear warheads, and James Bond must find their targets before they are detonated.

Director: Irvin Kershner

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Thriller

Rating: PG

Runtime: 134 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Gary Arnold

Never Say Never Again illustrates how much sheer entertainment value can accrue when seasoned, disciplined filmmakers are encouraged to use their accumulated experience and design a classy piece of escapism to the best of their abilities. Read full review

Roger Ebert

What makes Never Say Never Again more fun than most of the Bonds is more complex than that. For one thing, there's more of a human element in the movie, and it comes from Klaus Maria Brandauer, as Largo. Brandauer is a wonderful actor, and he chooses not to play the villain as a cliché. Instead, he brings a certain poignancy and charm to Largo, and since Connery always has been a particularly human James Bond, the emotional stakes are more convincing this time. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

What clicks best in the film is the casting. Klaus Maria Brandauer makes one of the best Bond opponents since very early in the series. Read full review

Jack Kroll

Director Irvin Kershner handles the early part with wit and style, but he's hamstrung by Lorenzo Semple's script, which is based too much on "Thunderball." Still, there are fun passages. [10 Oct 1983, p.93]

Bill Cosford

As an older, slightly less athletic but no less Sybaritic Bond (he carries an attache- case sampler of caviar and pate de fois gras), Connery is perfectly suited. [8 Oct 1983, p.C5]

Empire William Thomas

Connery was perhaps wise to call it quits the first time round. Read full review

Dave Kehr

It's his sense that he is superior to the series (which he certainly is) that introduces a fatal strain of campiness and condescension. And without absolute conviction, no action film can survive: if there's no belief, there's no danger. Read full review

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User Reviews

Kai82

Mar 10, 2021

It is basically a remake of fireball, a return of Sean Connery to (t)his iconic role and one of a few James Bond movies that was not produce by Eon Productions. Because of the last it is often debated if it is a true James Bond movie. For me it is and I don't understand this reasoning or whyIt is basically a remake of fireball, a return of Sean Connery to (t)his iconic role and one of a few James Bond movies that was not produce by Eon Productions. Because of the last it is often debated if it is a true James Bond movie. For me it is and I don't understand this reasoning or why it should not be counted. Just as remark: Some hallmarks of the franchise could not be used because of legal reasons like the James Bond theme or the standard gun sequence. Story: After the refreshing and remarkable intro scene which I call a masterpiece in positively subverting expectation James Bond is send to a health clinic by M (New boss same codename). There he witnessed some strange behaviors of a nurse and another patient he can explain yet. Meanwhile SPECTRE is planing a master-coup. I stop here with this set up. The movie and story is good and solid James Bond entertainment. It has an engaging and immersive story which delivers all hallmarks you expected but still being fresh and charming enough to avoid franchise fatigue. It might not be my favorite movie in the franchise but fully delivers and has memorable scenes. For those who don't know: The movie title is a reference. Sean Connery quit his role as James Bond and said he will never play this role again as he did not want to be typecast or better said be a prisoner of this role for the rest of his career. He managed to stay true to this statement for over a decade and after this movie managed to never returned again. In general I say this feels more like a Roger Moore era style James Bond movie (meant possessive). For clarification: It has more humor and emotions but also delivers Sean Connery's style and charm. For the cast I already praise Sean Connery who gives a last and great farewell in this role. Klaus Maria Brandauer as Maximillian Largo is a great villain. Maybe not top 3 James Bond villains but definitely top ten and not missing that much. Max von Sydow is a good Ernst Starvo Blofeld but he is not the main bad guy here. Q is not played by Desmond Llewellyn and it feels strange even when Alec McCowen is no misstep. I just cant imagine anyone else in this iconic (side) role. Edward Fox is a great M and more strict and critical to James Bond (More like a male version of the great Judi Dench who will fill this role later). I have forgotten that Kim Basigner played Domino Petachi. A good performance but like before females were not that well presented in the franchise. Barbara Carrera was intimidating and a great adversary except for the final scenes where it ruins her character. However this is the scripts fault and I will not use a bad script to ruin my evaluation of a good performance. In total we have a good cast and overall performance. The action scenes and fights are well done in this movie. I praise how they manged to make a 53 year old Sean Connery nailing the role and never fail do deliver (It was a discussion topic / critique for his last James Bond movie over a decade earlier). The soundtrack sadly misses the James Bond theme but can deliver with the themesong and a good performance. Overall this is one of the better James Bond movies and worth watching. While it is not in my top 5 movies in the franchise it is still good and I rewatch it from time to time.… Expand