NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN 4K Remaster on Digital

[AndyDursin]

There are 4K remasters of all the Bond movies on Vudu, Itunes, Amazon, etc. and over the last month they added a gorgeous remaster of NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN that bests the Blu-Ray.

The UHD is currently $7.99 at Itunes, $9.99 at Vudu (MGM titles are not part of the "Movies Anywhere" program so whereever you buy it, you're buying it only at that platform) --

https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/det ... gain/16651

I did pick it up for $8 and it's great. Still keeping the BD for the terrific commentary track though!

[BobaMike]

I watched this the other night on the PlutoTV Bond channel...not a fan of the movie...the "Action" at the climax is so dull, and the lack of John Barry/the Bond theme is a big downside. They had Octopussy right after it, and I much prefer that one.

[AndyDursin]

It is definitely a mixed bag but I still find it entertaining, especially the first half. And Connery is terrific, much more engaged than he was in his last couple of Eon Bonds.

[BobaMike]

That is true...caught Diamonds are Forever too(which I do really like, up until the oil rig section), and you can tell his heart wasn't into it. Plus he's a bit chunky

[AndyDursin]

Flab aside, I kind of like his Diamonds performance -- it's more You Only Live Twice where his energy seems to flag.

I had the same problem with NSNA that I did with Thunderball. That underwater stuff is really slow going in both movies. It's especially unforgiveable in NSNA because you would've thought they could have improved upon it. But it's a mixed bag of a movie -- some good (Barbara Carrera), some bad (Kim Basinger), a good start and then a lousy climax. Movie was a mess of a production and it's a small miracle it was even finished. I also admit Michel Legrand's score has grown on me, and the title tune is actually good. It's the spotting of the score at times that gets it into trouble.

I also agree on OCTOPUSSY, it's a very solid Moore Bond -- one of the best in fact! And a much more solid, satisfying film than NSNA on balance.

[Paul MacLean]

I also admit Michel Legrand's score has grown on me, and the title tune is actually good. It's the spotting of the score at times that gets it into trouble.

I was struck when I read Jon Burlingame's book that the filmmakers did not like Legrand's score -- as such it's odd that they didn't commission a replacement composer, as the film was delayed from summer to fall anyway. Personally I think Henry Mancini would have been the ideal choice, but Legrand's score is (for me) better than serviceable. His music played to the glamor and exotic locales very well (though I do think he treats the film a little too comically in places).

But I couldn't imagine James Horner (who was also under consideration) scoring the film!

Prior to NSNA's release I was wondering if the Empire Strikes Back connection would re-team Irvin Kershner with John Williams. That would have been interesting!

[Eric Paddon]

Octopussy was the better film and Moore IMO gave the better Bond performance. It's too bad Moore didn't go out on a high note and had to save one of his worst efforts for last in a film that doesn't stand up well.