Released in 1967, James Bond took a year break after Thunderball and came back with a bang in You Only Live Twice. Even though he wrote many screenplays, I have always found it cool that Roald Dahl wrote this movie. I will start by saying that I think this is a much better movie than Thunderball. This movie is more action packed, has better villains, and it is just a really fun time from start to end.
How to Download You Only Live Twice
You Only Live Twice was released on 13 June 1967. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice.
The Movie Review
A Look at the Box Office and Bond Fatigue
The budget for this one was even higher than it was for Thunderball, but there was a bit of James Bond fatigue at this point as this did not do as well at the box office as Thunderball did. Also, many other spy movies were now being released, as well as some TV shows too, all of which were trying to capture the magic and audience of James Bond.
Space, Spies, and Cold War Tension in You Only Live Twice
I love anything about space so the setup for You Only Live Twice was something that greatly appealed to me. A spacecraft goes missing in orbit, and both the USA and the Russians are blaming each other for what has happened. The Cold War era vibes are very apparent here, and the start of a big war between the two superpowers was really the goal here.
Bond’s Japanese Mission: A Visual and Cultural Treat
The secret service gets wind of something strange happening in Japan so Bond is sent to Japan to try and see who is responsible for this and what is really going on. I love the Japanese setting of this movie, from Bond hanging out at a sumo wrestling match to the general look of the movie. I felt that the underwater setting of Thunderball outstayed its welcome, but in this movie, we have a much more interesting set of locations for Bond to show us his super spy skills.
Ernst Stavro Blofeld: The Ultimate Bond Villain
The big bad of You Only Live Twice is the biggest bad of them all. Ernst Stravo Blofeld is not just part of SPECTRE, he is SPECTRE! He is the leader of this organization, and it is so awesome that Bond gets to really go face to face with him. While he may not be as flamboyant as some of the past Bond villains, the fact that he is the big bad does mane him seem like a huge deal and a massive threat to not just Bond, but the world.
Iconic Scenes and Standout Characters
There are some very iconic and memorable scenes in this movie. From Bond being tied to the table with the laser coming at his groin to the scene with Brandt being fed to the piranhas, this movie is packed with fun scenes! This movie has lots of cool gadgets, great action scenes, and I also feel that Aki is one of the more underrated Bond girls. She is very easy on the eyes, but she is also very helpful and can kick some ass too.
Final Thoughts on You Only Live Twice
After watching Thunderball, I must admit, I had a hard time getting motivated to watch You Only Live Twice, but this ended up being far better than I remembered it being. It is a really fun Bond movie, and while I still think that From Russia with Love and Goldfinger are the gold standard when it comes to Sean Connery Bond movies, this movie more than holds its own and is a fun spy caper.
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