Which Is Better: Thunderball or Never Say Never Again?
The box office business tin can be cutthroat, and that was particularly true for 007 when another contender wanted to enter the market with a not-official James Bail flick. In fact, this rival film was scheduled to be released just months after the proper 007 entry of the year had already taken flying. It'south exactly the scenario that happened in 1983, every bit Roger Moore was on the big screen with Octopussy in the summer and Sean Connery learned to Never Say Never Once again in the fall. But which was the superior Bond of 1983?
That'south exactly what we're about to discuss here today, as nosotros'll be looking at the history of both James Bond films, and crowning one a winner overall. Merely this isn't going to just be a contest of numbers, as this argument is going to be weighed the same way that saw us evaluate Timothy Dalton's duology of Bond movies. Let's jump back to the time when two titans of espionage went head to caput, and see which James Bond comes out on peak.
James Bond In 1983: By The Numbers
Looking at sheer box role numbers, Octopussy and Never Say Never Once more enjoyed individual success rather nicely. Premiering on June 6, 1983, Roger Moore'south sixth James Bond adventure raked in $187.5 million on a $27.v meg budget. Looking dorsum on its reviews upon initial release, Rotten Tomatoes has the movie logged at a 42% freshness rating, with the consensus stating that while the action was fun, the rest of the Bond formula felt like it had run its course. Which is funny, considering the pedigree of the competition.
As Never Say Never Once more is, literally, a remake of Thunderball with Sean Connery dorsum as James Bond, y'all'd think this film could put people on the debate. Its Oct 7, 1983 release saw the film eventually raking in $160 million on a $36 million budget. So technically, Octopussy wins in the regard that it price less, made more than money, and actually had the official EON Productions stamp of Albert R. Broccoli. That being said, critics were surprisingly kind to the film, with Janet Maslin of the New York Times' own review inspiring this comparison in the offset place. Never Say Never Over again, which she heralded "the better Bond, and by a wide margin" actually sits at a 69% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes through contemporary reviews.
However, both films accept an interesting outlier that manages to make comparing Octopussy and Never Say Never Once again a worthy enterprise. When it comes to the audience ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Moore's adventure has a 47% rating, while Sean Connery's unlikely return earned a 37% rating. Then who got information technology correct: the critics, or the fans? Before we can truly know, it'due south fourth dimension to break for a quick history lesson.
Wait, How Does Never Say Never Over again Even Exist?
Previously, in the 007 saga, writer Ian Fleming and producer Kevin McClory worked on a concept that would eventually go Thunderball. The only problem was, McClory idea that Fleming stole his ideas to create SPECTRE, too as the tale of atomic threat at the hands of one Ernst Stavro Blofeld, and his villainous front of the moment, Maximillian Largo. After a legal battle that eventually saw Kevin McClory win the rights to SPECTRE, Blofeld, and the story of Thunderball, the producer made it his mission to remake the film as many times as he possibly could.
Out of several attempts, ane of which was co-scripted by Sean Connery himself, Never Say Never Again was the simply one that actually succeeded. (Though past that film's existence, in that location'south several other attempts that saw everyone from Timothy Dalton to Liam Neeson potentially playing 007. We'll salve that story for another day though, as this ends our quick lesson, and allows us to launch into comparing James Bond'due south official antics against his legally allowed, but nonetheless off brand hijinks.)
Which 1983 James Bail Pic Has The Better Story?
This may experience like a elementary open and shut case. By its very nature, Never Say Never Again is a remake, taking Thunderball and updating it for the 1980s. With a killer (literally) video game sequence, Kim Basinger as the new incarnation of Bail Woman Domino Petachi, and some humour added at the expense of Sean Connery's aging 007, it seems similar Never Say Never Again would likely be the loser.
Notwithstanding, Octopussy has the ultimate strike against its ain case of nuclear panic: information technology just happened to follow For Your Eyes Merely, the best Roger Moore Bond film of all time. Generally returning to the wit and charm of Moore'due south sillier qualities, the story does have serious moments of tension that harken back to the killer edge Sir Roger had simply shown ii years ago. Unfortunately, the tale drags on all eight tentacles, despite actually giving James Bond an atypical partner in Maud Adams' titular smuggler/anti-hero.
We tin kind of put both of these films on an equal footing, every bit the basic structure for both stories sees 007 trying to stop an atomic bomb from ruining the world. But while Octopussy falls dorsum into autopilot through Roger Moore's one-liners and convincing charm, Never Say Never Again leans into the plot of James Bond getting older. Information technology may non be a particularly effective strategy individually, but I begrudgingly give the win to Never Say Never Again's story, equally it at to the lowest degree tries to imagine what Quondam Man Bond would exist like.
Which 1983 James Bail Film Has The Better Villains?
You can tell a good story all you want, only if you don't accept a proper villain for a 007 take chances, you're actually missing a major beat. Just as in that location are two James Bond stories nosotros're examining here, each tale has two villains working toward common goals. From the start, it feels like Never Say Never Once more has the reward once more, every bit it's working with one of the most iconic baddies in Bond history.
Through Max Von Sydow'due south incarnation of Blofeld, we saw a version of James Bond'due south nemesis in Never Say Never Once more that didn't hide in the shadows. Nor did Von Sydow -- an interim titan who still stands as a legend -- try to imitate the official EON version of the character. The aforementioned goes for Klaus Maria Brandauer, whose version of Largo mixes the psychotic jealousy of Adolfo Celi'due south Thunderball variant with a soft facade that makes him wait similar he wouldn't be much of a threat.
Still, fresh villains are to exist had in Octopussy! And there'southward technically three parties working together to help undermine Western affairs, in order to launch East and West into a Cold War disharmonize. With Prince Kamal Khan (Louis Jordan) and General Orloff (Steven Berkoff) trade stolen Russian jewels/Faberge eggs for nuclear warheads, the traveling circus of Octopussy (Maud Adams) is the unwitting vehicle for the pic's climactic third act.
To be honest, information technology's all a flake much when you effort to break it down; it about sounds similar a partial re-spinning of Bond'south relationship with Pussy Galore in Goldfinger. The choices between Never Say Never Again and Octopussy's villains is one of familiar and reworked versus new, but under-broiled. Hither, another surprising victory lands in the hands of Sean Connery and Kevin McClory, as the contender takes the crown again.
Which 1983 James Bond Moving-picture show Has The Better Romance?
Surely Octopussy has to win on some sort of grounds, right? It's virtually disheartening to see Never Say Never Again winning the race and so far, even with its very reality owing a large debt to ownership of intellectual property. But there is a cistron that has given Sir Roger Moore's outing the upper hand: the central romantic plotline.
Never Say Never Once again has a trouble that the Bail serial had run into throughout the Moore era in item: the historic period difference betwixt the lead and his romantic interest led to some interesting comparisons. While the film rightfully provided the talented Kim Basinger with her breakout role as the second Domino, it kind of felt weird when paired with the movie's prime source of humor coming from an aging 007. Yep, Sean Connery was withal charming equally hell, just in retrospect, the casting withal feels a bit iffy.
While the age difference between Roger Moore and Maud Adams in Octopussy was only a couple years shy of the Connery/Basinger window, Octopussy wasn't written as immature ingenue. Though she may not top any lists of Bail Women who could agree their ain against James Bond, the chemistry was that of more equally cunning opponents. Information technology'due south for this major reason that Octopussy takes the honors of the better Bail romance.
Which 1983 James Bond Film Is The Better Chance?
Earlier I hand downward the final verdict, I just want to clarify that this wasn't a walk in the park, even as a loyal 007 fan. Information technology's no secret that the James Bond movies striking a heat in Roger Moore's afterward adventures, and Never Say Never Again is withal not an official Bail motion picture. Nor is the return of Sean Connery the improve version of what was arguably one of his best entries in the series, every bit Thunderball is a hell of an act to beat.
However, in that location's a clear winner hither, and director Irwin Kirshner'south Never Say Never Once more is the victor in this battle royale. Yes, it'south a remake that was spurred on past a grudge, and it definitely has issues of its ain in terms of pacing and the ability to take it seriously. Simply even as a sub-par James Bond run a risk, enlisting an impressive bandage and adding a little bit of cheek allowed Sean Connery to evangelize another comparative win when compared to the dirty cocktail of elements that made Octopussy the harder slog.
Of form, this is a contend; and what I say doesn't necessarily have to go. If you Bail fans feel differently about Octopussy, or if you want to join in to support Never Say Never Once again, there's a poll included for you to log your votes in either case. It wouldn't be as much fun to debate this couple of James Bond adventures without some fan feedback, no matter how wrong you lot may feel the other side of the fence may be.
This poll is no longer available.
CinemaBlend's James Bond (expert). Also versed in Large Scale Aggressors, time travel, and Guillermo del Toro. He fights for The User.
Source: https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2565864/octopussy-vs-never-say-never-again-which-was-the-superior-bond-of-1983
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