Home :: DVD :: Classics :: Action & Adventure  

Action & Adventure

Boxed Sets
Comedy
Drama
General
Horror
International
Kids & Family
Musicals
Mystery & Suspense
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Silent Films
Television
Westerns
Diamonds are Forever

Diamonds are Forever

List Price: $26.98
Your Price:
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 4 5 .. 13 >>

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Diamonds aren't gold
Review: Poor Roger Moore. Those critics and James Bond fans who disliked the cartoony direction the 007 series took in the 1970's continue to point the accusing finger at TV's "The Saint." They should take aim at screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz instead. The scribe, who later went on to contribute to the "Superman" films before reaching his peak as the director of Dan Ackroyd's big screen desecration of "Dragnet," is the man responsible for turning Bond into a less bumbling version of Inspector Clouseau. But the blame really belongs to the producers and United Artists (then owned by Transamerica, not MGM) which insisted the series turn as far away as possible from the more somber tone of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." The result is this unimpressive follow-up, the pedestrian "Diamonds Are Forever." And Sean Connery, lured back to his star making role after newcomer George Lazenby abruptly quit the series after one film, is said to have encouraged this new emphasis on humor.

"Diamonds Are Forever" isn't quite a laugh-fest, but it fails to achieve what its producers intended, namely to return the series to the glory days of "Goldfinger." This film was intentionally crafted to resemble the 1964 classic that turned Bond into a phenomenon. It returns 007 to American soil, in this case, Las Vegas, as well as brings Shirley Bassey back to sing the excellent title song, and has Guy Hamilton taking a second shot as director, a position he would retain for two more films.

The film's biggest problem is the way it completely ignores the climax of "OHMSS" even as Bond once more clashes with Ernst Stavro Blofeld, whose actions brought Lazenby's Bond to tears (dry ones, no emotional outbursts from 007) and who is now portrayed by Charles Gray, who becomes the third actor to show his face as Bond's version of Professor Moriarty. Everything about the film is routine, including Jill St. John who looks lovely but is as overly familiar as everything else in the movie.

At first glance, Connery's appearance is jarring: heavier than when we saw him last in "You Only Live Twice," but with a more hirsute hairpiece. Before long, however, you forget about his battle with the aging process and settle back to enjoy his performance.

You can settle back and enjoy the film, too, especially John Barry's score and that silly car chase, but "Diamonds Are Forever" is one of the series' least memorable installments.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Welcome back Sean!
Review: Sean Connery came back for one more time in this Goldinger like movie. Pinewood brought back Goldfinger's director (Guy Hamilton) for DAF. This was probobly the first time that someone actually said a dirty curse word (twice actually by the same person). It was the sherrif in Vegas he said "There goes that S.O.B.". Then he said " Why you dirty bas****"(they cut it out after bas...). The 40 year old Sean Connery looked more like 50. An overall good movie.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: connery's dud
Review: for those who want to lamblast roger moore's bond (and i'll do that myself on the later entries) then check out this connery dud. jimmy dean as a howard hughes villian? campy gay villians and a hollywood squares type washed up actress heroine? it's all downhill in a virtually plotless bond bomb

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: "For such a grand meal, I'd rather expected a claret"
Review: The story line in this movie has a number of truck-sized holes (such as how Bond is able to locate Tiffany so quickly after she fails to show up for their "little rendezvous" at the rental car agency), but it's still an entertaining movie to watch. For me, its biggest charm is its Las Vegas setting--for the Vegas fanatic, it's great fun to see what Fremont Street and the Strip, as well as the inside of places like the Riviera, Circus Circus, and McCarran Airport, looked like in the 1970-71 timeframe.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: CONNERY CAN STILL PLAY IT TO THE HILT
Review: Some may argue that this movie is connerys worst I would probley for the most part say they are right. But worst is a bad word. I think this is his 6th place finnisher in his offical bonds. I liked the humour in this one. I think they brought it out more like moore did in his bonds. The Blofeld in this one is a little to nice in this one thou. The main female lead, Tiff Case was great the first half, but at the end she turns into a weak character. The 2 gay henchman, thou very strage to watch, actully did there parts very well in this movie. Connery proved he can still kick it with this role. The plot is ok, just not the best. I think Willard White's role in this movie was a little out of place also. But all in all, a great bond movie which should satisfy most bond fans.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This is supposed to be Bond?
Review: Diamonds are Forever is a terrible letdown after her OHMSS. I would have given it no stars if it weren't for the fact I love Connery. But he is too OLD. Bushy eyebrows and muttonchops are not for bond. This movie has the worst effects of the series, stupid bond girls, and a HORRIBLE Blofeld. A completely lame plot destroys any likeability. I hope on hope on hope someone will go finish the story OHMSS started.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Farewell Mr. Connery, And Many Happy Returns!
Review: "Diamonds Are Forever" was Sean Connery's swan song in the Bond series (unless you count the future, rival remake of "Thunderball," which most of us purists don't), but unlike in his previous effort, Connery seems to actually be enjoying himself this time around. Perhaps because it was to be indeed the last one, he figured, "what the hell, let me just have some fun for old times sake." Whatever his motives, that is precisely what the whole thing turns out to be, fun. This was the first of a "different type" of Bond movie that became very prevelant in the early 70's. There is hardly any drama or intrigue to be found here as the producers pay more attention to the elegance of the production (Bond in Vegas), one too many idiosyncracies, and wittier dialogue than the series had had 'till then, and since. Bond's closing remarks to the two assassins at the end of the movie are delightfully written. Unlike the more morose Roger Moore films of its type, this one glitters with a dream-like quality that seems hell-bent on titilating our deepest taste for escapist fantasy. It's comic-book, ludicrous Bond, but it's fun. This DVD is a little shorter on extras than some of the others, but it does feature some amusing deleted scenes and an excellent documentary on producer Albert R. Broccoli, the individual most-directly responsible for the success of the franchise. If you're looking for a serious 007 adventure, look elsewhere. If you're looking to just be reminded why we all secretly wish to live in the world of James Bond, this one should satisfy.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: the weakest of the connery's
Review: The plot in this film is dull and boring, this film is by far the worst connery film, Lana Wood and Jill St John are two anoying bond girls and Charles gray was the worst blofeld of them all. The best part of the film is the title seqence but thats all there is. If there were any dull films this would be one of them.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: HUGE Letdown after OHMSS
Review: On Her Majesty's Secret Service was one of the best Bond movies ever made, and after the extremely sad ending you would think Bond would be infatuated with killing the man that killed his wife. But alas, Connery returns as the calm, sophisticated secret agent, not the murderous man out to exact revenge on the one man he truly hates. This movie has severe problems as Blofeld once again escapes and isn't even brought up again until For Your Eyes Only. As much as I enjoyed the Connery films, Lazenby was truly the right man for this movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I love shaddy tree and especially his acorns.
Review: Rank 4th of 23. I love this whole movie. We get: "Aren't we showing a little to much cheek" from Jill St John, Mr Went and Mr kidd Jimmie Dean, diamonds and Vegas. This was very different than the fleming novel of the same name. But they truly made it better, as i have it as my 4th favorite.


<< 1 2 3 4 5 .. 13 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates