tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post4041966463284819506..comments2024-03-08T18:49:51.289-05:00Comments on Classic Film and TV Café: Bond Is Forever: “You Only Live Twice”Rick29http://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-47616405043134845772011-04-23T18:45:47.016-04:002011-04-23T18:45:47.016-04:00Oh, Sark, now I think I know where Mike Meyers got...Oh, Sark, now I think I know where Mike Meyers got his inspiration for Dr. Evil--Blofeld? Loved reading your review...add Kissy to the long line of great female character names.Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-18930805016538538132011-04-22T06:33:26.170-04:002011-04-22T06:33:26.170-04:00Thanks so much to all who commented. It is much ap...Thanks so much to all who commented. It is much appreciated! So many Bond films have fans split down the middle. Those are my favorite ones to write about!sarkoffagushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00922698736476674377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-18759937165835393012011-04-21T23:09:57.920-04:002011-04-21T23:09:57.920-04:00I'm so late commenting, Sark -- mea culpa! I ...I'm so late commenting, Sark -- mea culpa! I was kidding with Rick a while back about never being in step with the Cafe poll results. Well, here I am again -- I love You Only Live Twice. I can't argue with your points, because your assessment is correct. But I still love it! I react very strongly to the music and settings in movies, and this one was one of the best in those aspects. From the gorgeous opening violin strains to that wonderful song, and all through the movie -- especially the haunting music played during the space sequences -- this really captured me. I liked Tanaka and his beautiful agent, was so upset at her fate, and agree with you that Donald Pleasance was just wonderful as Blofeld. He should have had more presence in the movie. Loved the pirhana pool under the bridge, too. <br /><br />You know me, I'm such a purist about Fleming's novels, but I just plain like this movie anyway. I'm with Rick -- your Bond reviews are a high point for the Cafe, and this was another winner!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-47071718127653657732011-04-21T13:27:29.033-04:002011-04-21T13:27:29.033-04:00Sark, I always look forward to your fabulous Bond ...Sark, I always look forward to your fabulous Bond series feature! I think I had forgotten that Toho had a hand in "You Only Live Twice." Just for a moment, can you imagine what the film might have been like had Godzilla been incorporated into the story? It would help Bond take his martini shaken, not stirred. Godzilla has died more than once, I think. Flying in an autogyro might help in a battle with a large mythical creature. And Godzilla can blow smoke on Blofeld.<br /><br />Couldn't resist, Sark. Loved your most excellent and informative post!toto2https://www.blogger.com/profile/09652682900471649463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-71639363920756034062011-04-20T15:43:01.260-04:002011-04-20T15:43:01.260-04:00Probably my least favorite Connery 007 too, but I ...Probably my least favorite Connery 007 too, but I still like the story's epic quality. Connery seems bored with the whole thing though, and the fun in his eye is missing. <br /><br />While the Ken Adams rocket base set is awesome, the film also contains some of the worst special effects in the series. The scenes at the end of the volcano exploding are shockingly bad. <br /><br />The volcano in Japan that doubled for Blofeld's lair, Mount Shinmoe, I think it is called, was in the news in February when it erupted several times. No evidence was found that a bald man seeking world domination while stroking a white pussy cat was behind it all.Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-32512594844231915022011-04-20T15:20:21.401-04:002011-04-20T15:20:21.401-04:00Sark, I really like this Bond movie. It is slow in...Sark, I really like this Bond movie. It is slow in places like you pointed out and a little thin in plot. However, there are many things I like about it. I loved the setting in Japan which is beautiful and the Japanese culture. Donald Pleasance is great as Blofeld. I loved the volcano fortress and thought it was clever. It also has a beautiful Japanese woman named Aki who helps 007. She is so cool, has a stunning name, and I loved the white Toyota she drove in the movie. I wanted a car just like hers so badly but alas, my parents nixed that idea. You made an excellent point about how Blofeld's face is never shown in the other Bond films. I had never thought about that until you mentioned it. The title song is one of my favorite of the Bond films. Needless to say I have it on my iPod!! A nicely written review, Sark, and I enjoyed it.Akihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03037507780056714337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-33007199884790082662011-04-20T14:47:22.459-04:002011-04-20T14:47:22.459-04:00Yeah, not the best Bond movie. I still like it. In...Yeah, not the best Bond movie. I still like it. Interesting to learn more about the Japanese cast. Woody's movie is pretty funny.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-26589295360109796062011-04-20T13:04:28.382-04:002011-04-20T13:04:28.382-04:00This remains my favorite of the Bond films. It was...This remains my favorite of the Bond films. It was so over the top Bond, I find it the most fun to watch. What more over the top but typical "Bond" gadget is there than "Little Nellie"? If you were to pick one action scene to show the uniqueness of Bond is there a better one than YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE's battle in the volcano? And Pleasence as Blofeld with his cat is almost the icon for Bond villains.<br /><br />Yes, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE is a better spy movie and GOLDFINGER is the best example of why Connery's Bond is so popular even today, but none were more mindless fun as YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE.<br /><br />As a film, YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE has all the flaws you site and more. The parts of the movie are much better than the movie as a whole. If I was in a serious mood I would pick another Bond to watch. But if I am wanting to watch a fun celebration of what made Bond different from the other spies, this is the movie I would choose.michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17812924049258701715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5344878851139332715.post-89708528742425031652011-04-20T09:59:25.167-04:002011-04-20T09:59:25.167-04:00Sark, your assessment of YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE is ri...Sark, your assessment of YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE is right on target. It's also my least favorite of Sean's 007 outings, but, like you, there are parts that appeal. As you said, Donald Pleasance is the series' best Blofeld and it's a shame he's not in more of the movie. Ken Adams' sets for the 007 films are always impressive, but the volcano fortress is among his best. And I echo you again in praising the song, which is atypical in structure (i.e., it's missing the punched up beats of some of Barry's Bond themes). On the down side, Connery and Mie Hama have zero chemistry and the film is poorly paced (which is odd, because director Gilbert does such a fine job with the later SPY WHO LOVED ME). In the end, I think YOU ONLY LIVES TWICE comes across as a filler to bridge the series between the exotic THUNDERBALL and the unique OHMSS (which would have been Sean's best 007 film if he would have stuck around for it). As you know, your Bond series is one of my favorite Cafe features.Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.com