Synopsis:

Thunderball really is Connery's last great performance as 007 before he completely checked out of the role. It's the last one where he really owns the film and proves why he is still regarded as the best actor to ever play 007. It's also full of exotic location shots, great music and one of the most famous villain plots in the series, involving stolen nuclear warheads but the film itself has always been criticized, mainly due to a plodding pace, the bulk of which is due to some overlong underwater sequences. Thunderball failed to become the "best bond ever" as its theatrical tagline promises because it almost feels rushed, as if the editing was unfinished in certain instances. Well, now the editing is finished. Almost no major scenes or sequences have been removed but almost every scene has been trimmed for pacing, resulting in a faster film with an enhanced narrative.

Intentions:

This was a great lean film trapped in a bulky narrative and I wanted to tell the core story without any of the excess. By making numerous trims, Thunderball is now a spy thriller worthy of its urgent premise. I think you'll enjoy this Bond adventure if you're open to watching something different from the theatrical cut.

Change List:

--quickened pacing of opening fight by slight trims. Also got rid of most jarring jump cuts in original --faneditor credit in title sequence --trimmed shots of Largo entering Specter front --cut out "Mr Angelo" subplot at the spa (this only needlessly convolutes the plot early on. Lippe's attempt to kill Bond on the rack is due to Bond's snooping around his apartment and Lippe's Specter affiliation) --rack torture scene trimmed (BOnd does not scream out for help here) --scene rearranged so that Bond discovering Duvall's body occurs immediately following scene of Duvalls murder and before the jet hijack --Entire Angelo/jet sequence grouped together and trimmed for pacing. Underwater sequences trimmed to be relevant --Scene rearranged so that Bond traps Lippe in the heat treatment before he leaves Shrublands spa. --Extra gunshots added to car chase. Continuity error from original fixed (the motorcycle speeds by on the wrong side of the Aston Martin) --Trims throughout Nassau sequences to focus on characters --The tape recorder in the bible device is removed (seemed too impractical). In this version, Bond sees the bathroom door open as well as a noise from inside and decides to investigate --Bond and Felix scouting Disco Volante by boat cut --Bond discovers the missing bombs on their first flight around Nassau--the flow works well, as it is now more important than ever to get the information out of Largo/Domino --Junkanoo scenes trimmed. --Scene rearranged so that Bond meets Domino underwater after Junkanoo scene --Color correction/grading to turn day to night in the scene Bond sneaks up on Largo's diving gang --Cut Largo attempting to force himself on Domino before being interrupted by the scientist --Trimmed helicopter rescue --Trimmed and rearranged underwater fight sequences --Disco Volante firefight trimmed for tighter action --The Peter Hunt jump cuts in the final fistfight in the cabin were too numerous to eliminate, so they are retained --fixed continuity error of gunshot wound to Bond's leg switching legs several times during mardi gras scene --James Bond theme in the end replaced with the original Thunderball end credits from the soundtrack.

Additional Notes:

Edited source Thunderball bluray using Adobe Premiere Pro.

Other Sources:

Thunderball soundtrack by John Barry

Special Thanks:

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