Never Say Never Again
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Synopsis
An aging James Bond is reactivated by British Intelligence to track down two stolen nuclear cruise missiles hijacked by the criminal syndicate SPECTRE and its flamboyant operative Maximillian Largo.
Plot
After failing a routine field simulation, an aging James Bond is sent by a skeptical new M to a health retreat to detox and get back into shape. While there, Bond spots a suspicious patient whose eye has been surgically altered to match that of the United States President. The man is Captain Jack Petachi, a pilot blackmailed by SPECTRE operative Fatima Blush into hijacking two American Tomahawk cruise missiles during a NATO exercise. With the missiles in the hands of wealthy industrialist Maximillian Largo, SPECTRE demands billions from world powers under the threat of nuclear annihilation.
Foreign Secretary Lord Ambrose overrides M and orders the reactivation of the Double-0 section, assigning Bond to the Mediterranean to locate the weapons. For deeper dives into classic franchise retrospectives, streaming guides, and film reviews, check out MovieToWatch. Bond heads to Nassau and the French Riviera, connecting with Petachi’s sister Domino, who is also Largo’s mistress. Dodging relentless assassination attempts by Fatima Blush, Bond works with CIA agent Felix Leiter to locate Largo’s luxury yacht, the *Flying Saucer*, and stop the missiles before detonation.
Ending Explained
Bond reveals to Domino that Largo murdered her brother Jack, securing her cooperation. Largo discovers her betrayal and holds her hostage while preparing to deploy the nuclear warheads. One warhead is targeted at Washington, D.C., while the second is slated for the oil fields of the Persian Gulf, placed inside an underwater grotto known as the “Tears of Allah” off the coast of North Africa.
Bond and Felix Leiter lead an assault of US Navy commandos into the subterranean facility. A fierce underwater firefight breaks out. Bond swims down and defuses the nuclear device just in time. As Largo ambushes Bond and prepares to shoot him with a speargun, Domino dives in and shoots Largo through the back with a speargun of her own, avenging her brother’s death. With the crisis resolved, Bond retires from the British Secret Service to live peacefully with Domino in the Bahamas. When British official Nigel Small-Fawcett tracks Bond down on M’s behalf, begging him to return to MI6, Domino urges him never to go back. Bond looks directly at the camera, winks, and delivers the parting line: “Never again.”
What We Think About This Movie
What We Liked
Barbara Carrera's wild, scene-stealing performance as the unhinged assassin Fatima Blush.
Sean Connery bringing his undeniable charisma and dry wit back to the 007 role one final time.
Klaus Maria Brandauer's eccentric, layered take on Maximillian Largo.
The offbeat and unique 1980s casino video game duel ("Domination") between Bond and Largo.
What We Didn't Like
Michel Legrand's jazz-heavy musical score lacks the punch, power, and recognizable motifs of John Barry's classic Bond themes.
Noticeable absence of the official Eon gun-barrel opening, signature theme music, and regular cast members (Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell).
Protracted underwater scuba sequences that slow the pacing considerably in the second half.
Rowan Atkinson's comic relief as Nigel Small-Fawcett feels out of place with the rest of the film.
Who Should Watch
James Bond completionists interested in the famous "Battle of the Bonds" of 1983 against Roger Moore's Octopussy.
Fans who want to see Sean Connery take one last bow as secret agent 007.
Viewers curious to see an unconventional, non-Eon take on Ian Fleming's universe.
Who Should Skip
Anyone expecting the traditional James Bond theme music, iconic opening credits, and signature series continuity.
Audiences looking for a fresh storyline rather than an altered retelling of Thunderball.
Movie Details
Where to Watch Never Say Never Again in the USA
Frequently Asked Questions About Never Say Never Again
Why is Never Say Never Again not considered an official James Bond film?
It was not produced by Eon Productions, the studio behind the official franchise. Producer Kevin McClory retained the film rights to the Thunderball story after a 1960s legal dispute with Ian Fleming, allowing him to produce this independent remake through Warner Bros.
Where did the title "Never Say Never Again" come from?
After finishing Diamonds Are Forever in 1971, Sean Connery famously told interviewers that he would "never again" play James Bond. His wife, Micheline Roquebrune, suggested the title when he agreed to reprise the role 12 years later.
Did this movie compete directly with Roger Moore's Bond film?
Yes. In 1983, the media hyped the "Battle of the Bonds" because Never Say Never Again and Eon's official entry, Octopussy, starring Roger Moore, were released in theaters the same year.
Who played the villain Fatima Blush?
Barbara Carrera played SPECTRE assassin Fatima Blush, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her flamboyant performance.
