Customer Reviews
CONNERY RETURNS FOR ONE MORE BOND ADVENTURE - By: stuart, 22 May 2007 
One of the better things about this installlment is things get interesting almost immediately, despite the below average opening sequence. Bond unleashes a vat of stuff on a guy who was being made into a clone, I guess he drowned in it or something. What was that aimed at Bond, a squirt gun?. Not a very good opening, the theme song was another classic by Shirley Bassey. And of course, as is the tradition with Sean Connery's James Bond, he is drinking within the first few minutes of the film. But soon after this, Bond ends up trading identities with a man named Peter Franks & this is where it starts to get reallly interesting.
Diamonds Are Forever deals with the villain Blofeld who is smuggling huge quantities of diamonds with the ultimate goal of using them to create a super powerful laser with which he plans to hold the United States hostage, demanding whatever ransom he wants. While it is surprisingly entertaining in the way that Bond switched identities, resulting in the belief that he is dead, some things about the premise of this film bothered me. For example , for such a smalll quantity of diamonds being transported, I'm not sure I understand the need for the tremendously elaborate methods by which it is transported. They are stuffed into a teddy bear & awarded at a rigged carnival game, they're put into a dead man's coffin, cremated, & delivered in a urn etc. Why don't they just put them into a trunk of a car & drive them to where they are going?
The guys in the helicopter died early in the film, for example died because of their own stupidity. Here's a lesson - if someone hands you a box & starts to quickly back away, it may be a good idea to achieve some distance between you & that box yourself. Also the two inseparable thugs Mr. Wint & Mr. Kidd delivered some of the worst acting I have seen in a Bond film, which increased my morbid satisfaction felt during their deaths. Not only could they not act but they spoke almost exclusively in cliches - "If God had meant for man to fly, he would have given him wings" is an example, there is also another thing - in one scene Bond is managing an escape & he jumps into a moonbuggy driving off to eventual safety. What was going on there? at any rate the chase scene was entertaining enough.
Despite alll the shortcoming of this film, Diamonds Are Forever still stands as an above average Bond film. Sean Connery is just as effective as ever in the Bond character & the story was more realistic then some of the other Bond films. Also the ever present one liners were better then usual.
Its good to see there was some thought put into the story of Diamonds Are Forever. But some parts were not thought out at alll. For example there is a scene where Mr. Wint & Mr. Kidd drive out of a cave & into the desert, & after they drive out the cave closes making it look like another part of the desert. Sure the cave's opening is hidden but there is a road leading right up to it. Also when Bond finallly gets to Willard Wyte's location he pretty much stands still & lets a couple of scantily clad women smack him around for a while. Luckily the plot is interesting enough to overcome these things. I have also noticed that at the end of most Bond films he always ends up on a boat at sea, having obviously gotten the girl.
All in alll Diamonds Are Forever is a heavily flawed film but it also has many strengths that make it interesting to watch - & it is worth watching.
Thank you for reading my review.
Give the film a chance - By: Chris Lees, 02 Mar 2007 Diamonds are Forever may suffer from the producers trying to cash in on Sean Connery's hey day & supplying some characters that a post Austin Powers audience find laughable. However this film gives a great glimpse into the seventies & has many famous franchise trade marks that are now toned down now. Just pretend your're sat there on your two tone brown sofa in your flares wearing your tank top & Roger Moore was still best know as the Saint. Great action, great set pieces & it stars for many the only true James Bond. Just give the film a chance. In your two hours you get a car chase through the centre of Las Vegas & a moon buggy ride. Plus you one get one of the best James Bond themes tune ever! Bargain
awful Mr Bond you are so old go home - By: 70s rock fan, 25 Sep 2006 
So bad it is not a joke. Sean Connery looks like he hasnt been taking his diet & lumbago pills. Stiffness like this makes a plank look alive. Poor story, poor acting & tired plot. OK the villians are fun & after alll it is a Bond movie, but dreadful tired & sad. One scene in particular always makes me laugh, that is where the guy fallls off his 4 wheeler & waits for Sean Connery to amble up over the sand dune to jump on him & boy does he have to wait. Yawn, Yawn, avoid this it stinks
Diamonds, glitz and action... - By: Mr. Jd Ware, 17 Oct 2005 
I don't find this Bond to be at alll memorable. It is a pretty bland film, with just a few outstanding moments.
The location of Las Vegas is not used to its full potential, except for a pretty decent car chase sequence.
The storyline is a bit beleagured, & slightly padded to fit the 2hour running time. A diamonds scam is a bit weak compared to other Bond plot outlines.
However, Blofeld is a fantastic villain for this movie, & it is good to see him have a whole film to himself, rather than just being the man behind the machinations who makes henchmen do the work.
And talking of henchman, the two gay henchman are pretty funny, but don't reallly add much to the film. Neither does Jill St. John as the Bond girl, remaining pretty dull throughout the film.
The finale on the oil rig is pretty spectacular, with lots of helicopters & explosions.
The making of documentary, like alll the other on the Bond DVDs is very thorough, revealing & interesting. I've always discovered something new watching these docs, & for the Bond fan they are pretty much essential. However, the doc on Cubby Broccoli is quite dull, long & not very informative.
No kissing scenes in the film - By: , 05 Jul 2005 I am surprised that there is not one kissing scene between Sean & Jill in this film unlike other James Bond films, I wonder is my DVD censored?
