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Diamonds Are Forever features the return of Sean Connery to the role of James Bond after George Lazenby's one entry. This time, Bond infiltrates a diamond smuggling operation led by his arch-enemy Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Charles Gray) who plans to use the rocks to build a deadly laser satellite. Can Bond get his hand on those diamonds and not die in the process?
For the last several years, I've been slowly making my way through Bond's whole filmography. Despite the occasional dud, it's been an interesting journey to see how the franchise and the characters evolve through the years and decades. This entry is no exception, as it tries to feature a Bond that at times seems more bitter and cynical, while also amping up the sexual innuendo.
Even though Connery had his fair share of weak entries, there's no denying that he is the quintessential Bond, so as much as I liked Lazenby's entry, it was nice to see Connery back in the suit. I wish there had been more consistency between his angry attitude as he's supposed to be looking for revenge, and the excessive amount of double entendres. Not that I'm bothered by them per se, but it becomes tedious at points.
On the other hand, I appreciated how the film steered away from "silly gadgets" and tried to go for a more grounded approach, at least as far as Bond films are concerned. I wouldn't have minded a bit more from Q, though. Also, the story does seem to take an excessive amount of zigs and zags to get to the point and not everything feels cohesive. A crematorium used as a front? a clown/stand-up comedian? a moon buggy?
For most of the film, Bond is joined by diamond smuggler Tiffany Case (Jill St. John). I liked that she had chemistry with Connery, and seemed to be a more feisty companion/partner, and less of a damsel-in-distress. I do wish that the whole Blofeld doubles subplot was used more, as I felt they could've gotten more out of it. I did enjoy the few face-offs we had between him and Bond. Plus, we get two great henchmen in Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd.
Overall, Diamonds Are Forever features a solid villain, a somewhat resourceful Bond girl, and a somewhat more sober story, resulting in a decent enough Bond entry; enough to place more or less in the middle of my Bond/Connery ranking. He would be replaced by Roger Moore in the next entry in 1973, making him the third Bond in four years. Curious... how everyone who touches this role seems to "die".
Grade:
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
(1971, Hamilton)
(1971, Hamilton)
"Curious... how everyone who touches those diamonds seems to die."
Diamonds Are Forever features the return of Sean Connery to the role of James Bond after George Lazenby's one entry. This time, Bond infiltrates a diamond smuggling operation led by his arch-enemy Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Charles Gray) who plans to use the rocks to build a deadly laser satellite. Can Bond get his hand on those diamonds and not die in the process?
For the last several years, I've been slowly making my way through Bond's whole filmography. Despite the occasional dud, it's been an interesting journey to see how the franchise and the characters evolve through the years and decades. This entry is no exception, as it tries to feature a Bond that at times seems more bitter and cynical, while also amping up the sexual innuendo.
Even though Connery had his fair share of weak entries, there's no denying that he is the quintessential Bond, so as much as I liked Lazenby's entry, it was nice to see Connery back in the suit. I wish there had been more consistency between his angry attitude as he's supposed to be looking for revenge, and the excessive amount of double entendres. Not that I'm bothered by them per se, but it becomes tedious at points.
On the other hand, I appreciated how the film steered away from "silly gadgets" and tried to go for a more grounded approach, at least as far as Bond films are concerned. I wouldn't have minded a bit more from Q, though. Also, the story does seem to take an excessive amount of zigs and zags to get to the point and not everything feels cohesive. A crematorium used as a front? a clown/stand-up comedian? a moon buggy?
For most of the film, Bond is joined by diamond smuggler Tiffany Case (Jill St. John). I liked that she had chemistry with Connery, and seemed to be a more feisty companion/partner, and less of a damsel-in-distress. I do wish that the whole Blofeld doubles subplot was used more, as I felt they could've gotten more out of it. I did enjoy the few face-offs we had between him and Bond. Plus, we get two great henchmen in Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd.
Overall, Diamonds Are Forever features a solid villain, a somewhat resourceful Bond girl, and a somewhat more sober story, resulting in a decent enough Bond entry; enough to place more or less in the middle of my Bond/Connery ranking. He would be replaced by Roger Moore in the next entry in 1973, making him the third Bond in four years. Curious... how everyone who touches this role seems to "die".
Grade: