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Rating: 8 stars

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James Bond childhood movie helicopter tokyo Japanese spy undercover spaceship katana Japan volcano rocket

All movies seen on 01/04/2015

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You Only Live Twice (1967)

Directed by Lewis Gilbert

Action | Thriller | Science Fiction

Most recently watched by sensoria, seanCduregger, ashe5k, danielt

Overview

A mysterious spacecraft captures Russian and American space capsules and brings the two superpowers to the brink of war. James Bond investigates the case in Japan and comes face to face with his archenemy Blofeld.

Rated PG | Length 117 minutes

Actors

Sean Connery | Akiko Wakabayashi | Mie Hama | Tetsurō Tamba | Teru Shimada | Karin Dor | Donald Pleasence | Bernard Lee | Lois Maxwell | Desmond Llewelyn | Charles Gray | Tsai Chin | Burt Kwouk | Michael Chow | Ronald Rich | Jeanne Roland | Anthony Ainley | Frazer Hines | David Toguri | Paul Carson | Norman Jones | George Roubicek | Bill Mitchell | Laurence Herder | Richard Graydon | Ed Bishop | Robin Bailey | Shane Rimmer | George Murcell | Mai Ling | Peter Fanene Maivia | George Baker | Patrick Jordan | Alexander Knox | Burnell Tucker | Nikki Van der Zyl | Brian Wilde

Viewing History (seen 2 times)

Viewing Notes

Third movie in my Bond project. Been wanting to revisit this for a while since I learned that Mie Hama and Akiko Wakabayashi were the Japanese Bond girls in this a few years ago. End credits mention the partnership with Toho Studios so now it makes sense they would lend out two of their popular actors for this movie. Always wondered how they ended up in a Bond film. Sounds like they dubbed Mie-chan’s English dialogue.

Haven’t seen this in a long time, maybe 20+ years? I dunno but it’s been a while. Very strange to view this now compared to when I was a child. Can’t help but call out all the absurd things that happen. Also I think this is the first true science fiction Bond movie. I recall being mesmerized by that opening scene w/the rocket being “eaten” by the other spaceship. Now it’s quite ridiculous to accept that premise and that unbeknownst to all world powers that a rocket could launch into space *and* swallow another space capsule *and* disappear afterwards leaving Russian and USA pointing at each other. Wow.

It probably went over better in 1967 with space travel was still in its infancy and more of an unknown quantity. But still. I was amused thinking about how the movie would be picked apart like Interstellar has been for not being scientifically accurate. Ha!

This is just great fun and entertainment. Love all the on location scenes throughout Japan. The RC and miniature stuff is great. The secret volcano base they built at Pinewood Studios is amazing. It’s really a pulpy super spy story come to life. Easy to nitpick (like how are they able to show video of the rockets in space on their monitors??) but it doesn’t matter when it’s this much fun.

Also that Japanese disguise / makeover they give Bond (by a bevy of beautiful women in two piece outfits of course) is so damn goofy. He looks like a Romulan from the original Star Trek series.

I love this movie.

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