Diamonds Are Forever

Not a strong screenplay, but the action scenes are inventive. This is quite a respectable departure by Connery, the Bond charm is still there, but compared to the slim figure of the past, he’s getting a bit of a belly. Finalization of the Blofeld storyline is well-engineered, the chase in the moon buggy was a blast from the past and it seems that the slick murdering duo inspired Frank Miller in Sin City. (02/22/2015)

007__#7__A strange Bond film with a weak script and directed quite badly, but with intriguing characters (the stylish hitmen Wint and Kidd), some interesting moments (Bond in the coffin, the moonwalk chase, the car chase in Las Vegas), but unfortunately a pretty bland story. And speaking of Bond, I would never have believed it would be possible to age so much in four years. Sean had gotten a bit chubbier, no longer resembling the sexy athlete he was in his early days, but more like a middle-aged uncle. (10/01/2005)

It is beautifully visible how the creators at the turn of the new decade didn't know where to go and drowned the franchise in various absurdities that make no sense or are in any way innovative. Sean Connery is noticeably older, but he’s still the same old good James, who exchanged his charm for George Lazenby's athleticism – a positive thing. Unfortunately, the pace is considerably uneven and the Vegas setting is disgracefully underused. So all that's left are excellent killers, one decent car chase, and then it's just a messy carnage. The story is also woefully uninteresting and unfortunately unpolished. Roger Moore's advent and the playful 70s full of irony and exaggeration were approaching. (01/14/2014)

I like how, already in the introduction, they play with the idea that Sean Connery is once again the new Bond. His entrance on the scene is not entirely impressive, but the creators still put effort into it. It's as if they are saying: You wanted him, so here he is. And the producers had to shell out a decent amount of money to bring Sean back. It's sometimes quite funny, sometimes quite messy, but you can't deny that Connery tried. In essence, a film was created where the movie element itself plays an important role because part of the film takes place behind the scenes. The imperfection is also reflected in some scenes. (03/04/2014)

A slightly weaker Bond movie, but still an excellent and entertaining ride in the unrepeatable style of Sean Connery, the greatest 077 of all time. Its violent charm and uniquely sarcastic "British" humor ("Thank you, gentlemen. I was out for a walk with a rat and got a little lost.") almost make Diamonds Are Forever into an action comedy in places. Blofeld as a villain is not very enlightening, but it works. A few action scenes are very good (the rough fight in an elevator, the chase in the lunar vehicle) and some situations are indelibly engraved into your memory (the cremation practices of the Slumber funeral home). So, we have beautiful women, fast guns and gambling... There are better films before and after, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the shine of diamonds again years later. (10/04/2004)