SPECTRE is back and this time they have hijacked two atomic bombs. Their demands have been sent to the highest levels of western governments. If they are not paid $100 million dollars, a major city will be destroyed. OO7 is sent to the Bahamas to investigate a possible lead that will eventually bring him to SPECTRE's number 2 agent, Emilio Largo. Largo is a multi-millionaire with financial interest though out the world and is the architect of Plan Omega. His only weakness is his love for Domino, his beautiful mistress. But James has already moved in on that territory.

Thunderball was the 'Star Wars' of the 1960s. It was an instant mega-hit when it opened Christmas 1965. And why not, the film followed closely on the success of Goldfinger and delivered an 'eye-candy' cinematic masterpiece. Terence Young directed his third and last Bond movie with his usual flair and panache. Ken Adams created some wonderful underwater as well as above water set pieces and John Barry set his musical tone to the visually attractive water ballets. Kudos goes to John Stears who won an Oscar for Best Special Effects. Sean Connery's performance is more suave than past performances and it looks like he's having a great deal of fun in some scenes. Highlights in the film include the famous underwater battle between Largo's men and the U.S. Aquaparatroopers. Bond's 'Buck Rogers' pre credit escape. Luciana Paluzzi as the dangerously sexy 'black widow' and Claudine Auger as Domino who, in my opinion, is perhaps the most beautiful Bond heroine in the entire series.

Dancing with the deadly Fiona Volpe at the Kiss Kiss Club, Bond quickly turns her around just as one of her men fires his revolver intended for Bond. Fiona is fatally shot through the back. He then sits her down at a nearby table where other people are sitting and says,

"You mind if my friend sits this one out. She's just dead."

"8"