I wasn't too keen with ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE the first time I saw it, mainly because of George Lazenby's rather wooden performance as Bond. Yet when I saw it again yesterday after not seeing it for a very long time, I'm surprised how much OHMSS has aged well. The plot is credible enough (even with the usually tendencies of Bond movie plots to go a little over-the-top), but it's the central story of Bond genuinely falling in love make this one of the more emotionally involving 007 movies, even if it's not the best in the series (although, this remains the most praised in Ian Fleming's James Bond stories). Had Connery accepted to play his role here rather than the dated DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, OHMSS might have been the best of the Bonds.
Still, the storyline here is pretty strong, and I feel sorry for not seeing that during my initial viewing. Despite Lazenby's lackluster performance (I was actually bored in some of the scenes he's in), the story actually stays intriguing and involving, with its share of a few great stunts and action. There's a long ski chase and a raid on Blofeld's secret base in the Alps, but it's not the action that made this a personal favorite amongst Bond fans. In fact some of the stunts here are average at best, but are done better in other entries in the series. What makes this one of the stronger entries is the love story in the middle. Although Lazenby is usually wooden, he actually makes a rather convincing lighthearted Bond when he is with his scenes with his on screen love Tracy, played superbly by Diana Rigg. In fact, Ms. Rigg outdoes our own 007 in terms of acting, making her perhaps one of the best Bond girls. Their scenes together are the most heartfelt in the series, making the now well-known heartbreaking ending one of the most personal moments in the long-running series.
ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE may not be free from its flaws (an enormous plot hole throughout the film might bother some people), but it's a very satisfying adaptation of one of Ian Fleming's best stories and with a number of great action sequences, it's a pretty good entry in the series and definitely one not to be missed.
Rating: ***1/2 out of 5.
Still, the storyline here is pretty strong, and I feel sorry for not seeing that during my initial viewing. Despite Lazenby's lackluster performance (I was actually bored in some of the scenes he's in), the story actually stays intriguing and involving, with its share of a few great stunts and action. There's a long ski chase and a raid on Blofeld's secret base in the Alps, but it's not the action that made this a personal favorite amongst Bond fans. In fact some of the stunts here are average at best, but are done better in other entries in the series. What makes this one of the stronger entries is the love story in the middle. Although Lazenby is usually wooden, he actually makes a rather convincing lighthearted Bond when he is with his scenes with his on screen love Tracy, played superbly by Diana Rigg. In fact, Ms. Rigg outdoes our own 007 in terms of acting, making her perhaps one of the best Bond girls. Their scenes together are the most heartfelt in the series, making the now well-known heartbreaking ending one of the most personal moments in the long-running series.
ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE may not be free from its flaws (an enormous plot hole throughout the film might bother some people), but it's a very satisfying adaptation of one of Ian Fleming's best stories and with a number of great action sequences, it's a pretty good entry in the series and definitely one not to be missed.
Rating: ***1/2 out of 5.