James Bond 007: Never Say McClory Again

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8.4 (22)
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James Bond 007: Never Say McClory Again
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Genre:
Franchise:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1983
Original Running Time:
128
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
122
Time Cut:
6
Brief Synopsis:
This infuses “Never Say Never Again” with the soul of the Eon OO7.
Intention:
Presents “Never Say Never Again” in the style of the ‘official’ series of OO7 films from Eon by adding familiar Eon motifs such as a gun barrel opening, pre-title sequence and Binder main titles; also replaces original music score with music drawn from the catalogue of Eon Bond film soundtracks and takes the further step of adding music to previously un-scored scenes.
Release Information:
DVD
Cuts and Additions:
- Several scenes trimmed;
- Connery gun barrel added;
- dialogue trimmed;
- score removed, replaced and supplemented.
Cover art by Blofelds Cat (DOWNLOAD HERE)
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Cover art by Skizzor (DOWNLOAD HERE)
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Cover art by Skizzor (DOWNLOAD HERE)
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Cover art by TJWeb (DOWNLOAD HERE)
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User reviews

22 reviews
 
45%
 
32%
 
23%
3-5 stars
 
0%
1-3 stars
 
0%
Overall rating
 
8.4
Audio/Video Quality
 
8.1(10)
Audio Editing
 
8.6(12)
Visual Editing
 
8.7(12)
Narrative
 
8.6(11)
Enjoyment
 
8.1(22)
View all user reviews View most helpful
Overall rating
 
8.6
Audio/Video Quality
 
9.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
9.0
Narrative
 
8.0
Enjoyment
 
8.0
This is a lovingly crafted edit that finally makes Connery's final appearance as Bond feel like a legit curtain call rather than a cheap knockoff.

This edit keeps everything that works about the original film, but unfortunately can't save the underwhelming 3rd act so that the film limps to its conclusion.

That said, there's still plenty to love here. Well worth a watch for Bond fans.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
B
Top 100 Reviewer 55 reviews
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Overall rating
 
9.6
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
Even though the original film is still part of the Bond franchise while not official, it'll have the least fingerprints for getting rewatched on my library but this fan edit changed it entirely. The biggest flaw that NSNA suffered was the music but Blofeld' Cat used as many scores from John Barry up to David Arnold which in fact is sorta of a hybrid for the film's OST but fits pretty well. Also with the addition of a new gunbarrel and a pre-title sequence finally provides the film the appropriate introduction. I see this more as a James Bond celebration tribute than a fan edit which I can give NSNA some respect to it in a way. This deserved a new spark of life and you should give it a watch if you never approved NSNA.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 1
Overall rating
 
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
 
10.0
Audio Editing
 
10.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
9.0
I remember seeing this film when it was first released. Two Bond films in one year! Except it didn't really feel like a Bond film. It was a good film, and I remember the many discussions at the time as to which was the better film, this or Octopussy. The main problem was not the film itself, which was basically a re-run of Thunderball, but it just lacked something. And that something was the opening titles and the music. Both have been put right here. The opening titles now have that classic Bond intro looking down a gun barrel. And the music is pure Bond music throughout. Subtly, but very cleverly done. I loved the casino bit with Diamonds Are Forever playing quietly in the background.
Thinking purely about the edit, I don't think I can fault it. Blofelds Cat has mad it into a real, proper Bond film, one that you should now be able to watch alongside all the other classic Bond films from the era. So why only 9 stars for enjoyment? It was twelve years since Connery last played Bond, and even though he was younger than Moore, it was still rather jarring to see him in the opening sequences where you realise how old he looks (compared to the last time we saw him). The film itself address this, but that's beside the point. Of course, you soon forget the age thing and get into the film itself: gun, girls and exotic locations.
This is now my go to version of this film which I would happily watch again, as now, its a true Bond film.
Thank you Blofelds Cat.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 1
Overall rating
 
6.4
Audio/Video Quality
 
5.0
Audio Editing
 
8.0
Visual Editing
 
7.0
Narrative
 
8.0
Enjoyment
 
4.0
The editor's stated intention is to bring this in line with other Bond films and essentially make it feel 'more Bond'. I think the result here is a really mixed bag in that respect, and also not any more enjoyable for me than the original (not very good) film...so I unfortunately can't recommend it.

I won't go into the many, many issues with the original movie (you can read a review I wrote here if you'd like to know: https://letterboxd.com/nottheacademy/film/never-say-never-again/) but I was hoping they'd be fixed in this film, at least somewhat. This movie could honestly do with a radical edit, and this isn't it. The main things changed here are the music choices... now some of the score replacements DO feel more 'Bond'...because they're from other Bond films. But many feel wildly wrong, and they almost all stick out like a sore thumb, whether matching Bond or not. All the Bond song remixes just scream "fanedit" to me, whereas I was looking for more subtle changes that would make me FORGET I wasn't watching a non-canon Bond film.

There are also some scenes which are edited with little tweaks here and there, and some of them (notably the beginning) actually make the scene less clear and slightly confusing. Some scenes are zoomed in on, pan & scan style, which is obvious and looks pretty bad. In fact, the quality of the video is really pretty bad throughout much of this, and the audio isn't blended in that well at many points.

I see that this worked for some people, and they got their Bond jollies, but sadly it was a chore for me. I felt every minute of the last 30 minutes of the film, and was kicking myself for not just rewatching Thunderball instead. I don't blame the editor for this just not being a very good movie to start, but I think there is room to cut this down a lot more, render the video better, and make more nuanced music replacements. I appreciate the effort here, but it just didn't work for me.

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
No
Format Watched?
Digital
Report this review Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 1 1
Overall rating
 
9.4
Audio/Video Quality
 
8.0
Audio Editing
 
9.0
Visual Editing
 
10.0
Narrative
 
10.0
Enjoyment
 
10.0
Not remembering Never Say Never Again at all, I watched this edit without any idea what to expect. Afterwards I skimmed through the original and I'm so happy Never Say McClory Again exists. What a tremendous difference! And almost entirely thanks to the fitting score appropriately placed throughout (Where Has Everybody Gone? from The Living Daylights is particularly well-placed!). It does indeed feel and sound like a Bond movie now. The M character is still a bit odd but difficult to do anything about. Atkinson's part is, as anarchemist touched upon in their review, not out of place and works as a comic element.

Having neglected to re-watch NSNA for many years due to its non-Bondness, NSMA suddenly makes it one of the better movies in the series. This is my preferred version now, that's certain. Great work, Blofelds cat!

User Review

Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
DVD
M
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