Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
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.
You Only Live Twice is a lavish but narratively bloated Bond entry. The plot is arguably the most cartoonish of the Connery era — a hollowed-out volcano lair, ninjas rappelling from helicopters, and a largely passive Bond — which drags the storytelling quality down. Acting is serviceable but Connery looks visibly disengaged, and the Japanese supporting cast is underused. Cinematography earns credit for Freddie Young's gorgeous widescreen photography of Japan's landscapes and Ken Adam's iconic volcano set, which remains one of cinema's great production design achievements. Novelty scores modestly — the Japan setting was fresh for the franchise and the Blofeld reveal was a long-awaited moment, but the formula is otherwise well-worn by this fifth installment. The ending is a competent but conventional action climax resolved a bit too neatly.