History YMMV / Thunderball

* MagnificentBitch: The beautiful seductress [[FemmeFatale Fiona Volpe]] is a dangerous SPECTRE Agent assigned to aid Emilio Largo in his plan to steal two nukes and hold the world hostage. Volpe seduces a French pilot and helps Angelo Palazzi murder and impersonate him, negotiating a deal when Palazzi demands higher pay for his services. Volpe later [[YouHaveFailedMe executes the incompetent Count Lippe]] with a missile loaded motorbike. While investigating Bond, Volpe captures his ally Paula, before seducing and capturing Bond, [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech mocking his attempt to seduce her in turn]]. After a stroke of luck allows Bond to escape her clutches, Volpe is able to follow the blood trail left behind by the injured agent and corners him in a club, an encounter that results in his near death.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: The plot using a nuclear weapon to extort a ransom was considered a unique idea when this film came out. Now it's become one of the most cliched [[EvilPlan Evil Plans]] in the book.

* EvilIsSexy: Fiona Volpe, the villain who tries to kill Bond and is played by the beautiful Luciana Paluzzi.

* WTHCastingAgency: Screenwriter Richard Maibaum criticized the casting of Creator/AdolfoCeli, complaining that he had to create other villains to make Largo look more threatening.

* SoOkayItsAverage: While it was a huge box-office success on its initial release, in retrospect it's probably the least discussed film from Creator/SeanConnery's run in the role. Whereas the previous three films are seen as all-time classics and the following ''Film/YouOnlyLiveTwice'' being silly but iconic, and ''Film/DiamondsAreForever'' being the first serious misfire in the series, this one's generally only remembered for the controversy behind the scenes (which led to the subsequent creation of ''Film/NeverSayNeverAgain''), as well as the title sequence and Music/TomJones' theme song, both of which are considered strong contenders for the best in the series.

** Bond on the overcranked stretching machine DeathTrap is supposed to be something that has the audience on the edge of their seats, but it just looks ridiculous. Quite frankly, he looks like [[ADateWithRosiePalms he's humping the table.]]

** Bond on the overcranked stretching machine DeathTrap is supposed to be something that has the audience on the edge of their seats, but it just looks ridiculous. Quite frankly, he looks like [[ADateWithRosiePalms he's ''humping the table.'']]

** Bond on the overcranked stretching machine DeathTrap is supposed to be something that has the audience on the edge of their seats, but it just looks ridiculous. Quite frankly, he looks like he's ''humping the table.''

* {{Sequelitis}}: After three progressively stronger instalments, this is often seen as the first Bond film to be inferior to its predecessor.

* WhatAnIdiot: It's probably not terribly wise to go around wearing the logo of an international terrorist organization on an oversized ring if you don't want to tip off the secret agent you just picked up that you're working for the enemy. When they got around to making ''Film/{{Spectre}}'', [[https://web.archive.org/web/20160411185643/http://www.007.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/SITE_RING_BLACK-1000x778.jpg the designs on the rings are notably much more subdued]].

* CompleteMonster: [[TheHeavy Emilio Largo]] is the sadistic, cruel NumberTwo of SPECTRE. Plotting to blackmail the world at large, Largo has a pilot murdered to have an agent steal his identity, leaving the man to drown [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness when his usefulness is expended]], and stealing two NATO warheads. Largo showcases a willingness to [[SharkPool feed failed agents to sharks]], and is an [[TortureTechnician enthusiast for torture]], with one British agent taking cyanide to avoid that fate. Later torturing his mistress Domino, Largo reveals he plans to nuke Miami when his ransom isn't met.

* SpecialEffectsFailure: The final battle on the Disco Volante is obviously sped up.

** Bond on the overcranked stretching machine DeathTrap is supposed to be something that has the audience on the edge of their seats, but it just [[http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/241179/Thunderball-Movie-Clip-Traction-Table.html looks ridiculous]]. Quite frankly, he looks like he's ''humping the table.''

* {{Padding}}: The biggest criticism that the film receives is for the excess of underwater scenes. As beautiful as they are, everyone agrees that they last longer than they should.

** Even then, 'Flying Saucer' is hardly an intimidating name for a boat

** Music/ShirleyBassey was the first to record a theme, after the success of ''Film/{{Goldfinger}}'', and called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4m9ptFefwo "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"]]. An instrumental version of "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" is heard at various points during the movie as a kind of secondary leitmotif. After some apparent problems with Bassey's singing, Dionne Warwick was brought in to do another take of the same song. The producers planned to use the Warwick version of "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" over the end credits, until Shirley Bassey sued. The Warwick version of "Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" is featured in its entirety on the secondary commentary track of the ''Thunderball'' laserdisc/DVD/Blu-ray.

** The name "Disco Volante". Yes, it means "Flying Saucer" in Italian, but "disco" has [[CondemnedByHistory other connotations]] nowadays.

* HarsherInHindsight: Felix Leiter shoots a shark with a speargun to keep the rest occupied while Bond looks for the downed Vulcan. In ''Film/LicenceToKill'', he loses a leg to a shark.

* SoOkayItsAverage: While it was a huge box-office success on its initial release, in retrospect it's probably the least discussed film from Creator/SeanConnery's run in the role. Whereas the previous three films are seen as all-time classics and the following ''Film/YouOnlyLiveTwice'' being silly but iconic, and ''Film/DiamondsAreForever'' being the first serious misfire in the series, this one's generally only remembered for the controversy behind the scenes (which led to the subsequent creation of ''Film/NeverSayNeverAgain''), as well as the title sequence and Music/TomJones's theme song, both of which are considered strong contenders for the best in the series.

** Fleming also goes on a very clear AuthorTract about how having four women in a car is bound to cause terrible accidents because the driver will turn around to chat with her friends and probably cause a car crash.

* AssPull: Q never once explains to Bond that the infra-red underwater camera has a built-in Geiger counter (only that the watch does) which comes as something of a surprise when Domino uses it later on in the film. (In the commentary, actor Creator/DesmondLlewelyn complained that his favorite part of the Q scene ended up on the cutting-room floor; perhaps the explanation was part of that bit.) This is an adaption-induced mistake, as the book version of the device had the Geiger counter in the camera and a measuring dial on the watch connected by a thin wire up Bond's sleeve.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Chillingly insightful DarkActionGirl Fiona Volpe is a frequent fan favorite when [=SPECTRE=] agents are discussed.

** The name "Disco Volante". Yes, it means "Flying Saucer" in Italian, but "disco" has [[DeaderThanDisco other connotations]] nowadays.