11 Things You Learn Rewatching Thunderball

By Jack Pooley / April 19, 2018

5. The Pacing Is Frustratingly Slow

At 130 minutes in length, Thunderball is by far the longest Bond film up to this point, clocking in at 15-20 minutes longer than the three prior Bond outings, and boy, you really feel it.

In large part due to the distended nature of the numerous underwater sequences, the film's pacing is all over the place, making it honestly a bit of a chore to get through.

It takes a while to get going, drags it feet once it sets things in place, and then lumbers its way to an overlong - if entertaining- finale. Clearly Eon realised their mistake, as the next movie, 1967's You Only Live Twice, clocks in at a far more reasonable 117 minutes.