Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Diamonds Are Forever is peak Bond as glossy, mischievous spectacle: Sean Connery returns with that relaxed, lethal charm, gliding through danger as if he’s in on the joke and daring you to keep up. Guy Hamilton leans into a Vegas-soaked vibe where neon, swagger, and sly one-liners mingle with brisk action and inventive stunts that still play with a crowd-pleasing snap. It’s stylish and unapologetically entertaining, the kind of spy thriller that values momentum, attitude, and memorable villains over solemn realism. If you want your Bond gritty, this isn’t it—and the era’s sexual content and peril come with the territory—but if you’re on the fence, this one wins you over with sheer cinematic fun.

Diamonds Are Forever is trying to be a cheeky, Vegas-glam Bond caper with Connery back in the tux and a bigger, flashier showdown with Blofeld. The problem is it often plays like Bond on autopilot: the plot gets increasingly goofy, the action is surprisingly limp for a supposed thriller, and the tone drifts into self-parody when it should be building tension. If you want tight espionage, credible stakes, or inventive set pieces, this one can feel flat and oddly boring despite all the neon and diamonds. Still, Connery has moments of charm, the Las Vegas setting is a fun time capsule, and the Wint-and-Kidd villains add a weirdly memorable edge if you’re in the mood for camp.