You Only Live Twice was Bond's fifth cinematic outing. It was made on a 9.5 million dollar budget, almost 2 million more than the previous film, Thunderball. Sean Connery is once again playing the role of James Bond, but sadly doesn't put forth much effort. He was geting tired of the role, and it shows.

Donald Pleasance plays the evil genius known as Ernst Stavro Blofeld. It is clear in You Only Live Twice that Blofeld no longer views Bond as a minor annoyance and becomes very irritable and distressed when he learns that Bond is still alive. Pleasance's Blofeld is also impatient and fidgety (swinging the abort key around his hand and continually asking for updates on there progress). I became to like his Blofeld, and think it's the best rendition of them all.

Mie Hamma gives a nice performance as Kissy Suzuki, but the character is so insignificant to the story that she really only exists as a companion for Bond to "ride of into the sunset with." Aki, who I didn't like very much because of her voice, should've been the lasting Bond girl. Because following her death, the film moved too slow, and couldn't recover. I like Kissy more based on looks, but I wonder how the film would've turned out if they didn't kill off Aki. Tetsuro Tamba is Tiger Tanaka, Tanaka is efficient, smart, and a capable fighter. Yet he is very friendly in demeanor. One of the best allies Bond has ever had. Osato and Helga Brandt are both decent and share their best scene with Donald Pleasance as they cower from Blofeld and accuse each other of failure.

This film features Freddie Young's debut as Director of Photography and has some of the best cinematography of the series, specifically Little Nellie and the shots of the volcano (the scan of the control room is great). John Barry produces a particularly wonderful score which helps elevate the urgency of the climax in the Matsu volcano. Probably his most underrated score of the series. Ken Adam's volcano set is nothing short than spectacular! Blofeld's office contains several paintings which adds an interesting contrast against the blank walls, and allows the eccentric character to appear even more mysterious. This film has many strong points but fails to keep the excitement up as soon as Aki dies, and even sooner when Bond is at the ninja school. From that point on, the movie is bland and uninteresting.