MovieChat Forums > Sean Connery Discussion > Worst Films of Connery's Career

Worst Films of Connery's Career

posted 6 years ago by christomacin (4523)
48 replies | jump to latest

Most of Connery's films were at least average if somewhat disappointing more often than not, along with about 15 to 20 or so very good to great ones. There weren't too many Connery films that were truly execrable, but there were a few, and these are them.

Shalako (1968)
Meteor (1979)
Sword of the Valiant (1984)
Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)
The Avengers (1998)
The League of Extraordinary Gentleman (2003)
Sir Billi (2012)

P.S. Zardoz is NOT on this list, as I would consider that one of his could-have-been-great-but-missed films, but not one of his worst. I'd put Wrong Is Right and Cuba in this category as well.

P.P.S. I don't care for The Rock or Highlander myself, but I can't say they were completely incompetent so I would put them in the mediocre category.

[–] MIchiganJFrogg (-35) 6 years ago

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[–] christomacin (4523) 6 years ago

I think the part was originally meant for Burt Reynolds, who I think would have pulled off the red mankini better than Connery at that stage of his career. I don't know about Zardoz. I find it an exasperating and pretentious but occasionally interesting movie in a few scattered stretches here and there.

[–] MIchiganJFrogg (-35) 6 years ago

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[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I never got the hate for LXG. I always loved it.

[–] Burk48917 (10966) 6 years ago

Not as bad as the Avengers, but not good.

[–] TJLamb0518 (3316) 6 years ago

It's not great but VERY enjoyable. I think if it had not deviated so far from the source material and had not caused Connery to decide to retire it would have been much better received.

[–] TandyMan (10317) 6 years ago

It's terrific.

[–] Burk48917 (10966) 6 years ago

Not a movie,but the worst thing he's put on film was the interview with Barbara Walters where he said sometimes you have to smack a woman when they misbehave. I'm paraphrasing, but something very close. Lol, gotta hand it to him for having huge balls of honesty!

[–] christomacin (4523) 6 years ago

That would be instant career death in this day and age, and it wouldn't matter how big a star you are. It was deemed fairly shocking even back then.

[–] MIchiganJFrogg (-35) 6 years ago

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[–] Burk48917 (10966) 6 years ago

I love black humor, and I don't think anything should be off limits in comedy, but it's a good idea to play to your audience. I don't think he was joking one bit in that interview. In fact, I believe she asks him if he's joking,and he makes it clear he isn't.

[–] MIchiganJFrogg (-35) 6 years ago

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[–] Burk48917 (10966) 6 years ago

I think it's still accepted that woman can hit men and they are expected to take it. To be fair, it would be very different for me to hit my wife,vs her hitting me, as far as injuries are concerned. But nobody should be subject to abuse. I'll have to see if I can find the entire interview and see if my memory is correct.

[–] MIchiganJFrogg (-35) 6 years ago

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[–] twinA (4826) 6 years ago

I'm curious as to where you would place the film, Dragonheart, in which Connery provides the voice of Draco, the last remaining dragon of lore. I'm still trying to make heads or tails as to where I'd place this film. I want to like it but am thrown off by the very fact the beast is played by Connery. I felt the film lingered in the middle, really picking up the pace in the final act with the action scenes and the dramatic setting. Very Shakespearean feel. This is a fun topic. I respect your opinion.

[–] christomacin (4523) 6 years ago

I have to admit I've never seen Dragonheart, so I can't really comment.

[–] twinA (4826) 6 years ago

It's an easy film to overlook for sure.

[–] snepts (11123) 5 years ago

I ran across DH on TV one day. I didn't dislike the film - at least, not a lot -- but I thought Sean's narration was over-the-top. Most of us can bust out a Sean Connery mock accent, and he was in full force here. I thought it was distracting.

[–] twinA (4826) 5 years ago

His lack of voice acting experience also didn't help either, being largely known as a big screen actor.

~~/o/

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I caught the last 5-10 mins of this on TV the other day but I couldn't pass judgement as there wasn't one word of dialogue spoken at all. I'll watch from the start next time.

[–] twinA (4826) 6 years ago

It's heavy on the visual spectacles if I remember correctly. Surprisingly dark in some spots. One would think it would be more of a children's film.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

When I seen it on the EPG I thought it was the dragon one he done with Dennis Quaid at first.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I've just realised I've been talking about First Knight (1995) this whole time 😁 That's the one I caught the end of on TV last week and not Dragonheart

[–] twinA (4826) 6 years ago

If they're easy to mix up they must be in the so bad it's good category. (^ ^)

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Yep, I got mixed up with what one was which or which one was what. 😉

[–] hyperjet (631) 5 years ago

I couldn't get into that movie at all just because of Sean's voice. His unique voice is what makes him so well known. I don't think there was a moment in the film where I could accept that the dragon was talking. I just pictured Sean in a sound booth. It's hard to believe the movie was successful. The idea of using Sean seemed more appropriate for a comedy sketch show.

[–] snepts (11123) 5 years ago

You beat me to it. I just typed a similar response.

[–] twinA (4826) 5 years ago

Comes to show that larger than life screen presence in Connery's case hurts the viewer's ability to become fully immersed into the film's world.

~~/o/

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7387) 5 years ago

I hadn't seen Dragonheart in years and don't remember it at all. But I find it funny you mentioned him voicing a dragon in it considering he voiced the Dragon in Eragon and was uncredited for the role. I saw that one too but it's been like 13 years ago.

[–] twinA (4826) 5 years ago

Dragons are often depicted in various cultures as being very articulate in speech and being incredibly wise due to gathering knowledge during their long lifespan.

It's no wonder why Connery would be offered this kind of role, even if he's too outgrown for it.

Nowadays, this kind of casting would probably be less jarring due to greater demand of using bigger name actors for smaller roles (less opportunity in big film studios for starting and upcoming actors).

~~/o/

[–] TandyMan (10317) 6 years ago

I don't think Connery has ever made a crap movie. Even Highlander 2 is fun if taken as a BS scifi romp. The scene alone where they get riddled with bullets in the car is worth the admission fee. The movie I enjoyed least is the one where he played that weird monk in the castle. That was boring as all hell.

[–] twinA (4826) 6 years ago

[pulls up in car to drive-through window facing intercom] {paraphrased}

Intercom: Who's this I'm speaking to?

Ramírez: I'll handle this. [to Connor, leans towards speaker] My name is Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez. I'm chief metallurgist to King Charles the 5th of Spain and I am at your service. [Connor looks down in shame]

Intercom: [unamused] The circus is the other way, freak.

Connor: [eases at car window from driver door] Hey, take it easy. [says coolly] Which way is it to Vegas? [wide smirk and look of contempt on his face]

Intercom: . . . [crickets]

Connor: I don't think they're buying it. [rolls up window]

Ramírez: Hit it, dude! [Connors puts pedal to floor, full speed]

- Cracks me up every time! (^ ^)

[–] Wuchak (8068) 6 years ago

I laughed at the clichéd list that includes -- big surprise -- "Shalako" (1968). Get real. It ranks with my all-time best Westerns and I'm weary of hearing how supposedly bad it is by critical lemmings.

[–] christomacin (4523) 6 years ago

Sometimes cliches are true.

[–] Wuchak (8068) 6 years ago

I apologize for the attitude, but I encourage you to give it another chance sometime.

It's based on a Louis L'Amour novel and has a great cast. Although it bombed when it was originally released, it's actually a realistic late 60's Western. Besides, how can you go wrong with Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot? There's a lot of character-defining drama so it helps to use the subtitles to keep up with the heavily accented dialogue.

The opening is reminiscent of "Duel at Diablo" and the rest of the film brings to mind "Hombre," which were both released in the late 60s as well. "Shalako" has the same tone, so if you like those films you'll probably appreciate "Shalako."

The film is a story of arrogance and betrayal -- the arrogance of the Europeans who have no respect for the "lowbred" cowboys or "savages," and the betrayal of the American guides, headed excellently by Stephen Boyd. But "Shalako" is mostly a survival story, like "Sands of the Kalahari" and "Flight of the Phoenix." This brings to mind other survival-themed Westerns like "Escape from Fort Bravo," "They Came to Cordura" and "Duel at Diablo." "Shalako" stands well with these films.

Of course Brigitte Bardot was one of the most beautiful women to grace the earth. And brunette Valerie French ain't no slouch.

[–] christomacin (4523) 6 years ago

That's OK. You're probably right that Shalako isn't the worst of Connery, but I have say I find the film a rather listless and uninspired. Just a matter of opinion. Besides, I've just seen Connery's animated film Sir Billi (2012) and that makes everything else he did look like a masterpiece anyway.

[–] Wuchak (8068) 6 years ago

I find the film a rather listless and uninspired.

The listless vibe is due to the gritty realism akin to mid/late 60's flicks like "Hombre" and "Sands of the Kalahari." The story is dialogue-driven so it's necessary to use the subtitles to keep up with the accented verbiage.

As far as uninspired go, I find it pretty unique -- a British/German production with an international can't-beat-it cast, gritty survival drama and a potent moral. There's no Western like it.

[–] Karl Aksel (1451) 6 years ago

Connery himself would probably add Never Say Never Again to that list, though personally, I find that to be a very good movie. But this is one of two movies I know Connery regrets. The other one being League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. But I actually liked that one, too.

[–] christomacin (4523) 6 years ago

NSNA has enough good qualities to prevent me from simply dismissing outright - plus good performances by Carrera, von Sydow, Brandauer, and Fox. Having said that, I think the film is objectively a misfire. I sure Connery has very particular and personal reasons for not liking the film as he experienced the making of it first hand. I'm sure getting beaten at the box office by Roger Moore and Octopussy also had to rankle Connery, although Moore and Connery remained friends.

[–] snepts (11123) 5 years ago

Hard to believe Moore ever beat Connery at anything as 007. But Connery never did have a big bag of acting tricks, unlike say, Michael Caine, so it seems like it was just bad timing.
And who wouldn't love a movie named Octopussy? (sarcasm alert)

[–] RussellNash (2087) 6 years ago

Medicine Man is a pretty bad movie too.

[–] christomacin (4523) 6 years ago

In my opinion, everything Connery did after The Russia House didn't really work for one reason or another. However, the Goldsmith music in Medicine Man is too good for me to say the film was completely worthless. Lorraine Bracco's bad performance and the stupid, jokey script is what sank that film mostly. Reminds me of "Rising Sun", which had brilliant Takemitsu music and good cinematography but just fell flat on it's ass anyway.

[–] Jones70 (6195) 5 years ago

Not even The Rock and Finding Forrester?

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Medicine Man isn't a classic or anything but it's good for a rainy afternoon.