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Diamonds are Forever starts OK at first. It has a breezy, campy rhythm that makes it watchable, if not enjoyable. It tends to get worse as it goes though.

The locations--Vegas, Baja--are meek and borderline sleazy, there are too many side characters, the diamond heist plot spins its wheels forever (before the mystery villain is revealed), and Jill St. John's Tiffany Case feels underdeveloped. This is the first Bond movie where I consistently thought "what is the point?"

Now, some pros. The main theme, sung by Bassey is really good. Also, the movie actually has a few laugh-out-loud moments. Bond's perfect delivery of "small world" in response to a goon's dumb remark slays me. While some of the vehicle chases are tedious, I did enjoy the violent fist-fight in the elevator.

This is between a 4 and a 5. I will round down and go with 4.