Review 136: The Spy Who Loved Me
Both the British and Russians are amazed when a submarine from each country disappears and the only link is a microfilm detailing the movements of the British submarine meaning that somehow a submarine can be tracked via it's "wake". The British sends agent James Bond and the Russians send Major Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach), otherwise known as "Triple-X". After first fighting against each other over the microfilm, the two agents are ordered to work together against the real enemy, mad shipping billionaire Carl Stromberg (Curd Jürgens) who plans to use the submarines to destroy the world via nuclear missiles so that any survivors are forced to live in Stromberg's dream world beneath the sea. However James must also defend himself against Anya as she finds out that James had killed her lover on a previous mission...
The plot is a work of sheer outrageousness, it compeling, exciting, has a serious tone, while retaining some humor and contains so many memorable elements. Despite baring the same title as the tenth James Bond novel, it bares practically no resemblance opting instead to tell a completely original story. It strikes a good balance between the spy adventure and the fun of it all
There's an underlying subtext of detente throughout the film: Eventually both British and U.S.S.R. forces to set aside their differences to locate their missing submarines, given the political climate at the time
I think it does a great job of examining the relationships between the British and Russian secret services and how they can sort out their differences and work together in a stituation. And we've got some great character moments e.g. the scene with Bond and Anya on the boat is a great scene to show that she's 007 equal and she's gone through similar basic training as he has and it's great to have a Bond girl who is an equal match for him as well as being just hot. Another one of these character moments is when Bond and Anya are in the hotel room in Sardinia and it is revealed that he killed her KGB boyfriend, not only does that add to the tension between them and the film but it also shows that their work is dangerous and they can get killed.
Returning director Lewis Gilbert's direction is unobtrusive, the action scenes are terrific and well choreographed (the movie opens with a spectacular ski chase, a chase involving an iconic Lotus Esprit and a big battle in Stromberg's oil tanker), the stunts are impressive, the score by Marvin Hamlisch (filling in for veteran John Barry who was unavalible to work in the U.K. due to tax reasons) is marvelous (With his most memorable track being Bond 77), the title song by Carly Simon is phenomenal, the production design is excellent and features some of the best sets in the series, the locations are wonderful, the cinematography is gorgeous, the scenery is breathtaking, the costume design is brilliant, the sound effects are top notch, it's well paced, there are some great scenes of suspense and intensity, there are some brilliant gags and on-liners and ("He just droped in for a quick bite", How does that grab you), the effects are tremendous, the make up is rich, the gadgets are stupendous (Bond gets a Lotus Esprit that turns into a submarine), the effects are spectacular and the ending was superb.
The acting is fantastic, Roger Moore gives possibly his best performance of the Bond series. Perfectly nailing his particular Bond persona, the classic gentleman spy He's allowed to be the charasmatic classic gentleman spy A major factor has to be how he seems more relaxed in the role and able to do what he does best which is be sauve, smooth and charming; Something Moore clearly feels more comfortable doing.
Returning director Lewis Gilbert's direction is unobtrusive, the action scenes are terrific and well choreographed (the movie opens with a spectacular ski chase, a chase involving an iconic Lotus Esprit and a big battle in Stromberg's oil tanker), the stunts are impressive, the score by Marvin Hamlisch (filling in for veteran John Barry who was unavalible to work in the U.K. due to tax reasons) is marvelous (With his most memorable track being Bond 77), the title song by Carly Simon is phenomenal, the production design is excellent and features some of the best sets in the series, the locations are wonderful, the cinematography is gorgeous, the scenery is breathtaking, the costume design is brilliant, the sound effects are top notch, it's well paced, there are some great scenes of suspense and intensity, there are some brilliant gags and on-liners and ("He just droped in for a quick bite", How does that grab you), the effects are tremendous, the make up is rich, the gadgets are stupendous (Bond gets a Lotus Esprit that turns into a submarine), the effects are spectacular and the ending was superb.
The acting is fantastic, Roger Moore gives possibly his best performance of the Bond series. Perfectly nailing his particular Bond persona, the classic gentleman spy He's allowed to be the charasmatic classic gentleman spy A major factor has to be how he seems more relaxed in the role and able to do what he does best which is be sauve, smooth and charming; Something Moore clearly feels more comfortable doing.
Barbara Bach is fabulous playing Anya Amasova/Triple X and makes for one of the best and memorable Bond girls. Of course, all Bond girls have a reputation for being beautiful, but Anya proves to be so much more, intelligent, lethal and resourceful.
Richard Kiel is a fantastic as the henchmen Jaws (he has metal teeth and kills his victims by biting them which is just insane and totally memorable) and makes for one of the most iconic henchmen in the series.
Curd Jürgens makes for a simply superb
villain playing Karl Stromberg. A man so in love with the sea and
has such contempt for the Western World that he's willing to wipe it out
just so he can create an underwater utopia and live in peace. Even
being convinced that he's doing humanity itself a favor.
Geoffrey Keen, Walter Gotell, Shane Rimmer, Caroline Munro along with Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell and Desmond Llewelyn round out the films stacked cast fine performances. Gotell is a particular standout here playing General Gogol, the head of the KGB and Anya's boss; One of The Spy Who Loved Me's more intelligent elements is to include a Russian authoritative figure who isn's a stereotype, but is otherwise a fairly decent guy.
Shane Rimmer is also noteworthy playing Captain Carter, a
The Spy Who Loved Me is Roger Moore's best James Bond film and generally just a whole load of fun, 5/5.
The Anonymous Critic
The Spy Who Loved Me is Roger Moore's best James Bond film and generally just a whole load of fun, 5/5.
The Anonymous Critic
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