The Spy Who Loved Me Review
Roger_Moore's third appearance as James Bond is not only one of his best entries in the series, but also one of the best Bond films overall. Ironically, the script jettisons the Ian_Fleming source novel altogether, but still delivers large-scale action and spy intrigue in the classic Bond style and wisely avoids the campy humor that diluted the effectiveness of Live and Let Die and The Man With the Golden Gun. Lewis_Gilbert's direction occasionally drags a bit in the pacing department (a common Bond film problem), but he gives the film a polished look and packs it with memorable action set pieces, including a breathtaking pre-titles ski chase and a car chase that suddenly transforms into an undersea adventure. Gilbert's work is nicely bolstered by stunning production design by Ken_Adams, especially the dazzling design of Stromberg's undersea lair, and a wonderful Marvin_Hamlisch score that features the deliciously torchy Carly_Simon song "Nobody Does It Better." In terms of acting, Roger_Moore is dashing and witty in equal measure as James Bond, and Barbara_Bach's dramatic and surprisingly tough performance as Anya provides Bond with his most formidable leading lady since Diana_Rigg starred in On_Her_Majesty's_Secret_Service. The Spy Who Loved Me also features a pair of worthy adversaries thanks to Curd_Jürgens' quietly menacing work as Stromberg and Richard_Kiel's memorably physical performance as steel-toothed henchman Jaws. All in all, The Spy Who Loved Me is old-fashioned spy-movie fun that should be seen by anyone interested in the high points of the James_Bond series. Donald Guarisco, Rovi
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