escctrlshift Bond movie fans all learn to love the occasionally silly excess of the genre. By the time Spy was produced, Roger Moore was no stranger to those trademark hilarities. Here production is restrained, in some respects. The visual gags and stock themes are hackneyed enough but not overamped in compensation. Instead the strength of the movie relies on a measured recipe with great casting and location shots, minimalist dialogue, and cinematographic excellence overall. In the DVD version one can appreciate the stunning vintage colors and tones produced by natural and incandescent lighting, 24p filmstock and all-analog sound tech. Nature's imperfections are an advantage in the medium itself, but are scarcely visible in the lead and supporting cast, who all fit their roles perfecty. Barbara Bach stole millions of disco hearts with her understated character and exotic beauty in the role of Agent XXX, and Richard Kiel is unforgettable and quite funny as Jaws, the 7'2" steel-toothed, deadpan monster assassin.This is not a Bond movie to lampoon, but one to savor as an outstanding representative of genre and 70's cultural era.

Thatcher Widely regarded as one of the best Bond films under the Moore regime, The Spy Who Loved Me is your quintessential Bond film that encapsulates every aspect of classic James Bond and arguably setting a precedence for what is considered a complete Bond film. When critiquing a James Bond film, particularly those of the Connery & Moore era, one cannot fall into the trap of basing judgment upon the realistic nature of the plot. So many negative reviews are based upon this premise which, in all honesty, is kind of a senseless critique achieving nothing but the acknowledgment of being out of touch with old Bond films (and any old film for that matter). One must watch such films through the lens of the producers, and at times, acquiesce to cinematic styles unique to the era. If not, one runs the risk of taking a narrow-minded approach to rendering judgment, thus casting a shadow on other aspects of the film that make it a wonderfully classic Bond film-- Russians, gadgets, women, exotic destinations, humor, wit, villains, grandiose sets, and of course, theme song & score.Sure, Bond enthusiasts appreciate Bond films for different reasons-- some like the gadgets, others like the women, etc.-- but that doesn't mean that there aren't certain elements all Bond fans can agree are almost required of any Bond film in order to achieve success... AND EVERY ONE OF THESE ELEMENTS IS PRESENT IN THE SPY WHO LOVE ME.Lewis Gilbert, director, really makes his mark on Bond films with YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE & MOONRAKER, in addition to the film in critique, so it is hard to imagine how one can like one without the others. As to what THE SPY WHO LOVES ME does to make it such a classic-- enter Jaws, one of James Bond's greatest nemeses; Barbara Bach, widely considered one of the sexiest Bond gals (see Force 10 From Navarone for topless Bach); the locations are wonderful, particularly Egypt; the Bond car & chase seen is easily the best non-Aston Martin Bond car of all time; Stromberg, the main villain played by Curt Jurgens, is one of the darkest & nastiest (and psychotic) villains Bond ever faces; Roger Moore, begins his first of three signature Bond films with MOONRAKER & FOR YOUR EYES ONLY following this film. Director Guy Hamilton needed to take a break after his early 70's sub-par Bond films, two of which provided Roger Moore with more of an uphill climb than he needed in the wake of Connery, but THE SPY WHO LOVED ME launched Moore into Bond stardom.What can all Bond fans agree makes a top-notch Bond film? It's the suave nature of James Bond, the witty remarks he makes after nearly getting killed-- this film is dripping with it. But this film also portrays a grittier Bond with a more serious undertone, thus marking what many consider to be (including Moore) Roger Moore's greatest Bond film. This film also departs from more traditional indoor Hollywood sets and brings the audience outside into the Swiss mountains, out into the deserts of northern African, and into the ocean spray of the Mediterranean. In many respects, this film breaks through to a new age of Bond film with advances in film technology (and budgets), thus breathing a refreshing new style into the decade-and-a-half old series while maintaining fundamental elements all Bond fans can agree are necessary for any great James Bond movie.

LeonLouisRicci The Third Time was a Charm for Roger Moore as James Bond after Two Previous Disappointing Films as 007. This one Clicked, and is Considered, Perhaps, Moore's Best.All the Bond Ingredients Coalesce, The Exotic Locations, the Super Villain (Curt Jurgens), the Gadgets, the Sexual Innuendos, the Bond Girl(s) Barbara Bach with Caroline Munro on the Side, an Unforgettable Sci-Fi Thug named "Jaws" (Richard Kiel), the Enormously Impressive Sets and SFX, and for Toppers, a Memorable Title Tune, "Nobody Does it Better", sung by Carly Simon.The 10th Bond Film might seem to Run a Little Long, but there is a Grand Scheme Underway and the Finale is Fitting for the Scope of the Villainy.Overall, it was Refreshing to Find the Formula could still Work after a Couple of Previous Duds. It was not at all Certain that the Franchise would Continue. But the Producers took a chance with a Big-Budget and were Rewarded with Big-Box Office and Fan Approval.

Uriah43 After a gunfight in Austria leaves one Soviet agent dead, "James Bond" (Roger Moore) is recalled from there to London on an assignment involving a missing British nuclear submarine. At the same time a Russian agent named "Major Anya Amasova" (Barbara Bach) is also called to Moscow and given a similar mission involving a missing Soviet nuclear submarine. Since the cases are almost identical the British and Soviets agree to pool their resources and send both agents to investigate the case. What nobody knows is that the Russian agent James Bond killed just happened to be the lover of Major Amasova and she is determined to get revenge on whoever is responsible. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this particular James Bond movie had several interesting novelties which greatly enhanced the overall film. First, it introduced the character known as "Jaws" (Richard Kiel) who appears on a couple of other James Bond movies after this. It also had a very unique car which doubled as a submarine which I thought was rather nifty. Likewise, it featured two attractive actresses by the names of Valerie Leon (as the Hotel Receptionist) and Caroline Munro ("Naomi") who are also featured in a later James Bond film as well. In short, although I don't believe that this ranks up there as one of the best James Bond movies ever made, it does have its interesting points and because of that I have rated it accordingly. Above average.