The Spy Who Loved Me
mythrenegade
Posts: 35MI6 Agent
My journey through the Moore bond films continues. Anytime I am watching the series in order I always look forward to TSWLM, as it is truly one of the high points of the entire series.
This is my second favorite bond film, and I enjoy almost everything about it. It features the greatest bond gadget ever, the Lotus. The helicopter chase followed by the car jumping off the dock into the water is bond at its best. Barbara Bach is simply stunning, and jaws is one of the all time great villians in this film (ruined for the most part in moonraker, unfortunately).
It isn't perfect. The cheesy show at the pyramids really stands out 25 years later, not in a good way. Some moments are a bit too predicable, like Max Calba being offed by the phone call. But these are minor points in a stellar effort. The interplay of one-upmanship between Bond and XXX are entertaining, and the PTS is IMHO the very best in the series. The ski jump off the cliff is simply breathtaking, and the union jack parachute a nice comic relief at the end.
All told this is one of the very strongest of all the bond films. A treat to watch.
Joel
This is my second favorite bond film, and I enjoy almost everything about it. It features the greatest bond gadget ever, the Lotus. The helicopter chase followed by the car jumping off the dock into the water is bond at its best. Barbara Bach is simply stunning, and jaws is one of the all time great villians in this film (ruined for the most part in moonraker, unfortunately).
It isn't perfect. The cheesy show at the pyramids really stands out 25 years later, not in a good way. Some moments are a bit too predicable, like Max Calba being offed by the phone call. But these are minor points in a stellar effort. The interplay of one-upmanship between Bond and XXX are entertaining, and the PTS is IMHO the very best in the series. The ski jump off the cliff is simply breathtaking, and the union jack parachute a nice comic relief at the end.
All told this is one of the very strongest of all the bond films. A treat to watch.
Joel
Comments
It's easily the only Bond film Roger Moore did (though he's my 2nd fave Bond) I find hard to fault in some way. Definitely the best of the 70s with no contest, for me at any rate. There's a number of moments in this that show the series at its best- one of the best Bond girls, some of the best action sequences, a superb, on the money performance by Roger Moore, controlled humour and lots of genuine suspense. And the score is one of the few non John Barry ones that really works for me.
It's to Broccoli's eternal credit and everyone involved in the making of TSWLM that they all rose to the occasion majestically. Other films may have had better villain's or better Bond girls etc, but none of them combined all the elements aswell as TSWLM. And that's why it's top of the pile as far as I am concerned.
Ah I just love the film from start to finish (especially the finish part "just keeping the British end up")!
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Plus, the fact that TSWLM is the absolute definition of formula Bond is IMO completely irrelevant and not a bad thing at all, since arguably most of the best Bond films (including TSWLM) may be described as 'formula Bonds.'
TSWLM: child-like? Absolutely not.
Having now seen FYEO and TSWLM within a week of each other on DVD I now rate them a virtual tie for best Roger Moore entry. FYEO is less formulaic than TSWLM but on the other hand the earlier film has a faster pace.
Stromberg's scheme may be recycled from YOLT but his motivation for it makes more sense than Blofeld's. Barbara Bach is one of the best Bond girls in the entire series. There is humor but it is relatively understated for the Moore period.
Jaws is a fun henchman but some of his menace is limited by the running gag of his constantly escaping death and goofy bits like dropping a stone block on his own foot. Jaws isn't the clown that Moonraker would turn him into but he is no Red Grant or Oddjob, who were played entirely straight.
I didn't like the overbearing disco/synthesizer music score but I do like Carly Simon's title song. Between the two TSWLM has some of the best and worst examples of '70s music.
I don't have a whole lot to nitpick about with this one. I was glad to see it again.
With few lapses in logic (e.g., the eloborate business of blowing-up Beckman and Markovitz; the machine guns on Naomi's copter; Moore's yellow ski suit), the film is near bullet-proof: I hear Wood's back story in my head every time I see Jaws thus have always found him more menacing than he might seem to others. Given the problems they had maneuvering the Liparus model, I'm sure the whole submarine pen scheme is no more possible than hiding a space station, but I'm far more willing to believe it. And while Moore is a wee bit too antispectic (undercuting the violence), actions like his use of Felicia as a shield--taken at face value--are the definition of ruthless. I only ever really find myself pulled-out of the film by the lousy rear-projection work of the Wayne once they escape the "tanker" (though--and I realize this is beloved by many--the Uniion Jack parachute also makes me cringe).
The one thing that does bother me about TSWLM--though it annoys me about alot of movies--is what I'll call "throw-away nonexistant technology." While it proves to be a McGuffin, the submarine tracking device bugs me because there's no such thing (and, if there were, could serve pretty much as a storyline unto itself ... which is what happens, to an extent, in FYEO) and fairly quickly dismissed (no further mention once Anya asks if it could be aboard Atlanis) despite half a film spent looking for it. (The "Intruder" technology of YOLT or radar jamming system from MR fall into this same category; funny how all three films--which are, after all, the same story over and over--rely on this same element).
The humour works with Jaws in TSWLM. For me, it does not limit his menace. The humour is basically confined to his apparent indestructability. Such as when the car he is travelling in falls on to the house. Jaws emerges through the door then dusts himself down and gives the shocked owner a cursary glance as he walks past him.
What a shame such a great character was virtually ruined in MR.
I am not so certain about Bond using Felicca as a shield. It could just be that she unwittingly sacrifices herself to save his life. She is obviously there in the apartment as part of the plan to lure Bond into a trap. When she see's Sandor's gun it appears she has a change of heart and tries to push Bond away and takes the bullet that was mean't for him.
I don't mean "limited menace" to the point that Jaws didn't seem dangerous. He's a real killer in TSWLM and when he does his "hits", those are pretty chilling moments. But when Bond says that Jaws "kills people" in MR, that turns out to be false advertising. By then, all Jaws's killing is strictly past tense.
The Living Daylights is my all time favourite Bond movie but TSWLM is a very close second. I love the opening scene with him skiing off a cliff and the car chase is fantastic.
Jaws would have been one of the most memorable villains ever if Moonraker hadn't ruined him!
Caroline Munro was amazing especially the way she was flirting with Bond even as she was trying to kill him. The final battle was excellent too on a par with the final battle in YOLT.
All in all one of the most memorable Bond movies ever.
She never tried again with me so I missed it and my first film at the cinema ended up being Moonraker!
Nice review, Fish.
I think fyeo and tswlm are the 2 best moore films but he's always good value in my book.
It is a great Bond film and Moore's acting was excellent, like he finally settled into the role and made it his own. Even though it's an updated YOLT, it's an awesome update!
Hey Dan, I'm pleased to see someone else who loves YOLT, a grandscale Bond movie that gets a rough ride in my view. It is my favourite Connery Bond but I get slaughtered for that opinon! 8-)
Sorry off topic - back to TSWLM!
Ah hah! :v Proof that my mind control still holds sway...absolute Bond masterpiece, indeed...
Never underestimate The German's power...
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Sorry Loeff.
* This is what I was talking about, Dan. Even in a response about TSWLM, CR pervades your unconscious thought... :v
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
P.S. I have now edited it.
Also, I'm a total sucker for the disco Bond music Hamlisch cooked up for it. For Gilbert's Bonds, a much better pace than YOLT (the travelogue bits are much briefer, really helps move things along), better plotting as well. No ninjas is a minus (can't have everything).
He so should have struck up a Saturday Night Fever pose while in that yellow jumpsuit. And skiing too, he'd have owened Travlota's arse.
I dislike Spy, it always seems uneasy watching to me. Additionally when on the tanker it feels very slow. However, I love Roger's performance - mainly the confrontation scene with Anya.