release year: 1977
genre: James Bond
viewing setting: home DVD, 11/8/09 and 9/24/06 and 12/12/99
what I expected: n/a
what I got: Moore's best Bond movie, hands down.
synopsis: British and Soviet subs are vanishing, necessitating teamwork between 007 and the beautiful XXX.
impressions: This is the one - Roger Moore's peak as James Bond. It had all the crucial elements: a gorgeous AND competent heroine, a larger-than-life evil henchman, a colossal evil stronghold, good fights, good chases and stunts and acting and plot...yes. Notable: the opening scene has Bond skiing off a cliff then opening a parachute, submarine-eating tanker, first appearance of Russian "M" equivalent Gogol, "Q" tells it like it is, steel-toothed bad guy Jaws, scenes in Egypt, a shark. One of my favorite parts is where Bond admits to XXX that he killed her lover in Austria.
acting: Roger Moore really hit his stroke here. Barbara Bach was simply stunning. Richard Kiel did a good job as Jaws, and the guy who played Stromburg also turned in a fine show.
chase scenes: 1 ski, 1 car, 1 car-turned-into-boat underwater chase
mass fight at end: assorted sub crews vs Stromburg's goons inside tanker
neat gadgets: microfilm viewer, portable Sea-Doo, and the Lotus!
confirmed Bond kills: 8
confirmed Jaws kills: 2
confirmed Bond nooky: 3
obnoxious female name: agent XXX
defining Bond moments:
- uses woman as shield against bullets
- tosses "out of order" sign on body
- ogles Naomi in front of XXX
- drives Lotus from underwater up onto beach
quotable:
woman: "But James, I need you!"
Bond: "So does England."
Bond: "When one is in Egypt, one must delve deeply into its treasures."
XXX: "You are very suspicious, Mr. Bond."
Bond: "I find that I live much longer that way."
Bond: "Thanks for deserting me back there."
XXX: "Like you said, every woman for herself."
Bond: "Still, you did save my life."
XXX: "We all make mistakes, Mr. Bond."
Q: (referring to the razor-edged serving tray) "I want that ready for Achmed's tea party."
M: (watching Bond and XXX in bed inside the escape pod) "Bond! What do you think you're doing?"
Bond: "Keeping the British end up, sir."
final word: Moore's best, and one of 007's best, a must-see.
rating: B