release year: 1981
genre: James Bond
viewing setting: home DVD, 1/11/2000
what I expected: n/a
what I got: one of Moore's best, low on Bondage, high on action
synopsis: The ship carrying Britain's ATAC sub-guidance system sinks, so the race is on to find and recover the device.
impressions: This one was pretty good. It had a simple but fast-moving plot, plenty of stunts and action, one of the lovliest Bond girls, one of the most likeable Bond allies, and one of the best theme songs. Of note: opening scene with revenge on Blofeld, fight in ice rink, underwater action, minisub fight, sharks, fortress and mountain climb.
acting: Roger Moore was subdued here, but he still did a good job, minimizing the corny lines and actions. Carole Bouquet did a good job as a serious Bond woman. Topol did a great job as Bond's main ally. There were also some notable villains.
chase scenes: 1 foot/car, 1 long ski
mass fight at end: none (small-scale skirmish between Columbo's guys and Cristatos' guys)
neat gadgets: exploding Lotus, Identograph
confirmed Bond kills: 6
confirmed Bond nooky: 2 out of a possible 3 (he could have had Bibi, undoubtedly one of the cutest ones he ever let get away)
obnoxious female name: none
defining Bond moments:
- mocks "Q" during weapons discussion
- good revenge moment on Locke
- Bond lets the Prime Minister talk to a parrot while he's busy with Melina
quotable:
Bond: "The Chinese have a saying: before setting out on revenge, you first dig two graves."
Cristatos: "The odds favor standing pat."
Bond: "If you favor the odds."
Bond: "I'm a novelist. I'm preparing a book about Greek smugglers. Do you know any?"
Melina: "I didn't think it would end like this."
Bond: "We're not dead yet."
Bond: (in confessional booth) "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned."
Q: (disguised as priest) "That's putting it mildly, 007."
final word: A little more serious and down-to-Earth than most.
rating: B