Runtime:
125 minutes
Directed
by: Lewis Gilbert
Starring:
Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Curt Jurgens, Richard Kiel
From:
UA
As
Skyfall is coming out in a matter of days in the United States, I
figured I should talk about another Bond film. I do plan on
rewatching both Casino Royale (which I am looking forward to) and
Quantum of Solace-I am not looking forward to that-before seeing the
new one. I've heard mostly good things about that so that makes me
happy.
Now,
onto talking about this film, which many people rate highly... me
included. The plot is pretty similar to You Only Live Twice, but I do
say this does it better. A megalomaniac known as Stromberg (Jurgens)
set up a scheme where Soviet and British submarines disappear and
each side blames the other. His scheme is to cause nuclear war so the
world would be destroyed and his Atlantis underwater base would be
the start of a new civilization. Bond has to team with a sexy Soviet
agent (Bach) to try and stop the madman... along with his famous pal
Jaws.
The
movie started off on a good note with the groovy disco-esque score
from Marvin Hamlisch and the ski scene opening with the incredible
jump off the cliff into the Union Jack parachute opening. The opening
also sets up the relationship with the agent XXX (not Vin Diesel,
thankfully) as Bond unkowingly kills her lover. The action goes from
Austria to Egypt to Sardinia and then the Atlantis base and the giant
ship which has captured the submarines. The locales all look nice and
I enjoyed the action throughout. The battles between Bond and Jaws
are still classic today. Sure, it's ridiculous how unstoppable he is
but that's part of the charm. Also classic is the scene with the
white Lotus where it went underwater. There are many memorable
scenes, come to think of it. There are hot women in Barbara Bach and
Caroline Munro, the plot is cartoony but still a blast... it's great.
While
I understand when I heard some people slag it for being like a
“best-of Bond” movie due to the elements from earlier films being
brought in here-including the basic plot to a film from 10 years
ago-I still rate this rather highly. I just find it tremendous in the
entertainment category. I especially like that epic-long battle
between the British/Soviet/American forces and Stromberg's forces in
the giant ship. That was sweet all around.
I'll
be back tomorrow night with a review of something completely
different.
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