From Russia with Love is one of the best James Bond films. In fact, it is more than just a great James Bond movie. It is a great spy movie with heroes and villains on both sides that are deceiving one another. When you combine all of this with one of the greatest henchman character portrayals in the history of the franchise, you get one of the most thrilling Bond films ever produced.
From Russia with Love is the second film in the James Bond franchise, and is the story of James Bond getting involved in an assassination plot in order for the British to get their hands on a Soviet LEKTOR encryption device. What makes this film so special is the complexity of the narrative. This is not your typical "Bond saves the world, and gets the girl" Bond film. You have to watch and listen carefully in order to know what is going on. Even when you think you know what is going on and what is going to happen, you actually have no idea. This was also the first Bond film to have the now-traditional opening title sequence. With such a rich narrative and great characters to boot, it is no wonder why From Russia with Love is a favorite among fans.
Sean Connery reprises his role as James Bond. In this film, we start to see certain characteristics that will be become the blueprint for the character. He is suave, he keeps his cool and the one-liners start to become commonplace. One of the other reasons I love this film is that we see Bond form friendships with his associates. Bond and Kerim Bay (Pedro Armendariz) form a mutual respect for one another, and the scenes with Connery and Armendariz are some of the best in the film.
Robert Shaw plays Grant. I absolutely love the fact that Grant does not say a word until the climax of the movie. There is a certain mystery and menace that is added to the character because of this. Shaw is thrilling to watch in the role, uttering his lines with coldness and malevolence. This is a terrifying performance if there ever was one.
Terence Young is the director of From Russia with Love. Most of the film takes place in Istanbul, and the sequences that showcase the city, especially the exterior shots, are remarkably beautiful. Most of the action sequences are at the end of the film and, while not over the top, are well done and serve the story quite well. It goes without saying that the fight scene between Bond and Grant on the train is one of the best ever filmed (although it is confusing which briefcase the tear gas is in). This scene has many cuts, which add tension and excitement, and Grant meets a fitting demise. Young grasps ahold of the essence of Bond with this film, and it is no wonder why his Bond films are some of the best.
From Russia with Love is one of my favorites of the Connery Bond films. It is so much more than your typical action flick. Raw emotion is evident in every scene, and as the film progresses you realize that the stakes have never been higher. If you are a Bond fan that needs to brush up on the history of the franchise, or if its simply been a while since you've seen this film, I highly recommend that you watch it.
Showing posts with label Terence Young. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Terence Young. Show all posts
Friday, April 28, 2017
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Secret Agent Man: Part 1
The James Bond film series is one of my favorite franchises. For more than fifty years, it has amassed thousands of fans of multiple generations. It is a series that has set the standard for action movies ever since its inception in 1962 with Dr. No.
Dr. No is the first film in the James Bond series, and is the story of James Bond investigating the disappearance of a fellow colleague and the disruption of Cape Canaveral rockets. This is a solid first entry in the series that introduces our favorite British spy perfectly. The action is thrilling, the locations are breathtaking and the villain is as evil as they come. Speaking of which, the film also does a nice job of introducing S.P.E.C.T.R.E., the terrorist organization that Bond battles for the next few films. There are a few minor flaws with the film. At one point in the film, the hotel receptionist tells Bond that the car he ordered has arrived. The problem is we never actually see him order the car. Also, towards the climax of the film, Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) and Bond pass out on the floor from drinking drugged coffee. Then, in the next scene he is sleeping in his bed. How in the world did he manage to get there?? Anyway, these are extremely minor flaws in an otherwise groundbreaking film that would go on to define an entire genre.
Sean Connery ignites the screen in his first performance as James Bond. This first iteration of Bond is a tad more nervous and jittery than what we know him to be, but he still brings all the charm, wit and lethalness that has since become the blueprint for the character. Connery shines in the role, and brings all these different layers of emotion to life brilliantly while also having good chemistry with the other actors. I particularly like what Connery does as an actor in the dinner scene with Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman). James Bond will, for better or worse, always be Connerys' signature role, and it is this career-defining performance that set him on that path.
Terence Young is the director of Dr. No. Young beautifully shows us what have become staples of the franchise: exotic locations and exciting action sequences. During the climax of the film, when the characters are investigating Crab Key, the lush environments are absolutely gorgeous. Also, the chase sequences in the film are thrilling to watch, as is the climactic sequence at Dr. Nos' lair. There are also some other key moments in the film that I would like to point out. The scene where the tarantula is climbing on James Bond in bed is so tense to watch because of the slow cuts. Also, in the scene where Professor Dent (Anthony Dawson) tells Dr. No of Bonds' impending arrival, I love the way the camera slowly zooms in on Dent as Dr. No grows increasingly aggravated. Young does a wonderful job of introducing us to the world of James Bond.
The release of Dr. No. set forth a series of films that would go on to be the longest running franchise in cinema history. While the film has its flaws, no one can deny its success. If you are a Bond fan and you have not watched this movie in a while, or ever, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to it. You will not regret it.
Dr. No is the first film in the James Bond series, and is the story of James Bond investigating the disappearance of a fellow colleague and the disruption of Cape Canaveral rockets. This is a solid first entry in the series that introduces our favorite British spy perfectly. The action is thrilling, the locations are breathtaking and the villain is as evil as they come. Speaking of which, the film also does a nice job of introducing S.P.E.C.T.R.E., the terrorist organization that Bond battles for the next few films. There are a few minor flaws with the film. At one point in the film, the hotel receptionist tells Bond that the car he ordered has arrived. The problem is we never actually see him order the car. Also, towards the climax of the film, Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) and Bond pass out on the floor from drinking drugged coffee. Then, in the next scene he is sleeping in his bed. How in the world did he manage to get there?? Anyway, these are extremely minor flaws in an otherwise groundbreaking film that would go on to define an entire genre.
Sean Connery ignites the screen in his first performance as James Bond. This first iteration of Bond is a tad more nervous and jittery than what we know him to be, but he still brings all the charm, wit and lethalness that has since become the blueprint for the character. Connery shines in the role, and brings all these different layers of emotion to life brilliantly while also having good chemistry with the other actors. I particularly like what Connery does as an actor in the dinner scene with Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman). James Bond will, for better or worse, always be Connerys' signature role, and it is this career-defining performance that set him on that path.
Terence Young is the director of Dr. No. Young beautifully shows us what have become staples of the franchise: exotic locations and exciting action sequences. During the climax of the film, when the characters are investigating Crab Key, the lush environments are absolutely gorgeous. Also, the chase sequences in the film are thrilling to watch, as is the climactic sequence at Dr. Nos' lair. There are also some other key moments in the film that I would like to point out. The scene where the tarantula is climbing on James Bond in bed is so tense to watch because of the slow cuts. Also, in the scene where Professor Dent (Anthony Dawson) tells Dr. No of Bonds' impending arrival, I love the way the camera slowly zooms in on Dent as Dr. No grows increasingly aggravated. Young does a wonderful job of introducing us to the world of James Bond.
The release of Dr. No. set forth a series of films that would go on to be the longest running franchise in cinema history. While the film has its flaws, no one can deny its success. If you are a Bond fan and you have not watched this movie in a while, or ever, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to it. You will not regret it.
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