From Russia With Love (1963)

From Russia With Love
1963
Spy Thriller
Sean Conncer

James Bond Movie #2

The Plot
A Russian government employee offers to smuggle a Russian decoding machine out of Instanbul and give it to the British/US. Bond goes to help her with taking the device out of the Russian consolate and getting it out of the country. But there must be a catch right? Of course there is. SPECTRE has tricked her into stealing the device so they themselves can steal it when it is out in the open, then sell it back to the Russians. They also want to kill Bond for what he did to them in the first movie,Dr. No.

Villain
No single "evil" villain here. Just a few SPECTRE henchmen. I believe the one female villain was the basis for the famel villain in the Austic Powers movies. The guy Bond has to deal with later in the film sort of feels like the SPECTRE version of Bond. Cool, calm, and not somebody I would want to deal with.

Bond Girl
Daniela Bianchi as Tatiana Romanova. A blonde who looks hot in some scenese, and just okay in others. A very classic beauty (well this is a classic movie so I guess thats why), sort of reminds me of Grace Kelly a little (but not as beautiful). I approve. Even if she was a commie. Interesting note about her role in From Russia With Love was that in real life she was an Italian actress who was playing a Russian in the movie but her dialogue in it was actually dubbed over by a British actress. Anyways, onto a picture of her.

Final Thoughts
I really liked it. I loved the whole mood of it. The setting of Instanbul was different and interesting. I liked that the plan wasn't over the top or ridiculous, it was believable and realistic. I think that is the main reason this one is so appealing. The second half of the movie takes place on a train, but that only heightens the suspense towards the end. With Bond being closed in tight with his enemy, hurtline toward the final destination. Critically this is still considered the best Bond flick by many, and I have no problem with that. It still holds up as a great espionage filled spy thriller and can be a great introduction to the James Bond universe.

3.5 out of 5 Stars
.