From Russia With Love

Starring: Sean Connery
Director: Terence Young
Genre: Action
Year: 1963
Rating: 3 / 5

After watching a few James Bond movies, there are certain things that the average fan comes to expect. Each film must contain beautiful women, evil masterminds, outlandish plots, and impressive special effects. Why do we have these expectations? The James Bond franchise has produced twenty films, and almost all follow this standard formula, providing viewers with a certain sort of warm comfort zone. When a fan sits down to watch a James Bond movie, he knows exactly what he is going to get. That, in essence, sums up the greatest strengths and, unfortunately, the most fundamental weakness of From Russia With Love, the second film in this ongoing series.

Unlike the current films starring Pierce Brosnan, the early James Bond films, particularly in the heyday of Sean Connery, made reference to their preceding works. Modern Bond films are treated as separate entities, distinct cases which require the special attentions of Agent 007. From Russia With Love is a different animal entirely, as it makes numerous references to its predecessor, Dr. No. It seems that Dr. No was in the employ of SPECTRE, frequent nemesis of James Bond (Sean Connery), and the organization is none too happy with his untimely demise. Vengeance and the desire to rid with world of this troublesome British agent fuel the series' second installment.

SPECTRE has devised a scheme that will allow them to obtain an elusive Lektor decoding machine while at the same time delivering James Bond to them. Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya), a defector from the Soviet army, enlists the help of unsuspecting Russian consulate officer Tatiana Romanova (Daniele Bianchi) to help trap Bond. Romanova is to work closely with Bond - very closely - to help him steal the Lektor machine, at which point, unbeknownst to Romanova, SPECTRE will step in, steal the machine, and deal with Bond once and for all. Bond and M (Bernard Lee) smell a trap, but the opportunity to obtain a Lektor machine is too great, thus necessitating the risk. But will they see the trap before it is sprung?

From Russia With Love is easily the mildest of the James Bond films, at least in terms of action, but it is also considered by many true fans to be one of the best. The change of pace present in this film is a nice idea, but it comes along too early in the series. Had this film come along later, say, after Thunderball, it might have carried more weight. That way, director Terence Young could have better established SPECTRE, thereby laying the framework for the organization's need to rid itself of Bond. It also would serve as a nice contrast to the typical action-filled James Bond film. With a strong central villain (the lack of which is the film's greatest flaw), From Russia With Love might even have been able to overcome this. As it is, this movie remains an enjoyable vehicle for everyone's favorite super agent, neither better nor worse than the average James Bond film.

Cast:

Sean Connery..........	James Bond
Daniela Bianchi..........	Tatiana Romanova
Lotte Lenya..........	Rosa Klebb
Bernard Lee..........	M

Certification: Rated PG.
Running Time: 110 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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