Ricky Church continues his countdown to Spectre with a review of The Spy Who Loved Me…
James Bond’s previous adventure in The Man with the Golden Gun was a low point for the series that relied too heavily on camp and comedy to succeed. While The Spy Who Loved Me continues Bond’s campy trend, it is a vast improvement and a classic 007 film, marking the first time Roger Moore truly feels like James Bond. Its plot, while silly at times, is fast-paced and the characterization of both Bond and Russian spy Anya Amasova is well done. Though it may not deconstruct Bond’s character as much other films, Spy Who Loved Me examines Bond’s personality against Anya’s very well.
After two films with low-level stakes, Spy is a return to the larger than life villain who seeks world domination. Karl Stromberg, however, doesn’t just want world domination; he ultimately seeks worldwide destruction to usher in a new era of prosperity beneath the sea. Bond must join forces with his Russian counterpart Anya, aka Agent Triple X, to stop Stromberg from fulfilling his misguided plan.
Moore does a better job portraying Bond in this film than his previous two. His wit is much dryer in Spy Who Loved Me, though at times he goes overboard again on the constant quips. His demeanor, though, is much closer to Connery’s and the original novels, appearing quite stern and sometimes even ruthless, such as when he tosses a henchman off a building after he’s been given the information he sought. In a nice bit of continuity, Bond abruptly stops Anya reciting his file once she reaches his tragically brief marriage to Tracy. Another scene that shows much of the character’s depth is his non-apology to Anya for killing her boyfriend during a mission, coldly stating that while he takes no pleasure in it, it’s the nature of their profession.
Bond’s chemistry with Anya, played by Barbara Bach (who would later marry Beatles drummer Ringo Starr), is mostly good; Bond has never been paired with a Russian counterpart and this film explores the potential pairing him with an opponent. Their rivalry is fun to watch as they constantly attempt to one-up the other throughout their mission. Bach is good in the role, though there are many times where she delivers her lines with little or no emotion, coming across very wooden. There are also times Anya is almost ditzy, such as when she can’t start their car in the middle of an escape. Even so, she is a breath of fresh air after Solitaire and Mary Goodnight, two girls who needed a lot of looking after.
Stromberg is an interesting, if one-note, villain; his ultimate plan may be world destruction and domination, but he believes his actions are for the greater good of the world and mankind (however, how does he expect to make an underwater society with so few women?). Stromberg pales in comparison to the film’s real breakout villain, Jaws, made famous by Richard Keil, who today remains one of the most well known henchmen in the franchise for his distinct look and ability to survive anything. He is also the only henchman to appear in multiple films as well as several 007 video games.
Despite Spy Who Loved Me’s improved quality, this film continues the campy trend in this string of movies, though not to the extent of the previous films. One such element is Bond’s submarine car, a gadget so ridiculous it can’t be taken too seriously. Jaws’ invulnerability can also come across quite silly: he survives a car crash, Egyptian ruins crashing on him and fights off a Great White Shark among other near-death experiences. The opening intro, however, featuring Bond caught in a ski chase on the Austrian Alps, is a fantastic sequence and an instant classic in the series.
The Spy Who Loved Me is one of Roger Moore’s best and most memorable Bond films because it changed up the formula by pairing him with a Russian agent. Though it’s still got campy aspects to it, the film has some surprisingly serious moments, particularly when Bond and Anya reflect on the nature of their work. Some of the acting could be better, but for the most part it works and everyone has great chemistry with each other. Overall, Spy is a very entertaining Bond film and a big improvement in Moore’s time as the secret agent.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Ricky Church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=Bk0vOUI3iFU
Originally published October 14, 2015. Updated April 14, 2018.
