Genre:
Spy Film
Release Date: 01/01/2001
Sound: 5.1/1
Run Time:
Distributor/Studio: MGM
From Russia With Love, the second in the series of
James Bond films, is the film that solidifies all the
Bond film elements into a formula -- the
action sequences are intensified and lend greater tension to the proceedings;
John Barry's inimitable score makes its first appearance;
Q is seen for the first time; and
Sean Connery as
Bond has nailed down his role as
007 -- accentuating
Bond's stylishness and sophistication, while toning down his cold-bloodedness. In
From Russia With Love, the bad guys don't want to take over the world. They want something more mundane -- a Russian decoding device. Assigned to the mission of stealing the decoding device are No. 3, former KGB agent
Rosa Klebb (
Lotte Lenya), and No. 5,
Kronsteen (
Vladek Sheybal), an expert chess player who has plotted every move of the mission.
Kronsteen's plan requires using
Bond's weakness for women as an element in acquiring the decoding device. Once
Bond obtains the decoding device from Russian cipher clerk
Tatiana Romanova (
Daniela Bianchi), SPECTRE muscleman
Red Grant (
Robert Shaw) is to forcibly take it from
Bond and kill him. But
Bond suspects a trap. Being
Bond, however, he can't resist the lure of a beautiful woman. So, flaunting danger,
Bond travels to Istanbul to meet
Tatiana. The centerpiece of this
007 feature is the thrilling fight to the death between
Bond and enemy agent
Red Grant aboard the Orient Express.
~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide