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@dannybsbrokenreviews
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After the rough round the edges, but charming start with Dr. No, this second Bond film is one I'd always remembered being boring as a kid. I hadn't seen it in well over 10 years, but watching it again, I was pretty taken by it. Some of the issues from the previous film are still present as the series is still trying to find its flow, but for the most part, this is a substantial improvement and a huge step in the right direction for the England's most alcoholic and misogynist Spy.
Sean Connery's second out as 007 follows James Bond as he willingly falls into an assassination plot involving a naive Russian beauty in order to retrieve a Soviet encryption device that was stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E.
Tonally this is what I want from a Bond film. Far more grounded, slower paced and gritty than the previous entry and all the more better for it. The story it tells is also far more interesting and engaging as we Bond manipulated by S.P.E.C.T.R.E in their first appearance in film, although S.M.E.R.S.H. are also involved to an extent too.
While Donald Pleasance had yet to make his iconic introduction as the sinister cat stroking Ernst Stavro Blofeld, his presence is ever looming over the film as he puppeteers events behind closed doors. It's some great world building that will obviously go on to be expanded in future films. His team that we see here are a colourful bunch of characters, the highlight of which is easily the poisoned shoe knife wielding Rosa Klebb played by a memorable Lotte Lenya. The ruthless Red Grant played by Robert Shaw also makes for an instantly intimidating villain for Bond.
The action scenes are also a very good selection of set-pieces. From the assault on the gypsy camp to the prolonged train brawl and subsequent helicopter chase, it's very well filmed and fairly violent, especially the train fight between Bond and Grant, which itself is an all-timer of the Connery era that makes great use of its enclosed and claustrophobic setting. All the stunt work, practical effects and pyrotechnics are also top shelf stuff and used to maximum effect to make everything thrilling.
Connery is oozing sex appeal with his hairy chest and bountiful bags of charisma and wit that continue to make Bond an absolute icon of British cinema. He's given much better material to work with here and a handful of clever one liners. I just wish he was given a better Bond girl to work with. Daniela Bianchi is certainly a looker, but her poorly dubbed performance is awkward and stilted, despite given what could have been a weighty and interesting role.
From Russia With Love is certainly underrated Bond. A thrilling spy adventure with no shortage of great action scenes, a twist filled plot and memorable villains that makes this one of Sean Connery's best in his run as 007.
8/10 Dans
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