Rating: 
Summary: This is where it all came together....
Review: "Spy" is my favorite Bond movie for many reasons, not the least of which being that it's where Roger Moore hit his stride. He was completely comfortable as 007 and he seemed to be totally enjoying himself. Unlike "Live and Let Die" and "The Man With the Golden Dud", which both seemed very manufactured and somewhat tired, "Spy" is very dynamic and eye popping. The production is a great example of tempering huge special effects with both a realistic, sexy romance and some cool humor (Jaws rules!). The movie knows exactly when to switch gears without leaving us confused or bewildered. Villan Karl Stromberg is so in love with the sea that he lives in a submersible lair called Atlantis. He uses his submarine eating supertanker to hijack nuclear subs and use them to start World War III. All this with the purpose of creating a perfect world beneath the sea. Kurt Jurgen's is evil, yet reserved in his performance. It makes for a classy, yet seriously derranged bad guy. An over the top villain would have overwhelmed the movie. Barbara Bach's character is a mix of naive feminity and fierce determination. This makes her an alluring love interest for Bond as well as a strong competitor.
The producers where prevented from using Ian Fleming's original story so they decided to go back to "You Only Live Twice" and improve upon it with huge success. The movie shines - the locations are beautiful, the cinematography is outstanding, the humor works at just the right places, the writing is tight and the production values are top notch. Like I said earlier, the movie is goes all out to WOW, but unlike Moonraker, it never gets too big to border on the absurd or desperate. Its just a fun, larger than life, energetic, casual film that has outstanding "rewatchability". The score is OK, not the best, but the main title song "Nobody Does It Better", performed by Carly Simon, is the series best. You'll love it!
Rating:
Summary: Just Keeping the British End Up, Sir.
Review: Twenty-three years since its theatrical release in 1977, Lewis Gilbert's the Spy Who Loved Me has remained an unwavering fan favorite that bursts with unparalleled action set-pieces, an incomparably electrifying opening pre-title skiing sequence, one of Bond's most memorable adversaries, another unbelievable set designing effort by the brillant Ken Adams, and a superb title song (Nobody Does It Better) performed by Carley Simon. Among it's numerous virtues, many consider the Spy Who Loved Me to include Roger Moore's best performance (he seemingly exudes endless humor without pushing the envelope too far like in his other Bond films) as M16's beloved secret agent James Bond, 007. Starring Barbara Bach (Major Anya Amasova/Agent Triple X) as Bond's love interest, Curt Jürgens (Carl Stromberg) playing the imposing shiping magnate bent on world devastation, Richard Kiel (Jaws) portraying Stromberg's indestructible steel-toothed goon with the recurring grin, and Bond regulars Bernard Lee (M), Lois Maxwell (Moneypenny), and Desmond Llewelyn (Q), the Spy Who Loved Me is overflowing with stunning locales, hair-raising stunts, vivacious young supermodels, outstanding sets, exceptional Bond pacing, and the priceless Bond wit fimly back in cheek where it belongs. Yet beyond the obvious, what made the Spy Who Loved Me stand taller than other Bond films in the Moore era? Residing on the film's high production values, exceptional understanding of what was needed to alter James Bond to fit Roger Moore's personality and not the former shadow of Sean Connery, adherence to the old Bond conventions of simplicity, and harking back to the days of the Connery Bond films, TSWLM cashed in on the undeniable Bond magic that made the series such a film dyansty in the 1960's. Too bad subsequent Bond films didn't follow this fine example of how rework Bond back into the orginal image of Ian Fleming. TSWLM DVD package has several splendid features including a stunning widescreen anamorphic presentation, a 41 minute documentary on the making of TSWLM with interviews by Lewis Gilbert, Roger Moore, Richard Kiel, and Micheal G. Wilson, several theatrical trailers, Lewis Gilbert commentary track, a 20 minute Ken Adams documentary, a stills album, and much much more. For any Bond Fan this a definite MUST-BUY. Even today, he's definitely still the best.
Rating:
Summary: The Mission Is Not Over, Commander Bond!
Review: The 10th James Bond movie. According to theatrical advertisements, producer Albert R. Broccoli intended this to be a more bolder adventure in the series than was ever seen before. Thus attention would have to focus to a screenplay straining slightly from the original novel in an attempt to craft a more powerful script with believable characters. Under Lewis Gilbert's direction, they have accomplished precisely that in addition to the usual spectacular production designs from Ken Adam; submarine-swallowing supertankers, the LIPARUS, and exotic locations in Egypt. Equally impressive is a powerful leading lady in Barbara Bach as a Soviet Spy who acts as a female counterpart for 007, never suspecting of his true agendas. THE ASSIGNMENT: Nuclear submarines have disappeared without a trace. Their destinations were supposed to have been top secret, but there exists microfilm evidence of someone being able to track them. It is suspected some kind of heat-signature-recognition system is being used and 007 is sent off to recover the microfilm. So is Soviet Spy Anya Amasova (aka Agent XXX). After several encounters in Cairo, 007 and XXX join forces to find the submarine stealer. They suspect Karl Stromberg, a marine biologist with his own vast laboratories, is behind the disappearances and they go to headquarters to investigate. Their suspicions are confirmed when Stromberg kidnaps a third nuclear submarine - with the two agents on board. Stromberg intends to program his first two submarines to fire missiles at Moscow and New York, in an attempt to begin global destruction to create his own underwater civilization. THE VILLAINS: Curt Jurgens as Karl Stromberg, Richard Kiel as the indestructible Jaws, Caroline Munro as Naomi, and Milton Reid as Sandor. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! BUY IT!
Rating:
Summary: Top Notch
Review: "The Spy Who Loved Me" was the film that revived the Bond franchise, no doubt. After the moderate "Live and Let Die", and the seriously below-average "The Man The Golden Gun", Broccoli & Co. needed to come up with something special here. They succeeded brilliantly. TSWLM has everything - great settings, great acting, great special effects, great cars (yes, THAT submersible Lotus!) and of course Roger Moore who is the best Bond. A sexy Russian spy named Anya Amasova is Bond's match in every possible way, and Kurt Jurgens is deliciously evil as megalomaniac Carl Stromberg, whose madcap scheme involves nuclear annihilation as a means of setting up his own underwater kingdom. "Spy" also features a thrilling precredits ski-chase, a car chase with Q's gadget-filled Lotus in action, and a great finale set inside Stromberg's flagship supertanker. This film also features the first of two appearances by Richard Kiel as the superhuman, steel-toothed Jaws (sorry I forgot to mention him in my review of "Moonraker"). In summary TSWLM is Bond action of the highest quality and the next three films were to be just as good. Well done the producers!
Rating:
Summary: Moore's best
Review: After Moore's fair debut in Live and Let Die and his poor second film, The Man with The Golden Gun comes Moore's breakthrough film, TSWLM. TSWLM set a strong, new folllowing for the rest of Moore's films, but too bad Moonraker and A View To a Kill couldn't measure up to this, For Your Eyes Only, and Octopussy. Marvin Hamlisch (The Way We Were), (A Chorus Line) composed the film's excellent musical score, and the theme song "Nobody Does It Better" is my fifth favorite theme song, beaten by Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice, A View To a Kill, and my favorite, Live and Let Die. Barbara Bach and Roger Moore make a dynamic screen duo, and while Stromberg is a good villain, he is definitley takes a back seat to Jaws, the menacing, 7-foot steel-toothed giant, played wonderfully by Richard Kiel (Happy Gilmore) and he would reprise his role as Jaws in Moonraker. Caroline Munro is a stunning Bond villainess, and should have been in the film more. The action includes a stunt-filled pre-title ski chase, a seaside car chase, an underwater duel, and a huge gunfight aboard Stromberg's flagship tanker, the Liparus. The facisnating settinmgs, the great acting, the awesome action, the beautiful cinematography, and the wonderful music make this my 5th favorite OO7 film, beaten by Thunderball, From Russia With Love, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and the best, Goldfinger.
Rating: 
Summary: the underrated moore in the best of his bonds
Review: roger moore gets picked on a bit too much as of late for making bond too cartoonish.
puleazee!
we are talking about a pulp character here.
there is no doubt that he did not have connery's edge, but. hell, connery no longer even had his edge.
the lame, bored connery of diamonds are forever is not the gritty connery of dr.no or from russia with love.
we wouldn't see that type of grit again until dalton's brief stint, which DID work, but was flawed by two films with a miami vice feel.
moore refused to take any of it seriousely and by doing so, at least for a while, he gave a new vigor to the franchise.
unfortunately, moonraker followed this, but then moore did one have one last hurrah with a more subtle performance in 'for your eyes only '(and he did prove to the producers in that film that he could take it seriousely).
but here, is moore at his best. this is His interpetation and all the elements come together to support moore in his styling of the character.
a potent remionder that moore kept this franchise alive and going and did it well for some time.
Rating: 
Summary: Spies Like Them
Review: The 10th James Bond film finds 007 (Roger Moore) teaming up (in more ways than one) with a Russian counterpart, the lovely Anya Amasova (Barbra Bach). The duo must work together to stop the evil Stromberg (Kurt Jurgens), who has stolen nuclear subs, and plans to start World War III. Bond also finds himself going face to face with the towering menace that is JAWS (Richard Keil). He proved so popular that he returned for Moonraker. All of the nesscessary Bond staples are here as well: martinis, exotic locations, elaborate stunts, M (Bernard Lee), Miss Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell) and of course the redoubtable gadget guru Q (the great Desmond Llewelyn). Moore is usually a bit more humorous as Bond, than say Connery or Brosnan, but for this film tones it down to service the love story between the agents. With Jaws around though, there's still plenty of fun to be had. Director Lewis Gilbert knows how to handle the Bond franchise and does it justice. The extras on the Special Edition DVD are on parr with other films in the series. The commentary from Gilbert, the cast and crew, is mixed bag, depending on who's doing the talking. Still it's worth a listen though. You also get two documentaries, the first focuses on the making of the film, while the second zeroes in on the classic "Bond" look of the series and how it fares in the movie. Rounding out the bonus material are the usual theatrical trailers, original TV ads & radio spots, and a stills gallery. As with all of the other films in the series, a full color, collectible making-of booklet is also included with more facts and trivia. The Spy Who Loved Me is one of the better Moore as Bond efforts and comes recommended
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Bond Films
Review: THE SPY WHO LOVED ME is a big-budgeted opulent film, with a lively and strong screenplay by Christopher Wood and Richard Maibaum and very effective editing by John Glen, delivering one of the most succinctly structured films of the series under the direction of Lewis Gilbert. After THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN Roger Moore clearly redefined his approach to the role as the good-natured British agent. His Bond is suave, debonair, never condescending and resorts to seriousness only when confronted with malevolence. That was the way he played it for the rest of the series. The globetrotting THE SPY WHO LOVED ME featured a gadget laden Lotus Esprit as its centerpiece along with Richard Kiel as the indestructible Jaws the villain's henchman with steel teeth. The main villain of the piece is the maniacal Karl Stromberg, played with detached amusement by Curt Jurgens, whose immense wealth featured an aquatic empire aimed at global domination. Bond must pair up with Soviet agent Major Anya Amasova played by Barbara Bach to track down missing nuclear submarines. The pre-title sequence features a very thrilling and well-filmed ski chase re-establishing James Bond as a major force to be reckoned with. Marvin Hamlisch composed a very effective score to the surprise of many. His music is right on mark and in some sequences very innovative. Hamlisch proves that he really knows how to score a film. Ken Adam returned as production designer bringing a familiar look back to the series not seen since DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER. Ken Adam also introduced some new concepts giving the film a well-known but unique look. New characters are introduced in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME who would return in subsequent films of the series. They include Walter Gotell as Russian General Gogol, Geoffrey Keen as the British Minister of Defense and Eva Reuber-Staier as Rubelvitch, Gogol's secretary. Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny and in expanded roles Bernard Lee as "M" and Desmond Llewelyn as "Q" Major Boothroyd are all back. There are well-choreographed great action scenes, beautiful underwater sequences, battles and chases. Some of the best-unsung workmanship in this film is the extraordinary miniatures by Derek Meddings. They are incredible and make this film very impressive and memorable. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME is one of those rare films where all the talents come together at their peek of perfection delivering an impeccable film. The DVD letterboxed print is beautiful.
Rating:
Summary: moores franchised bond
Review: roger moore gets knocked around a lot for the way he played bond.
now, come on, lets be frank, bond is the stuff of pulp fiction and moore knew this.
by the time live and let die was being filmed the bond movies had become a franchise (only the first three stand out as non franchise movies). connery could not co-exist in a franchise.
he was too stubborn an actor to merely be 'one of the special affects'.
when roger moore came around he decided not to take any of it seriously and he was right to do so.
it is moores little boy sense of humour that makes these movies go.
spy who loved me is the best of the moores.
some would say it is for your eyes only, which is a good bond, but not altogether a real memorable one.
spy who loved me has the necessary balance. when moore is in a van being attacked by jaws he smiles, and charms his way through the puns.
makes for a fun night.
Rating:
Summary: Roger Moore gets Bonded
Review: After spending two films struggling to emerge from the foreboding shadow of Sean Connery, Roger Moore put his own stamp on 007 in this, the 10th official James Bond film. "The Spy Who Loved Me" marked a return to the more fantastic milieu of Connery's later entries in the series. With elaborate sets by Ken Adam, and a villain, played by Curt Jurgens, bent on world domination (or destruction, or something on that order), this film brings back memories of "Thunderball" and "You Only Live Twice." Moore, who still looked draft age in "Live and Let Die," has gained a wrinkle or two and his more mature looks give the handsome actor a rugged quality entirely appropriate for the world's most famous spy. Barbara Bach makes a lovely addition to the Bondgirl canon, and Marvin Hamlisch, a composer not known for his work in the action-adventure genre (his most famous credits are "The Way We Were" and "The Sting"), comes through with a beautiful score, the first for a Bond film to earn recognition with an Oscar nomination. The screenplay is almost wholly the work of Christopher Wood and Bond veteran Richard Maibaum. The producers had taken liberties with Ian Fleming's books in the past, but it was with "The Spy Who Loved Me" that they freely acknowledged it by billing Roger Moore as "Ian Fleming's James Bond 007" rather than giving Fleming a possessive credit before the title. (Fleming would not have minded. The author allegedly stipulated that the story he wrote by that name not be used as the basis for a film.) "The Spy Who Loved Me" is Moore's best Bond and a highlight of the series.
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