Pros and Cons: The Spy Who Loved Me

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  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    It was an amazing experience seeing for the first time
    Back in 1977 we were all like "That was great! Now let's see Star Wars again." 8-) :s
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    I remember seeing it way back in 77 and being completely blown away
    by it. -{ , it was a huge, epic, blockbuster !
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    chrisisall wrote:
    It was an amazing experience seeing for the first time
    Back in 1977 we were all like "That was great! Now let's see Star Wars again." 8-) :s

    Sorry in Britain 'Spy' came out first in July, Star Wars didn't come out till Boxing day...
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,061MI6 Agent
    chrisisall wrote:
    It was an amazing experience seeing for the first time
    Back in 1977 we were all like "That was great! Now let's see Star Wars again." 8-) :s

    Sorry in Britain 'Spy' came out first in July, Star Wars didn't come out till Boxing day...
    Here SW came out over a month before. We were totally obsessed with it, seeing it at least once a week for months!! All other movies had to be 'squeezed in'. :))
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • GrindelwaldGrindelwald Posts: 1,294MI6 Agent
    Wonder what Elvis thought of it , might've been the last movie he ever saw :(

    (he couldn't find SW for his daughter.......)
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    "You've Shot Your Last Bolt Stromberg! Now it's my turn."

    BOOM.
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • MooresflaresMooresflares Posts: 30MI6 Agent
    I'm not keen on stromberg, and the tanker bit at the end is a bit dull, great film though and the title track, wow
  • Mr_OsatoMr_Osato Posts: 398MI6 Agent
    Pro's

    - The lotus
    - Anya Amasova - She won't win any oscars, but damn she is fine
    - The PTS: the best one probably
    - Jaws
    - Ken Adams set
    - Bond '77 track

    The con's

    - Stromberg indeed is a bit on the dull side. But that gives Jaws a chance to shine
    - No John Barry, although I do like the soundtrack. Just misses the real classic feel.

    All in all, one of the best Bond movies. And a blueprint for all the ingredients of a Bond movie.
    OHMSS, FRWL, DN, GF, CR, GE, SP, YOLT, TB, TSWLM, LALD, TLD, TND, FYEO, SF, MR, TMWTGG, TWINE, OP, AVTAK, DAF, LTK, QOS, DAD

    1. Connery 2. Craig 3. Brosnan 4. Dalton 5. Lazenby 6. Moore
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    ^ I know that your cons are only intended as nit-pick cons (and I agree with them) - in the scheme of things, overall, I believe TSWLM to be flawless.
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    Mr_Osato wrote:
    The con's
    - Stromberg indeed is a bit on the dull side. But that gives Jaws a chance to shine
    - No John Barry, although I do like the soundtrack. Just misses the real classic feel.
    All in all, one of the best Bond movies. And a blueprint for all the ingredients of a Bond movie.
    ^ I know that your cons are only intended as nit-pick cons (and I agree with them) - in the scheme of things, overall, I believe TSWLM to be flawless.

    I don't see these at nit-picking…I mean not having a John Barry score is a pretty serious issue. For the most part I like it, but the disco in the PTS is a bit jarring.

    I like Stromberg well enough, but pales in comparison to Hugo Drax in terms of being a memorable villain.

    Guess what film fixed both of this issues: Moonraker! :D

    I used to consider TSWLM to be flawless, but now there's basically just one thing that bothers me about it:

    Bond is super annoying in the van during the Jaws attack with his constant one-liners. And more importantly, why isn't he scared?!
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    Firemass wrote:
    Bond is super annoying in the van during the Jaws attack with his constant one-liners. And more importantly, why isn't he scared?!

    He is making jokes to help himself cope with the intense fear he feels. We all have our own ways that we deal with fear.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    Firemass wrote:
    Bond is super annoying in the van during the Jaws attack with his constant one-liners. And more importantly, why isn't he scared?!

    He is making jokes to help himself cope with the intense fear he feels. We all have our own ways that we deal with fear.

    Unsure if you're being serious or not, but I agree that the scene is more comedy than anything else. But perhaps Bond has a premonition that Jaws isn't going to hurt them because they're supposed to be "chasing" the wrong information.
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • DiabolikDiabolik TexasPosts: 117MI6 Agent
    The film is close to perfect, the only real flaw I can think of is Barbara Bach's unconvincing Russian accent.
    1.TSWLM 2.LTK 3.YOLT 4.OHMSS 5.TWINE 6.LALD 7.MR 8.GE 9.DN 10.FRWL
    Bond: Pierce Brosnan Villain: Hugo Drax Girl: Pam Bouvier
  • PeppermillPeppermill DelftPosts: 2,860MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    Firemass wrote:
    Bond is super annoying in the van during the Jaws attack with his constant one-liners. And more importantly, why isn't he scared?!

    He is making jokes to help himself cope with the intense fear he feels. We all have our own ways that we deal with fear.

    Unsure if you're being serious or not, but I agree that the scene is more comedy than anything else. But perhaps Bond has a premonition that Jaws isn't going to hurt them because they're supposed to be "chasing" the wrong information.

    I remember hearing/reading somewhere that Moore was ad-libbing the one-liners during the filming. The idea was to use one but Lewis Gilbert decided to use them all instead.
    1. Ohmss 2. Frwl 3. Op 4. Tswlm 5. Tld 6. Ge 7. Yolt 8. Lald 9. Cr 10. Ltk 11. Dn 12. Gf 13. Qos 14. Mr 15. Tmwtgg 16. Fyeo 17. Twine 18. Sf 19. Tb 20 Tnd 21. Spectre 22 Daf 23. Avtak 24. Dad
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    Peppermill wrote:
    I remember hearing/reading somewhere that Moore was ad-libbing the one-liners during the filming. The idea was to use one but Lewis Gilbert decided to use them all instead.

    Haha very interesting. It does feel like a series of outtakes where as just one would have sufficed.
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • UnderwaterBattle007UnderwaterBattle007 Posts: 284MI6 Agent
    So as my Bond marathon continues yesterday I watched TSWLM, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. In my opinion Moore's 2nd best Bond film.

    The film was released in 1977, and was the first Bond film I saw after I'd completed my apprenticeship so I was in my early 20's. I remember seeing it for the first time, the cinema was absolutely packed and the ski jump scene in the PTS everyone in the cinema stood up, clapping and cheering. It set the scene for what was to come. As with most Bond films they introduce the public to new technologies which aren't in the public domain which now we look back on and take for granted. TSWLM is no exception with the water bike. We take them for granted now especially when ones on holiday, back in 1977 they didn't exist. The scene where it is introduced reminded me of "Little Nellie" from YOLT.

    The film was also the first time that we find out in the movies that M is called Miles, and Q being refered to as Major Boothroyd, thereby confirming that the equipment officer in Dr No was actually Q.

    Ringo Starrs wife is utterly georgous in this movie and my favourite Bond girl by a country mile, as we say here in the UK.

    Are there any negatives to the film?

    Well yes of course there are imo. It still grates with me that the USA have to muscle in on the plot
    when it's Russia and the UK who are the targets. I know why it was done, just like Gerry Andersons Thunderbird TV show most of the puppet characters were given American accents to help sell it in the US. Consequently I find the actor that voiced the puppet character Scott Tracey in Thunderbirds to be distracting. He has a brief part in YOLT, but in TSWLM he has a much bigger role and I wish they had cast another actor, he's Scott Tracey for pitys sake and he flys Thunderbird 1.

    Also some might say it's just a copycat movie of YOLT. Indeed there are many similarities between the two films, but I personally don't go along with that, and found the Liparus intrigueing.

    It was great to watch this Bond movie again, I loved it then back in 1977 and I still love it now 40 years later.
    FRWl, CR, OHMSS, TSWLM, SF, GF, TLD, LTK, TND, FYEO, OP,TWINE, GE, LALD, TB, SPECTRE, DN, YOLT, TMWTGG, QOS, MR, DAF, DAD, AVTAK, NTTD.

    "Do you expect me to talk? "No Mister Bond I expect you to die"
  • ToTheRightToTheRight Posts: 314MI6 Agent
    I love TSWLM, easily my favorite Moore Bond. I love every frame. I suppose the only con for me is that the GB doesn't contain the DA DA DUNN chords during the white dots. However, it's not a deal breaker for me on this film (like it has been with later Arnold films).
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    ToTheRight wrote:
    GB doesn't contain the DA DA DUNN chords during the white dots.

    Huh?

    Have I been missing something in the AJB Glossary ??
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    Higgins wrote:
    ToTheRight wrote:
    GB doesn't contain the DA DA DUNN chords during the white dots.

    Huh?

    Have I been missing something in the AJB Glossary ??

    I'm assuming GB means gun barrel. The rest should make sense.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    Also some might say it's just a copycat movie of YOLT.  Indeed there are many similarities between the two films, but I personally don't go along with that, and found the Liparus intrigueing. 

    Huge similarities, but TSWLM has tighter storytelling.
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • ToTheRightToTheRight Posts: 314MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    Higgins wrote:
    ToTheRight wrote:
    GB doesn't contain the DA DA DUNN chords during the white dots.

    Huh?

    Have I been missing something in the AJB Glossary ??

    I'm assuming GB means gun barrel. The rest should make sense.

    Absolutely. I always preferred the standard music to accompany the dots.
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    ToTheRight wrote:
    Matt S wrote:
    Higgins wrote:

    Huh?

    Have I been missing something in the AJB Glossary ??

    I'm assuming GB means gun barrel. The rest should make sense.

    Absolutely. I always preferred the standard music to accompany the dots.

    Same here, though in the favourite gun barrel music thread it seems though most people prefer the ones that stand out as noticeably different. People feel the need to stand out in bold ways, but I think it's better to stand out without shouting it to everyone. For me it's more special how John Barry changed each gun barrel while keeping the form the same. It's the differences between OP and TLD that I find special, though I don't think many people could tell them apart. At least Hamlisch kept in the guitar riff.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • ToTheRightToTheRight Posts: 314MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    ToTheRight wrote:
    Matt S wrote:

    I'm assuming GB means gun barrel. The rest should make sense.

    Absolutely. I always preferred the standard music to accompany the dots.

    Same here, though in the favourite gun barrel music thread it seems though most people prefer the ones that stand out as noticeably different. People feel the need to stand out in bold ways, but I think it's better to stand out without shouting it to everyone. For me it's more special how John Barry changed each gun barrel while keeping the form the same. It's the differences between OP and TLD that I find special, though I don't think many people could tell them apart. At least Hamlisch kept in the guitar riff.

    Yes! I also love the differences between TB and YOLT. Both the same traditional structure but completely different in feel and tone. Barry kept it fresh without abandoning the tradition.
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    ToTheRight wrote:
    Matt S wrote:
    ToTheRight wrote:

    Absolutely. I always preferred the standard music to accompany the dots.

    Same here, though in the favourite gun barrel music thread it seems though most people prefer the ones that stand out as noticeably different. People feel the need to stand out in bold ways, but I think it's better to stand out without shouting it to everyone. For me it's more special how John Barry changed each gun barrel while keeping the form the same. It's the differences between OP and TLD that I find special, though I don't think many people could tell them apart. At least Hamlisch kept in the guitar riff.

    Yes! I also love the differences between TB and YOLT. Both the same traditional structure but completely different in feel and tone. Barry kept it fresh without abandoning the tradition.

    YOLT stands out amongst Barry's gun barrels because it's in a different key than the rest. The different key, more than the arrangement, if what gives it such a different feel.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • GrindelwaldGrindelwald Posts: 1,294MI6 Agent
    "introduce the public to new technologies which aren't in the public domain which now we look back on and take for granted"

    Look at the stoneage computer (IBM ?) that Bond uses to punch in the submarine targets :p
  • UnderwaterBattle007UnderwaterBattle007 Posts: 284MI6 Agent
    "introduce the public to new technologies which aren't in the public domain which now we look back on and take for granted"

    Look at the stoneage computer (IBM ?) that Bond uses to punch in the submarine targets :p

    Not an expert of technology. My mate had one of them, his first PC.

    I have owned a Spectrum 48k machine, and upgraded to a Commadore 64k, and I thought the "Ghostbusters" game release in 1984 was immense.

    Sometimes it took games 30 minutes to load from a cassette player, oh how things have changed.
    FRWl, CR, OHMSS, TSWLM, SF, GF, TLD, LTK, TND, FYEO, OP,TWINE, GE, LALD, TB, SPECTRE, DN, YOLT, TMWTGG, QOS, MR, DAF, DAD, AVTAK, NTTD.

    "Do you expect me to talk? "No Mister Bond I expect you to die"
  • RemingtonRemington CAPosts: 239MI6 Agent
    The quintessential Moore film.

    Pros:
    .Probably Moore's best performance. He's great in all seven.
    .The iconic PTS.
    .Titles and theme.
    .The huge and epic production.
    .Jaws.
    .The scenes in Egypt are great.
    .I really like all the characters.
    .Naomi.
    .Sardinia is beautiful.
    .The Lotus is classic.
    .The finale is amazing.

    Cons:
    .Bach defines wooden. She's hot though.

    Nobody does it better. So true.

    10/10 -{
    1. Connery 2. Moore 3. Dalton 4. Brosnan 5. Craig 6. Lazenby
  • IcePakIcePak Perth, Western AustraliaPosts: 170MI6 Agent
    WOW! After the campiness of DAF, LALD, and TMWTGG, TSWLM is a refreshing change of pace. The tone is very reminiscent of the 60s Bonds with seriousness and dry humour. Moore gives his best best performance in any of his films and Hamlisch's score, while not to the same calibur as one of Barry's, suits the film really well, giving it a unique flavour. Anya's a great, strong female lead, Ken Adam's sets are amazing. Everything is brilliant, almost perfect. The only con I can think of is that Anya is easily captured by Stromberg, tarnishing her strong image. But it hardly ruins the film. Definitely Moore's best entry in the series, and one of the series' best.
    1. CR 2. OHMSS 3. GE 4. TLD 5. FRwL 6. TMWTGG 7. FYEO
    8. OP 9. TSWLM 10. SF 11. TND 12. LtK 13. NTtD 14. GF
    15. AVtaK 16. LaLD 17. TWiNE 18. MR 19. YOLT 20. DN 21. TB
    22. SP 23. DAD 24. QoS 25. DaF
  • heartbroken_mr_draxheartbroken_mr_drax New Zealand Posts: 2,073MI6 Agent
    ^ Good timing. Watched this the other night. TSWLM for me gets better and better and while I think OP suits Moore's comfortable approach TSWLM is his best Bond performance. I can understand why it's Moore's too.

    Moore really played the role quite steadily almost buttoned down. His whole set of reactions at the Mojave club (trepidation towards Anya, getting on with the job, answering the marriage question) is IMO deeper than his performance in FYEO.

    While FYEO is called out as Moore being more badass (kicking car off the cliff) - TSWLM has quite a few moments "What a helpful chap." and the shooting of Stromberg.

    Bond's killing of Stromberg is one of the most satisfying villain deaths.
    1. TWINE 2. FYEO 3. MR 4. TLD 5. TSWLM 6. OHMSS 7. DN 8. OP 9. AVTAK 10. TMWTGG 11. QoS 12. GE 13. CR 14. TB 15. FRWL 16. TND 17. LTK 18. GF 19. SF 20. LaLD 21. YOLT 22. NTTD 23. DAD 24. DAF. 25. SP

    "Better make that two."
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    ^ Good timing. Watched this the other night. TSWLM for me gets better and better and while I think OP suits Moore's comfortable approach TSWLM is his best Bond performance. I can understand why it's Moore's too.

    Moore really played the role quite steadily almost buttoned down. His whole set of reactions at the Mojave club (trepidation towards Anya, getting on with the job, answering the marriage question) is IMO deeper than his performance in FYEO.

    While FYEO is called out as Moore being more badass (kicking car off the cliff) - TSWLM has quite a few moments "What a helpful chap." and the shooting of Stromberg.

    Bond's killing of Stromberg is one of the most satisfying villain deaths.

    His performance in TSWLM is excellent, but I think FYEO is up there too. The scene where he comforts Melina on the sled is something I can't picture any other Bond actor doing so well.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
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