Director: Lewis Gilbert
Year of Release: 1977
Should you watch it? Yes
Why?
This film is notable for two things. Firstly, it executes all the core elements of James Bond well. Moore is good. The main female character is a human being and in the thick of things (such great heights, I know). The villain is not SPECTRE. All the elements were in place and a fun time was had. Secondly, the film really kicks off a more zany tone for the films for the foreseeable future. I can see why someone might not respond well to the antics (for wont of a better term), but the kooky nature of this film frankly is safer territory for the films than the semi-serious/rapey tone of the Connery years.
How is the Bond?
Roger Moore is a perfectly solid James Bond. The parts that don’t work are really just when it feels like he is doing a Sean Connery impression. In other words, Moore being a fucking jerk just does not work. There is something too kind about his disposition to really sell that. When he’s just an ordinary nice guy though trying to survive fights, he does pretty well! More of that.
How is the Bond Woman?
Anya Amasova is the Soviet counterpart to James Bond. She is the odd female character in the series so far that gets to actually mostly seem intelligent and competent throughout the whole film. There had been teases of this before but never done to this degree. Amasova captures the general ethos of the series. “The cold war is stupid and bad for both sides. But yea, the west is better.”
How is the Bond Villain?
“I intend to change the face of history.”
I have never been able to articulate why exactly, but villains who are looking to instigate World War III (and thus reveal how fragile the insane status quo of the world is) are just more interesting than people who more broadly are seeking world domination. Karl Stromberg is a fucking weirdo who likes the oceans and fish too much and also wants to put the US and Soviet Union against each other. It’s good clean fun. He is once again a fresh reminder that getting away from SPECTRE is always great for Bond.
Does the film irresponsibly present the West as the hero of the world and thus promote imperialism and colonialism as inherently positive?
Yes.
The Reel World 