Review of From Russia with Love (1963) by Connor B — 10 Jan 2016

Sean Connery returns as MI6 agent James Bond in the second adaptation of Ian Fleming's spy series, this time facing off against the clandestine criminal organization known as SPECTRE. The adventure takes Bond to Istanbul, and then a cross-country escape aboard The Orient Express.

Bond begins the film by being informed by MI6 that a Soviet intelligence desk jockey has fallen in love with the agent, and that she is willing to defect and offer a cryptographic machine known as a Lektor as her bargaining chip; on the condition that Bond is the one to pick it up. Agreeing to meet in then neutral Turkey, Bond sets out for his rendezvous armed with a spy briefcase that has all sorts of neat tools built into it. He's going to need it too, because unbeknownst to MI6, the whole plan has been orchestrated by SPECTRE in retaliation for killing their agent Dr. No in the previous installment.

From Russia with Love is a much more intense film than Dr. No, offering more espionage, deadlier adversaries, brutal fights, political intrigue, and higher stakes than its predecessor. That budget has also been doubled, allowing for better locations, and more creative choreography, including a fantastic fight on a train that is one of the most claustrophobic and memorable in the franchises history.

The supporting cast is memorable, and offers both charming allies and cunning villains that are stirred into the mix, including the highly patient and extremely efficient Donald "Red" Grant, a former SMERSH operative turned SPECTRE enforcer. The film is also memorable for introducing many 007 tropes, like the pre-opening credit scene, the previously acknowledged spy gadget, and a lyrical theme song for the film that differs from the Bond Theme in No.

TL;DR - 8/10.

The franchise stays in good form with the sequel, offering some fantastic action sequences and plenty of suspense. The evolution of From Russia with Love after Dr. No is well executed and gives serious momentum to the series, and introduces plenty of villains for Bond to face in subsequent editions. A must watch for fans of the 007 films and action fans alike.