{3.5\/5} “I’ve had a particularly fascinating life. Would you like to hear about it?”<\/p>\n
From Russia with Love<\/strong>, released in 1963<\/p>\n SPECTRE is after an encryption device and to get it they’re setting a trap for the Russians and the British. They know that the British will send their best agent, James Bond — who they would like to kill since he dispatched their operative Dr. No. Bond heads to Istanbul knowing it’s a trap — he just doesn’t know what type of trap.<\/p>\n I was less familiar with this story than that of Dr. No<\/strong>, and therefore more interested in watching it again. It drags a bit and there are a few odd moments, but it’s still a good movie.<\/p>\n This movie introduces the tradition of the pre-credits sequence, in which James Bond does something interesting or mysterious — which may or may not have anything to do with the main story.<\/p>\n This movie also introduces the guy who pets the white cat — otherwise known as the head of SPECTRE, Ernst Stavro Blofeld. In this movie we don’t see his face.<\/p>\n Desmond Llewelyn plays Q for the first time — he continues playing that role in 16 more movies. The character of Kerim Bey is a terrific one — he’s Bond’s contact in Istanbul.<\/p>\n Filmed in Turkey, Italy, and the UK.<\/p>\n Stars Sean Connery and Robert Shaw. Directed by Terence Young (Dr. No<\/strong>).<\/p>\n The music is by John Barry, his first of 11 soundtracks for this series. The 007 Theme is a great tune, which is used again in a few more movies.<\/p>\n