‘From Russia With Love’

The second film in the series (after Dr. No). I watched it last night for the first time in a long while. So, so good. Low on the cockamamie; high on style and lovely details, including beautiful on-location footage of early-60s Istanbul. The plot revolves around a Russian code machine and a possible defector (who is, of course, a hot chick), not a preposterous plot to destroy the Earth or all of Western civilization.

Not just quintessential James Bond, but maybe the best Bond — funny, not corny, a spy movie, not an action movie.

★ Tuesday, 2 March 2010