blueprint for the 007 series

Rating: 10/10 (4 May 2003)

This is the first and the best of the cold war spy thrillers, with a possible exception for Smiley's People. But this one is perfect. There isn't a wasted scene, and the momentum keeps going. There's a lot of interesting dualities and psychological substance to ponder, and it's plenty thrilling besides. Oddly, the romance appears a little cold to me. 2 planes, 2 trains, 1 elevator, 2 automobiles, this one takes Hitch's older b&w Saboteur and raises it to a whole new level. Saboteur is pretty good too though, and viewers who like this should check that out.