Live And Let Die [1973]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Roger Moore was introduced as James Bond in this 1973 action movie featuring secret agent 007. More self-consciously suave and formal than predecessor Sean Connery, he immediately re-established Bond as an uncomplicated and wooden fellow for the feel-good 70s. Live and let Die also marks a deviation from the more character-driven stories of the Connery years, a deliberate shift to plastic action (multiple chases, bravura stunts) that made the franchise more of a comic book or machine. If that's not depressing enough, there's even a good British director on board, Guy Hamilton (Force 10 from Navarone). The story finds Bond taking on an international drug dealer (Yaphet Kotto), and while that may be superficially relevant, it isn't exactly the same as fighting supervillains on the order of Goldfinger. --Tom Keogh

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Customer reviews

review by: s.vernon date: 2007-05-26 rating:
A NEW ERA OF 007
After Sean Connery departed from the series after a career making turn as suave British agent James Bond, producer Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Satlzman found themselves in need of a new actor to fill Connery's shoes as 007. Their decision was Roger Moore, although no Sean Connery has proved himself to be a more than adequate replacement, playing a different type of Bond with a strong streak of humour next to Sean Connery's more gritty and serious Bond. Moore's approach to the character works well with Director Guy Hamilton's more light hearted approach to the story and plot, with several joking, more comedic moments placed in the storyline.

All in all, its quite an enjoyable Bond foray, one of the most enjoyable of those from the 70s, touching on some different themes for James Bond, such as voodoo and drug smuggling. Some complain that the African American characters are portrayed in a racist fashion, which I suppose is a matter of opinion, but personally I didn't find that the case at all and found some characters portrayed in a tasteful and believable enough fashion for 1970s Harlem. The sets are excellent, perhaps less fantasical and exotic than the usual Bond formula, but the scenes shot in Jamaica posing as "Dr. Kamanga's" island are beautiful and lush, and the crocodile farm is a wonderful suspenseful set piece as well.

While Moore proves himself worthy of withholding the title of 007, the rest of the cast similarly impress. Yappet Kotto makes an excellent, dignified and on occasion a genuinely threatening villain. British actress Jane Seymour makes her film debut playing Solitaire, the innocent tarot card reader, though sometimes the "innocent girl" act becomes a bit much and starts to get somewhat annoying, not to mention hypocritical once she predictably succumbs to Bond's seduction attempts and looses her virginity. Julius Harris also makes a memorable villain as the metal clawed second in command to mysterious villain Mr. Big, and Geoffrey Holder almost walks away with the show as an eccentric Baron with a memorable booming laugh. The absence of gadget master Q is lamentable indeed, but Bernard Lee gives yet another excellent performance as M, Bond's constantly inredulous superior.

There is, of course, the completely unnecessary and stupid to the point of being offensive addition of J.W Pepper who comes across at the wrong time to ruin an excellent speedboat chase and just about the whole film - he came across as painfully unfunny, obnoxious and very unnecessary to the story. It was a shame he was inserted into the story as a feeble at comedic relief as his character is the weak point of the film. That and the terrible effects concerning Yappet Kotto's death at the end of the film, both come across as not just bad but bad to the extent where they stand out and and threaten to damper one's perception of an otherwise quite good film.

Live And Let Die, despite its occasional shortcomings, it is still a dawning of a new era of Bond films - the Roger Moore era of light hearted silliness rather than the somewhat serious more edgy Connery era, and this is a strong, quality start to it. Moore gives a strong performance breaking into the role of everyones favourite secret agent, and faces up against some excellent menacing villains with a more tasteful and classy Bond girl and a great track by Paul McCartney. All 007 fans should definitely give Live And Let Die a watch, as well as fans of Roger Moore or those who enjoy slightly older, but still quality action films.

Thank You for reading my review.

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review by: one view date: 2006-04-11 rating:
A little funked up for the new decade
Roger Mores debut is a politicaly incorrect comic book yarn that borows and heavly dilutes aspects of shaft etc all , , 99% of the black characters in the film are your average seventies african american negative sterotype and would not be out of place in a cartoon as examplifeld by Mr Big bursting.
However the plot moves along at a rapid fire pace and the US locations give the film' s a belivable grity contempary feel that had been mising from the prevous Bond films .
Moore come a across as a more subtble Bond then Conary , exhibiting a charming vaneer and swan like grace with an inner toughness to win at all coasts , much more belivable then Conarys overt tough gruff persona and more likable then Lazenbys some what callous nature .
The suporting cast are on the whole somewhat unmemroble Te - he is your standard one dimensonal movie bad guy , yaphet kotto perhaps one of the most talented actors to play a bond villian adds some touches of sutble menace and trys to bring some depth to a work man like script .
Jane Seymoore as the love intrest is pretty light weight .
All in all a good fun romp which never slows down to let you contemplate the benality of the plot or the bigotary of it all .
The film promised an exciting new era however after this untill for your eyes only it would be pretty much business as usual .

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review by: date: 2006-01-06 rating:
Surprisingly good... no excellent!!!
Although no fan of Roger Moore in his well known series 'The Saint', his charm, humour and resourcefulness as Bond are very satisfying. Live and Let Die, one of Fleming's more tedious and boring novels, as well as being controversial, was turned into something different and brought to life due to the excellent screenplay writing skills of Tom Mankiewicz. Guy Hamilton's directing is fantastic as before in the excellent 'Goldfinger'.

Though different with some apparently padded out chase sequences, the tight direction, the excellent musical score, the great acting and plot makes this one of my top 5 Bond films. Very worthwhile indeed, and the special features make it even more of a great buy.

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review by: date: 2005-11-02 rating:
Astonishing from start to finish
DEFINITELY THE BEST BOND FILM AND ROGER MOORE IS THE BEST BOND!!! Amazing music, good acting, a good script, outstanding gadgets and a funky musical score makes this Moore's absolute all time high.

BUY IT AND YOU WILL NOT REGRET


review by: date: 2005-09-05 rating:
Bond at his best!!!
A refreshing break away from the aging story lines where SPECTRE organisation planned to hold the world to ransome- by whatever means necessary. Roger Moore is superb, the acting terrific, the Bond girl perfect not to mention a variety of fascinating gadgets, which thanks to a good script, were used in the proper Bond style.

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