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As mentioned, there is that spotty first hour with which to contend, particularly an extended sequence where Bond is taken to a Gypsy camp (local flavor, I presume) by his host/contact where two women are set to perform a public catfight over their love for one man. You may not guess that this switches gears into an action sequence (and not a particularly memorable one) when local rebels attack, but if you don't foresee him hooking up with both of the comely lasses, then you don't know Bond!

For most of its various incarnations, "James Bond" has survived by not seeking, or perhaps more accurately, not choosing, to reinvent itself. Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Dalton and Brosnan, as different as they are, were at the center of a particular bandwidth that the creators and maintainers of the Bond film series stuck to rather scrupulously (a large part of this dictated by producer Cubby Broccoli, then his family and heirs after his death.) With Craig's two adventures thus far taking the series back to year zero from a plot standpoint but featuring a much colder, yet more "modern" take on the character, it should be interesting to chart where the series progresses from this point and if future inhabitants of the 007 identity will stay this course or be allowed to "upload" a different copy.

From Russia With Love wears its age well, especially when considering that so many other installments (I'm looking at you, Moonraker) seem made to cash in on pop culture fads and trends of the moment. Even if it is a flawed film, it is superlative in fulfilling the requirements of a great sequel. Although I hold on to my misgivings about any series, of any stripe, lasting this long (Dr. Who fans, prepare to take aim and fire), I give 007 the benefit of the doubt that I may still care what the old chap is up to half a century from now.

Next time: A second film, made in haste months later to cash in on the wild and unexpected popularity of the first, is then followed by a decade-plus hiatus between chapters. All par for the course in one of the more convoluted ongoing franchises in Hollywood history.

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