Starring: Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Seymour
Directed by: Guy Hamiliton
Running Time: 122 minutes
Back Cover
James Bond battles the forces of black magic in this high-octane adventure that hurtles him from the streets of New York City to Louisiana’s Bayou country. With charm, wit and deadly assurance, Roger Moore steps in as agent 007 and takes on a powerful drug lord (Yaphet Kotto) with a diabolical scheme to conquer the world.
Movie Review
Roger Moore’s first turn as James Bond is, unfortunately, one of the series’ worst stumbles. It is also probably the most dated of the films. From the sub-par music to the Afros, Live and Let Die leaves one with the feeling that James Bond got lost on the way to MI6 and fell into a cheesy Blaxploitation movie — a feeling that is completely unmitigated by Moore’s take on the Bond character. Moore’s 007 keeps all the slickness, but none of the more animal undertones of Sean Connery’s Bond; he’s more of an oily, leisure-suit spy than a well-tailored charmer.
On the whole, the film staggers about listlessly, never quite exploding into real excitement. With no SPECTRE goons or Soviet spies, there isn’t enough of the old Bond glamour to kick this film into high gear; a problem that is compounded by a boat chase scene that is both silly and just too long. The villains are kind of badass, but come nowhere near the evil menace of Blofeld, Goldfinger or even Jaws. And without great villains, 007 starts to list to starboard, unsteadied by a sheriff who’d be better off on an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard, and by Bond Girls who are either depth-free (the gorgeous Jane Seymour) or downright irritating (Gloria Hendry). And most distressingly, the way in which Bond’s nemesis meets his end is so campy that it comes off as low comedy.
Crave Factor – 4
Video
This movie works well in high def, though it’s not without its issues; specifically, the black levels seem a little compressed in some scenes. Details are nice and crisp, and skin tones are lifelike. All in all, this is a beautiful rejuvenation of a very-seventies looking film.
Crave Factor – 9
Audio
The updated audio isn’t as strong with this film as it is on the other Blu-rays. It’s front-heavy, though sound details are clear and dialogue never gets washed-out. The film’s dependence on long chases rather than guns and explosions may be part of the reason that Live and Let Die comes off so differently, or it may be the distinct sound character of a ’70s movie over a ’60s one.
Crave Factor – 7
Extras
The features are the same mix of nice touches and total dogs as are those in the rest of the series. The useless interactive guides and other nonsense are balanced out by two bright spots: the Lost Documentary, which is a must for any Bond buff or film enthusiast, and Roger Moore as James Bond, Circa 1964, which is a beautifully buffoonish send-up from an old comedy show.
The Included features are:
- Audio commentary with director Guy Hamilton, Roger Moore and screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz
- Bond 1973: The Lost Documentary
- Roger Moore as James Bond, Circa 1964 featurette
- Live and Let Die conceptual art
- 007 Mission Control interactive guide to Live and Let Die
- Inside Live and Let Die
- On Set with Roger Moore featurettes
- Image Database
- Theatrical trailers, TV and radio spots
Crave Factor – 6
Menu & Packaging
The packaging is a slickly re-designed box that makes a nod to the look of previous DVD releases, but with an up-to-date flair. The extra cardboard sleeve is an unforgivable waste of resources, though.
As with the rest of the Blu-ray discs in the series, the menus are tasteful and simple.
Crave Factor – N/A
Conclusions & Final Thoughts
This was a bit of a new start for the James Bond series, one that introduced a new Bond and dispensed with some of the franchise’s best-loved elements Elements like fancy robotic sports cars, fun banter with M and Moneypenny, or any appearance of the delightful Q. There are no Red Army bogeymen, either. Or world-spanning crime masterminds, villains with real teeth or even a glimpse of a casino. Instead, the film delves deep into the worst filmmaking motifs of the 1970s, from the Blaxploitation clichés to the over-the-top southern sheriff. Live and Let Die isn’t the worst Bond film made, and you can even enjoy the ’70s Harlem pimpitude if you value outright camp, but this film is not a must-see for anyone other than the die-hard Bond fan.
