--- title: "From Russia with Love: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/from-russia-with-love/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/from-russia-with-love" critics_score: 81 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # From Russia with Love (1963): what the critics said Critics' score 81 from 12 reviews: 11 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews lean firmly positive, with eleven of twelve favourable and several critics placing it near the top of the Bond series. The praise clusters around Connery, who most feel has settled comfortably into the part by this second outing, and around the supporting cast, with Robert Shaw and Lotte Lenya named again and again. The close-quarters fight on the Orient Express is the sequence nearly everyone singles out, alongside the Istanbul location shooting, Terence Young’s direction and John Barry’s score. The reservations are mild and mostly date from the film’s first release. Variety calls the plot preposterous and notes the female roles are thinly served, while The New Yorker finds the direction often incoherent and enjoys it anyway. The Guardian judges it a shade less fresh than Dr No. Time Out is the lone mixed voice, finding it less memorable than later entries and short on their exotic flamboyance. The spread is narrow. ## Radio Times — Adrian Turner Rating 5/5. The critic calls it one of the most popular and best Bond films, a terrific thriller with a marvellous atmosphere of foreign intrigue. They single out the superb location shooting in pre-touristy Istanbul and the memorable performances by Lotte Lenya and Robert Shaw. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-vgtcfo/from-russia-with-love/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The second James Bond film remains one of the best in the series, with a clever plot involving SPECTRE's scheme against 007. It features memorable set-pieces like the train fight and helicopter attack, along with strong supporting performances. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/russia-love-review/) ## Evening Standard — Derek Malcolm Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. From Russia with Love is the critic's favourite Bond film, excelling due to Connery's comfortable performance in the role and a strong, watchable cast including Robert Shaw and Lotte Lenya. The expert direction by Terence Young, John Barry's score and vivid sequences like the Orient Express fight make it stand out. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/licence-to-thrill-7219862.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Gerardo Valero Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2013. The critic calls it one of the best Bond films, with a complex but easy-to-follow plot, strong sense of menace, and standout fight scenes. He singles out the chemistry between Connery and Pedro Armendariz and the intense confrontation with Robert Shaw. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/far-flung-correspondents/from-russia-with-love-in-the-bond-canon) ## The AV Club — Noel Murray Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2008. The critic finds From Russia With Love super-awesome for its tight construction, clever opening, SPECTRE-focused stretch, and intense train-bound climax that echoes classic thrillers. The Blu-ray presentation enhances its Kennedy-era cool, mood, locations, and music cues. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/better-late-than-never-from-russia-with-love-1798215190) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 October 2023. The piece calls the film a taut, stylish espionage thriller that is slick, deeply sexy and one of Bond’s early masterpieces, singling out the gritty, influential close-quarters fight on the Orient Express for praise. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/from-russia-with-love-sean-connery-james-bond-007/) ## The Guardian — Richard Roud Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 25 September 2012. The review finds the film almost as good as Dr No, praising its fun despite being less fresh and fast-moving, and highlighting Lotte Lenya's superb tough performance as Rosa Klebb. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/sep/25/from-russia-with-love-review-archive) ## Variety — Variety Staff Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1962. The review calls it a preposterous but skillful slab of hard-hitting, sexy hokum with a zingy pace after a slow start. It praises Connery's wise-cracking and the performances of Robert Shaw and Pedro Armendariz while noting the female roles are less well served. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1962/film/reviews/from-russia-with-love-1200420414/) ## The New Yorker — Brendan Gill Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 April 1964. The critic describes the film as idiotic yet engaging, with an elaborate plot full of twists and a sense of fun. He notes the direction by Terence Young is often incoherent but embraces that quality, praising Connery's performance. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1964/04/18/another-writer) ## Time Out — Derek Adams Rating 3/5. 20 April 2009. The critic finds it one of the better 007 films but marginally less memorable than many others, lacking the exotic flamboyance of later entries. They single out the evocative closing-credits song by Matt Monro for praise while noting the solid spy-caper plot and side characters. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/from-russia-with-love) ## Eye for Film — Stephen Carty Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2008. The critic hails the film as one of the best in the Bond series, noting its grander scale than Dr. No while remaining gritty and avoiding later excesses. Connery's assured performance and the memorable train confrontation are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/from-russia-with-love-film-review-by-stephen-carty) ## Den of Geek — Mark Pickavance Rating 4/5. 8 October 2008. The critic praises the film's darker tone, visceral espionage, strong characters, action sequences, and memorable moments, positioning it as a key step in the Bond franchise's development after Dr. No. The Blu-ray restoration is highlighted for improving visuals despite some grain issues in low-light scenes. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/from-russia-with-love-blu-ray-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/from-russia-with-love.md