The Spy Who Loved Me (film) big budget was not wasted. Interestingly, while the sets and gimmicks were the most spectacular to date, Bond and the other characters are toned down (there's a minimum of slapstick humour) so that they are more realistic than in other Roger Moore films. Moore gives his best performance in the series ... [Bond and Anya Amasova] are an appealing couple, equal in every way. Film is a real treat – a well acted, smartly cast, sexy, visually impressive, lavishly produced, powerfully directed mix of a spy romance and a war-mission film." Janet Maslin of "The New York Times" considered the
The Spy Who Loved Me (film) the symptoms of clinical depression in himself. Another troubling aspect of the production was the difficulty in obtaining a director. The producers approached Steven Spielberg, who was in post-production of "Jaws", but ultimately decided against him. The first director attached to the film was Guy Hamilton, who directed the previous three Bond films as well as "Goldfinger", but he left after being offered the opportunity to direct the 1978 film "Superman", although Richard Donner took over the project. Eon Productions later turned to Lewis Gilbert, who had directed the earlier Bond film "You Only Live Twice". With a director finally