For Your Eyes Only (1981)

Solid, But Didn't Live Up to the Hype

I just watched this movie for the first time and didn't see the Moore films as they came out, so my opinion isn't colored by nostalgia or affection for Roger Moore. In fact, I had only started watching the classic Bond films a few years ago.

I've always been a bit lukewarm to Moore's portrayal of 007 as he seemed a bit overly formal and stiff when compared to the graceful yet rugged qualities of Sean Connery and more recently, Daniel Craig. However, most of the reviews from Bond fans I've read seemed to indicate that this film and the Spy Who Loved Me were the two best Moore films; with people citing FYEO as having the "back to basics" approach to the franchise with Ian Fleming style espionage at the forefront.

While it compares favorably to the rest of the Moore films, it's just lacking the qualities that make a good Bond film a great Bond film. The action sequences are quaint by today's standards, although there's some incredible stuntwork done on the skis; while Connery's personality and the superior overall direction of his best films allowed me to forgive some of the ackward-by-today's-standards moments in his action sequences, FYEO doesn't have the charm or charisma to allow for that same leniency. Roger Moore just seems old here, moving slowly with unconvincing edits trying to make him seem at least somewhat athletic. It doesn't work.

The plot itself drags a bit after the first hour of the movie; while this is strictly personal opinion, I was hoping we could just be done with the whole thing at that point. The movie felt pretty light on plot, with the exception of one twist, depending on the action sequences to provide the thrills of a 007 picture. Again, they don't.

All in all, this movie is a solid entry into the 007 library but lacks the qualities that give a Bond movie the timeless rewatchability some of the classics of the series enjoy. There's nothing in this film that you can't find in another Bond film, only done better in the others. As a Bond fan who's discovering the series through DVD, slowly but surely, I'd wager that this film likely only appeals to fans who have nostalgic feelings toward this era of Bond, or the fans who enjoy Moore's take on James Bond. November 7, 2008

For Your Eyes Only

"For Your Eyes Only" marks James Bond's return to down-to-earth espionage after comic book adventures "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker". But I must say I find those more entertaining. "For Your Eyes Only" has some very good action scenes, most notably a long car chase, but the story feels like a rather uninspired rehash of "Thunderball" and the villain is forgettable as are the Bond girls (although Lynn Holly Johnson may be remembered for being annoying).

Some think it's Moore's best Bond movie, but in my opinion, "For Your Eyes Only" is one of the weakest Bond movies. November 2, 2008

For Your Eyes Only - Blu-ray Info

Version: U.S.A / Region-A
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
MPEG-4 AVC BD-50 / High Profile 4.1
Running time: 2:07:59
Movie size: 30,54 GB
Disc size: 41,82 GB
Average video bit rate: 26.22 Mbps
Number of chapters: 32

DTS-HD Master Audio English 2262 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 2262kbps (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 1536kbps)
Dolby Digital Audio French 448 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 448kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 224kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 224kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 224kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 224kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 224 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 224kbps

Subtitles: English SDH / French / Spanish

#Audio Commentary Featuring Sir Roger Moore
#"The Complete Special Features Library: Mission Dossier" - Audio Commentary Featuring John Glen and Actors
#Audio Commentary Featuring Michael G Wilson and Crew
#"Declassified: M16 Vault" Deleted Scenes and Expanded Angles
#Bond in Greece, Bond in Cortina
#Neptune's Journey
#"007 Mission Control" Interactive Guide Into the World of For Your Eyes Only
#Inside For Your Eyes Only
#Animated Storyboard Sequences
#Sheena Easton's "For Your Eyes Only" Music Video
#"Ministry of Propaganda" - Original Trailers, TV Spots, Photo Gallery and Radio Communications
October 14, 2008

More or less Roger's finest hour

For Your Eyes Only is showing its age a bit now. At the time a hugely welcome return to basics after the leaden FX spectacle of Moonraker (the second remake of You Only Live Twice in a row for the series), it still holds up as one of the best of Roger Moore's Bonds, but its faults are much more apparent than they once were. Among them is the tendency to undercut everything with unfunny little jokes (a scoreboard keeping count of thugs Bond knocks out, Bond giving a bemused royal wave to pursuing thugs, and a horrendous cameo from a Maggie Thatcher lookalike in the end), some flat studio work (no disguising the fact that the mountaintop Greek monastery is just a Pinewood set), a dated Bill Conti score and a comic relief nympho nymphet Lynn Holly Johnson constantly throwing herself at a disinterested Bond. Luckily, the pluses more than compensate - a stronger plot than usual for the Moore efforts, at least one cold-blooded murder, and a very welcome absence of gadgets until the postscript that ensures that Bond has to extricate himself with his own wits in some pretty good setpieces. Best among them is a mountaineering sequence where he uses his bootlaces - not steel bootlaces, just common bootlaces - to save himself in an old mountaineers trick.

Incidentally, with Blofeld still sporting the neck brace he wore at the end of OHMSS, and with the film beginning at Tracey Bond's graveside it's tempting to think of the pre-title sequence as a way of making amends for the jokey way Bond's nemesis was disposed of in Diamonds Are Forever were the following sequence not the proud possessor of the most surreal line in the entire Bond series, the infamous "I'll buy you a delicatessen - in stainless steel!" So, while this may be one of the Moore serious of Roge's outings, it's not exactly Bergman territory.

It's worth picking up the two-disc Ultimate Edition set despite it not having a great many more extras than the original sngle-disc release. However, if you just want the film the remastered single disc is a good bet, and includes a new commentary from Moore (also on the two-disc set).
February 13, 2008

Moore's Bond is Back to Basics!

After the cartoony but still entertaining Moonraker, Roger Moore gets back to Ian Fleming basics. This time Bond has to retreive and return an ATAC machine before the bad guys use it for their own evil ends.

With this 5th go-around as 007, Moore turns in his grittiest, toughest, and best overall performance as Bond! Carole Bouquet has solid presence as the beautiful, resourceful, and revenge-minded Melina Havelock. As Milos Columbo, Topol is a scene stealer! In my own humble opinion, he's the best Bond male ally in the film series history! British pro Julian Glover gives a wonderfully chameleon-like performance as Bond Baddie Aristotle Kristatos. He is almost overshadowed by Michael Gothard who plays henchman Loque with silent and deadly relish! If this movie has one major debit in the casting department its Lynn-Holly Johnson. She is way too young and cute to be a Bond girl!

Former Bond film editor John Glen though, knows his stuff as he takes over the directing reins. He brings the right amount of energy, style, vigor, and realism to his first Bond effort. This Bond epic also contains one of the best assortments of thrill sequences (air, land, sea, snow, beach, cliffs), ever to grace any action film! Sheena Easton beautifully warbles out the Oscar-nominated title tune!

Rating: ****1/2 out of ***** February 10, 2008

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