My only regret is that I didn’t discover your Bond series until after you’d finished them all so I could binge watch from Dr. No all the way through to No Time to Die. Keep ‘em coming!
I have to say. Bill Conti's score in this movie is majestic. And Sheena Easton, take a bow. What a breathtaking song. It deservedly got an Oscar nomination
Love these reviews, keep them up my friend 👍 FYEO would've been a wonderful ending for Roger Moore's tenure, in my opinion. He really started to show his age in his final couple entries and the series suddenly felt pretty fatigued. Can't wait for the next video!
Been waiting for the review as this is my favorite Bond film. I too take it that the mine sinking the ship is an accident and everone then either scrambles to take advantage or go into damage control.
6:35 is one of my favourite Bond locations in Corfu, I proposed to my fiancée there last month and then we watched 'FYEO' later that night, my 2nd most rewatched Moore entry after 'The Spy Who Loved Me.' The casino dinner scene with Kristatos on the terrace is just up the staircase from that epic viewpoint, a fun bit of trivia that I discovered at the time.
I go back and forth on whether this is Spy is Moore's best Bond film. I guess it has to do with what my current opinion on what this franchise should be about. This film proved that Moore could do this kinda take on the character. He famously didn't feel comfortable with kicking that car of Locke's off the cliff while I think it was his best moment as the character on par with Connery coldly killing Professor Dent in Dr. No.
It’s flawed but it also feels like a refreshing course correction back to a spy tone. The action is some of the best and Moore does a good job with the more serious material. I’ve revisited this one a lot and it gets better.
For your eyes only one my favorite Roger Moore James Bond movie adventure I always considered this movie very underrated in the series I think it's a excellent entry Bond movie adventure Roger Moore best performance James Bond I like the ally character columbo I think the action sequence in this film are amazing like ski 🎿 sequence in the car chase and I do like the pre-title sequence i like pay homage on her secret service Bond visiting his wife Tracy Bond dropping fake Blofeld is very good I do like Melina she is amazing in this movie I do wish you could have killed the villain because of the revenge angle I do like the humor in the original formula style this is a fun movie
Absolutely brilliant Bond! Opens and closes with outstanding action scenes (helicopter ride and mountain climb), has a great action sequence in the middle (ski chase) and is generally just a great fun time throughout. I like the idea that James Bond can go from bombastic to straightforward and back again, I think that's what makes this series so special. Agree about the title song. And Bouquet is not just an underrated Bond girl, she is one of the most beautiful women of that era (in film).
I always found this film rather boring. Other than Topol, there really wasn't anything about FYEO that stands out among any of the prior movies in the series. I feel like if it wasn't a wild course correction from Moonraker and the goofier elements of the Moore era, no one would ever mention it. It doesn't hit the highs of some of the pre-Moore era, and certainly does not have the entertainment value of the Moore era. But its got my boy Topol, so I still think of it fondly. RIP, my main man.
FYEO is middle of the pack for the Moore films for me. I like it a lot mo(o)re than what came after it, and prefer it over Moonraker and TMWTGG. I agree, I feel like part of Melina's plot is robbed from her due to the writing. The tonal inconsistency is something that I'm not a massive fan of either, and it's something that persists through all of the Glen films (TLD being the least bad for that). I'm not the biggest fan of the Bill Conti score, but I think it has more positive elements than negative ones. I'd say that the age gap between Moore and Bouquet is getting to a point of being a bit creepy, and I don't buy the romance at all. It's 3rd place for the Moore films for me, and 14/25 for the overall Eon films. Love the review! Always happy to see an upload pop up in my notification feed!
The fix for Melina's ending: have HER decide to leave Christatos alive. Sure have Columbo finish him off, but make Melina think about Bond's words earlier, have her experience w/Bond since then form her decision. Doesn't take away from her cool-factor from taking out Gonzales, gives her a proper conclusion or arc.
That's how I would have handled it, but I'm not saying you couldn't make an argument for her taking out Kristatos. I just need the story to actually give her a choice rather than take it away and give it to someone else.
So ... I love this review, but I don't agree with all of it. Comparing Kriegler to Red Grant is a little unfair. Maybe a better comparison would be to Necros from the Living Daylights, but that's truly a nitpick. You get so many points right, and you echo my disgust with some of the weaknesses with the film, like Villiers standing in for M. And your humor always makes me smile, just as your logical analysis makes me nod ascent. The analysis is just a delight, and you get the context for someone who wasn't there in 1981. Do I love Bill Conti's soundtrack? Not really. To me, it's very dated, and his use of tubular bells just turned me off. But so what!? You make a persuasive and passionate argument that gets my nod. I plan to listen again to the soundtrack without the prejudgments as I would if I respected the opinion of a friend. I actually visited Meterora where they filmed the cliff climb. It's freaking high up and I had real acrophobia there, but the monasteries are completely serene. I hope you get to see it someday, because you would love it and lose your analytical mind for the transcendent experience.
Great review, I agree with a lot of what you said, especially with regards to the "bad guys", perhaps after the megalomaniacs of the previous two films they did tone them down a little too far, although I did like Locque, I thought he was one of the best henchmen of the Moore era and his quiet demeanor and sinister look was less extreme though every bit as enjoyable as Jaws. I also agree with your comments regarding the locations, soundtrack and the Bond girls, but I can't agree with you regarding the theme song, it is not only my least favourite of the Moore era, but it has to be one of the worst of the entire series, at least up to Die Another Day when the theme songs started to become a constant disappointment. Overall, For Your Eyes Only is second my second favourite of the Moore era, after The Spy Who Loved Me, and sit just inside my top10, it's a very enjoyable, if quieter Bond film.
Sits 11th in my rankings, my 5th favourite Moore. Which is more a commentary on the production style than on the story, because I acknowledge and appreciate the "back to basics" approach of this film. I like the Citroen chase, I like Topol, I like Julian Glover, I like Carole Bouquet, I like that Bond actually does some spy work rather than just being carried from scene to scene by a series of MacGuffins. What I don't like? The score, Bibi, Moore's craggy face especially in his ski goggles, the ice hockey fight scene, the resolution of the ATAC (because the Russians could still go and pick up the pieces and reconstruct it), and the Thatcher impressionists. That final scene is in fact *very* dated - nobody under the age of 40 knows who Dennis Thatcher was and nobody under the age of 50 remembers that Janet Brown made a prominent career out of her Margaret Thatcher impression. Just occasionally in the series there are inclusions which were relevant at the time but which are terrible to hear or watch many years later and this is the worst offender.
@@ricardocantoral7672 Yes, it hit the rocks and splintered into many pieces but that’s not like it was reduced to dust. Most of the parts are basic stuff but the microchips are the crucial things and they’re small enough to have survived the crash.
nice to know about John Glen as a director. at a time, the films of the 80s didn't feel bondian at all to me, and thought of Glen as a very impersonal director. nowadays, i see him consistant and capable of leading with different peculiarities within each movie.
The mine bomb hitting the St Georges at the beginning of the film is not a planned attack by the KGB. It was an accident. However, once Russia found out about the sinking of the ship with the ATAC on board, the plot is now a race about who recovers the ATAC - Bond or the KGB?
A case may be made that a YOUNGER actor ought to have succeeded Sir Roger (Moore would have exited the role at a high point - pun intended - with Moonraker, and be spared from withering age-based criticism, namely for his role in AVTAK). "Good" or "bad" #12 is indeed an outlier compared to his other stints - though Octopussy mostly comes close.
This is probably a controversial opinion, but I’m not a massive fan of FYEO. Compared to most other Bond films, it’s rather forgettable and doesn’t stand out. I’m a big fan of Moore’s campy style, so this film being more grounded doesn’t quite work for me (and most of the moments that are silly feel more stupid than enjoyable, such as the bizarre pre-title sequence and it’s caricature of Blofeld). Not a huge fan of the score either, but that’s just my taste in Bond music. That being said, Columbo is a fun character, Moore still does quite well, I like “A Drive in the Country”, the car chase is pretty memorable, and the Greek setting is pretty unique.
That's fine and totally understandable. Like I said in the review, this is somewhat of a polarizing entry. Those that like it really like it, and those that don't have huge feelings of "meh".
This is my favorite Bond of all. I think a lot of it is sentimental as my first. Yet it never fails to entertain. So many aspects of it. In a way it has the mix of tones and high practical stunt ratio of Euro crime / Italian police films with Maurizio Merli, Franco Nero, Fabio Testi, and Bond veterans like Adolfo Celi and Barbara Bouchet. That they went to Italy three times in a row makes even more sense. Oddly after this Bouquet was in a chimpanzee comedy and later a light giallo/spy mash up with its own McGuffin. Here her muted character is well conceived and I agree there’s a lack of a payoff. I do see still enough chemistry for Melina and Bond for it to work. I am not bothered as much as many reviewers are by the villain switch. Less enthused by the henchmen notably the final fight with the wooden Kriegler at St Cyriles.
I quite like this one. It's nice to see the pathos in Roger's face in some of the scenes, and Risico is a great story to adapt! I really love when Bond teams up with crooks and they have a mutual respect, like here and Majesty's. Can't wait for you to tackle Octopussy next, especially knowing you have an appreciation for it!
The best Sir Roger Moore Bond movie of all time in terms of characterization of Bond. He is lethal in this movie. And you actually believe from Sir Roger's portrayal in this movie that this is Ian Fleming's character. I am also glad to John Glen for forcing Roger to do the Locque death scene. Sir Roger did not want to do it for it being too dark, I saw that is absolutely what James Bond wouod do.
A OHMSS inspired film ? The fact that we have bobsleigh, skiing, a personal family death at the very beginning instead of the end, revenge, never mind Blofeld and putting Tracy's ghost to rest at last, says it all. Lesser Goldfinger and more Diamonds in the cycle of films as the next inspiration in progressive order, a character called Pussy and her circus, the diamond smuggling, the nuclear device although i prefer to think this was used from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME novel where the Spangled gang have used their smuggling links and skills to transport the device into the country
I really love your reviews, full of interesting details and fine tuned opinions. Just a tiny detail, Michael G. Wilson is Cubby's stepson, not son in law, i think :)
* The shift in tone was not just an artistic choice. There were various circumstances that ultimately drove the direction of For Your Eyes Only: Bond distributor UA lost a fortune after Heaven's Gate bombed at the boxoffice. The producers did a lot of over spending on Moonraker so they were punished with smaller budgets during the 80's. Lastly, the film industry probably took a hit by the global recession that took place between 1980 and 1982. * Peter R. Hunt was asked to return to the director's seat but he declined because he was busy with Charles Bronson's Death Hunt. * I would have liked to have seen Dalton in this movie but Moore did prove he could handle a more hard edged Bond adventure. This would have been appropriate exit for him. *As for the rest of this film, I can't share your enthusiasm. I see For Your Eyes Only as merely a competent entry into the series and nothing else. All this talk about getting down to earth and getting back to Bond being thrillers I heard from those who worked on it but there's nothing thrilling or new here. This movie is merely an amalgamation of two better movies: From Russia With Love and On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The villains are dull and supporting characters aren't much to speak of. Topol comes off as charming but that's the casting, not the writing. A character arc for Melina is set up and never goes anywhere. I would take Moonraker or Diamonds are Forever simply because frivolity is always preferable to blandness. I also don't like the score, it has it's moments but it feels better suited for Rocky.
1. I know about the surrounding circumstances that influenced this choice, but I'm not sure those forced the creators to go with this tone. They could have done something lighter and high flying on a smaller budget, as Octopussy had about the same budget just two years later. 2. I also heard that most of the previous directors (like Young, Hamilton, Gilbert) were considered to come back, but budgetary concerns and other commitments prevented that. 3. I would have loved Dalton to be here as well, but Moore does it well enough that I can't seriously complain. 4. If anything, your opinion helps to prove my point that this film produces wildly different reactions. I love hearing from everybody whether or not they agree with me, as I never expect anyone to do so, and if anything, sometimes they get me to view the film through a different lens and either find more to love about it, or reconsider bits I may have overlooked or missed that do hurt its standings for me. Thanks for sharing!
@@stephenjarvis534 My theory is if FYEO had a larger budget, the plot would have been the same but they would have had a better finale. I can easily picture Bond, Columbo, and his men approaching the Monastery via helicopter. Basically, another call back to OHMSS when Bond and Draco assaulted Blofeld's Piz Gloria hideout. Anyway, thanks for replying! I do enjoy these reviews!
Roger was actually going to leave after MOONRAKER, so they were writing for a replacement actor in case they could not get him back, like an Ian Ogilvy. Fortunately, he returned for what is one of the best films in the series.
I watched the movies long after they aired as a kid in scrambled sequence and some plot points I didn't get. Although back then I liked the flashy funny ones better compared to the spy thrillers. Now I'm old and disillussioned, got educated on many things. I also read the books. I like gritty cold war movies like Eyes more today.
I've always thought that Moore's run as Bond would be better remembered if he had left the role after this film. And it didn't help us to take Luigi seriously when he ran around dressed like Inspector Clouseau.
This is my third favorite Bond film, after On Her Majesty's Secret Service and From Russia With Love, though it's in constant competition with Octopussy (the Tarzan Yell stinks but the rest of the story is great).
