For Your Eyes Only (1981) movie review

[xxxdarkheartedboixxx]

according to what ive heard peter fontaine who plays the captain of the st georges and john wyman who plays eric kriengler are joining eastenders as john and marlon moon :)

[heavytom89]

I never understood why the scene where he kicks of the car is so controversial. In the spy who loved me he kills the guy hanging on to his tie in cold blood and then makes a joke about it

[SlayerDarth]

@NecroVMX Btw, I think you're a great reviewer. I'd just like to point out something: the pre-credits sequence with Blofeld was probably conceived because the aforementioned villain was going to feature in McClorey's unofficial Bond film, Never Say Never Again. I reckon the people behind FYOE wanted to show them that the James Bond film franchise could survive without Blofeld.

[Numinous20111]

@SlayerDarth That's an interesting point about Blofeld in FYEO and it's as good an explanation for his sudden reappearance as any I've heard. I agree with heavytome89 about Moore's Bond being more cold blooded than is usually remembered. FYEO was a refreshing, energetic and more realistic Bond than (maybe) you would expect for a film series at that point in time. Great review again NecroVMX.

[SlayerDarth]

@NecroVMX Just wondering, Necro, if you've heard anything regarding Bond 23.

[codename617]

In my strong opinion, i consider this movie to be the best Bond movie with Roger Moore as James Bond. FOr people who are obsessed with the gadets might not like it because that's kind of what this one is lacking, but if you have read the novels and short stories, then this one is a real treat. I like the plot, the opening scene and the numerous referemces to Fleming's work and i really like your review.

[dwswh2]

fyeo has grown on me a lot more in the last couple of years, i'm just glad that bond finally got revenge for tracy's death but its sad that blofeld and bond didn't get an epic showdown like they deserved. even though its fun with gadgets, i like that the film turns away and is more traditional. the citroen 2cv chase and the ski chase were done brilliantly. and i've read that carole bouquet couldn't go underwater and they used effects to make it appear she was underwater! a nice normal bond film

[AlaskaAce1996]

John Hollis also played Lobot in The Empire Strikes Back.

[AlaskaAce1996]

Blofeld was played by the same guy who played lobot in the Empire Strikes Back.

[broadshoulder]

Not a great review. FYEO was a Fleming novel. it contained the title story, From a View to a Kill, Risico and the Hildebrand Rarity. A basic mistake. You should have researched more.

Also Melina Havelock was a low key character because she was grieving/in pain because she saw her parents murdered in front of her. What do you want? Her to do the can can? Its a perfomance of steely determination but subtle. She is a very European Bond girl..

[NecroVMX]

@broadshoulder Not a good ocmment. You're wrong, FYEO is not a novel, it was a collection of short stories. You should research more before you make an asshole out of yourself. Also, you are stupid.

[tcvicesquad]

@broadshoulder Sadly, most people like their Bond girls to be gun toting, man hating lesbians who are "Bond's equal". Give me a fucking break!

[xxxdarkheartedboixxx]

the only thing wrong with for your eyes only is the title song, they should have used blondie's song because i think its sound would fit the movie better than sheena easton's. sheena easton's for your eyes only song sounds to poppy where has blondie's has got a real edge to it!

[swinetastic]

Bibi Dahl was sooo cute and sexy. She should have been the main bond girl :D

[joel1975]

@swinetastic Bibi Dahl was about 15 years old, so that probably wouldn't have happened.

[TomfromExeter]

Does anybody know what's going on with that "Delicatessen" line in the pre-title sequence?? Must be there for a reason surely.

As someone else observed, there are mines stored in Kristatos' warehouse so maybe the ATAK ship's sinking wasn't an accident...

This film would be perfect with a slightly spicier villain and a bit more acting ability from the leading lady. I would have liked to see Kristatos become more sinister once his real identity is revealed, and Melina seems too subdued.

[NecroVMX]

@TomfromExeter I never even noticed the line until someone pointed it out to me. I dunno really what it's about, probably the script writers being stupid

[Darthzilla99]

@TomfromExeter A Delicatessen means fine foods or Delicacies or in some countries Deli store. So Blofield was saying he will buy bond a deli if he lets him live. I thought the line was funny.

[ifilmstuf24]

for your eyes only is a perfect bond film. roger gives his most serious performance and carole bouquet is one of if not my very favorite bond girl.

[Wadsy591]

FYEO is still my #1 favorite in the series, and a true 80's Bond classic. Like I mentioned previously, it has everything I could want in a Bond movie, except an extreme villain, but Kristatos was fine. Action, actors, acting, locations, Roger Moore, bond girl, music - all outstanding.

[Aizen9]

"We see things perspective from his combined with"

wow, I'm sorry for that confusing mess lol, I was constantly changing/removing things from my comments so it could fit under the character limit and I obviously changed the words around without noticing.

What I meant was "we see things from his perspective combined with scary music as he moves closer towards bond."

[Aizen9]

I definatly think this is one of the best bond movies ever made, but there's one scenethat's hilarious in how bad it is.

There's a "scary" badguy in an underwater scene that they build up for five minutes without seeing him. We see things perspective from his combined with scary music as he moves closer towards bond.

Then when you see him, he's some bubble shaped suit with a way oversized head and over complex claws/pincer devices that look really combersome to use and couldn't cut anything.

[CMBow]

@Aizen9 I agree, this was all built up, and he was in that suit that was too crazy and bulky to be effective. But, I aso agree that this film was really good, I quite enjoyed it, and it definately is top 5 or 6 for me.

[BarnabasFrid]

1:37 James Villiers Ahoy!

[TheDondajonhon46]

This movie is about to be on TV tonight! I got to catch it!

[Drackkor]

About right I would of made it a 9 though at least if not a 10.

[TheDrYes]

i just didnt like it from a point of view that bond never really has a standoff / fight with the villain

[Wadsy591]

As I already mentioned previously, For Your Eyes Only is my favorite in the series, with On Her Majesty's Secret Service right behind. This film has an excellent mix of locations, sweet action scenes, nice Bond girls (especially Melina being one of the very best along with Tracy Bond), superb acting and a nice realistic plot. Moore's best outing and darn outstanding. My only flaw with the film was the dragging underwater scenes in the sub thing, other than that, superb. Your review is great btw.

[salizarrr]

Loves that he avenged Mrs. Bond.

[jamyers1975]

Roger Moore was a GREAT Bond. His films are VERY underrated. IMHO Moore is a very close 2nd to Sean Connery.

I like all the Bond actors...and I don't hate any of the movies (there are some I like more then others). But the fun factor of the Bond films of the 60's, 70's, and early 80's has never been recaptured.

I guess those were simpler times back then?

[desotowrong]

I like how edgy Bond was in this film, actually kicking the villain's car down the hill. This movie really had that awesome cloak and dagger thriller feel.

[madcapoperator]

Not the best, not the worst. A jolly old bond film with a more serious tone but still having the old Moore goofy undertone :)

[trwent]

When Locke's car is caught on the edge of a cliff, and falls over partly due to a pin being thrown to him by Bond, that was a good scene.

Basically the same scene was done in the film "True Lies" when a bird lands on the hood of the terrorists' van in the Florida Keys, causing it to crash into the ocean.

[sheemobile]

I hate how they made Blofeld begging for his life, and tells bond he'll buy him a delicatessen, seriously? Besides that, this film is really entertaining, especially the chases. Roger kicking the car, was unexpected, I thought the weight of the pin would make it fall, but damn it was funny, especially after he gave the one liner.

[BondHeaven007]

The best Roger Moore Bond. No Question. But the worst Bond song.

[trwent]

Worst Bond Song?

I am sorry you do not like the song, but Sheena Easton is a tremendous talent. I saw her perform in Las Vegas a few years ago at the MGM Grand and she was simply terrific.

[BondHeaven007]

Well, maybe I was bit too hard. Sheena Easton is an great singer no question. I guess the truly worst bond song is "Die another day". I mean techno and James Bond just dont fit at all.

[Aguz25]

Carola Bouquet was perfect for this movie cause her beauty matches with the coast and underwater scenes. But she isn't the best Bond girl ever (maybe in top 5).

Great movie. So underrated and forgotten. For me, FYEY is better than TSWLM.

[Cster91]

For Your Eyes Only is great! The music by Bill Conti is great too! My personal favorite track in the For Your Eyes Only soundtrack is track 2 "A Drive In The Country" the music in the car chase scene.

[Cster91]

"A Drive In The Country" in my opinion is the most catchiest track in the For Your Eyes Only Soundtrack.

[rubo14228]

Bibi was awesome...don't know what your talking about!

but the overall review was excellent. Good-job!

[itsthefallguy]

I agree this is Moore's best Bond Film. Shame about some of the supporting cast. Could have done without Bibi and the awful chief of staff! The editing in the final fight is amazingly bad.

RIP Bernard Lee.

[ayakoyuuta]

this is a great bond film but only little bad is BGM.

[Wadsy591]

For Your Eyes Only... Yeaaaahhhhh. My favourite Bond film of them all.. It's amazing.

[Glenn1967ful]

Could this be Moore's finest moment? I certainly think so: a mixture of the usual humour( Janet Brown played an excellent Maggie), an unusual Bond Car, a Citroen 2CV, plus some Conneryesque dark moments where he kicks the car off the cliff and finally he gets his revenge on Blofeld. A perfect mixture of humour and darkness, plus some great fight scenes such as the ice hockey match that turns nasty.

[Dante1SavageFilms]

"he never had a head for heights"

[jasonofaolain]

Moore actually didnt want to do the kick off the cliff scene and tried to have it sent to the cutting floor. Broccoli left it in and left in a brilliant piece of acting by Moore.

[BruceinFalkirk]

Casino Royal was not made as an official Bond film until 2006 because Ian Fleming sold the rights to another company.

According to my book, this film took more money than Raiders of the Lost Ark

Blofeld's neck brace is from 'On her Majesty's secret service'.

[NeonStrawberryinc]

no, his neck brace is not from ohmss, its from diamonds are forever, because he didnt have it when daf started.

[BruceinFalkirk]

Wrong! The neck brace and the scene at his wife's grave were put in to link the film with OHMSS. This was done in case Roger Moore didn't agree to the movie, which looked to be the case shortly before the film was made.

[NeonStrawberryinc]

sorry, and i'm not saying you're wrong, but to me, that doesn't make sense.

[BruceinFalkirk]

It does make sense. Blofeld, who was bald in OHMSS, gets his neck injured and is still in a brace at the start of FYEO.

Besides, who says there has to be continuity in the films?

Bond meets Blofeld in YOLT and is not recognized by him in OHMSS

[NeonStrawberryinc]

oh, i see.

[lloydee1983]

@NeonStrawberryinc daf isn't a sequel to ohmss. the opening credits of daf was just a teaser to entice the audience.

[lloydee1983]

@NeonStrawberryinc blofield didnt break his neck in daf, but clearly breaks it in ohmss.

[anahiemduck1]

Julian Glover played general veers in the empire strikes back

[VanSisean]

Julian Glover not only played this Bond villain, but was also one of the main villains in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade...

[anton1990]

I've met Mr. Glover, wonderful man, and a great actor.

[korvgeek]

The reason why EON didn't use the title Casino Royale was because they didn't have the rights to that book until 1999.

[burger4g]

Oh come on...For Your Eyes Only is not better than Moonraker and 8/10 is ludicrously OTT. I love all the Bond films, but FYEO is just a bit dull in places. And the ending?? I mean, who cares about that computer? And Julian Glover must be one of the least exciting villains ever.

Some of the sequences are ok - the yellow car chase...But you have that truly awful ending with the parrot and Mrs Thatcher.

No, just because it has no gadgets and it's supposedly 'serious', doesn't make it good...

[NecroVMX]

I'm sorry that good plotting and acting is not as important to you as over the top bullshit

[burger4g]

So skewering Blofeld's wheelchair with a helicopter, then dropping him and it down a factory chimney is not over the top bullshit??!! That's Bond for you - it's ludicrous and Moonraker pulls it off magnificently...

[NecroVMX]

If you don't see the difference between that and outer space battles in a bond movie then seriously, gtfo

[burger4g]

Give Moonraker another chance...If you can cope with Roger Moore as a clown, then you can cope with the dodgy space battles...And who couldn't love that bit where he shoots the assasin in the tree...'You missed'...Bloke falls out of tree dead...'Did I?'

[NecroVMX]

I've seen Moonraker plenty of times, it's had it's chance. You seem to think that the over the top shit is my only reason for disliking it, meaning that you obviously didn't pay attention to my review.

[burger4g]

Your reviews are good...apart from your aberration with Moonraker and FYEO...What about the bit where he meets Dr Goodhead, and Roger says 'a woman?' Not even you can dislike that! Classic...

[NecroVMX]

so random scenes and quips somehow make it a good movie? fail.

If moonraker was coherant it would be good.

It's like "OH WOW HE SAID SOMETHING AMUSING THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME HEY LOOK COCKS HUMRPH BURMPH"

seriously, stop doing what you're doing.

[burger4g]

ok, ok...im not going to convince you...altho I would argue most Bond films are not particularly coherent. I still have no idea what Dr No was trying to achieve!

[GamingShadow01]

one of the best bond themes. i think that out of the roger moore films for your eyes only is the best theme

[GamingShadow01]

the theme song is beautiful

[5648378]

I think Carol Boquet is the most beauitful underatted bond girl ever she was so great in For your eyes only I know some girl at my school that looks like her alot I think Carol is not underratted bond girl she was is most awsome Bond girl ever and I hate people that she was not the best bond girl I thought she was fantastic in for yours eyes only and she is definty and think she is difnty beter then goodnight I believe

[NecroVMX]

well she was underrated, because she's not as appreciated as she deserves. obviously we agree that she's better than people think

[lloydee1983]

@NecroVMX carol boquet is beautiful but lacked assets which some other bond girls had.

[imranBUK]

FYEO has my favourite Bond song, it has a wonderful 80's feel to it.

[trwent]

I loved this film, but the scenes with Lynn Holly Johnson are downright embarrassing. Do we really need to see, in a Bond film, repeated instances of a horny young teenager constantly throwing herself at a middle-aged man?

Great strengths are the performances of Julian Glover and Topol, and especially the late Cassandra Harris (Pierce Brosnan's wife) as the lovely Countess Lisl.

[pjw5328]

This was the first Bond I ever saw, and it is still my favorite. It's not perfect, but I love it anyway, warts and all. Great review; pretty much spot on!

BTW, EON hadn't done Casino Royale by 1981 because they didn't own the rights to it back then. Fleming sold the film rights for the rest of his Bond canon to EON in 1961, but he'd already sold Casino Royale's rights to different people back in 1955. EON didn't get their hands on CR until 1999, when they were finally able to work out a deal.

[NecroVMX]

Did you really think I didn't know that?

[pjw5328]

Your pardon, sir. The way you addressed the subject in the review it sounded like you didn't know, and being a librarian, I'm in the habit of sharing information with people. This was your first review that I saw. Having watched some of the others now, it's obvious you know your stuff. So I will refrain from further comment, except to say that it's been great listening to reviews from a fellow Dalton fan; there aren't enough of us out there.

[NecroVMX]

A Librarian? I have to say kudos to you for choosing that profession, it's underpaid and under appreciated IMO

[Daemonocracy]

This is the Bond film which got me into Bond. I remember catching it in the middle where Bond is attacked by a bunch of thugs dressed as Hockey players. Awesome fight, I was impressed, and then another cool fight underwater where he is attacked by a thug in an Aquanaut suit. I enjoyed this movie and ended up watching an entire Bond marathon later that week. Definitely not one of the best Bond films, but very entertaining.

[WhereverTheyMayRoam0]

this is when the bond serries deffanitly became weak and was for the 80s

[NecroVMX]

Huge improvement over Moonraker

[WhereverTheyMayRoam0]

yeah i can agree with that