Is 'For Your Eyes Only' the most boring James Bond film?

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  • edited March 2020 Posts: 1,469
    thedove wrote: »
    Can you imagine Moore shooting Professor Dent? Or how about the fight with Grant? No way Moore could play those scenes believably.

    I enjoy FYEO, I just wish it had a Bond to match.
    I agree somewhat regarding Dent. However, he shot the hell out of Stromberg. Satisfyingly, coldly ruthless--four shots. I know, FYEO has its weak points, and I think it's "of its time", but it's a sentimental favorite of mine; I just go with it and enjoy the feeling it gives me and like Roger somewhat more serious here. I still get a thrill when Bill Conti's music starts pumping during the ski jump, ski chase and on the bobsled track. And the car/stairs race still creates some tension for me.
  • OctopussyOctopussy Piz Gloria, Schilthorn, Switzerland.
    Posts: 1,081
    FYEO is Moore's best outing followed closely by MR. I'd say that LALD or TMWTGG are boring, if we're speaking purely about the Moore era. In the franchise as a whole I'd say that including the above mentioned films that YOLT and TWINE are up there as boring.

  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited March 2020 Posts: 16,291
    Thrasos wrote: »
    thedove wrote: »
    Can you imagine Moore shooting Professor Dent? Or how about the fight with Grant? No way Moore could play those scenes believably.

    I enjoy FYEO, I just wish it had a Bond to match.
    I agree somewhat regarding Dent. However, he shot the hell out of Stromberg. Satisfyingly, coldly ruthless--four shots. I know, FYEO has its weak points, and I think it's "of its time", but it's a sentimental favorite of mine; I just go with it and enjoy the feeling it gives me and like Roger somewhat more serious here. I still get a thrill when Bill Conti's music starts pumping during the ski jump, ski chase and on the bobsled track. And the car/stairs race still creates some tension for me.

    Yeah Congo’s score is great. Of its time, but still great. And crucially he follows the Bond standard of playing actual tunes during action scenes. David Arnold take note ;)

    I’ve said it before, but whenever I’m skiing at speed I want to hum OHMSS to myself, but it’s always Runaway that comes to mind
    :D
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,101
    Definitely not one of my top entries, but still a fine Bond watch. While I think post-1990 is a bit hit-and-miss, I think during the days of Cubby (and together with Harry before) even the lesser entries are good enough entertainment.

    I never had a problem with the pre-titles, the submarine scene or Bill Conti's distinctively 80's sound. My major gripe is that it never really stands out at any level, except maybe Topol being of the better allies.

    Other more grounded films have some of the franchise's best moments but here that's not so much the case. My least favourite of the Glen films, the Moore era and maybe even of all the pre-1990 entries. Having said that it is still an enjoyable ride nevertheless.

    (Always quite liked both Locque and Ferrara, who never really get any attention, so I'm just saying it)
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited March 2020 Posts: 16,291
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    I never had a problem with the pre-titles, the submarine scene or Bill Conti's distinctively 80's sound. My major gripe is that it never really stands out at any level, except maybe Topol being of the better allies.

    I'd mostly agree, but I think I'd definitely say that the car and ski chases are two of the very best action scenes in the whole series.
    mtm wrote: »
    mtm wrote: »
    Doesn’t tossing the pin in actually cause the car to fall? I’m sure it’s only then that you hear the rocks shifting and the car starts to move. He just gives it an extra kick to help it on its way.

    I remember watching for this last time I watched FYEO which was pretty recently, and it was in fact the kick that sent it over the edge. The car's precarious position on the edge of the cliff, and Locque moving around in the car did 98% of the work, and the kick was the last straw. I don't think the pin moved the car at all (but would have been great if this is what did it).

    No I don’t think so: the car is still, he tosses the pin in, you hear rocks moving, it cuts to the car wheel with rocks giving way under it and the car starting to slide, and he kicks it after it’s moving. Have a watch:

    Watching this again though, that is a crap quip from Roger at the end! :) "He had no head for heights". It might have worked if the guy's head had exploded or he'd gone off Beachy Head or something, but otherwise there's no pun or wordplay going on there at all
    :D
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,122
    If FYEO is boring, then I must've been watching a different movie.
    A visually beautiful film to watch, with good old fashioned cold war thrills.
    As with all Bond films there are elements that I would remove or tweak. However FYEO is anything but boring.
  • Posts: 7,507
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    Definitely not one of my top entries, but still a fine Bond watch. While I think post-1990 is a bit hit-and-miss, I think during the days of Cubby (and together with Harry before) even the lesser entries are good enough entertainment.

    I never had a problem with the pre-titles, the submarine scene or Bill Conti's distinctively 80's sound. My major gripe is that it never really stands out at any level, except maybe Topol being of the better allies.

    Other more grounded films have some of the franchise's best moments but here that's not so much the case. My least favourite of the Glen films, the Moore era and maybe even of all the pre-1990 entries. Having said that it is still an enjoyable ride nevertheless.

    (Always quite liked both Locque and Ferrara, who never really get any attention, so I'm just saying it)

    I honestly think there are many things that stand out in FYEO. It might not have flashy stuff like a woman painted in gold, a villain with metal teeth, volcano sets or an Aston Martin with gadgets. But many scenes stand out on pure quality. The car chase is the best and most enjoyable in the series, the ski chase has some incredible, memorable stunt work and the mountain climbing finale is unique and very tense (compared to some other action finales in the Moore films that are often quite drawn out and dull). The scene where Moore coldly dispatches of Loque has been talked about a lot on this thread already for good reason. It is one of the best moments in the Moore era. Adding to that i always enjoy the locations massively in this film and it delivers brilliantly on the travelogue aspect of Bond. The Italian Dolomites and the Greek Islands are very much to my taste and shot beautifully. St Cyrils is a great villain's lair. No, all in all I'd say there are plenty of memorable things in FYEO.
  • Posts: 7,396
    jobo wrote: »
    thedove wrote: »
    It's the kick that everyone remembers and loves about the scene. Moore didn't want to do the kick. That to me sums up Moore's view of Bond. He didn't play him like a killer. He played him for laughs and with tongue firmly in cheek. Can you imagine Moore shooting Professor Dent? Or how about the fight with Grant? No way Moore could play those scenes believably.

    I enjoy FYEO, I just wish it had a Bond to match.


    I think Moore nailed the role in FYEO. I think it´s his best performance as Bond and the one that shows he in fact had a great range as an actor.

    His greatest weakness was action. Looking at the footage om him running makes it look very obvious. So slow and clumsy... Imagine the urgency Dan or Tim would have had running those stairs. Well, well... I still love the guy. RIP

    I like to think that it was deliberate to depict Bond as older, a bit slower on his feet! (The most obvious, his rejection of Bibis advances!)
    I think Moore is very good in it. The scene with Kristatos at dinner "you may have to kill him (Colombo) does that.... deter you?"
    "Just tell me where he is?" Moore delivers that line as good as any of the Bonds!
    A recent watch of FYEO was a joy for me, as most said, a few tweaks and it would be up there with the best of them! For those who say Glens visuals are poor, FYEO disproves that, it's a very stylish Bond movie! Due for reassessment I reckon
    (40th anniversary next year, phew!!)
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    Benny wrote: »
    If FYEO is boring, then I must've been watching a different movie.
    A visually beautiful film to watch, with good old fashioned cold war thrills.
    As with all Bond films there are elements that I would remove or tweak. However FYEO is anything but boring.

    Bravo!!! +1.
  • ThunderballThunderball playing Chemin de Fer in a casino, downing Vespers
    Posts: 814
    I confess that even though I love Roger and definitely enjoy his wit, charm and way with the ladies, and that as an American, he's basically the embodiment of an English Gentleman, his style of Bond will never be my preferred style of Bond. Connery and Craig are more my speed. Bond is a killer, sometimes ruthlessly. He's also a man of good taste, intelligence and with an eye for the ladies. It strikes me that with the exception of Connery, each of the actors during their tenure majored in one of those traits, not all. Dalton was the more serious, intense guy, he's not really the quipping charmer that Moore is, for example. Moore's damn great, damn great at what he does. But he's not one to add shade to his pallet as Bond. And that's fine I guess.
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    I do kind of get the argument that FYEO is boring because I used to feel that way about it. Recently though I’ve discovered a new found appreciation for it. Weird because my feelings for a film rarely wavers much over the years.

    DAF gets quite boring during the middle section, but FYEO is ok. Me and FYEO , we are cool.
  • ResurrectionResurrection Kolkata, India
    Posts: 2,541
    All i can say about FYEO, it might not be Moore's best bond film but it's more entertaining than any of the other.
  • 00Agent00Agent Any man who drinks Dom Perignon '52 can't be all bad.
    edited March 2020 Posts: 5,185
    NicNac wrote: »
    I do kind of get the argument that FYEO is boring because I used to feel that way about it. Recently though I’ve discovered a new found appreciation for it. Weird because my feelings for a film rarely wavers much over the years.

    DAF gets quite boring during the middle section, but FYEO is ok. Me and FYEO , we are cool.

    I hope i might change my mind about FYEO at some point as well. Currently it sadly is the most boring Bond film to me, nothing about it is engaging to me, and i think the score is mostly to blame.

    Though TSWLM used to be somewhere at the bottom at my list, and now it's top 7, so who knows.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited March 2020 Posts: 16,291
    NicNac wrote: »
    I do kind of get the argument that FYEO is boring because I used to feel that way about it. Recently though I’ve discovered a new found appreciation for it. Weird because my feelings for a film rarely wavers much over the years.

    DAF gets quite boring during the middle section, but FYEO is ok. Me and FYEO , we are cool.

    Yeah I don't think 'boring' is the right word: it's just not as glittery as other Bonds. Even the other 'gritty' Bonds don't have quite the dull sheen this one does.
    For example, the casino scene in this one feels a bit grotty and downbeat: Bond is sort of slumped at a small card table surrounded by some pretty ugly people(!) whilst a sort of hammond organ version of what seems to be the EastEnders theme is playing! Then he goes outside to a fairly uninteresting terrace to have dinner with a middle aged-man. By the next film he's walking past an enormous swimming pool filled with bikinied beauties to have dinner in a stunning courtyard with a beautiful woman- it feels a bit more glittery! :)
  • pachazopachazo Make Your Choice
    Posts: 7,314
    Thrasos wrote: »
    thedove wrote: »
    Can you imagine Moore shooting Professor Dent? Or how about the fight with Grant? No way Moore could play those scenes believably.

    I enjoy FYEO, I just wish it had a Bond to match.
    I agree somewhat regarding Dent. However, he shot the hell out of Stromberg. Satisfyingly, coldly ruthless--four shots. I know, FYEO has its weak points, and I think it's "of its time", but it's a sentimental favorite of mine; I just go with it and enjoy the feeling it gives me and like Roger somewhat more serious here. I still get a thrill when Bill Conti's music starts pumping during the ski jump, ski chase and on the bobsled track. And the car/stairs race still creates some tension for me.

    I was going to mention Stromberg but you beat me to it. Moore could've pulled off the Dent scene, although it might have played out a little differently. No cigarette for starters.

    Sometimes people forget Roger's more ruthless moments because that's not what we saw from him the majority of the time. He turned it on when he had to though. If he didn't want to kick the car, you'd never know it from watching that scene. It's a damned fine performance if you ask me.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,122
    One of the many things I like about Moore's Bond is that he never played the part lazily. He always gave it everything. He has plenty of moments throughout his films that could be considered Fleming Bond or brutal and ruthless.
    The fact that he didn't imitate Connery is a credit to him, he created his own version of Bond that had a lighter touch. People forget that the light comedy was in the series all the way back to DN. Moore just played that element more. But he could still play it serious. It was also a sign of the times for many of the films of 70's and 80's in general.
  • edited March 2020 Posts: 1,469
    mtm wrote: »
    I’ve said it before, but whenever I’m skiing at speed I want to hum OHMSS to myself, but it’s always Runaway that comes to mind
    :D
    Yes! I just watched OHMSS and while I love Moore's stylish, flashy skiing, I think the skiing in OHMSS beats it hands down. Maybe because there's more of it. Watching either Luki Leitner or stunt double Vic Armstrong doing the skiing in OHMSS, where he's on only one ski, jumps and lands, I imagine you gotta have strength and stability to do that. Wonder if they got that in one take.
    mtm wrote: »
    Watching this again though, that is a crap quip from Roger at the end! :) "He had no head for heights". It might have worked if the guy's head had exploded or he'd gone off Beachy Head or something, but otherwise there's no pun or wordplay going on there at all
    :D
    True. But happened to notice they say '"Acrophobia has Greek origins. It comes from the Greek word for heights, which is “acron,” and the Greek word for fear, which is “phobos”.'
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,101
    Just reminds that I really want a good ski chase in the future again. Since the turn of the century we haven't even seen one yet.
  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    Benny wrote: »
    One of the many things I like about Moore's Bond is that he never played the part lazily. He always gave it everything. He has plenty of moments throughout his films that could be considered Fleming Bond or brutal and ruthless.
    The fact that he didn't imitate Connery is a credit to him, he created his own version of Bond that had a lighter touch. People forget that the light comedy was in the series all the way back to DN. Moore just played that element more. But he could still play it serious. It was also a sign of the times for many of the films of 70's and 80's in general.

    +1.
  • OctopussyOctopussy Piz Gloria, Schilthorn, Switzerland.
    Posts: 1,081
    suavejmf wrote: »
    Benny wrote: »
    One of the many things I like about Moore's Bond is that he never played the part lazily. He always gave it everything. He has plenty of moments throughout his films that could be considered Fleming Bond or brutal and ruthless.
    The fact that he didn't imitate Connery is a credit to him, he created his own version of Bond that had a lighter touch. People forget that the light comedy was in the series all the way back to DN. Moore just played that element more. But he could still play it serious. It was also a sign of the times for many of the films of 70's and 80's in general.

    +1.

    Agreed, particularly regarding moments where Moore portraying Bond in moments that would be considered Flemingesque. Keep in mind that in the books Bond often had a laugh to himself and I feel that Roger sometimes does convey that on screen, IMO.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,291
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    Just reminds that I really want a good ski chase in the future again. Since the turn of the century we haven't even seen one yet.

    Yes indeed, although I guess they are one of the more ridiculous things. How often could a guy possibly get in that situation? :D
  • Posts: 631
    FYEO is an excellent taut little thriller and IMO not boring at all B-)

    It’s not until Brosnan that I start getting bored. Chunks of Craig are dull too.

    I am a bit old school and personally I don’t think any of the movies after Moonraker is actually a proper James Bond film at all. After Moonraker, for me each movie stands or falls on its own merits.
  • Last_Rat_StandingLast_Rat_Standing Long Neck Ice Cold Beer Never Broke My Heart
    Posts: 4,566
    After reviewing this thread for several days, I feel compelled to give it a viewing this weekend. Especially since I watched MR the other night.
  • Posts: 1,913
    In the spirit of this discussion, I put in the FYEO Blu-ray to catch some of the special features. Really enjoyed the Inside For Your Eyes Only making-of. A strange thing I noticed I didn't know if it was intentional or if my disc is defective but under the TV section, all 3 TV spots were the same teaser trailer. Odd. I don't have my UE discs as they're in storage to compare to.

    Will likely give the film a spin as I'm hunkered down like so many these days.
  • Posts: 7,396
    BT3366 wrote: »
    In the spirit of this discussion, I put in the FYEO Blu-ray to catch some of the special features. Really enjoyed the Inside For Your Eyes Only making-of. A strange thing I noticed I didn't know if it was intentional or if my disc is defective but under the TV section, all 3 TV spots were the same teaser trailer. Odd. I don't have my UE discs as they're in storage to compare to.

    Will likely give the film a spin as I'm hunkered down like so many these days.

    The making of doc is very entertaining , love the part about the protesting monks! (Hanging out their washing to ruin the shot...priceless!)
  • Posts: 1,913
    I did my rewatch of FYEO last night. I did enjoy it. It may have gone up a little in my estimation or maybe a Bond film was a welcome respite from being cooped up from COVID-19. The sound on the Blu-ray really stood out. During the precredits with the helicopter I had to pause it to see if it was a noise coming from somewhere else in the house.

    One of the things I took away from it was the real tension between Kristatos and Kreigler. In another thread, I noted the resemblance between Kristatos' henchman Apostis and actor Adam Driver. I may have noted this before, but this may well rival QoS and SF as the least sexy Bond film of all. Melina is mostly hands-off and Bibi can't be taken seriously, while Countess Lisl is the only real conquest. Not that this is necessary to enjoyment of a Bond film, but those were not traditional Bonds like FYEO is. Ironic also in that this film has the most sexy poster.

    I was curious as to if there's a missing line. As this was one of the first of the Bonds I saw numerous times when it was still new, I memorized most of the dialogue and when Bond and Lisl are on the beach, when Loque and Claus appear, I thought Bond asked "Friends of yours?" or did that come from another Moore film? I don't have my SE DVD as it's in storage to compare it to or any VHS copies.

    A couple of problems also arose: Just why would Melina randomly leave her oxygen tank on the bottom of the sea? It's a too convenient excuse for them to wait out Kristatos.

    The other is just why is it necessary for Melina to leave Neptune and accompany Bond to recover the ATAC in the wrecked St. Georges? She contributes nothing but holding a light. Besides that, Bond says to not speak to conserve air, but he's making quips and reading the instructions on disarming the bomb aloud. I still recall a lady mentioning this during my first screening of this.



  • Posts: 3,327
    I agree with much of the review on FYEO. Its one of the films that I feel I should like more, because it is a definite approach to going back to basics, and back to Fleming, even following 2 short stories fairly closely.

    Yet the execution is all wrong. Yes, the direction is rather dull and flat, the Conti soundtrack is pretty drab too (surprising, considering how much I love his work on Rocky and Escape to Victory), and Moore feels very miscast.

    The script would have worked far better in the Dalton era, once Glen defined and honed his directing skills a lot more, or the Craig era, had it been directed by Campbell, giving us the raw, tough edge with a bruised and bloody Bond.

    FYEO is one of the few films I find very hard to engage with.
  • goldenswissroyalegoldenswissroyale Switzerland
    edited March 2020 Posts: 4,470
    Good to read a lot of positive words for this film. It's a top ten Bond film for me which means I love it. The action belongs to the best of the series: the car action! The ski action! And one of the most thrilling scenes in Bond history with Bond in real danger and a great Rick Sylvester stunt.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,381
    BT3366 wrote: »
    I did my rewatch of FYEO last night. I did enjoy it. It may have gone up a little in my estimation or maybe a Bond film was a welcome respite from being cooped up from COVID-19. The sound on the Blu-ray really stood out. During the precredits with the helicopter I had to pause it to see if it was a noise coming from somewhere else in the house.

    One of the things I took away from it was the real tension between Kristatos and Kreigler. In another thread, I noted the resemblance between Kristatos' henchman Apostis and actor Adam Driver. I may have noted this before, but this may well rival QoS and SF as the least sexy Bond film of all. Melina is mostly hands-off and Bibi can't be taken seriously, while Countess Lisl is the only real conquest. Not that this is necessary to enjoyment of a Bond film, but those were not traditional Bonds like FYEO is. Ironic also in that this film has the most sexy poster.

    I was curious as to if there's a missing line. As this was one of the first of the Bonds I saw numerous times when it was still new, I memorized most of the dialogue and when Bond and Lisl are on the beach, when Loque and Claus appear, I thought Bond asked "Friends of yours?" or did that come from another Moore film? I don't have my SE DVD as it's in storage to compare it to or any VHS copies.

    A couple of problems also arose: Just why would Melina randomly leave her oxygen tank on the bottom of the sea? It's a too convenient excuse for them to wait out Kristatos.

    The other is just why is it necessary for Melina to leave Neptune and accompany Bond to recover the ATAC in the wrecked St. Georges? She contributes nothing but holding a light. Besides that, Bond says to not speak to conserve air, but he's making quips and reading the instructions on disarming the bomb aloud. I still recall a lady mentioning this during my first screening of this.



    I don't recall that line from Bond on the beach. But the memory does fade. The Melina to the St. Georges wreck makes no sense. Yes I love how Bond says not to speak and then he's quipping "I hope he's dining alone"! LOL!

    I never understood why someone would leave their tank underwater. Maybe she's able to see the future and knows it will come in handy? LOL
  • Posts: 4,408
    BT3366 wrote: »
    I did my rewatch of FYEO last night. I did enjoy it. It may have gone up a little in my estimation or maybe a Bond film was a welcome respite from being cooped up from COVID-19. The sound on the Blu-ray really stood out. During the precredits with the helicopter I had to pause it to see if it was a noise coming from somewhere else in the house.

    One of the things I took away from it was the real tension between Kristatos and Kreigler. In another thread, I noted the resemblance between Kristatos' henchman Apostis and actor Adam Driver. I may have noted this before, but this may well rival QoS and SF as the least sexy Bond film of all. Melina is mostly hands-off and Bibi can't be taken seriously, while Countess Lisl is the only real conquest. Not that this is necessary to enjoyment of a Bond film, but those were not traditional Bonds like FYEO is. Ironic also in that this film has the most sexy poster.

    I was curious as to if there's a missing line. As this was one of the first of the Bonds I saw numerous times when it was still new, I memorized most of the dialogue and when Bond and Lisl are on the beach, when Loque and Claus appear, I thought Bond asked "Friends of yours?" or did that come from another Moore film? I don't have my SE DVD as it's in storage to compare it to or any VHS copies.

    A couple of problems also arose: Just why would Melina randomly leave her oxygen tank on the bottom of the sea? It's a too convenient excuse for them to wait out Kristatos.

    The other is just why is it necessary for Melina to leave Neptune and accompany Bond to recover the ATAC in the wrecked St. Georges? She contributes nothing but holding a light. Besides that, Bond says to not speak to conserve air, but he's making quips and reading the instructions on disarming the bomb aloud. I still recall a lady mentioning this during my first screening of this.

    You mean literally having sex, right?

    You don't need to see Bond having sex for the film to be 'sexy'. Though I do agree that FYEO is the least 'sexy' Bond film. There's an innate and neutered quality to the film. More drab and dour.

    But SF and QOS are both very sexy to me...whether it be the locations, the girls, Bond himself. Seeing Bond actually bonk doesn't make a film 'sexy', it has more to do with tone and mood.

    In this sense, I do agree that FYEO is not a sexy film.....Melina and Bond have a more paternal relationship. Also, Carole Bouquet is a little aloof and stern. Suitable for the character but a little blah imo.

    A little Google search is convincing me otherwise...........

    e14fbde40d4b340cbadbcd30affdd387.jpg
    portrait-de-carole-bouquet-en-octobre-1984-paris-france-picture-id949869254?s=612x612
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