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

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  • jobojobo
    Posts: 7,500
    Since62 wrote: »
    LTK the most boring. Once you realize you saw so many drug lord TV episodes and made for tv movies which were awfully similar - and got there first - it's an embarassment and a waste of many talented folks' efforts.


    LTK was influenced by much more than TV shows. Kurosawa's excellent Yojimbo for example was one of the main sources of inspiration.
  • daltondalton
    Posts: 1,631
    For Your Eyes Only is far from the most boring films in the franchise. If anything, I think it's a fairly exciting entry. It's cool to see some bit of Fleming in a Moore film, with most of his films taking the bare bones of the novels and then doing something entirely different with them, and there are few scenes more tense than the climb up the Meteora towards the end.

    If we're looking for boring films in the franchise, the search begins and ends with Spectre.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,962
    BT3366 wrote: »
    Since62 wrote: »
    LTK the most boring. Once you realize you saw so many drug lord TV episodes and made for tv movies which were awfully similar - and got there first - it's an embarassment and a waste of many talented folks' efforts.

    So why not post this in the Thoughts on LTK thread?

    Because that one has become a conversation on why we shouldn’t be talking about the films at all! :D
  • Since62Since62
    Posts: 1,571
    I posted it here because the topic of whether FYEO is the most boring film quite naturally invites, for those whose answer would be "No", the answer of Which one is more boring. As for whether that was all I saw, no. Portions of it also looked cheap and disinteresting. I quite understand that Dalton has fans, and I am included, but those two films did not serve his portrayal and his superb abilities well.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,526
    Since62 wrote: »
    I posted it here because the topic of whether FYEO is the most boring film quite naturally invites, for those whose answer would be "No", the answer of Which one is more boring.

    100%. LTK seems like one of this forum's "beloved entries", and opinions against it will be attacked from every angle. ;)

    I don't find FYEO or LTK boring; that honour goes to Octopussy. I know it has it's fans and I'm sure it's fine in some regards, but it simply objectively makes me go to sleep.
  • jobojobo
    Posts: 7,500
    NickTwentyTwo wrote: »
    Since62 wrote: »
    I posted it here because the topic of whether FYEO is the most boring film quite naturally invites, for those whose answer would be "No", the answer of Which one is more boring.

    100%. LTK seems like one of this forum's "beloved entries", and opinions against it will be attacked from every angle. ;)

    I don't find FYEO or LTK boring; that honour goes to Octopussy. I know it has it's fans and I'm sure it's fine in some regards, but it simply objectively makes me go to sleep.


    There is a difference between criticising a gilm and calling it "an embarrassment" and "waste of time and money". Such scathing comments are likely to be attacked regardless of which film it is. It doesn't help that the justification was questionable at best and appeared not very fleshed out or thought through.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    edited December 2021 Posts: 5,979
    chrisisall wrote: »
    Since62 wrote: »
    LTK the most boring. Once you realize you saw so many drug lord TV episodes and made for tv movies which were awfully similar - and got there first - it's an embarassment and a waste of many talented folks' efforts.

    That's ALL you saw in it?

    I completely disagree that LTK is boring. I remember being enchanted in 1989 by all the Fleming--and dark Fleming at that--I was seeing onscreen. That wouldn't happen again until 2006--a long 17 years.
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,526
    jobo wrote: »
    NickTwentyTwo wrote: »
    Since62 wrote: »
    I posted it here because the topic of whether FYEO is the most boring film quite naturally invites, for those whose answer would be "No", the answer of Which one is more boring.

    100%. LTK seems like one of this forum's "beloved entries", and opinions against it will be attacked from every angle. ;)

    I don't find FYEO or LTK boring; that honour goes to Octopussy. I know it has it's fans and I'm sure it's fine in some regards, but it simply objectively makes me go to sleep.


    There is a difference between criticising a gilm and calling it "an embarrassment" and "waste of time and money". Such scathing comments are likely to be attacked regardless of which film it is. It doesn't help that the justification was questionable at best and appeared not very fleshed out or thought through.

    OP said LTK was boring, and someone replied with “why don’t you put that in the LTK thread”, that’s all I was responding to. It was a dumb response.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,691
    NickTwentyTwo wrote: »

    I don't find FYEO or LTK boring; that honour goes to Octopussy. I know it has it's fans and I'm sure it's fine in some regards, but it simply objectively makes me go to sleep.
    I can see why you'd say that... I find it a bit bloated. Taking 20 minutes out of it in key spots would tighten it up & increase its re-watchability IMO.
  • Some_Kind_Of_HeroSome_Kind_Of_Hero
    Posts: 6,844
    NickTwentyTwo wrote: »
    OP said LTK was boring...

    Well that was rude of Octopussy to say that. We can't all have circuses and vine-swinging and crocodile submarines.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    edited December 2021 Posts: 5,979
    chrisisall wrote: »
    NickTwentyTwo wrote: »

    I don't find FYEO or LTK boring; that honour goes to Octopussy. I know it has it's fans and I'm sure it's fine in some regards, but it simply objectively makes me go to sleep.
    I can see why you'd say that... I find it a bit bloated. Taking 20 minutes out of it in key spots would tighten it up & increase its re-watchability IMO.

    I love OP, and I agree with you. They could trim some of the Monsoon Palace shenanigans, and the train scenes. But I'd hate to lose the Barry score here, arguably his last great Bond score.

    I think FYEO is more boring than OP...and honestly, a lot of it comes down to the score. As one example, I think Barry could have done a much better job with the ski jump sequence, and going up that elevator would not have seemed quite so interminable.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,691
    echo wrote: »
    I'd hate to lose the Barry score here, arguably his last great Bond score.
    Yes, it was rich & lush. AVTAK was a bit 'fast food' for Barry. However he gave TLD a slightly new sound for a new Bond, and it's one of my favourites!

  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    edited December 2021 Posts: 7,526
    Maybe I’ll listen to the soundtrack of OP without the film and see if that alters my appreciation of it.
    Some_Kind_Of_Hero wrote: »
    NickTwentyTwo wrote: »
    OP said LTK was boring...

    Well that was rude of Octopussy to say that. We can't all have circuses and vine-swinging and crocodile submarines.

    :)) :))
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    edited December 2021 Posts: 14,962
    echo wrote: »
    chrisisall wrote: »
    NickTwentyTwo wrote: »

    I don't find FYEO or LTK boring; that honour goes to Octopussy. I know it has it's fans and I'm sure it's fine in some regards, but it simply objectively makes me go to sleep.
    I can see why you'd say that... I find it a bit bloated. Taking 20 minutes out of it in key spots would tighten it up & increase its re-watchability IMO.

    I love OP, and I agree with you. They could trim some of the Monsoon Palace shenanigans, and the train scenes. But I'd hate to lose the Barry score here, arguably his last great Bond score.

    I think FYEO is more boring than OP...and honestly, a lot of it comes down to the score. As one example, I think Barry could have done a much better job with the ski jump sequence, and going up that elevator would not have seemed quite so interminable.

    I think that bit of music is very effectively tense. I love Barry music, he would have made it all feel terribly dangerous and important, which is the strength of his 80s Bond music, but I don't think he'd have made it seem as exciting and punchy as Conti does. It's just so energetic in a way that Barry couldn't really muster anymore by then.
    I'm increasingly of the opinion that FYEO has the best ever gunbarrel for example. I'm not musical, but I think it actually has a key change in it, doesn't it? It's brilliant! :)
  • NickTwentyTwoNickTwentyTwo Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Posts: 7,526
    No key change, but it is great.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 5,979
    I think Conti was great at a bombastic sound, whereas Barry was great at, well, everything.
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 14,962
    Not as great at high energy at that point though.
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    Posts: 3,985
    mtm wrote: »
    echo wrote: »
    chrisisall wrote: »
    NickTwentyTwo wrote: »

    I don't find FYEO or LTK boring; that honour goes to Octopussy. I know it has it's fans and I'm sure it's fine in some regards, but it simply objectively makes me go to sleep.
    I can see why you'd say that... I find it a bit bloated. Taking 20 minutes out of it in key spots would tighten it up & increase its re-watchability IMO.

    I love OP, and I agree with you. They could trim some of the Monsoon Palace shenanigans, and the train scenes. But I'd hate to lose the Barry score here, arguably his last great Bond score.

    I think FYEO is more boring than OP...and honestly, a lot of it comes down to the score. As one example, I think Barry could have done a much better job with the ski jump sequence, and going up that elevator would not have seemed quite so interminable.

    I think that bit of music is very effectively tense. I love Barry music, he would have made it all feel terribly dangerous and important, which is the strength of his 80s Bond music, but I don't think he'd have made it seem as exciting and punchy as Conti does. It's just so energetic in a way that Barry couldn't really muster anymore by then.
    I'm increasingly of the opinion that FYEO has the best ever gunbarrel for example. I'm not musical, but I think it actually has a key change in it, doesn't it? It's brilliant! :)

    The FYEO gunbarrel is one of my favourites. It's really punchy 👍
  • Pierce2DanielPierce2Daniel
    edited December 2023 Posts: 4,400
    I rewatched For Your Eyes Only the other day before it left Prime....The film offers breathtaking set pieces and cool Bond moments, yet stumbles in the storytelling department. The film lacks the allure and glamour characteristic of top-tier Bond movies, feeling a bit mundane and bloodless. Despite glorious action sequences, the attempt at a more serious tone falls short due to inconsistent elements, occasionally veering into infantile humour. Roger Moore's Bond, though less charming, still pulls off some impressive feats - I am particularly fond if his stylish bomber jacket. Carole Bouquet adds elegance and beauty, reminiscent of a high-fashion model (she reminds me a little of Kendall Jenner). However, there is no sense of mischief or flamboyance which make for the best Bond films. It’s a bit drab and forgettable. It’s lacking that one element to really push it over the line. Though, I must reiterate that the mostly wordless set pieces are often tense and masterfully executed.

    96tSzyo.png
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 23,552
    @Pierce2Daniel

    While I'm not "into" the whole Kardashian thing, Kendall Jenner is such a beautiful woman, I'm always happy to see her on screen. I wish she'd be willing to try acting. ;-)
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    edited December 2023 Posts: 5,979
    I find TMWTGG much more boring than FYEO.

    But the point is well-taken about FYEO. The action sequences are amazing but the novelty wears off after a while. There is something about the story itself that is slack--and they kind of lose the thread of Melina's revenge (unlike, say, LTK). Compare it to OP, which has a much more involving story despite being sillier. (Even when Bond is climbing around the Monsoon Palace and Magda uses her hairdryer, it works. Glen's storytelling is more confident in his second film.)

    Off topic, Monsoon Palace is an odd name although that's the real-life name.
  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    Posts: 1,431
    Boring Bond Movies:
    Casino Royale 67
    Never Say Never Again
    .
    .
    .
    Diamonds Are Forever
    The Man With The Golden Gun
    A View To A Kill
    .
    .
    The World Is Not Enough
    .
    .
    For Your Eyes Only
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 23,552
    I wonder what makes FYEO boring? Sure, there isn't an action scene every five minutes, the cameramen aren't epileptics, and the editing isn't about cuts every 0.2 seconds. Still, good acting, smart story, a few really tense scenes, plenty of good comedy, and Roger as a very strong Bond should earn this film more credit.
  • Last_Rat_StandingLast_Rat_Standing Long Neck Ice Cold Beer Never Broke My Heart
    Posts: 4,417
    Yes
  • DEKE_RIVERSDEKE_RIVERS
    Posts: 705
    GoldenEye, SPECTRE, NTTD are more boring.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 1,368
    I would say FYEO is not a Bond film fans watch often. It's a more stripped back Bond film because of MR, so at times, it appears to be boring. For me, it's also not the first Bond film I think of when I think of Moore's Bond.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 6,789
    I don't find any Bond film boring. Not even the ones in my bottom 3.

    As for FYEO, I think it's an absolute blast. This one just has it all: aerial stunts, car chase, ski chase, underwater action and even mountain climbing. What's boring about that?
  • FoxRoxFoxRox
    Posts: 12,270
    I wouldn’t call any Bond film boring in a collective sense, especially not FYEO for me. Personally, the one that tends to bore me the most is TWINE.
  • Last_Rat_StandingLast_Rat_Standing Long Neck Ice Cold Beer Never Broke My Heart
    Posts: 4,417
    If MR was a fully loaded ice cream sundae with every topping imaginable the

    FYEO is plain vanilla with nothing
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 8,505
    TWINE was a brutal bore and I think it may nudge DAD out of my last spot.
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