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The 'For Your Eyes Only appreciation thread'
AceHole
Belgium, via Britain
To my amazement there isn't one yet - so high time to start it, surely.
FYEO just does what it says on the tin - no more, no less. All too often overlooked for it’s divisive PTS, criticized for being too average or having 'that silly blonde' in it, FYEO is what I like to think of as the very best 'distillate' of a Bond-adventure: it encapsulates both literary Fleming Bond and ‘cinematic’ Bond in one tight, well-paced 120 minute episode.
And yes, it does feel like an ‘episode’, but that’s part of its strength. For a movie that has the tag of being a ‘scaled-down’ 007 film it has a surprising variety of locations and set-pieces, all of which are well-integrated and move the story along. The whole film is focused and there was obviously a very clear vision of what the makers wanted to do.
So, FYEO isn't 'BIG' or particularly dramatic, but it has a unique warmth & charm that the other entries lack - hard to put my finger on what it is, exactly, but it has something to do with the way the story weaves perfectly from well-used locale to the next, whilst both Bond & the audience become invested in Melina’s mournful vengeance. Roger Moore is, arguably, at his very best here - his pensive demeanor whilst standing in front of Tracy's grave at the start really signal that we are in for a more personable kind of adventure.
This film isn’t at the top of my ranking (it’s about 6th or 7th depending on mood, etc.) but I have great affection for it - I feel compelled to revisit it quite often, and it may be the 1st one I show my son when he is old enough…
FYEO just does what it says on the tin - no more, no less. All too often overlooked for it’s divisive PTS, criticized for being too average or having 'that silly blonde' in it, FYEO is what I like to think of as the very best 'distillate' of a Bond-adventure: it encapsulates both literary Fleming Bond and ‘cinematic’ Bond in one tight, well-paced 120 minute episode.
And yes, it does feel like an ‘episode’, but that’s part of its strength. For a movie that has the tag of being a ‘scaled-down’ 007 film it has a surprising variety of locations and set-pieces, all of which are well-integrated and move the story along. The whole film is focused and there was obviously a very clear vision of what the makers wanted to do.
So, FYEO isn't 'BIG' or particularly dramatic, but it has a unique warmth & charm that the other entries lack - hard to put my finger on what it is, exactly, but it has something to do with the way the story weaves perfectly from well-used locale to the next, whilst both Bond & the audience become invested in Melina’s mournful vengeance. Roger Moore is, arguably, at his very best here - his pensive demeanor whilst standing in front of Tracy's grave at the start really signal that we are in for a more personable kind of adventure.
This film isn’t at the top of my ranking (it’s about 6th or 7th depending on mood, etc.) but I have great affection for it - I feel compelled to revisit it quite often, and it may be the 1st one I show my son when he is old enough…
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Comments
I enjoy pretty much all the Bonds but this one will always be my favourite. It's got all the elements that make a great Bond, cracking opening, awesome car chase with the 2CV, ski chase, a bit of humour but not over the top, uses his wit over gadgets (mountain climb) although I must admit the Margaret and Denis bit does make me cringe but hey you can win 'em all.
I actually thought the Thatcher gag was quite funny (unnecessary, sure, but funny). Suppose they had a quota of goofiness and just had to put something silly in at the end to balance out what has to otherwise be the most straight-faced Roger Moore entry...
My favourite ski chase
One of, if not my favourite car chase
A top notch bond girl
And i also really like the score, in my top 3
Columbo is also one of the best allies of the series
Pretty much sums the film up for me, as well.
It has more adventure and action set pieces (all very inventive) than any Bond (though I've not yet seen SP) -- and, they're embedded into a very grounded and realistic story. It also had a very adventurous and satisfying finale (& the finale is a weak point in most Bond movies). Loved the Bond women except the dumb blonde. Loved the twisty, realistic, espionage plot. Great theme song too. Title of the movie made no sense (could have been used for any Bond movie) but nothing new there.
My biggest problem with the movie, even more so than the out-of-place PTS & the few silly moments, is Moore. I was happy with Moore in his previous Bonds but here he's already too old &, more importantly, miscast. This movie rebooted the series to a more serious take (needed) and Bond is almost a completely different character. How can the same camp Bond who dropped a man from the top a building simply for sadistic kicks (TSWLM) warn a woman against killing to avenge her parents (FYEO)!?
Still love it though. Had this movie starred Dalton instead of Moore, had its silly moments removed & plot faults cleaned-up (though all Bond movies have plot faults, many even worse than those here) & had it had a fitting PTS, it'd be my top favorite Bond.
Hell, actually, it'd be my number one had it simply starred Dalton.
I think 'miscast', is a tad harsh... for me this has Moore's definitive take on 007.
Several replacements were apparently discussed in 1980, but eventually they stuck with Roger. The grave visit was, if I recall correctly, intended to 'introduce' the new Bond.
FYEO is not one of my favourites of Moore's, because it's a little unbalanced ('series low' weak 'uncharismatic' villains imho, and I wanted some stuntwork with the Lotus rather than the crappy 2CV.....my feelings mirror Bond in that respect). It also drags in some spots, and has one of the absolute worst action sequences in the franchise (that Neptune submarine mashup with some loser in a deep sea diving outfit and geek in some underwater contraption).
Having said that, it also has a very distinctive score (some parts are excellent if not the dated disco), an incredibly beautiful leading lady (still one of my top 5), out of this world ski sequences, and that superb escape from the sharks and Kristatos.
I'll forgive & tolerate Bibi for all of that. This is unquestionably an excellent Bond film even if I personally prefer other Moore ones for entertainment. I highly recommend it on blu ray (it just looks absolutely wonderful.....the colour just bounces off the screen.....OHMSS style).
While not as extremely jarring as CR would have been seeing Brosnan in the role after DAD, I still found FYEO to be a completely different Bond, & therefore found it somewhat jarring that Moore was still in the role.
After witnessing Dalton's phenomenal work later, I found myself forever wishing he had stepped-into the role much earlier, starting with FYEO
Dalton was good, but I think Moore gave us two great (and very different) Bond films in FYEO & OP. I personally think he should have called it quits after OP and let Dalton in earlier to establish himself sooner.
Ah, a fellow FYEO and LTK fan. Makes me suspect we have other Bond faves in common.
I have FRWL, CR, TSWLM, TLD, DN as my top five.
Yep, I was right. I'm not sure of my exact rankings (been think'n about that lately) but those are all def in my top 10, for sure, & maybe all in my top five -- except CR, which is a top ten but not a top 5 for me (good Bond movie but I didn't want an origin story).
You didn't mention TWINE which is in my top 5. For me, it has a similar espionage/character story feel to that of FYEO (and TWINE has the 2nd most action set-pieces of any Bond movie after FYEO -- all very inventive action too).
Getting closer and closer to saying this is Moore's best film (TSWLM)
Love the soundtrack. Conti lets you know the 80s are here.
Everyone's favorite ski chase.
Forgettable main villain and Bond girl, unfortunately.
Bond's best kill (Locque)
I love the theme song…no apologies.
I agree. Pretty much a consensus that TSWLM is the best of the OTT Bonds. It used to be favourite to boot.
I am so thankful that Sir Rog got the chance to play it (mostly) straight here. I think he gave an amazing performance. It's just such a great little spy thriller with so many memorable moments and characters. Columbo is the best ally since Kerim and I thought Kristatos and Locque were great villains. I love so many scenes but everything in Cortina is just superb and definitely my favorite part of the film.
A lot of Moore's films are undersold as "jokey" while the good majority of them are taut thrillers. People bring up the clown makeup as a negative while forgetting just how tense the German segments in OP actually were.
OP is criminally underrated
This is actually a good performance by Moore, he's just so visibly aged, and it's awkward with the ladies, to me.
The best thing about this film is the use of Fleming's material. Melina is one of the more interesting Bond girls because of it, she's the whole package. I also love Topol, he's easily my favorite Bond ally.
FYEO is my favorite Moore film, behind LALD. If you don't count Spice World ;) . (Kidding, but I do get a kick out of Spice World :)) )
Do you know why she has a weird, attitude of detachment when she gives her exposition speech at the beginning of the car chase ? Well, she wasn't told it would take place during the chase, she played it as if it was just an exposition scene with no danger anywhere.
Yep. There should be actual fines for that. [-(
Interesting. Honestly, it seems like she carries the air of detachment throughout the film though. Not a lot of visible emotional range.