Review of For Your Eyes Only (1981) by Ben L — 16 Jun 2013

Someone at Eon Productions must have had a similar reaction to Moonraker to the one I had, because For Your Eyes Only is clearly a movie that puts the farce behind them and tries to reinvent the Roger Moore personification of Bond. First of all, while we are treated to a few fun gadgets in Q's laboratory, Bond is left to use his wits in order to escape sticky situations rather than relying on high-tech tools. Amazingly Bond actually turns down a woman who wants to hop in bed with him. Seems out of character, but actually shows the maturity of Bond realizing that Bibi is just too young for him. Bond even takes an active part in killing an unarmed man, quite possibly ignoring his own advice and doing so out of revenge. This is a darker, grittier Bond and the movie is much better for it. However, this is not to say that there is no humor to be found here. The writers/producers clearly kept there sense of humor by injecting more entertaining one-liners and a few fun situations (like a car chase in the most unlikely car imagineable,) but this is humor grounded in a Bond reality, rather than Sheriff Pepper or the Pippi-Jaws love story.

An impressive cast of actors makes this movie shine. Carole Bouquet displays an aloof personality, similar to the 2 Bond girls that came before, yet I find this works for her character. Since Melina is so driven by revenge, she doesn't seem like the type looking for a romantic connection, so it fits that she might be standoffish. As a result the closing scene feels a little forced, but it almost seems necessary to make an appropriate epilogue to a Bond film. Lynn-Holly Johnson is hilarious as an out-of-control nymph, and her smile is oddly contagious. I think the one flaw in the casting for me is Topol. He is a brilliant actor, but I couldn't believe for a moment that he was a villain. From his first scene right up until his reveal to Bond, I didn't buy the fact that he was any more dangerous than a teddy bear. In fact, if I'm perfectly honest, I just expected him to break out into the chorus of "If I Were a Rich Man" at any moment. He is 100% Tevye in my mind. On the flip side Julian Glover is a brilliant casting choice. Similar to his portrayal of Walter Donovan in the last Indiana Jones film, his true allegiance is tough to nail down until it is revealed.

The action in For Your Eyes Only is so much fun. I could see some people complaining that the scenes where James basically becomes a winter Olympian is delving a little too far into that farce I said they were escaping, but somehow it works for me. I love watching him fight his way down a ski jump, run from enemies through the bob sled track, and send hockey players sliding into the net for a hat-trick. The car chase is also fun because it forces Bond to once again be resourceful, running from foes in much better vehicles without the benefit of his Lotus that has all the "special buttons." I think the only downside to these action scenes is the fact that the music is a little too techno, early 80s junk. At times it sounds like I'm watching an episode of Magnum P.I. instead of a movie. In my opinion For Your Eyes Only also runs a little longer than it should. I think there are sequences that could have been cut, or shortened and this might have helped the film. Yet, despite some minor complaints, this may be my favorite of the Roger Moore era. It hearkens back to the early days of Bond (particularly in that opening sequence with Blofeld) and is just an all-around fun ride.