Review of For Your Eyes Only (1981) by Jamy S — 19 Mar 2012

Easily the BEST of the Roger Moore Bond films, which makes it an excellent Bond film indeed.

The story centers around the search to salvage a device called an ATAC, which controls all communication with British nuclear subs, even to the point where it could be used to cause the subs to attack British cities. (I know. That makes no sense to me either. But, as a Cold War era McGuffin for this movie, it works.) The ATAC was lost at sea and it's a race against time between Bond and the bad guys to get it.

Along for the ride are a Greek woman determined to avenge the death of her parents--indeed, the scene of her parents' deaths is like a distaff version of Batman's origin--played by stunning French actress Carole Bouquet, a couple of smugglers--of whom only ONE is on the up and up played by Julian Glover and Topol, and a perpetually horny, pubescent Olympic skater played by Lynn Holly Johnson.

It's all played out against the backdrop of Greece, the Aegean and the Italian alps, with some of the most awesome skiing and mountain climbing sequences in ANY movie, not just a Bond movie.

Another thing I appreciated a LOT about this flick--Roger Moore's cutsie poo persona as Bond is reined in as director John Glen gives us a harder-edged Bond. It actually reminds us of what a terrific actor Moore can be with the right director and harkens back to the day when he starred in the British TV series, "The Saint". It's a precursor to how the character of Bond would evolve under Moore's successors in the role, all of whom played Bond more like the tough, noirish figure in the Fleming novels, none moreso than the current Bond, Daniel Craig.

Another great aspect of "For Your Eyes Only" was the choice to leave the gadgetry to a minimum which forces the story to focus more on character development. The BEST Bonds--i.e. "From Russia With Love", "License To Kill", and "Casino Royale"--all share that trait and it's refreshing to see it in "For Your Eyes Only".

The only part of the movie that doesn't work is the opening sequence with Bond battling to wrest control of a helicopter. Compare and contrast that to the rest of the picture and see how different Roger Moore's overall contribution to the Bond franchise could have been....