60 replies to this topic

[ray t]

and oh, i did forget the parrot...how could i forget that?

in all seriousnes...this movie lacks the quality that the bond films from Dr No all the way through OHMSS aspired to have;
where, as the man said, EVERY DOLLAR WAS UP THERE ON THE SCREEN.

you can see the lack of quality in the fake underwater close-ups and the lighting and atmosphere of the casino sceen....THUNDERBALL set the standard for the underwater stuff and it and, prior to that, Dr NO set it for casino stuff.

the same is true of the gun fight set piece at the harbourside warehouse. the lighting and sound were below bond standards and the piece seemed like a pale rip-off the gypsie camp set piece of From Russia With Love.

Everyone criticizes TSWLM for being a "remake" of YOLT and in turn Moonraker for being a "remake" of TSWLM....but in my book while these three maintained the VERY HIGH PRODUCTION STANDARDS of the series, FYEO was a cheap rip-off of From Russia With Love.

come to think of it, zencat was accurate in FYEO being a feature length The Saint than an epic James Bond

[Turn]

I agree with Ray T. I also marvelled at Moonraker at age 12 (it was actually the film that got me to be a full-time Bond fan) and was disappointed when For Your Eyes Only turned into this "serious" film after really looking forward to it.

My problem with it is that it just seems so repackaged. Not that most of the other Bonds up to that point and beyond weren't. The ski stunts, car chases and underwater stuff was all done better in other films. And for all of the action that goes on in this, does anybody else think it's painfully slow? The cliff scaling scenes are cool, but seem to drag. I know it's supposed to be about suspense, but it takes forever. It's also slow during the recovery of the ATAC. Isn't it also silly in that scene Bond tells Melina to speak only when necessary then proceeds to crack jokes and read instructions? Why use such a line only to break it?

The villains are some of the weakest, and this is, in my opinion, the least romantic Bond film. And couldn't Bond have been given at least one gadget? This is why I find Octopussy much funner and an all-around better Bond movie.

[RossMan]

For Your Eyes Only tied with Octopussy is probably my favorite of the Moore era. Even when I seen it for the first time quite a while back and had no idea or awareness of Fleming etc, I thought this has to be one of the best Moore movies. Annoying pre-title sequence, yes, annoying parrot, yes, but this one rates very high for me. I loved the raid on the warehouse and the mountain fortress.

Also, I would prefer a more realistic Bond but the completely over the top Bond epics are fine by me. I actually hope they'll bring those style of Bond movies back one day (or that Benson will try something like that for a novel). Moonraker got a little too over the top. I, for one, never want to see Bond travel into outerspace again, though who knows, they do have Star Wars movies...

[General Koskov]

I liked the ending though--no not the bleedin' parrot, the smashing of the ATAC!--and the pistachio nuts added a, er, flavour to the film. ;D

I really wish Blofeld was replaced by someone else, though. With that scene, Eon abandoned all hope of the YOLT fight (from the book) which would have given and end to this SPECTRE once and for all.

I think Moonraker is sillier than AVTAK though. I mean at least May Day never fell in love with someone who rescued her from a cable car.

[ray t]

Moonraker's production quality was/is infinitely superior to that of FYEO. It was a BIG SCREEN GLOBETROTTING EPIC of the highest order....Cubby, in an interview in Rio, mentioned that Moonraker was "science fact", not science fiction and i agree with him...Bond is about things that are POSSIBLE even though they may be IMPROBABLE...Moonraker was jush ahead of its time, whereas, FYEO was a rehashing of a lot of stuff (esp FRWL).

And as for those who think that Bond doesnt belong in space...ALL of you will change your mind 10 years from now when the international space station is par for the course stuff which kids will be talking about at the breakfast table before heading off for school.

If done intelligently a partially space-based plot should make for a BLOCKBUSTER 007 flick....i for one am looking forward to Die Another Day for numerous reasons...including the rumoured stuff that i wont mention in this thread.

[DLibrasnow]

I love the movie.....

[ChandlerBing]

Well, I must be in deep **** with a lot of you, because I liked this movie, one of the 3 Roger Moore films that I can watch without grimacing too much.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Xenobia


I always thought Bond's appendages were the ultimate Q gadgets -- capable of anything in the right hands.

-- Xenobia

<> :eek:

[4 Ur Eyez Only]

I loved it.. John Glen's first.. amazing action, harder edge which puts range to Roger 007 Career..plus they went everywhere..

What i LOVE the most is Cubby.. NOT trying to "milk" another moonraker on to the public! That was the biggest one.. and Cubby wasn't a whore.. and try one more on the public ..just milk one more.. with the exact feel on Moonraker..

Cubby took a risk!! They did a 007 fillm 100% different.. with a serious feel..

I respect that!

its a great film if you ask me

[DLibrasnow]

There is a great picture from FYEO of Cubby. He is sitting on one of those directors chairs on top of one of those mountains (like the one where Kristatos' hideout is). Its a wide shot and there is no one anywhere near him and the Greek mountains are in the background behind him...

[DLibrasnow]

That is from the book "For Your Eyes Only Movie Book", a coffee size book which followed the making of the movie and featured interviews with the cast and crew. I guess it was only published in the UK because I can't find it anywhere here.

I'm going to have to get my folks to mail it from the UK along with the "Starlog" published "Making of" books/specials for OP and AVTAK.

[Dr.Carl Mortner]

What floors me about peoples' attitudes towards FYEO is the criticism of the humor, considering it's all relatively low-key compared to its contemporaries. What floors me even more is that there are actually people out there who LOVE movies like TMWTGG and at the same time complain about the parrot, the "delicatessen in stainless steel" and Bibi in FYEO. TMWTGG had its moments, but it was practically a comedy. There's a difference between an action/drama with comedic moments (FYEO) and an action/comedy with occasional dramatic moments (TMWTGG).

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Dr.Carl Mortner
What floors me about peoples' attitudes towards FYEO is the criticism of the humor, considering it's all relatively low-key compared to its contemporaries. What floors me even more is that there are actually people out there who LOVE movies like TMWTGG and at the same time complain about the parrot, the "delicatessen in stainless steel" and Bibi in FYEO. TMWTGG had its moments, but it was practically a comedy. There's a difference between an action/drama with comedic moments (FYEO) and an action/comedy with occasional dramatic moments (TMWTGG).

I find it hard to believe that a Bond fan who loves TMWTGG (hard to believe they exist but okay) would be critical of the parrot in FYEO. At least the parrot moved the story along.

[ray t]

we debate the idea of an ageing brosnan being around for bond 22.

similiarly, moore looked quite old in some of the scenes in this movie (he looked better apres plastic surgery in AVTAK). are we really to believe that someone THAT old can climb the Meteora in record time? it boils down to credability of the character.

and, yes, the talking parot (used as a plot device to help bond save the world) really DOES take the cake in terms of sillines.

having said that...like ALL bonds (including golden gun, DAF, etc.) this movie has a lot of good stuff in it. there isnt a bond movie i dont like. i just rate this one in the second half.

[doublenoughtspy]

I would argue just the opposite - that FYEO is under rated by the world at large.

The teaser is excellent, and while the stainless steel line is jarring - you can blame that on Broccoli who came up with it. I've heard recently that it was put in there to prove that the character wasn't Blofeld.

The parrot is positively tame compared to Bond fighting a midget, getting pushed aside by school girls, in clown makeup, etc.

Many of the things in Roger's other films insulted the character - the parrot is comic relief but not at Bond's expense.

I agree the Bibi - Ice cream scene is slightly out of place, but it hardly ruins the film. As General Koskov said - it's funny!

Twice in the series, one adventure has elements in outer space with over the top action followed by a down to earth, realistic story with plenty of Ian Fleming (YOLT -> OHMSS, MR -> FYEO).

As the the DAD dvd producer said, hopefully DAD will be followed up by a more realstic, gritty endeavor for the third evolution of this cycle.

This balance is what makes the series survive.

FYEO's positive elements (lots of Fleming, elegant european women, good action, a fantastic performance by Moore, great title song, killer poster campaign) far outweigh its weaknesses (bad score, weak villain)

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by doublenoughtspy
I've heard recently that it was put in there to prove that the character wasn't Blofeld.

How so?

[doublenoughtspy]

I was told by someone at the Bond conference at Indiana that Broccoli put the line in there to help prove in the lawsuit that it wasn't Blofeld.

When the experts testified, they were asked - would Ernst Stavro Blofeld, master criminal ever say a silly line like this. All the experts said "No". And thus the lawsuit had to be dropped.

I find it difficult to believe myself. I would think that looks (bald, neckbrace) and the white cat would trump a stupid line as far as copyright infringement.

For example - with the Honda lawsuit that they lost - their parody James Bond doesn't even have any dialog that I recall.

[Sanchez]

What everyone is forgetting is that not everyone likes the same movies. FYEO is my favourite Bond movie, but I do respect other peoples right to their own preference.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by doublenoughtspy
I've heard recently that it was put in there to prove that the character wasn't Blofeld.

Surely the easiest way to do that would have been to not give the guy a white cat.

[TheSaint]

Doublenoughtspy, I couldn't have said it better myself.

[4 Ur Eyez Only]

I think FYEO is a very inportant movie in roger's era! Going serious and taking chances in roger's late 007 career is why he is the best bond ever!

they all took chances..the whole 007 family with roger's 007 era

[DLibrasnow]

The movie "For Your Eyes Only" was a very risky proposition. The previous movie MR had taken in (in 2002 $'s) over $500 million at the box office.
However Cubby then decided to change tack and bring a more down to earth movie to the cinema. It was a balsy and risky move on his part. Thankfully, it paid off and we now have this great movie as part of the 007 franchise.

[Jim]

Originally posted by doublenoughtspy


When the experts testified, they were asked - would Ernst Stavro Blofeld, master criminal ever say a silly line like this.  All the experts said "No".  And thus the lawsuit had to be dropped.

Whilst I'm not doubting you for a moment, I'm highly amused at the thought of who these "experts" are and whether there's really much call for experts in the distinguishing features of fictional whackjobs. I hope they do scratch out a living somehow.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Jim


Whilst I'm not doubting you for a moment, I'm highly amused at the thought of who these "experts" are and whether there's really much call for experts in the distinguishing features of fictional whackjobs. I hope they do scratch out a living somehow.

Thanks for making me smile

[Blofeld's Cat]

Originally posted by DLibrasnow
The movie "For Your Eyes Only" was a very risky proposition. The previous movie MR had taken in (in 2002 $'s) over $500 million at the box office.  
However Cubby then decided to change tack and bring a more down to earth movie to the cinema. It was a balsy and risky move on his part. Thankfully, it paid off and we now have this great movie as part of the 007 franchise.

I guess they realised they couldn't go any more beyond than beyond. The Spy Who Loved Me was "Bond and beyond" while with Moonraker it was a case of "where the other Bonds end...this one begins."

So they decided to reign it all in. Good decision too.

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by Blofeld's Cat

I guess they realised they couldn't go any more beyond than beyond. The Spy Who Loved Me was "Bond and beyond" while with Moonraker it was a case of "where the other Bonds end...this one begins."

So they decided to reign it all in. Good decision too.

I think you are right. As the doc "Inside For Your Eyes Only" states - what do you do when the previous movie took Bond into outer space -- you bring him back down to earth!

[Jamie007]

Well I like this film:
- Lack of gadgets. Bond actually uses his brain to get out of situations in this one
- No lasers
- Some decent locations after the extremely boring locations in MR
- The car kicking scene
- The keel hauling scene
- The pre-title sequence

[4 Ur Eyez Only]

Originally posted by Jamie007
Well I like this film:
- Lack of gadgets. Bond actually uses his brain to get out of situations in this one
- No lasers
- Some decent locations after the extremely boring locations in MR
- The car kicking scene
- The keel hauling scene
- The pre-title sequence

I love that there wasn't many gadgets.. I think that after the car blows up.. Bond is on his own!!

I love that he used his shoe lace.. to start to climb back up the rope.. to get up the mountain..

you got to love Bond there.. all brains:cool:

[Solex Agitator]

While I love the DOWN TO EARTH nature of this film and its fleeting moments of grittiness, I too was a high school boy when this film was released. I remember, like the initiator of this thread pointed out, being UNDERWHELMED by this film. I remember my first problem was THE SCORE. Bill Conti should be pistol whipped with a parrot for this abomination. Secondly, the poster looked cheap and crass. It was not until Dalton showed up in TLD that BOND WAS BACK. And this is coming from a kid who THRILLED at Moonraker and SPY!

[4 Ur Eyez Only]

Originally posted by Solex Agitator
While  Secondly, the poster looked cheap and crass.  It was not until Dalton showed up in TLD that BOND WAS BACK.

funny thing is.. if you look at both poster again.. for TLD Poster.. they just pasted Timothy's head on Roger's FYEO body ..

they cut a corner.. but it is still a nice poster:cool: