45 replies to this topic

[tim partridge]

Funny all the praise of Glen as an editor turned director above versus the throughline lacking Brozza films- obviously it seems the same cannot be said for Roger Spotiswoode (I would agree with that notion)...

I think the FYEO PTS is solid, but shot dead by Conti´s revoltingly inappropriate and tasteless disco music and the unforgivable, laughable production design of Blofeld´s computer, the latter almost a declaration that Ken Adam had left the building.

[DaveBond21]

I like EYES ONLY. I like its Bond in his Autumn years vibe. I like the simplicity of the story. I like the wisdom to pepper the film with older, wiser characters (LISL, COLUMBO, BRINK). I like the Campari '80 iconography. I like the fact that I buy the relationship between BOND and MELINA. I like that it has a score that is pure disco. I like the Easton track as it does not trip over itself to be a Bond song (as all good Bond songs do). I like that its good v bad device is tied up with Russian politics by stealth rather than on the nose. I like that the film feels resourceful. I also like MAKE IT LAST ALL NIGHT as that track has the dirtiest lyrics of any song I think I have ever heard!

Well said, Zorin...

It is a world-weary Bond who visits his wife's grave, who responds to the vicar's comment, who refuses Bibi's advances and who knows revenge is not the best way, when trying to calm Melina. And you can tell he has seen it all before when he has dinner with Kristatos:-

"You may have to kill him. Does this discourage you?"

"Just tell me where he is"

[Messervy]

Coming a bit late back on this issue.

To me, the only good point of this PTS is the part that has Bond facing Tracy's grave. That was one of the scarse tries at displaying true emotion in Bond films (the only other display of true emotion being Laz' in his car holding Tracy in his arms at the end of OHMSS: "we have all the time in the world", one of the best ever Bond lines the way it was delivered).

Beyond that, what to me is a real disaster with this PTS is the foul way to get rid of such an iconic character as Blofeld. The Villain of all villains, the head of SPECTRE, the arch-nemesis, killed in such a daft way ! Positively hate it. Not worthy of what we've seen of the character in the previous films. To sum up, I would say that although it may not be the worst PTS as far as cinematography is concerned, it is by far (to me at least) the biggest failure due to its sheer stupidity.

Which actually leads me to another question I'd like to ask the forum members: I've read in various posts that Blofeld could be brought back, that Blofeld could be the head of Quantum, etc. But if I get it correctly, Blofeld is dead since FYEO. Or am I mistaken? Is Blofeld really dead? May sound a bit naive/dumb a question, but I would like to get your definitive views on this, since I'm getting a bit lost there.

[Mr_Wint]

I've always liked it. One of the best PTS in the series.

[DamnCoffee]

As terrible as I think For Your Eyes Only is, I have to agree with you, Wint. The PTS is marvelous.

[The Shark]

As terrible as I think For Your Eyes Only is, I have to agree with you, Wint. The PTS is marvelous.

Marvellously bad. Like almost everything else in the film, yet unintentionally hilarious.

For Your Eyes Only is the spiritual successor to Casino Royale '67.

[Mr_Wint]

The whole film is terrific and still remains one of my favorite Bonds.

[Rufus Ffolkes]

I've read in various posts that Blofeld could be brought back, that Blofeld could be the head of Quantum, etc. But if I get it correctly, Blofeld is dead since FYEO. Or am I mistaken? Is Blofeld really dead? May sound a bit naive/dumb a question, but I would like to get your definitive views on this, since I'm getting a bit lost there.

Given that the intention of the Craig Bond films is to completely restart the series, it really doesn't matter whether Blofeld was killed in FYEO or not, as the new films operate in a completely different universe and have no connection to anything that may have happened in previous films.

Edited by Rufus Ffolkes, 17 February 2010 - 04:57 PM.

[Double-Oh Agent]

I've read in various posts that Blofeld could be brought back, that Blofeld could be the head of Quantum, etc. But if I get it correctly, Blofeld is dead since FYEO. Or am I mistaken? Is Blofeld really dead? May sound a bit naive/dumb a question, but I would like to get your definitive views on this, since I'm getting a bit lost there.

Given that the intention of the Craig Bond films is to completely restart the series, it really doesn't matter whether Blofeld was killed in FYEO or not, as the new films operate in a completely different universe and have no connection to anything that may have happened in previous films.

Or one can look at it as the Craig films happening before the Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, and Brosnan films, in which case, Bond hasn't met Blofeld yet.

[Mr Teddy Bear]

The PTS is fine, but not exactly stellar.

The highlight is of course Bond at Tracey's grave and Moore's wonderfully understated performance.

[Manta ray]

Am I alone in thinking it is one of the worst by miles in the series? The ridiculous attempts at humour - "Have a nice fright", the silly noise accompanying Blofeld's drop down the chimney. I couldn't remember it being as bad as it is!

It's my favorite film. Roger is perfect. Locations, Columbo, the plot, Lisl's death and Locque's (the best moment of Moore)...Bill Conti's score is so punchy !. Ok Bibi Dahl isn't very good. Useless is the word.
The PTS is the better until the helicopter takes off...When Bond chases Blofeld, he just left the cemetery. Blofeld is on his path ! He wants revenge for his late wife !...That's a shame this attempt at humour.

Edited by Manta ray, 20 February 2010 - 10:55 AM.

[Turn]

The PTS is the better until the helicopter takes off...When Bond chases Blofeld, he just left the cemetery. Blofeld is on his path ! He wants revenge for his late wife !...That's a shame this attempt at humour.

Yeah, it just feels awkward, a good idea poorly executed. Suddenly we have Roger Moore's Bond, who has never faced Blofeld, taking him on. Given the history of Bond vs. Blofeld, the resoulution seems almost like an afterthought. While it's nice to keep the continuity of character going, it just doesn't flow, even with a more serious Moore here, who still makes the bad jokes.

The production team was big on precredits in mid-air during the time and wanted to start the film off with a bang like that. I think now that this sequence could have worked a lot better in a different part of the film.

[Matt_13]

Some very fine moments in that short 4 minute period. The shot of the priest making the sign of the cross is very cool. As for Conti's music, I actually really like it. Very uptempo and exciting, IMO. The movie itself isn't a complete loss, either, it's just a tad slow (save for that wonderful ski sequence) and suffers from lack of identity (as so many Bond films do). It doesn't know whether it wants to be serious or goofy, and the PTS is a good display of this.

[Conlazmoodalbrocra]

Some very fine moments in that short 4 minute period. The shot of the priest making the sign of the cross is very cool. As for Conti's music, I actually really like it. Very uptempo and exciting, IMO.

I agree.

[Guy Haines]

The PTS is the better until the helicopter takes off...When Bond chases Blofeld, he just left the cemetery. Blofeld is on his path ! He wants revenge for his late wife !...That's a shame this attempt at humour.

Yeah, it just feels awkward, a good idea poorly executed. Suddenly we have Roger Moore's Bond, who has never faced Blofeld, taking him on. Given the history of Bond vs. Blofeld, the resoulution seems almost like an afterthought. While it's nice to keep the continuity of character going, it just doesn't flow, even with a more serious Moore here, who still makes the bad jokes.

The production team was big on precredits in mid-air during the time and wanted to start the film off with a bang like that. I think now that this sequence could have worked a lot better in a different part of the film.

As I recall, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, when FYEO was being written there was the usual question mark over whether or not the incumbent actor would return as Bond. Hence the introduction involving Tracy Bond's grave - they thought it would be a nice way of saying to the audience that we have a new man in the role, but its the same Bond as before. Of course, Roger Moore signed up again, but the scene was kept in. Nothing wrong with that, but I agree that as a "revenge" scene it could have been handled better.

[00Twelve]

The helicopter stunt itself was pretty good, and the grave portion was nice, too.

It's interesting that Bond is offering Melina advice against taking revenge, but for crying out loud, it could have been a heck of a lot more resonant had he shown the slightest hint of unsatisfaction at having exacted his own revenge here, a mere matter of days prior.

I know full well what the tone was during the height of Moore's tenure, and I think it's all sorts of fun. But as dour as this film constantly managed to be, it would have been a sight more consistent had they forgone the usual jovial PTS climax. Yes, the whole thing was designed to be a middle finger to McClory and his copyrighted character. No reason Bond couldn't show a little hollowness in light of killing what many fans knew to be his wife's killer. Hindsight's 20/20, of course. Still, it always jerks me out of the story when Bond goes off on Melina about revenge after having practically bell-kicked his way into the sunset after offing old Ernst.