Rating: 
Summary: More believable story than most Bond films
Review: This isn't the best Bond film ever, but it's the best with Roger Moore by a longshot. Of course it has the usual gadgets and girls. I think what makes this a little different are the villians. The lead villian is a more believable charactor, being a double agent trying to sell some equipment to the Russians. He's not some multi-billionaire hell bent on world domination like most Bond villians. This movie also stands out as being a little different because for a little while, it keeps you guessing who the real villian is. Is it Topol or Julian Glover? Both actors play their roles very well, as does Roger Moore. The only complaint of mine is the opening pre-credit scene which was just plain stupid. BUT... at least during that scene he finally kills Bloefeld. The opening scene of For Your Eyes Only is the last time you ever hear from Bloefeld in the rest of the entire James Bond series. I just think that scene overall was poorly constructed. Once you get past that, the movie is great.
Rating:
Summary: Return to thriller mode
Review: Roger Moore's fifth James Bond film, "For Your Eyes Only," harks back to the simpler thriller mode of the first three entries in the series, a welcome relief after the far-fetched, and often laughable travesty that was "Moonraker." With his smirk on hold, Moore gets down and dirty for once, even exhibiting a touch of heartless sadism in a scene involving a villain whose car is teetering on the edge of a cliff. The plot, involving a sunken British ship whose cargo contains an important nuclear device, is comparatively down to earth for a change, and there's the great Israeli actor, Topol of "Fiddler on the Roof" fame, as a good/bad guy who seems to inspire the often wooden Moore to new acting heights. The action is well-staged, including a memorable mountain climbing sequence, but on the downside too much derring-do occurs on skis, inviting unfavorable comparisons to the superior snow bound action of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," the black sheep in the series whose memory hangs heavy over this film thanks to the pre-title sequence (which I find unbearably silly, unlike the remaining film) with Bond placing flowers on his late wife's grave. Also preventing this film from being fully bonded is the score by Bill Conti of "Rocky" fame. It has a tinny, generic quality that reminds me of the canned music found in old sports themed short subjects. Despite those faults, this is, along with "The Spy Who Loved Me," Moore's best film in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: This could be an opportunity...or a trap!
Review: The 12th James Bond movie. After a science-fiction epic with MOONRAKER, producer Albert R. Broccoli brings 007 back to Earth in a well crafted thriller closely echoing the vein of earlier Bond films as FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. Yet FOR YOUR EYES ONLY would appropriately emphasize such fantasy elements in a more grittier and realistic adventure filled with the usual beautiful women and non-stop action. This time a greater emphasis began with the idea of 007 as a more polished Super Agent who survives off his physical wits and prowess rather than the aide of gadgets. This would be a trademark well established in John Glen's debut as director for this film. Glen would continue to direct from this film all the way to LICENCE TO KILL. Equally credible is a tough, determind Bond girl in Carole Bouquet as revenge obsessed Melina Havelock, and a collection of the usual nasty villains out to silence her. As Bernard Lee who had played M passed away during production, Broccoli in refusal to replace him filled in with the Bill Tanner character. For the next film, OCTOPUSSY, Robert Brown would take over the role. THE ASSIGNMENT: The ST. GEORGES, a British electronic submarine disguised as a fishing boat, has been blown up in the Ionian Sea. On board is the valuable ATAC machine, which is a coded transmittor using ultra-low frequencies to order British submarines to launch ballistic missiles. If fallen into the wrong hands, submarines could be ordered to attack British cities leaving no chance of being manually countermanded. Bond's only lead: marine biologist Sir Timothy Havelock and his wife Iona were murdered while searching for the ATAC on behalf of the British. His killer, a Cuban hitman Hector Gonzales lives in Madrid. Bond pays his villa a visit, but before he can interrogate, Gonzales himself is killed by a crossbow bolt - from the Havelocks' daughter Milena who is on a revenge vendetta for their deaths. Bond and Milena quickly join forces, but not before Bond noticed Gonzales being paid for the job by a bespectacled man. If Bond can identify the man, he may still have a glimmer of hope. THE VILLAINS: Julian Glover as Aristotle Kristatos, Michael Gothard as Emile Leopold Locque, John Wyman as muscular Eric Kriegler, (a very young) Charles Dance as Claus, Jack Klaff as Apostis, and Stefan Kalipha as Hector Gonzales. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! BUY IT!
Rating:
Summary: The best 007 film is perfect in every department.
Review: "For Your Eyes Only" is the perfect Bond film. It's flawless. Every action scene is perfectly and creatively executed, the plot is intriguing and different, and finally things are more energetic here than in the previous few outings. Roger Moore continues to be the smoothest James Bond as he searches for his government's stolen ATAC system, which leads him to cross paths with Melina (Carol Bouquet). Bouquet is the perfect Bond girl, as she is beautiful, self reliant, and intelligent. There search for answers leads them to the Alps and then to Greece, where a few of the series best action scenes are produced. Overall, I can't recommend this movie enough. Every element in the story works just fine, and the movie never feels too long or too short. As for the DVD, it's got a sharp picture, decent sound and some really interesting extra features. The movie is pure Bond, something that the most recent 007 film, The World is Not Enough, is not.
Rating:
Summary: Roger Moore's Best Bond
Review: Following the release of MOONRAKER, arguably the most laughable film in the entire 007 series, Cubby Broccoli & Co. bring Bond back down to earth for this finely crafted thriller - and a fresh look, with new director, John Glen. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY opens with a pre-credits sequence that winks at many of the earliest Bond films. It truly sets the tone, yet is wholly unrelated to the plot of the movie. For certain this sequence has at turns over the years been praised and harangued by avid fans of the series. Commencing, our hero places flowers at the grave of his murdered wife, Tracy. Then a shot of the tombstone- the words, "We have all the time in the world," certainly portend a comparatively somber tone with regards to Bond as portrayed by Moore: a softer display in contrast with the usual flippant playfulness. As well, this is a linking reference to the earlier 007 film, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. Within moments, Bond finds himself trapped on a frightful helicopter ride, choreographed by a wheelchair-bound, kitty-petting bald man with remote controls. He's here unnamed, but anyone familiar with the pre-Moore era Bond films immediately recognize this personage as none other than Ernst Stavro Blofeld - the notorious megalomaniac who, incidentally, is Tracy's murderer. Most satisfyingly and most befitting, this bad guy gets unceremoniously dumped here for good. I guess my only regret is that Sean Connery's Bond wasn't given the pleasure. Following the credits sequence - the lovely title song, unfortunately weakly sung by Sheena Easton - Bond's mission takes off after the ATAK, a secret coding device, is sunk to the bottom of the sea when the ship carrying it hits a mine. The British Secret Service charges James Bond with retrieving it before it falls into the wrong hands. The Russians, who are intent on retrieving the device, direct their local contact in Greece to recover it at all costs. Part of this cost includes the murders of Sir Timothy Havelock and his wife aboard their yacht on the Mediterranean. Before long, Bond encounters their beautiful daughter, Melina, who's on her own quest to find the group of individuals behind it all. And since, "Greek women, like Electra, always avenge their loved ones," Melina manages to perforate her parents' assassin with a crossbow before Bond is able to question him regarding involvement with the ATAK. The quest, nevertheless, does eventually lead our favorite spy to the real villain behind it all: Aristotle Kristatos (Julian Glover), an exceptionally sly and dangerous adversary. His henchman, Emile Locque (Michael Gothard), though he never utters a word during the whole of this movie, is one of the most intensely menacing of all the Bond foes in the series. Though the lovely Miss Havelock shares the same adversary as Bond, she is working from a completely different angle. The result is an enticing romantic relationship. Commander Bond also gets assistance on this difficult mission from some unexpected quarters: Columbo (Topol), head of a smuggling operation, and the smuggler's lover, Countess Lisl von Schlaf (the late Cassandra Harris- who, coincidentally, was married to future James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan at the making of this movie). The pace of this movie is perfect - the scenery lovely and sublime - the action and humor subtle and flowing. It does tend to drag slightly during the underwater sequences - and Moore, like every other actor who's played Bond, is somewhat of a laugh in a wetsuit. But I must say, the rock-climbing scene towards the end is exhilarating. The cast here contains most of the usual personages for a Bond film: Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell), "Q" (Desmond Llewelyn), a ditzy blonde -herein named Bibi Dahl (Lynn-Holly Johnson), and Walter Gotell appears again as General Anatol Gogol. For the first and only time, the character of "M" is absent, as Bernard Lee (who was "M" in each of the previous 11 007 films) passed away while preparing for this role. Bill Conti's musical score is pleasant, but one still cannot help missing John Barry's lush, colorful touch. The cool Bond car of this movie, a Lotus Esprit, makes only a brief appearance - security-protected, it lamentably gets blown up when someone tries to break in. To compensate, this leads to a fun action set piece, wherein Melina & Bond must make a daring escape in a banana-yellow Citroen 2CV- "I'm afraid we're being out-horse powered." FOR YOUR EYES ONLY is the first Bond film to take its title from one of Ian Fleming's short stories rather than his novels. Yet, unlike the book, which is set in the Caribbean, this film is set in the richly scenic surroundings of the Mediterranean Sea. Like all of the other Bond films, this movie doesn't solely follow or specifically stick to the Fleming story on which it's based. There are changes and additions, as well as scenes and sub-plots taken from no less than two of his other novels. Yet the end result is an immensely enjoyable and satisfying adventure, indeed, one of the very best installments in the series!
Rating:
Summary: A leaner, meaner, Moore, Roger Moore.
Review: In 1979, the James Bond series had officially "jumped the shark (i.e. reached a turning point which signaled a downward spiral.)" with the campy, over-the-top, sci-fi MOONRAKER. Although he had a blockbuster on his hands, producer Cubby Broccoli had the forsight to see that the Bond series would crash under the weight of huge sets and bad puns. Thus, a back- to-basic approach was in order for the harder-edged 1980's with FOR YOUR EYES ONLY. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, from the title of Ian Fleming's collection of Bond short stories, is noted by Bond fans as the first from the "Michael G. Wilson Era" of the series. Wilson, a writer, co-producer, and Broccoli's son-in-law had sighted the darker, more realistic espinage thriller FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE as his personal favorite. Along with first time director John Glen (an editor from the series), FOR YOUR EYES ONLY's recipe of grittier action sequences, amid exotic locations would be a template for the series that would extend into Pierce Brosnan's epics. Although I don't consider FOR YOUR EYES ONLY in the panthanon of, say, GOLDFINGER, (and despite what you read here, the high adventure plot line is closer to the botboilers of Alistair McClain then it is to Ian Fleming's), the movie is a fun ride. It is also, perhaps the first time many began to stop worrying and like Roger Moore as 007. I don't know if it was Moore's advancing age or his fuller hair style, but here he's clearly not the same twit who waltzed through MOONRAKER. His Bond, for once, has to huff and puff is way out of a situation instead of a raised eyebrow. He still a charmer who rather use his wits than his fists, but when the going gets tough he'll use a full clip of his Walter PPK without hesitation. That's James Bond! Years ago I was floored by the old CBS-FOX laserdisc version of this movie. Although panned and scanned, the disc's stereo sound mix was thunderous. This new DVD is sharper despite some flaws due to the film stock's age, but retains the surround sound theatrics that keeps 007's 12th outing state of the art in a constantly improving digital landscape.
Rating:
Summary: Moore's Best, top 3 in series
Review: This was Roger Moore's best effort in the series (even better than The Spy Who Loved Me). I rank it in the top 3 of the entire Bond series(along with From Russia With Love and Goldfinger). Moore plays the role not only with his usual humor but in this particular movie he seems to have a dark side to him in a few scenes (not seen since Connery). The story is very believable, the characters are very believable. After Moonraker the Producers went back to more of a film that was not reliant on special effects, It was a very good move, I think that with Moore's acting and the less reliance on the gadgets make this particular film very memorable. Only nitpick I have with it are the prime minister and his side-kick who take the place of M. After this film there was a 6 year wait for another good Bond Film (Living Daylights). Octopussy was decent but should have been Moore's last effort and A View to a Kill was just god awful (Not Moore's fault though). This film should be considered the definer of Moore's legacy, not either of the last two which is what so-called critics have a great tendency to do. A definite must have and own for any Bond fan and any fan of action/spy movies
Rating:
Summary: Back To Basics!
Review: After the outrageously extravagant approach to "Moonraker," the Bond series decided to return to its roots, centering once again on good old-fashioned espionage thrills. "For Your Eyes Only" was certainly a step in the right direction. The result is a fiercely captivating and memorable Bond film with great drama, characters, and intrigue. After "The Spy Who Loved Me," this is Roger Moore's finest moment as 007. Although the film lacks a lot of the expected hardware and gadgetry, it certainly makes up for it with a thoroughly engaging story set against the backdrop of the Greek underworld. There are some spectacular action sequences on the Italian ski slopes, as well the mountains of Greece. But the characters are what really make this one work. Wonderful performances by Topol, Carole Bouquet, and Jullian Glover give the film a unique dramatic texture. The title song by Sheena Easton is one of the best and most memorable in the series. The DVD features all the usual goodies that the others do, with unique material that is always a nice bonus.
Rating:
Summary: For Your Eyes Only
Review: My mom bought this one on VHS. As a fan of "Goldeneye", I quickly pulled it out and watched it as soon as she told me about it.
For Your Eyes Only sees Roger Moore at his best performance as Bond. Though the film seem to depart quite a bit from the earlier ones in the series by the lack of excessive gadgets and monstrous vilians, it certainly portrays a maturity which appeals to all. The main Bond Girl, rather than being so cheap like most others were, showed a high level of maturity and respect for the womenfolks. A tough film, hard work and brilliant ideas. I'd like to see it again.
Rating:
Summary: A leaner, meaner, Moore, Roger Moore.
Review: In 1979, the James Bond series had officially "jumped the shark (i.e. reached a turning point which signaled a downward spiral.)" with the campy, over-the-top, sci-fi MOONRAKER. Although he had a blockbuster on his hands, producer Cubby Broccoli had the forsight to see that the Bond series would crash under the weight of huge sets and bad puns. Thus, a back- to-basic approach was in order for the harder-edged 1980's with FOR YOUR EYES ONLY. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, from the title of Ian Fleming's collection of Bond short stories, is noted by Bond fans as the first from the "Michael G. Wilson Era" of the series. Wilson, a writer, co-producer, and Broccoli's son-in-law had sighted the darker, more realistic espinage thriller FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE as his personal favorite. Along with first time director John Glen (an editor from the series), FOR YOUR EYES ONLY's recipe of grittier action sequences, amid exotic locations would be a template for the series that would extend into Pierce Brosnan's epics. Although I don't consider FOR YOUR EYES ONLY in the panthanon of, say, GOLDFINGER, (and despite what you read here, the high adventure plot line is closer to the botboilers of Alistair McClain then it is to Ian Fleming's), the movie is a fun ride. It is also, perhaps the first time many began to stop worrying and like Roger Moore as 007. I don't know if it was Moore's advancing age or his fuller hair style, but here he's clearly not the same twit who waltzed through MOONRAKER. His Bond, for once, has to huff and puff is way out of a situation instead of a raised eyebrow. He still a charmer who rather use his wits than his fists, but when the going gets tough he'll use a full clip of his Walter PPK without hesitation. That's James Bond! Years ago I was floored by the old CBS-FOX laserdisc version of this movie. Although panned and scanned, the disc's stereo sound mix was thunderous. This new DVD is sharper despite some flaws due to the film stock's age, but retains the surround sound theatrics that keeps 007's 12th outing state of the art in a constantly improving digital landscape.
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