" Dispatching the bald idiot with the screaming white cat was the coolest part of the movie "
Is this a euphemism for Sir Sean? The cat being a wig ? )
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
How come nobody ever address the amazing car chase or especially the ski chase down the Italian Alps? That sequence was a masterpiece and one of the reasons why For Your Eyes Only is my favourite Bond film. The Bill Conti score is perfect, exactly my taste.
I keep on praising the Ski chase and Conti's score whenever I can {[]
The locations in Cortina are magnificent - even better in real life (took the wife to there some years ago).
I personally would have preferred the chase done with the wonderful Esprit Turbo though...
FYEO ranks 2nd for me - slightly after OHMSS which shares a lot with FYEO.
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
- Moore's performance. While he does look more comfortable in his other outings, he's working pretty damn hard here to play the character more straight and he's bloody convincing.
- The change in tone at this point in the series. There's basically scale and silliness between DAF-MR!
- Locations are beautiful, this is probably the best looking "sea" Bond out of all the others that featured diving etc.
- The plot is great. It's minor Cold War stuff - not TSWLM, MR, TLD level - just actual espionage that ticks away behind the headlines.
- The climbing sequence is tense and really well done - great there's no score here too.
- Some great supporting cast too, Jill Bennet, Topol, Julian Glover, Cassandra Harris - which are well written, complex characters.
- The casino/beach scenes are fantastic - Moore shows probably the most class he ever has "Well I would've taken that chance...", "No match for an unfriendly shoe", "A little too aromatic for my palate".
- The port ambush and the tunnel/chase scene with Bond kicking Locque off the cliff is really well directed. Moore kicking the car was a big deal for him and it shows.
- Carol Bouquet is absolutely beautiful.
- The ski sequence, with the waiting for the lift (with fitting percussion) is very tense/well done.
- The helicopter flying in the PTS is nothing short of incredible.
- The 2CV chase with the classic Peugeots is a great twist. It is something not done often in Bond, where he has to make do with something truely terrible to get away in.
- Cinematography follows the improvements made in MR, and looks better than Glen's OP, AVTAK and LTK outings.
- Moore still is able to deliver some pretty funny lines, but they're not OTT. "A nose, not a banana Q", "And I'll buy you an ice cream", "So is your accent, Countess. Manchester?".
- One of the few Bond songs which translates in and out of the Bond universe really well.
- Really love the continuity to OHMSS at the beginning. I wonder who campaigned to include this?
- The dragging behind the boat scenes are phenomenal sequences. This is from LALD right?
- Love the Elektra quote from Melina, nice future nod.
- I like the dry-filmed underwater scenes for some reason.
- How successful the film was for such a big change in direction. Did MR pick up fans?
Cons:
- I really hate the ice hockey scene with the "body-goals". This occurs directly after an action sequence. We didn't need another one. Sort of the same with the etc. with the florist shop - all feels too frenetic.
- Everyone but Carol Bouquet is dressed terribly. Roger Moore's clothing adds a few years to his look. That green cardigan?! Moore's ski outfit is bad too, his face is too squashed by the goggles, same with his diving mask.
- Bill Conti's score to me is like the GE one, fits in some places, doesn't fit in some. Overall, a miss.
- The dubbing in of Moore's crashing sounds during the ski chases are cringe.
- The 3rd reference to the guy with the wine glass is too much.
- The stand-in M is rubbish.
- The Blofeld stuff is terrible, especially the dialogue.
- Carol Bouquet is either playing the wounded chick well, or is just a bad actress. I lean toward the latter. She lacks presence - good thing Moore carries the film in spades and the Countess makes an appearance.
- The identigraph scene is cool to see Q and Bond not being lambasted by quips - but the technology is more dated than anything featured in the 60s Bonds. Holds poorly IMO.
- Thatcher stuff seems too in the moment of early 80s UK - it's a well done skit, but skits don't belong in Bond.
Love it. Each time I watch I find I like it more and more, plus I find new elements to the film I've missed before.
Watched this last night for the first time in a very long time - over 10 years at least - it always seemed a bit lacklustre to me and ranked down in the lower third of my favourites.
Pros:
Gun barrel music.
PTS
Titles and theme song
Music
Locations
Direction and photography.
Spy ship sinking
Killing of the Havelocks.
2CV chase
Ski chase
Beach scenes - killing of Lisl - Columbo's men coming from the sea
Killing of Locque
Rock climbing sequence and finale.
Maggie Thatcher ending.
Characters: Columbo - Kristatos - Locque
Cons:
Silly nod of acknowledgement between Bond and chasing villains during 2CV chase.
The fact that Kriegler can shoot tiny targets to perfection and then could not shoot a barn door while chasing Bond.
Obvious stunt doubles for Roger.
Ice hockey fight.
Observations:
Bond attending Tracy's grave is a nice touch. M is on leave. Bibi is a nymphomaniac and Bond nicely deflects her attempts to bed him which shows us that even though he is an accomplished womaniser he does have standards not to take advantage of a (presumably) teenage girl.
Conclusion:
Wow! I am knocked out at viewing this again as I have seriously undervalued it. This is definitely Roger's finest moment as Bond - he gives a brilliant performance giving Bond a suave but steely edge. If the brief silly interplay between Bond and the villain during the car chase was omitted and the ice hockey fight was lengthened and re-edited to omit the villains being counted out by the goal bell this would probably rank very, very high. John Glen directs superbly - in the style of Peter Hunt - in fact there are similarities between OHMSS and FYEO - Columbo's organisation is very Draco-like and alongside Kerim Bey he is Bond's greatest ally to date. Alan Hume's photography is lovely and Bill Conti's score is really good. Roger looks fabulous and he should have called it a day with this one and left on a high.
CHB will be return reviewing OP soon
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
• Moore's performance is outstanding — he looks genuinely terrified in the ski-jump scene.
• Columbo is the best ally since Draco; maybe even since Kerim Bey.
• Kristatos is a suitably slimy and two-faced villain.
• The plot is refreshingly low-key.
• The opening scene at Tracy's grave is very poignant.
• The ski scenes are absolutely stunning, equalling OHMSS in their majesty and drama.
• The underwater scenes are truly claustrophobic.
• The music is excellent (and unusual for a Bond film), even though it has dated badly.
• Locque is extremely intimidating, despite not being physically powerful.
• Some of the humour works very well (the 2CV chase is hilarious).
• The climbing scenes are incredibly tense.
• The ending is brilliant: Bond realises that Gogol has a fatherly affection for him and will not allow him to be killed in cold blood. It's so much more effective and thought-provoking than huge explosions destroying the villain's lair.
Cons:
• The pre-title sequence could have been played straighter.
• Bibi is a peculiar and irritating character — what did the writers think they would gain from a scene where a middle-aged Moore is seduced by a 16-year-old?
• The plot resolution hangs on a chance remark by a parrot.
Funnily enough FYEO is my favourite score of the franchise. I love it to bits. Specially Gonzalez takes a dive And runaway. Love the cowbell in the Bond theme to be honest.
But can be bias as I make now secret in declaring FYEO my favourite Bond film.
“The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
FYEO has has divided viewers recently, a new generation, who did not experience it in the wake of Moonraker have watched it and found it wanting. While the old guard and those natural pedants the Fleming purists still have it in their top ten or even top five.
Why is it starting to divide people? Perhaps its because the serious approach so fresh in 1981 after ten years of Roger playing it for laughs. In the meantime we’ve had Casino Royale and Licence to Kill so a down-to-earth Bond isnt fresh anymore. Another accusation is that the pace is too slow and scenes underwater messing about with a mini-submarine or in the winchhouse of the Greek monastery dont perhaps move at Bourne pace. Has the audience changed that much it cant relax and enjoy the moment rather then wait for the next thrill. There are parts of FYEO which do take their time. The film unravels at its own pace as it is a lowkey adventure not like Spy or YOLT.
Another criticism particulary by new fans is the soundtrack. “Eek its sooo eighties” they cry. I’m immune I was 12 in 1981 and electropop and synthesisers are my second home. But the “disco” sound of the music does urk some people. But at the same time the main title song with Sheena Easton is one of the best and Bill Contis instruentals are gorgeous such as the fleugal horn as they swim up from the Greek temple and the romantic part of Bond and Lisl on the beach. The sense of place and location are one of the highlights of FYEO.
Why do I love it? Why is it my favourite after nearly thrity years?
Well, I like the way it takes itself and the situations Bond is in seriously. For ten years before we had superman Bond where you knew he was going to escape from every situation with a quip and a gadget. This time we didnt – how is he going to escape death when kicked off the edge of a thousand foot cliff? How is he going to escape the fishes when keelhauled behind a motoryacht?
And the story was so relevant then. 1981 saw, under Reagan and Thatcher, the Cold War start up again.Defence became big news. The spending on Polaris was a hot issue. The amount the USSR and USA were spending on nuclear weapons was beginning to bankrupt the pair of them. The little countries of the world were just pawns for games of the superpowers. And that sort of fits this story. If Russia gets the ATAC she would gain an unfair advantage of us or bankrupt us trying to change the system. The “That’s detente comrade..” at the climax was to show the futility of the arms race.
And there is Melina Havelock. Carole Bouquet is now a leading French actress and has presented the Palm D’Or ceremony at Cannes and was the face of Chanel for a number of years. But this was her first international screen role and she is very good. Melina is a marine archeologist who witnesses her parents being gunned down by Gonzales aboard their research vessel ‘The Triana’. The director and scriptwriter is very good at inferring a close family and the sight of Melina’s grief and disbelief is reflected in her eyes. But the link between her Greek heritage and revenge is made - she quotes Electra, who destroyed her father’s murderers in Greek mythology. This is one of the strongest female roles ever written for a Bond film.
Julan Glover and Topol play wartime rivals giving a sense of mystery of who is working for who and the film contains the best collection of stunts all series. I love the part where the helicopter tries to scrape Bond off on the chimney’s and smokestacks of Beckton gasworks. The editing between the stuntman dangling from the real helicopter and the model is superb.
The best Bond’s are either set in Europe or the Caribbean, and this one is no exception. Along with “The Spy Who Loved Me” it is Roger Moore’s finest moment as Bond and the best film of the eighties. It was just as successful as the previous overblown efforts so Broccoli kept with the same formula with the next three films. There was no way you could do another Moonraker and it was right to come back down to earth.
There are some people who can’t connect with FYEO and maybe today it does seem slow and “discoey” and yet there are people who have come to the series and have sat in amazement at the stuntwork – which was a long time before cgi.
Personally, I think FYEO is a little gem and probably always will do.
1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
FYEO has has divided viewers recently, a new generation, who did not experience it in the wake of Moonraker have watched it and found it wanting. While the old guard and those natural pedants the Fleming purists still have it in their top ten or even top five.
Why is it starting to divide people? Perhaps its because the serious approach so fresh in 1981 after ten years of Roger playing it for laughs. In the meantime we’ve had Casino Royale and Licence to Kill so a down-to-earth Bond isnt fresh anymore. Another accusation is that the pace is too slow and scenes underwater messing about with a mini-submarine or in the winchhouse of the Greek monastery dont perhaps move at Bourne pace. Has the audience changed that much it cant relax and enjoy the moment rather then wait for the next thrill. There are parts of FYEO which do take their time. The film unravels at its own pace as it is a lowkey adventure not like Spy or YOLT.
Another criticism particulary by new fans is the soundtrack. “Eek its sooo eighties” they cry. I’m immune I was 12 in 1981 and electropop and synthesisers are my second home. But the “disco” sound of the music does urk some people. But at the same time the main title song with Sheena Easton is one of the best and Bill Contis instruentals are gorgeous such as the fleugal horn as they swim up from the Greek temple and the romantic part of Bond and Lisl on the beach. The sense of place and location are one of the highlights of FYEO.
Why do I love it? Why is it my favourite after nearly thrity years?
Well, I like the way it takes itself and the situations Bond is in seriously. For ten years before we had superman Bond where you knew he was going to escape from every situation with a quip and a gadget. This time we didnt – how is he going to escape death when kicked off the edge of a thousand foot cliff? How is he going to escape the fishes when keelhauled behind a motoryacht?
And the story was so relevant then. 1981 saw, under Reagan and Thatcher, the Cold War start up again.Defence became big news. The spending on Polaris was a hot issue. The amount the USSR and USA were spending on nuclear weapons was beginning to bankrupt the pair of them. The little countries of the world were just pawns for games of the superpowers. And that sort of fits this story. If Russia gets the ATAC she would gain an unfair advantage of us or bankrupt us trying to change the system. The “That’s detente comrade..” at the climax was to show the futility of the arms race.
And there is Melina Havelock. Carole Bouquet is now a leading French actress and has presented the Palm D’Or ceremony at Cannes and was the face of Chanel for a number of years. But this was her first international screen role and she is very good. Melina is a marine archeologist who witnesses her parents being gunned down by Gonzales aboard their research vessel ‘The Triana’. The director and scriptwriter is very good at inferring a close family and the sight of Melina’s grief and disbelief is reflected in her eyes. But the link between her Greek heritage and revenge is made - she quotes Electra, who destroyed her father’s murderers in Greek mythology. This is one of the strongest female roles ever written for a Bond film.
Julan Glover and Topol play wartime rivals giving a sense of mystery of who is working for who and the film contains the best collection of stunts all series. I love the part where the helicopter tries to scrape Bond off on the chimney’s and smokestacks of Beckton gasworks. The editing between the stuntman dangling from the real helicopter and the model is superb.
The best Bond’s are either set in Europe or the Caribbean, and this one is no exception. Along with “The Spy Who Loved Me” it is Roger Moore’s finest moment as Bond and the best film of the eighties. It was just as successful as the previous overblown efforts so Broccoli kept with the same formula with the next three films. There was no way you could do another Moonraker and it was right to come back down to earth.
There are some people who can’t connect with FYEO and maybe today it does seem slow and “discoey” and yet there are people who have come to the series and have sat in amazement at the stuntwork – which was a long time before cgi.
Personally, I think FYEO is a little gem and probably always will do.
I was not born when FYEO came out ( born in the nineties), and I only became a fan during Craig's era, but FYEO is my favourite Bond film, first Moore film I saw and first Bond movie to own.
Thank you so much for your well thought out defence on my favourite film of all time!
You reminded me why I love it so much.
I'm pleased its getting the love it so rightly deserves!
“The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
FYEO has has divided viewers recently, a new generation, who did not experience it in the wake of Moonraker have watched it and found it wanting. While the old guard and those natural pedants the Fleming purists still have it in their top ten or even top five.
Why is it starting to divide people? Perhaps its because the serious approach so fresh in 1981 after ten years of Roger playing it for laughs. In the meantime we’ve had Casino Royale and Licence to Kill so a down-to-earth Bond isnt fresh anymore. Another accusation is that the pace is too slow and scenes underwater messing about with a mini-submarine or in the winchhouse of the Greek monastery dont perhaps move at Bourne pace. Has the audience changed that much it cant relax and enjoy the moment rather then wait for the next thrill. There are parts of FYEO which do take their time. The film unravels at its own pace as it is a lowkey adventure not like Spy or YOLT.
Another criticism particulary by new fans is the soundtrack. “Eek its sooo eighties” they cry. I’m immune I was 12 in 1981 and electropop and synthesisers are my second home. But the “disco” sound of the music does urk some people. But at the same time the main title song with Sheena Easton is one of the best and Bill Contis instruentals are gorgeous such as the fleugal horn as they swim up from the Greek temple and the romantic part of Bond and Lisl on the beach. The sense of place and location are one of the highlights of FYEO.
Why do I love it? Why is it my favourite after nearly thrity years?
Well, I like the way it takes itself and the situations Bond is in seriously. For ten years before we had superman Bond where you knew he was going to escape from every situation with a quip and a gadget. This time we didnt – how is he going to escape death when kicked off the edge of a thousand foot cliff? How is he going to escape the fishes when keelhauled behind a motoryacht?
And the story was so relevant then. 1981 saw, under Reagan and Thatcher, the Cold War start up again.Defence became big news. The spending on Polaris was a hot issue. The amount the USSR and USA were spending on nuclear weapons was beginning to bankrupt the pair of them. The little countries of the world were just pawns for games of the superpowers. And that sort of fits this story. If Russia gets the ATAC she would gain an unfair advantage of us or bankrupt us trying to change the system. The “That’s detente comrade..” at the climax was to show the futility of the arms race.
And there is Melina Havelock. Carole Bouquet is now a leading French actress and has presented the Palm D’Or ceremony at Cannes and was the face of Chanel for a number of years. But this was her first international screen role and she is very good. Melina is a marine archeologist who witnesses her parents being gunned down by Gonzales aboard their research vessel ‘The Triana’. The director and scriptwriter is very good at inferring a close family and the sight of Melina’s grief and disbelief is reflected in her eyes. But the link between her Greek heritage and revenge is made - she quotes Electra, who destroyed her father’s murderers in Greek mythology. This is one of the strongest female roles ever written for a Bond film.
Julan Glover and Topol play wartime rivals giving a sense of mystery of who is working for who and the film contains the best collection of stunts all series. I love the part where the helicopter tries to scrape Bond off on the chimney’s and smokestacks of Beckton gasworks. The editing between the stuntman dangling from the real helicopter and the model is superb.
The best Bond’s are either set in Europe or the Caribbean, and this one is no exception. Along with “The Spy Who Loved Me” it is Roger Moore’s finest moment as Bond and the best film of the eighties. It was just as successful as the previous overblown efforts so Broccoli kept with the same formula with the next three films. There was no way you could do another Moonraker and it was right to come back down to earth.
There are some people who can’t connect with FYEO and maybe today it does seem slow and “discoey” and yet there are people who have come to the series and have sat in amazement at the stuntwork – which was a long time before cgi.
Personally, I think FYEO is a little gem and probably always will do.
I was not born when FYEO came out ( born in the nineties), and I only became a fan during Craig's era, but FYEO is my favourite Bond film, first Moore film I saw and first Bond movie to own.
Thank you so much for your well thought out defence on my favourite film of all time!
You reminded me why I love it so much.
I'm pleased its getting the love it so rightly deserves!
-{ -{ -{ -{ -{ -{ +1
1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
-Cassandra Harris does a great job.
-Topol is solid as Columbo.
-Some of the action scenes are pretty good.
-Moore gives a decent performance, although a slight step down from his previous 4.
Cons:
-Although Glen's directing was great in AVTAK and TLD, is feels a bit sloppy here.
-Bill Conti's score. Some tracks fit the moments in which they're used, but the party music tracks feel out of place. They make it hard to tell if this film is serious or not (or if it's supposed to be a mix).
-While Moore's comical one-liners worked well in the previous 4 films, they feel out of place here, and combined with the score, make FYEO a jarring watch.
-Carole Bouquet is very wooden and unconvincing as a woman who seeks revenge.
-No chemistry between Moore and Bouquet.
-Glover does what he can, but Kristatos doesn't make much of an impression as the villain (at least to me).
-Bibi is a little annoying.
-Terrible PTS.
Overall, I'm not a fan of FYEO, and give it a 6/10.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
FYEO is a very sold entry into the series and it was successful too. It made $510m which for such a sea-change from Moonraker - is an awesome achievement.
I agree that Moore gives an incredible performance - not saying in FYEO he's uncomfortable - but IMO he seems more comfortable in OP with the balance between humour and seriousness.
FYEO is my 4th favourite Bond film, and it has stayed in the top 5 for about 10 years. My favourite section in the movie is the casino and countess fling - wonderfully shot, perfectly acted and well written.
That and the fake bubbles.
Otherwise I love it! -{
I love the fake bubbles! Didn't notice until I saw one of the 'making of' featurettes. Pretty impressive technical feat for 1981 to make it appear truly underwater when it wasn't. Now that I am looking closely for it, I can tell their hair is being windblown in slow motion, but it's still quite impressive to me.
I also love the wonderfully weird score. It's definitely different and you can tell from note 1 that this isn't John Barry, but that's not a bad thing. I love Barry, but variety can be a good thing and I often find the non-Barry scores to be the most intriguing (Kamen, Conti, Martin, Hamlisch)
Also love the man with the bottle's final appearance, though I just realized OP also has a man with a bottle (at Octopussy's palace), but it's not old Victor.
The ski sequence is one of the most underrated in the series in my opinion. The bobsled sequence is so impressive. Very sad to hear that a stuntman died during filming of this sequence.
A con for me would be the hockey sequence. Sometimes the series will struggle with blending the humor and seriousness. I thought the death of Luigi was a bit jarring in tone given the Bibi and Hockey sequence that just came before it.
I love the fake bubbles! Didn't notice until I saw one of the 'making of' featurettes. Pretty impressive technical feat for 1981 to make it appear truly underwater when it wasn't. Now that I am looking closely for it, I can tell their hair is being windblown in slow motion, but it's still quite impressive to me.
It's impressive to me, and while it is fake looking, I like the fact they did something different.
I just don't like how Roger is wearing that terrible mask, makes him look 20 years older
Comments
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Is this a euphemism for Sir Sean? The cat being a wig ?
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
And Dr. No, which actually is a SPECTRE film, is not.
Where did you hear that?
Check the official site: http://www.007.com/bond-dvd-announcement/
delete
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Craig 5. Lazenby 6. Brosnan
The locations in Cortina are magnificent - even better in real life (took the wife to there some years ago).
I personally would have preferred the chase done with the wonderful Esprit Turbo though...
FYEO ranks 2nd for me - slightly after OHMSS which shares a lot with FYEO.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
- Moore's performance. While he does look more comfortable in his other outings, he's working pretty damn hard here to play the character more straight and he's bloody convincing.
- The change in tone at this point in the series. There's basically scale and silliness between DAF-MR!
- Locations are beautiful, this is probably the best looking "sea" Bond out of all the others that featured diving etc.
- The plot is great. It's minor Cold War stuff - not TSWLM, MR, TLD level - just actual espionage that ticks away behind the headlines.
- The climbing sequence is tense and really well done - great there's no score here too.
- Some great supporting cast too, Jill Bennet, Topol, Julian Glover, Cassandra Harris - which are well written, complex characters.
- The casino/beach scenes are fantastic - Moore shows probably the most class he ever has "Well I would've taken that chance...", "No match for an unfriendly shoe", "A little too aromatic for my palate".
- The port ambush and the tunnel/chase scene with Bond kicking Locque off the cliff is really well directed. Moore kicking the car was a big deal for him and it shows.
- Carol Bouquet is absolutely beautiful.
- The ski sequence, with the waiting for the lift (with fitting percussion) is very tense/well done.
- The helicopter flying in the PTS is nothing short of incredible.
- The 2CV chase with the classic Peugeots is a great twist. It is something not done often in Bond, where he has to make do with something truely terrible to get away in.
- Cinematography follows the improvements made in MR, and looks better than Glen's OP, AVTAK and LTK outings.
- Moore still is able to deliver some pretty funny lines, but they're not OTT. "A nose, not a banana Q", "And I'll buy you an ice cream", "So is your accent, Countess. Manchester?".
- One of the few Bond songs which translates in and out of the Bond universe really well.
- Really love the continuity to OHMSS at the beginning. I wonder who campaigned to include this?
- The dragging behind the boat scenes are phenomenal sequences. This is from LALD right?
- Love the Elektra quote from Melina, nice future nod.
- I like the dry-filmed underwater scenes for some reason.
- How successful the film was for such a big change in direction. Did MR pick up fans?
Cons:
- I really hate the ice hockey scene with the "body-goals". This occurs directly after an action sequence. We didn't need another one. Sort of the same with the etc. with the florist shop - all feels too frenetic.
- Everyone but Carol Bouquet is dressed terribly. Roger Moore's clothing adds a few years to his look. That green cardigan?! Moore's ski outfit is bad too, his face is too squashed by the goggles, same with his diving mask.
- Bill Conti's score to me is like the GE one, fits in some places, doesn't fit in some. Overall, a miss.
- The dubbing in of Moore's crashing sounds during the ski chases are cringe.
- The 3rd reference to the guy with the wine glass is too much.
- The stand-in M is rubbish.
- The Blofeld stuff is terrible, especially the dialogue.
- Carol Bouquet is either playing the wounded chick well, or is just a bad actress. I lean toward the latter. She lacks presence - good thing Moore carries the film in spades and the Countess makes an appearance.
- The identigraph scene is cool to see Q and Bond not being lambasted by quips - but the technology is more dated than anything featured in the 60s Bonds. Holds poorly IMO.
- Thatcher stuff seems too in the moment of early 80s UK - it's a well done skit, but skits don't belong in Bond.
Love it. Each time I watch I find I like it more and more, plus I find new elements to the film I've missed before.
Roger Moore rules.
"Better make that two."
Pros:
Gun barrel music.
PTS
Titles and theme song
Music
Locations
Direction and photography.
Spy ship sinking
Killing of the Havelocks.
2CV chase
Ski chase
Beach scenes - killing of Lisl - Columbo's men coming from the sea
Killing of Locque
Rock climbing sequence and finale.
Maggie Thatcher ending.
Characters: Columbo - Kristatos - Locque
Cons:
Silly nod of acknowledgement between Bond and chasing villains during 2CV chase.
The fact that Kriegler can shoot tiny targets to perfection and then could not shoot a barn door while chasing Bond.
Obvious stunt doubles for Roger.
Ice hockey fight.
Observations:
Bond attending Tracy's grave is a nice touch. M is on leave. Bibi is a nymphomaniac and Bond nicely deflects her attempts to bed him which shows us that even though he is an accomplished womaniser he does have standards not to take advantage of a (presumably) teenage girl.
Conclusion:
Wow! I am knocked out at viewing this again as I have seriously undervalued it. This is definitely Roger's finest moment as Bond - he gives a brilliant performance giving Bond a suave but steely edge. If the brief silly interplay between Bond and the villain during the car chase was omitted and the ice hockey fight was lengthened and re-edited to omit the villains being counted out by the goal bell this would probably rank very, very high. John Glen directs superbly - in the style of Peter Hunt - in fact there are similarities between OHMSS and FYEO - Columbo's organisation is very Draco-like and alongside Kerim Bey he is Bond's greatest ally to date. Alan Hume's photography is lovely and Bill Conti's score is really good. Roger looks fabulous and he should have called it a day with this one and left on a high.
CHB will be return reviewing OP soon
Yes, and John Glen said so himself at the time. Nice review, CHB.
• Moore's performance is outstanding — he looks genuinely terrified in the ski-jump scene.
• Columbo is the best ally since Draco; maybe even since Kerim Bey.
• Kristatos is a suitably slimy and two-faced villain.
• The plot is refreshingly low-key.
• The opening scene at Tracy's grave is very poignant.
• The ski scenes are absolutely stunning, equalling OHMSS in their majesty and drama.
• The underwater scenes are truly claustrophobic.
• The music is excellent (and unusual for a Bond film), even though it has dated badly.
• Locque is extremely intimidating, despite not being physically powerful.
• Some of the humour works very well (the 2CV chase is hilarious).
• The climbing scenes are incredibly tense.
• The ending is brilliant: Bond realises that Gogol has a fatherly affection for him and will not allow him to be killed in cold blood. It's so much more effective and thought-provoking than huge explosions destroying the villain's lair.
Cons:
• The pre-title sequence could have been played straighter.
• Bibi is a peculiar and irritating character — what did the writers think they would gain from a scene where a middle-aged Moore is seduced by a 16-year-old?
• The plot resolution hangs on a chance remark by a parrot.
Carole B
Cons
Terrible score
Mrs Thatcher ending
Awful henchmen
Worst pre credits scene ever.
Otherwise I love it! -{
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
But can be bias as I make now secret in declaring FYEO my favourite Bond film.
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
Why is it starting to divide people? Perhaps its because the serious approach so fresh in 1981 after ten years of Roger playing it for laughs. In the meantime we’ve had Casino Royale and Licence to Kill so a down-to-earth Bond isnt fresh anymore. Another accusation is that the pace is too slow and scenes underwater messing about with a mini-submarine or in the winchhouse of the Greek monastery dont perhaps move at Bourne pace. Has the audience changed that much it cant relax and enjoy the moment rather then wait for the next thrill. There are parts of FYEO which do take their time. The film unravels at its own pace as it is a lowkey adventure not like Spy or YOLT.
Another criticism particulary by new fans is the soundtrack. “Eek its sooo eighties” they cry. I’m immune I was 12 in 1981 and electropop and synthesisers are my second home. But the “disco” sound of the music does urk some people. But at the same time the main title song with Sheena Easton is one of the best and Bill Contis instruentals are gorgeous such as the fleugal horn as they swim up from the Greek temple and the romantic part of Bond and Lisl on the beach. The sense of place and location are one of the highlights of FYEO.
Why do I love it? Why is it my favourite after nearly thrity years?
Well, I like the way it takes itself and the situations Bond is in seriously. For ten years before we had superman Bond where you knew he was going to escape from every situation with a quip and a gadget. This time we didnt – how is he going to escape death when kicked off the edge of a thousand foot cliff? How is he going to escape the fishes when keelhauled behind a motoryacht?
And the story was so relevant then. 1981 saw, under Reagan and Thatcher, the Cold War start up again.Defence became big news. The spending on Polaris was a hot issue. The amount the USSR and USA were spending on nuclear weapons was beginning to bankrupt the pair of them. The little countries of the world were just pawns for games of the superpowers. And that sort of fits this story. If Russia gets the ATAC she would gain an unfair advantage of us or bankrupt us trying to change the system. The “That’s detente comrade..” at the climax was to show the futility of the arms race.
And there is Melina Havelock. Carole Bouquet is now a leading French actress and has presented the Palm D’Or ceremony at Cannes and was the face of Chanel for a number of years. But this was her first international screen role and she is very good. Melina is a marine archeologist who witnesses her parents being gunned down by Gonzales aboard their research vessel ‘The Triana’. The director and scriptwriter is very good at inferring a close family and the sight of Melina’s grief and disbelief is reflected in her eyes. But the link between her Greek heritage and revenge is made - she quotes Electra, who destroyed her father’s murderers in Greek mythology. This is one of the strongest female roles ever written for a Bond film.
Julan Glover and Topol play wartime rivals giving a sense of mystery of who is working for who and the film contains the best collection of stunts all series. I love the part where the helicopter tries to scrape Bond off on the chimney’s and smokestacks of Beckton gasworks. The editing between the stuntman dangling from the real helicopter and the model is superb.
The best Bond’s are either set in Europe or the Caribbean, and this one is no exception. Along with “The Spy Who Loved Me” it is Roger Moore’s finest moment as Bond and the best film of the eighties. It was just as successful as the previous overblown efforts so Broccoli kept with the same formula with the next three films. There was no way you could do another Moonraker and it was right to come back down to earth.
There are some people who can’t connect with FYEO and maybe today it does seem slow and “discoey” and yet there are people who have come to the series and have sat in amazement at the stuntwork – which was a long time before cgi.
Personally, I think FYEO is a little gem and probably always will do.
Thank you so much for your well thought out defence on my favourite film of all time!
You reminded me why I love it so much.
I'm pleased its getting the love it so rightly deserves!
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
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-Cassandra Harris does a great job.
-Topol is solid as Columbo.
-Some of the action scenes are pretty good.
-Moore gives a decent performance, although a slight step down from his previous 4.
Cons:
-Although Glen's directing was great in AVTAK and TLD, is feels a bit sloppy here.
-Bill Conti's score. Some tracks fit the moments in which they're used, but the party music tracks feel out of place. They make it hard to tell if this film is serious or not (or if it's supposed to be a mix).
-While Moore's comical one-liners worked well in the previous 4 films, they feel out of place here, and combined with the score, make FYEO a jarring watch.
-Carole Bouquet is very wooden and unconvincing as a woman who seeks revenge.
-No chemistry between Moore and Bouquet.
-Glover does what he can, but Kristatos doesn't make much of an impression as the villain (at least to me).
-Bibi is a little annoying.
-Terrible PTS.
Overall, I'm not a fan of FYEO, and give it a 6/10.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
It's your opinion, of course, but I'd say that this is one of his best 007 performances- if not THE best.
What's your ranking of the Moore 007 films?
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
I agree that Moore gives an incredible performance - not saying in FYEO he's uncomfortable - but IMO he seems more comfortable in OP with the balance between humour and seriousness.
FYEO is my 4th favourite Bond film, and it has stayed in the top 5 for about 10 years. My favourite section in the movie is the casino and countess fling - wonderfully shot, perfectly acted and well written.
"Better make that two."
I don't do lists or rankings. With obvious exceptions such as John Barry being the best composer!
In fact I think he gave his best performances in his last three films.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I love the fake bubbles! Didn't notice until I saw one of the 'making of' featurettes. Pretty impressive technical feat for 1981 to make it appear truly underwater when it wasn't. Now that I am looking closely for it, I can tell their hair is being windblown in slow motion, but it's still quite impressive to me.
I also love the wonderfully weird score. It's definitely different and you can tell from note 1 that this isn't John Barry, but that's not a bad thing. I love Barry, but variety can be a good thing and I often find the non-Barry scores to be the most intriguing (Kamen, Conti, Martin, Hamlisch)
Also love the man with the bottle's final appearance, though I just realized OP also has a man with a bottle (at Octopussy's palace), but it's not old Victor.
The ski sequence is one of the most underrated in the series in my opinion. The bobsled sequence is so impressive. Very sad to hear that a stuntman died during filming of this sequence.
A con for me would be the hockey sequence. Sometimes the series will struggle with blending the humor and seriousness. I thought the death of Luigi was a bit jarring in tone given the Bibi and Hockey sequence that just came before it.
It's impressive to me, and while it is fake looking, I like the fact they did something different.
I just don't like how Roger is wearing that terrible mask, makes him look 20 years older
"Better make that two."