FOR YOUR EYES ONLY marks the first Bond film I skipped when it came out. Indiana Jones was out and made Bond look ridiculous. I disliked MOONRAKER so much I had no interest in this one, despite the reviews that said it was the best Bond film in years. When I finally saw it I didn’t think much of it. I don’t know how old Roger Moore was when he makes this one but it’s showing and it’s particularly ridiculous when girls young enough to be his granddaughter are smitten with him.
Today we’d call this film a soft reboot— same actors but new attitude— and the opening pre credit scene with Bond at the grave of his wife and then attacked shortly after by the man who killed her would certainly lead us to believe we’re in for a more serious Bond— but then during a crucial moment where he’s about to kill said villain he offers to buy Bond a delicatessen (?!) before he’s eliminated. All right so how about the rest of the movie? Well it’s smaller in scale and it’s about revenge and Moore does attempt to keep the threat seeming to mean something, so he’s actually better in this one than the last one, but the movie itself is kind of slow and plodding with a not really interesting supporting cast. The Bond girl is the one looking for revenge and it’s awfully strange when he talks her out of killing the guys she’s been after for the whole movie and that the right thing is to turn him over to the authorities— 12 or 13 Bond movies and he’s killed the villain at the end of EVERY single one of them. Now he’s reading them Miranda rights?
BOND: Moore was getting tired, the producers knew it and they were looking for a new Bond— but he’s back for more and he’s trying a little harder. ** 1/2
THEME SONG: By Sheena Easton and its wretched. *
VILLAIN: He’s played by Julian Glover who is interesting because he was almost cast as James Bond back with Live and Let Die. They probably went the right way because he’s not very memorable. **
OVERALL BOND RATING: **1/2 it should probably be a 3 but I’m getting sick of watching these. It’s a long way before they get good again and the worst is yet to come.
Bond will be back in OCTOPUSSY — which I think I did see in theaters and I still would like my money back.