Overrated Bond movie?

[Captain Nash]

I was reading some posts over at Mi6 from this member today and what you've just said seems to be a shared one Kristatos.

benny
00 Agent


Joined: 15 Oct 2005
Posts: 3093
Location: Perth, WA Doing stuff the Octobenny way!
Posted: 22-May-2007 10:31 PM Post subject:

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11. For Your Eyes Only

One of the best films from the Sir Rog era, and a huge improvement over MR. This is a Bond film with it’s feet firmly on the ground. One of the biggest problems I have, (and I don’t think I’m alone on this) is the pts.
It all starts fine, but why have Blofeld in it? Not mentioned by name for legal reasons, but it’s Blofeld for sure. Bald head (even though the last time we saw him he had hair) white cat...yep it’s Blowers alright.
Okay so we do get some great stuntwork as Bond clings to the exterior of a wayward helicopter, but the end of the sequence as he scoops up Blowers and dumps him in a chimney stack is plain daft. That, though is one of the only major problems I have with FYEO. After the pts we get some good old fashioned Bond. A brilliant car chase in a 2CV, a Bond girl with a purpose, a villain who although not so memorable, is none the less evil, and the best Bond ally since Draco in OHMSS. Topol as Colombo is such a likeable guy, that his scenes are one of the films highlights. The film is played straight for the most part and all the really annoying stuff bookends the movie. The middle of the film as I’ve said is much more traditional Bond. Grounded in a more believable universe. No fantastical sets or ott villainous plans, just a race to the finish. And along the way we get some wonderful stuff. Bond and Melina being keel hauled behind the villains motor yacht, a scene almost directly from Fleming is very well staged, as is the final assault on Kristatos mountain top retreat. A very exciting sequence as Bond scales the cliff face to reach the top, and has a nasty fall along the way. Sir Rog is also at his best in this film, and plays a very good Bond. Very few jokes, and much more serious. It’s possibly his best at being James Bond. Other than a silly ending where a parrot talks to the then British PM Margaret Thatcher using Bonds walkie-talkie watch, and FYEO has a lot to admire and enjoy.

[Skywalker]

I was reading some posts over at Mi6 from this member today and what you've just said seems to be a shared one Kristatos.

benny
00 Agent


Joined: 15 Oct 2005
Posts: 3093
Location: Perth, WA Doing stuff the Octobenny way!
Posted: 22-May-2007 10:31 PM Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. For Your Eyes Only

One of the best films from the Sir Rog era, and a huge improvement over MR. This is a Bond film with it’s feet firmly on the ground. One of the biggest problems I have, (and I don’t think I’m alone on this) is the pts.
It all starts fine, but why have Blofeld in it? Not mentioned by name for legal reasons, but it’s Blofeld for sure. Bald head (even though the last time we saw him he had hair) white cat...yep it’s Blowers alright.
Okay so we do get some great stuntwork as Bond clings to the exterior of a wayward helicopter, but the end of the sequence as he scoops up Blowers and dumps him in a chimney stack is plain daft. That, though is one of the only major problems I have with FYEO. After the pts we get some good old fashioned Bond. A brilliant car chase in a 2CV, a Bond girl with a purpose, a villain who although not so memorable, is none the less evil, and the best Bond ally since Draco in OHMSS. Topol as Colombo is such a likeable guy, that his scenes are one of the films highlights. The film is played straight for the most part and all the really annoying stuff bookends the movie. The middle of the film as I’ve said is much more traditional Bond. Grounded in a more believable universe. No fantastical sets or ott villainous plans, just a race to the finish. And along the way we get some wonderful stuff. Bond and Melina being keel hauled behind the villains motor yacht, a scene almost directly from Fleming is very well staged, as is the final assault on Kristatos mountain top retreat. A very exciting sequence as Bond scales the cliff face to reach the top, and has a nasty fall along the way. Sir Rog is also at his best in this film, and plays a very good Bond. Very few jokes, and much more serious. It’s possibly his best at being James Bond. Other than a silly ending where a parrot talks to the then British PM Margaret Thatcher using Bonds walkie-talkie watch, and FYEO has a lot to admire and enjoy.

This Benny sounds like a right muppet.

In all seriousness, a very good review.

[Kristatos]

I was reading some posts over at Mi6 from this member today and what you've just said seems to be a shared one Kristatos.

I'm not Benny, if that's what you're implying, but his view of the film does seem very much in line with mine.

[Captain Nash]

I wasn't implying anything Krisatos. Just that you shared a similar point of view, and noted that FYEO was a better than average Bond film, bookended by a silliness.

[stockslivevan]

OHMSS is almost revered as high as CR on MI6. If Lazenby is considered the best Bond, then in my humble opinion, it is a slap in the face to '19' other Bond performances.

I don't think in general people rave about Lazenby being the best Bond. It's usually praise given to the film itself, and saying OHMSS works in spite of Lazenby. I've read many reviews with `if only Connery was in it' type statements.

I've read countless others that say they are glad Connery did not play Bond in OHMSS. Joe public have certainly never taken to him, but you will find many Bond fans do.

After Connery's performance from YOLT, I'd gladly take Lazenby over a bored lifeless Connery. However, I would always take an ethusiastic Pre-YOLT Connery overall.

[The Sweeney]

OHMSS is almost revered as high as CR on MI6. If Lazenby is considered the best Bond, then in my humble opinion, it is a slap in the face to '19' other Bond performances.

I don't think in general people rave about Lazenby being the best Bond. It's usually praise given to the film itself, and saying OHMSS works in spite of Lazenby. I've read many reviews with `if only Connery was in it' type statements.

I've read countless others that say they are glad Connery did not play Bond in OHMSS. Joe public have certainly never taken to him, but you will find many Bond fans do.

After Connery's performance from YOLT, I'd gladly take Lazenby over a bored lifeless Connery. However, I would always take an ethusiastic Pre-YOLT Connery overall.

I agree. There are 2 Connery's - the superb one from Dr. No, FRWL and GF, and the bored, lifeless one from YOLT, DAF and NSNA (with TB in-between).

I'd take Lazenby over the 2nd Connery any day of the week.

[paco chaos]

CR is definitely the most overrated for me, followed by TWINE.

[The Sweeney]

CR is definitely the most overrated for me, followed by TWINE.

I think we should take CR as a given, considering what site we are on.....

[paco chaos]

CR is definitely the most overrated for me, followed by TWINE.

I think we should take CR as a given, considering what site we are on.....

agreed, that's why I mentioned the other film that I feel is overrated.

[adam]

FYEO is a 'not bad' Bond movie. Everyone seems to drool over Goldfinger & say it's the best ever. I've never seen the appeal of it. Maybe because i grew up in the 70's when the more extravagant & spectacular Moore films were coming out. OHMSS recently won a poll for best Bond movie. WHY ?. Lazenby's acting is poor & his voice was so poor it was dubbed. The action is no better than Connery's films & it was poorly received by the press & public at the time.However Lazenby looks good in the fight scenes. This is apparantly the main reason he was hired. The great reaction to CR from the media was unbelievable as it is very poor compared to most other Bond movies.

I think TSWLM is very overrated.

I also think FYEO is overrated too for different reasosn. It was the film that was supposed to bring Bond back down to earth, and back to Fleming, yet there were still many silly Moore bits in it that stopped it from becoming as serious as OHMSS or FRWL. Yet critics often say this is Moore's best because of the serious attempt to return to the novels. Maybe I have to view it again to get another opinion. It's been a while since I've seen it.

FYEO is overrated IMO. The second half of the film is enjoyable, but as a whole I find it weak in comparison to Moore's other Bond performances. The film does not play to his strengths and he seems uncomfortable in the role.