So, according to skeptical fans and critics, the previous James Bond installment – "Moonraker" – was too grotesque in terms of plotting, too absurd in terms of set pieces and gadgetry and too cartoonesque in terms of villainous characters. I'm a skeptical fan myself and thus agree with all of the above. "No problem, we can fix this
" is what producer Albert R. Broccoli must have thought, and he promptly hired John Glen to be the next episode's new director. Glen already was second unit director and editor for several of the previous 007- movies, so he definitely had the experience, and yet his fresh new style is immediately noticeable. This in combination with a return towards a more old-fashioned story lines and down-to-earth action sequences (literally, when compared to "Moonraker") results in "For Your Eyes Only" being one of the most relaxingly enjoyable and adrenalin-rushing Bond adventures in the entire series. The link with the bombastic old style is symbolically cut through during the fabulous pre-credits opening sequence where Bond's legendary nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld (although a faceless version this time) gets wiped off the face of the earth for good. But, contrary to many other Bond movies, the pacing and suspense level doesn't decrease after the title sequences and the plot that unfolds is quite an absorbing one. When a British spying vessel, cleverly disguised as a primitive fishing boat, sinks before the coast of Albania, the hi- tech onboard communication device – the ATAC – threatens to fall into the wrong hands. The government already sent out an experienced salver, but he and his wife are brutally murdered in front of his beautiful daughter's eyes by a hired killer. The search for whoever commanded this vile murder brings 007, as well as the ravishing avenging angel Melina, to exotic Greek islands and fancy Italian skiing resorts. The principal villain, a Greek smuggler/double- agent, has evil henchmen everywhere and intends to sell the ATAC- device to the KGB at a tremendously high price. The action highlights are numerous, notably several types of extended chases whether in awesome Citroën 2CV cars, on skis off the tracks and even on the bobsled track. Other memorable stunts include Bond and his love-interest tied behind a yacht and serving as shark bait, a battle with a trio of hockey hoodlums and an anti-vertigo climb towards a monastery hideout lair. The villains in this film are less flamboyant, as mentioned earlier already, but they are utmost menacing and relentless, like for example the stoic psychopath Locque (Michael Gothard) and the beefcake East-German athlete Erich Kriegler. Cult experts will probably even recognize Charles Dance in a (sadly too brief) supportive role as Locque's accomplice. Furthermore "For Your Eyes Only" benefices from a phenomenal title song, courtesy of Sheena Easton, and some of the most breathtaking Bond girls. Carol Bouquet and Cassandra Harris are unforgettably cool chicks, although the role of the latter is ridiculously small. Lynn-Holly Johnson theoretically also counts as a Bond girl, although luckily the writers realized that the age difference between her and Roger Moore was a bit much
Review of For Your Eyes Only
