For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Coming out of the disappointment that was Moonraker it is safe to say that I was feeling pretty cold on the Bond franchise. Moving on from the era of camp and over the top fun, For Your Eyes Only attempts to focus more on the action and intense side of the franchise. After a key vessel for the Royal Navy sinks, it is up to James Bond (Roger Moore) to collect a device called the Automatic Targeting Attack Communicator which was on board. This device allows the Navy to communicate with its fleet of submarines before the Soviets can. For Your Eyes Only marked the debut of John Glen who would direct the next 5 Bond films and it was clear that he wanted this series to remain fun but in a more serious and mature manner than Lewis Gilbert took the franchise in.
From the aspect of an action film, For Your Eyes Only is pretty solid actually. Where nothing in this film is super new feeling or will ultimately stand out in this franchise, from start to finish the action felt dynamic and interesting. Even when the story was lacking (and it was lacking) I found myself getting pulled in by the action almost having me at the edge of my seat at times. This is easily where the film find's its best pacing and energy, from the opening scene it establishes that it is here to bring you on a rollercoaster of thrills and fights. Sadly though there is more to this film than the action.
Where the film had a clear inspiration for the action it was also clear that it couldn't care less regarding the story and plot that it builds. Feeling almost like a ghost of aspects featured in previous films such as the inclusion of submarines and the Soviets it feels again like it is simply going through the motions. It has a plot simply because it needs to have one to function. If possible it feels like For Your Eyes Only would choose to simply be 2 hours of unconnected action which really is a shame to see. Where the film can be fun and tolerable with solid action if it doesn't have a story the filmmakers or audience cares about it simply cannot be anything more than "good". As seen in previous films in this franchise there can be a balance made providing good action and an engaging story but instead For Your Eyes Only feels like a production either too rushed to create a good plot or too lazy to put in the effort.
For Your Eyes Only has part of the puzzle needed to be a memorable and solid addition to the Bond franchise but really drops the ball when it comes to engaging the audience and creating something of value. When it is so obvious that the filmmakers and studio doesn't care about what they are creating it becomes an uninspiring watch that overall feels dull and forgettable even though there are moments of genuinely great action. I hope this is not the start of a painful 5 films from director John Glen, but coming out of his first outing with the franchise I can't say that I have much faith.
For Your Eyes Only has part of the puzzle needed to be a memorable and solid addition to the Bond franchise but really drops the ball when it comes to engaging the audience and creating something of value. When it is so obvious that the filmmakers and studio doesn't care about what they are creating it becomes an uninspiring watch that overall feels dull and forgettable even though there are moments of genuinely great action. I hope this is not the start of a painful 5 films from director John Glen, but coming out of his first outing with the franchise I can't say that I have much faith.