James Bond is on the hunt for a lost British encryption device
and must prevent it from falling into the hands of the Soviets.

ACTION

For Your Eyes Only (1981)

Directed by John Glen

Written by Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson

Starring Roger Moore, Carole Bouquet, Julian Glover,
​Topol, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell

Sequel to 1979's Moonraker

Based on the short story by Ian Fleming

Oscar Nominations - Best Original Song (For Your Eyes Only)

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Connor Eyzaguirre

​December 14, 2016

7/10

For Your Eyes Only represents a turning point in the James Bond franchise. Roger Moore had begun to show obvious signs of age and the franchise's campiness had peaked with Moonraker. While this film is a return to form for 007, it still leaves a lot to be desired. For Your Eyes Only is arguably the most forgettable James Bond film in the entire series, from Sheena Easton's power ballad theme song to Julian Glover's boring main villain Kristatos.

I don't think it bodes well for the film when it takes at least four separate viewings to finally understand exactly what's going on. The plot revolves around the disappearance of an encryption device that Bond is sent to recover before the Russians find it first. It sounds like a simple enough plot reminiscent of the Connery era, but the film is not very well-executed. Moore does the best he can, but he can't keep the interest above sea level. The only entertaining character is Topol's charming Greek gangster Milos Columbo, one of Bond's most entertaining allies.

For Your Eyes Only may not hold the title of Worst Bond Ever (that laurel still rests on Lazenby's head), but it's nowhere near the franchise's best work. If the film had been more focused on characters and not so much on pulling the rug out from under us with a predictable twist, then things would certainly be different.

Caleb Leger

4/10

And I thought Lazenby's was going to be the worst one. This is by far the blandest and most boring James Bond film. The plot is very dull and and seemed to drag on. The characters are flat and don't jump out in any way at all. While Roger Moore still plays a good James Bond, this is where he begins to visibly age and it gets quite weird. A low point in the Bond franchise and an incredibly dull film.