For Your Eyes Only (SE) (DVD)

Released By:

MGM Home Entertainment

Features:

1981; 128 Min; Rated PG; Dolby Digital 5.1 English; Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35).

Extras:

"Inside For Your Eyes Only;" Audio Commentaries: 1. Director John Glenn, 2. Executive Producer Michael G. Wilson and memebers of the Cast and Crew; Behind The Scenes Still Gallery; "For Your Eyes Only" music video; Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots.

Review:

MGM has always been a studio that has taken pride in its library of films, produced over the past fifty years. Unlike most people, I feel MGM's sale of most of it pre-1986 catalog to Warner was a bad thing. As I've stated in previous editorials, I trust Warner as far as I can throw my truck. Fortunately part of deal, in which MGM bought out it's home video deal with Warner, left all of thier United Artist product in house. The first big fruits of thier labor since the deal are the new James Bond SE DVD's.

For Your Eyes Only was Roger Moore's fifth, and most successful, outing as super spy James Bond. This time Bond is trying to recover an A.T.A.C. device from a sunken British frigate. This remote missle launching device is also being sought by other covert agencies. Of course Bond runs into his usual array of allies and villians, which include Topol, Julian Glover. The Bond beauties in this adventure are protrayed by Lynn Holly Johnson and Carole Bouquet (Melina).

Compared to all of the other Roger Moore outings, For Your Eyes Only is  fairly serious. There aren't any over the top villians like Blowfeld and Jaws, the villians are much more belivable. Moore plays Bond truer to the original portraits. He's no longer constantly making wise cracks. At times, such as when he send the hit man over the cliff, he's down right ruthless. Personally I prefer this version of Bond. This is why I've like Roger Moore the least of the Bond actors, although I've never seen Geroge Lazenby's Bond.

For Your Eyes Only was one of the re-mastered laser disc SE's promised by MGM before the laser business imploded about two years ago. Fortunately, MGM has not ignored the collector's with this outstanding Special Edition. This disc is packed with almost everything you would want from an SE.

The best of the supplements is the "Inside For Your Eyes Only" documentary. This new documentary, narrated by The Prisoner's Patric McNee, is a recent look back at the making of the film. It features interviews with director John Glenn, producer Michael G. Wilson, writer Richard Maibaum and others. Even Roger Moore is included. All reminice about the trials and tribulations of bringing this Bond adventure to the screen, they even comment about the direction they took Bond in this film. Moore apparently wasn't receptive to this serious turn.

Other things included are: a still photo gallery, an LD supplement tradition; the music video for the Sheena Easton track "For Your Eyes Only," which is simply the opening montage, without the credits; a storyboard comparison sequence of the ski chase and a collector's booklet, if you count that.

The film has never looked, or sounded better. The new anamophic widescreen print is nearly flawless. The are a few instances of scratches on the film print. Considering the film is nearly 20 years old, that forgivable. The newly re-mixed Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track doesn't disappoint either. Will you can still hear the age of the audio elements, they've been cleaned up considerably. I don't know if there was a 70mm 6-track mag available, but the surround are fairly aggresive, and unlike the Thunderball re-mix, the audio levels are much more consisitant.

If Bond fans don't buy this disc, or the whole James Bond Collection for that matter, your lisense to own a home theater and consider yourself a true Bond fans is hereby revoked. You should definately check out this new SE of For Your Eyes Only, you will not be disappointed.

Definately the best of the Roger Moore Bond film, it earns a rating of 7.

MGM has pulled out all the stops on this disc. It worth of a 9.5 rating

Dan Linzmeier, FIT Productions
Fitprod@aol.com
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