Explaining The Opener - For Your Eyes Only - Jason On Movies

[@SharkWhosFondOfBond]

Never knew why the opening got so much dislike, I get absolute joy every time I watch it!

[@jasonmichaelhamelin9181]

Thanks for the comment. I love it, too, all the more since I recognize how much it accomplishes. It is fun to watch, aware of its past, and dances adriotly around the rights issue. Great opening!

[@Educatingben]

For Your Eyes Only was the first bond movie I ever saw in the theater. Prior to that I had seen them on recorded VHS because a neighbor had all the original Bonds in his collection.. I was very excited when For Your Eyes Only came into theaters. It’s to this days, still my favorite Bond movie. 🍿 Definitely has one of the best bond openings ever!

[@jasonmichaelhamelin9181]

Thanks for the comment. Bond movies were such events back in the day. What countries will he visit next? What dastardly plot will be foil? For Your Eyes Only has a special spot locked down in my mind, for sure.

[@Shannom-u5w]

Bond's marriage was referenced in The Spy Who Loved Me. In the scene where XXX and Bond show that they have personal information on each other, Bond flinches when XXX mentions his marriage. The character continuity was carried over to each actor through the Brosnan era.

[@jasonmichaelhamelin9181]

Thanks for the comment. I forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder. I have to rewatch that scene. 😁

[@ShamrockParticle]

GREAT analysis, thank you! I always liked the opener, not always cognizant of what was setting a new standard for the 80s at the time. Some hated it because Bond is flippant toward notBlofeld, but that's one of the few silly moments in the movie, and it's not too far out compared to previous kills Bond makes. The movie's serious tone and, indeed, Bond's killing Locque in turn for Locque killing the Countess (the only real love interest since Teresa) is that much more powerful, and well acted - even if Roger felt his Bond would not kill in cold blood but he does. It always felt like a crucial scene to the movie. The movie itself is one of my favorites with a terrific blend of suspense, action, globetrotting, and danger, where Bond has to use his wits without gizmos. It was a huge and needed shift in the franchise to give Bond some needed depth again. Looking forward to more of your views, thanks again!

[@jasonmichaelhamelin9181]

Thank you so much for the comment. I really think this opening was doing so much more than people understood. It closed the door on parts of Bond's past, and revisited how the character was portrayed. I much prefer a Bond with wits instead of gadgets, and this understated minimalistic film scratched an itch I didn't know I had.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

I always felt that this film would have been better if it marked Tim Dalton debut. Anyway, nice video.

[@jasonmichaelhamelin9181]

Thanks for the comment. There are so many "what ifs" regarding Bond casting. What if Brosnan had been available earlier? What if Connery had agreed to "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", or if Lazenby had stayed on for more films? What if Moore had been available earlier? The thought of Timothy Dalton portraying Bond in "For Your Eyes Only", and then carrying on through "Octopussy", "A View To A Kill", and beyond...interesting! I loved Dalton as the baddie in "The Rocketeer", so I know he can handle any kind of role. Your idea sparks my imagination!

[@dustynreid5204]

For your eyes only was the first Bond film I ever saw at age 4. Loved it, it is still #2 favorite of the franchise. 4 of Moores films are in my top 10. Of the 25 filns this has the bext gunbarrel sequence. Hetes my top ten 10. Spectre 9. The living daylights 8. Tomorrow never dies 7. Octopussy 6. Goldfinger 5. On her Majesty's secret service 4. The Spy who Loved me 3. Licence to kill 2. For your eyes only 1. A view to a kill

[@jasonmichaelhamelin9181]

Thank you for your comment! You have a very interesting list. Quite a diverse spread covering every incarnation of Bond.

[@neubsi8243]

mine is "you only live twice", but i like them all

[@jasonmichaelhamelin9181]

Thanks for the comment. I will rewatch that opening. 😁

[@masudashizue777]

The "delicatessen in stainless steel" reference went over all our heads.

[@jasonmichaelhamelin9181]

Mine, too! I think it was just to be campy. Such a weird line, and oddly rhyming! Thanks for the comment!

[@gelchert]

The story behind that is that Cubby Broccoli insisted on that line being in the script. He’d grown up in an Italian neighborhood in Depression-era NYC, where there were quite a few mobsters running around. They’d sometimes bribe people by buying them a deli (which would be a profitable legitimate business), and sweeten the deal by outfitting it in stainless steel (which looks great and is easy to clean). Blofeld is essentially a mob boss on an international scale, so Cubby thought it was a great homage to that. He just didn’t realize that no one else would get the reference.

[@jasonmichaelhamelin9181]

@@gelchert Thanks for the comment! That is hilarious! I wonder if anyone got it besides him...

[@dustynreid5204]

It was apparently a mob reference, they discuss it in the making of featurette.

[@rexmundi2986]

Might've liked this opening a lot more if Telly Savalas had voiced it.

[@jasonmichaelhamelin9181]

Thanks for the comment. The voice was closer to Savalas than the other Blofeld performers. Of course, his voice is iconic, so there is no faking it.

[@dallasbrunson3677]

Octopussy is the final Bond where the pre title sequence has nothing to do with the rest of the movie...

[@ShamrockParticle]

Doesn't "A View to a Kill"'s pre-credits scene involve Bond getting the microchip off the other 00 agent?

[@jasonmichaelhamelin9181]

Thanks for the comment. Actually, I am planning a video looking at the opening sequences and seeing what function they serve. Are they just to show off how cool Bond is, or do they serve the plot.

[@jasonmichaelhamelin9181]

@@ShamrockParticle Indeed it does. Skis, snowboards, surfing, iceburgs. Classic over-the-top Bond opener. Thanks for the comment.

[@gelchert]

@@jasonmichaelhamelin9181 It depends on the movie. Most of the time, it does both. But there are a few (like _Goldfinger)_ that just show off how cool Bond is, and there are a few (like _From Russia with Love_ and _The Man With the Golden Gun)_ that don't feature Bond at all, but set up the villain instead.

[@jasonmichaelhamelin9181]

@@gelchert Exactly. Is Bond present at all? Is it villain-centric, setting the stakes? Is it plot-centric? Are there two parts, one with Bond and one without? It is interesting how those sequences are used in each film. Thanks for the comment!