James Bond in review - For Your Eyes Only (John Glen, 1981)

"The Chinese have a saying. Before setting out on revenge, you first dig two graves."
"I wouldn't expect you to understand, you're English. But I'm half Greek, and Greek women, like Elektra, always avenge their loved ones."

After the mildly entertaining but hardly engrossing Moonraker, Cubby delivered to fans that which he had promised at the close of The Spy Who Loved Me; that James Bond would return in For Your Eyes Only. Thankfully the wish of so many Bond fans craving a harder edged, more realistic Bond was fulfilled and audiences could hardly be disappointed. Lifting moments from Fleming's Live And Let Die (the thrilling shark keel hauling sequence) and elements of short story Risico, Moore is launched into action as Bond in the 12th adventure, and his 5th. Notably beginning to show his age, Moore gives ironically his best performance as Bond. John Glen, a trusted second unit director and editor most notable for his work for On Her Majesty's Secret Service and The Spy Who Loved Me is given his chance to display his directing skills and what a brilliant job he manages. The principal cast are all terrific and the story is sped along at a sensible pace, ensuring that audiences can enjoy the film as well as be thrilled at the same time.

One of the most famous Moore Bond poses as he pursues Locque's car to the top of the cliff face

That For Your Eyes Only was the highest grossing Bond movie of the 1980s is no surprise - this is a tight story with beautiful touches to Bond's past adventures (see the pre-credits graveyard visit to Diana Rigg's Tracy Bond - We have all the time in the world) and the somewhat less successful dispatching of a bald villain stroking a cat who fans can only assume is Blofeld, though this is never explicitly stated. This scene aside, the humour is less obvious which is a great thing considering the implausibility and double-entendre-heavy previous Moore Bond outings and there are no gigantic set pieces: everything is simple yet startlingly effective.

One of the most beautiful actresses to be a Bond girl and later a model, Carole Bouquet

Alongside The Spy Who Loved Me, this is Roger Moore's best Bond because firstly it is very watchable and secondly because the characters are well rounded, particularly the vengeful Melina. It is a brilliant directorial debut for Bond veteran John Glen and safe assurance for the fans that the 1980s would be another exciting decade for 007, even if it would later feature a 58 year old Moore trying to bed Grace Jones and dressing up in a clown outfit! The only thing that is still puzzling is why For Your Eyes Only is so under regarded by critics and glossed over by many a Bond fan. You want Moore's closest depiction of Fleming's Bond, then look no further people. Forget Octopussy, For Your Eyes Only is Moore's 'All Time High.'