(but could Barry have written a disco score if he wanted to? I'm sure, his tonal vocabulary evolved in every film away from the surfguitar sound to incorporate new elements, like moog synthesiser, and there was waka-waka guitar in the title toons for both Diamonds... and ...Golden Gun, just add electric piano, a fat wobbly bass, and some strings ... now I do want to hear a John Barry disco soundtrack!)
I‘ve been discussing that already with Barbel - Barry became very repetitive in OP, basically repeating over and over one theme with different instruments.
I had the feeling back then and still have it, that Barry lost a lot of his drive and inspiration at that time.
I agree to the extent that OP is one of JB's weakest, most repetitive Bond scores but his preceding one (MR) had some of his best work and the succeeding score (AVTAK) was also better.
Whatever anyone says, FYEO, AVTAK and TLD have the best soundtracks for me personally, and ageing has no impact on me because I love seeing what bond was like during a certain time period.
Well, since you bring up ageing... I've been a Bond fan since the 60s and since my specialist area is music (I'm a working musician, playing various instruments & singing) obviously I've been drawn to the soundtracks. John Barry's music has always been a source of pleasure, both his Bond work and his other activities- by this point I have a fairly complete collection ( I hesitate to say 100%, for there's always something).
Still, I'm not deaf: his Bond work has ups and downs. TMWTGG and OP are relatively low points, while TB/YOLT/OHMSS and parts of DAF set a benchmark that to my ear haven't been topped. AVTAK and TLD are good works, only suffering in comparison to his peak compositions. I find it difficult to equate Bill Conti's FYEO to Barry's genre-defining work, and parts of it I find unbearable ("Ski...Shoot...Jump"). Still, to each his own...
Conti's soundtrack has some exceptional depth and range, but at times comes across as strange. Too disco and too percussive. However, his soundtrack is aided by an excellent title song, recurrent theme and some action pieces just working to what's on screen. I really like the score he did, but I can understand why others don't - it stands out too much. Unlike Kamen's score - it's larger than life.
Love the gun-barrel. But then again, Serra nails his too.
Still, I'm not deaf: his Bond work has ups and downs. TMWTGG and OP are relatively low points, while TB/YOLT/OHMSS and parts of DAF set a benchmark that to my ear haven't been topped.
Ok, btt.
After OHMSS, FYEO is my second favorite, just to show where I am coming from.
I was and still am disappointed that we don‘t see the wonderful Lotus in a proper car chase as in TSWLM. I simply can‘t enjoy seeing Bond driving a 2 CV.
I am aware that the Remy Julienne guys where used to french cars only, but it‘s a missed opportunity imo.
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Still, I'm not deaf: his Bond work has ups and downs. TMWTGG and OP are relatively low points, while TB/YOLT/OHMSS and parts of DAF set a benchmark that to my ear haven't been topped.
I think OP’s score is incredibly strong. I’m not understanding the hate!
"Hate" is too strong (for me, anyway)- I did say "relatively weakest" (paraphrasing)- but I stand by "one of the most repetitive" since it's far less varied than, say, MR, DAF, OHMSS...
I was and still am disappointed that we don‘t see the wonderful Lotus in a proper car chase as in TSWLM. I simply can‘t enjoy seeing Bond driving a 2 CV.
I am aware that the Remy Julienne guys where used to french cars only, but it‘s a missed opportunity imo.
Perhaps done for the comic incongruity of seeing 007 in a cheap normal car rather than one of his usual vehicles? "What can we do this time to make the car chase unusual?"
the Citroën chase is very creative, well executed
we watch the car do a lengthy series of circus style acrobatics, through the narrow village streets and tumbling down between the switchbacks
lots of ideas, executed for real by stuntdrivers, and a good chance to show off the rural scenery
the Lotus chase in ...Spy... by contrast is mostly about Moore pressing buttons on the dashboard and showing us the special effects that represent Q's gadgets .. its best moment by far is when it goes underwater, but that's all about the special effects by then, not really a proper chase
I was just watching The Bourne Identity last night ... there's a major chase scene in a funny little car up and down narrow urban alleys and stairways in Europe, a really good sequence, I think owes something to the Citroën chase from ...Eyes..., the car belongs to the woman Damon needs to pick up to escape his pursuers, which is also the setup in ...Eyes...
I agree the ski chase is absolutely brilliant -{ One of the most exciting actions sequences in the series. And I love the score over it and Conti's entire score in general. A Drive in the Country is a Bond score desert island track
The Citroen chase in For Your Eyes Only and the Aston Martin V8 chase in The Living Daylights are my two favourite car chases in the series and that's saying something. As for ski chases, got to give it to this movie - and while the one in OHMSS is good, this one is far more enjoyable.
If you had the privilege of seeing FYEO in the cinema back in 1981 ( like I did) , you had to love the tune and the action.
I saw it back in '81. I loved the movie but I don't think I had any sort of reaction towards the soundtrack. While the movie itself has aged well (some bad acting aside, mainly from LHJ), the score simply has not in my opinion. The score for TSWLM hasn't aged all that well either, but it still sounds 'Bondian' for the most part and has a playfulness to it that complements the action. The score for FYEO never really works for me.
Again, to each their own. The enjoyment of music is very subjective.
I aw FYEO the day it opened and the score was the only part of the movie that I was a little disappointed in.
I actually really like the score for FYEO, I think it's one of the better ones in the series. The more serious tone of the movie is fantastic, a bit like FRWL. My 2nd favourite Connery film. It's understandable imo that modern viewers don't like it that much, but it's one of the better Bond films I think. -{
Don't confuse me with the other DutchBondFan, but be sure to follow his YouTube account. You can read my articles on James Bond Nederland: www.jamesbond.nl/author/gosse/
I think it's brilliant! Unfortunately I don't think the tone of the score fits the tone of the film. A darker Moonraker-type score would have been perfect.
I like the score of FYEO, but for me it's just OK. Bill Conti's music for 007 was certainly not as good as his work for Rocky. I always thought that, due to the pace and style of this film, it would have been great to have John Barry music in it.
Regarding the movie, the only bit of it that actually annoys me is when Roger Moore presents himself as Bond to Melina Havelock. His funny broad smile when he delivered the famous line was out of place in a film that tried to be as serious and "realistic" as the first 007 entries of the series. But overall FYEO was a good return to Fleming material and the more skillful and less gadget-reliant Bond.
Bond smiling while presenting himself isn't such a problem for me. I like it very much actually, one of the only times we see Bond actually be ''happy'' on screen. It gives him some humanity, I think. Of course Bond smiled before, but this seems like a honest smile. It's really sad that Brosnan never had such a down to earth 5th movie.
Don't confuse me with the other DutchBondFan, but be sure to follow his YouTube account. You can read my articles on James Bond Nederland: www.jamesbond.nl/author/gosse/
For Your Eyes Only still the best one in the series for me.. Cold war more realistic approach. Other Bond films like FRWL, TLD, LTK and GE all feel similar with their tone, but this does it the best for me. I have no flaws with the movie, except that maybe Bond killing the villain himself would have improved on it a bit.
I have no flaws with the movie, except that maybe Bond killing the villain himself would have improved on it a bit.
I decided I really like the conclusion where Bond does not kill "the villain".
I overanalysed this a few pages back. But the gist is, FYEO is a lowlevel, episodic, almost random adventure, in marked contrast with the epic structures of recent adventures.
In his quest for the McGuffin, Bond wanders into two other peoples stories, already in progress: Melina and Colombo each have their own story going on and their own motives to see Kristatos dead. Note that not only does Bond not kill Kristatos, Melina and Colombo each compete for the privilege.
Because Bond is most interested in that McGuffin, for him the real "villain" turns out to be Gogol, who is in fact an old acquaintance, a friendly rival on the other side of this dirty damn business.
(earlier films where Bond does not kill the villain are FRWL and Thunderball, and there's satisfactory reasons for those too)
I have no flaws with the movie, except that maybe Bond killing the villain himself would have improved on it a bit.
I decided I really like the conclusion where Bond does not kill "the villain".
I overanalysed this a few pages back. But the gist is, FYEO is a lowlevel, episodic, almost random adventure, in marked contrast with the epic structures of recent adventures.
In his quest for the McGuffin, Bond wanders into two other peoples stories, already in progress: Melina and Colombo each have their own story going on and their own motives to see Kristatos dead. Note that not only does Bond not kill Kristatos, Melina and Colombo each compete for the privilege.
Because Bond is most interested in that McGuffin, for him the real "villain" turns out to be Gogol, who is in fact an old acquaintance, a friendly rival on the other side of this dirty damn business.
(earlier films where Bond does not kill the villain are FRWL and Thunderball, and there's satisfactory reasons for those too)
I agree. I like how Columbo gets to kill the villain. He needs to do it. Kristatos hasn't done nearly as much evil to Bond as he did to Columbo.
The ending to FYEO is one of the best in the series and so much thought-provoking than a huge series of explosions. Bond gambles that Gogol's fatherly affection for him means that he won't allow him to be shot in cold blood — and he is of course correct. It's a lovely character moment, and Bond and Pushkin in TLD seem to have the same kind of, well, bond.
For Your Eyes Only still the best one in the series for me.. Cold war more realistic approach. Other Bond films like FRWL, TLD, LTK and GE all feel similar with their tone, but this does it the best for me. I have no flaws with the movie, except that maybe Bond killing the villain himself would have improved on it a bit.
A major flaw would be the Bond girls casting. Melina is stunning but has the personality of homemade yogurt, and Bibi is a weird sexual predator Chiwawa.
They did nail the Countess. She is an all time favorite. Her dress and cape is iconic.
For Your Eyes Only still the best one in the series for me.. Cold war more realistic approach. Other Bond films like FRWL, TLD, LTK and GE all feel similar with their tone, but this does it the best for me. I have no flaws with the movie, except that maybe Bond killing the villain himself would have improved on it a bit.
A major flaw would be the Bond girls casting. Melina is stunning but has the personality of homemade yogurt, and Bibi is a weird sexual predator Chiwawa.
They did nail the Countess. She is an all time favorite. Her dress and cape is iconic.
{[] {[]
So is her unfortunate and untimely death. Wish she played a bigger role in the movie.
Lisl is an excellent character and the casino/beach house scenes are some of the best in the entire series.
"My name is Bond. I'm writing a novel about Greek smugglers. Know any?"
"Smugglers? How would I know any smugglers?"
"I would think that a lady in your position...would get to know many things."
"I'd be most grateful"
"How grateful?"
"Very."
"I adore grateful men."
A major flaw would be the Bond girls casting. Melina is stunning but has the personality of homemade yogurt, and Bibi is a weird sexual predator Chiwawa.
They did nail the Countess. She is an all time favorite. Her dress and cape is iconic.
LOL I like your descriptions.
and agree about the Countess as well. -{
My current 10 favorite:
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
Comments
No problem, have a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PAL0uCT4jQ
And with vocal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RF5PQcymhw (a hit at the time)
Plus of course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXb0-HOEo8Y
I agree to the extent that OP is one of JB's weakest, most repetitive Bond scores but his preceding one (MR) had some of his best work and the succeeding score (AVTAK) was also better.
Imo his best 007 work!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
Still, I'm not deaf: his Bond work has ups and downs. TMWTGG and OP are relatively low points, while TB/YOLT/OHMSS and parts of DAF set a benchmark that to my ear haven't been topped. AVTAK and TLD are good works, only suffering in comparison to his peak compositions. I find it difficult to equate Bill Conti's FYEO to Barry's genre-defining work, and parts of it I find unbearable ("Ski...Shoot...Jump"). Still, to each his own...
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
Love the gun-barrel. But then again, Serra nails his too.
"Better make that two."
I too am not hard of hearing - 4/4 Barbel
https://ajb007.co.uk/post/777893/#p777893
After OHMSS, FYEO is my second favorite, just to show where I am coming from.
I was and still am disappointed that we don‘t see the wonderful Lotus in a proper car chase as in TSWLM. I simply can‘t enjoy seeing Bond driving a 2 CV.
I am aware that the Remy Julienne guys where used to french cars only, but it‘s a missed opportunity imo.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
{[] , and that was a good first post!
"Hate" is too strong (for me, anyway)- I did say "relatively weakest" (paraphrasing)- but I stand by "one of the most repetitive" since it's far less varied than, say, MR, DAF, OHMSS...
Perhaps done for the comic incongruity of seeing 007 in a cheap normal car rather than one of his usual vehicles? "What can we do this time to make the car chase unusual?"
Let‘s blow the sportscar up and get 007 a boring underpowered car just to make it unususal 8-)“
Sounds like one of Asp9mm‘s brilliant ideas.... 8-)
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
we watch the car do a lengthy series of circus style acrobatics, through the narrow village streets and tumbling down between the switchbacks
lots of ideas, executed for real by stuntdrivers, and a good chance to show off the rural scenery
the Lotus chase in ...Spy... by contrast is mostly about Moore pressing buttons on the dashboard and showing us the special effects that represent Q's gadgets .. its best moment by far is when it goes underwater, but that's all about the special effects by then, not really a proper chase
I was just watching The Bourne Identity last night ... there's a major chase scene in a funny little car up and down narrow urban alleys and stairways in Europe, a really good sequence, I think owes something to the Citroën chase from ...Eyes..., the car belongs to the woman Damon needs to pick up to escape his pursuers, which is also the setup in ...Eyes...
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
I aw FYEO the day it opened and the score was the only part of the movie that I was a little disappointed in.
I think it's brilliant! Unfortunately I don't think the tone of the score fits the tone of the film. A darker Moonraker-type score would have been perfect.
Regarding the movie, the only bit of it that actually annoys me is when Roger Moore presents himself as Bond to Melina Havelock. His funny broad smile when he delivered the famous line was out of place in a film that tried to be as serious and "realistic" as the first 007 entries of the series. But overall FYEO was a good return to Fleming material and the more skillful and less gadget-reliant Bond.
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
I overanalysed this a few pages back. But the gist is, FYEO is a lowlevel, episodic, almost random adventure, in marked contrast with the epic structures of recent adventures.
In his quest for the McGuffin, Bond wanders into two other peoples stories, already in progress: Melina and Colombo each have their own story going on and their own motives to see Kristatos dead. Note that not only does Bond not kill Kristatos, Melina and Colombo each compete for the privilege.
Because Bond is most interested in that McGuffin, for him the real "villain" turns out to be Gogol, who is in fact an old acquaintance, a friendly rival on the other side of this dirty damn business.
(earlier films where Bond does not kill the villain are FRWL and Thunderball, and there's satisfactory reasons for those too)
I agree. I like how Columbo gets to kill the villain. He needs to do it. Kristatos hasn't done nearly as much evil to Bond as he did to Columbo.
They did nail the Countess. She is an all time favorite. Her dress and cape is iconic.
So is her unfortunate and untimely death. Wish she played a bigger role in the movie.
"My name is Bond. I'm writing a novel about Greek smugglers. Know any?"
"Smugglers? How would I know any smugglers?"
"I would think that a lady in your position...would get to know many things."
"I'd be most grateful"
"How grateful?"
"Very."
"I adore grateful men."
"Better make that two."
LOL I like your descriptions.
and agree about the Countess as well. -{
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK