Having lived through the 1980s, I don't have a particular nostalgia for it. I miss some of the music, as I was a punk and New Wave fan, and there were a few good movies and TV shows. But it was a strange, polarizing time. The Bond films were hit or miss. For Your Eyes Only, which in many ways felt more like a late 1970s film, was good, but I recall leaving the theater and not quite feeling it was a Bond film, a bit of a letdown. In the years that have passed, I've come to appreciate it much more, of course. I had to wait till The Living Daylights for another decent Bond film from the official makers, though it, too, didn't quite feel like a legitimate Bond film. I'm one of the few people who actually enjoyed Never Say Never Again -- it was closer in look and feel to the 1960s Bonds than anything that Eon was making at the time.
The 1980s were the decade when the Baby Boomers came into their own. Films in general took on a strange, almost contradictory quality -- though they tried in many ways to undo the concepts of classic storytelling, with increased amounts of spectacle (especially nudity, cussing, and violence), they seemed at the same time to just recycle many of the same tropes as before, including racial and gender stereotypes. In many ways, they were a step backwards after the efforts in the 1960s and 1970s to move past such things. The Bond films of the era typify some of these qualities. They didn't know if they should be traditional, including some of the less savory qualities, or try to chart new territory. Of course, the 90s Bonds were hardly better in this regard, but I will say I enjoyed that decade more for any number of reasons than the one that came before it.
For Your Eyes Only, which in many ways felt more like a late 1970s film, was good, but I recall leaving the theater and not quite feeling it was a Bond film, a bit of a letdown.
For Your Eyes Only, which in many ways felt more like a late 1970s film, was good, but I recall leaving the theater and not quite feeling it was a Bond film, a bit of a letdown.
Yeah, I like it a LOT more now.
Wow, yes, I love this movie so much, but when I watched it when it first came out (I was 14 and your "typical" Bond fan of that age), I walked out of the theater so underwhelmed! I mean, where were the gadgets!?
"...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
I love this movie so much, but when I watched it when it first came out (I was 14 and your "typical" Bond fan of that age), I walked out of the theater so underwhelmed! I mean, where were the gadgets!?
I was 21 (you kid you) and I felt the same, but I'd not yet read the novels so I had no idea of Bond's roots.
Comments
The 1980s were the decade when the Baby Boomers came into their own. Films in general took on a strange, almost contradictory quality -- though they tried in many ways to undo the concepts of classic storytelling, with increased amounts of spectacle (especially nudity, cussing, and violence), they seemed at the same time to just recycle many of the same tropes as before, including racial and gender stereotypes. In many ways, they were a step backwards after the efforts in the 1960s and 1970s to move past such things. The Bond films of the era typify some of these qualities. They didn't know if they should be traditional, including some of the less savory qualities, or try to chart new territory. Of course, the 90s Bonds were hardly better in this regard, but I will say I enjoyed that decade more for any number of reasons than the one that came before it.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Wow, yes, I love this movie so much, but when I watched it when it first came out (I was 14 and your "typical" Bond fan of that age), I walked out of the theater so underwhelmed! I mean, where were the gadgets!?
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS