Film Analysis: For Your Eyes Only

650 Words2 Pages

It is no secret that the James Bond novel and film series seeks to depict an empowered and efficient United Kingdom, particularly by the Bond character himself as a member of the Secret Intelligence Service, otherwise known as MI6. In the film For Your Eyes Only, the film series seeks to rebound from the campier Moonraker that preceded it by re-adopting a series and dramatic, tone. While the series is known for pre-title sequences that are distinct from the film plot, they are hugely important in setting the tone of the film. In this film’s pre-title sequence, two relevant themes are dominant that carry their way into the rest of the film: Brutality and responsive violence—better characterized as vengeance. Bond (Roger Moore) dispenses with a character that the audience is to presume to be Ernst Stavro Blofeld (John Hollis, voiced by Robert Rietti) is a rather callous manner. This film’s seriousness is brought in quickly with Bond escaping a villainous trap and, instead, terrorizes the villain and striking fear in him by flying highly around in a helicopter, all before dropping him to his death in a smokestack. Fans of the series will recognize Blofeld as the man responsible for Bond’s wife Teresa’s death in the film and novel On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, thus making apparent that Bond’s torment of Blofeld appears as an act vengeance. This introduces the point made herein. The film sets up a clear image of seriousness and the acceptability of retribution. It is no coincidence that this film precedes Octopussy, where the Soviet Union is taken on as a villainous entity for the first time with any meaningful directness. This causes Bond to be recognized as an agent of British foreign policy. Post-imperial Britain needs its gr... ... middle of paper ... ...ionalism. Admittedly, Havelock is half-English, but, unlike Bond and her late parents, her fight is not officially of the Crown. It echoes American deference to the United Kingdom throughout the series and displays the idea that Bond does not necessarily have to play by the same rules as his friends; Havelock herself defers to Bond about forty-five minutes into the film. Rather, as an MI6 agent, the very nature of his work is oftentimes responsive, and it creates an officially sanctioned execution of British force as a counterintelligent and counterterroristic power. That power is what emboldens Bond here, and that signifies Britain as a long-lasting power in its own right. The film avenges the real-world U.K. by using Bond as an dangerous, destructive and sometimes callous force, but as a force who is acting with a right—a responsibility—to do what he is doing.

Open Document