[USED:Cond.AB] For Your Eyes Only Ultimate Edition

After the excesses of "Moonraker", Bond producer Cubby Broccoli decided to tone down the style of the series somewhat, and return it to being spy thrillers instead of overblown epics. "For Your Eyes Only" is consequently a leaner, more realistic Bond movie than we'd seen since the early days of Connery.

For once the stakes are not world destruction or domination, but the more subtle upsetting of the balance of power as dodgy Greek collaborator Kristatos tries to sell salvaged British secrets to the Russians. On the way to stopping him, Bond must deal with German assassins, spike-tyred snowbikes with machine guns, and a 17 year old blonde who wants him to take her virginity.

The two staples of Bond films - ski battles and underwater sequences - are again mixed to great effect. Bond's sojourn to the ski resort of Cortina is followed by a trip to Greece, and in keeping with the new tone of realism, he loses his Q-enhanced Lotus. The ensuing car chase must be in a more prosaic vehicle - and if Bond can beat the bad guys while driving a Citroen 2CV, he really is a superspy.

Bond girl this time is Carole Bouquet as fiery half-Greek beauty Melina, while the redoubtable Julian Glover is reliably villainous as Kristatos. "Fiddler on the Roof" star Topol also provides fun support as Greek smuggler Columbo.

As a return to James Bond's roots in spy adventure, "For Your Eyes Only" is a resounding success. Now we can see again that Bond lives by his wits, not just his gadgets.