Is A View To A Kill A Real Thrill?
James Suzuki
New ZealandPosts: 2,406MI6 Agent
Sorry about the corny title of this thread.
I had a discussion with Firemass about A View To A Kill in a different thread. He loves the film and I'm surprised he and Jarvio haven't caught up for drinks!
With Moore's last entry being talked about lots lately I've realised how long ago since I watched the film, my response to the movie has been really awry because I hadn't seen it in ages.
So, with that in mind I've decided to watch again, from start to finish and then I'll try and give a decent, long review on the Movie (which I'll post on IMDb depending on the spoilers revealed). I'm fairly new in the review department but I'll try my best. After that, I hope you can see where I stand and then, hopefully, the rest of this thread can be discussing the film.
-{
Thank you for reading, I'll try and get the review written quickly.
I had a discussion with Firemass about A View To A Kill in a different thread. He loves the film and I'm surprised he and Jarvio haven't caught up for drinks!
With Moore's last entry being talked about lots lately I've realised how long ago since I watched the film, my response to the movie has been really awry because I hadn't seen it in ages.
So, with that in mind I've decided to watch again, from start to finish and then I'll try and give a decent, long review on the Movie (which I'll post on IMDb depending on the spoilers revealed). I'm fairly new in the review department but I'll try my best. After that, I hope you can see where I stand and then, hopefully, the rest of this thread can be discussing the film.
-{Thank you for reading, I'll try and get the review written quickly.
“The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning. "
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
Comments
ya know Jarvio linked FYEO and AVTAK in his recent "Pair em Up" thread because "Both are quite serious in terms of Moore films"
Since you're such a big fan of FYEO I predict that you would also like AVTAK as well.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
I more or less agree with this, but the way AVTAK is being talked about as of the past few months, I'm beginning to think it's outright OVERRATED on this forum. I personally found Stacy Sutton insufferable to the point of lessening the enjoyability of the film, although Walken's Zorin was a high point, as was Patrick Macnee's Tibbett.
Yes, drinks with me and Firemass are long overdue. Us AVTAK fans need to stick together -{
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
Agree with this. FYEO and AVTAF are for me, two of Moore's best (along with OP.) There is a lot to enjoy from AVTAK, Walken being the best villain of all the films. AVTAK was probably a fitting way for Moore to go out. Yes he was too old by then, but FYEO and AVTAK sum up the Moore years brilliantly.
Contains an interesting reworking of the screenplay plus lots of unreleased photos. My favorite being Rog sleeping in the chair with the big fluffy cat in his lap.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
I'm loving the AVTAK love on here very much. You can't have too many AVTAK threads - I too am writing an article review on it for my blog.
Pray tell where you bought that AVTAK story book, Firemass?
Plus, you can add my name to those of Jarvio and Firemass who love and defend AVTAK very much. I hope Mr Andrew McNess gets to read this further AVTAK post of mine and I recommend his book to all of AJB. Go buy it from Amazon now!
I admire your resolve, if not your judgement!
A View to a Kill is EpixHD this month. I have to rethink my position
Pros
1. Technically, it is a well made movie.
2. It is very Flemingesque
a. Well thought out Villain, reminded me of Moonraker (novel)
b. Hints of the Cold war, but not a political drama
c. Bond is a man in the movie who enjoys sex
d. The Manichean element is present.
e. Bond-centric
f. Bond cooks with eggs
3. The women in the movie are not bimbos, but it is not politically correct either.
4. John Barry
5. John Glen keeps Moore in check, something he failed to do in OP
6. None of this MI6 rebranding, Bond is working for MoD like the Fleming Novels.
7. Grace Jones actually works as henchman.
Cons
1. Moore is too old
2. Lois Maxwell is too old
3. Good cast seemingly wasted on thin plot.
1. Yes, it was.
2. Some good points.
3. What???? Stacey!!!
4. Absolutely a big plus.
5. I think Moore is actually better in OP.
6. Doesn't really matter that much.
7. Agreed.
I agree with Cons 1 and 3 (Maxwell's age doesn't bother me), and those things really ruin the movie for me (especially Con Number 1).
Should be done by the weekend....
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
Interesting ponts well made - I think that you're right on MoD - I think that the building is an old MoD property rather than the MI6 HQ, Fleming even attended meeting here, I believe. That certainly adds to you theory. By the way I've tweeted you about M and MI7 in Dr. No - have a read of my tweet, perdogg.
I also certainly agree on the Flemingesque nature of AVTAK - we have the very best drawn villain complete with background since Francisco Scaramana in TMWTGG - where villain detail from a novel source was last succewssfully used in the drawing of a Bond villain. We'd have to wait until Franz Sanchez and Alec Trevelyan for the next well-drawn villains in the series and Raoul Silva obviously deserves an honourable mention here, too.
facebook.com/catchingbullets
www.markoconnell.co.uk
Roger Moore 1927-2017
A View To A Kill-
The film starts off rather fast with a pre-title sequence in Siberia. I personally, think that the skiing scene doesn’t hold up to the scenes in For Your eyes Only, On her Majesty’s Secret Service and The Spy Who Loved Me. It feels bland and almost like in the script it says “Action Scene, gag, action scene”.
Bond hooks up with a Miss America and then we get some great Titles by Maurice. The song by Duran Duran is my favourite Bond song and I love the titles, love the woman at the start who unzips who jacket really slowly to reveal a t-shirt with the 007 logo. The song declares the decade, the 80’s while being energetic and really catchy. The Bond series hadn’t had a lively, nod your head to song since Live and Let Die. The normal Moneypenny scene is short and plain, rather sad that this was Maxwell’s last outing. To tell the truth, I never really liked her, I mean she was a fine Moneypenny but I never found her attractive and she started to show her age. I also have a crush on Caroline Bliss! Anyway, the M and Q scene in the office is purely informative and the film starts off faster than quite a few of the other Roger Moore Bond films. Nice to see the MI6 team at the races but they all look super old and tiresome. But I do feel that this film is really a goodbye Moore film. I like it that way, we have the old vs. the new and I feel that was how it was intentionally made. We have the last appearance of Moore, Maxwell and the Minister of Defence all facing off against Zorin and young Mayday. We get to see Walken’s Zorin for the first time with Mayday and he instantly breathes life in the so far average movie. You know that this character is going to be interesting and I feel that he’s the best villain since Hugo Drax (I still love Kamal Khan and Kristatos). The scenes in Paris fly by but are both remember able and well done. The Effiel Tower Jump is both amazing and also reminds you that this is a Bond movie, love that scene, the acting of moore and Barry’s music works perfectly here. The chase which follows is short and sweet, it is less than a minute long but is done well. Tibbet, played by Patrick Macnee is seen as well and he’s a delight to watch, he and Moore have a great on-screen chemistry and I wish he was in it for more. Though I feel that how they dealt with his death was perfect and I love Bond’s investigation around the drugged horses. I’ve always wanted to see a Detective James Bond, where Bond has to solve a crime and he asks questions and gets to the truth. I feel like this is the closest I’ll get to one. Bond is seen asking questions a lot, using minor non-introduced gadgets from Q branch heaps and pretends to be about 2 or 3 people in this film. I love this part and I feel like they’re using his age as a good thing. They are playing up the intelligent, wise Bond side of the character which is really believable. The horse race with Zorin is both unique and pretty cool though a little ridiculous (but hey it’s a Bond movie, what did you expect?)
The movie gets a little wishy-washy with this pipeline pumping seawater stuff and the Chinese Detective turns up for some reason. But I love David Yip and I wish he stayed on till the end of the film. Wish they could of invented a different death for him though (I think this has been mentioned before) instead of Tibbet’s one done again. Stacey Sutton is introduced and she is good looking and she manages the Geologist talk. Love the scenes in her house with Bond being a true gentleman to her, he makes quiche and he also falls asleep on the lazyboy with the shotgun and the cat. These middle scenes seem both mellow and like a Daytime Detective Show, but this is just my humble opinion (and the detective show thing I read in another review and I agree with entirely).
The film suddenly changes mood rather briskly with Zorin murdering a man at the City Hall and setting the hall on fire. Though Zorin’s character is really good here I thought this scene kind of felt a little out of place from Moore skiing to the Beach Boys. But, I like this scene and Mayday (who seems really ugly to me, is she even a Woman?) shows her evil side.
The film suddenly changes to a very goofish but still entertaining Fire Truck Chase with some nice stunts. The stupid Cop joke has been used too much but it still works here for a few laughs...
Part two should be ready by sat/sun
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
However, it was a great exit for him... a true Moore Bond romp. It feels a lot like a Gardner Bond novel and Walken is, in my mind, the last GREAT Bond villain. Plays Zorin beautifully. I actually believe his character's a psycho.
Yes, Moore and Maxwell were too old. I thought the Zorin plot was too much like Goldfinger. There were other nit-noid thing with the movie. I thought the Zorin villain was wasted. Perfect story on a villain wasted.
Today I have received the new Andrew McNess book and it looks great! This A Close Look At A View To A Kill seems like a real piece of love dedicated to a non-too-much-loved film that deserves much better. Thanks, Mr. McNess!
1. Thunderball 2. FRWL 3. Casino Royale 4. TLD 5. OHMSS 6. SkyFall 7. GF 8. TSWLM 9. GE 10. FYEO
AVTAK was one of the very first Bond films I watched but since watching all of them, AVTAK feels less special than it did when I only had a few other films to compare it to.
It's an overall mediocre (though not bad) movie with some really good moments, not unlike an album with only 3 good songs.
The plot is pretty weak (adheres the Bond formula way too closely) and overall it feels dull and unexciting. Other Bond films have the ability to make small minutia interesting. Goldfinger made a game of golf way more interesting than it should have been. I don't know what happened here. Maybe the directing, or Moore lacking a sense of vigor. Who knows.
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
This is one of Moore's finest Performances as Bond, even though you can clearly see Stunt Doubles in the Action Scenes
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)