Something else I like about AVTAK: Zorin's machine gun massacre of his expendable, unarmed miners; and the psychotic relish for this atrocity which he displays. Roger Moore says in his DVD commentary that he hates this aspect of the movie, but it really does confirm Zorin as a despicable villain and - obliquely - it reflects real-world 80s anxieties about the ruthlessness with which the forces of the free market crushed blue collar workers at the point that they become dispensable. (I'm thinking of the defeated miners strike of the 80s - and the extent to which the maniacal Zorin's coiffure resembled Michael Heseltine's!)
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
Went to Chantilly today ( was too late yesterday so had to spend night there) , its entertaining for an hr or two , the horse show was nothing special , just them riding in circle. Dont do like me bargain hunting for cheap room , couldve gotten room for 72 euros.......at least I didnt pay 350 euros for the hotel right
next to the chateau , holy Rockefeller Batman
Agreed! That's one of the reasons I find AVTAK to be the most boring of the Bond films.
Boring? I can't fathom how grace jones in bed with Roger Moore could be boring? Disgusting but not boring
I actually think the scenes in France in the first half of the film are the best, especially with Patrick Macnee. He has such great chemistry with Moore.
Agreed Matt S. There are quite a few standout scenes later on (Golden Gate Bridge fight, 'Anyone else wanna drop out', May Day's death and City Hall), but the Chantilly scenes are collectively a continuous stream of intrigue, danger, bizarre, sex, espionage and humour, and arguably amongst Moore's best moments as Bond.
Film: Tomorrow Never Dies | Girl: Teresa di Vicenzo | Villain: Max Zorin | Car: Aston Martin Volante | Novel: You Only Live Twice | Bond: Sir Sean Connery
I think the Chantilly Scenes and Roger's repartee with Macnee are the main reason that AVTAK used to be one of the Bond films that was a standby for rewatching on a quiet Sunday afternoon. I haven't rewatched it many times in recent years but I certainly do look forward to revisiting it soon.
Boring? I can't fathom how grace jones in bed with Roger Moore could be boring? Disgusting but not boring
I actually think the scenes in France in the first half of the film are the best, especially with Patrick Macnee. He has such great chemistry with Moore.
Agreed Matt S. There are quite a few standout scenes later on (Golden Gate Bridge fight, 'Anyone else wanna drop out', May Day's death and City Hall), but the Chantilly scenes are collectively a continuous stream of intrigue, danger, bizarre, sex, espionage and humour, and arguably amongst Moore's best moments as Bond.
Good point. It certainly is bizarre and catches some sort of 80s feel while still being grounded as Roger's retirement piece. I've always enjoyed the film but can never pinpoint exactly why.
I think Grace Jones is the best thing about the film.
I think Grace Jones is the best thing about the film.
While it is far from his best, I do think John Barry's score is a strong plus for this movie. And, again, while it isn't his best, Roger Moore puts in a solid performance- he's overage at this point but his actual acting is pretty darn good: up against Jones and Walken, he manages to not be upstaged which is rather impressive.
I think Grace Jones is the best thing about the film.
While it is far from his best, I do think John Barry's score is a strong plus for this movie. And, again, while it isn't his best, Roger Moore puts in a solid performance- he's overage at this point but his actual acting is pretty darn good: up against Jones and Walken, he manages to not be upstaged which is rather impressive.
Agreed. While I think Bond is more in traditional form in Octopussy - in AVTAK I think that Bond was written in a way that was more considerate of Moore's age. In most cases his reactions and actions are following instances of the psychotic Zorin. He's more of the wise saviour than action hero outwitting others with smarmy smarts. This is probably why Moore's performance stands above Walken/Jones because while he wins as he always does, it's in quite a different manner to the others.
{[] Yeah, I'm with you. Moore IS better in OP, but here he carries the film with, in Tom Mankiewicz's phrase, "an old pro's grace". There are (and always have been) those who denigrate Moore's capabilities: he was no competitor to Laurence Olivier but he knew how to carry a film. No-one has a successful career for as many years as Moore did without acting talent, no matter how much he may deny it.
(I say this despite Roger Moore being far from my favourite James Bond actor. It's easy to dislike his interpretation of Bond, but it's hard to dislike him!)
{[] Yeah, I'm with you. Moore IS better in OP, but here he carries the film with, in Tom Mankiewicz's phrase, "an old pro's grace". There are (and always have been) those who denigrate Moore's capabilities: he was no competitor to Laurence Olivier but he knew how to carry a film. No-one has a successful career for as many years as Moore did without acting talent, no matter how much he may deny it.
(I say this despite Roger Moore being far from my favourite James Bond actor. It's easy to dislike his interpretation of Bond, but it's hard to dislike him!)
I think Grace Jones is the best thing about the film.
While it is far from his best, I do think John Barry's score is a strong plus for this movie. And, again, while it isn't his best, Roger Moore puts in a solid performance- he's overage at this point but his actual acting is pretty darn good: up against Jones and Walken, he manages to not be upstaged which is rather impressive.
Agreed. Barry's score adds hugely to the film for me, along with the title track. This https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGXWxq4L2rA by Barry is a pure example of his talent and the feeling it creates for the film.
Comments
33 years between my parents!
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
Perhaps Gordon Gekko's destruction of a company with good people behind it for financial gain is a little closer to the 80s anxieties??
"Better make that two."
next to the chateau , holy Rockefeller Batman
Bus # 15 goes to the chateau.
Bonds weight : 75-80 kilos ?
May Day sure was strong :v
"GET ON!"
"Better make that two."
Agreed Matt S. There are quite a few standout scenes later on (Golden Gate Bridge fight, 'Anyone else wanna drop out', May Day's death and City Hall), but the Chantilly scenes are collectively a continuous stream of intrigue, danger, bizarre, sex, espionage and humour, and arguably amongst Moore's best moments as Bond.
Good point. It certainly is bizarre and catches some sort of 80s feel while still being grounded as Roger's retirement piece. I've always enjoyed the film but can never pinpoint exactly why.
I think Grace Jones is the best thing about the film.
"Better make that two."
While it is far from his best, I do think John Barry's score is a strong plus for this movie. And, again, while it isn't his best, Roger Moore puts in a solid performance- he's overage at this point but his actual acting is pretty darn good: up against Jones and Walken, he manages to not be upstaged which is rather impressive.
Agreed. While I think Bond is more in traditional form in Octopussy - in AVTAK I think that Bond was written in a way that was more considerate of Moore's age. In most cases his reactions and actions are following instances of the psychotic Zorin. He's more of the wise saviour than action hero outwitting others with smarmy smarts. This is probably why Moore's performance stands above Walken/Jones because while he wins as he always does, it's in quite a different manner to the others.
"Better make that two."
(I say this despite Roger Moore being far from my favourite James Bond actor. It's easy to dislike his interpretation of Bond, but it's hard to dislike him!)
Agree completely with everything you have said.
Agreed. Barry's score adds hugely to the film for me, along with the title track. This https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGXWxq4L2rA by Barry is a pure example of his talent and the feeling it creates for the film.
"Better make that two."
And I take no shame home from this glorious day at the Main Strike Mine, CA.
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