Review of A View to A Kill (1985) - The Familiar Appendix
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- Опубликовано: 13 окт 2024
- 12 years and 7 films is a good stretch by anyone's measurement. With this final chance to cement his legacy, Roger Moore goes head to head with Christopher Walken and Grace Jones in one of the craziest films in the series, covering the globe from Russia to France to California and preventing a manmade natural disaster worthy of mythology. But the question remains: is it a good end to Moore's time and how many wells are involved?
Next in the Series: The Living Daylights
20:17 Even though most of Sir Roger Moore's Bond movies are not my type, I have no negative things to say about the man. He was class personified always. He was the biggest advocate the series. While others such as Sir Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan distanced themselves from talking much about James Bond after their tenure, Sir Roger was always kind to everyone. Even during the latter days of his tenure as Bond when there would be some unnecessary remarks about his age and his appearance due to aging, he always handled it with class and never lashed out against anyone. A true gentleman indeed. He came at a time when the franchise as a whole was on the brink, and he steadied the ship in his own way. Salute to Sir Roger. May he rest in heaven.
I’ll forever be grateful for this movie for giving us one of the best documentary narrators of all time. Patrick MacNee’s work on the bts of the bond movies is perfection imo
I'm a big fan of those "Inside" documentaries they did for the Special Edition DVDs. I wish new ones were created for the Brosnan films when they did the Ultimate Editions.
I actually DON’T hate A View To A Kill, whenever I am unwell or just bored, this, Tomorrow Never Dies or The Living Daylights are the 007 films I normally pick out to watch.
Every Bond film will be defended, and I love that.
Not NTTD
Good assessment. This has grown on me over the years.
2 or 3 small changes would've really helped. For instance had Stacey been played an older actress (even in their 40s). And a bit more care with stunt doubles.
I think the soundtrack is excellent!
I watched this in the cinema in 1985. Never watched it since.
TL;DR: Stephen, you're a must watch in my eyes. Well done.
I was going to leave a small compliment in the comments and leave it at that. As usual, you managed to eloquently explain your analysis and get my hearty head nodding as you rolled along.
Your coda on Moore's era was, however, absolutely thought provoking for me. It was my youth, as Connery was my brothers' youth. Moore fascinated me and annoyed me because I was on the fence of being a purist and just loving the escapism of it all. I'd read the books and found Moore's films a compromise. It was here I learned the concepts of formula and escapist fantasy and adaptation. I realized he was playing Bond for laughs because that was playing to his strengths.
That brings me to the Saint series. He was aware that he would never stray far from this kind of hero. He tried playing Bond as almost a thug in "The Man With the Golden Gun", and we saw how well that worked. What worked was playing Bond as Simon Templar working for the government and being a bit less of a dandy. It's why we got the guy playing Bond for laughs. He reasoned that no one was going to take seriously the idea that a secret agent would be known the world over so well that every place would be ready to have his favorite drink memorized. To Moore, that was plain ridiculous.
Moore was not a completely secure man. As good looking and capable as he was, he never saw himself as a superstar. He poked fun at the way others saw him. He was very down to Earth and capable of tremendous self-deprecation if not outright humility. His autobiography is often heartbreaking, because he revealed that he was vulnerable and flawed. His greatest achievement in his mind was when Audrey Hepburn made him the UNICEF ambassador. All his wealth was nothing next to promoting the welfare of children.
So the reason I wrote a *chapter* in your comments is the insightful comment you made about how this man rescued Bond from history's dustbin. That statement resonated with me because I lived through it. Years get compressed through the lens of historical analysis. I remember how month after month in the early 70s, no one was sure if Bond was going to still be relevant or just a silly throwback to the previous decade. When the trailer to "The Spy Who Loved Me" came out, people were energized. It looked like a Bond movie we freaking deserved. Moore was a class act, and does not deserve to be compared to other Bonds so much as to be understood why we needed him for those seven movies.
Great video, I am in the camp who would consider this one a so bad it's good film.
It is one that I am just fascinated on how so many of its creative choices cause so many laughably tone-deaf contradictions to such a self-defeating way that I can't help but have a ball with it,
Thank you for your excellent Reviews! I agree totally with you that “view” is not a top tear Bond movie, but I’ve had always a soft spot in my heart, because it was obvious that it was Moore’s swan song and at the time the movie was released I was hoping Moore would portray bond for ever. I boycotted even daylights. License I’ve watched in the movies and to this day Dalton is my favorite bond and license is my favorite bond movie.
It’s interesting how this film is known to be inferior to For Your Eyes Only yet the Golden Gate Bridge climax is more energetic than the Mountain Top climax of Colombo vs Kristatos.
Yes, it's a surprisingly memorable conclusion.
I keep thinking about a potential ranking of my favorite climaxes in the series, and I'll be surprised if the Golden Gate Bridge doesn't show up in the top 10.
Roger definitely stayed one film too long but….roger was MY bond. The bond I grew up with and will always be my favorite. This film is basically a remake of goldfinger and not a good one at that. Barry’s 80s scores were great solid efforts and this one always gave me on her majesty’s vibes.
I think he stuck around three films too long. Dalton should have taken over in For Your Eyes Only.
For Grace Jones, Christopher Walken and the Duran Duran song I return to this more than most. I think after Spy Who Loved Me, Live and Let Die, and Moonraker this is the Moore film I’ve seen the most.
I'll always have a soft spot for this one, as it was the first Bond film I got to see in the theater as a kid. However, I also recognize its flaws, and I understand why some people might put this at the bottom of their list.
The totally obvious stuntman inclusions are really disappointing. If you look at Roger's action scenes in Octopussy, they are wonderfully edited and exciting. So what happened here? It really accentuated his age in an unfavorable way.
Anyway, I can still enjoy the film for what it is. Thanks for your kind words about Roger at the end. He really did save the series from extinction in the 70's and I think we can all be grateful about that.
I appreciate that AVTAK is darker than Octopussy, its villains are memorable and the score is good, but it ultimately adds up to a lazy and wheezy film. Moore just about got away with it in Octopussy but here it feels kinda icky. You made a good point about how contemporary it feels and yet it has a rather tired atmosphere, jarring to say the least.
It’s funny I know some bond films aren’t good but I can’t hate them as I grew up watching them .
You could base a drinking game on the number of times Tanya Roberts screams "James!"
Or with how many times they reuse the Roger scream.
@stephenjarvis534 they must have canned that in one of his earlier outings as I swear it's in at least this and octopussy
It's not been confirmed anywhere, but judging by the way Cubby conducted business, the reason Roger Moore was debating Bond for 83 and not for 85 is because I believe he was asked to do Octopussy and AVTAK. I believe this was because Cubby didn't want to make it look like NSNA rocked EON's boat too much.
I hadn't heard that, but I wouldn't be surprised if Cubby just got fed up with Roger's indecisiveness and worked to make sure he didn't have that problem again.
@@stephenjarvis534 Possibly but I do think having Moore leave after Octopussy would of been a bad look at the time (even if it may have been viewed better over time).
A View To A Kill is a top 5 Bond for me because the 80s Bonds are categorically the best Bonds
do the math. you can't argue with that.
View to a Kill is still one my favourite Bond films, mainly through Christopher Walken, the delightful Patrick MacNee, the title song, the climax fight, and the awesome score. The mine set is really good too, and reminds me of what Ken Adam would do. Roger's age doesn't put me off as he's still his same old upbeat pace, and I quite like the San Francisco setting as its unqiue from other times Bond has been to the United State. The only thing about the film I can't stand is Stacy Sutton, who is just annoying and useless. Nothing against Tanya Roberts, but her screaming in that elevator shaft is one of the most annoying sounds in cinema.
Would love an edit of all these in one long video, that would get me through a work shift for sure!
I'd consider it if there is enough interest. I'd also take the time to fix a few minor problems, like the louder music in the earlier episodes and maybe making a single title sequence to cover an era.
An early Bond film for me, would watch the DVD often. The Frisco setting was bright and fun, has a laid back tone, and Zorin is a top 10 villain for me. Editing can be clunky, action isn't kinetic, but it's an easy-going Bond film with good bits of escapism. Duran Duran's theme is also great.
One of My Favourite 007 Roger Moore Films A View To A Kill
When May Days face clouds over as she grimaces at Zorin for abandoning her. Boom.
Uh oh-- here comes Timmy!
I love it. So does my kids. I can watch this particular film over and over again. And two Swedes (Maud isn't in any shot). The chemistry between Moore and McNee, Walkens psychopathia, a detective named Aubergine, chefs with butcher knifes, Nazis. And - Tanya reminding us that Bonds first name is James. James. James. I adore the pre titles shoot in Island, 003, and Moores acting - not pretending to be 25 years old.
I do believe viewers who on beforehand knows about the discussion of his age affects the virwing.
He should have skipped the eye lift though.
Barrys score, and Duran Durans hit is anazing. Scarpine - fresh out of Phenomenona, - Ivanova is super imo - the right age. And Gogol is in it, though very little , because he was sick. He wasn't even able to play in TLD - the roule instead going to JRD. The airship is fantastic (drop out). - and Maaaax!
Having qualms about the logic should then be applied to any other film. Octopusssy - I have no idea what's it about. Moonraker - Drax stealing his own space shuttle, DAF - well, everything; a car changing sides, Bolfeldt miraculously walking despite his injury im OHMSS, YOLT - a whole labe draining in minutes...JDB going from a villain to CIA (well..(NTTD - every frame.
Everything is (from) (what a) A view.
- To a kill
Regarding Moore playing with the idea to leaving in 1980. Thats purely because of economics.
I rank OHMSS no 1
AVTAK well, 4
Yep. Duran Duran, Walken & Jones, Macnee and Remy Julienne are the only positives in a sea of shockingly bad choices.
Good stuff, 007. You have the microfilm, no doubt?
A View To A Kill With Roger Moore / Grace Jones / Patrick Macnee & Christopher Walken / Tanya Roberts Great Roger Moore Last 007 Film for 1985
I will probably catch a lot of grief for this, especially after my criticism of Jaws in The Spy who Loved Me, but I do not care for the May Day character and would not rank her as one of the better hench persons in the Bond series. I think that is a product of having seen A View To a Kill in the theater as an almost 30-year-old adult. At the time of the making of the movie Grace Jones had a very high public profile through her various entertainment efforts and off-beat appearance and attitude. So, when watching AVTAK, I wasn't transformed, or impressed by an actress becoming this bizarre and distinctive character played over the top to the hilt (think Xenia Onatopp in Goldeneye), it was just Grace Jones being Grace Jones. I think much of the contemporary audience and a majority of contemporary critics felt the same way. Jones and May Day have fared much better retrospectively with folks who weren't around at the time and are not aware of Jones' persona in the 80s. For me, average hench person at best, but cringeworthy love interest for Roger Moore. Gosh, that was awful, but I still can't unsee it.
I still have mixed feelings about AVTAK. The car chase sequence in Paris always makes me cringe, not just the obvious stunt double, but the magic car that can continue to drive for more than 30 seconds after its fuel tank and fuel pump are ripped off.
Roger's age never bothered me at all. As a kid seeing these for the first time I though he was younger than Connery. He could've probably pulled off Living Daylights even. Just hide the stunt guys better lol
Yeah, I'm not sure it's actually that he's three years older than Connery and pushing sixty (Brosnan and Craig both looked fine when they were hitting early fifties); my issue is the production making it a bigger issue than it needs to be and not doing more to compensate. Yes, hide the stunt doubles, but also age up the female co-stars, ditch the baggier clothes, or deliberately address the age within the film/story. These weird attempts they make to hide it aren't helping.
The film can be cut with a few overarching lines of dialogue and cut down to 70 minutes.
You can loose Yip and so many scenes.
The only highlight was Paris
I don't know why, but I unironically love this film and rank it highly, despite knowing that it's not good. When I watch this, I guess I'm just in for the fun time
Oh, man. This, Die Another Day, Quantum of Solace and SPECTRE are the four Bond movies I refuse to revisit. It goes without saying that 53 is still a fine age to be kicking ass and saving the day on, but the problem with Moore's age is that rather than treat it as such, they try to act as if the actor never reached his fifties, with appalling results.
I honestly think Die Another Day is better than the affirmetioned simply because it has a fairly solid 45 minutes and a decent conclusion.
@@ricardocantoral7672 You honestly thought Bond restarting his heart was solid and that "Read THIS, Bitch!" was a decent finale.
In the words of Bob from ReBoot, *I don't think so.*
@@ricardocantoral7672 You honestly thought that Bond restarting his heart and one of the worst lines in cinema history are a solid 45 minutes and decent conclusion, respectively.
In the words of Star Wars, *LIES!* *_DECEPTIONS!_*
@@NebLleb It was a throw away moment that didn't ruin the film. Anyway, I said a fairly solid film. Until Bond discovers that clinic, it's not that bad. I think what ultimately hurts the film is the sudden shift into science fiction. DNA Replacement, Holodeck, Diamond Laser, it just comes out of nowhere.
@@ricardocantoral7672 How is Bond mentally recharging his metaphorical battery a "throwaway moment"? It was intended as a badass Bondian moment, and one that failed miserably.
Were you alive in 1985 or not? I think this is the main factor in enjoying this movie! Because this film is sooooooo 1985. For me, this film has a huge nostalgia value! I love 1980s and 1980s Bond movies(NSNA 1983 too!). I was very much alive in 1985(12). And I adore Roger Moore(even more than Sean Connery) and his last 5 movies(1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985). ***** Sadly, 90% of younger guys(born in the 1990s and later) don't like 1980s Bond movies. They like Brosnan and Craig. I like Brosnan too but not Craig. His first 3 movies were barely tolerable to me. And the last 2 movies(Spectre & NTTD) were the worst of the franchise! So, we are all very different people and very often do not love the same movies....................
If that's true, it's kind of sad when a movie's appeal hinges on when you were alive (I've heard some people claim the same about Goldfinger). Most of my favorite films of all time were released long before I was around, and I'd like to think it's not an age thing. I have no doubt that a person's age, and by extension, life experience, plays a factor in opinions about films, but I feel like the best films should be timeless, and there are plenty of Bond films that fit that description and appeal to multiple demographics.
@@stephenjarvis534 What I said is especially true for the movies from 1980s. Not so much about the 1960s or 1970s. Many vintage Bond movies(Thunderball, YOLT, TSWLM, Moonraker) are also liked by young people. Some of the old Bond films are indeed timeless. But the 1980s are a total mystery: you either hate it or you love it. And not just movies. Music, art, fashion, cars, lifestyle. Oh yes, women's hairstyles! Even politics. I think Ronald Reagan was one of the best presidents of the United States ever! But not everyone thinks so..........
A very fair assessment of this movie and the Moore era.
Brosnan was my first Bond, so going back and seeing Moore's Bond felt quite off to me. He doesn't "look" like Bond (a criticism that I've mostly dropped after Craig's stellar performances) but he also doesn't feel like the same character either. Connery+Lazenby, Moore, Dalton/Brosnan/Craig are three people. Seen in that way, I can appreciate them all.
Dalton and Brosnan? No way.
Lethargic and passive are precisely the keywords that define A View To A Kill. There's little energy in this movie and even the action seems to have no flair behind it and that's usually the strong point of Glen's Bond movies. The absolute worst has to be the scenes shot in America and I heard them summarized perfectly with one word, domestic. Bond investigating Sutton and city hall corruption, the big action sequence is a building on fire, all this is so low rent and more appropriate for TV.
Regarding the villains, I think the one that works here is Grace Jones as MayDay. She was the best femme fatale since Fiona Valope. She was both sinister and playful. As for Zorin, I think he's largely a disappointment. Outside side of a few precious moments, (laughing as he was about to die was masterful) I see him as just another Bond Villain of the Week. Walken can't help but be a magnetic personality but he was confined to a role that doesn't really allow him to do anything. What a waste of a great a actor! I think Brandauer as Largo felt more like a genuinely disturbed personality. That latter actor overcame the sub-par material.
Its like you say. I love Die Another Day and hate Casino Royale. But that is wasted breath for me in the Bond community😅
Octopussy and A View to a Kill are funny for me. I think I set my expectations way too high for what Octopussy was and I didn't like it and thought it was way too cheesy. Then I went to watch A View to a Kill with my expectations through the floor and ended up having a way better time than I thought I would.
I get it, the movie is cheesy, Bond is way too old, and the action isn't as good as it should be. But any scene Christopher Walken is in carries the movie for me and helped me have a good time with it.
A View to A Kill is mo(o)re like "A View to Life At the Old Folk's Home". For me, it's a generally dull film, combined with some tonal whiplash (the intro, as you mentioned). The plot is terminally 80s, with a handful of good characters.
As Roger's last film, I think it's a bit of a bummer. I don't think any actor in the franchise had a letdown of a film as Roger has. Sure, there are some good parts (GG fight, parts of the Paris car chase, Grace Jones & Walken), but I think it's generally just a poor film.
I prefer to watch a Bond film over most films, however, AVTAK is one that I never, ever have any interest in rewatching. If it weren't for the ranking articles that I did on my website last year, I wouldn't have watched it this decade.
When it comes to the other Bond films that I rank rather low (Diamonds, Die Another Day, Spectre, Moonraker), I think that there are more redeeming elements. Hell, on a recent rewatch of DAD, I found myself really enjoying it. I can wholeheartedly say that I don't think I've gotten much enjoyment out of this film.
Your outro about Roger's tenure is great. He may not be MY Bond, but he's one that I'm happy was in the part. LALD & TSWLM are excellent films, and ones that I find myself going back to multiple times per year. I fall under the "Prefers FRWL" camp, (makes sense for my choice of Moore films), but am still happy that we got Roger for as long as we did.
I'm very excited to see you get into the Dalton films. I know how much you enjoy them, and I've rather recently watched both of them with my girlfriend. I feel like Timmy (much like Brosnan and Craig) are very much the "everyman's' Bond", in the sense that they're generally great ways to introduce new people to the franchise. TLD isn't my favorite Bond film, but it has some of my favorite elements to appear in the series.
Have an excellent weekend!
I thought the opening ski chase was one of the best yet... UNTIL that damned Beach Boys song came on. And it wasn't even The Beach Boys, but a cheaper cover version by someone else. At that instant, I wanted to KILL the film's producer. And the theme song hadn't even come on yet.
Yes, this is "MOONRAKER 2". Over-complex, DULL, and stupid.
Patrick Macnee, one of my favorite actors, is wasted in this. He fared much better in his 2 episodes of KUNG FU: THE LEGEND CONTINUES, both of which featured Robert Vaughn, and the 2nd of which featured Ian Ogilvy. (Took me several viewings to realize Ogilvy was not "doing" Templar-- he was "doing" BOND. I think Ovilvy was there because Moore was too expensive. But I feel Ogilvy is the BETTER actor.)
Christopher Walken's "Zorin" reminds me way too much of a CREEP I worked with back at the time this movie came out. Their personalities were IDENTICAL. The guy spent 3 entire years trying to have me fired, because he found out I knew he was incompetent, and was afraid I'd try to have HIM fired. To this day, I hope I never cross paths with him again.
Tanya Roberts is my 2nd-favorite "VELDA". I've always wished she'd come back after the first Stacey Keach MIKE HAMMER film, but CBS dragged their feet so much, by the time they did the 2nd one, she was off doing "SHEENA", and Lindsey Bloom replaced her for the series. I also loved Roberts on THAT 70'S SHOW. But here? EHH.
I often wish Moore had left after MOONRAKER. My favorite film of his is FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, but decades later, I wish Timothy Dalton had done it instead. In the bigger context, I wish Roger Moore had spent the entirety of the 1970s doing big-budget theatrical SAINT movies, adapting Leslie Charteris' novels, which the 60s TV show never touched. (They only adapted the short stories, and that was almost entirely during the B&W episodes, where Moore gave his BEST acting jobs ever.)
Not a good film in the series still fun in it's own bizarre way that said Roger should have left the tux before this.
The best thing in a view to a kill was the title Duran Duran title song. Roger moore looked too old 😅
This is my least favourite Moore and falls down into the bottom third of the overall ranking - down amongst the Bond films which I need a damn good reason to watch at all. Zorin is a great villain but the best since Scaramanga? - no, Drax is better than Scaramanga. So Walken and San Francisco are the only good things in this film, and the involvement of Macnee only disappoints me since he is not Steed here. Thanks for taking the trouble to review this, but now let's move on.
Already working on Daylights.
I think its one film too many with Roger, it story, direction and story feels tired and lethargic, it needed a new fresh actor to bring both inspiration and passion back to the film which it is lacking
Sorry, this is just a terrible movie. Walken is a really good actor, and he was wasted in this film, not utilized at all. MacNee was the best thing about this film.
Sir Roger was my favourite Bond, but View was his and my least favourite Bond film. I think if you watched this today it would seem like a TV movie, that's how laconic it feels. Tanya Roberts wasn't a great actress here but so beautiful and died too soon in 2021.