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Even so, here are some things that would make it better:
(1) Some better action sequences throughout the movie. The pre-title sequence is lackluster, the chase for May Day is fairly decent, the fight with Zorin's two thugs in the packaging room is lame and weak, the horse race is okay, the fight at Stacey's house is pretty nice, and the fire truck escape is all right. The only fantastic Bond-like action comes at the end starting with the mine collapse.
(2) Possibly bring in Timothy Dalton. While I did like Roger in AVTAK, maybe Timothy could have made it even better. This one isn't huge with me, but it'd be a neat thought
(3) Make May Day a villain throughout. Yes, her turning to the good side was a surprise and a help, but somehow it ruined her already pitiful character. Even if Zorin betrayed her, it could have been an Oddjob scenario where she doesn't even care, she just wants to do her job.
(4) Some better locations. I can't lay my finger on it, but there's something about the locations that doesn't exactly make this movie pop with color and excitement.
As a kid I enjoyed this film very much. I believe it was my fourd favorite film, after Octopussy, For Your Eyes Only and The Spy Who Loved Me.
Looking back at it, I must admit Moore was too old, and they shouldn't have cast Tanya Roberts.
However, I can still watch this movie today, and actually enjoy it. The scenes between Bond and Tibbet (makes me laugh every time), the fight on the Golden Gate Bridge and the great soundtrack of John Barry... You're not alone, Cheers!
these photos are all 80s so you will be able to see exactly what they looked like then
http://youoffendmeyouoffendmyfamily.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Phoebe-Cates-Fast-Times-at-Ridgemont-High_1-1024x550.jpg
or Lea Thompson
http://ex-donkey.mu.nu/archives/LeaThompson15.jpg
replace Grace Jones with Apollonia Kotero
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LbxOfHe4I_c/TWaj46SnxCI/AAAAAAAAAJU/CMjrbyE1UPs/s1600/271090%7EApollonia-Kotero-Posters.jpg
replace Fiona Fullerton with Jacqueline Bissett (who was only 41 at the time)
http://www.leslieanndennis.com/diary/uploaded_images/bisset1-752607.jpg
replace Allison Doody with Nicolette Sheridan
http://www.celebrityvideo.ru/screenshot/s/Sheridan_Nicollette_The_Sure_Thing_1_1280_720.jpg
or any of these 2 will do just fine - I always wished they would be in a Bond film - too late now!!
http://30.media.tumblr.com/NJmdcGbXSqjtm03b3N2MakF0o1_500.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u6NSP-kFusY/TcPNAXZ2OvI/AAAAAAAAAEs/Iz2ZhZyuTkk/s1600/Carre-Otis-24.JPG
John Barry?
Chris Walken?
Patrick MacNee?
Alison Doody?
Grace Jones?
Easily blows that overrated cash cow THE SPY WHO LOVED ME out of the water.
Especially Grace Jones.
B-)
http://www.drawingsilence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/403ceaa1_vbattach342173.jpg
http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/3300000/Alison-Doody-Jenny-Flex-bond-girls-3326152-369-500.jpg
http://www.indianajoneshistory.com/indiana_jones_and_the_last_crusade_classic_original_indy_jones_trilogy/pics_photographs_pictures_images_pix_photos_gallery/elsa.jpg Major, you and I both being Daltonites and sharing similar views on AVTAK(I don't consider it the complete nadir of the series but certainly the weakest Bond film made between 1962 and 1997), I would love your feedback on this "alternate universe" AVTAK rough story idea I put on the previous page-
Pre title sequence: Introduce Timothy Dalton as the new 007 in a mini-adventure that has nothing or little to do with the rest of the picture(in the style of the teasers for GF, TB, FYEO and OP).
Title Sequence:(I would've retained the Duran Duran song, one of the few highlights of the actual film)
Albert R. Broccoli presents
Timothy Dalton as James Bond 007 in Ian Fleming's
FROM A VIEW TO A KILL
(I would have restored the full original Fleming title)
starring
Alison Doody as Mary Ann Russell
Patrick Macnee as Sir Godfrey Tibbett
Fiona Fullerton as Pola Ivanova
Christopher Walken as Max Zorin
and Tanya Roberts in a very small 5 minute appearance as the "sacrificial lamb" Jenny Flex
Movie opens proper: The first 20-30 mins would be a relatively faithful adaptation of the actual short story "From A View To A Kill". The SHAPE driver's murder would appear on screen and 007's subsequent investigation. He would be assigned to work with fellow agents Tibbett and lovely Mary Ann Russell(the girl in the original story), and would impersonate the SHAPE driver and infiltrate the Russian spy gang in the forest. The head assassin(who Bond is sure he has seen before) of this spy gang gets away and Bond finds a stash of Zorin microchips among the KGB spy ring materials. After a brief dalliance with the gorgeous Mary Ann, Bond reports this information to M. Bond would learn that Zorin industries are a private British defense contractor that is developing microchips that are impervious to the magnetic pulse of a nuclear explosion but they've not been put in use by the British defense systems yet. Zorin would still be of East German origin but he defected to England, became a U.K. citizen and then spent several years in New York where he made his millions. (This would explain Walken/Zorin's NY accent). M then sends Bond to investigate Zorin at a party his Chantilly estate. While there Bond meets and flirts with Zorin's mistress/secretary Jenny Flex(who Zorin brought from NY, also explaining her accent) Bond also runs into another lady at the party, his ex-lover, ballerina/KGB agent Pola Ivanova. After some brief flirting and catching up on old times, Pola mysteriously vanishes. To get more info on Zorin, Bond starts romancing Jenny which Zorin learns about and of course has her promptly executed(a la Corinne Dufour). Bond uses his gadgets to listen in on Zorin and his partner-in-crime whom he recognizes as the KGB assasin from the forest. Thru closer detection, Bond realizes that Pola and the KGB assassin are one and the same. Bond is caught spying and is captured by Zorin & put in some deathtrap from which of course he escapes but not without Zorin thinking he is dead.
Bond continues his mission in pursuit of Pola to learn more about what she and Zorin are up to. The Siberian ski chase could be inserted here where Bond pursues her but ultimately rescues Pola from an avalanche(a la Bond and Elektra). After this experience, they "warm up" in a hot tub reminiscing about old times. As Bond gets more of the information on their plan, Pola doublecrosses Bond and he is again captured by Zorin. It turns out that Zorin and Pola are planning to cause a nuclear blast in outer space over the U.K. to, as Frederick Gray put it, "paralyze us at the Russian's mercy". This will be done after Zorin installs the "nuclear-explosion impervious" microchips(which of course won't be) in all of Britain's national defense systems. In the end, Bond of course thwarts Zorin and Pola's plans with the aid of Mary Ann who Bond ends up with in the final clinch. Tibbett would also have a larger role as Bond's ally and not be killed off. Perhaps Tibbett should become head of Station F-France.
Though i've nothing aginst him, i'm not sure about the casting of Macnee as Tibbett with Dalton as Bond. It's possible that Dalton and Macnee may well have a good chemistry, but I feel Tibbett should be around Bonds age.
Oh, and I love the idea of reintroducing the 'From..' in the title. I don't see why it was taken out, not when the title of OHMSS made it to the screen intact, and OHMSS is a more awkward title than (F)AVTAK.
Agreed. Maybe the scriptwriters couldn't figure a way to shoehorn "from" in like they did with the May Day/Zorin exchange as the Zeppelin approaches San Francisco. IMHO, "From A View To A Kill" is one of Ian Fleming's 2 best Bond short stories. I wished that they had given it the TLD approach, i.e., use the shorty for the first 1/4 of the film and then build the rest of the screenplay from there.
a). Moore thought Spy was his best.
b). Moore thought View was his worst.
I enjoy them both and have seen each many times but I think the question of which film is "better" has been answered by the man who starred in each ;) The PTS of Spy alone beats anything in View - whether John Barry is in the picture or not.
Besides, actors opinions on their own pictures are often shaped by the filming experience, or what was happening at that time of their life. It's never a reliable measure.
save the Chateaus for the French supervillains
Other Then That
START FROM SCRATCH
I don't think View is Moore's worse though.
Anyway, my advice for making View better.
- Get rid of the fire truck chase - the comedy sheriff is entertaining but the whole thing is filler.
- Don't have Moore get with Stacey at the end ("THAT is not the soap" - ewww!)
- A bit more time with Jenny Flex (with a name like that this is essential)
- lose the Beach Boys song
- Get rid of the fire truck chase - the comedy sheriff is entertaining but the whole thing is filler.
Agreed. It wasn't really necessary, and even if it was, then it should have been in something other than a fire truck. Take a look at DAF's car chase around Las Vegas. If they're going to do a chase with the police, then that's how it should be done!
BAIN 123 said:
- A bit more time with Jenny Flex (with a name like that this is essential)
Agreed. Her character was wasted, given only a few seconds of meaningful screentime when checking Bond into his room.
@PrinceKamalKhan: I really liked your ideas with Timothy Dalton as 007 and the title From a View to a Kill. That was a great scenario! Nice job!