It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
I could elaborate, but I put it all down here, actually, so... ;)
http://georgesjournal.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/yuppies-sequels-geeks-and-gekkos-the-10-ultimate-80s-movies/
* shameless plug *
The script had a great premise, but fell flat on screen. Chris Walken should have been amazing as Zorin, but he was mostly boring to me, save for the fight on the bridge. Sir Roger should have hung up the shoulder holster after OP and while still engaging as Bond, just seemed tired and his age showed terribly. Tanya Roberts was passable, but they should have traded her for Allison Doody, who ended up in an all too brief role as Jenny Flex. The most brilliant bit of casting was Grace Jones, in my opinion. She stole every scene she was in. Also loved Patrick Macnee.
All in all, AVTAK usually falls in my bottom five when I rank the films.
People complain about the juvenile humor but it was heads and shoulders better than MR and DAF and most of Brosnan's films.
12 years and 7 films I had grown quite fun of Moore's light hearted Bond and at the time I was sad to see him go but in hindsight, I fully realize that he had grown too old for the part and it was time to move on.
It is one of the few Bond films I own in my video library since it was Moore's last I decided to buy it and I get a kick out of watching it from time to time.
Roberts acting gets bashed but I doubt Cilla Presley would've been much better acting wise (Walken would prolly drive her nuts with Elvis questions I bet.....lmao)
Back on topic: AVTAK just has the right feel of a Bond-film. Even though many of the dialogue would've been cheezy in any other sercomstance, here, they work and are believable.
A view to a kill might have been the perfect James Bond film if only it would have been more serious and more adjusted to Roger Moore who is not to blame here contrary to the screenplay. The film would have been better if the screenplay had been focused on a « simple » spy story about doping. So, Chantilly could have been the only location of the film and the plot would have only taken place around the stables, the racecours and the castle. The film would have been too « light » in comparison to what the saga gave us since Goldfinger, but the film would have been the most original. And highlight the fact that Max Zorin is a son of nazi experiences would have added that « touch of fantasy » . But I think all that concerns Silicon Valley had to be deleted.
Yes, Roger Moore is old but not inappropriated for the rôle. We too often reproach him for being too light and not enough closer to Ian Fleming's novels, but his James Bond doesn't have an opportunity of kill. Why putting rock salt in his shotgun ? That's why the film is terrible. Focused on a screenplay more probable, A view to a kill would have been better. And it would have been even more better with Timothy Dalton as 007. He was the breath of fresh air the saga needed. With him, Lois Maxwell would have been surely replaced by a new actress. What about Michaela Clavell ? Penelope Smallbone was an interesting character. She could have been « Timothy Dalton's miss Moneypenny ».
Roger Moore was dangerous in A View To A Kill?, someone must have watched a different movie to what I saw then
Look, I know some have Moore down as a personal favorite and run out of superlatives for the man, but I'm sorry and in some of his end features he was not above embarrassing.
I think from the burning building in SF right through to the end in this film it kind of degenerates into farce or Laurel And Hardy territory
Granted, there are moments of suspense as Moore comes down the ladder with Roberts on his back (there were genuine moments when I half wished she had fell), but for the most part it's all a bit out of place, at least Walken tries to play it straight, and for the most part, succeeds, but once Bond gets on terra firma it's just pure adolescent nonsense until the end, The Fire Truck chase, Golden Gate bridge (again) etc
I remember going to theaters at the time and it wasn't too bad, it merely followed on from Octopussy where Moore was up to some childish behavior, but looking back now, and with a new Bond playing it straight (usually), it all seems a bit silly now
Moore DID play Bond very well at times but for me, it's usually the worse parts that stick out than the good work he did, I can't forgive those involved for having James Bond apeing around in a gorilla suit or sneaking about in a crocodile set up :-L
Fleming would not only be doing turns but somersaults and double pikes..
Well said there. You know I forgot he was in North Sea Hijack thanks for the reminder.
I live up in Shetland so that film had a connection to us given the oil rig connection and North Sea.
There's a lot I like about AVTAK, on top on the list is Walken in one of the best villain performances of the series. I enjoyed his whole crew of Willoughby Gray, Patrick Bauchau (was nice to see him in a new summer episode of Burn Notice), and yes, Jones as well when not gnashing her teeth, snarling, and semi-naked. Second is the virtual elimination of the usual stupid and vacuous sight and sound gags that particularly plagued OP and MR. I love <i>"California Girls" </i> but we should have had stirring Barry action music instead.
I like the plot as well, even if it is a twist on GF, it was well done and plausible. Topically, the computer based story was ahead of it's time, many people didn't own a computer. I never knew anyone who did and I knew lots of people who could have afforded one out of pocket if readily available.
The negatives such as Moore even being there rather than retiring after OP, Roberts' terrible acting, etc are well documented, a middle of the pack Moore entry that manages to entertain me enough to watch it from start to end.
"He's Dangerous" is a great track of Barry... whether applies to Moore's Bond is another story...
I always liked the musical score to this film. I also liked the whole scene where Bond cooks quiche. Didn't you wish that SF featured a scene where Bond, Kincade, and M would have a last meal? Wouldn't it have been a funny reference if Bond cooked quiche? This film by far was a nicer farewell for a tenure: it wasn't too OTT.
I'm not going to rip it to pieces again, people will be doubtless aware of how poor a Bond film it is. There's the awful Tanya Roberts, Grace Jones, a 57 year old James Bond of all things, 007 snowboarding (to the fckn Beach Boys), a ridiculous ending at the Golden Gate Bridge, an actor the caliber of Chris Walken wasted, poor villains, half the time we see more of Moore's stunt double than we do the actor himself, and the bottom line is, it's simply a very poor, and boring, adventure, and Roger Moore's swansong appearance, while evidently in the part long than he should of been, is not short of a total disaster
The "That is not the soap" nonsense near the very end, just about put it out of it's misery that year. It's a real pity in retrospect, that Roger Moore, while not everyones favorite James Bond, did well for the most part, only for his final appearance to be this release. It fails on just about every level I'm afraid
I still think they must have had no one else suitable lined up, it's a pretty ruthless business, everyone involved must have know he was too old?
He certainly did!
It wouldn't have been as bad though if the women he'd been with in the film had been more closer to his age.
I never realised how dodgy the "call me James its...five days 'till Alaska" scene was until now.