A View to a Kill (1985)

Touches You

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Apologies, I had to get Duran Duran's classic theme song in the title sentence somehow! Needless to say this entry is one of the weakest, yet it's garnered a small following claiming it to be a guilty pleasure. I'll be the first to say, I belong in that group. There's something about how campy and nonsensical the plot is that just makes for silly entertainment. Bond has been assigned a mission where we must investigate a microchip manufacturer run by Max Zorin, a psychopath wanting to flood Silicon Valley. Don't ask me why, something to do with the KGB and microchips and...yeah...admittedly the story is weaker than a cup of watery tea. It's not the most engaging narrative either, action sequences are infrequent and the noticeable stunt doubles do take you out of the film. But come on, when a spy film contains the line "the bubbles tickle my...Tchaikovsky!!" you just have to roll over and give into the sheer stupidity that is onscreen. Roger Moore was past his sell by date so it was only right that this was his last entry. He couldn't do any of the easier stunts, like hand-to-hand combat, let alone the driving scenes. His womanising talents are still supreme though...not sure if that's a good thing. Christopher Walken laughs like a maniac and Grace Jones is the manliest beast as she portrays May Day, a villainous sidekick that would give Jaws a run for his money. No special gadgety from Q Branch except a robot dog that acts as a gag in the final minute. A blimp that flies around which leads to an underwhelming yet badass showdown atop of the Golden Gate Bridge. Horses injected with steroids, base jumping from the Eiffel Tower, a mine in Sili...wait a blimp!? What use is a blimp!? The most impractical use of transportation ever! You know what? I don't even care, this film is a good time. The soundtrack is great, Glen's direction is perfectly solid and the story is well paced. Weak? Sure. The worst? Probably. Entertaining? You betcha. "What a view..." "...to a kill!", that line cracks me up every time.

Movie Review: "007: A View To A Kill" (1985)Producers Albert R. Broccoli (1909-1996) and Michael G. Wilson (b. 1942) send off actor Roger Moore in his seventh performance as "James Bond" with an honorable $30 Million Dollar production budget, high class special effect work and the most compelling antagonist duo, since Kananga & Solitaire in "Live and Let Die" (1973) here with musician / singer Grace Jones and actor Christopher Walken, who performs as sharp-minded industrialist Max Zorin and his highly-trained bodyguarding sidekick May Day.Director John Glen comes back to his "For Your Eyes Only" (1981) roots in delivering a clear cut 125 Minutes "007" action-thriller that embraces some hard-boiled stunt work from skiing in Antartica, Parisian car chases and a special occasion showdown location at "Golden Gate" bridge's wire balancing act with a fist fight between Zorin and Bond; Moments when blonde 29-year-old bond girl Tanya Roberts stays passive as just being an "007" beauty-spreading sidenote.Second appearances of actor Robert Brown (1921-2003) as "M", filling in since "Octopussy" (1983) after Bernard Lee's death in 1981. "007's" mission briefing accompanied with a pin-pointed Miss Moneypenny flirt, portrayed by sharp-beating actresss Lois Maxwell (1927-2007). She and Roger Moore are building a fine chemistry to delight "A View To A Kill" as their final "007" universe appearances before the picture continues in fair well-paced manner, especially at a suspenseful horse racing espionage scene and the infamous mine massacre interior, making, even at today's standards, this Roger Moore farewell picture an highly enjoyable movie ride from beginning to finish.© 2017 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

This is not one of the best James Bond 007 movies of the series but it is far from the worst. I think it is one of the most "fun" movies of the seriesOver all.Also it is one of the very best Roger Moore performances during .his long run as James Bond. The writing and seriousness of the double oh franchise was not as good during the Moore era but he was a great Bond and these movies though kind of silly and comic bookish are lots of fun.I recommend it but then again I recommend.all of the Bond films... even the one with Lazenby ha!

To avoid any misunderstanding; I'm not intending on any complaining on Roger Moore's achievement in this film. Since For Your Eyes only he had been contracted movie by movie. While the production team couldn't solve the problem of refreshing the casting, in half a decade, they played it safe and fell back on Roger Moore for a total of three times. But it's Moore's own less favorite, and mine also. To me, it's just too mid 80's. Too mid 80's....Why involve such people as amazing Grace miss Jones? A mediocre 80's pop-artist who just wanted to strengthen her media limelight power by appearing in a Bond movie. Such failure from the production team. (Bet her record company pumped in a lot of money to assure her appearance.) And the theme song? Artificial, plastic and stone dead music from one of the most overrated "pop"-bands ever. I rather listen to the hairdryer from one of the fashion boys in Duran Duran than this tune. This song marks the all time bottom of James Bond Soundtracks. (Even WHAM! would have done it better by this time...a sophisticated ballad from George Michael could have saved much.)The villain story itself, about computer meltdown for the U.S by drowning Silicon Valley, is just a modern version of old "Blofeld stuff". (But I think Christopher Walken portraits the mentally disturbed industrialist quite well. A defector from cold Russia and KGB, who's current independence and plans discomforts his former employers.)Tanya Roberts (former angel from the fifth and last season of TV-show "Charlie's Angels", for instance) is easily forgotten every sometime I revisit this movie. Actor skills enough for being a sexy cut-out doll in heavy makeup, hairspray, and tight designer jeans. Not 007 material.Roger Moore was at 57 of age, and well aware of the slight silliness of him trying to appear on the screen as a "lethal weapon". And by his own admission, he did not get along with any of the leading women, neither Roberts nor Jones. (Jones was occasionally really obnoxious, crew members testified in interviews later.) I don't want to criticize Roger at all for his work in this movie, but I bet he was quite relieved once the shooting finished, and the scene door closed behind him. Changes were on the way....at last for some actor(s).