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View to a Kill, A

A View to a Kill (1985)

 A View to a Kill is a 1985 British spy film, the fourteenth in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions, and the seventh and last to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Although the title is adapted from Ian Fleming’s short story “From a View to a Kill”, the film has an entirely original screenplay. In A View to a Kill, Bond is pitted against Max Zorin, who plans to destroy California’s Silicon Valley..

Growing up in the UK this WAS my favorite James Bond movie. Roger Moore (in his finale as 007) tones down the outright absurdity of its immediate predecessor (Octopussy) but the larger than life characters, impossible escapes and grand set-pieces are still in evidence here.

The stand-outs in this caper (as with most 007 adventures) are the villains, Christopher Walken is over-the-top and obviously having a great time as Max Zorin as is Grace Jones as May Day. There are also some standout stunt sequences and the low-key affair with Bond and Zorin grappling atop the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (filmed for real on the actual location with stuntmen standing in for the two leads actually lends itself well to the proceedings that when combined with the enjoyable precredits bookend a movie that has so much filler in-between.

And this highlights another feature of the Bond movies that seems to hold true for the series. Why are the scenes set in the United States so lifeless compared to scenes filmed elsewhere. Perhaps the most U.S.-centric movie “Diamonds Are Forever” had some stand-out scenes including a chase through the streets of San Francisco, but the movie as a whole is rather a snooze and even Sean Connery looks bored. The U.S. curse is heavily in evidence here with the movie noticeably losing the wind out of its sails as soon as 007 sets foot in California.

The worst actor award here without question goes to Tanya Roberts. the obligatory Bond girl, who (although incredibly beautiful ) just does not convince as a geologist with a personal grudge against the wonderfully psychotic Zorin. In an interesting footnote, the producers had planned to feature a return of Major Anya Amasova from 1977’s “The Spy Who Loved Me” in the role as the Russian agent that tangles with Bond, but when the actress Barbara Bach declined to appear, a new character was introduced in her stead, Pola Ivanova, played by the beautiful English actress Fiona Fullerton. As a fan of Bach’s I wish she had reconsidered, but Fullerton is a worthy entry in the Bond girl pantheon.

Action fans will be delighted with the action scenes here that range from the aforementioned heart pounding opening sequence showcasing some simply amazing skiing, a pursuit through Paris trailing an assassin, a police chase across San Francisco to the final duel in which both an airship and the Golden Gate bridge play a part.

BACKGROUND

A View to a Kill is a 1985 British spy film, the fourteenth in the James Bond series produced by Eon Productions, and the seventh and last to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Although the title is adapted from Ian Fleming’s short story “From a View to a Kill”, the film has an entirely original screenplay. In A View to a Kill, Bond is pitted against Max Zorin, who plans to destroy California’s Silicon Valley.

The film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who also wrote the screenplay with Richard Maibaum. It was the third James Bond film to be directed by John Glen, and the last to feature Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny.

Despite receiving mixed to negative reviews from critics, it was a commercial success, with the Duran Duran theme song “A View to a Kill” performing well in the charts, becoming the only theme song to reach #1 on the Billboard charts and earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Song. Christopher Walken was also praised for portraying a “classic Bond villain”.

 CAST

Roger Mooreas James Bond
Christopher Walkenas Max Zorin
Tanya Robertsas Stacey Sutton
Grace Jonesas May Day
Patrick Macneeas Sir Godfrey Tibbett
Patrick Bauchauas Scarpine
David Yipas Chuck Lee
Willoughby Grayas Dr. Carl Mortner
Fiona Fullertonas Pola Ivanova
Manning Redwoodas Bob Conley
Alison Doodyas Jenny Flex
Mary Stavinas Kimberley Jones
Robert Brown as M

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WHAT THE CRITICS SAY:

The Screen: Bond in ‘A View to a Kill’

Published: May 24, 1985
AS lavishly escapist as they are, the latest James Bond films have become strenuous to watch, now that the business of maintaining Bond’s casual savoir-faire looks like such a monumental chore. The effort involved in keeping Roger Moore’s 007 impervious to age, changing times or sheer deja-vu seems overwhelming, particularly since so much additional energy goes into deflecting attention away from him and onto the ever-stronger supporting characters whose presence is meant to rejuvenate the Bond formula.
In ”A View to a Kill,” which opens today at Loew’s Astor Plaza and other theaters, those efforts pay off only during the early sections, when the film seems determined to be a bigger and better variation on Bonds gone by. The first moments bring spectacular iceberg scenery, another dazzling title sequence (by Maurice Binder, arguably the real hero of the series), an instant-hit title song by Duran Duran, a chateau larger than any known train station, and Grace Jones. For an encore, the film visits the San Andreas Fault, the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge.
But as the scenery improves, the Bond films lose personality; indeed, John Glen (who directed this and ”For Your Eyes Only”) has referred to himself as ”almost a managing director” on the Bond team. Mr. Moore is dapper as ever, but here he seems overpowered by his surroundings, especially since the screenplay (by Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson) has few flashes of the customary Bond humor. He is not helped by the less-than-dynamic plot twists involving Silicon Valley, nor by Tanya (”Sheena”) Roberts, a Barbie doll brought to life in the multi-faceted role of a geologist who is Bond’s leading lady.
The story pits Bond against one Max Zorin (Christopher Walken), a wicked financier who has, among other things, his very own blimp. He also has racehorses, a vast estate, and a plot to corner the market on silicon chips by destroying a large part of California. This alone would be enough to make him a worthy adversary for 007, but the film makers have taken the extra precaution of adding Miss Jones as May Day, Zorin’s hit woman extraordinaire. Miss Jones doesn’t do much with her dialogue, but her startling visual presence is one of the film’s bigger assets.
”A View to a Kill” should be no surprise to anyone who has seen the other recent Bond films with Mr. Moore, and no strain on the intelligence or memory of anyone else. It does hold the attention, in a what-won’t-they-think-of-next? manner, while under way. It’s entirely forgettable a moment later.
”A View to a Kill” is rated PG (”Parental Guidance Suggested”). It contains a few of the usual Bond-style smutty innuendoes. 007 in Silicon Valley A VIEW TO A KILL, directed by John Glen; screenplay by Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson; director of photography, Alan Hume; edited by Peter Davies; music by John Barry; produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Mr. Wilson; released by MGM/UA Entertainment Company. At Loews Astor Plaza, 44th Street west of Broadway; Loews 84th Street Six, Broadway and 84th Street; Loews New York Twin, Second Avenue and 86th Street; Loews Orpheum 2, Third Avenue and 86th street; Loews 34th Street Showplace, between Second and Third Avenues, and other theaters. Running time: 131 minutes.

My Review

93%

Two action sequences bookend a lot of filler Growing up in the UK this WAS my favorite James Bond movie. Roger Moore (in his finale as 007) tones down the outright absurdity of its immediate predecessor (Octopussy) but the larger than life characters, impossible escapes and grand set-pieces are still in evidence here

Script
93%
Acting
92%
Directing
89%
Bond girl Appeal
98%

About The Author

Darren

Born on the English-Scottish border I emigrated to the US after graduating college in 1995 and became a U.S. citizen in 2007. I have served in the U.S. military and my past positions include as an Assistant Managing Editor of The Washington Post Company, a technical writer working on technical documentation for both a construction company and a large government contractor, a graphic designer creating graphics in support of government contract proposals, and as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. which included being assigned as the official writer for the Navy and DoD on the assumption ceremony of a new Secretary of the Navy. I am currently a Web Services Writer for a large government contractor in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

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