Rating: 
Summary: Good DVD - - - Lousy Movie
Review: A sad ending to Roger Moore's mostly distinquished career as the World's Greatest Spy. Pointless and void of any real drama,"View to a Kill" joins "Moonraker" and "Tomorrow Never Dies" in the dubious category of all-time 007 stinkers. Moore should've called it quits after "Octopussy", his highly enjoyable romp from 1983. To blame the aging Moore for "View's" many pratfalls, however, is missing the point. The plot to destroy Silicon Valley with an earthquake seems implausible. The usually creepy Christopher Walken scares absolutely no one as arch-villain Max Zorin. Walken and Grace Jones (May Day) commit the ultimate sin of Bond villainy --- they're flat out boring. Even worse, however, is Tanya Roberts' inept Bond Girl Stacey Sutton. Her performance is sadly laughable. In fact, if not for Denise Richards in "The World is Not Enough", Roberts would be sole possessor of the Worst Bond Girl Award. On the bright side the stunts are top-notch, especially the jump from the Eiffel Tower. The fight atop the Golden Gate Bridge is very well staged. However, the fire-truck chase through the streets of San Francisco is ludicrous. It's almost as if the producers, obviously blank on ideas, intentionally chose the most cliched of locations (the overused San Francisco)and decided to appeal to the lowest common demoninator by staging yet another "Bullit"-like race up and down that city's hilly streets. That stuff belongs on an episode of "Nash Bridges", not a Bond flick. Ugh! And as a final point of contention, there's the truly awful title song courtesy of Duran Duran.(Of course, it topped the charts! Go figure...)The saving grace of "View" is the DVD package itself. As always, MGM is to be commended for a job well done. Included is the highly informative documentary "Inside View to a Kill", which I found to be far more interesting than the movie itself. Another worthwhile documentary included with "View" is "The Music of James Bond". Also of interest are director John Glen's audio commentary and the original theatrical trailers. "View To a Kill" will satisfy only over-zealous Bond fanatics, such as myself, who just have to have all the extra goodies that come with the DVD. Overall, a one star movie presented in a four star package.
Rating:
Summary: A former "Avenger" and a disco diva are the film's salvation
Review: Patrick Macnee, fondly remembered as "John Steele" in the 60's classic, is as gentlemanly as ever as he aids James Bond in his quest to discover the plans of the devious "Max Gorin". While Patrick Macnee was obviously playing his age, audiences were expected to accept his obvious contemporary Moore as the suave and ageless Bond. Sadly, Moore didn't pull off it well, looking quite haggard and bored in this film. He should have let the much superior "For Your Eyes Only" be his swan song. The only other saving "grace" was Jones as "May Day", villain Christopher Walken's right hand woman. Her first appearance in the film is almost as stunning as Ursula Andress in "Dr. No." And her bedroom "triumph" over Moore's Bond would only be bested over a quarter century latter by Halle Berry as she "trounced" Pierce Brosnan in the latest Bond epic. Somewhat fitting for this lackluster Bond entry is the conclusion's ridiculous on-board airship battle, reminiscent of the real-life explosion of the Hindenberg. Thankfully, the Bond series did not end with this "disaster".
Rating: 
Summary: You amuse me, Mr. Zorin!
Review: The 14th James Bond movie. Immediately following OCTOPUSSY, Roger Moore (by then in his late 50s) made an announcement that he was going to retire from the role of Agent James Bond. After playing the role in six successful films prior, it was evident to producer Albert R. Broccoli with a new partnership with screenplay writer Michael G. Wilson, efforts would have to made in searching for a successor. However Moore's decision gave him an opportunity to depart from the role in high style. Indeed there is action and stunt sequences a plenty ranging from a ski chase in Siberia, a jump from the Eiffel Tower, and a final confrontation atop the Golden Gate Bridge. What remains is Moore's ability to bring many fascinating dimensions to the role; charm, humor, charisma, and determination. Although his final performance highlights the film, he is aided well with Tanya Roberts (who looks great in a bathrobe) as a blonde damsel-in-distress heroin, Patrick Macnee of TV's THE AVENGERS as a fellow ally, Grace Jones as an Amazonian villainous, and Christopher Walken (who won an oscar for his performance in THE DEER HUNTER) as a psychotic villain. This would also be the last James Bond film for Lois Maxwell (ironically the same age as Roger Moore) as Miss Moneypenny. Look fast for Dolph Lundgren as a KGB Agent, and who wouldn't love Fiona Fullerton as the Russian spy? THE ASSIGNMENT: A microchip is found on the dead body of Agent 003. Yet this is no ordinary piece of silicon, it is specially designed by the British to withstand the destructive magnetic pulse that accompanies a nuclear explosion. Agent 003 must have obtained it from the Soviets who, in turn, must have access to British research. The first suspect is Max Zorin who raises horses that continually win races that their pedigree suggests impossible. Bond adjourns to Zorin's French chateau, and there discovers the horses have microchips implanted in their legs which, when activated by a transistor radio in the riding crop, overcomes fatigue. Bond also discovers Zorin has another plan for his microchips: to take control of the world market by creating an earthquake along the San Andreas and Hayward faults and thus flooding Silicon Valley, the home of the US microchip industry, thus killing thousands of scientists and engineers in the process. Can 007 stop the madman? THE VILLAINS: Christopher Walken as Max Zorin, Grace Jones as May Day, Patrick Bauchau as Scarpine, Willoughby Gray as Dr. Carl Mortner, Manning Redwood as Bob Conley, Alison Doody (Elsa in INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE) as Jenny Flex, and Papillon Soo Soo as Pan Ho. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! BUY IT!
Rating: 
Summary: Playing it for fun
Review: Growing up in Scotland 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. 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. Action fans will be delighted with the action scenes here that range from the a heart pounding opening sequence, a pursuit through Paris, a police chase across San Fransisco to a final duel in which both an airship and the golden gate bridge play a part. Judging by the consistently great quality and fabulous features (audio commentaries and documentaries) on the previous two batches of DVDs this promises to be THE deifinitive record of this production - Zowie!
Rating: 
Summary: James Bond gone terribly wrong
Review: What were they thinking?Not long after starring in the excellent 'For Your Eyes Only',Roger Moore had to return for the worst Bond movie of all time.The script is laughably cheesy,and the characters are uninspired and out of place in a Bond movie.Having a karate expert Amazon named May Day as the villain's assistant is just silly.Also,Stacy Sutton is the most pathetic Bond girl of all time.She does nothing but dangle from elevator shafts screaming "Help me,James!" Stay away from this hopelessly lame,third-rate Bond movie and watch 'Goldfinger' instead.
Rating:
Summary: Good DVD - - - Lousy Movie
Review: A sad ending to Roger Moore's mostly distinquished career as the World's Greatest Spy. Pointless and void of any real drama,"View to a Kill" joins "Moonraker" and "Tomorrow Never Dies" in the dubious category of all-time 007 stinkers. Moore should've called it quits after "Octopussy", his highly enjoyable romp from 1983. To blame the aging Moore for "View's" many pratfalls, however, is missing the point. The plot to destroy Silicon Valley with an earthquake seems implausible. The usually creepy Christopher Walken scares absolutely no one as arch-villain Max Zorin. Walken and Grace Jones (May Day) commit the ultimate sin of Bond villainy --- they're flat out boring. Even worse, however, is Tanya Roberts' inept Bond Girl Stacey Sutton. Her performance is sadly laughable. In fact, if not for Denise Richards in "The World is Not Enough", Roberts would be sole possessor of the Worst Bond Girl Award. On the bright side the stunts are top-notch, especially the jump from the Eiffel Tower. The fight atop the Golden Gate Bridge is very well staged. However, the fire-truck chase through the streets of San Francisco is ludicrous. It's almost as if the producers, obviously blank on ideas, intentionally chose the most cliched of locations (the overused San Francisco)and decided to appeal to the lowest common demoninator by staging yet another "Bullit"-like race up and down that city's hilly streets. That stuff belongs on an episode of "Nash Bridges", not a Bond flick. Ugh! And as a final point of contention, there's the truly awful title song courtesy of Duran Duran.(Of course, it topped the charts! Go figure...) The saving grace of "View" is the DVD package itself. As always, MGM is to be commended for a job well done. Included is the highly informative documentary "Inside View to a Kill", which I found to be far more interesting than the movie itself. Another worthwhile documentary included with "View" is "The Music of James Bond". Also of interest are director John Glen's audio commentary and the original theatrical trailers. "View To a Kill" will satisfy only over-zealous Bond fanatics, such as myself, who just have to have all the extra goodies that come with the DVD. Overall, a one star movie presented in a four star package.
Rating:
Summary: A View To a Kill
Review: Roger Moore is back for his last appearance as James Bond in A View To a Kill.With some great action such as a thrilling hand-to-hand combat fight in which OO7 battles Zorin on top of the Golden Gate Bridge, a car chase through the streets of San Francisco, a chase on horses at Zorin's estate, a great pre-title ski chase, and a battle in a mine where MayDay and Bond must get a bomb out of a mine while escaping rushing water.Duran Duran's A View To a Kill was the biggest hit out of all the OO7 themes, though I like Live and Let Die better.The score was very good by John Barry.Though Moore and Roberts acting wasn't very good (especially Roberts), that is made up for by terrific acting performances from Grace Jones, Patrick McSteed, and especially Christopher Walken.Max Zorin is one of my favorite Bond villains along with Emilio Largo from Thunderball and Ernst Blofeld from Diamonds are Forever.The plot was cool too.The idea of destroying Silicon Valley is good.But if you want better Roger Moore, check out The Spy who Loved Me, (his best), Live and Let Die, or Octopussy.
Rating:
Summary: A former "Avenger" and a disco diva are the film's salvation
Review: Patrick Macnee, fondly remembered as "John Steele" in the 60's classic, is as gentlemanly as ever as he aids James Bond in his quest to discover the plans of the devious "Max Gorin". While Patrick Macnee was obviously playing his age, audiences were expected to accept his obvious contemporary Moore as the suave and ageless Bond. Sadly, Moore didn't pull off it well, looking quite haggard and bored in this film. He should have let the much superior "For Your Eyes Only" be his swan song. The only other saving "grace" was Jones as "May Day", villain Christopher Walken's right hand woman. Her first appearance in the film is almost as stunning as Ursula Andress in "Dr. No." And her bedroom "triumph" over Moore's Bond would only be bested over a quarter century latter by Halle Berry as she "trounced" Pierce Brosnan in the latest Bond epic. Somewhat fitting for this lackluster Bond entry is the conclusion's ridiculous on-board airship battle, reminiscent of the real-life explosion of the Hindenberg. Thankfully, the Bond series did not end with this "disaster".
Rating:
Summary: An All-Time Low
Review: All the Roger Moore Bonds are pretty bad, but "A View to a Kill" is the worst of the lot. How Broccoli and Company managed to coast on sheer ineptitude for 12 years (1973-85) is truly mind-boggling. Seen today, the Moore films are more dated than the Sean Connery efforts. Fortunately, Timothy Dalton's no-nonsense 007 helped revitalize this tried-and-tired series with "The Living Daylights" in 1987.
Rating:
Summary: THE WORST OF THE BEST !
Review: Take it from a true Bond fan: this is clearly the worst of all 007 movies. At least Moonraker wasn't boring.
Roger Moore was way too old to play Bond at this stage. Tanya Roberts' acting makes Denisse Richards's seem like Meryl Streep.
In its defense, not everything about it is that bad: the Golden Gate sequence is exciting, The Duran Duran song is one of the best.
You know you need to retire when stuntmen are required for scenes involving you climing stairs!
That's about it.
Guess not even 007 can bat 1.000 !
|
