Review of A View to a Kill (1985) by Michelle R — 18 Nov 2008

Roger Moore's last outing as Bond definitely wasn't his most memorable. Yes in certain scenes, he did look every bit of his 50+ years at the time. But considering that in the books, Bond was a 40-something, hard drinking, 80 a day smoker, Moore certainly looks alright!

I haven't seen many Bond movies, so I really don't have an opinion on my favourite Bond movie, but I do have a little thing for Timothy Dalton. Just a little thing. As a true Scots girl, I should have a thing for the 'legend' that is Sean Connery, but having only seen him in Goldfinger, I'm sticking with Timothy Dalton.

I have a couple of gripes about View To A Kill. The song, sung by Duran Duran, quite possibly the group with the worst singer in the world, is terrible, yet, instrumental versions are repeated throughout the movie. And I have this thing about Grace Jones. Don't know what it is, she just doesn't do it for me in the film. One of the weirdest Bond women I've seen - and she stays pretty much silent for most of the movie! But she did get her then-boyfriend, a little known guy called Dolph Lundgren, his first acting job - and aren't we women appreciative?!And what is with the California Girls song near the beginning of the movie? It just doesn't work! Especially not in a skiing scene!

Apart from that, I didn't find the movie that memorable. It has some outstanding scenes (Eiffel Tower, the lighter scene, which keeps me laughing whenever I think about it) and Christopher Walken's quirky way of acting, which steals the scene every time. (THAT hair!) Other reviewers have mentioned that this is the weaker of the Bond movies, but having only seen a handful of them, I really can't comment. It's not as bad as Goldfinger that's for certain. The plot is quite choppy at times, but doesn't detract too much from the movie.

Roger Moore fits my mental image of Bond quite closely though (although I think Timothy Dalton definitely does!), and he has that older sophistication and charisma that only an older actor can bring to the role.

I seem to disagree with a lot of reviewers that Duran Duran had a great opening song. No they didn't. If we're going to talk eighties pop groups doing themes to Bond movies, then surely A-ha take the crown?

View To A Kill is a Bond movie, that's good, but not memorable, and is simply good for watching for a couple of hours, and trying to block out the sound of Simon Le Bon. Now which actor is going to oust Timothy Dalton from my number one Bond?