Review of A View to a Kill (1985) by Tom R — 04 Feb 2013

(2 Stars) Positively, A View to a Kill has arguably the best theme song of all the James Bond movies (by Duran Duran); it's my favorite at least. It should have been a good Bond movie because it has a great villain played by Christopher Walken and a memorable henchwoman May Day (Grace Jones). But A View to a Kill is not a good Bond movie for many reasons.

Honestly, Roger Moore was getting older and it shows. He's no longer convincing in action or lovemaking scenes. Even Miss Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell, who appeared in EVERY Bond movie up to this film) was clearly getting older. There was barely any chemistry between Bond and Stacey Sutton (Tanya Roberts), which may have to do with the age difference and the fact that Sutton is really, really bubbly. There are a few scenes of overly-sadistic violence that wouldn't fit in any Bond movie, least of all a Moore one. The climax on top of the Golden Gate Bridge in a blimp sounds cool, but it's on the stale side... in fact, there are a few scenes that are stale that make me feel bored (a rare feeling in a Bond movie).

A View to a Kill isn't the sendoff that a Bond veteran like Roger Moore (or Lois Maxwell) deserved, but it has a few decent parts. It's best to remember Moore as a whole rather than his last misfire. I never agreed with people who thought Moore was a goofy, sacrilegious James Bond; he stared in seven Bond pictures and is as iconic as Sean Connery... that's worth something.