Something else about the look of San Francisco. It reminds me a lot of how San Francisco looks in Star trek IV The Voyage home. To the point where when Bond is in SF, i almost expect to see Kirk, Spock and the ol’ gand just walking around.
Christopher Walken elevates this film immensely. The scene where he reacts to finding out who James Bond is while Bond is sitting in the room thinking he's undercover is priceless and is among one of the top Bond scenes in the franchise and for any Bond villain. It's really rather amazing for a franchise as old as Bond that has pretty much been a family endeavor, how often EON Productions sabotage themselves in the decisions they make like they don't really understand James Bond at all sometimes, and it really became apparent once they ran out of Flemming material.
Always a great pleasure fencing with Calvin, and I have to say he had some excellent points! Alas, I can't say that AVTAK has risen in my appreciation but I admire Calvin's commitment to the film!
I find younger me thought of Bond films like Calvin does and older me prefers them as you do. Including Quantum of Solace, oddly enough. I find that I prefer style and atmosphere over action these days.
Who cares. Seriously. If you love it, great. If you don’t, sure fine. Don’t get me wrong, I love hearing opinions, but they never change my opinion. Why should they.
@@milesflanagan4899 Because opinions can be changed. Sometimes you realize "Oh! You know what? I didn't consider that." That's why discussions are had about films, books, music, politics, etc...
Moore's age actually enhances this film for me. He's at the absolute pinnacle of suavity and charm. Even if A View to a Kill were merely a "Moore vehicle" and nothing more, it would work for me, as Hunter might say. The zeroed in '80's vibe only helps endear it to me all the more...and that score is so lush and memorable! First Bond film I saw in the theater!
My wife who is from Argentina, and had no idea what movie I was watching, or even who Roger Moore is, commented while I was watching "A View to a Kill", by saying, "That guy is really handsome." So clearly he still has some charm
My mother and I saw this in Alaska when I was ten and she saw Christopher Walken's name in the credits and said "Oh, what's Ronnie doing in this?" (they went to high school together) and she had a grand time watching his turn. We later took my grandfather to it who lived in SF and she said, "Now try not to fall in love with Grace Jones, pop!" She might now have a traumatic brain injury. Prayers for my momma's full recovery.
I love that! I used to love getting each of the special edition DVD's in turn when I was young and I'd looking forward to getting home and watching all the extras
@@calvindyson The menu design on the special edition DVD's is something I really miss about the Bond Series when digital media was a new fascinating thing in the early 2000's. To me it made you think you were entering into the world of 007 and there's so much to see than just what the movies would show in 2 hours.
@@calvindyson I recorded a view to a kill on my tv box and I used to annoy my friends by watching it when they came over. I was obsessed mainly cause of the theme song, Roger and Christopher and the blimp scene
Making it the first movie at the cinema doesn't necessarily make it great, not even for nostalgic reasons. Moonraker was my first when I was a kid, yet doesn't hold up well for this now grown up and more mature adult.
This is definitely one of my more guilty pleasure Bond movies. I don't have to take it seriously, I don't have to think about it, I can just sit down and sort of switch my brain off and enjoy it for 2 hours. Honestly, that's all I need. I really have a soft spot for this one.
The best things to come out of this film (in my opinion) are: 1) Christopher Walken’s performance (always a delight) 2) That theme song. I don’t have any real opinions on Duran Duran, really, but that song is awesome. Pure ‘80s. This is most definitely the most ‘80s these films ever got.
When I was a child back in early 80s my dad had this movie on a vhs cassette at home. I think I've seen it at least 100 times, easily. I used to pop it in the recorder at least once every weekend - that or star wars return of the Jedi. I loved this movie so much that for a long time my dream car was a Renautl 21!! Today I know it is not amongst the best Bond movies, but it still holds a very special place in my life.
I always though when Bond takes the umbrella to "help" Tibbett, it was meant as sort of an inside joke, since Pattrick MacNee always used one on the Avengers. I don't know, it sounded like that to me ahah
For a movie with a lot that's over the top, it does have one fairly subtle joke. When Bond is hanging from the Zorin blimp, Bond's manhood is menaced by the top of the Transamerica Building. Transamerica owned United Artists from 1967 to 1981 and sold it to MGM. That action has caused 40 years of misery for Bond fans.
About that scene where May Day almost-but-not-quite recognizes Bond... I got the impression in the Eiffel Tower scene that she never got a good look at his face, because in the restaurant Bond was sitting with his back to her, and by the time Bond started chasing her up the stairs she was already a good ways up and when she got the chance to see him it was both in motion and from afar. After that point she definitely didn't have any chance to take a look at him. It didn't seem so much like a case of May Day forgetting his face as a case of May Day having some but not all of the information she would have needed to immediately pick him out. So that moment didn't bother me so much. 'Cause it seems to me there is a good explanation -- either this, or, she confused Roger Moore with one of his stunt doubles!
His generic American accent isn't the best in this film but actually Moore was a gifted mimic in real life. He could imitate other actors and I've heard him do many voices in several interviews. He could just go into them. His impersonation of Tony Curtis was hilarious and spot on.
This is easily my favorite series going on any bond channel. I know you will run out of movies but hopefully we can squeeze out a couple more of these at least.
@@calvindyson Can we have Diamonds Are Forever next, please? Don’t ask me to explain why but, for all its many problems, I still love it! It would also signal the welcome return of Charles “it’s just a jump to the left” Gray😂
I love this film, AVTAK(1985)! The end of a great era! Last chance to see Roger Moore and Lois Maxwell! A very important milestone, like the next film TLD(1987)! Actually, I love both of these movies equally! Although these films are very different. ***** I think 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987 is THE BEST TIME IN THE FRANCHISE!!!
Roger Moore was too old. Everything else is awesome. But having a lead so old ruined the movie. Moore is my favourite Bond. But he was old. Octopussy and this one...
This is very serendipitous as I’m going to record my AVTAK commentary this evening. I really appreciate level headed and open discussions on the lesser regarded films-and AVTAK is horrendously underrated and written off with most not taking the more refined feeling narrative into account as a perfect way to give Roger a send off, unifying the properties of FYEO and OP and setting the stage for TLD with a significantly darker tone. We get the gentlemanly knight on an adventure where the dangers feel more real because the tone is darker and the plot is much more lived in. I suddenly realized after many years the film has more than its share of almost some of Gardner’s early tenure with the older Bond in the 80’s but also this is the one film where Bond is most St. George slaying the dragon.
Personally, I like Roger Moore in this movie. I feel that along with For Your Eyes Only, this is one of his best performances due to the hard-edge added to these movies. I feel that the scenes where he's struggling like the fire truck chase and the Golden Gate Bridge confrontation really made me feel like Bond wouldn't make it. I also am one of the few people who actually loved Tanya Roberts as Stacey Sutton.
So happy to see these come up. Thanks to both of you for making this content and expanding the Bond world like a fold out book for us. You've given me the confidence to embrace my inner 'nerd' without any qualms about zooming in as far as I like on the detail, and its transformed lockdown. Might stick this one on tonight.
I'm REALLY happy to hear this, Harry! Part of the reason I started the channel in the first place was to have a place where I could just vocalize all the Bond-fan-obsessive thoughts that occupy my brain on a daily basis and embrace my inner nerd too. Definitely been a great escape for me during lockdown too so I'm very happy you've enjoyed these videos too :)
@@calvindyson Honestly mate you should be very proud of the channel, bringing Bond movies to life - they're SO RICH with all the greatest aspects of cinema that they are almost a cinematic category on their own. Look forward to another decade of zooming even further in.
The plot was no more confusing than any other Bond movie. It was clear throughout who the good & bad guys were & that there was a big explosion planned. That's all Bond fans expect.
5:35 - 5:50 David's movements and voice pattern while he's talking about Operation Grand Slam is pure Christopher Walken, intentional or not, made me laugh
I always have a soft spot for this film. One of the first Bonds I've seen and the one I've seen the most. Love the settings with Paris and San Francisco and Grace Jones and Christopher Walken are brilliant. Also with the storyline it's one of the easiest Bond's to follow. And the final airship scenes are amazing.
So much has been said about Roger Moore's eyes. Yes, they are different. But I believe his mother died just before filming. He was in a lot of emotional pain, no? The eyes are the doorway to the heart. I think it says a lot about the man that he still played the role and carried the movie as a leading man should in spite of his mourning.
I completely agree that if they had embraced Moore’s age I think this would have been even better. I think that is why Octopussy worked better because the love interests were closer to his age.
@@vishalnarayanasamy8767 If Dalton was cast and they still wanted to go darker, they'd have had to do a major re-write of the script to tone the humor etc down-which probably would have been a good thing. If Brosnan had got the part they may have stuck more to the script that eventually was filmed.
The least I can comment about this film is that Roger (or the 3 frames he's in) is still noticably having fun, and that's one of the most important things for me seeing a Bond film. Is the actor having fun? Yes he's old and I'd be better if Octopussy was his last or if they adapted the script to his age, but at least he's still enjoying the part. DAF can feel like a real drag sometimes because of Connery's tone, while Moore's still having a blast. :)
@@SimonBaldock I was almost shocked when I realized a few years back That if I could be any Bond, I want to be Roger Moore's. I assumed without thinking much about it that I'd want to be Connery's. But Roger's Bond, knows more, has far more fun, and is the only one I imagine either having a happy retirement or getting booted upstairs to become the next M. Craig's is the last one I'd pick. Indeed I think he's almost too miserable to be the Alpha or Sigma male Bond is supposed to be. At the end of the last Bond film I felt like saying; "Dear God, take this woman and run off into the sunset while you have the chance and don't come back!"
@@Divertedflight More like haven't WE suffered enough. I've never liked him in the role - and from his performances, and media comments, he doesn't like it much either. But the lure of the almighty $$ will make him put off slashing his wrists for a few more months. #CraigneverBond
I've always enjoyed AVTAK. It is underrated in my view. It is a grounded and decent spy action film. The only thing wrong with it is that Moore looks too old in the role. Maybe they should have gotten an older woman as a love interest. But if you look past that then I don't find it anywhere worse or better than a lot of the others.
AVTAK is a difficult one. I loved it as a kid and have great memories watching it on VHS (taped off of tv) after school, so it has a lot of nostalgia value. But Moore’s age *really* bothers me now, especially, as you say, when surrounded by other cool young actors and with the amount of physical activity Bond does in the film. The music, however, is still unforgettable and remains very high in my rankings.
I think A View to a Kill probably has the best usage of this theme song throughout the movie. I don't know if it's the opening theme but there is this great song that just comes back over and over again that I love
Couple of points, I was really surprised you went the whole debate and neither of you brought up Zorin's death. When, as he loses his grip and knows he is about to die, simply laughs, is a moment that is both funny as an example of surrealist comady but also adds surprising character depth to this underwritten character. Zorin is a genius and megalomaniac and I believe the reason he laughs is not that 'he's just cray' but rather that he is so deluded in his superiority complex that the idea of him being beaten and dying is such an incomprehensible idea to him, so at odds with his warped view of reality it just seems ridicules to him so all he can do is laugh at the absurdity of it. Second point, in your issue of the film not playing to Moore's age, that I agree with you is a serious missed opptunity and showed a clear lack o vision on the writers part, along with their unwillingness to take a creative risk, wanting to instead force out the same Bond. You 'may' have brought up this example yourself in a previous video where you mentioned it or I might have imagined it, but rising the second Star Trek movie, The Wrath of Khan, as an example of how to do this affectingly would have been a good idea to point people towards in order to see an outstanding example of this being done well with Kirk. Even if you did mention this before though, it was such a great reference, it would have been a good idea to raise it again in this debate given the views I expect it will get. That aside, entertaining as always Calvin...I just wish you did not tease us with the James Bond Jr name drop as your reviews for the show were among my fav vids of yours, watching you having to endure the terrible cringe was really entertaining! PLEASE consider reviewing all the other episodes of the show at some point, if you confirm you will I'll even join your patreon, lol.
Man , the pain hitting the water.....even from lowest level its like hitting concrete , just ask autopsy people there , they witness suicides bodies :/
I think the explanation for why 'AVTAK' didn't accommodate Moore's age is that there was never enough time to tailer the scripts to the specific Bond actor, during the periods when a recasting was probable (especially Moore's last three films). Chubby Broccoli kept persuading Moore to carry on, but the film makers still had to anticipate a potential new actor. This leads to the very unfortunate interpretation that 'Goldeneye' is erasing Dalton's stint, by establishing Brosnan as Bond at a pre-Dalton point in time (the pre-credits). This is simply because it wasn't rewritten during the pre-production.
@@CaminoAir For Your eyes only was written to be more gritty, potentially for a new Bond but Roger was always going to do that and the next 3 despite contract shenanigans on both Eon and his agents side. Living daylights was written, as Micheal G Wilson said 'fairly middle of the road' to tailor for a new Bond [if more serious than View] but Dalton being cast so late ment that things like the infamous magic carpet deleted scene nearly got through. Goldeneye, unlike to what a lot of people say now a days, was heavily re-written after Dalton's departure with 3 more writers [1 un-credited] ultimately contributing [the script he saw didn't even have the EMP or Trevelyan in it]. Given Connery to Brosnan is one Bond I don't think 'ignoring Dalton' was the intention but I can see where that is coming from [the video game remake makes Trevelyan's rise happen in a much shorter time span].
I watched FYEO yesterday in HD, and in the scene where they are being chased in Melina's 2CV and being rammed you can see the obvious Moore stuntman for a few seconds. Not as obvious as the car cutting in half in AVTAK but still noticeable.
The microchip at the beginning leads to Zorin. The horse steroid stuff strengthens the suspicion that Zorin was genetically engineered. There is a place for both.
@@postersandstuff In fairness to Zorin when his henchmen start going down . Nazi genetic experiments that were raised to work for the KGB as killers probably don’t do emotional attachment hahaha .
Brilliant comparison that never occurred to me before: to the 20-year-later TV movie. I also thought at the time that just a few minor changes and honesty playing to Moore's age could have made this so much better. But also agree that Barry's score is fantastic.
The cheaper 'TV' look of the film, the California locations and the mid-'80s aesthetics combine to make parts of it feel like Murder She Wrote. Maybe Stacey Sutton lives just up the road from Cabot Cove?
With respect to the San Francisco locale as someone who has lived in the area for over 25 years, the filmmakers really blew it. SF is one of the most picturesque and iconic cities in the world and has been well represented on film. So many iconic movies have used the location well (Vertifgo, Zodiac, Bullet, The Maltese Falcon, Dirty Harry, What's Up Doc, The Rock, The Birds, etc). I was stunned to find out the filmmakers had carte blanche to use any and all of the city because the mayor was a huge Bond fan. They did shoot inside City Hall and were able to simulate the exterior being on fire. Why film a car chase in San Francisco and never use any of things that make the streets iconic (like say HILLS or Lombard Street)? They use SF so little and so ineffectively it's shocking. Even something like Antman and the Wasp made better use of the city in their car chase even though the vast majority of it was filmed in Georgia and they just has a few key shots done in the real SF.
@@jettjones9889 "Di Fi" is regarded as a "leftist" by some (yellow-dog Republicans, whether Trumplican or traditional), and "centrist" or even rightwinger by others, many of them card-carrying Democrats 🤔
I liked the use of Fisherman's Wharf and Japantown for the hot tub scene. Given the typical international flavor of the film with settings in Antartica, Paris and the South of France I thought the balance with SF was pretty good.
The trouble with using the hills is that it's already been done and would have drawn (perhaqps unfavourable) comparisons to Bullitt and even What's Up Doc?
this movie also should be remembered for putting John Steed together with Simon Templar in the same world...as if they're retiring together in this crazy Bond world...lol
The main action theme is basically On Her Majesty's Secret Service rejigged. We only hear the Bond theme once in this film and that's in the Paris scenes.
I think the only thing which holds this film back is its pacing. Fantastic theme song, great plot, and memorable villain. I don't even mind seeing an older Bond - i bought it as Moore delivered the performance with sincerity and presence.
45:50 - As far as I know Barry loved working with Duran Duran as they were big fans of his. It was working with A-ha on The Living Daylight that he had issues.
It reminds me of people warming up to the Star Wars prequels after something worse came along. I don't think Spectre will have the same treatment. Like ask yourself: Which do you think people will warm up to more? Star Wars after hating Anakin's dislike of sand because it wasn't a cool thing to say? Or Spectre after hating Blofeld because he became a supervillain and leader of a super criminal organization to be the "author to all of Bond's pain" because his daddy gave Bond more attention?
As I understand it, Roger had a facelift before filming AVTAK. In fact, I think he looks pretty good in the film - actually younger than Daniel Craig does now - although some of the still photography makes him appear a little startled 😄 Anyway, bless him!
Roger Moore's Bond was so charming, elegant, mature, with right height(1.85cm.)! Daniel Craig is nothing like that... And modern Bond movies are all total crap! AVTAK was the last golden era Bond film for me and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!
@@ricardocantoral7672 To each his own. Also, Lois Maxwell departed/was replaced as Moneypenny after this film, serving as the end of the long run of Connery-Moore, which covered a large portion of the real-life Cold War.
The difference with Cruise and Moore is that Cruise kept up in top shape. Moore was a good looking guy, but he was never into that stunt life. He never showed THAT level of dedication.
It should have been Dalton's first film. Zorin's psychotic and violent behavior seems more suitable for a Dalton Bond. The villains are great. The plot is fine for me. The film really needed a more fit Bond. I've tried to like AVTAK more. It's still a lower tier film for me. Great show! Hope you can do more of these.
@@vishalnarayanasamy8767 The fight scenes especially the one at the end with Walken would have been more physical. The fire truck scene, as silly as it can be, may have been a bit rougher. In general I think you would have a tougher film.
I thought that the race horse serum was intended as a reflection on Zorin himself, a foreshadowing rather than a key plot element. He's a genetically modified creature built to win...and potentially self destruct. I think it's a weak buildup to his view of life, and I'm not defending this movie (Calvin, you're brave to don the "defender" role here), but I don't think it has any value down the road.
I just rewatched this, I'm 22 years old and was a Bond fan since I was a kid. I absolutely enjoyed almost everything about it, Moores age didn't even bother me. The weakest part might be Stacey Sutton lmao, Walken is fantastic as well as Grace Jones
To answer Calvin's question: The Eifel Tower Sequence is in there as it's a holdover from the Moonraker film. With them filming a lot of that in France, the intent was to fit an Eifel Tower action scene in. EON as so often never let a good idea go to waste, and just found another place for it later (e.g. the pre-credits of Tomorrow Never Dies originally were to have been in The Living Daylights).
My top-10 is: 1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1995. *** And yes, I love-love AVTAK(1985)!!! Roger Moore: what a great charming English gentleman agent, even at the age of 57!!! R.I.P. Roger Moore and Tanya Roberts!!! I hope they met in heaven...
Great chat guys, love the debate. For me, although I'm discovering I'm a little in the minority, A View To a Kill is up there amongst my favourite Bond films. Really enjoyed Christopher Walken and Grace Jones' performances, and for me, it was a great sign off for the legendary Roger Moore.
@@lloydkline1518And that's abad thing? FYEO 1981 Moonraker 79 or 1980 Octopussy 83 TLD 87 and LTK 89 all great old school Rodger Moore/Dalton retro Bond films that are still enjoyable to this day
I think the first Bond film I watched fully was GoldenEye, and it is still my favorite, but the first Bond movie I saw part of was this one on a screen in a doctor’s office, and it was right around the blimp scene near the end and I loved it and wanted to know more about it, and didn’t even know it was a Bond movie at the time. But that always stuck with me for some reason
Weirdly, it's on my top 13 of the Bond movies (and second of the Moore era after "The Spy") for the following reasons : - First Bond movie I ever watched, at that time, I was 10. I had no problem with the age, I simply didn't see it. Neither did I see, that it was a stunt man doing the physical stuff. But one thing is certain, it printed good memories for years to come. - I still today find the villains amazing, even the discrete ones (like the "commando" of villainesses, with Doody and the asian girl). Walken and Jones are top villains, sadistic, physical, and in a weird relationship. The flooding scene in the mines where Zorin and Scarpine shoot their own guys is stunning. - Memorable scenes : the horse race, where Bond ends up trapped, the pre-opening, the firemen truck race, and of course, the finale at the golden gate. - The spy game with Patrick McNee is very funny too. A good teammate for Bond. - The plot is quite sketchy but still interesting, with the technological stakes and Zorin betraying the Russians. - The incredible soundtrack, John Barry definitely did better than in Moonraker or Golden Gun. The music still carries me into the film and make me forget everything else.
I might not be a big fan of this one but alongside Barry's score, Walken as Zorin is great, and as a bonus he became a catalyst in Everything or Nothing. Still love that connection.
A View To A Kill is my guilty pleasure from the Bond franchise. ....yeah, Roger Moore is too old, Tanya Roberts is more annoying than hot...but, I love how Christopher Walken chews up the scenes he’s in & excellent chemistry with Grace Jones. “Right on scccchedule”-😉👍🏻
“A View To A Kill” was my first Bond film and I enjoyed it then in 1985 and still do today. It was a fun movie and that’s what matters. Roger Moore was terrific as always as Bond and it was fun to have one more film with RM. I will say this, I agree with the embracing the age view and had that happened more it would have been a even better film.
The soundtrack is one of the main selling points of this movie. I really like how they used the title score in different variations in AVtaK and TLD. Also, the villains are phenomenal. That's already enough to be one of the best Moore Bond movies for me. I know, THAT's controversial. But I really like this movie, as well as Octopussy and The Living Daylights. 3 very strong movies in a row. Don't really understand the issues with the plot. Yes, it's not new and yes, it's a bit messy. But Octopussy is much worse plot-wise and TLD isn't that straightforward as well. AVtaK is relatively simple imho.
This thought had occurred to me as well and it might have been an idea perhaps ahead of its time, but I agree that they should have embraced Roger Moore’s age instead of trying to cover it up. It would have worked well for this type of story with Zorin being a more youthful villain and about technology and the computer boom of the 80s: Zorin represents the future and Bond represents the past and it could have had this interesting new school vs. old school element.
I agree, that would have been better. The downside is that the two possible avenues - Bond contemplating retirement, or Bond coming back out of retirement, had already both been done in the unofficial films.
The formula stayed the same as in previous Moore Bonds. It's what the public liked. However it is a below par entry. They couldn't make an origin film or a gritty LTK esq film. Only thing they could do is change Bond to reflect his age. Which they didn't really do. Apart from Bond tucking Tanya Roberts in.
Frankly I loved AVTAK. After finishing watching all the Moore films recently it's probably my third favorite of his. (behind TSWLM and FYEO) Having gotten into the Moore films with no knowledge of his take on the character I felt like AVTAK was the culmination of all the fun, over the top, action packed antics that characterized his era. And I had a blast watching the film, thoroughly entertained all the way through. So I was surprised at the scorn this movie gets after reading more about it.
I love the 80s feel, the score, Duran Duran, and I think it’s a good farewell to roger Moore and I love the finale on Golden Gate Bridge and I think roger Moore passes although he 57 compared to Connery In diamonds
This one is definitely in the bottom 3 for me... ... but like Man With the Golden Gun it has some of the best and most memorable villains in the series! And one of the best songs...
I remember at that time around the middle eighties that we had the show Equalizer (man that was good). They should have made Bond more like McCall here. Edward Woodward was very convincing even in the action scenes there. It just gets silly when you see an older man doing silly action movements. I think it was a mistake from the start. Either you replace Roger, or do the action scenes smarter and more mature. That would have made this film look better in many scenes.
That opening, with Nightfire: Missile Silo/Equinox playing in the background, made the movie look so much more amazing haha. Great debate, keep them coming!
One of the weakest films that could have ended up in my worst five Bond films, but Christopher Walken and Barry’s score is phenomenal. Duran Duran’s son is IMO the best Bond song of the 80s and the instrumental flute rendition of the title song is brilliant. I really like how that instrument rendition is so calm and serine, whilst the song is so energetic. In fact in hindsight the romantic theme almost has an autumnal feeling to it. IMO it almost signifies the ending of Moore’s tenure in the role.
Christopher Walken was the second choice for Zorin. The first choice was David Bowie. The script's description of Zorin even specifies that Zorin has two different eye colors, a la Bowie.
Technically, David Bowie's eyes are not different colors, as most people think. His pupil is paralyzed in one eye, making it appear to be a different color iris.
Honestly, A View to a Kill is top 10 Bond for me and the older I get the more I truly appreciate it. I don't need every single Bond movie to be an Oscar contender or something deep or meaningful. I LOVE that it is like that Saturday morning cartoon and that isn't a knock on it either. The score, characters, some of Walken's lines "Good. Right on schedule" just make me love it so much AND it would be one I would show a new Bond fan to!
I have only seen this one twice but it kinda feels like DAF. Bond goes to a big european city -Amsterdam or Paris and then goes to a big american city - Las Vegas or San Francisco. "Microchips Are Forever" as an alternative title would have worked quite well too.
One of my favourite Bond films. I remember when I saw it on release that it was a huge improvement over the previous two films. That's something you have to take into account. Us oldies who saw the films when they came out tend to judge them based on what had come before rather than the series as a whole. A bit like Never Say Never Again. A lot of the stuff you point out in your review as dated, are dated, but back then seemed cutting edge. Even the score didn't seem out of place at the time.
Something else about the look of San Francisco. It reminds me a lot of how San Francisco looks in Star trek IV The Voyage home. To the point where when Bond is in SF, i almost expect to see Kirk, Spock and the ol’ gand just walking around.
The finale on the bridge is still one of my favourite climaxes!! Love that music!!!
Christopher Walken elevates this film immensely. The scene where he reacts to finding out who James Bond is while Bond is sitting in the room thinking he's undercover is priceless and is among one of the top Bond scenes in the franchise and for any Bond villain.
It's really rather amazing for a franchise as old as Bond that has pretty much been a family endeavor, how often EON Productions sabotage themselves in the decisions they make like they don't really understand James Bond at all sometimes, and it really became apparent once they ran out of Flemming material.
Always a great pleasure fencing with Calvin, and I have to say he had some excellent points! Alas, I can't say that AVTAK has risen in my appreciation but I admire Calvin's commitment to the film!
I think you're great and have such good knowledge of Bond. The props alone make it even better and fun!
@@chrisretro81 Even Carrot Top could take pointers from David as far as props go.
@@bonghunezhou5051 avtak was better than : daf , mwgg , Mr , brosnans (minus GE) , QoS......so far from worst imo
I find younger me thought of Bond films like Calvin does and older me prefers them as you do. Including Quantum of Solace, oddly enough. I find that I prefer style and atmosphere over action these days.
Mark Gatiss once said that if you imagine it's a film about an elderly man who thinks he's a secret agent, it's absolutely charming.
I don't think I will ever be able to see it differently now.
😂 I didn’t know that! Oh I love that, it’s brilliant!
So, Johnny English?
Who cares. Seriously. If you love it, great. If you don’t, sure fine. Don’t get me wrong, I love hearing opinions, but they never change my opinion. Why should they.
@@milesflanagan4899 Because opinions can be changed. Sometimes you realize "Oh! You know what? I didn't consider that."
That's why discussions are had about films, books, music, politics, etc...
Moore's age actually enhances this film for me. He's at the absolute pinnacle of suavity and charm. Even if A View to a Kill were merely a "Moore vehicle" and nothing more, it would work for me, as Hunter might say. The zeroed in '80's vibe only helps endear it to me all the more...and that score is so lush and memorable! First Bond film I saw in the theater!
I've never been bothered by his or Connery's age....not even in NSNA.
@@patrickbarry6273 One film a lot of people don't know about that Connery did was "Cuba" in 1979. Worth watching for the feel and music.
My wife who is from Argentina, and had no idea what movie I was watching, or even who Roger Moore is, commented while I was watching "A View to a Kill", by saying, "That guy is really handsome."
So clearly he still has some charm
My mother and I saw this in Alaska when I was ten and she saw Christopher Walken's name in the credits and said "Oh, what's Ronnie doing in this?" (they went to high school together) and she had a grand time watching his turn. We later took my grandfather to it who lived in SF and she said, "Now try not to fall in love with Grace Jones, pop!" She might now have a traumatic brain injury. Prayers for my momma's full recovery.
That's an awesome story man. I'm praying
@@austincalloway8745 saw Walken on stage back in '10.....anyway sad story you told
My first bond film and got me into the bond series and would watch it every Friday with snacks after school. Never get bored of it.
I love that! I used to love getting each of the special edition DVD's in turn when I was young and I'd looking forward to getting home and watching all the extras
@@calvindyson The menu design on the special edition DVD's is something I really miss about the Bond Series when digital media was a new fascinating thing in the early 2000's. To me it made you think you were entering into the world of 007 and there's so much to see than just what the movies would show in 2 hours.
Me too!
@@calvindyson I recorded a view to a kill on my tv box and I used to annoy my friends by watching it when they came over. I was obsessed mainly cause of the theme song, Roger and Christopher and the blimp scene
@@calvindyson no strikes here on the film. I dont mind the ending scene too much as Bond works as hes kissing Stacey!
"A View to a Kill" was the first Bond film I saw in the theater and I'll always have a soft spot for it. Thanks for doing these!
Making it the first movie at the cinema doesn't necessarily make it great, not even for nostalgic reasons.
Moonraker was my first when I was a kid, yet doesn't hold up well for this now grown up and more mature adult.
@@treadstone1970 Yoda : Negative you are , fanboy you are not ;)
@@postersandstuff 😂 even the most dedicated fanboy would clearly recognise the movie is a stinker.
The force is definitely not strong in you.
It ok since it last money penny & Roger Moore last 🎬 movies have soft spot for it
@@treadstone1970 Moonraker is great!!
This is definitely one of my more guilty pleasure Bond movies. I don't have to take it seriously, I don't have to think about it, I can just sit down and sort of switch my brain off and enjoy it for 2 hours. Honestly, that's all I need. I really have a soft spot for this one.
The best things to come out of this film (in my opinion) are: 1) Christopher Walken’s performance (always a delight) 2) That theme song. I don’t have any real opinions on Duran Duran, really, but that song is awesome. Pure ‘80s. This is most definitely the most ‘80s these films ever got.
When I was a child back in early 80s my dad had this movie on a vhs cassette at home. I think I've seen it at least 100 times, easily. I used to pop it in the recorder at least once every weekend - that or star wars return of the Jedi. I loved this movie so much that for a long time my dream car was a Renautl 21!! Today I know it is not amongst the best Bond movies, but it still holds a very special place in my life.
I always though when Bond takes the umbrella to "help" Tibbett, it was meant as sort of an inside joke, since Pattrick MacNee always used one on the Avengers. I don't know, it sounded like that to me ahah
I quite liked David saying that he and Calvin would have been best friends.
I love these debates! I've started listening to them as podcasts on my commute to and from work.
Classic Moore-Bond. Action, villians, fun. Thus a favorite that doesn't get old.
I love David's take on AVTAK coming across like a TV movie 20 years later. Makes the movie all the more enjoyable to me lol
AVTAK is a bit like Diamonds Are Forever in that it looks quite cheap and 'rough around the edges' by Bond standards.
I think Zorin and Mayday are two of the best villains in the Bond series. Always enjoy this film.
For a movie with a lot that's over the top, it does have one fairly subtle joke. When Bond is hanging from the Zorin blimp, Bond's manhood is menaced by the top of the Transamerica Building. Transamerica owned United Artists from 1967 to 1981 and sold it to MGM. That action has caused 40 years of misery for Bond fans.
That was a subtle over the top joke ;)
About that scene where May Day almost-but-not-quite recognizes Bond...
I got the impression in the Eiffel Tower scene that she never got a good look at his face, because in the restaurant Bond was sitting with his back to her, and by the time Bond started chasing her up the stairs she was already a good ways up and when she got the chance to see him it was both in motion and from afar.
After that point she definitely didn't have any chance to take a look at him. It didn't seem so much like a case of May Day forgetting his face as a case of May Day having some but not all of the information she would have needed to immediately pick him out.
So that moment didn't bother me so much. 'Cause it seems to me there is a good explanation -- either this, or, she confused Roger Moore with one of his stunt doubles!
Rogers American accent, “on yer rear end!”, still gets me 😂
Always have fond memories of AVTAK when I was growing up.
His generic American accent isn't the best in this film but actually Moore was a gifted mimic in real life. He could imitate other actors and I've heard him do many voices in several interviews. He could just go into them. His impersonation of Tony Curtis was hilarious and spot on.
“It’s woman’s lib, they’re taking over the teamsters”
This is easily my favorite series going on any bond channel. I know you will run out of movies but hopefully we can squeeze out a couple more of these at least.
Really glad you're enjoying them! We certainly have a few more to go :D
@@calvindyson never say never? Die another Day? Any hints 😉
Casino royale?
1967 one of course
@@calvindyson Keep them coming-loving these discussions.
@@calvindyson Can we have Diamonds Are Forever next, please? Don’t ask me to explain why but, for all its many problems, I still love it! It would also signal the welcome return of Charles “it’s just a jump to the left” Gray😂
I don't mind this film at all. It isn't in my top ten but I would watch it over Die Another Day, any day.
I have a soft spot for this one. The music and the song by Duran Duran and also the final fight on the golden gate bridge make up for all the badness.
Horse scene was decent , so was car wash scene
Horse race scene was decent , so was car wash scene
The theme song is definitely one of this movie's major virtues.
I love this film, AVTAK(1985)! The end of a great era! Last chance to see Roger Moore and Lois Maxwell! A very important milestone, like the next film TLD(1987)! Actually, I love both of these movies equally! Although these films are very different. ***** I think 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987 is THE BEST TIME IN THE FRANCHISE!!!
Literally one of the most underrated Bond films imo
The second I saw in it's entirety and my favourite for years. Just so much fun, and desirable settings and characters.
Roger Moore was too old.
Everything else is awesome.
But having a lead so old ruined the movie.
Moore is my favourite Bond.
But he was old. Octopussy and this one...
I did not like it
I like it but I have my issues. Christopher Walken is the highlight!!!
@@davidmaglov may day most senior in woman in movie might be she could be aunt of Jenny flex
This is very serendipitous as I’m going to record my AVTAK commentary this evening. I really appreciate level headed and open discussions on the lesser regarded films-and AVTAK is horrendously underrated and written off with most not taking the more refined feeling narrative into account as a perfect way to give Roger a send off, unifying the properties of FYEO and OP and setting the stage for TLD with a significantly darker tone.
We get the gentlemanly knight on an adventure where the dangers feel more real because the tone is darker and the plot is much more lived in. I suddenly realized after many years the film has more than its share of almost some of Gardner’s early tenure with the older Bond in the 80’s but also this is the one film where Bond is most St. George slaying the dragon.
You also have great videos, sir! Looking forward to watching your AVTAK video.
Personally, I like Roger Moore in this movie. I feel that along with For Your Eyes Only, this is one of his best performances due to the hard-edge added to these movies. I feel that the scenes where he's struggling like the fire truck chase and the Golden Gate Bridge confrontation really made me feel like Bond wouldn't make it.
I also am one of the few people who actually loved Tanya Roberts as Stacey Sutton.
So happy to see these come up. Thanks to both of you for making this content and expanding the Bond world like a fold out book for us.
You've given me the confidence to embrace my inner 'nerd' without any qualms about zooming in as far as I like on the detail, and its transformed lockdown.
Might stick this one on tonight.
I'm REALLY happy to hear this, Harry! Part of the reason I started the channel in the first place was to have a place where I could just vocalize all the Bond-fan-obsessive thoughts that occupy my brain on a daily basis and embrace my inner nerd too. Definitely been a great escape for me during lockdown too so I'm very happy you've enjoyed these videos too :)
@@calvindyson Honestly mate you should be very proud of the channel, bringing Bond movies to life - they're SO RICH with all the greatest aspects of cinema that they are almost a cinematic category on their own. Look forward to another decade of zooming even further in.
So true
The plot was no more confusing than any other Bond movie.
It was clear throughout who the good & bad guys were & that there was a big explosion planned. That's all Bond fans expect.
Also why does plot need to be complicated : Zorin wants to drown Silicon Valley , pretty straight forward
5:35 - 5:50 David's movements and voice pattern while he's talking about Operation Grand Slam is pure Christopher Walken, intentional or not, made me laugh
The horse drug was actually used during the race with Walken that makes Bond's horse go wild.
I always have a soft spot for this film. One of the first Bonds I've seen and the one I've seen the most. Love the settings with Paris and San Francisco and Grace Jones and Christopher Walken are brilliant. Also with the storyline it's one of the easiest Bond's to follow. And the final airship scenes are amazing.
Very much a guilty pleasure. Every time I watch this I have the dumbest smile on my face. So much to love in this one.
So much has been said about Roger Moore's eyes. Yes, they are different. But I believe his mother died just before filming. He was in a lot of emotional pain, no? The eyes are the doorway to the heart. I think it says a lot about the man that he still played the role and carried the movie as a leading man should in spite of his mourning.
This has The Saint and John Steed in the same movie, how could I ever call it bad?!
I completely agree that if they had embraced Moore’s age I think this would have been even better. I think that is why Octopussy worked better because the love interests were closer to his age.
I think Timothy Dalton could have done View to a kill
@@vishalnarayanasamy8767 If Dalton was cast and they still wanted to go darker, they'd have had to do a major re-write of the script to tone the humor etc down-which probably would have been a good thing. If Brosnan had got the part they may have stuck more to the script that eventually was filmed.
It's funny because Maude Adams looks more mature than a lot of Moore's co-stars but was still 13 years younger than Roger.
The least I can comment about this film is that Roger (or the 3 frames he's in) is still noticably having fun, and that's one of the most important things for me seeing a Bond film. Is the actor having fun? Yes he's old and I'd be better if Octopussy was his last or if they adapted the script to his age, but at least he's still enjoying the part. DAF can feel like a real drag sometimes because of Connery's tone, while Moore's still having a blast. :)
As opposed to Craig and his "i hate being here" expression in every scene he's in
@@SimonBaldock I was almost shocked when I realized a few years back That if I could be any Bond, I want to be Roger Moore's. I assumed without thinking much about it that I'd want to be Connery's. But Roger's Bond, knows more, has far more fun, and is the only one I imagine either having a happy retirement or getting booted upstairs to become the next M.
Craig's is the last one I'd pick. Indeed I think he's almost too miserable to be the Alpha or Sigma male Bond is supposed to be. At the end of the last Bond film I felt like saying; "Dear God, take this woman and run off into the sunset while you have the chance and don't come back!"
Indeed my emotive response to hearing Craig's Bond was going to be in another one was; "Oh sweet Lord, hasn't this man suffered enough?"
@@Divertedflight More like haven't WE suffered enough. I've never liked him in the role - and from his performances, and media comments, he doesn't like it much either. But the lure of the almighty $$ will make him put off slashing his wrists for a few more months. #CraigneverBond
I thought Roger was his most confident as bond in this movie
I've always enjoyed AVTAK. It is underrated in my view. It is a grounded and decent spy action film.
The only thing wrong with it is that Moore looks too old in the role. Maybe they should have gotten an older woman as a love interest.
But if you look past that then I don't find it anywhere worse or better than a lot of the others.
AVTAK is a difficult one. I loved it as a kid and have great memories watching it on VHS (taped off of tv) after school, so it has a lot of nostalgia value. But Moore’s age *really* bothers me now, especially, as you say, when surrounded by other cool young actors and with the amount of physical activity Bond does in the film. The music, however, is still unforgettable and remains very high in my rankings.
I think A View to a Kill probably has the best usage of this theme song throughout the movie. I don't know if it's the opening theme but there is this great song that just comes back over and over again that I love
When James lands on the yacht, the wedding band is playing a dixieland version of A VIEW TO A KILL.
It's pretty good, but IMHO, "The Living Daylights" did it better.
@@leslauner5062 The Living Daylight's didn't work nearly as well as Where Has Everybody Gone which really should have been the title theme.
@@ricardocantoral7672 I disagree. Both themes worked extremely well throughout the film.
I think View to a Kill definitely has a better chorus than Living Daylights. Dance ... into the fire!
The old Tape Recording To Foil The Bug Trick was used by Kananga in LIVE AND LET DIE.
Come to think of it...(what goes around comes around~) 😊📽🎬
Calvin automatically wins for Vodka + Coke Zero. That is my drink of choice (as, admittedly, an alcoholic...) so I would be happy to share a few.
Couple of points, I was really surprised you went the whole debate and neither of you brought up Zorin's death. When, as he loses his grip and knows he is about to die, simply laughs, is a moment that is both funny as an example of surrealist comady but also adds surprising character depth to this underwritten character. Zorin is a genius and megalomaniac and I believe the reason he laughs is not that 'he's just cray' but rather that he is so deluded in his superiority complex that the idea of him being beaten and dying is such an incomprehensible idea to him, so at odds with his warped view of reality it just seems ridicules to him so all he can do is laugh at the absurdity of it.
Second point, in your issue of the film not playing to Moore's age, that I agree with you is a serious missed opptunity and showed a clear lack o vision on the writers part, along with their unwillingness to take a creative risk, wanting to instead force out the same Bond. You 'may' have brought up this example yourself in a previous video where you mentioned it or I might have imagined it, but rising the second Star Trek movie, The Wrath of Khan, as an example of how to do this affectingly would have been a good idea to point people towards in order to see an outstanding example of this being done well with Kirk. Even if you did mention this before though, it was such a great reference, it would have been a good idea to raise it again in this debate given the views I expect it will get.
That aside, entertaining as always Calvin...I just wish you did not tease us with the James Bond Jr name drop as your reviews for the show were among my fav vids of yours, watching you having to endure the terrible cringe was really entertaining! PLEASE consider reviewing all the other episodes of the show at some point, if you confirm you will I'll even join your patreon, lol.
Man , the pain hitting the water.....even from lowest level its like hitting concrete , just ask autopsy people there , they witness suicides bodies :/
I think the explanation for why 'AVTAK' didn't accommodate Moore's age is that there was never enough time to tailer the scripts to the specific Bond actor, during the periods when a recasting was probable (especially Moore's last three films). Chubby Broccoli kept persuading Moore to carry on, but the film makers still had to anticipate a potential new actor. This leads to the very unfortunate interpretation that 'Goldeneye' is erasing Dalton's stint, by establishing Brosnan as Bond at a pre-Dalton point in time (the pre-credits). This is simply because it wasn't rewritten during the pre-production.
@@CaminoAir For Your eyes only was written to be more gritty, potentially for a new Bond but Roger was always going to do that and the next 3 despite contract shenanigans on both Eon and his agents side.
Living daylights was written, as Micheal G Wilson said 'fairly middle of the road' to tailor for a new Bond [if more serious than View] but Dalton being cast so late ment that things like the infamous magic carpet deleted scene nearly got through.
Goldeneye, unlike to what a lot of people say now a days, was heavily re-written after Dalton's departure with 3 more writers [1 un-credited] ultimately contributing [the script he saw didn't even have the EMP or Trevelyan in it]. Given Connery to Brosnan is one Bond I don't think 'ignoring Dalton' was the intention but I can see where that is coming from [the video game remake makes Trevelyan's rise happen in a much shorter time span].
God, even in this VHS quality footage you can clearly see the cuts between Roger and his stuntman
That's far better than vhs quality
I watched FYEO yesterday in HD, and in the scene where they are being chased in Melina's 2CV and being rammed you can see the obvious Moore stuntman for a few seconds. Not as obvious as the car cutting in half in AVTAK but still noticeable.
I love Roger but...yeah he really should have bowed out on a high in Octopussy.
I think the only thing that holds this film together at all is the score. John Barry really nailed this one.
PS it's not actually The Beach Boys singing during that silly snowboarding bit, it's actually a cheap knock off which makes it far worse!
Duran totally nailed it, though I never would have admitted it in '85.
@@andrewchapman4267 A tribute band.
we know why david likes the film lifeforce,matilda may spends the whole time wearing zero clothes.
The microchip at the beginning leads to Zorin. The horse steroid stuff strengthens the suspicion that Zorin was genetically engineered. There is a place for both.
Horse part was a plot B, made to fund his plot A . . . Like goldfinger's plan
@@randomhuman97 Mortner is like a father figure to Max , even May Days death didn't seem to bother him much & Scarpine , henchmen are a dime a dozen
@@postersandstuff In fairness to Zorin when his henchmen start going down . Nazi genetic experiments that were raised to work for the KGB as killers probably don’t do emotional attachment hahaha .
Brilliant comparison that never occurred to me before: to the 20-year-later TV movie. I also thought at the time that just a few minor changes and honesty playing to Moore's age could have made this so much better. But also agree that Barry's score is fantastic.
Oh I liked this more after watching it recently. But Calvin, it's nothing to FYEO!
Still great debate! Thanks.
HA! Thanks Keith, when I was editing this I just KNEW I was going to get called out on some of those comments!
The cheaper 'TV' look of the film, the California locations and the mid-'80s aesthetics combine to make parts of it feel like Murder She Wrote. Maybe Stacey Sutton lives just up the road from Cabot Cove?
All that's missing is a synthesized score by Mike Post.
No, Cabot Cove is in Maine, not California ;-)
With respect to the San Francisco locale as someone who has lived in the area for over 25 years, the filmmakers really blew it. SF is one of the most picturesque and iconic cities in the world and has been well represented on film. So many iconic movies have used the location well (Vertifgo, Zodiac, Bullet, The Maltese Falcon, Dirty Harry, What's Up Doc, The Rock, The Birds, etc). I was stunned to find out the filmmakers had carte blanche to use any and all of the city because the mayor was a huge Bond fan. They did shoot inside City Hall and were able to simulate the exterior being on fire. Why film a car chase in San Francisco and never use any of things that make the streets iconic (like say HILLS or Lombard Street)? They use SF so little and so ineffectively it's shocking. Even something like Antman and the Wasp made better use of the city in their car chase even though the vast majority of it was filmed in Georgia and they just has a few key shots done in the real SF.
Unfortunately it’s now a shithole. That Mayor was Feinstein and she’s now a leftist Senator.
@@jettjones9889 "Di Fi" is regarded as a "leftist" by some (yellow-dog Republicans, whether Trumplican or traditional), and "centrist" or even rightwinger by others, many of them card-carrying Democrats 🤔
To be fair...there's no way you could've taken a fire engine down Lombard Street LOL!
I liked the use of Fisherman's Wharf and Japantown for the hot tub scene. Given the typical international flavor of the film with settings in Antartica, Paris and the South of France I thought the balance with SF was pretty good.
The trouble with using the hills is that it's already been done and would have drawn (perhaqps unfavourable) comparisons to Bullitt and even What's Up Doc?
this movie also should be remembered for putting John Steed together with Simon Templar in the same world...as if they're retiring together in this crazy Bond world...lol
The main action theme is basically On Her Majesty's Secret Service rejigged. We only hear the Bond theme once in this film and that's in the Paris scenes.
53:57 Oh, if you only knew what was coming
i agree about sf being lackluster, and nyc being perfect, and i live in SF!!
I like this film saw it 3 times in the cinema once 2 days running
That's impressive! I'm hopeful to be able to do the same with NTTD later this year *fingers crossed!*
I think the only thing which holds this film back is its pacing.
Fantastic theme song, great plot, and memorable villain.
I don't even mind seeing an older Bond - i bought it as Moore delivered the performance with sincerity and presence.
45:50 - As far as I know Barry loved working with Duran Duran as they were big fans of his. It was working with A-ha on The Living Daylight that he had issues.
I find that amusing considering the Tony Mansfield (New Musik) was the man behind the A-ha sound production.
He definitely got on well with John Taylor
It reminds me of people warming up to the Star Wars prequels after something worse came along. I don't think Spectre will have the same treatment.
Like ask yourself: Which do you think people will warm up to more? Star Wars after hating Anakin's dislike of sand because it wasn't a cool thing to say? Or Spectre after hating Blofeld because he became a supervillain and leader of a super criminal organization to be the "author to all of Bond's pain" because his daddy gave Bond more attention?
As I understand it, Roger had a facelift before filming AVTAK. In fact, I think he looks pretty good in the film - actually younger than Daniel Craig does now - although some of the still photography makes him appear a little startled 😄 Anyway, bless him!
Roger Moore's Bond was so charming, elegant, mature, with right height(1.85cm.)! Daniel Craig is nothing like that... And modern Bond movies are all total crap! AVTAK was the last golden era Bond film for me and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!
A View To a Kill is a golden era Bond ?
@@ricardocantoral7672 To each his own. Also, Lois Maxwell departed/was replaced as Moneypenny after this film, serving as the end of the long run of Connery-Moore, which covered a large portion of the real-life Cold War.
The living daylights, Licence to kill, goldeneye, casino royale, skyfall, all great bon films which came after this mediocre one.
Interesting that Tom Cruise is now the same age that Roger was when AVTAK was released.
I was thinking about that actually...and he’s also filming another Mission Impossible movie currently.
The difference with Cruise and Moore is that Cruise kept up in top shape.
Moore was a good looking guy, but he was never into that stunt life. He never showed THAT level of dedication.
🎥😃😆😄
Cruise still looks young
@@lesbiantrump4230 digital deaging..
I like to mention that I prefer the SFPD Captain to Sheriff J.W. “Kill me now” Pepper and the Las Vegas policeman from Diamonds Are Forever.
He ranks second for me. Being the massive J.W. fan that I am!
I'd gladly take the Vegas guy over that annoying SFPD captain.
Ranks below jw but above daf sherrif but AVTOAK is a low ranking movie for me
@@ricardocantoral7672 So would i
It should have been Dalton's first film. Zorin's psychotic and violent behavior seems more suitable for a Dalton Bond. The villains are great. The plot is fine for me. The film really needed a more fit Bond. I've tried to like AVTAK more. It's still a lower tier film for me. Great show! Hope you can do more of these.
How would View to a kill with Timothy Dalton look like
@@vishalnarayanasamy8767 The fight scenes especially the one at the end with Walken would have been more physical. The fire truck scene, as silly as it can be, may have been a bit rougher. In general I think you would have a tougher film.
I thought that the race horse serum was intended as a reflection on Zorin himself, a foreshadowing rather than a key plot element. He's a genetically modified creature built to win...and potentially self destruct. I think it's a weak buildup to his view of life, and I'm not defending this movie (Calvin, you're brave to don the "defender" role here), but I don't think it has any value down the road.
I just rewatched this, I'm 22 years old and was a Bond fan since I was a kid. I absolutely enjoyed almost everything about it, Moores age didn't even bother me. The weakest part might be Stacey Sutton lmao, Walken is fantastic as well as Grace Jones
Imagine having to take a shot everytime Stacey Sutton shouts James.
To answer Calvin's question: The Eifel Tower Sequence is in there as it's a holdover from the Moonraker film. With them filming a lot of that in France, the intent was to fit an Eifel Tower action scene in. EON as so often never let a good idea go to waste, and just found another place for it later (e.g. the pre-credits of Tomorrow Never Dies originally were to have been in The Living Daylights).
The most underrated Bond flick. AVTAK is not a bad movie at all! Thanks to Roger, Tanya, Grace and Christopher.
My top-10 is: 1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1995. *** And yes, I love-love AVTAK(1985)!!! Roger Moore: what a great charming English gentleman agent, even at the age of 57!!! R.I.P. Roger Moore and Tanya Roberts!!! I hope they met in heaven...
Great chat guys, love the debate. For me, although I'm discovering I'm a little in the minority, A View To a Kill is up there amongst my favourite Bond films. Really enjoyed Christopher Walken and Grace Jones' performances, and for me, it was a great sign off for the legendary Roger Moore.
My favorite Moore Bond film, On my TOP 5 in General.
Really; it an 1980s type movies
@@lloydkline1518And that's abad thing? FYEO 1981 Moonraker 79 or 1980 Octopussy 83 TLD 87 and LTK 89 all great old school Rodger Moore/Dalton retro Bond films that are still enjoyable to this day
I think the first Bond film I watched fully was GoldenEye, and it is still my favorite, but the first Bond movie I saw part of was this one on a screen in a doctor’s office, and it was right around the blimp scene near the end and I loved it and wanted to know more about it, and didn’t even know it was a Bond movie at the time. But that always stuck with me for some reason
Weirdly, it's on my top 13 of the Bond movies (and second of the Moore era after "The Spy") for the following reasons :
- First Bond movie I ever watched, at that time, I was 10. I had no problem with the age, I simply didn't see it. Neither did I see, that it was a stunt man doing the physical stuff. But one thing is certain, it printed good memories for years to come.
- I still today find the villains amazing, even the discrete ones (like the "commando" of villainesses, with Doody and the asian girl). Walken and Jones are top villains, sadistic, physical, and in a weird relationship. The flooding scene in the mines where Zorin and Scarpine shoot their own guys is stunning.
- Memorable scenes : the horse race, where Bond ends up trapped, the pre-opening, the firemen truck race, and of course, the finale at the golden gate.
- The spy game with Patrick McNee is very funny too. A good teammate for Bond.
- The plot is quite sketchy but still interesting, with the technological stakes and Zorin betraying the Russians.
- The incredible soundtrack, John Barry definitely did better than in Moonraker or Golden Gun. The music still carries me into the film and make me forget everything else.
I've Can't Wait To Go And Watch This Awesome James Bond Movie A View To A Kill On ITV Television This Year. Wish Me Luck. Thanks Mate. X
I might not be a big fan of this one but alongside Barry's score, Walken as Zorin is great, and as a bonus he became a catalyst in Everything or Nothing. Still love that connection.
Great video and fun exchanges, really watchable. Much more than the actual film you're both discussing!
A View To A Kill is my guilty pleasure from the Bond franchise. ....yeah, Roger Moore is too old, Tanya Roberts is more annoying than hot...but, I love how Christopher Walken chews up the scenes he’s in & excellent chemistry with Grace Jones. “Right on scccchedule”-😉👍🏻
What if Timothy Dalton did View to a kill
“A View To A Kill” was my first Bond film and I enjoyed it then in 1985 and still do today. It was a fun movie and that’s what matters. Roger Moore was terrific as always as Bond and it was fun to have one more film with RM. I will say this, I agree with the embracing the age view and had that happened more it would have been a even better film.
The soundtrack is one of the main selling points of this movie. I really like how they used the title score in different variations in AVtaK and TLD.
Also, the villains are phenomenal.
That's already enough to be one of the best Moore Bond movies for me. I know, THAT's controversial. But I really like this movie, as well as Octopussy and The Living Daylights. 3 very strong movies in a row.
Don't really understand the issues with the plot. Yes, it's not new and yes, it's a bit messy. But Octopussy is much worse plot-wise and TLD isn't that straightforward as well. AVtaK is relatively simple imho.
Love it when David is in this mood haha. Starting now with a whiskey. Delightful.
This thought had occurred to me as well and it might have been an idea perhaps ahead of its time, but I agree that they should have embraced Roger Moore’s age instead of trying to cover it up. It would have worked well for this type of story with Zorin being a more youthful villain and about technology and the computer boom of the 80s: Zorin represents the future and Bond represents the past and it could have had this interesting new school vs. old school element.
I agree, that would have been better. The downside is that the two possible avenues - Bond contemplating retirement, or Bond coming back out of retirement, had already both been done in the unofficial films.
Literally my first bond film and love the villain combination
The formula stayed the same as in previous Moore Bonds. It's what the public liked. However it is a below par entry.
They couldn't make an origin film or a gritty LTK esq film.
Only thing they could do is change Bond to reflect his age. Which they didn't really do. Apart from Bond tucking Tanya Roberts in.
Frankly I loved AVTAK. After finishing watching all the Moore films recently it's probably my third favorite of his. (behind TSWLM and FYEO) Having gotten into the Moore films with no knowledge of his take on the character I felt like AVTAK was the culmination of all the fun, over the top, action packed antics that characterized his era. And I had a blast watching the film, thoroughly entertained all the way through. So I was surprised at the scorn this movie gets after reading more about it.
I love the 80s feel, the score, Duran Duran, and I think it’s a good farewell to roger Moore and I love the finale on Golden Gate Bridge and I think roger Moore passes although he 57 compared to Connery In diamonds
A view to a kill had the best villains possible. Christopher walken and grace Jones 🤯 she’s terrifying
Who would be win if may day practicing martial arts with Jenny flex ?????? You see Jenny flex?
This one is definitely in the bottom 3 for me...
... but like Man With the Golden Gun it has some of the best and most memorable villains in the series! And one of the best songs...
I remember at that time around the middle eighties that we had the show Equalizer (man that was good). They should have made Bond more like McCall here. Edward Woodward was very convincing even in the action scenes there. It just gets silly when you see an older man doing silly action movements. I think it was a mistake from the start. Either you replace Roger, or do the action scenes smarter and more mature. That would have made this film look better in many scenes.
Once The Beach Boys start playing you’re either with this movie or against it lol
That opening, with Nightfire: Missile Silo/Equinox playing in the background, made the movie look so much more amazing haha. Great debate, keep them coming!
Soundtrack is one of my favorites. The movie is a guilty pleasure. Not the worst in de series.( that belongs to Spectre and Die Another Day for me)
Big fan of AVTAK myself. Sits around the 12/13 mark for me too, actually.
I love view to a kill. When zorin starts up the zeplin.. fantastic stuff. Love the soundtrack so much.
cool, these are my favorite videos!
Glad you like them! They're great fun for David and me to record and I always eagerly anticipate what props David is going to bring in!
One of the weakest films that could have ended up in my worst five Bond films, but Christopher Walken and Barry’s score is phenomenal. Duran Duran’s son is IMO the best Bond song of the 80s and the instrumental flute rendition of the title song is brilliant. I really like how that instrument rendition is so calm and serine, whilst the song is so energetic. In fact in hindsight the romantic theme almost has an autumnal feeling to it. IMO it almost signifies the ending of Moore’s tenure in the role.
Christopher Walken was the second choice for Zorin. The first choice was David Bowie. The script's description of Zorin even specifies that Zorin has two different eye colors, a la Bowie.
Wasn’t Sting also considered?
Technically, David Bowie's eyes are not different colors, as most people think. His pupil is paralyzed in one eye, making it appear to be a different color iris.
Honestly, A View to a Kill is top 10 Bond for me and the older I get the more I truly appreciate it. I don't need every single Bond movie to be an Oscar contender or something deep or meaningful. I LOVE that it is like that Saturday morning cartoon and that isn't a knock on it either. The score, characters, some of Walken's lines "Good. Right on schedule" just make me love it so much AND it would be one I would show a new Bond fan to!
I have only seen this one twice but it kinda feels like DAF. Bond goes to a big european city -Amsterdam or Paris and then goes to a big american city - Las Vegas or San Francisco.
"Microchips Are Forever" as an alternative title would have worked quite well too.
Except SF isn't really that big like NY or L.A ;)
One of my favourite Bond films. I remember when I saw it on release that it was a huge improvement over the previous two films. That's something you have to take into account. Us oldies who saw the films when they came out tend to judge them based on what had come before rather than the series as a whole. A bit like Never Say Never Again. A lot of the stuff you point out in your review as dated, are dated, but back then seemed cutting edge. Even the score didn't seem out of place at the time.
It's a brilliant film. First Bond I saw at the cinema (aged 8!) It's in my top 10 and is the second best Rog after Octopussy. I am with you Calvin!