A View to a Kill - Not bad Bond

‘A View to a Kill’ has an odd reputation.  It was the last in Roger Moore’s Bond films and it seemed that most people couldn’t get past the fact that he had one too many wrinkles and therefore was probably due a Dr Who-like regeneration.  Now, they may have a point.  He was looking a little too ‘lived in’ even by Bond’s mature standards, but, if you can get over the fact that he obviously wasn’t as sprightly as he once was, it’s still a fun enough romp.  It involves a genetically-enhanced leftover from Nazi Germany who plans to hold the world to ransom by destroying everyone else’s supply of microchips and therefore cornering the market on their distribution.  Now, if you think that you’ve heard something like that before, then you may be right – Goldfinger used basically the same premise, only with gold instead of microchips.  But that was in the past.  And it’s not like any Bond fan will remember, right?  Okay, so the plot may have actually managed to simply be an upgrade of an earlier story, but this was released in the eighties when microchips were really starting to take off.  So, if you can forgive that, you  should be able to get some fun out of it.

Moore’s previous film was ‘Octopussy.’ Now, I didn’t hate it as much as most, but even I had to admit that it was probably the most campy Bond film made to date.  I’m pleased to say that @A View to a Kill’ tones down the silliness in order for a more serious affair.  Of course you still get Moore’s trademark ‘dry wit’ along the way, but at least he’s stopped making noises like Tarzan when he swings through the jungle! 

It’s actually pretty good, you obviously get everything you expect from a Bond film, i.e. the exotic locations, chase scenes and beautiful women.  However, special mention to a pretty awesome rescue/chase section during the middle of the film where Bond has to not only escape from a burning building, but also drive a fire engineer (recklessly) through the streets of San Francisco (kind of like you see later in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines!).  But no Bond films would be anything without a decent villain for our man to go up against.  Rumour has it producers wanted Mr David Bowie to take that place, but the Starman appeared uninterested and the role when to the (equally-talented) Christopher Walken.  Now, he’s pretty awesome in everything he does and in ‘A View to a Kill’ he’s no exception, clearly enjoying playing a complete psychopath.  However, I can’t help but wonder if the producers wanted Bowie so much that they decided to dress Walken up like him in his ‘Let’s Dance’ video (seriously, once you see it you can UNsee it!).

We also have Tanya Roberts as the ‘Bond girl’ of the film.  She does her best with what she’s got to do – appropriately getting captured when required and throwing the odd punch here and there.  However, if ‘A View to a Kill’ has a memorable Bond girl then it’s Grace Jones!  Granted, she may not be everyone’s idea of a Bond girl, but she’s pretty impressive in her role and cuts a far more memorable figure with everything she has to go through, making her possibly the best ‘henchman’ since Jaws.

As I said, ‘A View to a Kill’ may not be everyone’s vodka martini.  Moore is looking a little tired, but it’s still an enjoyable enough Bond romp to please most casual fans.  Besides, even if you don’t like the film, you can’t deny that it has the greatest Bond theme ever recorded, courtesy of Duran Duran (if you watch ‘A View to a Kill’ then I defy you not to be singing it by the end credits!).

8/10 The Force is definitely strong with this one