A View To a Kill

release year: 1985
genre: James Bond
viewing setting: home Bluray 1/28/19 and 12/26/12 and home laserdisc 1/19/00

synopsis: Bond gets involved in a plot to dominate the world microchip market.

impressions: Decent, but Moore's time was winding down with this movie. Notable: good title song, 003 killed in Siberia at beginning, EMP-proof microchips, horse races and breeding, genetic engineering, fishing-line assassination, early use of Apple computer and internet, Dolph Lungdren early film appearance, blimp with kill chute, artificial earthquake plot, underwater pipe scene, long mine/flood scene.

acting: Christopher Walken dominated this one as the main bad guy Max Zorin. Aside from actually appearing to be insane, he had some great lines and facial expressions, especially when either irritated or busy killing people. Tanya Roberts, while gorgeous, was just terrible - I mean, how many other Bond girls can claim to have worn high heels into a mine or been captured while running on the ground by a guy in a moving blimp? All she did was scream and cower. Grace Jones is the androgynous villainous evil henchwoman May Day.

chase scenes: 3 (ski, foot/car in and around Eiffel Tower, firetruck & police cars)

mass fight at end: none

neat gadgets: x-ray sunglasses, camera ring

confirmed Bond kills: a measly 1

confirmed Bond seductions: 4

obnoxious female names: Mayday, Jenny Flex

defining Bond moments:

covertly bets on bad guy's horse in the races, and wins a bunch of money
makes Sir Godfrey be his servant
snatches wine and glasses from waiters' table
outsmarts Russian agent to get tape

quotable:

Bond: "You certainly look like you spend a lot of time in the saddle."

Jenny Flex: "I love an early morning ride."

Bond: "I'm an early riser myself."

final word: Pretty good, though Roger Moore (and his Bond) was getting old by this time.

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