Three decades of dancing into the fire - A VIEW TO A KILL @ 30

AVTAK_30_2.jpg

"Mark’s perfect Bond is A View to a Kill, almost certainly because it was his second and therefore the one he most anticipated." - Mark Gatiss, CATCHING BULLETS - MEMOIRS OF A BOND FAN.

It's A VIEW TO A KILL Week on CATCHING BULLETS FB page!! (I know, right!).

So bring a quiche and a sprinkling of rock salt and forget the naysayers....! A Bond film is a Bond film and every fan has an entry point.

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Mark O'Connell | Author, Writer, Bond Fan

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www.markoconnell.co.uk
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Comments

  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    I'm glad that AVTAK is receiving more Attention these Days -{

    Despite the obvious Issue of Moore's Age at this Point in his Era, it's wrong to dismiss the Film on the Basis of that.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    I'm glad that AVTAK is receiving more Attention these Days -{

    Despite the obvious Issue of Moore's Age at this Point in his Era, it's wrong to dismiss the Film on the Basis of that.

    I was 16 when AVTAK came out. You don't see me damning Moore's age because of that. All the spies they were turning out in the mid eighties were fifty something anyway..
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    I've personally never really paid much Attention to his Age in the Film.
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Every year as I get older, Sir Roger looks younger and younger in AVTAK. :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    I just except getting older :))
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Gassy ManGassy Man USAPosts: 2,972MI6 Agent
    Meh. A younger actor might have made the film more interesting, but I doubt it. It's a mediocre redux of Goldfinger, right down to an obsessive rich guy, his powerful non-white henchperson, and a frosty blond that initially does not want to work with Bond. I saw it in the theater, and except for the music, it was mostly a forgettable romp.
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    Gassy Man wrote:
    Meh. A younger actor might have made the film more interesting, but I doubt it. It's a mediocre redux of Goldfinger, right down to an obsessive rich guy, his powerful non-white henchperson, and a frosty blond that initially does not want to work with Bond. I saw it in the theater, and except for the music, it was mostly a forgettable romp.

    Yep!
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Dalton in AVTAK defiantly would have worked -{ Can you imagine what the last Fight between his Bond and someone as psychotic as Zorin would have been like?
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    A big problem with AVTAK is a subtle but insidious one. The James Bond series has an iconic and almost uncanny ability to make the littlest things seem really important and fascinating. The problem is that AVTAK (unlike it's superb theme song and soundtrack) lacks energy. None of the minutia is entertaining in this one.
  • Gassy ManGassy Man USAPosts: 2,972MI6 Agent
    Part of the problem is John Glen's generic direction. It was also the mid-80s, and that was a weird time. Movies like the Bond series seemed passe and unable to generate the thrill of R-rated fare like 48 Hours or even the superior competitors, the Indiana Jones films. Filmmakers had lost their sense of narrative (which they still for the most part haven't recovered), as audiences were drawn to highly simplistic stories like Star Wars with one-dimensional characters and lots of special effects, and movies were essentially made like TV shows with bigger budgets, especially as the home video market began to become more important.
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    Was the initial critical Reception of AVTAK?
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    edited May 2015
    Here the critic voices where that Bond lost his edge and was a bit dated - not only the main actor.

    The relatively generic car chase scenes from the french team basically repeated only what Julienne did for decades and the fact that this was a french cooperation did not help the movie much.

    Critics here even criticized Barry to repeat himself only.

    And the german Bond fanclub was previously "bought" by Warner so OP and AVTAK where used to wipe the Fanclub floor :D

    I remember writing the "president" a spicy letter that he was a corrupt a**hole just walking after the money and demanded to accept my resignation with the club :D
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    And did he accept ? :))
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    of course :D
    Never heard from him back :D
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • King KamalKing Kamal Posts: 85MI6 Agent
    Dalton in AVTAK defiantly would have worked -{ Can you imagine what the last Fight between his Bond and someone as psychotic as Zorin would have been like?
    He would have looked more the part psychically but I think they would need to totally change the script, it wouldn't really suit his style to be doing the hot tub scene for instance or any of the puns any definitely not the Grace Jones scene. He need a bit more grit and seriousness to work, I don't personally think he worked well with humour because his delivery was too deadpan.
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    I like AVTAK & I like the cast (yes inc Tracy).
  • HigginsHiggins GermanyPosts: 16,618MI6 Agent
    Tracy??

    That would be OHMSS ;)
    President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.

    Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    stag wrote:
    I like AVTAK & I like the cast (yes inc Tracy).

    I think you mean Stacey :))
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • broadshoulderbroadshoulder Acton, London, UKPosts: 1,363MI6 Agent
    Higgins wrote:
    HeCritics here even criticized Barry to repeat himself only.

    When and where? Never heard that one before...
    1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
  • MilleniumForceMilleniumForce LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
    AVTAK works because it combines all the strangest elements into one Bond film. Old Moore, Christopher Walken, Grace Jones...it sounds like one of those movies where you think 'Did they really make that?'
    1.LTK 2.AVTAK 3.OP 4.FYEO 5.TND 6.LALD 7.GE 8.GF 9.TSWLM 10.SPECTRE 11.SF 12.MR 13.YOLT 14.TLD 15.CR (06) 16.TMWTGG 17.TB 18.FRWL 19.TWINE 20.OHMSS 21.DAF 22.DAD 23.QoS 24.NSNA 25.DN 26.CR (67)
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    Spending 50 minutes on horses really dragged the pace.
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    stag wrote:
    I like AVTAK & I like the cast (yes inc Tracy).

    I think you mean Stacey :))

    Yes I meant Stacey. I've been watching 'The Avengers' with Mrs Peel & had her 007 name on the brain. An unfortunate side effect of advancing age.

    Another example was last weeks Shirley(Tracy) Bassey concert. I saw it advertised half an hour before it was aired then forgot to watch it!
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    It all happens to us (But not for a good long while in my Case :)) )
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,596MI6 Agent
    Spending 50 minutes on horses really dragged the pace.

    That's the part of the film I like best, when Bond's undercover at Zorin's chateau. The scenes are perfect for an older Bond, plus they have Patrick Macnee!
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,924MI6 Agent
    And the Chateua Scenes are brilliantly Filmed -{
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    Spending 50 minutes on horses really dragged the pace.

    Agreed! That's one of the reasons I find AVTAK to be the most boring of the Bond films.
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • JarvioJarvio EnglandPosts: 4,234MI6 Agent
    I still can't fathom why AVTAK is so unpopular. A great, entertaining bond film. -{
    1 - LALD, 2 - AVTAK, 3 - LTK, 4 - OP, 5 - NTTD, 6 - FYEO, 7 - SF, 8 - DN, 9 - DAF, 10 - TSWLM, 11 - OHMSS, 12 - TMWTGG, 13 - GE, 14 - MR, 15 - TLD, 16 - YOLT, 17 - GF, 18 - DAD, 19 - TWINE, 20 - SP, 21 - TND, 22 - FRWL, 23 - TB, 24 - CR, 25 - QOS

    1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
  • The Wicker ManThe Wicker Man EnglandPosts: 434MI6 Agent
    stag wrote:
    stag wrote:
    I like AVTAK & I like the cast (yes inc Tracy).

    I think you mean Stacey :))

    Yes I meant Stacey. I've been watching 'The Avengers' with Mrs Peel & had her 007 name on the brain. An unfortunate side effect of advancing age.

    Another example was last weeks Shirley(Tracy) Bassey concert. I saw it advertised half an hour before it was aired then forgot to watch it!

    I too have been watching The Avengers over the last few days and its perfectly understandable how you would have Tracy on the brain :x
    1.ohmss 2.cr 3.frwl 4.ltk 5.gf 6.tswlm 7.sf 8.op 9.tld 10.dn 11.lald 12.tb 13.fyeo 14.ge 15.mr 16.yolt 17.tnd 18.avtak 19.sp 20.twine 21.qos 22.tmwtgg 23.daf 24.dad
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    Yes she was great (& I mean great in a Tony The Tiger sense of the word).
  • stagstag Posts: 2,083MI6 Agent
    I can find little to fault AVTAK. I really have to nitpick - the atrocious 'allo 'allo French accent bloke killed by the poisened butterfly on the pole at the Eiffel Tower is all I can think of off hand. I must agree with another poster that it would indeed have been interesting to see TD in this film.
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