The James Bond Thread

[SymbioticFunction]

That was a good VTAK review. Personally speaking, I find it to be the weakest of the Eon series. It's not just the age of Roger Moore - it all seems terribly pedestrian (despite the casting of Walken as the villain). For example, I'm terrified of heights yet the bridge showdown is not very exciting at all. Worth mentioning that there's also some dreadful stuntman doubling for Moore during the Paris driving part. Still a dodgy 007 film can still be entertaining on a rainy day.

[MacBlayne]

Originally Posted by MacWantsTheFlamethrower

Thanks everyone, it's good to be back after getting to a point where I'm doing pretty okay, speaking of pretty okay...

The Mid 80’s! Amstrad Era Computers! Duran Duran! Dolph Lundgren cameo! Hey, am I Walken here? Because it’s A VIEW TO A KILL!

Welcome back!

I have an extremely soft spot for this film. Moore is charming. I love the scenes with him and Patrick Macnee (we were robbed of Bond doing an 80s buddy-cop film). Walken and Jones are glorious. The story is quite decent and some of the set-pieces are lots of fun. Like you said, the soundtrack is magnificent.

I always have a great time with AVtaK. It's much better than The Man with the Golden Gun. And I enjoy it more than For Your Eyes Only. Then again, I am the lunatic who flat-out adores Moonraker.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by MacBlayne

Welcome back!

I have an extremely soft spot for this film. Moore is charming. I love the scenes with him and Patrick Macnee (we were robbed of Bond doing an 80s buddy-cop film). Walken and Jones are glorious. The story is quite decent and some of the set-pieces are lots of fun. Like you said, the soundtrack is magnificent.

I always have a great time with AVtaK. It's much better than The Man with the Golden Gun. And I enjoy it more than For Your Eyes Only. Then again, I am the lunatic who flat-out adores Moonraker.

The only part i disagree with is it being better than The Man With the Golden Gun.

[MrBarlow]

Originally Posted by MacBlayne

Welcome back!

I have an extremely soft spot for this film. Moore is charming. I love the scenes with him and Patrick Macnee (we were robbed of Bond doing an 80s buddy-cop film). Walken and Jones are glorious. The story is quite decent and some of the set-pieces are lots of fun. Like you said, the soundtrack is magnificent.

I always have a great time with AVtaK. It's much better than The Man with the Golden Gun. And I enjoy it more than For Your Eyes Only. Then again, I am the lunatic who flat-out adores Moonraker.

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

The only part i disagree with is it being better than The Man With the Golden Gun.

A View To A Kill with Walken as the bad guy was a good choice, said it before and will sat it again, nobody grabs a fire axe like the way he does. I'm sure we all have a soft spot for Moonraker.

I agree with Dem, to say it was a lot better than Man With The Golden Gun is heresy

[MacBlayne]

TMWtGG is watchable fluff, but it feels cheap. The pace is sluggish, the action isn't thrilling for the most part, and the photography is flat and lacking colour (which is all the more obvious after Live and Let Die). It feels like something that was quickly made, and everybody is just going through the motions. Except Moore and Lee (and Ekland's bikini), who are giving all they can to keep the film watchable. And points to the villain's lair, and the cracking theme song.

AVtaK has all of the pros from above (except bikini), but it also feels expensive (scope photography) even if Moore's stunt doubles are a bit more obvious.

[MrBarlow]

Originally Posted by MacBlayne

TMWtGG is watchable fluff, but it feels cheap. The pace is sluggish, the action isn't thrilling for the most part, and the photography is flat and lacking colour (which is all the more obvious after Live and Let Die). It feels like something that was quickly made, and everybody is just going through the motions. Except Moore and Lee (and Ekland's bikini), who are giving all they can to keep the film watchable. And points to the villain's lair, and the cracking theme song.

AVtaK has all of the pros from above (except bikini), but it also feels expensive (scope photography) even if Moore's stunt doubles are a bit more obvious.

Whoa whoa there Mac spoiler alert...what ya mean Roger Moore had stunt doubles... it is obvious in a lot of places I agree.

Think for me The Man With The Golden Gun was on tv a lot more along with Live And Let Die and that's why appreciate it more. In a way i do like the soundtack to A View To kill, first meeting with Stacey, Zorin's blimp and golden gate bridge fight.

[MacBlayne]

Originally Posted by MrBarlow

Whoa whoa there Mac spoiler alert...what ya mean Roger Moore had stunt doubles... it is obvious in a lot of places I agree.

Think for me The Man With The Golden Gun was on tv a lot more along with Live And Let Die and that's why appreciate it more. In a way i do like the soundtack to A View To kill, first meeting with Stacey, Zorin's blimp and golden gate bridge fight.

I was lucky growing up. RTE2 (in Ireland) would marathon the series twice in a year. Every Wednesday at 7:30, Bond would be playing. I'd get the homework done in time for it. So, I saw them all in equal measure, which meant I could compare them in fair terms.

Like I know The Spy Who Loved Me is the better film, but my heart goes to Moonraker because I adore the lush photography, the incredible sets, and the parodic tone suits Moore's comedic take on Bond. Shit song, though.

God, I love this series.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by MacBlayne

TMWtGG is watchable fluff, but it feels cheap. The pace is sluggish, the action isn't thrilling for the most part, and the photography is flat and lacking colour (which is all the more obvious after Live and Let Die). It feels like something that was quickly made, and everybody is just going through the motions. Except Moore and Lee (and Ekland's bikini), who are giving all they can to keep the film watchable. And points to the villain's lair, and the cracking theme song.

AVtaK has all of the pros from above (except bikini), but it also feels expensive (scope photography) even if Moore's stunt doubles are a bit more obvious.

I love the South China Seas locations in Golden Gun, not to mention a very charismatic performance by Christopher Lee. The gun itself is awesome - i've seen it at a Bond car museum display at Leeds Royal Armouries - and then there's that incredible aerial twist car jump. For that alone it's better than A View to a Kill.

The one issue i have with A View to a Kill is i think following the excellent opening the stuff, and there's a lot of it, at the races and stud farm is really dull.

I'm not saying AVTAK is rubbish, no chance. I always enjoy it as i do with every Bond film now that i've come to appreciate the Craig films that followed Casino Royale, and i've seen it way more times than i've seen The Exorcist or Evil Dead for example.

[MrBarlow]

Originally Posted by MacBlayne

I was lucky growing up. RTE2 (in Ireland) would marathon the series twice in a year. Every Wednesday at 7:30, Bond would be playing. I'd get the homework done in time for it. So, I saw them all in equal measure, which meant I could compare them in fair terms.

Like I know The Spy Who Loved Me is the better film, but my heart goes to Moonraker because I adore the lush photography, the incredible sets, and the parodic tone suits Moore's comedic take on Bond. Shit song, though.

God, I love this series.

I done all the Bond films during lockdown and somehow managed to enjoy O.H.M.S.S a bit more than the previous times. Moonraker you can never go wrong with that one.

[MacBlayne]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

I love the South China Seas locations in Golden Gun, not to mention a very charismatic performance by Christopher Lee. The gun itself is awesome - i've seen it at a Bond car museum display at Leeds Royal Armouries - and then there's that incredible aerial twist car jump. For that alone it's better than A View to a Kill.

The one issue i have with A View to a Kill is i think following the excellent opening the stuff, and there's a lot of it, at the races and stud farm is really dull.

I'm not saying AVTAK is rubbish, no chance. I always enjoy it as i do with every Bond film now that i've come to appreciate the Craig films that followed Casino Royale, and i've seen it way more times than i've seen The Exorcist or Evil Dead for example.

Yeah, I wouldn't call TMWtGG rubbish either. I'm just a sucker for scope photography, and AVtaK has some stunning use of it.

Honestly, with the exception of Die Another Day (which only has a very good opening, and terrible everything else), I enjoy all of the films. Even the post-Casino Royale films keep me entertained greatly, despite their obvious flaws.