A View to a Kill
Rent & Buy
A newly-developed microchip designed by Zorin Industries for the British Government that can survive the electromagnetic radiation caused by a nuclear explosion has landed in the hands of the KGB. James Bond must find out how and why. His suspicions soon lead him to big industry leader Max Zorin who forms a plan to destroy his only competition in Silicon Valley by triggering a massive earthquake in the San Francisco Bay.
What critics thought
DivisiveThe weakest-reviewed entry in the Eon Bond series, with most critics centering their complaints on a visibly aging Roger Moore who struggles to convince in both the action and romantic scenes, and a director (John Glen) whose staging of set pieces and violence struck many as lifeless. A minority of reviewers pushed back hard, arguing the film is fast-paced and genuinely entertaining, with Christopher Walken's unhinged villain standing out — leaving the film more polarizing among fans than the critical consensus suggests.
“Moore isn't just long in the tooth—he's got tusks, and what looks like an eye job has given him the pie-eyed blankness of a zombie. He's not believable anymore in the action sequences, even less so in the romantic scenes—it's like watching women fall all over Gabby Hayes.”
Paul Attanasio·Washington Post
“Director John Glen stages the slaughter scenes so apathetically that the picture itself seems dissociated. (I don't think I've ever seen another movie in which race horses were mistreated and the director failed to work up any indignation. If Glen has any emotions about what he puts on the screen, he keeps them to himself.)”
Pauline Kael·The New Yorker
“Of all the modern formulas in the movie industry, the James Bond series is among the most pleasurable and durable. Lavish with their budgets, the producers also bring a great deal of craft, wit and a sense of fun to the films.”
Lawrence O'Toole·Maclean's
“Despite what reviewers automatically reported, [Moore] looks trimmer and more energetic than in some of the previous efforts ... I wish Bond had a few more of his famous gadgets on hand, but his action scenes are exciting and some of the stunt work is spectacular.”
Guide for the Film Fanatic
“When Grace Jones went to bed with Moore, I was sure the producers had hit upon a way to kill the old fellow off with dignity, but when Bond was seen wandering around fresh as a daisy the next morning I realised how escapist this all is.”
Neil Gaiman·Imagine
Genres
Action, Adventure, Thriller
Cast & Crew
John GlenDirector
Roger MooreJames Bond
Tanya RobertsStacey Sutton
Christopher WalkenMax Zorin
Grace JonesMay Day
Patrick MacneeTibbett
Patrick BauchauScarpine
David YipChuck Lee
Manning RedwoodBob Conley
Alison DoodyJenny Flex
Willoughby GrayDr. Carl Mortner
Desmond LlewelynQ
John BarryComposer
Richard MaibaumWriter
Michael G. WilsonWriter
Ian FlemingWriter
Alan HumeCinematographyA View to a Kill
A newly-developed microchip designed by Zorin Industries for the British Government that can survive the electromagnetic radiation caused by a nuclear explosion has landed in the hands of the KGB. James Bond must find out how and why. His suspicions soon lead him to big industry leader Max Zorin who forms a plan to destroy his only competition in Silicon Valley by triggering a massive earthquake in the San Francisco Bay.
What critics thought
DivisiveThe weakest-reviewed entry in the Eon Bond series, with most critics centering their complaints on a visibly aging Roger Moore who struggles to convince in both the action and romantic scenes, and a director (John Glen) whose staging of set pieces and violence struck many as lifeless. A minority of reviewers pushed back hard, arguing the film is fast-paced and genuinely entertaining, with Christopher Walken's unhinged villain standing out — leaving the film more polarizing among fans than the critical consensus suggests.
“Moore isn't just long in the tooth—he's got tusks, and what looks like an eye job has given him the pie-eyed blankness of a zombie. He's not believable anymore in the action sequences, even less so in the romantic scenes—it's like watching women fall all over Gabby Hayes.”
Paul Attanasio·Washington Post
“Director John Glen stages the slaughter scenes so apathetically that the picture itself seems dissociated. (I don't think I've ever seen another movie in which race horses were mistreated and the director failed to work up any indignation. If Glen has any emotions about what he puts on the screen, he keeps them to himself.)”
Pauline Kael·The New Yorker
“Of all the modern formulas in the movie industry, the James Bond series is among the most pleasurable and durable. Lavish with their budgets, the producers also bring a great deal of craft, wit and a sense of fun to the films.”
Lawrence O'Toole·Maclean's
“Despite what reviewers automatically reported, [Moore] looks trimmer and more energetic than in some of the previous efforts ... I wish Bond had a few more of his famous gadgets on hand, but his action scenes are exciting and some of the stunt work is spectacular.”
Guide for the Film Fanatic
“When Grace Jones went to bed with Moore, I was sure the producers had hit upon a way to kill the old fellow off with dignity, but when Bond was seen wandering around fresh as a daisy the next morning I realised how escapist this all is.”
Neil Gaiman·Imagine
Genres
Action, Adventure, Thriller
Cast & Crew
John GlenDirectorRoger MooreJames BondTanya RobertsStacey SuttonChristopher WalkenMax ZorinGrace JonesMay DayPatrick MacneeTibbettPatrick BauchauScarpineDavid YipChuck LeeManning RedwoodBob ConleyAlison DoodyJenny FlexWilloughby GrayDr. Carl MortnerDesmond LlewelynQJohn BarryComposerRichard MaibaumWriterMichael G. WilsonWriterIan FlemingWriterAlan HumeCinematographyRent & Buy