Last month saw the passing of Sir Roger Moore. I was really saddened by this news because he always seemed like a decent bloke and due to his time as James Bond was a familiar face and part of the pop culture landscape I grew up with. I’m not getting into which actor has been the best Bond, but for Moore was my first Bond, and probably my favourite. And this, his final outing as 007 is possibly my favourite in the series.
I love Moore’s Bond because of his easy, debonair charm and the tongue in cheek nature of the films. Moore had warmth that contrasted with Connery’s cool. He might not be in line with Fleming’s character from the books, but the movies are still extremely entertaining.
For me, the key ingredients for a good Bond movie, which all the best share are simple- good song, decent villain, good straightforward plot and ideally a menacing henchman. A View to a Kill ticks all these boxes starting with the decidedly ’80s and catchy Duran Duran themesong.
The plot sees Bond investigating Max Zorin played by Christopher Walken with his usual weird charisma. Zorin is an ex-KGB agent who may have been part of a Nazi breeding programme. Walken is brilliant here as right from the get go with his blonde hair he looks dodgy and it turns out the billionaire is up to no good, planning to flood Silicon Valley in order to monopolise the microchip industry. It’s a pretty smart plan.
Walken is immensely watchable and this is an early example of him quite clearly enjoying himself and hamming it up a bit. He’s menacing and cold, but handles the bantering exchanges well and makes a good enemy for Bond.
He’s also backed up by his henchwoman May Day played by the statuesque and intimidating Grace Jones. I remember being amazed by May Day as a kid, this tall, powerhouse of a woman who is physically more than a match for Bond. What makes her work as a character is that at the end she realises that Zorin is a wrong ‘un and doesn’t care about her and so helps Bond, getting a heroic death in the process.
This all sets up a fantastically OTT finale where Bond finds himself atop the Golden Gate Bridge as Zorin attacks from a blimp. It’s daft and ridiculous, but isn’t that the way of Bond movies?
I love this movie because the villains are interesting and the tone is just right, there’s enough peril to keep you hooked but it’s carried off with a sense of humour. The supporting cast are quite good especially Patrick Macnee who plays Bond’s aristocratic ally and who shares an easy chemistry with Moore.
This is the perfect film for a Sunday afternoon or Bank Holiday, the sort of thing that feels familiar and safe. An old tradition, to put up your feet and watch Bond quip his way through an adventure, seducing women and using gadgets and wits to win the day.
Moore was perfect for this, bringing his posh charms and humour to the role. Always cool in a crisis, ready with a quip or arched eyebrow.
Roger Moore is tied up with all those lazy afternoons I watched the Bond films, captivated by the stunts and adventure, amused by the one-liners. The seven films he made as 007 meaning that he looms large in the public consciousness, and will live on in audience’s hearts for years to come. And he’ll always have a special place for mine, having starred in a movie I’ve watched countless times and continue to love to this day.
RIP Roger Moore.
Any thoughts? You know what to do. BETEO.
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