39 replies to this topic

[Jaelle]

I agree with the person who said that AVTAK would simply be a very different film with another actor. They would've cast different actors in the other roles since casting choices are so influenced by who is playing the lead role(s). The script would've been different to suit Dalton as well. So you really can't talk about the same film.

More to the point, should the film exist at all. While I can find positive things to say about AVTAK, I don't think it should ever have been made in the first place.

[ChandlerBing]

There was a nice, little short story called From A View To A Kill, what happened to that?

[Triton]

Originally posted by ChandlerBing
There was a nice, little short story called From A View To A Kill, what happened to that?

It's still in the short story collection called For Your Eyes Only. Eon can still add some elements of this short story to a future film script since only the Paris location and the title was used missing the From.

To answer your question why the movie was made to begin with Jaelle, (It's a rhetorical question, right?) all I can say is that it seemed like a good idea to Micheal G. Wilson and Albert "Cubby" Broccoli at the time. Micheal G. Wilson and Richard Maibaum were enamored with the idea of Zorin's plan to takeover the world microchip market and establish a monopoly. Wilson says in the DVD documentary that it was a "fun idea" and Richard Maibaum described it as a "terrific caper." Remember that this was in the early eighties with the video game boom and the recent appearance of the personal computer. Every one involved thought that they were making a film that people would want to see and find entertaining. Thankfully the producers came to their senses and the film was the last James Bond action comedy.

I mean we can discuss What if scenarios until the sun goes cold. What if Timothy Dalton had done the movie instead of Roger Moore? What if Rutger Hauer, Sting, or David Bowie had played Max Zorin instead of Christopher Walken? What if the plot hadn't been changed from bringing down Halley's Comet to flooding the Hayward Fault to destroy Silicon Valley? What if they removed "California Girls" from the pre-title ski chase? What if they had cast Pricilla Presley instead of Tanya Roberts as Stacy Sutton?

But it's too late for Broccoli and Wilson to remake these decisions. It's an unfortunate fact of life that hindsight is 20/20 and things happen that are beyond our control.

I will continue to view and enjoy A View to a Kill and watch the parts that I like and fast forward or cringe through the parts that I don't. Despite its many many flaws, A View to a Kill, which I consider to be the weakest in the James Bond series, is still better than 95% of the action films that have been released.

[Tarl_Cabot]

I wouldn't wish that abomination on Tim. I doubt he trained at RADA to hang off fire engines in SF with some dullard bimbo screaming "James!" for 10 minutes. At least Kara could try to fly a friggin plane with more composure...that movie sucked.

[BONDFINESSE 007]

Originally posted by Tarl_Cabot
I wouldn't wish that abomination on Tim. I doubt he trained at RADA to hang off fire engines in SF with some dullard bimbo screaming "James!" for 10 minutes. At least Kara could try to fly a friggin plane with more composure...that movie sucked.

i will take it over daltons two anyday of the week

[iceberg]

I think A View to A Kill is perfect as it is. It's not the best Bond movie, but it wasn't the worst. Stacey Sutton wasn't as much a bimbo as some people make her out to be. She's not as capable as Dr. Christmas Jones, but she doesn't screw up as much as Britt Ekland in THE MAN WITH the Golden Gun.

And Dalton and Christopher Walken would surely be a good match. But Dalton's seriousness would clash with the light tone of the movie. He would've brought it down. Roger Moore was just right.

[Jaelle]

Originally posted by Triton
To answer your question why the movie was made to begin with Jaelle, (It's a rhetorical question, right?) all I can say is that it seemed like a good idea to Micheal G. Wilson and Albert "Cubby" Broccoli at the time.  Micheal G. Wilson and Richard Maibaum were enamored with the idea of Zorin's plan to takeover the world microchip market and establish a monopoly. Wilson says in the DVD documentary that it was a "fun idea" and Richard Maibaum described it as a "terrific caper." Remember that this was in the early eighties with the video game boom and the recent appearance of the personal computer. Every one involved thought that they were making a film that people would want to see and find entertaining.  Thankfully the producers came to their senses and the film was the last James Bond action comedy.

Yeah, it was a rhetorical question. Oh I understand that Maibaum and Wilson were tapping into the whole yuppie/Silicon Valley thing going on back ni the 80s. I think the *idea* was fun. It just didn't work out too well.

I will continue to view and enjoy A View to a Kill and watch the parts that I like and fast forward or cringe through the parts that I don't. Despite its many many flaws, A View to a Kill, which I consider to be the weakest in the James Bond series, is still better than 95% of the action films that have been released. [/B]

You know, I think you're right. You got a very handsome, crazed villain; a totally OTT bizarro henchwoman, the great Patrick Macnee, great shots of San Francisco, a terrific song.......and (I can't help it) that shot of a cat on Bond's lap while he's sleeping. I know, I know, you males out there hate that shot, I love it! It's just that Roberts person, tho....... I mean, the woman can't stop screaming!

[ChandlerBing]

Kinda reminds me of Kim Basinger in Batman. Constantly screaming.

[iceberg]

Say what you want about Christmas Jones, but at least she didn't scream ONCE in TWINE. She yelled James' name when she was trapped by the rising water in the sub climax, but there were no 'terrified-chick' screams of terror. Unlike Stacy. So I disagree vehemently with that post I read in the RANT ABOUT WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH thread where they said, "Christmas makes Stacy look competent." Huh?

I actually think Stacy is a good Bond girl, but not as good as Christmas. It's just that she screams way too much. If they (the writers) would have toned it down, I doubt that she would've been slammed as much. And Tanya Roberts is actually pretty solid. She just had a sometimes-weak character to play.

[BONDFINESSE 007]

Originally posted by iceberg
Say what you want about Christmas Jones, but at least she didn't scream ONCE in TWINE.  She yelled James' name when she was trapped by the rising water in the sub climax, but there were no 'terrified-chick' screams of terror.  Unlike Stacy.  So I disagree vehemently with that post I read in the RANT ABOUT WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH thread where they said, "Christmas makes Stacy look competent." Huh?  

I actually think Stacy is a good Bond girl, but not as good as Christmas.  It's just that she screams way too much.  If they (the writers) would have toned it down, I doubt that she would've been slammed as much.  And Tanya Roberts is actually pretty solid.  She just had a sometimes-weak character to play.

its testimonials like this that make life worth living
amen, preach it

keeping the christmas jones faith alive