Plot
Bond investigates Max Zorin, a businessman who owns many companies; one of those create microchips similar to one found on a dead 00 Agent of MI6.
He also is a horse breeder, whose horses continuously win every race, which is how Bond finds his way “in” to Zorin’s affairs.
This leads to a series of investigations that conclude with discovering that Zorin is planning on flooding all of Silicon Valley in order to capture the market, and become a multi billionaire in the process.
With the help of those who Zorin has wronged, Can Bond save the day???
Direction
Directed by John Glen, returning to the franchise yet again.
He would return to direct the next two films as well.
Cast
Returning for their last appearances in the franchise are Roger Moore as Bond, and Lois Maxwell as Moneypenny.
Desmond Llewelyn returns as Q, as does Walter Gotell as Gogol.
New cast are Tanya Roberts as Stacey Sutton, Grace Jones as MayDay, and Christopher Walken as Zorin.
Breakdown
In the 14th film in the series, with no signs of slowing down, it is Roger Moore, who in his seventh (and final) appearance that does seem to be slowing down. Moore was 58 here, and looking every part of it. Even he himself stated years later that he was way too old to be playing the character. It is also Lois Maxwell’s final appearance too as Moneypenny.
This has a somewhat distinctive 1980s feel to it, especially with the soundtrack and opening theme (by Duran Duran of all bands).
However what follows in the narrative and screenplay is more timeless, and feels in place in any of the films in the last 20 years. While some newer technology is toyed with such as microchips etc – Bond has always been an investigator first – and his prowess at the world around him has really been front and center.
Walken’s Zorin – who we discover is himself an ex KGB experiment gone wrong – is a terrific bad guy – who immediately suspects that Bond isn’t who he says he is (while pretending to be a buyer named Smythe. There is great ‘to and fro’ between Bond and Zorin throughout, which I’ve always preferred over the ‘bad guy appears in the last act’ which has been done in the past. Right up to the final showdown on top of the Golden Gate Bridge, Walken is just terrific in just one of his zany over the top bad guy roles.
He is a great foible for Bond, and almost gets the upper hand several times.
There are some ‘questionable’ moments between Bond and the “Bond Girls” here being Jones’ MayDay, Roberts (RIP) Sutton, and Fiona Fullarton’s Pola Ivanova. This is all due to Moore’s age.
There is some great practical effects as well, especially in the scene where Bond is chasing MayDay as she is parachuting over Paris, and his car is very slowly getting destroyed, losing its roof, then back end. Bravo!
There are some ‘cliche’ moments, like with Bond’s Asian CIA assistant killed (offscreen too), and Zorin double crossing MayDay – which leads her to join Bond in order to take down the big bad.
Overall
Not bad at all in the grand scheme of things, and far better than the film before it. However Moore’s advanced age is very noticeable, and this makes it somewhat hard to watch in that regard.
Walken is a great villain, whose plan is solid in regards to Bond Baddies go.
Watchable, even 40 years later.
3.5/5
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