Today I got the AVTAK soundtrack CD and unfortunately the liner notes were written by Jeff Bond seem to sum up the mass generalizations and lazy misconceptions about the film:
Jeff writes: "After the dangerous, dark masculinity of Sean Connery, Moore's 007 was a more urbane character."
No argument here, but why the needless comparison to Sean after SEVEN films! This is not Live and Let Die we are talking about here.
Jeff writes: "The formula once again turned back to glamour, gadgetry and laughs."
John Cork made a similar statement in his Legacy book. As if AVTAK simply reverted to a tried-and-true formula without offering anything new. I agree the film has plenty of glamour, but the gadgets are toned way down to a modest assortment of spy tools like polarizing glasses and a mini-camera. This Bond is more reliant on his wits and resourcefulness. The laughs are also almost non-existent, especially compared to the broad humor in Octopussy. Instead, there is a harder edge to the violence and many of the kills are cold blooded murder.
AVTAK is in many ways a revisionist Bond film that flips the usual formula upside-down. Just one of many examples below:
FYEO Citroen chase: Bond makes the bad guys look like fools and escape scot-free.
OP Rickshaw chase: Bond makes the bad guys look like fools and escape scot-free.
AVTAK May Day persuit: Bond's car gets demolished, the bad guy gets away, and Bond ends up looking like a fool.
Jeff writes: "After largely self-reliant Bond heroines, Tanya Roberts' Stacy was a helpless damsel in distress."
At times yes. But so were many other Bond girls . Octopussy in Kamal's plane and dangling from the cliff. Barbara Bach strapped to a chair in Stromberg's lair. Solitaire about to be scarified at San Monique.
Dismissing Stacy as "helpless" is not doing her character justice. Finally we have a down-to-earth Bond girl who is just a regular 9-5 gal with her own house and pets. She defends herself against Zorin's stooges with a shotgun and provides Bond with her Geological expertise. A revolutionary Bond girl for the 80's and the first of her kind in the series. She served as a prototype for later 90's Bond girls such as Natalya and Christmas.
Jeff writes: "Tibbet suffers an ignominious fate in a carwash at the hands of May Day."
Really, ignominious? and why was this Deserving or causing public disgrace or shame.
Like many of the cold blooded kills in AVTAK, Tibbet's death was one of the most chilling and scary in the whole series. Especially how it was set up with Tibbet splashing water on the Rolls, exiting the gate while Mayday disappears, being followed by Jenny Flex, and finally the silent assassin emerging in the back seat. I get chills just thinking about it. This is great film making.
Only in the last couple paragraphs does Jeff actually discuss the soundtrack and he does have some interesting tidbits including "Duran Duran knew more about Barry's film scores than Barry himself could remember."
Image Unavailable
Image not available for
Color:
Color:
-
-
-
- Sorry, this item is not available in
- Image not available
- To view this video download Flash Player
A View to a Kill
Reissued, Remastered
See all 8 formats and editions
Hide other formats and editions
|
Price
|
New from | Used from |
|
Audio CD, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, May 24, 1985
"Please retry"
|
—
|
— | $29.98 |
|
Audio, Cassette, Soundtrack, January 1, 1985
"Please retry"
|
$35.98 | $18.28 |
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Editorial Reviews
Original soundtrack to the 1985 James Bond box office smash. Features the title track performed by Duran Duran plus three orchestral reworkings of the main theme & eleven other
Product details
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- Language : English
- Product Dimensions : 5.67 x 5.12 x 0.39 inches; 3.32 Ounces
- Manufacturer : Capitol
- Item model number : 724354144820
- Original Release Date : 1985
- Run time : 2 hours and 11 minutes
- SPARS Code : DDD
- Date First Available : July 27, 2006
- Label : Capitol
- ASIN : B00008BLCI
- Number of discs : 1
-
Best Sellers Rank:
#82,926 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #991 in New Wave
- #1,051 in Movie Scores (CDs & Vinyl)
- #1,832 in Movie Soundtracks (CDs & Vinyl)
- Customer Reviews:
Customer reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
141 global ratings
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2013
Verified Purchase
2 people found this helpful
Report abuse
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
Great soundtrack just wish they added a few bonus tracks!
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2013
Verified Purchase
The original A View To A Kill soundtrack is becoming harder to find in mint condition due to it's 1985 release and the years since.
This record was an excellent purchase given how clean the jacket and the album were. If your a collector of James Bond memorabilia from the films then the LP's are a must. Even if you have the CD soundtracks of the same films, the LP's are promotional material that accompanied the films and are becoming rare and desirable collectibles.
This record was an excellent purchase given how clean the jacket and the album were. If your a collector of James Bond memorabilia from the films then the LP's are a must. Even if you have the CD soundtracks of the same films, the LP's are promotional material that accompanied the films and are becoming rare and desirable collectibles.
2 people found this helpful
Report abuse
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2017
Verified Purchase
This was the first Bond film I saw in a movie theatre, so though it's not a great film it holds a special place in my heart. That being said the score is great, one of the best for a Bond film. If your a Bond fan you should have this.
Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2019
Verified Purchase
Not the best "Bond" soundtrack, but still very good. Of course, the movie is not anywhere near a great "Bond" movie so the soundtrack can only go so far.
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2016
Verified Purchase
The song is great and so is the score. There is a really nice theme that runs throughout. The movie is fun. I enjoy thinking of the movie while listening to the music. I was very pleased with this purchase and would recommend it.
One person found this helpful
Report abuse
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2019
Verified Purchase
The box was all smashed.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Smashed box
By Joshua Ungar on September 17, 2019
The box was all smashed.
By Joshua Ungar on September 17, 2019
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2017
Verified Purchase
great score by john barry
Top reviews from other countries
JRF
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another John Barry Bond triumph
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2017Verified Purchase
In his penultimate Bond score, the "other" JB (John Barry) once again delivers the goods. Although the film itself may not be in the top rank of 007 adventures, the music is. It delivers thrills, menace, suspense and sheer excitment as called for by the on-screen action. The title track, a collaboration with Duran Duran, works well as a departure from the normal performance by a solo singer.
The cover artwork is based on the film poster - the kind of impressive picture that regrettably seems to have gone out of fashion thse days.
If you are a fan of Bond music and/or John Barry's music, you need this album in your collection. Highly recommended.
The cover artwork is based on the film poster - the kind of impressive picture that regrettably seems to have gone out of fashion thse days.
If you are a fan of Bond music and/or John Barry's music, you need this album in your collection. Highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
Report abuse
Ivan C.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Some pleasing arrangements, a good listen.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 28, 2021Verified Purchase
I am a John Barry musical fan and this is his penultimate score for Bond movies, and it doesn’t disappoint. The repetition of the Duran title song does get a bit wearing but the flute version is appealing. There is enough in arrangements to keep Barry aficionados happy.
Sean
5.0 out of 5 stars
A View To A Kill Score Review.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2017Verified Purchase
Once again another tremendous score by John Barry. The mans genius had no bounds. The theme is repeated throughout with subtle different arrangements and instruments, all of which are amazing. John Barry has once again knocked the ball out of the park, with his superb arrangements with a great song by Duran Duran. The score is if I am being critical, far better than the movie itself.
One person found this helpful
Report abuse
J J
5.0 out of 5 stars
View to a kill O07 ALBUM
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 30, 2021Verified Purchase
Great songs and theme music
Brett Pritchard
3.0 out of 5 stars
Only for the aficianado's
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2016Verified Purchase
There's some fine work from John Barry in this collection, but as scores go I'd call this a bit repetitious... Many of the tracks are just the exact same one again and the CD both begins and ends with the track A View To A Kill. Worth owning if you're a Bond aficionado but probably steer clear if you're only a casual fan.
Open Web Player










