The nerd in me likes when the title of a movie is explicitly stated in the movie itself, like in this scene from A View To A Kill (1985).
As Max Zorin (Christopher Walken) and Mayday (Grace Jones) get a bird’s eye view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, CA from the Zorin blimp, they call out the name of the movie in this quick exchange. To this day, I *still* don’t really think it’s that great of a movie title, or quote in this context, but it’s still cool, I guess.
These psychopaths are hyped for the great view of a city they are about to destroy, which is a bit morbid. And Mayday’s look here, as in all of her scenes is…something. And here, her over-accentuated eye shadow and misplaced painted-on “mean” eyebrows are fitting for the lunatic these two are.
Well, here it is. The actual “view to a kill” from A View To A Kill (1985)
It really is a great view of the city, though. And of course, who can forget the shot of Zorin’s eponymous blimp in the same frame as the Golden Gate bridge – an iconic shot of the series, for sure!
Zorin’s blimo next to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA in A View To A Kill (1985)
Grace Jones as Mayday in A View to a Kill (1985)
Quite the unique fashion statement from a unique James Bond henchman/girl!
Max Zorin (Christopher Walken) and Mayday (Grace Jones) have a laugh (and a slap) in A View to a Kill (1985)
Craig’s 007 is down on his luck after the kind of weird chase scene from No Time To Die (2021). He’s picked up by…007…(Nomi) in yet another car that should be getting more screen time in the movie, similar to Paloma. Wow, great revving of that ridiculous Aston Martin engine on the tarmac, I guess. Couldn’t have had a chase where Bond is the passenger and another 00 agent flexes their skill? Missed opportunity…and I distinctly remember these words enter my head about certain characters and parts of NTTD where screen times or parts of the movie were too short or not emphasized enough. I’d definitely say it’s one of my biggest gripes about the movie aside from (of course) the atrocious ending.
Anyways, back in this scene, Nomi does her best Mayday (O_o) impression ([]-[]) with some weird-ass (probably expensive) uncomfortable-looking sunglasses. Their conversation is interesting though: aside from his stern yet poignant “Where have you been?,” it was a little odd to hear Bond mention Swann’s (and his!) daughter and not speak up that she’s actually his child. Is he not proud of Mathilde? Is he embarrassed? Or does he just want to focus on the mission? Same goes for in the plane. M doesn’t mention that “Dr. Swann and her daughter” is actually Bond’s daughter as well, aside from telling Bond he “hopes they’re there.” If he doesn’t know, why wouldn’t Bond mention it? And if Bond has told no one, how would MI6 know to “give” the Aston Martin DB5 (which is a whole other ball of blah) at the end of the movie? It’s another scene in NTTD where a mention of Mathilde throws off the movie and detracts from its overall plot and flow. Stupid kid.
Luckily in this scene, however, Bond mentions the elephant in the room that exists whenever these two are together – namely, who is actually 007 now that Bond is back?
At the end of the car dialogue, Bond seems okay with passing the torch (“Thank you, 007.”), but getting in the plane, I think Q is about to welcome Nomi on as 007 but hesitates as Bond has passes by. Maybe Nomi can sense Bond wants 007 back or just feels it’s the right thing to do? During the movie, I enjoyed the back-and-forth and debate between them and M, but overall at the end, this small plot point wasn’t really as appealing or worthwhile. Instead, I’d have preferred Bond’s code name put on-hold (or retired?) and awarded to him on his return. Nomi would have been a better 002 or 0010 (yes, why not double-oh ten? The numbers have to go past 9, right? Could’ve put that question to bed…)
