"A View to a Kill" has a fair share of its detractors and few fans (like myself) but in one thing many followers of the James Bond franchise agree: it has the
best theme song - right there with "Live and Let Die" (can we call it a tie?). Duran Duran at the peak of their moment in the 1980's and composer John Barry was also part of the song's creation and with that partnership
a hit that truly fits the movie was conceived. What sets this apart from the other Bond films is this music video and more than 30 years later it wasn't equaled -
though "Die Another Day" I only consider good enough as this because a tribute to other 007 films were included.
In this one, Duran Duran members Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes and the three Taylors (Andy, John and Roger) are all secret agents involved on a crazed mission inside the Eiffel Tower and clips from "A View..." with Roger Moore's Bond following Grace Jones' May Day on the same location are intercut or some of the actions sequences all give the sensation the group is part of the movie. They don't have the real interaction with the film people but it's fun and fine in any case. A little bit dated, slightly corny thanks to a video camera that is overimposed in some shots but there's plenty of great moments such as the Zorin company blip exploding (film) after Roger Taylor pushes a detonating button (clip); or LeBon's pun on Bond while presenting himself to a girl. Each member of the group has a special function while going all the way up to the tower; but there isn't much of a mission except spying on each other.
That was all about the visual stuff, all the more perfected thanks to a catchy pop/rock theme. The difference between the original single and the version played in the video is an amazing tribute to James Bond Theme played on a deadly harmonica towards the end, a nice idea from Godley & Creme the makers of the clip. This whole combination from music and film led to this a) the only Bond theme to peak #1 at Billboard; b) new audiences were introduced to the film franchise becoming die hard fans of the previous and future films; and c) the film industry paying more attention in creating songs for films, then having more input on music videos and soundtracks. The real boom of more original and more conceptual creations certainly came after this theme - there were soundtracks with videos at the time but most of them either focusing on the artist singing/performing or the scenes from the movie. This one was different; the musical artists were the ones acting on the film's idea. Gotta recognise that. 9/10
In this one, Duran Duran members Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes and the three Taylors (Andy, John and Roger) are all secret agents involved on a crazed mission inside the Eiffel Tower and clips from "A View..." with Roger Moore's Bond following Grace Jones' May Day on the same location are intercut or some of the actions sequences all give the sensation the group is part of the movie. They don't have the real interaction with the film people but it's fun and fine in any case. A little bit dated, slightly corny thanks to a video camera that is overimposed in some shots but there's plenty of great moments such as the Zorin company blip exploding (film) after Roger Taylor pushes a detonating button (clip); or LeBon's pun on Bond while presenting himself to a girl. Each member of the group has a special function while going all the way up to the tower; but there isn't much of a mission except spying on each other.
That was all about the visual stuff, all the more perfected thanks to a catchy pop/rock theme. The difference between the original single and the version played in the video is an amazing tribute to James Bond Theme played on a deadly harmonica towards the end, a nice idea from Godley & Creme the makers of the clip. This whole combination from music and film led to this a) the only Bond theme to peak #1 at Billboard; b) new audiences were introduced to the film franchise becoming die hard fans of the previous and future films; and c) the film industry paying more attention in creating songs for films, then having more input on music videos and soundtracks. The real boom of more original and more conceptual creations certainly came after this theme - there were soundtracks with videos at the time but most of them either focusing on the artist singing/performing or the scenes from the movie. This one was different; the musical artists were the ones acting on the film's idea. Gotta recognise that. 9/10
