After discovering a microchip on the body of another 00 agent in Siberia, Bond is assigned to investigate the manufacturer, Zorin Industries. On a trail that goes from Ascot to Paris to San Francisco, Bond initially discovers that Max Zorin, played by Christopher Walken, is allegedly fixing horse races. But his real scheme is to somehow destroy the microchip industry at Silicon Valley so he can gain a monopoly on the market. Right.
I'd say this film has a similar issue to Octopussy, in that I just don't see how the two schemes really intertwine, but this one does explain it a bit more than previously. Perhaps.
Zorin is an ex-KGB agent and is the product of some genetic experimentation conducted by a Nazi scientist. He is a genius, but is also completely psychopathic. It's a neat idea, but all I really see in him is Christopher Walken playing himself. It's a pity he didn't have more dialogue or a dancing sequence, otherwise it would be perfect.
The story seems a little convoluted. That's typical for Bond film, and I'm usually fine with it, but here it wasn't done very well. Tanya Roberts plays the girl of the week, impoverished heiress and State Geologist Stacy Sutton. And frankly, I can't stand her. The concept could have been expanded on, but instead they just made her a screaming damsel. The set pieces include an Arctic chase, a dressage (wait, what?), an escape from a burning elevator, and a fight involving a blimp and the Golden Gate Bridge. Interesting ideas, but either underwhelming or ruined by the annoying damsel or poor soundtrack choices.
But if I could praise something about this film, it would be Grace Jones as Zorin's henchwoman May Day. She's tough, strong, and very intimidating. Not the sort of person you want to trifle with.
Overall, I regard this as one of the weaker films of the series. It's not the worst, but it doesn't do the best of jobs.
Better luck next time, 007.
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