The Living Daylights
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Movie Reviews of The Living Daylights
Movie Review: Re-Vamped Bond actor in one of the BEST Bond movies!
Summary: 5 Stars
For all the annoyance Roger Moore caused many Bond fans, he was still the face of Bond for 15 years, and became our comfortable successor to the role originally helmed by Connery. Now that he FINALLY bowed out (after nearly decomposing in OCTOPUSSY and VIEW TO A KILL), the challenge was on to find the NEW James Bond. Many hoped Pierce Brosnan would step into the role at this point, but alas he was still obligated to being Remington Steele on TV. Somehow or other, Timothy Dalton got the role - a very odd choice indeed in that he never seemed to really even WANT the part! Indeed, I would have to grudgingly argue that Dalton is my least favorite James Bond - he just never seemed to own the role the way his other peers did (even Lazenby in his ONE outing).
However, and ironically, his two films were some of the best the series had to offer, beginning with this definite Top Five contender. TLD represented a return to the more espionage centered feel of the novels, and really only seen in the first two Connery films, ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, and Moore's own FOR YOUR EYES ONLY. The main plot revolves around a power-hungry arms dealer and a secondary plot to assassinate secret agents around the world. Along the way, Bond hooks up with a would-be assassin and has one of his few on-screen monogamous relationships. This alone adds to the believability of the film.
Somehow, the producers were able to delve into a rich espionage plot, yet still not skimp on the action. This film is LOADED with action, including a new gadget-filled car (one of the better ones) and several exciting sequences involving the theft and eventual crash of a transport plane.
The only complaint I have with this film (aside from Dalton himself) is that the villain is pretty weak. Joe Don Baker just doesn't have the screen presence to be a villain. Ironically, he returns in GOLDENEYE and TOMORROW NEVER DIES as a good-guy, and fits THAT role much better! Jerome Krabb fairs a little better, but is generally more annoying than anything else.
Marayam D'abo is nice as the Bond girl - attractive AND a good actress as opposed to the usual glamour models that may or may not be able to act (ahem - Barbara Bach - ahem). This was the first Bond to replace Moneypenny - and the actress chosen was serviceable, but with little of the memorable flair that Samantha Bond has brought to the role in the recent Brosnan films.
All-in-all, and Dalton not-withstanding, this is one of the best of the series, and is a welcome return to a grittier and more believable Bond - Dalton's follow up, LICENSE TO KILL would delve even deeper into the gritty side of Bond - too bad the Brosnan films came along and took us back into Super Bond territory!
Movie Review: Great CD but didn't want wide screen
Summary: 2 Stars
The CD was great and extra scenes on the Cd were really good, however it could have been advertised that it was the wide screen CD and I would have bought another! So I wasted $21.00 as I have a HD TV but not wide screen. Movie Review: A Believable and Effective Plot
Summary: 5 Stars
This is without a doubt my favorite movie out of the series. The Living Daylights is a Bond film that has depth and realism. The film isn't the typical Bond movie. It has a hardcore spy plot. Other films in the series like this includes FRWL and OHMSS. As an actor Timothy Dalton brought intensity and passion to the role. No other Bond has reacted to situations with human qualities like Dalton did. For example, in the fair scene Dalton jumps up abruptly with anger and ready to kill when he finds out that Saunders was murdered. Previous Bonds did not show emotion like this(with the exception of George Lazenby). Dalton's performance made the movie transcend the title of being "just a Bond movie". In some Bond films (especially the Bronsnan entries) the gadgets, the action, the jokes, and the escapades overpower the movie's plot. That is not the case with The Living Daylights. There is a balance between action and plot. The humor is witty without taking away from the serious nature of the film. After watching Roger Moore's parody and silliness it was refreshing to watch Dalton take a darker approach in The Living Daylights. Dalton's monogamous approach also made the film stand out. Throughout the film Bond stayed with one woman-Kara Millovy (The pre-credits woman doesn't count). Also, an important aspect to me in a Bond film is a believable down-to-earth villain. This film accomplished just that. Necros, Yogi, and Brad Wittiaker made classic intelligent villains. Cartoonish villains such as Jaws make me disgusted with the series. In conclusion, if you want parody from a Bond movie watch entries like The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, The Man With the Golden Gun, and Diamonds are Forever. However, if you want to watch a Bond movie with substance watch this movie, License to Kill, From Russia With Love, Thunderball, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service.Movie Review: My first Bond film
Summary: 5 Stars
This was the first Bond film I ever watched, years ago when it premiered on ABC saturday night movies, so I have a soft spot for it. It's still definitely one of the best, with an intriguing plot that actually requires the viewer to pay attention without becoming too convoluted. Probably the most spy-centric story since From Russia With Love. Timmothy Dalton's take on 007 is the grittiest of all the Bond actors so far, and he manages to find a strong balance between realism and the larger-than-life antics of Bond. All the usual Bond trimmings are here too, including the cars, gadgets, John Barry score, and even a new actress as Moneypenny. There are some fantastic action sequences including the opening teaser, a car chase on ice, and a fight on a cargo plane. Dalton only made two 007 films before the series went on hiatus, and this is the stronger of the two. It lacks the dark tone that haunts his follow-up, Licence to Kill, and feels a bit more timeless.
This is also a pretty good DVD. You get a making-of documentary, another documentary on Bond creator Ian Fleming, the retro A-Ha music video of the title song, and a fun deleted scene (probably cut as it seems like a bit of silliness leftover from the Moore years). The bad? No English subtitles, at least on my version. My version also lacks the original burned-in subtitles on an early sequence where a Russian agent seduces her supervisor to provide Bond with a distraction. It's a rather funny one-liner, and I heard MGM corrected this mistake on later pressings of the disc. The Living Daylights still remains one of my favourite Bond films, and is a must-buy for all fans.
Movie Review: "Thank God I Insisted You Bring That Cello!"
Summary: 5 Stars
This is by far the best non-Connery Bond film. Timothy Dalton is brilliant in the lead role, giving Bond a menacing quality. It is a shame we only got to enjoy him as 007 in two films, because he was truly awesome. As far as the basic standards for Bond movies, this one delivers the goods; beautiful women, explosions, car chases, exotic locations...the works! And, AND, we get to see James Bond and Miriam D'Abo skiing down a mountain in a cello case! What else could you want?