I love writing reviews and I'm doing my best to add some interesting comments. I hope to add more r...
I love writing reviews and I'm doing my best to add some interesting comments. I hope to add more reviews whenever I can and get better!
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Licence To Kill was released in 1989 and was the second and final film to feature Timothy Dalton as James Bond. The film was more violent than previous films and featured the first script to be tailored for Timothy Dalton's more restrained and realistic approach to the character. The film sank in the crowded US market of that summer and left a cloud over the series. When it resumed again in the nineties Pierce Brosnan was Bond and Timothy Dalton quickly became the forgotten man. A case can be made however for Dalton being an interesting and very underrated James Bond. I would also add that, while not flawless by any means, Licence To Kill is better than any of the James Bond films that have been produced since 1989.
Licence To Kill pushes Bond even further away from the comic tone of Roger Moore's tenure than Dalton's 1987 debut in The Living Daylights. Dalton was more human (for James Bond) and faced more real world and topical threats in his two films. In Licence To Kill Bond seeks revenge on Franz Sanchez, a Drug Baron (and ruler of a fictional Latin American country). The film begins with Bond at the wedding of his CIA friend Felix Leiter and Leiter's bride to be, Della. This pre-title sequence does a good job in establishing the sense of adventure and friendship they share when they go after Sanchez' private plane in a DEA Helicopter and capture him.
Sanchez is rescued by Frogmen when his Prison van is hijacked and forced into the sea and then extracts his revenge on Leiter. In an uncommonly violent scene for a James Bond film, Sanchez feeds Leiter to a shark. Leiter survives but his wife Della is murdered. Bond then goes nuts, resigns from MI6 and pursues Sanchez, eventually (with shades of
'Yojimbo') establishing himself within the drug Baron's organisation in order to attempt to destroy it...
After beginning the film in Miami, Licence To Kill is set for the most part in Sanchez' fictional country. The film was shot in Mexico rather than Pinewood/Europe and the lack of the usual globetrotting locations does give the film a slightly different and perhaps more restricted atmosphere than other Bond films. This is one criticism that some levelled at the film, the others being Timothy Dalton's serious treatment of the role, with extra violence (LTK earned a 15 certificate in the UK) and less humour, and the topical plot and villain, replete with palatial mansions over swimmimg pools with casual clothes and cardigans. For some, Licence To kill was a bit too earnest and seemed to be somewhat influenced by the hit television show of the time 'Miami Vice'. One of the charms of the Bond films for me is that each of them dressed up in the fashions and fads of the time they were made in and Licence To kill's eighties feel is not a major problem for me because I'm aware that the film was made in 1988/89! As for Miami Vice, despite the Florida location work, Drug Baron, and abundance of speedboats, Licence To Kill is still closer to Ian Fleming than Don Johnson in a pastel suit.
The increased violence (Bond shoots someone with a spear gun, Leiter is fed to a shark, Sanchez puts someone in a decompression chamber etc) reflects the era the film was made in too. The eighties was a violent period for action films and Licence To kill was clearly an attempt to make Bond more hard-edged and dangerous in the face of hit films like Die Hard, Predator and Lethal Weapon. For some people Licence To Kill didn't feel much like a James Bond film. I don't entirely agree with that view but I can sympathise with it because 2006's Casino Royale felt bugger all like a James Bond film to me and didn't even have James Bond in it.
The generic aspects of the locations and atmosphere are not greatly helped by Michael Kamen's unmemorable score which lacks a certain punch. John Barry declined to return after The Living Daylights and you simply can't replace a John Barry. Whoever you get in is going to suffer from the comparison. In my opinion however, Licence To Kill's flaws and grumbles are offset by the fact that the film is well made, often very stylish and a lot of fun once it gets going.
Carey Lowell and Talisa Soto, a slight twist on the usual Good Girl/Bad Girl Bond tradition are well cast as the love interests for Bond. Both girls were models but did well enough to make a full time move into acting. Davi is great as Sanchez, an unpredictable and often menancing villain and the supporting cast features the likes of Anthony Zerbe and a young Benicio del Toro. The role of Q was very wisely expanded and he provides much needed humour and lightness when he joins Bond in the field.
There are stunts galore, with scuba-diving, sharks, a Raiders Of The Lost Ark inspired flying boat sequence, an expensive looking casino scene and a wonderful and explosive climax featuring several fuel laden Tanker trucks. The much malinged Mr Dalton is visible in several dangerous looking situations and must be credited for his willingness to do as much stuntwork as possible. Dalton's Bond swears, smokes, bleeds, makes mistakes, has a bad hair day, and yet, remains Bond. He's a bit theatrical at times but can be credited with attempting to do something new with the role. Dalton could use subtext and in a moment near the beginning of the film he is forced to accept a garter from Della who informs him that he'll be the next to marry now. We know that Bond's wife was murdered by Blofeld in the film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Dalton accepts the garter and with one outwardly polite but strained smile conveys this information. Sanchez' decision to attack Felix and Della on their wedding day makes it all the more personal for Bond.
I can understand Licence To Kill being one of the more divisive films in the series but I would defend the film as one of the more inspired and interesting, if atypical, entries. I think Dalton was an underrated Bond and Licence To kill is quite simply an excellent and entertaining film. There are faults, as I've mentioned, but overall the film is more than the sum of its parts in contrast to many other Bonds where the contrast is true. You do genuinely care about Bond and Pam as they go after sanchez and it was a nice touch to highlight the affection that Q and Moneypenny feel for Bond. Both try to support him despite his resignation. I liked many of the other touches, such as Sanchez using a TV evangalist as a front for his Drugs Empire. US singer Wayne Newton has a lot of fun with this supporting role.
The older Bond films (by that I suppose I mean pre-Brosnan) just seem to be more cohesive and a bit more solid to me than the post Cubby Broccoli efforts. The relationship between the plot and the inevitable action seems less jarring and more skillfully meshed.
So overall, Licence To Kill was, for its time, a radical if doomed attempt to shake up the franchise. To be honest though, I've never had too many problems enjoying the film for its mixture of stunts, sharks, girls, tanker trucks, explosions, and cardigans. It features a Bond that I have a great deal of time for and has, despite its 'gritty' reputation, several good lines and laughs.
Definitely one of the more interesting and solid additions to the franchise.
****
Extras
The new stuff for the Ultimate Edition includes 'Ground Check', 'On The Set with John Glen' and some brief deleted scenes. The Ultimate Editions are chock full of amazing extras but you be familiar with much of the material if you've bought any of the Bond 'Special' Editions on DVD before. Still irresistable for completists though!
****
Audio commentary from director John Glen and members of the cast Audio commentary from Michael G. Wilson and members of the crew Deleted scenes with introductions from director John Glen 'Inside Licence To Kill' documentary 'Behind The Scenes' production featurette 'Licence To Kill' music video performed by Gladys Knight 'Kenworth Trucks' featurette 'If You Asked Me To' music video performed by Patti Labelle On the set with John Glen On location with Peter Lamont Ground check with Corkey Fornof Interactive guide to the world of 'Licence To Kill' '007 - Licence To Restore': a featurette detailing the Bond Ultimate Edition restoration process Original trailers Photo gallery
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2007 - Action/Adventure - Director: Paul Greengrass - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, Edgar Ramirez, David Strathairn, Paddy Considine, Albert Finney
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Sorry for the H, but if this is to be a full DVD review, I would prefer to see a review of the extras in similar detail to the way you've reviewed the film, rather than just a list of them.
James Bond turns renegade to hunt down a master criminal in this pulse-pounding ... more
thrill-ride that's packed with awesome stunts, subtle humour and explosive confrontations. Timothy Dalton brings urgency, charm and deadly determination to his portrayal of...
![James Bond - Licence to Kill (Ultimate Edition 2 Disc Set) [DVD] [1989]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78473626.jpg "James Bond - Licence to Kill (Ultimate Edition 2 Disc Set) [DVD] [1989]")
![Licence To Kill [Ultimate Edition]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/97215611.jpg "Licence To Kill [Ultimate Edition]")
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