Licence to Kill (1989)

[Starman22]

Licence to Kill is the best Timothy Dalton 007 film. Robert Davi is a terrific villain as Franz Sanchez.

[StarWarsIsAwesome123]

Top 5 Bond movie for me, it's really underrated. Dalton is great in it, Sanchez is one of the best 007 villains, the action is really good and visceral. Great movie

[spider-neil]

This is an awesome and underrated movie. And I don’t care what anyone says I love Gladys Knight’s theme tune.

[Bond84]

Originally Posted by Ruemorgue10

My takeaway of Bond's motivation in License to Kill:

Bond is not only exacting revenge for Felix and Della, it's vengeance for Tracy. The circumstances of Della's death is history repeated, which hits a traumatic nerve within 007. None of this is said aloud in the film (save for the brief mention of Bond being married once), but consider the affect of seeing Della's dead body, still in her wedding dress, on Bond's psyche in that moment; all the trauma comes flooding back and it's enough for Bond to risk everything to make Sanchez pay for what he did.

Good take here. I never thought of it that way.

Regardless, I love both Dalton films, especially LTK. Sanchez is a great villain, I actually find Wayne Newton to be some good comic relief, and Pam is still the only Bond girl who actually assists Bond in his mission, and never has to be rescued. She really could kick ass, and she looked good doing it.

My only complaint is the last scene feels rushed and contrived. Bond is on the phone with Felix, who seems to be all smiles and laughs, and can't wait to go fishing, even though he's just lost some limbs, his bride was raped and murdered, and his buddy Sharkey is dead. PLUS, somehow he knows that M wants to forgive all and give Bond his job back. Its all just wrapped up too neatly to jive with the tone of the film.

THEN, Bond hooks up lovelorn Lupe and El Presidente.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by Bond84

My only complaint is the last scene feels rushed and contrived. Bond is on the phone with Felix, who seems to be all smiles and laughs, and can't wait to go fishing, even though he's just lost some limbs, his bride was raped and murdered, and his buddy Sharkey is dead. PLUS, somehow he knows that M wants to forgive all and give Bond his job back. Its all just wrapped up too neatly to jive with the tone of the film.

THEN, Bond hooks up lovelorn Lupe and El Presidente.

Agree 100%. That's my only gripe with the film.

[Ruemorgue10]

Originally Posted by Bond84

My only complaint is the last scene feels rushed and contrived. Bond is on the phone with Felix, who seems to be all smiles and laughs, and can't wait to go fishing, even though he's just lost some limbs, his bride was raped and murdered, and his buddy Sharkey is dead. PLUS, somehow he knows that M wants to forgive all and give Bond his job back. Its all just wrapped up too neatly to jive with the tone of the film.

Yeah, Felix being in such good spirits is unbelievable for all the reasons you mentioned.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Ruemorgue10

Yeah, Felix being in such good spirits is unbelievable for all the reasons you mentioned.

He's probably been given a f*ck ton of morphine.

[morris_schaffer]

Do trucks do that stuff where they raise their cabin and snout up in the air ? Always thought it was a Q gadget when I was young.

[jess1581]

Shout out to Patti LeBelle's "If You Ask Me To" which is better than Celine Dion's rendition, and rounded out LTK's awesome soundtrack.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

He's probably been given a f*ck ton of morphine.

LOL, that explains it!

[spider-neil]

Originally Posted by jess1581

Shout out to Patti LeBelle's "If You Ask Me To" which is better than Celine Dion's rendition, and rounded out LTK's awesome soundtrack.

I love both the intro and outro music. I listened to a podcast where they rip the two songs a new one but I don’t care I love the both and what’s more they perfectly blend with the movie.

[d2cheer]

Originally Posted by Winslow Leach

LICENCE TO KILL is one of my top five favorite Bond films. It's a classic, and Dalton is excellent.

Came in to post almost the same thing. Excellent Bond movie. One of my favorites.

[Ruemorgue10]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

He's probably been given a f*ck ton of morphine.

When the morphine wears off and reality sets in:

[zen007]

Will take this opportunity to talk about the other "kill" film - AVTAK, which has major inconsistencies as well.

I look at AVTAK as an adventure of an aged Bond. Probably to hint at this, Moore is helped by Macnee, who plays Sir Godfrey Tibbet. One of the positives of the film is the camaraderie b/w the two.

AVTAK starts off well with Bond acquiring a microchip from the picturesque Siberia (though some may have issues with a song played during a chase in the pre-title sequence). Like in the book Diamonds Are Forever, Bond investigates horse racing. This segment involves some great locations in France. There is the jump from the Eiffel Tower. At Château de Chantilly, Tibbet is killed and Bond has to breathe air from the tires of a RR to survive. Then we see Zorin struggle with the KGB and introduce us to "A View to a Kill". So far good.

However, once the action shifts to San Francisco, the film loses its steam. Though the 2nd half has its moments like Zorin having a Russian agent thrown to his death and the finale at the Golden Gate bridge.

Besides Moore and Macnee, the film is driven by Walken and Grace Jones. There is the old-fashioned character of Dr. Carl Mortner who sports a monocle. The title song is superb. Barry's score does its job, especially during action sequences. Tanya Roberts is there to look good so wouldn't comment much on her (there are better Bond girls).


Both the "kill" films have their moments. Much like LTK, AVTAK is interesting once you focus on the positives but would not be among top-tier Bond films.


PS

Duran Duran - A View To A Kill - YouTube

[JonathanPM68]

While this is not the best Bond film, Goldfinger has that distinction, it is my favorite Bond film. I absolutely love Timothy Dalton and consider him the best Bond. It’s really a shame he was not able to do more movies.

“Bless your heart”

[spider-neil]

Dalton was the rough and ready Bond before Craig. Also, I’d talk Dalton’s Bond movies before all of but two Craig movies (Skyfall and Casino Royale) and even then it’s close.

[BudBaxter]

Originally Posted by zen007

Will take this opportunity to talk about the other "kill" film - AVTAK, which has major inconsistencies as well.

SNIP

Why not just start a thread for that movie? You seem to have done it for every other Bond film you want to talk about.

[kwisatzhaderach]

I prefer the 'classic Bond' feel of The Living Daylights but Licence To Kill is an excellent Bond film.

[Marv Inc.]

Great film nice and dark and violent for a Bond film. While having a excellent cast and strong 80s feel and a underrated score from Michael Kamen hot off his work on Highlander, Lethal Weapon and Die Hard.

[harry o]

And the great Anthony zerbe who's still with us !