Licence To Kill (1989)Written by Richard Maibaum & Michael G. Wilson
Based upon the characters created by Ian Fleming
Directed by John Glen
Licence To Kill, more than twenty-years on, still stirs up quite a bit of controversy. The Living Daylights, whilst miles away from the camp tone of the Moore adventures still retained a very 'traditional Bond' feel. Licence To Kill is stripped down, it's an 80's revenge movie with James Bond in it.
That said, I consider it to be one of the best films in the series. It adapts several previously neglected elements to be found in Ian Fleming novels. The whole premise of the film comes from an event in the second Bond novel 'Live and Let Die' in which Felix Leiter is mauled by a shark. It departs from standard formula by having Bond go rogue - and for once he isn't working for 'Queen and Country' but portrays a man desperate for personal revenge.
The film is oft-criticised for not having a big, OTT villain. A drug dealer? Very dull for a Bond movie. But these detractors miss the point of Robert Davi's desestable Sanchez. He's not 'deliciously evil' - there's no joy to be had from him. He's a vile, drug dealing woman beating monster. This is Bond going up against a real bad-guy - he's not playing at World Domination or anything like that - he's real evil. Ruining lives just to line his own pocket... Davi plays the role brilliantly and I still say Sanchez is one of the best bad guys this franchise has given us.
Dalton continues to impress me as 007. He's a damaged man, deadly and ruthless when he has to be. He still reminds me of Flemings Bond (being ruthless and cold, but 'easily tipped into sentiment'). It's unfortunate that there was a six year break between this film and Goldeneye as I would have loved to have seen Dalton play the role at least once more. He is an incredible Bond, having in spades that element of danger that several of the actors to tackle the role have lacked. Damnit, fate. You robbed us.
Pam Bouvier is one of the things I dislike about the film. Well, not her so much, but her relationship with Bond. They've just met... they're on a boat arguing... then they're making out. Huh? I could accept it some of the Connery films, certainly from Moore or Brosnan... but Dalton? Nah, it doesn't fit with the approach the rest of the film takes. It's out of nowhere and feels unrealistic and was no doubt forced into the script as a 'Bond moment'. They don't seem willing to just let Daltons Bond be it's own thing... not completely anyway.
The character herelf is fine - but she'l never be on the 'Best Bond-Girl' list. Despite apparently being a strong-willed, competant woman she still goes to jelly around Bond.
It just seems to undo all the good work done in Daylights in actually building a believable romance in a Bond film (well... more believable than previously. At least they give it a few days.)
This review is short, but there isn't too much to say. I love Licence To Kill. I think it gives us a realistic, hard-edged Bond. There's little comfort to be given by familliar faces and for the first time in years the team behind the films did something different. People didn't buy into it - but I think the film speaks for itself. This is real Bond.
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