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Licence To Kill (Special Edition)

Licence To Kill (Special Edition)

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Lean, Mean Bond Machine
Review: "Licence to Kill" was Timothy Dalton's second and last go-around as 007, yet it remains among the best James Bond adventures. In some ways, it's a radical departure from the previous films, with Bond becoming judge, jury and executioner. Even though the movie sometimes feels like a "Miami Vice" retread, the 007 spirit remains intact. The spectacular oil-tanker chase is a terrific setpiece -- it's nice to see a 007 film have a strong finish for a change. Perhaps Dalton wasn't the best Bond, but he was ideal for this particular adventure.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: GOOD FILM BUT WHERE DID THE BOND PRODUCTION VALUES GO ?
Review: Some good moments in this film but the production really looks cheap. I hate talkin that way about a film shot in my country but it really seems like someone was trying to save money. I would have recommendeded instead not making this mediocre film at all !

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Tim Dalton: The Underrated Bond
Review: While "Licence to Kill" paled in comparison to previous Bond movies, Timothy Dalton at least deserved high praise for having the integrity to portray Bond on his own terms. Instead, he was wrongfully penalized by critics and Bond fans alike for imbuing a one-dimensional cinematic character with a depth of humanity and realism, an artistic move that presumably doomed Dalton's second, and final, 1989 Bond film at the box office.
The DVD version reveals a lot of what Dalton had to work with during the film's troubled production: budgetary constraints, a screenplay written under the duress of a screenwriter's strike and the relocation of the cast and crew away from Pinewood Studios.
Yet what the DVD doesn't show of the film's problems is clearly evident in the movie itself. Poor editing, underwritten scenes and the atrocious acting of supporting player Talisa Soto (in one unintentionally hilarious moment) also contributed to the film's downfall.
Another drawback is the failure to explore, or develop, the potential subtheme of an angry man driven to avenge the brutal maiming of his best friend who is widowed on his wedding day ---the same way he was many years before.
Among the film's major strengths are the performances by veteran character actor Robert Davi as the evil drug lord and a young-looking Benicio Del Toro, who showed early promise in his supporting role as a minor-league henchman.
What's especially telling about "Licence to Kill," and of Dalton's previous Bond movie, "The Living Daylights," is how closely they remain rooted in reality and strayed from the bombastic, larger-than-life inanities audiences have come to expect of most Bond films. Whether such an approach is a good thing depends on one's own judgment.
So keep in mind that while Dalton's grity take on 007 wasn't everyone's preference after having been accustomed to 15 years of Roger Moore's glib insouciance, his portrayal was undeniably closer to Ian Fleming's vision of what Bond is like: an emotionally-wounded, existential loner who hates the only job he is really good at.
But, then again, in an age when producers have to choose between fostering artistic integrity or commercial expediency in the movies they make, guess which wins? Undemanding moviegoers usually get what they want, and in the case of James Bond, they largely dictate the course he will take.
As a result, the cinematic James Bond is, as mentioned before, a one-dimensional character, who requires a one-dimensional actor to portray him --- which explains why Pierce Brosnan is so successful in the role.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Worst Bond by a Landslide
Review: I grew up on the Bond series, reading many of the books and short stories written by Ian Fleming. I viewed my first Bond movie when I was six years old and have been an avid fan ever since. Until this movie was released. "Lisence to Kill" is by far the worst James Bond movie ever made, acting wise. The plot is ok, but the fact that Bond is so dedicated to queen and country makes this story about a personal vendetta for a man that he barely knows is utterly unbelievable. But that is ok. Its not like "Moonraker" or "You Only Live Twice" were believable, but the acting was ok. The acting in "Lisence to Kill" is the worst I have seen by far in a Bond film. Timothy Dalton's acting really isn't too bad, but it is not his best performance and his surrounding cast is absolutely horrid! I would not recommend that anyone purchace this film unless you want to complete the set, which is what I did.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Gritty Bond thriller
Review: The only thing wrong with the 16th official James Bond movie (other than a dull, generic title) is that it doesn't quite feel like a Bond adventure. With Timothy Dalton returning for his second and final shot at the role, but still working to win over an audience accustomed to Roger Moore, he could have benefited from the appearance of some established series regulars. But with Bernard Lee (M) dead, and Lois Maxwell (Moneypenny) forcibly retired, all Dalton has is Desmond Llewelyn as Q. And the soundtrack to his adventure comes courtesy of composer Michael Kamen when the film might have had been more Bondian with John Barry's trademark sound.

Filming in Mexico instead of at Pinewood studios also makes this look like a rogue production, but with Bond embarking on a personal vendetta in this film, "rogue" is the apt description of 007 in this tough, gritty thriller, the first Bond film to earn an R rating. He's out to avenge the murder of CIA ally Felix Leiter, played, as he was in "Live and Let Die," by David Hedison, the only actor ever invited to reprise the role first given life by Jack Lord in "Dr. No."

For those who like their Bond bad guys larger than life, ala Goldfinger, Robert Davi may be a disappointment. Davi's Sanchez is merely a drug dealer, a big time drug dealer to be sure, but he's small potatoes compared to the usual Bond adversary bent on world domination. But Davi makes a splendid foe for those who prefer the more down to earth realism that the series pretty much abandoned after "From Russia With Love."

The Bond babes aren't likely to disappoint though. Carrie Lowell and Tarisa Soto are welcome additions to the Bondwagon.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dalton's Best Film
Review: This is one of my favorite James Bond films. This film has great action, especially when Felix Lighter loses a leg, Bond almost dies by falling into a rock pit, the truck scene when Bond was riding on two wheels and somebody shot a missile that missed Bond's truck, and when Sanchez gets burned in the fire by Bond's cigarette lighter. I have heard that most people didn't like Timothy Dalton as James Bond in License to Kill. I think it is because this film was the only Bond film that received a Restricted (R) rating. But if you buy this on DVD, the rating is cut to PG-13. To me, this is my 2nd favorite Bond film (my first being Live and Let Die). If I were you, I would buy this film rather than rent it because it is worthwhile to own a film with this much action.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best Bond film with the second-best Bond
Review: If you enjoyed the first few James Bond films with Sean Connery (before the franchise turned into a campy parody of itself), then you'll like this one. Although it's not based on any of Ian Fleming's original stories, it captures their feel better than anything since _From Russia With Love_.

Timothy Dalton's steely Bond is arguably the closest to date to Fleming's original vision for the MI5 secret agent (not 'spy', please). He's as tough and lean as Connery ever was, and he brings something of Connery's lupine charm to the role.

The rest of the movie is extremely well done. Robert Davi is one of the best villains since Goldfinger, and surely one of the most realistic in the entire series. Carey Lowell, though mostly effective, is a little underwhelming in the acting department. And the plot -- lifted at least partly from Fleming's _Live and Let Die_ (which is the source for the bad thing that happens to Felix Leiter early in the film) -- gives Dalton's Bond an excuse to seethe with volcanic fury and go off seeking vengeance.

If I'm not mistaken (and I don't think I am), this is also the last script to which longtime Bond screenwriter Richard Maibaum contributed. (He died not long after this film was produced.)

I like Pierce Brosnan in the role, and I'd like him better if he got better movies to do; _Goldeneye_ has probably been his best so far. But for some reason, the screenwriters don't want to make him gritty enough. (And by the time they tried with Roger Moore -- in the excellent _For Your Eyes Only_ -- it was far too late.)

I also like _The Living Daylights_. But when I want to watch a non-Connery Bond film, this is the one I pick most often.

Probably all Bond fans out there have already seen it. But if you haven't, you've got a treat ahead of you.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Most Dangerous Bond(in 20 years)...
Review: Timothy Dalton's 007 was never credited (as is Pierce Brosnan)for reviving Bond's aura as invincible Gentleman Spy and super hero extraordinary. By Roger Moore's VIEW to a KILL,it was 007 himself who was in the famously bloody gun barrel sight. Bond films had become enjoyable comic strips; bedazzling with bizzare plots, exotic locales,and over-the-top sight gags. But the element of DANGER was gone.

Dalton's 00 tenure...brief as it was...changed this. His films rely on little gadgetry and no hamhock, self-deprecatory humor. Violence has renewed edge...which if not essaying SCARFACE brutality...impresses as genuine.LICENCE TO KILL is, perhaps,the most violent Bond adventure filmed. Its theme is VENGEANCE. The villain Franz Sanchez...well portrayed by Robert Davi without hint of comic condescension or irony...is an evil Drug Lord of the ilk of Scarface. Bond's pursuit of him is personal vendetta for his brutal(off-screen)rape-murder of Felix Leiter's wife,and sadistic(shark)mutilation of Leiter himself. While there's no (tired)nuclear bomb ticking-off a 007th Protocol climax, the ambience of Drug Cartels looms in demonic persona of academy award winner, Benicio Del Toro's role as Sanchez' Jersey Girl bi-sexual lover and vicious enforcer. THE MOST DANGEROUS BOND EVER...oriflammed the posters. Those of us who recall 007's showdown fight with Red Grant in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE will forgive this bit of Hollywood hype. But Timothy Dalton's(with very fine acting in both outings)real MI-6 mission in Licence to Kill was to rescue a dying series. He gave EON men LICENCE RENEWED to allow 007 to rejoin the very small group of cinema's mythological heroes worthy of the name:LTK is a very good James Bond Adventure...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Too serious and in depth for James Bond.
Review: Tinothy Dalton's second (and last) James Bond adventure is very dull. Timothy Dalton played it a little too seriously for this one, he was also sort of wooden in that he never showed any sign of emotion. This movie had a very in depth plot with James Bond resigning from the British Secrect Service just so he can investingate a friends' ploblem. Then James Bond runs off on a wild goose chase over most of central america to track the perpatrator who was also a drug dealer. There was not much action also. The climax in the Mexican desert was the only good part (I won't say anything else, you'll just have to see the movie:).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: cool bond movie but vilont
Review: Timothy Dalton is a ok bond in this movie a drug dealer escapes from jail.Named Franz Sancez(Robert Davi).The plot is pure action watch it!


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