Rating: 
Summary: Smiert Spionem - aka - Death to Spies!
Review: The 15th James Bond movie. In many ways this is a new James Bond film with a new actor, a new style, and a new attitude. Following Roger Moore's retirement from the series after A VIEW TO A KILL, producers Albert R. Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson find themselves without a replacement. Among the considerated candidates, Sam Neill and Pierce Brosnan (who ironically played the role almost a decade later), one actor stood out - Welsh-born Timothy Dalton! After being well trained at Shakespearean Dramatic Arts, Dalton appropriately fuses an extreme sense of poise, experience, self-assurance, and very explicit danger to the role of Agent James Bond. Ironically this was a trait envisioned from the original characterization of Ian Fleming's novels. With clever directon by John Glen and a crisp Richard Maibaum/Michael G. Wilson script, a beautiful heroin in Maryam D'abo, and exotic locations ranging from Czecheslovakia, Vienna, and Morocco, this brings the James Bond series to new levels of excitement and suspense. The real treat is the return of the Aston Martin (now designed to fit the time period), since its' last appearances in GOLDFINGER, THUNDERBALL, and ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. Just a personal note, all of these elements of suspense, danger, and excitement would be utilized to a much greater extent in the next James Bond film - LICENCE TO KILL! This was also the final appearances of Walter Gotell as General Gogol and Geoffrey Keen as Frederick Gray.THE ASSIGNMENT: A high-level KGB Agent, General Koskov, plans to defect to the West during a concert in Bratislava. His escape plans are almost foiled when a female sniper (who Bond recognizes as a cello organist) attempts to shoot him. Ignoring precise orders, Bond injures the sniper instead of killing her. He then smuggles Koskov out of the country via "pipeline to the West", which proves the safest route to Austria by pumping gas from East to West. During his briefing at the safe house in Blayden, Koskov reveals the existence of operation SMIERT SPIONEM (Death to Spies). This dates back to Stalin's time, and has been rejected by Soviet Secret Service Agent General Pushkin. The purpose is to eliminate top American and British agents and destroy their secret services. If the West retaliates, this movement can lead to war. However Koskov is soon apprehended, and M persuades Bond that General Pushkin must be stopped. Although Bond is not convinced Koskov to be telling the truth, and adjourns back to Bratislava to find the mysterious cellist. THE VILLAINS: Joe Don Baker as Brad Whitaker, Jeroen Krabbe as General Koskov, and Andreas Wisniewski as Necros. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! BUY IT!
Rating:
Summary: A New Era For Bond
Review: With THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS Eon productions returned to the style that made the James Bond films a success in the first place. Bond classics like FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and FOR YOUR EYES ONLY are the template that director John Glen and writers Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson (who also co-produced the film) used in creating a style to fit new Bond Timothy Dalton. Dalton's performance comes straight out of Ian Fleming's 007 novels, as he re-read all of Fleming's books before filming TLD. At times Dalton's performance echoes those of Sean Connery, but with a harder edge befitting a character who has been through as much, and come as close to death as many times as Bond has. Dalton's Bond is professional, but cynical, while maintaing a suave persona and a subtle sense of humor. The supporting cast is excellent as well, with Jeroen Krabbe and Joe Don Baker as particular standouts. The story echoes the decline of the cold war, and leads Bond into a new era where the Soviets are no longer the main threat for Bond to foil (like OCTOPUSSY, TLD features a rogue Russian General acting without the knowledge of his government). The action sequences are outstanding, and the locations are exotic (as usual), befitting a great Bond film. The DVD includes the best picture and sound that this film has ever seen, easily surpassing the VHS and LaserDisc versions. The special features include 2 documentaries, a "lost" scene, trailers and TV commercials, and more, making this DVD package a "must buy" even if you have already seen the movie several times. Timothy Dalton brought credibility back to Bond as an action hero, but, sadly, he was to appear in only one more Bond film, the outstanding LICENCE TO KILL.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Bond Ever Made
Review: This is how Ian Flemming intended bond to be - sophisticated, handsome but with a little bit of the sinister about him (even sean connery was too much of a clean cut good guy). Dalton is probably the best 'actor' to play the role, and is, in my opinion the only bond to convey the ruthlesness of the original character - the only bond who looks like he could go and assasinate someone if he was ordered to do it. Alas, the average member of the movie going public has never read an Ian Flemming novel and seems more interested in special affects and action sequences than a good acting performance, which explains why this film is often overlooked, and why Mr Brosnan's films seem to do so well at the box office. Having said that, this film does have some memorable action sequences (the chase in the Aston Martin and the opening sequence) to offset the more gritty storyline. It is amusing however to see the Afgan 'freedom fighters' so heartily endorsed (at the time their guns were pointing at communists) - if the film was made today, no doubt those same people would be painted as evil democracy hating terrorists - a good example of how popular cinema can reflect contemporary public opinion. A shame Dalton wasn't given more time at the role.
Rating: 
Summary: The Living Daylights
Review: Timothy Dalton'd debut as OO7 in The Living Daylights is very different from his second film, License to Kill.The Living Daylights has a sophisticated plot with a diamonds for opium scheme involving a phony KGB defection and assasination operation.The villains this time around are the phony defector General Kuscov and the American arms dealer Brad Whitaker.The Bond girl is a cellist named Kara.The movie drags on too long and the script is weak.The action is limited and when there was action it was short, the only exception is a great fight toward the end where the Afghan rebels attack the Soviet air base.Dalton carries the picture.In License to Kill the plot is okay but the action and stunts are spectacular and long.A-ha's title song had a catchy tune and is quite good.The score was great.If you want a OO7 film that has suspense, a great plot, and good acting, check out The Living Daylights.If you want a Bond movie that has spectacular non-stop action, great girls, and humor try License to Kill.I did not like Caroline Bliss as Moneypenny.
Rating:
Summary: Really a great Bond movie!!!
Review: First of all, this is about 10 times better than Timothy Dalton's second flick as 007, Licence to Kill, which was a good movie, but didn't quite make it into my list of fantastic Bonds. The Living Daylights is a charming, romantic, fast-paced adventure, which, in my opinion can hold a candle to movies as historic as Goldfinger and From Russia With Love. Dalton is on top of his career as Bond, and proves right away that he needed no time to adapt to the character as Moore did (3 movies in fact).This film starts off with a bang as an unknown madman, part of an international conspiracy called "smiert spionem" (kill spies), ruins a routine MI6 training session as he kills off several 00 agents, until getting outrun by 007. The movie itself is centered around an important KGB defector who doublecrosses the secret service after promising loyalty, and hooks up with a dirty dealing American arms dealer named Brad Whitaker (played by Joe Don Baker), who wants to help the KGB defector finance his "smiert spionem" conspiracy. Along with a ruthless KGB henchman named Necros, Georgi Koskov (the KGB defector, played by Jeroen Krabbe) fights time and 007 to carry out his whimsical plans. The movie is equipped with fantastic action sequences such as a chase down an Austrian ski slope in a cello case, a fantastic mid-air brawl with Necros and Koskov, and a climatic thriller in Whitaker's villa, where the insane arms dealer tries to fry Bond in his battle room. This is a fantastic movie not only because it has a great plot, great actors, and a great bond, but because it also has a bond girl who bond seems really attracted to. Kara Milovy, a Slovakian cellist, seems to have a real romance with Bond, which is a nice refresher since most Bond fans are used to the classic "love 'em and leave 'em" plot line. All in all, a great movie!!!! Just for the sake of it, here is my Bond "gold collection" list of 5: -from russia, with love -goldfinger -the spy who loved me -the living daylights -for your eyes only
Rating: 
Summary: a decent entry with a great bond
Review: the brosnan fans have it wrong. dead wrong.
and the facts are there in print!
dalton was asked twice. long BEFORE brosnan.
dalton turned it down twice before accepting ONLY AFTER brosnan couldnt commit.
for a very long time (way back when moore was even still fresh into it) the original producers both felt dalton would be the quintessential bond.
and, while this movie and it's sequal are decent (not great) they do contain an original performance from dalton.
far more original than brosnan, who is a mix of connery, moore AND dalton.
as a matter of fact, if one has ever even read the original books, dalton is much closer to fleming's bond than connery even was.
and dalton is undoubtedly the best ACTOR that has played bond.
check out the inner intensity in many of his scenes here (popping the balloon after his fellow agent has been killed) and for once, bond isnt (...) his way through the movie. he has one girlfriend and the film does benefit from not going overboard on the bordello activities.
that said, the movie is tooooo long and joe don baker is god awful in an campy, over the top performance.
still, we do have dalton and, sorry pierce, you dont hold a candle to this actor.
Rating:
Summary: Good debut for Timothy Dalton
Review: The Living Daylights is the first Bond movie(out of only two)with Timothy Dalton.He looks a little uneasy at times,but for the most part,did very well,and plays the part a lot more seriously than Roger Moore did.As for the movie itself,it's very good,and a lot better than Moore's last 007 film,A View to a Kill.There is plenty of action and gadgets,including a really cool Aston Martin car.Maryam d'Abo is good as very pretty Bond girl Kara Milovny.Joe Don Baker as Brad Whitaker and Jeroen Krabbe' as General Koskov are the main villains,they both do a pretty good job,but aren't that memorable as far as Bond villains go.The John Barry musical score(the last one he's done in the Bond series to date) and title song by Ah-Ha are both very good.Overall,it's a good Bond film,and nice debut for Dalton,who really came into his own as Bond in the next film,License to Kill,which is excellent.Great DVD with a sharp picture,good sound,and lots of extras.
Rating:
Summary: Dalton's good, and so is the movie
Review: This movie clearly departed from the trend of the James Bond series and took a stand of its own. "The Living Daylights" biggest asset is that it has a plot, and that's more than many other Bond movies can say. (Most notably the latest Bond film, "The World is Not Enough", which I enjoyed, but which had no plot). Joe Don Baker plays a great Brad Whitaker, a weapons and war obsessed arms dealer involved with a russian general selling arms to Afghanistan. And the final showdown in Whitaker's weapons gallery is memorable. Jeroen Krabbe as Georgi Koskov is well cast, and Maryam d'Abo gives a great performance as Koskov's girlfriend, whom Bond falls in love with, another unusual thing, considering he usually "loves em' and leaves em'." Dalton brings an unusually harsh tone to the James Bond character, but Ian Fleming never meant for Bond to be a "friendly" kind of guy. If you like great action movies with some guts, then this one's for you.
Rating:
Summary: first good bond in a long time and daltons great
Review: the last decent bond movie before this was for your eyes only.
then came dalton.
despite what the brosnan fans like to believe dalton was asked twice to be bond, several years before brosnan was even considered.
and when dalton finally took his turn at bond, he delivered.
this one is a bit better than the follow up, which, though featuring a very fine performance from dalton, was a bit too much like a miami vice episode.
dalton gives us his bond which is different than either connery or moore and its a valid and etertaining one.
the first three major bonds all had their own take and all three are enjoyable.
actually, it is brosnan who really delivers nothing new.
dalton's bond is an assassin, albeit one with morales
and for the first and last time bond is NOT a [prostitute]. he has one girlfriend in this and his lack of bed jumping is refreshing.
the quiet intensity dalton gives the character is unequaled by the actors who played the role before and since.
actually he is the best 'actor' to play the character, though connery is the best bond of course.
though living daylights is a bit too long and sags at times and joe don baker is badly miscast, its a succesful entry in the franchise.
grab a beer and some popcorn.
Rating:
Summary: Not Your Average Bond
Review: Dalton is the Bond of the books! He went outside the norm of the James Bond tradition and I congradulate him for it. The movie itself is well done. It feels like you watching an actual story then a bunch of action scenes. The keychain scenes are hilarious!
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