#Licence to kill film movie#
#Licence to kill film full#
#Licence to kill film series#

Timothy Dalton had come on board relatively late for 1987’s The Living Daylights, replacing then-contractually unavailable Pierce Brosnan (he’d be back, of course). In summer 1989, just four years after Roger Moore had been dangling from the top of the Golden Gate Bridge in A View to A Kill – the literal height of Rodge-style campery in the twilight his Bond tenure – James Bond was in much darker territory.

#Licence to kill film movie#

And it’s a clash well worth seeing for any spy or action movie fan.This article has an estimated read time of 10 minutes

It’s an exciting, tense ride that ends with a clash of two titans. While it’s not a perfect film, the push-and-pull between Sanchez and Bond is riveting and keeps you invested the whole way through. He’s a worthy match for Bond, which makes the moment when Bond finally manages to win all the more satisfying.Īnd that’s really what the whole film comes down to. He’s sharp too, and keeps Bond constantly on his toes while the Brit is trying to infiltrate his organization. He’s much more complex and realistic than most Bond villains. But if you step out of line for even a moment, he will not hesitate to kill you. He can be a genuinely good boss, and he rewards loyalty. What’s unique about Sanchez among many Bond villains is that you understand why his people are loyal to him. He brings an air of equal parts charm and menace to the role. Revenge movies live or die off of the strength of the protagonist and the villain, and thankfully Robert Davi was more than up to the task. But throwing in the love triangle is unnecessary and adds a bit of a Three’s Company vibe to the film where it’s not needed.īut let’s circle back to Sanchez. I’ve nothing against the characters, as Bouvier is a pretty cool character who can hold her own in dangerous situations, and Lupe helps demonstrate what a vile man Sanchez is. This isn’t a film that particularly needs a romantic sub-plot. Leaving aside the fact that Sato’s performance is pretty wooden, the entire concept feels tacked on and unnecessary. The other, more notable problem is the love triangle the film introduces between CIA agent Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell) and Sanchez’s kept woman, Lupe Lamora (Talisa Sato). Dalton does his best to make up for it though, and between his performance and the film’s brisk pace it’s hard to notice while you’re watching. While I do like the idea of Bond going on a revenge quest for his best friend, the truth is that we haven’t seen enough of his relationship with Felix to truly feel invested in Bond’s quest on a personal level.

With all that said, there are some minor quibbles I have with the movie. And when he and Sanchez finally have their big confrontation it leads to one of the best climaxes of the series. The closer Bond gets to his goal, the more dangerous his position becomes. If he truly wants to nail Sanchez, he’ll have to find a way to bring him down from the inside.Īnd it’s that constant back and forth between the two parties that keeps the film exciting. It’s a match-up that has Bond at a major disadvantage.

But this drug lord, Sanchez (Robert Davi), is just as crafty as Bond, and even more ruthless. Cut off from his usual contacts, Bond has to rely on his wits, guns, and whatever friends he can make along the way. It’s an interesting story for Bond too, as he goes rogue from MI 6 in order to hunt down the drug lord who maimed Felix Leiter and murdered his wife.

#Licence to kill film full#

Dalton in particular shines throughout, as he’s finally able to show the full breadth of his take on Bond. It makes the film much stronger as a result. Where the last one kept pulling back from the darker moments, this film embraces that tone. The big difference between this one and its predecessor, The Living Daylights, is commitment. Surprisingly, it’s also one of my favorites.

#Licence to kill film series#

It’s about as far as the series could get from the Roger Moore era. It’s one of the most brutal, dark, and gritty entries in the franchise. So Licence to Kill is a polarizing film in the Bond community, and for good reason.