Directed by John Glen
Starring: Timothy Dalton, Robert Davi, Carey Lowell
Rated PG-13 for action violence and drug content
This week marks the 30th anniversary for the 16th James Bond film, Licence to Kill. The film stars Timothy Dalton as Bond, previously playing Bond in The Living Daylights. Both films were moderately successful but Dalton’s performance as Bond invokes mixed results from the fans of the series. Licence to Kill is probably one of the better Bond films but from a different perspective, it understandable why Licence to Kill is not well liked. But there are many reasons why Licence to Kill is actually one of the better Bond films and here’s why.
Licence to Kill is a revenge story in which Bond goes after a drug tycoon, Franz Sanchez, who nearly kills Bond’s friend and ally, Felix Leiter. Off the bat, the film differs from other Bond adventures. As the previous Bond films have Bond flirting with Moneypenny, followed by M briefing Bond about a villain who wants to take over the world or some other devious plot, proceeding that with the Q lab scene, Licence to Kill skips this. Licence to Kill is a story of Bond going rouge, therefore there is no need for the above mentioned scenes with the exception of a Q scene later. The film takes chances and succeeded by doing so by not doing the same formulas we have seen in multiple Bond films. This is one of the reasons why Licence to Kill stands out from the rest of the Bond catalogs.
Timothy Dalton is usually forgotten when ranked among the Bond actors. But Dalton’s Bond brings gritty realism that was read about in the original Ian Fleming novels and we would later see in Daniel Craig. Dalton does a exceptional job as Bond. Bond is a human just like the rest of us, his emotions can get in the way, this is something that was sorely needed after the comical, almost goofy, Roger Moore. Dalton is not a Bond who cracks one liners after killing off a henchman. He is a man who is set on revenge, he does not have time for witty one liners. Audiences in 1989 were so used to Moore who was the previous Bond from 1972-1985. Dalton was unfortunately a product of being ahead of his time. Now we have someone like Craig who is serious, yet audiences and critics adore him for it. Dalton would be praised today if Licence to Kill was released in 2019.
As much praise I give Dalton for his work as Bond, equal praise is given to Robert Davi as the villain, Franz Sanchez. Sanchez is an international drug lord who is not set on destroying the world or starting World War 3, as we have seen so many villians attempt to do in the previous films. Instead he is a man who is set to rule the drug kingdom and make lots of money. This is what makes Licence to Kill so refreshing because the villain’s motivations are somewhat relatable. Not that selling drugs or being a drug lord is relatable but his motivations are not crazy ideas such as killing millions of people and creating a new world in space or underwater. There are actual drug lords who strive to be the best and make millions while doing so. Sanchez is a character who would be found in today’s world.
With Dalton bringing realism into the role, we also get to see a more serious Bond film. The film shows some brutal deaths but does not make them gory. For instance, we see a character’s head blow off as if it were a balloon and a man be set on fire before quickly dying. This may have turned off Bond fans at the time who were used to a villain flying off to space or falling off the Golden Gate Bridge behind a green screen. No longer was it the Bond series that was aimed for young audiences but it was trying to bring in mature adults who were wanting realism in their films.
Licence to Kill also features a great score, with Michael Kamen scoring the film. The score feels somewhat different, in comparison to the previous scores done by John Barry. It is a welcome change and stands out from the crowd. But as much praise is given to the film, the film has an issue with the Bond girls. The acting from both Carey Lowell and Talisa Soto can be wooden at times and both characters seem to be fighting to be the main Bond girl.
Overall Licence to Kill was a welcomed change to the Bond formula when it first premiered. But Licence to Kill is a precursor to the Daniel Craig films that would follow in the 2000’s. Ultimately the film series decided to take a risk in mixing it up but unfortunately it yielded mixed results. But Licence to Kill certainly deserves a second look at, especially if you are a fan of the current film series.
4/4
Edward's Film Reviews 