Jump to content


This is a read only archive of the old forums
The new CBn forums are located at https://quarterdeck.commanderbond.net/

 
Photo

CBn Reviews 'The Living Daylights'


72 replies to this topic

Poll: Rate 'The Living Daylights'

Rate 'The Living Daylights'

You cannot see the results of the poll until you have voted. Please login and cast your vote to see the results of this poll.
Vote Guests cannot vote

#1 Qwerty

Qwerty

    Commander RNVR

  • Commanding Officers
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 85605 posts
  • Location:New York / Pennsylvania

Posted 21 February 2006 - 09:17 PM

From CBn's Main Page...

Posted Image
CBn Reviews 'The Living Daylights'
Forum members review the fifteenth James Bond film



#2 Publius

Publius

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 3225 posts
  • Location:Miami

Posted 21 February 2006 - 10:27 PM

Great reviews, everybody did a solid job (and I'm not just tooting my own horn!). It was nice to see a balance where it was possible, 'cause Lord knows that's hard to achieve for some of these.

And thanks for including me, Qwerty!

#3 DLibrasnow

DLibrasnow

    Commander

  • Enlisting
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 16568 posts
  • Location:Washington D.C.. USA

Posted 21 February 2006 - 11:13 PM

I forgot that I had written this review.

#4 Loomis

Loomis

    Commander CMG

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 21862 posts

Posted 21 February 2006 - 11:28 PM

It's a 6 from me. I dunno, I guess I don't really like THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS as much as I feel I should. There are some wonderful things about it - a very welcome injection of "grit", "intelligence" (in both senses - Bond actually does some spying for once) and "Fleming"; an absolutely terrific performance by Dalton (although he's neither the Bond of Fleming, nor the sort of big screen Bond we all know and love); the last Barry score (and a bloody good one), etc. - but the film somehow feels less than the sum of its parts. It's lacking in a few areas I can't quite put my finger on, and seems curiously repetitive. Also suffers from a bit of '80s naffness around the edges (the "ghettoblaster" joke), and while his screentime may be shorter, Q-the-bringer-of-unnecessary-and-often-cringeworthy-comic-relief is every bit as intrusive here as he is in LICENCE TO KILL. (Side note: I find it odd that those who slam LTK as "not nearly gritty enough" nearly always give TLD a total pass - there's just as much letting-the-side-down "humour" in this film, if not more: see the aforementioned ghettoblaster gag, the "What kind of girl do you think I am?" sequence, the utterly silly and suspense-free ice chase.... And while LTK's inappropriate so-called audience-pleasing comedy is largely confined to the scene of Bond's first encounter with Q, TLD is peppered with it throughout.)

But don't get me wrong: I'm not a LIVING DAYLIGHTS hater. If CASINO ROYALE turns out to be.... ooh, 70% as good, I'll be delighted. It's just that I don't find Dalton's debut quite the be-all-and-end-all. For some "proper Bond" fun, I'm more likely to sit down to MOONRAKER or even A VIEW TO A KILL. No, DAYLIGHTS remains one of those flicks I admire more than actually like. Now excuse me while I flee the Bond Police. :tup:

#5 Carver

Carver

    Lt. Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPip
  • 1470 posts
  • Location:Birmingham, UK

Posted 22 February 2006 - 12:06 AM

9. Yes, TLD is my favourite Bond film, but I wouldn't give it a 10 (neither would I give any other Bond film a 10, we haven't seen the perfect one yet). I see what Loomis is saying, yes there are parts where ther film is lacking a certain something, yet I believe that this film is one of the closest we have had to a Fleming novel, only a bit more modern. Dalton is by no means my favourite Bond, yet he is perfect for this film. His portrayal of an actual spy, rather than a comical character (Moore) or a guy who spends 2 hours in front of the mirror (Brosnan) is superb. As Loomis said, we actually see Bond do some spying, and we see genuine reaction from him when things go wrong with Koskov. Dalton portrays emotion brilliantly, and TLD has my all-time favourite scene in a Bond film- the Pushkin interrogation. Absolutly awesome scene, perfectly acted out. Dalton just seems so right for this film, and (this is the first time I've admitted this) had he done more films, he probably would have been my favourite Bond. Alas, we didn't see him fulfill his potential, yet we'll always have The Living Daylights as one of the true greats of the series.

#6 Qwerty

Qwerty

    Commander RNVR

  • Commanding Officers
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 85605 posts
  • Location:New York / Pennsylvania

Posted 22 February 2006 - 04:18 AM

And thanks for including me, Qwerty!


Cheers. :tup: We had a nice selection of reviews for this one from the Countdown series.

#7 Kingdom Come

Kingdom Come

    Discharged

  • Discharged
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 3572 posts

Posted 22 February 2006 - 05:17 AM

It is not one of the films I enjoy revisiting time and time again, but it is well made and probably Glen's best effort. Expensive looking but a wee bit downbeat for my tastes.

#8 Harmsway

Harmsway

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 13293 posts

Posted 22 February 2006 - 05:46 AM

It's a 6 from me. I dunno, I guess I don't really like THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS as much as I feel I should.

I certainly understand what you mean. I've often felt that THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, while I've often cited it as the last "great" Bond film, isn't all that spectacular, and should have been a lot better than it was. There's quite a bit off, and you nailed some of it (the "silly" 80s humor, for instance).

It also lacks some really decent Bond villains, a great Bond girl (sorry, but Kara just isn't all that great), and a rousing finale. That finale with Whitaker has always been somewhat lame. John Glen's direction, as usual, is quite pedestrian, and it doesn't help the film at all. When films are darker and grittier, they need an edge, and Glen's direction just doesn't provide it.

But I'll be the first to admit THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS has some absolutely great moments. Bond as a sniper at Koskov's defection and Bond confronting Pushkin are two of the finer "dark" moments in the series. :tup:

On a side note, after MOONRAKER, I think the series took a downward spiral and THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS was part of it. The series really felt as if it had lost the "spark" that gave it so much life previously. It hit its rock bottom in A VIEW TO A KILL (a movie I struggle to sit through), and with the freshness of a new Bond had some life with THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, only to follow it up with the relatively flat LICENCE TO KILL. Even not-so-good previous entries as DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER and LIVE AND LET DIE had a more life and freshness to them.

GOLDENEYE, I feel, brought back some life to the series, but only had it crushed out of it with TOMORROW NEVER DIES and THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH. DIE ANOTHER DAY, while lively, just didn't have the classy air that Bond needs. So I'm hoping for is a return to form with CASINO ROYALE.

#9 Scottlee

Scottlee

    Lt. Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPip
  • 2592 posts
  • Location:Leeds, England

Posted 22 February 2006 - 10:00 AM

I was in the mood to rate the film an '8' this morning. I was torn between 8 and 9, admittedly.

#10 Qwerty

Qwerty

    Commander RNVR

  • Commanding Officers
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 85605 posts
  • Location:New York / Pennsylvania

Posted 22 February 2006 - 01:02 PM

This was definitely one of the favourites among the series when I was putting this article together - the majority were positive reviews. The poll also definitely shows this.

#11 Hitchcock Bond

Hitchcock Bond

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 152 posts

Posted 22 February 2006 - 02:00 PM

I have always liked TLD and thought it one of the best in the series. I only re-watched it last night and was surprised to find that Dalton was more humorous than I seem to recall from the first time I saw the film. The only two cringe-worthy jokes I recall are the 'Salt Corrosion' and 'Safety Glass' jokes during the car chase. Otherwise, Dalton delivered a very dry, witty performance, perhaps too dry for any brought up on the later Connery and Moore's Bonds. The plot is a proper espionage story and not an 'end of the world' scenario. The film has good, if not over the top villains; again not in line with the 'traditional' Bond villain. The film has good action sequences: one of the best PTS, and the cargo net fight is one of the best on any film. My only issue is that the ending seems a little messed up. I feel the film should have ended after Bond and Kara have escaped from the plane. Bond dismisses the danger he has just escaped from and says he knows a great restaurant in Karachi to which they could just make dinner. The end credits should have rolled there as they drive off. I wonder if that

#12 Loomis

Loomis

    Commander CMG

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 21862 posts

Posted 22 February 2006 - 02:05 PM

I think there's actually a lot of silliness in DAYLIGHTS, to the point where the film as it is could have worked perfectly well with Moore. And it would have been a much better final outing for Moore than A VIEW TO A KILL, while LICENCE TO KILL would have been quite suitable debut material for Dalton.

The idea that DAYLIGHTS is a splendidly gritty and hard-edged thriller is one of those enduring myths of Bond fandom.

#13 Hitchcock Bond

Hitchcock Bond

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 152 posts

Posted 22 February 2006 - 02:16 PM

Well Roger was a little too old for AVTAK, I don't think it would have been fair to reel him out for TLD. Some silliness? well ok the Juile T Wallace scene, the Afghan rebel who was at Oxford, the Cello escape are a little silly. Remember this is Bond not King Lear, we're supposed to have some fun.

#14 Lounge Lizard

Lounge Lizard

    Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • PipPip
  • 593 posts
  • Location:Amsterdam, Netherlands

Posted 22 February 2006 - 02:20 PM

The idea that DAYLIGHTS is a splendidly gritty and hard-edged thriller is one of those enduring myths of Bond fandom.


True; that myth took hold simply because TLD seemed a little grittier than what came before (although Moore-Bond was rock hard in FYEO and parts of OP, and he was plain nasty in LALD and TMWTGG). Still, I'm glad with how things have turned out, and I like the film a lot as Dalton's debut, with the actor in fine romantic hero form. The film is certainly not as tough and dour as some make it out to be, in spite of things like the kitchen fight (which is quite hard-hitting) and the Pushkin hotel room scene. I think The Living Daylights just balances the 'thriller' and 'comedy' aspects of the Bond universe perfectly. It's in my top three.

#15 Skudor

Skudor

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 9286 posts
  • Location:Buckinghamshire

Posted 22 February 2006 - 02:22 PM

Gave it 8 - would have been a solid nine if it weren't for Joe Don Baker.

#16 Harmsway

Harmsway

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 13293 posts

Posted 22 February 2006 - 06:27 PM

I think there's actually a lot of silliness in DAYLIGHTS, to the point where the film as it is could have worked perfectly well with Moore. And it would have been a much better final outing for Moore than A VIEW TO A KILL, while LICENCE TO KILL would have been quite suitable debut material for Dalton.

The idea that DAYLIGHTS is a splendidly gritty and hard-edged thriller is one of those enduring myths of Bond fandom.

Indeed - it's full of left-over Moore silliness (Bond pulling the antenna back on the rooftop, for instance).

#17 Stephen Spotswood

Stephen Spotswood

    Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • PipPip
  • 823 posts

Posted 22 February 2006 - 06:52 PM

I liked Dalton's dismissive reading of the, "I'm Bond, James Bond" line. It showed early on that he's not your daddy's Bond. Dalton didn't have the line at all in "Licensed to Kill." In fact his reading of the line suggested he was annoyed by the bikni babe asking who he is while he's on the phone.

Sean Connery always said it like he expected you to drop dead at hearing his name, and Moore always seemed to be pausing for applause.

#18 Harmsway

Harmsway

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 13293 posts

Posted 22 February 2006 - 06:56 PM

I liked Dalton's dismissive reading of the, "I'm Bond, James Bond" line. It showed early on that he's not your daddy's Bond. Dalton didn't have the line at all in "Licensed to Kill." In fact his reading of the line suggested he was annoyed by the bikni babe asking who he is while he's on the phone.

Indeed.

Sean Connery always said it like he expected you to drop dead at hearing his name, and Moore always seemed to be pausing for applause.

The absolute worst is Brosnan's, who waits like 3 seconds between "Bond" and "James Bond," as if the name should be recognizeable to whoever he's saying it to.

#19 columbo

columbo

    Midshipman

  • Crew
  • 45 posts
  • Location:Lisbon

Posted 22 February 2006 - 08:16 PM

006 in 007.

#20 Genrewriter

Genrewriter

    Cammander CMG

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 4360 posts
  • Location:South Pasadena, CA

Posted 22 February 2006 - 08:29 PM

It's very close to my top 10 (LTK has a better batch of villains) but I've always enjoyed it. It's a really good debut for Dalton.

#21 Qwerty

Qwerty

    Commander RNVR

  • Commanding Officers
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 85605 posts
  • Location:New York / Pennsylvania

Posted 22 February 2006 - 09:09 PM

The absolute worst is Brosnan's, who waits like 3 seconds between "Bond" and "James Bond," as if the name should be recognizeable to whoever he's saying it to.


I have to agree with that. I wonder if the line was specifically tailored that way in the script[s].

#22 Harmsway

Harmsway

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 13293 posts

Posted 22 February 2006 - 09:31 PM


The absolute worst is Brosnan's, who waits like 3 seconds between "Bond" and "James Bond," as if the name should be recognizeable to whoever he's saying it to.

I have to agree with that. I wonder if the line was specifically tailored that way in the script[s].

Having read a few of the scripts, I never saw it done in such a way to indicate that reading.

#23 tdalton

tdalton

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 11680 posts

Posted 23 February 2006 - 02:59 PM

I gave it a 10. My favorite Bond movie by a pretty good margin.

#24 Qwerty

Qwerty

    Commander RNVR

  • Commanding Officers
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 85605 posts
  • Location:New York / Pennsylvania

Posted 23 February 2006 - 08:32 PM



The absolute worst is Brosnan's, who waits like 3 seconds between "Bond" and "James Bond," as if the name should be recognizeable to whoever he's saying it to.

I have to agree with that. I wonder if the line was specifically tailored that way in the script[s].

Having read a few of the scripts, I never saw it done in such a way to indicate that reading.


Yeah, so it seems. I just checked the Tomorrow Never Dies script I have as well.

#25 mattjoes

mattjoes

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 243 posts

Posted 28 February 2006 - 03:19 AM

I think that The Living Daylights saved the franchise after Roger Moore's tired performance as Bond. Dalton's new approach gave new life to the character and a better script that only lacked in villains saved the series from campness (but not for too long).

Voted 10/10.

#26 Qwerty

Qwerty

    Commander RNVR

  • Commanding Officers
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 85605 posts
  • Location:New York / Pennsylvania

Posted 28 February 2006 - 03:28 AM

Welcome to the CBn Forums, mattjoes. :tup:

#27 Flash1087

Flash1087

    Lt. Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPip
  • 1070 posts
  • Location:Michigan

Posted 28 February 2006 - 03:40 AM

The first Bond movie I've seen to leave an impression on me. TLD has kind of sank down my list as the years go by (it kind of hovers near the middle with Goldfinger and OHMSS for me), but I'll forever remember it as the one to get me started.

I agree with the 'fine balance' thing, it almost seems a perfect midway point between Moore's outings and the blackness of LTK. A warm-up act, if you will.

Edited by Flash1087, 28 February 2006 - 03:42 AM.


#28 mattjoes

mattjoes

    Sub-Lieutenant

  • Crew
  • Pip
  • 243 posts

Posted 28 February 2006 - 11:27 PM

Thanks, Qwerty. I'm very happy to join the forums.

#29 Qwerty

Qwerty

    Commander RNVR

  • Commanding Officers
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 85605 posts
  • Location:New York / Pennsylvania

Posted 01 March 2006 - 04:11 AM

Hope you enjoy it here.

#30 Publius

Publius

    Commander

  • Veterans
  • PipPipPipPip
  • 3225 posts
  • Location:Miami

Posted 01 March 2006 - 06:27 AM

I think there's actually a lot of silliness in DAYLIGHTS, to the point where the film as it is could have worked perfectly well with Moore. And it would have been a much better final outing for Moore than A VIEW TO A KILL, while LICENCE TO KILL would have been quite suitable debut material for Dalton.

The idea that DAYLIGHTS is a splendidly gritty and hard-edged thriller is one of those enduring myths of Bond fandom.

Perfectly well? Nah. Throw the magic carpet scene in, and maybe that gorilla or whatever other camp was rumored to be slated for inclusion, set it in 1981, and maybe it could have worked for Moore. Still don't see it happening, what with the PTS, the sniping, the Tangier stuff, and the fight with Necros. Although the confronation with Whitaker as is is awfully reminiscent of the way Stromberg was offed...

Anyway, I would be the first to agree that TLD is not an entirely "gritty" affair. What it is is one of the most well-balanced Bond outings in existence. There's fantasy, realism, humor, action, romance, and violence. All in all, one hell of a fun romp, and although only slightly tailored for Dalton, he's a damn good enough actor that he pulled it off almost flawlessly. While I do agree with those who say LTK is more up his alley (in a nutshell, that's why it ranks as my favorite), it seemed to work better as a follow-up rather than an outright introduction. The alternative would have been too much, too soon. Thank God they did it the way they did, although a third or fourth Dalton entry would have been spectacular.

And noticing that I forgot to list my score last time, I gave this one a 10/10.

Edited by Publius, 01 March 2006 - 06:28 AM.