63 replies to this topic

[Qwerty]

From CBn's Main Page...

CBn Reviews 'Licence To Kill'

_{Forum members review the sixteenth James Bond film}

[ACE]

Nice reviews.

Mr Malcolm, you are a clever and resourceful reviewer. Top notch, insightful stuff you have written. Yes, a Jedi you will become.

[Jim]

All very interesting and enlightening. Some really thoughtful reviews.

It's still rubbish, though.

[Loomis]

A possibly-slightly-too-generous 8 from me. Will CASINO ROYALE put LICENCE TO KILL in the shade, or make it look better than ever?

[David Schofield]

Licence has everything I want in a Bond film.

That's just me though, of course.

[Lazenby880]

Thoroughly interesting and thought-provoking reviews all on a film that is not perfect but very, very good.

And I gave it a 9.

[Stephen Spotswood]

I give "License to Kill" an 8. Dalton was a ten, but there was a general feel of low budget. Robert Davi was a very believable villian without any obvious hamming it up. Wayne Newton as a professor Joe Butcher was totally miscasted. Having a cult leader was an interesting idea, but Newton's performance was more appropriate for a Moore or Brosnan movie. He was like a discordant note in a symphony. Carey Lowell and Talisa Soto could not act. It was nice to see more of Desmond Llewelyn's Q though. It was a nice send off and he held up to it.

Even with my kvetching LTK, FRWL, and OHMSS are the best of the whole Bond series.

Edited by Stephen Spotswood, 28 March 2006 - 04:00 PM.

[Mr Malcolm]

Nice reviews.

Mr Malcolm, you are a clever and resourceful reviewer. Top notch, insightful stuff you have written. Yes, a Jedi you will become.

Thanks ACE!

I'll give Licence To Kill a 7, purely since there's no 6.5 option in the poll.

[Publius]

Ah, another set of well-written, well-balanced reviews, and given the divisiveness of this film, kudos to Qwerty for assembling them (not to mention including yours truly). I commend the contributors, all of whom seemed to give this one an analysis more thorough than most of the rest. Well-deserved, and says something about the movie's importance, if nothing else.

And although I appreciate the inclusion, maybe you you were just a little overzealous in attributing a second review to me? Besides, I don't think trumanlodge89 would be very happy.

[DLibrasnow]

I had forgotten that I had written a review for this movie.

[Genrewriter]

I give it a solid 9/10.

[Qwerty]

Ah, another set of well-written, well-balanced reviews, and given the divisiveness of this film, kudos to Qwerty for assembling them (not to mention including yours truly). I commend the contributors, all of whom seemed to give this one an analysis more thorough than most of the rest. Well-deserved, and says something about the movie's importance, if nothing else.

And although I appreciate the inclusion, maybe you you were just a little overzealous in attributing a second review to me? Besides, I don't think trumanlodge89 would be very happy.

Ah, thanks for catching that. Amended.

[-Brian]

This is everything a Bond should be. I'm tired of people bashing Timothy Dalton & I'm glad to see more people are as fond as I, about this gem. I love Roger, but his films were not much like the original books. Although they are great fun. This outing was actually the first Bond I saw on the big screen & it was the first time that Felix wasn't a card board cut out to me that could have been played by anyone.The vilain was believable as was the plot. No world domination plans and more Q and I think Dalton's Bond worked best with Q. The stunts were damn good and this was the first time I recall violence that is on par with the books. The only other movie I think was close was OHMSS. I can only hope that Casino Royale is just as good. No more Die Another Day movies please. Bond is best when it's beleivable. Which is why License to Kill works so well for me.

[Flash1087]

Curses! I wanted to submit a review for this one, too! Oh well...

[Qwerty]

If you post it in whichever Countdown thread it fits in based on your ranking of it, I don't mind adding it into the article.

[Scottlee]

A 9 for me. It only missed out on a 10 because it's slightly unBondian at times. But I hardly have any moans to voice about LTK. Timothy Dalton is a fave of mine and I love his two films.

[JimmyBond]

A 9 for me. It only missed out on a 10 because it's slightly unBondian at times. But I hardly have any moans to voice about LTK. Timothy Dalton is a fave of mine and I love his two films.

10 for me as well. This is the world that James Bond should inhabit, and it's a shame people arent up for this type of Bond film more often.

[Genrewriter]

The only real problem I have is that one scene where Pam gets jealous. It just doesn't fit with the character we've seen up to that point.

[Qwerty]

Granted there are only 26 votes at the moment, but I'm kind of surprised to see so many of them being in the top half. I thought the opinions were much more divided on Licence To Kill especially.

[Harmsway]

As a film, I'll give it a 6/10. It has a lot of promise, but is butchered by a lack of actual Bondian flair (it looks like a TV movie), jarring humor (Q shouldn't have appeared in the film), and poor performances (Talisa Soto and Carey Lowell, I'm looking at you).

Given a slightly better script, better production design, a better director, and some better casting, this film could have been a solid 9/10.

[Scottlee]

Granted there are only 26 votes at the moment, but I'm kind of surprised to see so many of them being in the top half. I thought the opinions were much more divided on Licence To Kill especially.

It's a film that's aged very well over the past few years, especially since DAD came out. I bet that 10 years ago the votes would never have been so generous.

[Pussfeller]

Wow, amazing how many of us voted 8. I think Brosnan's era certainly caused Dalton's films to be more appreciated.

Licence to Kill is a film with a perfect premise but a somewhat flawed execution.

They made a few casting mistakes, but most of the casting was excellent (Davi, Zerbe, Benicio, the return of Hedison, etc).

Some of it feels dated, especially the parts that evoke Miami Vice, but I also enjoy the way it captures the zeitgeist of the mid-eighties (as I view the decade through my pop culture lens).

The Bond girls were capable, though unremarkable. Talisa Soto had acting problems, but they suited the character. Carey Lowell managed to be self-assured without being annoying. As a result, I've always considered her one of the best American Bond girls (they tend to be a bit overbearing).

Q's role was a stretch, and very gimmicky. The "Orientals" were a bit one-dimensional, but Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is always a good value.

The stunts were excellent. LTK had perhaps the best stunts of any Bond film. The PTS, waterplane, and tanker chase were all very well-done. I confess I have a special weakness for aviation-related stunts.

The characters were broad but authentic and interesting, and none of the humor was cloying or stupid. Wayne Newton was a little silly, however, and should have been better integrated into the plot. He seemed like he didn't really fit in. Sanchez came to a thrilling and worthy end - IMO, the most exciting, jarring death of the entire series.

Dalton showed a distinct improvement over his performance in TLD, and the producers allowed him to have more fun, though he remained sadly undersexed.

Overall, I'd give it a high 8. If Q had been used more sparingly, it would get a 9. With a better hairstylist, I'd give it a 10.

[MarcAngeDraco]

As a film, I'll give it a 6/10. It has a lot of promise, but is butchered by a lack of actual Bondian flair (it looks like a TV movie), jarring humor (Q shouldn't have appeared in the film), and poor performances (Talisa Soto and Carey Lowell, I'm looking at you).

Given a slightly better script, better production design, a better director, and some better casting, this film could have been a solid 9/10.

I'm pretty much in agreement with Harmsway on this issue, but I still enjoy the film enough to give it a 7/10 (as long as I close my eyes when Bond does that ridiculous wheelie in a Kenworth).

[Byron]

Wow, amazing how many of us voted 8. I think Brosnan's era certainly caused Dalton's films to be more appreciated.

Licence to Kill is a film with a perfect premise but a somewhat flawed execution.

They made a few casting mistakes, but most of the casting was excellent (Davi, Zerbe, Benicio, the return of Hedison, etc).

Some of it feels dated, especially the parts that evoke Miami Vice, but I also enjoy the way it captures the zeitgeist of the mid-eighties (as I view the decade through my pop culture lens).

The Bond girls were capable, though unremarkable. Talisa Soto had acting problems, but they suited the character. Carey Lowell managed to be self-assured without being annoying. As a result, I've always considered her one of the best American Bond girls (they tend to be a bit overbearing).

Q's role was a stretch, and very gimmicky. The "Orientals" were a bit one-dimensional, but Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is always a good value.

The stunts were excellent. LTK had perhaps the best stunts of any Bond film. The PTS, waterplane, and tanker chase were all very well-done. I confess I have a special weakness for aviation-related stunts.

The characters were broad but authentic and interesting, and none of the humor was cloying or stupid. Wayne Newton was a little silly, however, and should have been better integrated into the plot. He seemed like he didn't really fit in. Sanchez came to a thrilling and worthy end - IMO, the most exciting, jarring death of the entire series.

Dalton showed a distinct improvement over his performance in TLD, and the producers allowed him to have more fun, though he remained sadly undersexed.

Overall, I'd give it a high 8. If Q had been used more sparingly, it would get a 9. With a better hairstylist, I'd give it a 10.

Another 8 here.
Great post Pussfeller. I am in complete agreement with you (except for the hairstylist bit).
Also a more exotic location would have given the film a lift.

[Pam Bouvier]

The only real problem I have is that one scene where Pam gets jealous. It just doesn't fit with the character we've seen up to that point.

I agree with that. Leaving in tears just doesn't seem her style. Maybe if they had had her just causally hand Q the champange glass and try to make a discreet retreat, not so obvious she was rattled...?
I still gave it a 10. I could watch it forever. Great villian, great story, enough action and sex but a story that stands on its own and as a Fleming flavor to it.

[00Twelve]

As I just watched LTK again for the first time since before these reviews, I wanted to add my thoughts.

I agree with some that this film is grossly underrated, but I can think of things I would have liked to have seen.

Bond's motivation for this quest is something I see as very deep and, as a Fleming quasi-purist (Nobody did it better), I see as very accurate to the original Bond.

I never paused to realize that this film marks a new, horrible dimension for Bond & Leiter's friendship. They are both men that have been widowed on their wedding day. That being said, I never considered how Bond could have thought of Tracy as he pursued Sanchez, wanting the same sort of justice for Felix that he himself had wanted after OHMSS. (A serious missed opportunity in DAF. Huge.)
I just never thought that beyond the little garter throwback, this event got Bond's repressed rage over Tracy rekindled. Anyway, this film seems much more "Monte Cristo" now than I ever gave it credit for. Revenge. Cold, calculating, yet boiling, revenge.

I do wish, though, that the ending hadn't actually been so upbeat. I wish the producers had had the courage to make the film DARKER than it was, perhaps ending with Bond visiting Felix, NOT happy go lucky, but still hurting, and telling him, "It's done. That bastard Sanchez is dead, and I killed him. I heard him scream as he burned. I'm so sorry, Felix..." or something to that effect, only to have Felix deteriorate into tears at his own failure. But Bond is with him. And he's NOT certain of his job. And he could give a crap about Lupe, but Pam is outside & Q is back in England. Sort of an Empire Strikes Back ending.

Now that you think I'm a completely melodramatic sadist, I understand that before the movie was even done filming, they knew that Bond 17 would be in jeopardy, and needed to wrap it up happily, even if it was a bit too easy. If LTK was indeed to be the last Bond, it had to look up. Still, OHMSS could have been the last Bond, but it didn't skimp on the downtrodden (understatement!) ending.

Like the idea or not, it IS in the Fleming-style. Think back to "Die, Blofeld, Die!" and losing memory and fathering children & such. Fleming went there. Anyway, would have been interesting to see, even if (cinematically) "un-Bondlike."

Edited by 00Twelve, 14 October 2006 - 07:39 AM.

[the villain's architect]

I only gave it a 4. While I know that many of you like LTK very much as one of the most flemingesque approaches, it's just too dark and brutal for me and there are too many things I don't like about it:
- The overall Miami Vice look
- The lack of great locations
- Bond quits the service and Q supports him more than ever? It's the same Q like in GF, right?
- the harbour bar fight
- a villain who ranks loyalty over all but kills his accountant arbitrarly
- Bond looks like a ringmaster in those wedding clothes
- Dracula haircut
- The head decompression (it was bad in LALD and it was bad in this one)
- Dalton's facial expression when he shows anger looks often so exaggerated (e.g. the "licence revoked" scene)
- The Kenworth wheely
- Pam torn between tough girl and weak woman (how about showing a really emancipated woman?)
- After all the violence that happy ending with Felix is so unrealistic and fails to provide real relief
- The blinking fish

However, there are great elements in LTK I like very much:
- a very good screenplay
- Bond is driven by his feelings. His motivation is very clear in this movie.
- The Wavecrest action sequence
- Bond seeding suspiciousness in Sanchez is great
- Davi plays the cynical drug baron very well
- Lupe (OK, she can't really act but she's so beautiful)

So it's absolutely not a bad movie. Just not my favourite.

[Publius]

I do wish, though, that the ending hadn't actually been so upbeat. I wish the producers had had the courage to make the film DARKER than it was, perhaps ending with Bond visiting Felix, NOT happy go lucky, but still hurting, and telling him, "It's done. That bastard Sanchez is dead, and I killed him. I heard him scream as he burned. I'm so sorry, Felix..." or something to that effect, only to have Felix deteriorate into tears at his own failure. But Bond is with him. And he's NOT certain of his job. And he could give a crap about Lupe, but Pam is outside & Q is back in England. Sort of an Empire Strikes Back ending.

Agreed. An ending like that would have been much better.

- a villain who ranks loyalty over all but kills his accountant arbitrarly

Don't forget he had been arguing with Truman Lodge earlier, and had caught him running off with the money when he was supposed to be helping Heller.

[00Twelve]

The idea was that Bond had planted the seed of distrust in Sanchez so well that he was paranoid of everybody by that point, especially anyone he had argued with. So he killed Truman Lodge b/c he was annoyed with him and was paranoid as well.

[Vanish]

I gave the film a 9. It's my favorite Bond film (as opposed to the "best," which is From Russia With Love, an easy 10), and I absolutely love almost everything about it. The one weak link for me is the PTS, which doesn't have the usual coolness to it. And the slow-motion shot of the DEA guys running is pretty dire.

Aside from the questionable PTS though, the rest of LTK is inspired, energetic, and unique - the diamond in the rough of the '80s Bond era. I still maintain that Timothy Dalton gives a truly remarkable performance in this film, by far the most impressive of any actor in the role to date.

The scene where Bond resigns is probably my favorite moment in the whole series - Wellplayed by both Dalton and Brown, and beautifully scored by Kamen.