... I got the advance poster with the great tagline "The Most Dangerous Bond -- Ever" that built even more excitement. I think the thing about Dalton for me was he was the first actor that captured the way I somewhat imagined Bond in the novels. He had the look and I still think he comes closest....
Like you, I saw both Timothy Dalton films first-run in the theatre. It's hard for anyone who missed that to truly appreciate what it was like then, not knowing what was coming next. Only knowing what is.
When I walked in to see
Licence to Kill for the first time, I remember actually feeling apprehension. It was like all of the old rules about the Bond movies had been called into question, that anything could happen. He was truly in danger here. Think about how the movie delivered on that: First w/ the strangling, then "Give her his heart." The look on Della's dead face. And Felix, not just an established character, but an established actor in the role, returning here.
It carried through the rest of the film for me. It was fantastic, right through the near death of Bond in the cocaine crusher, and the brutal fight on the tankers. This takes nothing away from Daniel Craig or
Casino Royale (wish I didn't feel I needed to make that disclaimer). But that's why I've always bristled when folks talked about something completely new or different.
Timothy Dalton had already been there, done that. First.