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Comments
At the risk of sounding repetitive, the villains, parts of the script could be improved. And I don't totally buy the relationship between Bond and Kara.
But listening to Barry's swansong really lifts my mood and would be the reason I might rank TLD at number 1. Credit also goes to the stunt team for the aerial sequences, the snow scene, the brilliant fights (I just love Barrys score when "green 4" fights Necros) and Dalton's acting and believability especially the balloon popping bit. Not having had a third chance to have a film catered for him was one of the biggest missed opportunities of the franchise
Anyone who does not recognise the awesomeness of TLD should reassess their Bond fandom IMO
Exactly @chrisisall. Thanks for making the case for those 'smaller' films - some of the most satsifying in the series, where the acting is actually given a chance to show through. If all we had were TSWLM (much as I love it) every 2 years the series would be very dull.
And the production values in TLD are not amazing, but I like the way that film tells an old fashioned story, relatively slowly. It does feel a little bit like it's from another, older, more sedate era of movie making. But it has some great action moments IMO, good enough to stand alongside much of what was going on in the 80s. The fight in the safe house almost prefigures Bourne - very brutal - although perhaps a shame it doesn't involve Bond.
Anybody stating that should wonder why he/she feels better for recognising one 007 movie as good and at the same time telling people if they don't they are not fans.
The arrogance is amazing when it comes to a certain kind of fan. They are less of a fan and more of a fanatic, and fanatics are never that productive they are more aimed at destruction. ;)
I think you missed that this was intended as joke in response to @sirseanisbond's comment
This is a Bond fan site. I might hold my own views strongly, but I don't have an issue with other people thinking or saying whatever they want. Trust me, I don't mind if someone doesn't like TLD.
;)
In that case my apologies for missing the joke.
I shall toss my Dalton DVD's and Blu Rays forthwith. I see them now for the useless filth they are.
Thank you.
=))
You may not like his on-screen portrayal, but if you've ever read Fleming's 007 then you cannot honestly claim that Dalton was anything but a shoe-in for the part.
He's the Bond of the novels.
And as I first encountered the novels long before I found out there were movies about it the first image of a young Connery stuck with me. And that man had a cruel and beautiful face.
And @chrissisall I am glad to set you straight. ;)
LTK I will admit was an improvement on TLD, but Goldeneye blows both films out of the water! TLD has a dull Bond, a dull Bond girl, a stupid villain in Whitaker, and Bond HELPS the Taliban! The story is too complicated and melodramatic for me to even stay awake through the second act. I know that with you lot this may be unpopular, but across the wider viewing audience, lets just say there's a reason why the producers only kept Tim for two films, and switched to Pierce as soon as he got out of Remington Steele.
I get it, most of you probably grew up when Dalton movies were coming out, and thats why you like him so much. I was born in the Brosnan-era but the first Bond movie I ever saw was Goldfinger, and that cemented Sean as my favorite.
I absolutely loved TLD as well, but for completely different reasons. I think it has some of the Bond 'polish' points I refer to above (sans Maxwell & Lee). It's just the villains and casting choices that disappoint.
Bond out for revenge, throwing the case of money at Kilifer. Brilliant !
May be you should watch TLD and LTK again. When did you last see them?
I think Tim makes a brilliant first appearance in TLD. There are some scenes in there that stand up to the best in the series. And the PTS is one of the finest.
I also had my reservations about LTK when it came out. However, on subsequent rewatchings - as others have said - it has also grown on me.
I think what you're saying is mostly true about the majority of people not thinking that much of Dalton. But I'd argue that is partly based on misguided prejudice and also the self-reinforcing factor of people thinking they don't like him and therefore not watching his films.
But there has been a definite up-swing in Dalton appreciation over the last few years. The ready availability of the DVDs and Blurays means people are watching films that weren't often shown on TV and making up their own minds. And a lot of peoples' responses are very positive.
There were also a whole load or articles recently talking about how great Dalts is. Not evidence in themselves that he is good (which of course he is) but an indication that attitudes are subtly changing.
http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2012-11/08/timothy-dalton-the-best-james-bond-007
http://whatculture.com/film/why-timothy-dalton-is-actually-the-greatest-james-bond.php
http://www.totalfilm.com/features/is-timothy-dalton-the-best-bond
http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2006/nov/03/timothydalton
Remember, for years it was received wisdom that OHMSS was total garbage.
The Living Daylights definitely fits more towards the smaller side of things but it's definitely got those "cinematic Bond" moments. It's the last great Cold War Bond movie, that's for sure. I didn't truly appreciate it until about 2 years ago and it has been in my top 10 (a great accomplishment for someone who loves most of the films like me) ever since.
Always glad to hear of more love for TLD and Dalton.
Don't get me started; I'll flood the place with it. :x
I'm sorry to admit that I had exactly the same experience recently. Have always loved TLD, but on a recent rewatching the Taliban stuff all just feels a bit limp. Nice sequence on the cargo plane though.
I can only thank Dalton for his magnificent contributions to the series.
Sure, Dalton's Bond was ahead of it's time, because back in 1987 it seems the general audience was not ready for such a brutal change of style after 7 Sir Rog outings. But, I just can't imagine teleporting Dalton in the 2000's. Look at LTK and QOS, 2 outings which deal with revenge, and are quite violent. Can you imagine Dalton's Bond with 'modern' action movie directing (shaky cam, lighting quick editing) and spending his time talking to M on a cellphone? I can't, and I hope I'm not alone. Dalton, even though he wasn't what people expected after Moore, was a pure product of his era, the late 1980's action film like Die Hard, Miami Vice and Lethal Weapon. I struggle to see him in the post 9/11 world, in the era of Bourne and Jack Bauer.
Same as Craig. Craig is the perfect Bond for the start of the 21st century, and no matter how much LTK is kind of like QOS, I wouldn't picture him as Bond in that film. I can't picture Craig's Bond without the post 9/11 world and current technology.
I think what I'm trying to say, is while both DC and TD are somewhat similar, they both are a product of their times, so IMO they are quite different despite some similarities.
It's just a shame Dalton wasn't more popular back when he was Bond, because his take on thte character is amazing, and I would have really liked to see his 3rd outing, where most Bond's hit their peak.
Sorry about being a bit offtopic. I'll end with saying I agree with most members here, if TLD had more threatning villians it would have climbed in my top 3 Bond films.
I'm not gonna tell anyone to reaches their taste, but totally agree with this. The first six Bonds, up through OHMSS, and just an amazing group of six pictures. DAF, though it features Connery, is a step down, have to admit.
And your entitled to that opinion, but not everyone shares it. GoldenEye was the first Bond film I ever saw and It cemented Pierce as my favorite. Everyone on this forum has seen a different Bond movie first. We all didn't see Goldfinger first. That's why some don't hold it in the same regard as you do. You might love Goldfinger, but telling others to reassess their fandom because they happen to like another Bond film more than GF is just plain childish and baiting for an argument.
Ironic that those who say Dalton lacked charm, heap the praise on Craig, who is similarly hard-nosed. Had Dalton been given the same backing as Craig financially and in terms of casting the best actors, then sure the Dalton films would have been enhanced.
I guess Craig would be taking the same beating if his films under=performed at the box-office. Success tints a situation more rosy.
And since when does as an American audience matter more than the rest of the world??? Oh, I see!!!! If an American audience ignores a film, then who cares what the rest of the world thought. License To Kill performed well outside the USA. It's sad that the American market for Bond is the be all and end all. I guess American exceptionalism is still at play.
Dalton just under-played the shag anything that moves, and that is where the ire really comes from. He just ignored the cliches of the formula, but, psychologically he stands the test of time.
I met two women from Kuwait, who absolutely love Dalton in terms of sex appeal and they also were huge admirers of the French heart-throb Alain Delon. The classic actress Audrey Hepburn was a fan of him as was Mae West.
Do people not understand what subtelty is anymore??? Perhaps Dalton should have winked at the camera more, and cloned what had come before.
Let's all be realistic, and truly ask ourselves how Craig would have faired with the same scripts as Dalton, and the rushed productions. I do agree that more could have been done with the Dalton era, and it is no secret that TLD was a tweaked Roger Moore script. My goodness, could you imagine Craig with a tweaked made for Pierce Brosnan script???
=D>