How TLD came so close to being the quintessential 007 movie

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Comments

  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    edited December 2015 Posts: 7,136
    Getafix wrote: »
    I'd agree if it wasn't for the way it flags a little in Afghanistan, and the disappointing climax with Wade.

    Still one of my favourites though.

    I'd say there is some real nice cinematography in the Afghanistan part and with Barry's music it's a gorgeous location.



    Epic.
  • AceHoleAceHole Belgium, via Britain
    Posts: 1,731
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    Getafix wrote: »
    I'd agree if it wasn't for the way it flags a little in Afghanistan, and the disappointing climax with Wade.

    Still one of my favourites though.

    I'd say there is some real nice cinematography in the Afghanistan part and with Barry's music it's a gorgeous location.



    Epic.

    That opening still is my favorite Bond poster... too bad it's not available anymore in a decent size.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    I'd say there is some real nice cinematography in the Afghanistan part and with Barry's music it's a gorgeous location.
    I agree. Visually the Afghanistan bit is magnificent. Stunning actually. Barry's score during the climax is also out of this world. It's just a bit Sahara rather than Bond to me, if that makes any sense.

    I actually preferred the more intimate epilogue when he takes out Whittaker, poorly done as that may have been.
  • AceHoleAceHole Belgium, via Britain
    Posts: 1,731
    bondjames wrote: »
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    I'd say there is some real nice cinematography in the Afghanistan part and with Barry's music it's a gorgeous location.
    I agree. Visually the Afghanistan bit is magnificent. Stunning actually. Barry's score during the climax is also out of this world. It's just a bit Sahara rather than Bond to me, if that makes any sense.

    I actually preferred the more intimate epilogue when he takes out Whittaker, poorly done as that may have been.

    It's well shot and the plane stunts make up for the rather lagging Afghan scenes that precede it.

    The C-130 'jeep escape' stunt scene with Barry's horns giving full gusto is one of my favorite Bond moments. It's just has so much 'Ooomph!' ...
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,718
    TLD (and LTK) are probably the 2 Bond films I can watch again and again on a daily basis, they never fail to entertain me and I can never get enough of Dalton's badassery.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    TLD (and LTK) are probably the 2 Bond films I can watch again and again on a daily basis, they never fail to entertain me and I can never get enough of Dalton's badassery.
    I agree @DaltonCraig007. They have high rewatch value for me as well. It's Dalton's intensity that I just can't get enough of. One of his best scenes (and there are many) is when he's holding back his anger while talking to Kara in the park after Saunders is killed. He's like the definition of what you expect Bond to be at that point. Same with the confrontation with Pushkin in Tangier.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,136
    bondjames wrote: »
    TLD (and LTK) are probably the 2 Bond films I can watch again and again on a daily basis, they never fail to entertain me and I can never get enough of Dalton's badassery.
    I agree @DaltonCraig007. They have high rewatch value for me as well. It's Dalton's intensity that I just can't get enough of. One of his best scenes (and there are many) is when he's holding back his anger while talking to Kara in the park after Saunders is killed. He's like the definition of what you expect Bond to be at that point. Same with the confrontation with Pushkin in Tangier.

    Indeed, those scenes are vintage Fleming.

    More than anything I've seen from Craig actually, but that's another discussion.
  • Posts: 5,767
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    People don't seem to appreciate the villains in this films, I don't fully agree with that actually.

    I can see Fleming write a Whitaker. An ugly and noisy fellow who is obsessed with history's most cruel war criminals. He even has a bloody pantheon of them.

    Koskov on the other hand is quite charismatically portrayed by Jeroen Krabbé. I love his delivery: "Duty has no sweethearts."
    I find Whitaker very Fleming-esque. But the showdown between Bond and Whitaker has a few awkward elements, like for instance Bond insisting on shooting Whitaker´s face armour instead of just plugging him one in the torso.

  • AceHoleAceHole Belgium, via Britain
    edited December 2015 Posts: 1,731
    TLD (and LTK) are probably the 2 Bond films I can watch again and again on a daily basis, they never fail to entertain me and I can never get enough of Dalton's badassery.

    For me that's because Dalton' two entries offer what is easily the most layered, intelligent & subtle portrayal of Bond that there is...
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,804
    AceHole wrote: »
    TLD (and LTK) are probably the 2 Bond films I can watch again and again on a daily basis, they never fail to entertain me and I can never get enough of Dalton's badassery.

    For me that's because Dalton' two entries offer what is easily the most layered, intelligent & subtle portrayal of Bond that there is...
    I like all the actors, but Dalton....
    519e93be55969.image.jpg
  • Posts: 2,341
    TLD is a good film but like most I think it could have benefited from stronger villains. Koskov is a fun bon vivant character and it would have been sadistic to kill him off at the end (though he is the principal baddie)

    Whitaker just needed more screen time. He is an interesting character and his showdown with Bond is pretty good.

    I liked Necros as the blond menacing heavy( though this route has been done and re done so many times in Bond films).

    I agree that D'Abo has great chemistry with Dalton. And with the exception of Scorupo better than any of Brosnan's leading ladies had with him (opps, I did some subtle Brosnan bashing)
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,804
    OHMSS69 wrote: »
    And with the exception of Scorupo better than any of Brosnan's leading ladies had with him (opps, I did some subtle Brosnan bashing)
    Okay, I'm about fed UP with the B******T about this!! Michelle Yeoh & Broz had FANTASTIC chemistry!!!! If YOU can't SEE it then YOU need a new ocularist!!! Wanna BASH?!?!?! C'mon, let's GO NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Did I sound all mad & stuff there? ;))
    Heh heh... :P
  • AceHoleAceHole Belgium, via Britain
    Posts: 1,731
    chrisisall wrote: »
    OHMSS69 wrote: »
    And with the exception of Scorupo better than any of Brosnan's leading ladies had with him (opps, I did some subtle Brosnan bashing)
    Okay, I'm about fed UP with the B******T about this!! Michelle Yeoh & Broz had FANTASTIC chemistry!!!! If YOU can't SEE it then YOU need a new ocularist!!! Wanna BASH?!?!?! C'mon, let's GO NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Did I sound all mad & stuff there? ;))
    Heh heh... :P

    You channeling your inner Michael Keaton there then..? :>
  • Posts: 5,767
    chrisisall wrote: »
    AceHole wrote: »
    TLD (and LTK) are probably the 2 Bond films I can watch again and again on a daily basis, they never fail to entertain me and I can never get enough of Dalton's badassery.

    For me that's because Dalton' two entries offer what is easily the most layered, intelligent & subtle portrayal of Bond that there is...
    I like all the actors, but Dalton....
    519e93be55969.image.jpg
    Yes yes!

  • suavejmfsuavejmf Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 5,131
    bondjames wrote: »
    TLD (and LTK) are probably the 2 Bond films I can watch again and again on a daily basis, they never fail to entertain me and I can never get enough of Dalton's badassery.
    I agree @DaltonCraig007. They have high rewatch value for me as well. It's Dalton's intensity that I just can't get enough of. One of his best scenes (and there are many) is when he's holding back his anger while talking to Kara in the park after Saunders is killed. He's like the definition of what you expect Bond to be at that point. Same with the confrontation with Pushkin in Tangier.

    He brings Flemings character to life in full.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512


    Arguably the pinnacle of Barry on screen. A top tier scene married with a top tier score. This gives me an adrenaline rush every time I hear it. I'm sorely tempted to say this is Barry's best work.
  • Posts: 11,425
    The TLD soundtrack is undoubtedly a masterpiece.

    It makes a mockery of the Oscars that Newman's half-baked SF got a nomination and not one of Barry's Bond scores ever even got so much as a nod.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    Getafix wrote: »
    The TLD soundtrack is undoubtedly a masterpiece.

    It makes a mockery of the Oscars that Newman's half-baked SF got a nomination and not one of Barry's Bond scores ever even got so much as a nod.

    I couldn't agree more. It's indefensible, yet I've heard people try to defend it.
  • Posts: 11,425
    RC7 wrote: »
    Getafix wrote: »
    The TLD soundtrack is undoubtedly a masterpiece.

    It makes a mockery of the Oscars that Newman's half-baked SF got a nomination and not one of Barry's Bond scores ever even got so much as a nod.

    I couldn't agree more. It's indefensible, yet I've heard people try to defend it.

    Defending the indefensible appears to be the raison d'être of some members on here.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,718
    I don't care if one day a Bond movie gets nominated for 12 Oscars, including best actor, best picture, best director, best scenario and what not, but I refuse to see a Bond film nominated for Best Score after John Barry's work for the franchise was snubbed for 24 years.
  • JNOJNO Finland
    Posts: 137
    TLD is an essential Bond film. It´s easily one of the very best entries in the whole series.

    The villains could´ve been better but I´m not too bothered with that. I enjoy TLD as a true cold war thriller and stylish Bond film. Aha´s title song is not that good but apart from that... all is fine. Very fine.
  • Posts: 11,425
    I have to say I love the song too, and the references to it throughout the film. Integral to the whole thing IMO.
  • Posts: 613
    I love this movie, but I feel the villains aren't great and Kara is a little boring.One of the best entry's and a great intro for Dalton.
  • Posts: 11,425
    I love this movie, but I feel the villains aren't great and Kara is a little boring.One of the best entry's and a great intro for Dalton.

    I know what you mean about Kara, but there's a realism about her and a believable chemistry between her and Bond that makes it work IMO. Actually one of the more memorable Bond girls IMO.
  • Jazz007Jazz007 Minnesota
    Posts: 257
    Good observations about the wonderful The Living Daylights. I think TLD both is and isn't a Quintessential 007 film....

    It is a quintessential 007 in that it's the greatest Bond film of the 80s and the greatest of the two featuring Dalton's interpretation of the character. Also, the story itself makes it probably the most deeply 'Cold War' of any Bond film since FRWL. So, if you're looking for a film that display's the cinematic James Bond in a Cold War setting.... Well, TLD needs to be in that conversation. And that confrontation with Pushkin.... Very few scenes in the Bond series displays Bond's dark side better.

    However, I don't think it is one of the Bond films made from a top-notch cinematic quality; it doesn't feel quite at home in the same ballpark as (for example) Goldfinger, OHMSS, TSWLM or Skyfall....

    The villains are on the weak side - although their quirkiness and real-world roots are refreshing.

    There are a number of silly aspects that take you out of the film - most notably the giggle-fest in Q's lab and the camp-ladden storming of the Russian Afghan base. The producers were unfortunately not as willing as they should have been to re-brand Bond for a new era. There's simply too-much carry-over from the Moore era, this includes the camp but also the talent behind the lens which should have been switched out for a new look and direction.

    It's close - Dalton's two films were very, very good and much better than most that came before and after.... But Dalton's Bond was too good for the films that featured him.
  • Posts: 7,437
    You have to remember TLD was written with Roger in mind. They only made changes to the script to suit Daltons more down to earth style. But its still an all time classic for me.
    Second on my list, its wonderful to watch, and Dalton is just superb. Some of the arguments against him I just laugh off. Daltons portrayal is torn straight from the pages of Flemings novel. You simply cant argue with that! Best Bond EVER. (Sorry Dan,Sean, George, Roger, er...no not you Brossa, go away)
  • Posts: 11,425
    I don't have a problem with the 'Roger' elements in TLD. But then I liked Rog as well. Quality movie.
  • Posts: 5,767
    TLD reminds me a lot of the idea of old Hitchcock adventure films, and I love it for that.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,804
    AceHole wrote: »
    You channeling your inner Michael Keaton there then..? :>
    You caught that!
    :D
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,304
    I'd put Kara below Tracy and Vesper in the Bond series, but ahead of all the rest.
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