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Comments
Today it has slipped down to somewhere in the middle of the pack. Dalton is excellent when he is the ice cold Bond, but lacks something in the humour and alpha male department that Craig does so well. And Bond helping out with the jihad is the most cringeworthy political choice in any Bond film.
I still love it, but
Then-1
Now-1
Tie-
I fell in love with this movie after two watchings. I was rather young at the time so don't blame me. ;-) It's remained one of my absolute favourites. Great film; excellent Bond.
Then - 2
Now -2
Tie - 0
Timothy Dalton IS James Bond.
Now: I've seen all of the Bond films now, obviously, but it's still my fave!
I may appreciate it for different reasons now, but I've always loved it just the same. It's a tie for me.
Then - 2
Now -2
Tie - 1
Now: still top 5 for me, became a huge fan of Dalton after reading the books and the Koskov escape is one of my five favourite scenes in the franchise.
It'll be a tie I guess.
Then - 2
Now - 2
Tie - 2
Then - 2
Now - 2
Tie - 3
As it turned out, I ended up liking Timothy Dalton just fine. The above was not meant to be a slight against him. I would have felt that way about anyone at the time. This was all new to me. My first time experiencing a new actor in the role! There was a certain buzz in the air (as I now know there always is ) and I was definitely intrigued. This Bond was being billed as very different from his predecessor. Indeed he was but with all the familiar trappings around him so we wouldn't get too lost. I enjoyed it. You have to remember that it had been Connery and/vs. Moore for so long (Lazenby wasn't really in the equation) that some people were simply unprepared for a new interpretation.
As of this writing, I have to say my appreciation of this film has grown. Watching the film as an adult, I can now truly understand what Dalton was trying to accomplish. He comes so close... I know why so many here love him. I may not feel quite the same way but since joining this site you all have helped me to see him in a new light. I thank you for that. These were exciting and/or confusing times depending on your point of view! I may not have fully comprehended it at the time but the images of TLD will be permanently burnt into in my brain forever. This is a Now, folks.
Then - 2
Now - 3
Tie - 3
Fast forward 28 years (I'm now 42, how time flies as I remember my cinema viewing as if it were yesterday) and in my last Bondathon, and maybe because I'm much older, I found myself, at times, a little bored watching it and, therefore, I ranked it lower than I ever thought I would. I rank on my enjoyment of watching the movie at the time; next time it could probably fly right up the list. However, this movie has a special place in my heart for the reasons mentioned and, because of that, I'm going to call it a tie.
Then - 2
Now - 3
Tie - 4
It's still a good film but Craig has knocked it down the rankings somewhat.
I'm a then
Then 3
Now 3
Tie 4
I remember getting so caught up in this Bond film and would repeatedly watching the taped video thereafter.
I have to say that I probably enjoy this film as much as I did then. And I've always struggled to decide which of Dalton's Bonds is the better. If I have any criticism it is that the fantastical elements of the Bonds seem to go out with this one. But the tradeoff is a realistic thriller that moves towards a portrayal of Bond more akin to Fleming's. I love the scene when Bond confronts Pushkin in his hotel room. Barry's score is magnificent as always. I have to say it's a tie.
Then 3
Now 3
Tie 5
I first saw TLD on a Scandinavian movie channel via satellite when I was about 15, and I was blown away... the PTS... the Barry score... the tense defection scene... the safe house sequence... THAT Aston with it's great gadgetry, and then the two awesome stunts at the end - Necros mid air fight and the C-130 escape using the jeep & parachute platform... I was in awe of this film and it's imagery.
Dalton WAS James Bond for me after seeing this, even though I had grown up on the Connery & Moore films.
Now:
It was my favorite Bond film for a very long time, and even though I rate it about 5th or 6th these days I've grown weary of the damp villains and the somewhat 'off' pacing during the Mujaheddin sequences.
But as far as I'm concerned the first 60 minutes of TLD still represents the best cinematic hour of 007 in the series.
Then 4
Now 3
Tie 5
Nowedays I like it very much, dispite Jeroen Krabbé. It is a gripping story, and indeed, dispite the shannanigans here and there it is gritty and 'realistic'.
Then 4
Now 4
Tie 5
Then 4
Now 5
Tie 5
There’s just sooo much to love about this movie! The PTS, with Dalton himself hanging on to the careening jeep…the whole defection scene, with its recurring “Need to know” put-down…Bond’s relationship with Kara, one of the most believable romances in the entire series to these weary old eyes…Necross’ fights in the kitchen and hanging from the net in the plane…Bond’s confrontation with Pushkin in the hotel room and his subsequent “assassination” of the General at the conference…and yes, I LIKE Bond working with the mujahadeen! It’s totally in keeping with the politics of its time…but even then I thought, “*Y’know, I can see that this alliance might not be considered such a good idea at some point in the future!”
Yes, the main villains are kind of weak…yes, a diamonds for opium for weapons plot isn’t exactly on the “atom bomb in Fort Knox” level as villainous schemes go…yes, John Terry is the lamest Felix Leiter ever (you’re finally off the hook, Cec Linder!) but I don’t care. I loved TLD then and it’s still somewhere in my Top 10. Call this one a TIE in my book, making our current score:
THEN: 4
NOW: 5
TIE: 6
On the Mujahadeen - It was the Americans that funded, trained and aided them during the war with the Soviets. And then withdrew financing once the Soviet threat was dealt with. So in part Bond isn't tainted by the sense that Americans shot themselves in the foot a bit by in some way contributing to an increase in anti-Americanist feeling the Middle East. But I can't imagine Kamran/Art Malik becoming a terrorist!
That was kind of the point I was making - i.e. doesn't mean Bond was working with future terrorists, but it is still a bit cringy. But, having said that the Russians would have been Bond's allies during WWII and then of course his enemies when he worked as a spy post-WWII.
Still, quite cringeworthy.
In my view The Living Daylights has probably the best sequence of scenes in a Bond film, up until the Afghan fight. It has all the prerequisite elements - danger, suspense, intrigue, cold war thrills and even a little bit of romance. Dalton is just fantastic, all supported on a real Flemingesque template and enlivened by the cinematic Bondian troupes.
A View To A Kill
Then
I remember loving AVTAK when it came out in '85, I was ten at the time and having enjoyed Octopussy so much and being introduced to Bond with Spy Who Loved Me, a brand new Bond film with Roger Moore was more than likely going to be a winner. I loved the PTS and the stuff in Paris with the Eiffel Tower and Mayday. It followed the formula I was used too. Had some good villains in Max Zorin and Mayday, along with set pieces that I was akin too. The score was fantastic, it ticked all the right boxes for me at the time.
Now
On reflection AVTAK is not quite as good the older I get. I still enjoy it, but the age of Roger Moore (and his stuntmen) is a little too much. One film too far. And it's not just Moore. The Mi6 staff are all pensioners. It's hard to see them as a threat to Zorin and his goons.
The story is rather disjointed, the first half concentrates on Zorin using steroids to cheat at horse racing. The second half is about his plan to detonate a bomb in the San Andreas fault causing an earthquake that will wipe out Silicon Valley leaving him the monopoly in Microchip manufacturing.
The villains are one of the saving graces for the film. Chris Walken is his ever brilliant self. Roger Moore still gives a worthy performance and although he's a little long in the tooth, he's still a joy to watch. John Barry gives us one of his most beautiful scores.
The problem is it's all starting to look a little old and tired. Not just the cast. The formula, the set pieces. Time for some new blood.
A definite then from me.
Then - 9
Now - 8
Will return later to complete TLD.
Always will be a fan of Roger Moore, but boy was I pumped for this.
Summer of 87 couldn't get here quick enough!
Timothy Dalton IS James Bond! From that stunning opening shot of him, to the final embrace with Kara, this was a wonderful Bond film. Great great scenes and set pieces. One after another, and solidly linked with Daltons explosive performance!
It was the little subtleties that he put into the part, a suspicious look to Koskov when dictating his smiert spionem theory, or exhaling smoke (the pc brigade put an end to this, but Flemings Bond was a heavy smoker, and they were right to allow Dalton to smoke) in disbelief at him. Actively listening to other actors speak, reacting to a substandard mouthful of coffee, following this was the bursting of the balloon in utter rage moment. Fantastic! Oh, and then there was that wonderful scene with Pushkin in the hotel room. I could go on and on! John Barrys score, Glens solid Direction! Its no. 2 on my all time favourite Bond movies. Never get tired of watching it or enjoying Daltons portrayal!
So
THEN 4
NOW 5
TIE 7
Licence to Kill
Then –
This was amongst the batch of 80's Bond films I got on VHS. Yet, funnily enough, this was one of the films that I remember on ITV's “007 Heaven”, back in the late 90's. Compared with such films as Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice, this was a mature, serious picture. Which suited me just fine – I always was a serious child.
Now –
As I get older, Licence To Kill just keeps getting better. Just behind the top three Bond films – From Russia With Love, On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Casino Royale.
Then -
Now - 1
Tie -
Now -2
Tie -
After so many rewatches of both, LTK is probably ever so slightly ahead of the first Dalton film for me now. The script being made for him is one of the reasons.
Then-
Now-3
Tie-
Then-
Now-3
Tie-1
Over the years, having then seen some of the action films of the 1980s, it did feel that whilst it had something more of Fleming it also lost a bit too. Maybe it's just the North American settings in the film but there is something about it that feels like those films - with Michael Kamen doing the score.
Having said that I think LTK has grown in my estimation. Whilst I still have those misgivings, I really like this Bond. Love the way they used the narrative device of I think Roshomon.
Then -
Now - 4
Tie 1
Then -
Now - 5
Tie 1