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Comments
I'm sorry that's one of my major gripes with this movie.
Yeah I didn't get the unjustified criticism to LTK, made me go in with low expectations though tha were blown away :)
Now - 7
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Don't be sorry, if that's your opinion it stands. Merely accept if I disagree almost entirely. My only near agreement is with Carey Lowell- she had moments where she seemed a bit out of her league... but she was so gorgeous I let that slide. :))
Lol ok we can agree on Lowell. Never tire of her exiting a plane. :P
:))
Obviously, I now understand that interest in the series had gradually been decreasing during the 1980's. I don't hold a grudge against Dalton anymore but I'm sad to say that I still don't like this movie. Believe me, I've tried. I would love to love this film. After 26 years I've just come to accept that this one isn't for me. I feel like an outsider when I hear all of you singing it's praises. It's underwhelming to me on just about every level. Unlike many others who grew to enjoy it, I still consider this to be a low point in the series.
LTK definitely has it's moments. I certainly appreciate the effort put forth by Dalton and Davi, respectively. However, not unlike Moore and Lee in TMWTGG, it isn't enough to stop the ship from sinking. The less said about the supporting cast, (excluding Del Toro) the better. Everything feels cheap and uninspired. The filmmakers wanted to take us on some dark journey but it appears they got cold feet because all of the traditional elements they threw in are quite jarring. I actually enjoyed the Q segments back then but now I find them completely out of place.
What was the point of Bond resigning if he was just going to be welcomed back with open arms and without any consequences? That ending always leaves me exasperated. In retrospect, he should have just rode off with Pam into the sunset. Considering that this would be the last Bond film for six years, it would have made sense to leave things open-ended. It was too soon to have Dalton's Bond go off the deep end like this. Also, this was the absolute worst film they could have made prior to the hiatus. It really did damage the image of the franchise at the time.
I hope that you can appreciate an alternative viewpoint. This one certainly has been an opinion divider throughout the years. My thoughts are pretty well solidified at this point. Even though I wasn't crazy about it at the time, LTK hasn't aged well at all for me. This is definitely going to be a THEN for yours truly.
Then - 1
Now - 7
Tie - 1
Or slipping back into the water when on the Wavecrest with Bond >:)
Then - 1
Now - 8
Tie - 1
First saw this on VHS in the mid 90's. Suffice to say I wasn't impressed. The low-budget look, relatively mundane locations (except for The Keys) and lack of classic Bond tropes didn't sit well with me as a teenager. Also it was just too 'American', with all those U.S C-listers in the cast. Even though I remember enjoying the stunts I just didn't feel any affection for LTK when I was a 'kid', and I was too young to appreciate Dalton's interpretation...
NOW
A lot has changed since then. Yes, the lousy American casting still bothers me & some parts look painfully cheap, but Dalton absolutely nails the part imo.
I have grown to love his interpretation of Bond here - he is utterly believable and builds on the 007 persona he introduced in TLD. John Glen is at his best when crafting the action sequences and he outdoes himself with the PTS stunt & the Wavecrest set pieces, they are two of the best in the entire series.
LTK is the kind of Bond film you only grow to like once you look past the popular expectations of the Bond franchise. It laid the foundations for the CR reboot, and it’s clear that we actually went BACKWARDS with GE et al, six years after Cubby and Dalton made a valiant effort to take James Bond forwards, away from the parody it had become.
Here we have a 007 who both feels and THINKS. Dalton introduced an intelligent, calculating operator, and his Bond is still the benchmark that DC should aim for.
This film is both overlooked and underappreciated.
Then - 1
Now - 9
Tie - 1
My favourite mission is TB, but LTK is my favourite non traditional Bond film.
Then - 1
Now - 10
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And she's far better looking too.
But behind every Davi there's a Robert Brown.
Anyway, it's a mix that ends up slightly positive.
Then - 1
Now - 11
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Totally respect this point of view. There have been times when I've felt similarly. It's a divisive movie. Even though I'm a big Dalton fan I do think there's a bit of a tendency to overhype LTK on here.
I just think on balance, there is more to like than dislike. The film has definitley grown on me over the years.
I think different/better locations and perhaps a stronger supporting cast might have elevated things a bit. I always felt that despite looking fantastic the two Bond girls are really not all that great - but then this was the era of Stacy whatshername from AVTAK, so in that context they're actually not so bad.
It's a mid table entry for me. Better than all the Brosnans and perhaps more watchable than a few of Rog's weaker entries, but probably not the masterpiece that some make it out to be.
Regarding LTK, I saw it in the cinema in a blazing hot Summer of 89! (My local cinema was advertising it as "Stay cool with the latest James Bond blockbuster!) I loved it then, and still love it now. It holds up for viewing far more than some of the Bond movies. Has a great story, well told, with cracking action sequences, the finale is one of the best in the entire series. Robert Davi was a great villain, Carey Lowell was sexy as hell, Benicio Del Toro a chilling henchman, and it has a great theme song from Gladys Knight (if not a great score from Michael Kamen, its only weakness) Dalton is compelling, and showed layers of Bond never seen before.
Then- 1
Now-11
Tie-2
Oh yes, I know. It really was a bad break for Dalton. I think that the disappointment of LTK (for many filmgoers at the time, I'm happy to see that you enjoyed it) coupled with the long hiatus created a lot of negative feelings towards Dalton. If he had done at least one more then it might have changed everything as far as his reputation was concerned.
Love this film!!! It's the hardest, rawest Bond! Timothy Dalton is flawless!
One of my favorites in the series!!!
GoldenEye
Then –
Ah, GoldenEye! Most people of my generation got into the Bond films after playing GoldenEye on the N64. But I watched the movie first, and then played the game. After GoldenEye was released on video, me and my mate always used to watch it every time I went round his place. A top ten Bond film. It was my friend's favourite Bond film, so maybe I was put off by this. Who wants to be a sheep? So maybe that explains my recalcitrance to fully embrace GoldenEye.
Now –
My estimation of GoldenEye's virtues have diminished somewhat. Still a worthy effort.
Then - 1
Now -
Tie -
Oh this movie rocked when I first saw it at age 13 and still rocks today. Huge GE fan! Probably my favourite Bond film.
Then - 1
Now - 1
Tie -1
Then - 2
Now - 1
Tie -1
Loved it the first time I saw it (my first ever Bond movie), and still get a blast when viewing it today.
Then - 2
Now - 1
Tie - 2
Then- Back in 1999 I had been playing the game for about a year or so. I saw a preview one night that it would be broadcasted in two night on nbc. I watched it and fell in love with it before the PTS had even ended. I went out and bought it on VHS and sat on top of my rankings ever since. It was the first one I watched and about a week later TBD ran a 15 days of 007 special and the rest is history.
Now- It doesn't hold as much weight, especially after the Craig films were released. Not as fun as I remembered and rarely is it watched.
Then - 3
Now -1
Tie -2
I hate to admit it but your right. As much as I love the Broz, his films are rather juvenile and, God I hate this term, lightweight. Fancy me bashing the Brosnan era. For shame.
THEN- I'm still a huge James Bond fan, so of course I was dying to see 007 back on the big screen. A very partisan crowd at my first viewing helped. But Brosnan? No, I thought he was awful in the role. Wooden as hell, bland, insipid, boring...etc. The famous scene between him and Judi Dench, "You don't like me, Bond.." fell completely flat, as Brosnan sat there (was he even in the same room as Dench??) motionless! His reading of the " Bond..James Bond!" line was so laboured, I expected Famke Janssen to reply " No youre not...youre that bloke off that crappy TV series Remington Steele!
Sean Beans irritating plummy English accent, the awful Eric Serra score, (and who sanctioned that terrible theme at the end?) the whole film also looked rather cheap
Positives/ Daniel Kleinmans terrific titles, Isabella Scorupco drop dead gorgeous, wasted on Brossa. The shootout just before the over-rated tank chase! That's it'
NOW- it has dated very badly. Looks very old fashioned, considering it was supposed to bring Bond into modern times. The things I like about it first time strain to be still liked.
TWINE is only marginally better, but its still very weak entry in the series. Martin Campbell had far better actors and material to work on CR!
Then-4
Now-1
Tie-2
Now-1
Tie-3
Then
I cannot explain the anticipation I had for this film. At the time, I did not like LTK (although I love it now) and so was anxious for Brosnan to take on the role. I felt at the time that he had been robbed of it in 1986. The fabulous teaser trailer ("You were expecting someone else") got me super hyped for this film, and I wanted Bond to return and show the pretenders (including Harry Tasker) how it should be done. I remember the night I watched the film for the first time like it was yesterday.
It remains, to this day, along with CR, one of the top 5 movie going experiences of my life. Everything about it felt fresh that night, including the score (yes, I loved it), the superb supporting cast, the plot, the action (including the excellent visceral final fight) and the leading lady. Moreover, it had a great finale in a big lair like set....which at the time was a nice throw back to Ken Adam. Magnificent experience. I remember noting even then that Brosnan seemed a little unsure (more than I expected) and that his performance was a little affected, but nevertheless, it worked for the film and the film itself blew me away.
Now
A little of the lustre has come off no doubt, because, with the (relatively) low budget, some of the effects have dated. It does also look a little cheap in places compared to what's come since. However, it still remains one of my top five 'fun' go to James Bond films and I still have the highest regard for it. The supporting performances remain 'off the chart' for me and it's still as entertaining as ever.....and even a little retro, due to the cold war references.
It's a tie.
Then - 4
Now - 1
Tie - 4