The Living Daylights Appreciation

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  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,110
    Tracy
    Vesper Pam
    Kara Octopussy Domino

    Is there something the matter, Sir Hilary?
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    Also........................found this amazing picture:

    2012_CSK_04431_0016_002(the_living_daylights).jpg

    Damn that is an amazing shot. The juxtaposition of the two expressions. My favourite scene in the film, hell, my favourite scene in the entire series.
  • Posts: 11,425
    But Glen was such a shit director. No?
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    edited May 2019 Posts: 13,978
    No, absolutely not. Along with Hunt, and Young, Glen is in my hypothetical top 3.
  • edited May 2019 Posts: 11,425
    I agree but am always reading on here how awful he supposedly was.
  • Posts: 7,414
    Also........................found this amazing picture:

    2012_CSK_04431_0016_002(the_living_daylights).jpg

    Damn that is an amazing shot. The juxtaposition of the two expressions. My favourite scene in the film, hell, my favourite scene in the entire series.

    Wasn't it originally written that Bond and Pushkin were just sitting in a restaurant talking. They changed it when Dalton was cast! Believe I read that somewhere. Can anyone confirm?
    Brilliant scene!
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    Getafix wrote: »
    I agree but am always reading on here how awful he supposedly was.

    "Workmanlike" is what Glen gets called a lot. While he might not have the style of Young or Hunt, Glen knew how to stage an action sequence. Looking at his work in LTK, it's a shame that he never worked more in the action genre.
    Mathis1 wrote: »
    Also........................found this amazing picture:

    2012_CSK_04431_0016_002(the_living_daylights).jpg

    Damn that is an amazing shot. The juxtaposition of the two expressions. My favourite scene in the film, hell, my favourite scene in the entire series.

    Wasn't it originally written that Bond and Pushkin were just sitting in a restaurant talking. They changed it when Dalton was cast! Believe I read that somewhere. Can anyone confirm?
    Brilliant scene!

    Really? I've never heard that before. Maybe I am picturing it wrong in my head, but I can't see the scene being as good as the one in the film.
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    Getafix wrote: »
    I agree but am always reading on here how awful he supposedly was.

    Glen wasn't awful, but as a director these films were his first 5 movies. He hadn't really nailed down a particular style, so the quality of his directing did vary.
    When he got it right, and I include TLD in that, then he was excellent. The story was well paced, the action was great, the humour was there but it never overshadowed the action. And the development of the central love story between Bond and Kara was completely convincing.
    When we see a supposedly more gifted and experienced director fail to convince us over 2 hours plus that Bond and the girl have fallen in love, then its hats off to John Glen for managing to do just that in TLD.

    The best thing about John Glen was that he didn't walk away with any grudge or any issue with the franchise. He loved being a part of it, he recognised that the series gave him as much as he gave to it (something the likes of Sean Connery didn't manage to do). And he remained a great ambassador for the series.
  • Posts: 1,917
    Glen was hired because of his success with the popular pre-credits and second unit action sequences the previous two films. With the emphasis on gadgets downplayed, Eon chose to focus more on the stunts and Glen fit that bill perfectly for them in 1980.

    FYEO was heavy on the stunts. And while it had more of a story than the previous few films being based on Fleming, Maibaum would later say he was disappointed on how the love story was handled. So it was clear where their preference for Glen's focus was.

    He also came in when the series was pretty much on automatic pilot, having their formula and the 2-year schedule for a new film and was able to meet that and all the films made money, although with often diminishing returns.



  • Posts: 787
    Apropos of the original title of the thread, one of my favourite parts is Dalton's counter- sniper sequence.

    It's a small enough thing, I suppose, but I really enjoy seeing Bond's craft - his equipment, clothing, strategy, and so on. The way the weapon (that stunning WA2000!) is hidden under the duvet, and his suit jacket flips up to conceal his shirt, and so on. I do wish the current era of film would slow down a tiny bit more to allow these moments to breathe and show us the man at work.
  • Posts: 3,333
    A very good observation @octofinger. I too appreciate the subtle details in a Bond movie. It was those technicalities done with style and panache that you pointed out which made me sit up with a big smile on my face when I first viewed TLD in the cinema. My immediate thought was: "Hooray! They're taking Bond seriously again."
  • Posts: 4,408
    octofinger wrote: »
    Apropos of the original title of the thread, one of my favourite parts is Dalton's counter- sniper sequence.

    It's a small enough thing, I suppose, but I really enjoy seeing Bond's craft - his equipment, clothing, strategy, and so on. The way the weapon (that stunning WA2000!) is hidden under the duvet, and his suit jacket flips up to conceal his shirt, and so on. I do wish the current era of film would slow down a tiny bit more to allow these moments to breathe and show us the man at work.

    100% agree @bondsum and @octofinger

    This is a Bond movie really powered by its plot. You are immediately thrown into a story about a KGB defector and the opening focuses on the safe extraction of that agent. Because it’s a Bond film, there is a certain flamboyance to the mise en scène of bringing the defector over. However, there is something tangibly real and tense about the scene. I feel much of that comes from Timothy Dalton, who approaches the sequence with a commitment that feels serious and business-like. His assertive and authoritative energy immediately reminds audiences that Bond is, in fact, a spy.

    It’s somewhat disappointing that once the villains’ scheme is unspooled, that it’s fairly convoluted and dull. Also, the hard left the film takes when it goes to Afghanistan is jarring and awkward. Suddenly, this Cold War espionage story has made an odd detour and become a Desert Storm meets Indiana Jones picture. It’s also an oddly political storyline for a film set in 1987. Seemingly the film sides with the Afghan guerrilla warriors against the Russians. The overt political context at play here which feels uncomfortable and thorny at best. It’s made more disconcerting by how many other more interesting angles the story could have taken.
  • Posts: 787
    . . . It’s also an oddly political storyline for a film set in 1987. Seemingly the film sides with the Afghan guerrilla warriors against the Russians. The overt political context at play here which feels uncomfortable and thorny at best. It’s made more disconcerting by how many other more interesting angles the story could have taken.

    Fair enough; that's not aged well. On the other hand, it's well to remember that that was sort of the flavour at the time - Rambo 3 shows a card dedicating it to the 'brave Mujahideen of Afghanistan.'
  • Posts: 12,526
    Caught a tiny bit of it today on ITV1, great movie and just a soundtrack that is perfection!
  • Posts: 11,425
    octofinger wrote: »
    Apropos of the original title of the thread, one of my favourite parts is Dalton's counter- sniper sequence.

    It's a small enough thing, I suppose, but I really enjoy seeing Bond's craft - his equipment, clothing, strategy, and so on. The way the weapon (that stunning WA2000!) is hidden under the duvet, and his suit jacket flips up to conceal his shirt, and so on. I do wish the current era of film would slow down a tiny bit more to allow these moments to breathe and show us the man at work.

    100% agree @bondsum and @octofinger

    This is a Bond movie really powered by its plot. You are immediately thrown into a story about a KGB defector and the opening focuses on the safe extraction of that agent. Because it’s a Bond film, there is a certain flamboyance to the mise en scène of bringing the defector over. However, there is something tangibly real and tense about the scene. I feel much of that comes from Timothy Dalton, who approaches the sequence with a commitment that feels serious and business-like. His assertive and authoritative energy immediately reminds audiences that Bond is, in fact, a spy.

    It’s somewhat disappointing that once the villains’ scheme is unspooled, that it’s fairly convoluted and dull. Also, the hard left the film takes when it goes to Afghanistan is jarring and awkward. Suddenly, this Cold War espionage story has made an odd detour and become a Desert Storm meets Indiana Jones picture. It’s also an oddly political storyline for a film set in 1987. Seemingly the film sides with the Afghan guerrilla warriors against the Russians. The overt political context at play here which feels uncomfortable and thorny at best. It’s made more disconcerting by how many other more interesting angles the story could have taken.

    Fair comments. It definitely loses some momentum later on but overall still highly enjoyable.

    Wish Dalton had done a couple more at least.
  • Posts: 1,917
    I don't see that TLD loses that much momentum. I feel that way with about pretty much the majority of Bond films where the ending just doesn't match up to what's gone before it. TLD feels refreshing that it's not the fate of the world on the line, that deja vu with Bond having to stop a ticking bomb or to stop something from causing disaster. Sure there's a ticking bomb on the plane, but it adds to the drama not because he has to save the world, but it's a situation he created and has to deal with. That adds a different level of suspense and most welcome, to me at least.

    The other cool thing about the latter part of TLD is the many hurdles Bond faces, one after the other. He has to stop the plane, fight Necros outside the plane, stop the bomb before it goes off, stop the Russian troops advance and escape the plane before it crashes. Then he still has to deal with Whitaker. That's a lot to deal with.
  • Posts: 7,507
    Whatever you think of the plot´s detour during the final act, I don´t think you can debate that some of the action during the finale is simply top notch! Action wise at least I think both of the climaxes in Dalton´s films hold up very well.
  • Posts: 11,425
    Glen was on fire
  • Posts: 4,408
    BT3366 wrote: »
    I don't see that TLD loses that much momentum. I feel that way with about pretty much the majority of Bond films where the ending just doesn't match up to what's gone before it. TLD feels refreshing that it's not the fate of the world on the line, that deja vu with Bond having to stop a ticking bomb or to stop something from causing disaster. Sure there's a ticking bomb on the plane, but it adds to the drama not because he has to save the world, but it's a situation he created and has to deal with. That adds a different level of suspense and most welcome, to me at least.

    The other cool thing about the latter part of TLD is the many hurdles Bond faces, one after the other. He has to stop the plane, fight Necros outside the plane, stop the bomb before it goes off, stop the Russian troops advance and escape the plane before it crashes. Then he still has to deal with Whitaker. That's a lot to deal with.

    I have to say this is a very good point. It's the essence of great action-storytelling. You basically have around a 15-20 minute portion of the film with no dialogue and you keep escalating and raising the stakes. Just as soon as you reach a conclusion, you have another segment looking to pull the rug under you.

    I can imagine Glen and the stunt-team thinking, "Okay, what happens next?". Then someone says, he drops the bomb! Okay, what next? He blows up the bridge? Okay, what's next? he crashes the plane!

    What makes it more genius is how slickly it's all edited. I was watching the film whilst it was on ITV1 yesterday and the way it cuts from miniatures in Morocco and Pinewood, to actual sets and to the actors on soundstages is seamless. The more you pay attention to the editing the more you appreciate all the units coming together to produce the sequence.
    Getafix wrote: »
    Glen was on fire

    In respect to my point above. Absolutely. But his staging of the drama scenes was hokey ad rudimentary at best.

    Remember, Glen was hired due to his strength as an action director. Moreover, I think Broccoli was hoping that Glen may make the transition into being a drama director as skilfully as Peter Hunt did. However, it didn't work.
  • SeanCraigSeanCraig Germany
    Posts: 732
    To this day, I appreciate TLD a lot. Even Timothy Dalton is my personal #3 Bond after Sean and Daniel, I think his casting was marvelous. His looks and acting were excellent and his first movie ages very well, imho.
    I love the introduction, the titles, the whole film. Maybe it drags a bit in the Afghanistan scenes, but only very little. And yes, I even like Kara ... there are Bondgirls who do annoy me WAY more than her.
    I am not a big fan of LTK anymore (in some parts too brutal, in some it just did not age that well to me). But TLD I always enjoy either I watch it actively or catching it somewhere in television.
    I would have loved to see at least one more film starring Dalton - maybe it would habe been his „Goldfinger“ entry he was not able to achieve with his only 2 entries. But - this is in my Top 10 for sure.
  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited July 2019 Posts: 12,480
    Just saw this great photo on twitter - and immediately thought of TLD ... B-)
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,176
    Cars left, critters right, Hercules landing dead ahead.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,789
    Just saw this great photo on twitter - and immediately thought of TLD ... B-)

    Hahahahaha! Yes!
  • Jordo007Jordo007 Merseyside
    Posts: 2,641
    2012_CSK_04431_0016_002(the_living_daylights).jpg

    Great find @Pierce2Daniel , that is one of my favourite photos of James Bond

    I think Daylights has one of my favourite PTS sequences of the franchises (love the story of it and the reveal of Bond is iconic) and the Puskin interrogation scene is immense and thrilling truly one of my favourites in the entire series, Dalton is Bond here, you truly believe he is a cold blooded killer

    Also after rewatching this, I do love some of Dalton's deliveries and wit, it's classic Bond
    The two I think of are, "Glad I insisted you bring that cello" and

    Milovy: You were fantastic. We're free!
    Bond: Kara, we're inside a Russian airbase in the middle of Afghanistan
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,287
    Getafix wrote: »
    Kara is one of the best Bond girls. Her chemistry with Dalton makes this the first believable relationship since Bond and Tracy.

    Agreed.
  • Posts: 19,339
    echo wrote: »
    Getafix wrote: »
    Kara is one of the best Bond girls. Her chemistry with Dalton makes this the first believable relationship since Bond and Tracy.

    Agreed.

    Meh :-&
  • Agent_99Agent_99 enjoys a spirited ride as much as the next girl
    Posts: 3,176
    echo wrote: »
    Getafix wrote: »
    Kara is one of the best Bond girls. Her chemistry with Dalton makes this the first believable relationship since Bond and Tracy.

    Agreed.

    OHMSS and TLD are the two Bond films with the biggest romance element, and my two favourites.
  • Posts: 11,425
    @barryt007 just has a big crush on Kara that's all. He's never got over her going off with Bond at the end of TLD.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,789
    Agent_99 wrote: »
    echo wrote: »
    Getafix wrote: »
    Kara is one of the best Bond girls. Her chemistry with Dalton makes this the first believable relationship since Bond and Tracy.

    Agreed.

    OHMSS and TLD are the two Bond films with the biggest romance element, and my two favourites.

    Thing I like about Tim's movies are how different they are. TLD has a strong romantic element, whereas LTK is just pure shag.
  • mgeoff88mgeoff88 At a nice safehouse in Rome... Erm... Bay Area, CA
    edited July 2019 Posts: 50
    I watched TLD on Netflix about five months ago. I’ve always really liked both of Timothy Dalton’s 007 films, but TLD feels more like a Bondian adventure than LTK (again, really enjoy LTK).

    Also, it’s funny, I find myself hearing the ending credits song in my head (the melody) from time to time, as if I recently watched TLD after all these months. It’s just so Bond and it fits the strong romantic element of the film:



    I tried to find a quality instrumental version, where you could really hear the beautiful melody of the song. I actually found one, but it sounded like a remade version.
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