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Again, no change. Dalton is 100% pitch perfect in this film. His appearance in The Living Daylights, is exactly what I see in my mind when I see are hear the name, James Bond. The humour has been toned down from the from Moore's films, Dalton has a certain way (sarcastic?) with the lines that I like. "Salt corrosion", "He met his waterloo", and my favourite, a line so good, they stole it and used it in 007 Racing, "I've had a few optional extras installed."
Kara... there's a lot of animosity around towards her, but it is her naivety and innocence that makes her likeable (and different).
On Koskov and Whittaker, Whittaker comes off best (I like the quirk of his obsession with staging military battles). But given that both are sandwiched between Max Zorin, and Franz Sanchez, they come off as a little on the weak side.
Caroline Bliss is ok. She doesn't reinvent the wheel as Moneypenny, but she's not awful at the same time. I don't think that I could rank them, as they don't differ like the Bonds do. Samantha Bond would be bottom of the ranking, then Pamela Salem, after that... I don't know.
John Terry is bland as Leiter, though still better than Norman Burton. If the casting were up to me, i'd have cast Stacy Keach, and have him more involved in the mission.
Bond back in an Aston, and what a beauty she is too.
The score is amongst Barry's best. See, John Barry knew how important an ingredient the Bond theme was in the recipe. Newman, take note.
My 1996-2016 20th Anniversary Bondathon
1. The Living Daylights
2. Licence To Kill
3. Tomorrow Never Dies
4. The World Is Not Enough
5. Spectre
6. GoldenEye
7. Die Another Day
8. Casino Royale
9. Skyfall
10. Quantum Of Solace
Always appreciate the love for TLD. It was a special Bond film to me growing up as Tim was the first "new" Bond in my lifetime. Also I like the idea of Stacy Keach!!!!! I never thought of him as Leiter, but probably would have worked. Actually I would have been thrilled as I've always been a big Mike Hammer fan! I agree Keach would definitely have had to been given more to do. Felix is barely a cameo in TLD, but welcomed nevertheless.
He could have fit in with whatever style of the actor playing Bond, serious or straight.
I like John Rhys-Davies, but it's Dalton's film. Especially during Bonds interrogation of Pushkin. If each Bond has one scenes that captures why they were cast, that is Daltons.
Up until Quantum , this had been my least favorite Bond. After Quantum, it wasn't far from the bottom of my ranking, and it is't going to be far from it now. Moore's age is only part of the problem, it's hi appearance as well. Someone said that Moore had a little work done post Octopussy, if true, then he should have sued. His age was starting to catch up with his appearance in For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy, but here, he just look odd. He has a near constant look of surprise on his face. He was never a good fighter when he began as Bond, but the fights are now so bad to watch. When the stuntman plays Bond more than the actor that is supposed to be Bond, it's time for fresh blood. If Moore has stay on for another film, even a simple task like sitting down in a chair, would have needed a stuntman to perform the task instead.
It's a good thing that I like the 'He's Dangerous' track, as given how often it is used in the film, that would not help A View To A Kill in my ranking.
Tanya Roberts is a lot like Denise Richards, beautiful to look at (her eyes are especially alluring), but not believable in the profession of the character. How smart do Geologists need to me? I mean, if an Airship creep up behind one, and they not hear it coming...
The Taxi (featuring the most accurate depiction of a French Taxi driver ever put on film) chase is typical Moore, a really good chase/stunt, that is ultimately ruined by the pursuit of another joke (see also the barrel from from The Man With The Golden Gun and the free fall from Moonraker).
Walken look to be having a little too much fun. He's a great villain to watch, with his facial expressions. "This'll hurt him, more than me."
My 1996-2016 20th Anniversary Bondathon
1. The Living Daylights
2. Licence To Kill
3. Tomorrow Never Dies
4. The World Is Not Enough
5. Spectre
6. GoldenEye
7. Die Another Day
8. Casino Royale
9. A View To A Kill
10. Skyfall
11. Quantum Of Solace
Agree on your complaints but isn't most of the common critic on AVTAK true for all Roger Moore films? As you said, he was never convincing in a fight sequence and was certainly too old at least after TSWLM (when he was already 50). There has also always been some bad one liners or other kind of bad humour.
I also find that the bad humour is leass annoying than in Octopussy where Tarzan yells and tennis jokes always take me completely out of the chase sequence since they take away all the tension. In AVTAK the problem is still there but I find it to be less obvious and irritating (maybe except for the CG song in the PTS).
Overall I can still enjoy AVTAK, especially because of Zorin and Mayday, the score, the locations, some actions scenes, a solid and interesting plot and Tibbet as one of the my favourite allies.
A proper Bond film through and through. With an excellent debut performance from Dalton.
Great action, a good cold war plot and minimal silliness.
@LeonardPine - It's about time we had another classy spy thriller. FRWL - TLD - ???.
Awesome. I will be watching OHMSS soon for the Christmas themes. Such an amazing Bond experience.
Unfortunately I am in the UK and can't get Hulu as far as I am aware, I have tried on my Roku. Sky Q are premiering SP in 4K at Christmas which is a positive sign for full series conversion being available to buy.
Watching these 2 back-to-back really reminds me how special this franchise is to me and to everyone on these forums. QOS is a top 5 outing for me, and SF sits at #24 as my least favorite Bond film, but I still get a total blast from both of them. Even at 24th place, I rather rewatch SF than 95% of non-Bond movies I know, including some highly regarded classic films. Daniel Craig as Bond really is a force to be reckoned with. Starting with the PTS of QOS I really enjoy him being a proper badass and watching him travel around the world kicking some major ass. Both films look extremely lush (the sequence at Mathis' villa and the Shanghai segment are off-the-charts). Splendid cast - Bardem, Fiennes, Dench, Whishaw, Finney, Giannini, Amalric) and some fantastic action sequences (Palio chase, car chase, Istanbul PTS, Slate fight, courthouse shootout, Patrice fight in Shanghai). Great soundtracks from Arnold and Newman (although I would like a bit more Bond theme).
I think QoS lends itself to greater appreciation through multiple viewings because it moves at such a breakneck pace that it's impossible to take it all in the first time around. Craig gives a masterful performance as man who must find the balance between doing his duty and giving in to his inconsolable rage. When all seems lost, both M and Felix put their trust in him, and he doesn't disappoint. The ending is perfect; Bond finds closure and moves on. He has learned the art of not killing all possible leads.
This is now a top ten entry for me. I can no longer hold back my admiration.
OP.
What a total blast this film is. Sir Rog has never been better. He is utterly suave and charismatic here, whether from a very cool PTS, to the Sotheby's auction, to the bomb chase where he showcases some tremendous acting skills. Great action scenes - the Tuk Tuk chase, the sequence on the train, the jungle chase and the climax on the plane. Very good soundtrack from Barry, a lot of humour (Sir Rog telling a tiger to sit!), a bunch of colourful characters (Kamal Khan, Octopussy, Gobinda, Magda) and a fantastic use of the MI6 staff (some of Robert Brown's best moments, plenty of scenes with Llewelyn). One of my favorite Bond film, and one I will never tire of rewatching.
Let's start with the obvious this film is bloody perfect it might be my second favorite bond film nothing will beat Casino Royale but just wow it's an intriguing mystery no matter how many times I watch this I think wow this is amazing dalton is a total bad ass and just because the cgi free fall is kind of silly and The Living Daylights doesn't have it I have to put it at second right now. And while Kara isn't great it makes sense and is realistic she is a normal person she isn't a super spy she is just a cello player.
Great theme song to boot.
1. The Living Daylights
2. Quantum of Solace
3. Licence to Kill
4. From Russia with love
5. For Your Eyes Only
6. The World is Not Enough
7. On her Majesties Secret Service
7. Tomorrow Never Dies
8. Octopussy
9. Live and let die
10. Skyfall
11. Goldeneye
12. Spectre
13. Dr. No
14. Thunderball
15. The Spy Who Loved Me
16. Goldfinger
17. Die Another Day
18. You only live twice
19. The man with the golden gun
20. Diamonds are forever
21. A View to a Kill
22. Moonraker
23. Never Say Never Again
24. James Brolin's Octopussy
25. Casino Royale 1954
26. Casino Royale 1967
Up next the final unofficial bond "film" Diamonds Aren't forever
Just like For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy is becoming one of those Bond films which I am starting to enjoy more with each viewing. There are still things that I dislike with a passion, such the "Sit!" and the Tarzan yell. The Tuk-Tuk chase is a great little sequce, the tennis puns don't even bother me anymore. India is such a beautiful location, how come it took until Octopussy froma Bond film to go there? Barry's score is once again up to the high standard we expect of a Barry score. This is the first time that I have watched Octopussy, and noticed the subtle smile from M, as Bond leaves for India (after pre-empting M green lighting his flight to Station I).
My 1996-2016 20th Anniversary Bondathon
1. The Living Daylights
2. Licence To Kill
3. Tomorrow Never Dies
4. Octopussy
5. The World Is Not Enough
6. Spectre
7. GoldenEye
8. Die Another Day
9. Casino Royale
10. A View To A Kill
11. Skyfall
12. Quantum Of Solace
I have to say I rather enjoyed this viewing. About half of the film is complete filler, that's the main problem, but apart from that it's a very enjoyable outing. The first half and hour and the last half and hour make a superb opening and climax respectively. It's the stuff in the middle where things go awry. A lot of it just seems like Japanese traditions and customs thrown in for the sake of it. The film sags a lot throughout this section, but standout scenes include Bond's fight atop the rooftops, the death by poison sequence, and "things I do for England" scene. Despite the drifts in pacing, and sometimes logic, I feel there's always something cool coming up in a few scenes to keep me invested.
On another note, the characterization of this film as being massively over the top I feel is slightly overplayed. The film is subdued for large sections, including a visit to a spa and a sequence in which Bond attempts to procure a "license to manufacture" from a Japanese industrialist. It doesn't come drier than that.
7/10
I was in the mood for some Sir Roger adventure, so what better than his final mission, as the oldest Bond of them all? Cracking performance from Sir Rog, as charming and suave as ever as the world-weary gentleman spy. Stunning soundtrack, splendid duo of villains (Zorin and May Day are just so entertaining to watch), some great action (the PTS, the steeple chase, Paris chase, fight on top the Golden Gate bridge, and the firetruck chase). Some fantastic spying scenes with Moore - I really enjoy him in stealth mode in Zorin's stables. Not the best made Bond film, but a very entertaining final mission for the longest serving Bond, and he is still his typical unflappable self (albeit not as much as in TSWLM or MR). I really still enjoy all 7 of these Sir Moore adventures, just the perfect way to spend 2 hours, and travel around the world and watch him quip hilarious one liners and bed all the women he can lay his hands on.
I've said this before but its the closest we ever came to having Cary Grant as Bond.
True, but David Niven was the same age in CR.
Second time in the past month. This one's rising in my rankings.