MovieChat Forums > Licence to Kill (1989) Discussion > It Simply Isn't a Bond Film

It Simply Isn't a Bond Film

posted 8 years ago by nihilistdude2000
43 replies | jump to latest

Other than the fact that the main character is named James Bond, and Q shows up with some gadgets, there is nothing "Bond-like" about this film. I'm not surprised it didn't do good at the box office. I know fans of the Fleming books seem to like Dalton, but he just lacked the suave charm that other Bonds have had. He did well enough in The Living Daylights, I suppose, but this film was just way too generic 80's action flick. Without the charm of Bond, then there is nothing special about Bond, hence why Dalton was not a good choice to continue the series. If Timothy Dalton had played Bond in the original Dr. No, I don't think there would even be a Bond franchise, to tell you the truth.

[–] overseas7 (4236) 5 years ago

Dalton was a very good James Bond

[–] BillySlater (4241) 5 years ago

I like Dalton and I think this is one of the best Bond films. Top 5 for sure.

[–] Stratego (30500) 5 years ago

[deleted]

[–] R_Kane (15828) 4 years ago

Bond’s smoothness was a VERY thin veneer in the source novels. It was a hedonistic indulgence over the cold-blooded killer that MI6 created out of yet another young orphan lad the agency gobbled up and molded. Felix Leiter was a very close friend of Bond’s. This mission was entirely personal. I love it. I skipped the Moore films because they are beneath contempt; but, to my knowledge, there are only 2 Bond movies where 007, truly shows his personal feelings: this one, where he’s out for revenge blood, and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, when he slides into denial when his bride is murdered.

Believe it or not, Bond has feelings. They may be truncated because of his ruthless training. I welcome any Bond film that lets us see his quarantined real emotions.

[–] FootOfDavros (8142) 4 years ago

Well said by the OP.

I like the parachuting into the wedding pre titles opening but otherwise pretty much a garbage entry in the series.

And very true if that if this had been the first Bond film, there wouldn't have been a second...

[–] MovieKnut (184) 3 years ago

Have to disagree. This is a great Bond movie. Of course it's different from previous Bonds. There is no mandate from Her Majesty's Government. Quite the reverse, it is made clear that Bond's actions are not sanctioned. Still very much a Bond movie for me. Shame we didn't get to see Dalton in what would become GoldenEye.