Review of Licence to Kill (1989) by John W — 06 Dec 2015

Well, the thirteen Ian Fleming novels had been written, published and adaptated (except from some short stories and Casino Royale until 2006), there's nothing new for the series and Ian Fleming is long gone..... Until now.

The challenge of written a Bond movie, always have to do with places and problematic of the moment. And at this point megalomaniacs and sadistic day dreamers of being gods is ridiculous and uncreativity in this moment. The world we used to know is changing, the Cold War is almost gone and dictatorship is some countries is disappearing for a new idealistic policies of the well being.... So where 007 now can go, after being in the underwater and space..... How about a revenge tale. That's where Licence to Kill takes the approach!

Licence to Kill takes seriously where the franchise has never being before. Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever and For your Eyes Only tried and fail to take the Bond story in a matter of vengeance situation. But this one really delivers what is all about. As Live and Let Die in first hand gives you a glimpse about drugs and voodoo, this one is different. While LTK takes the plot in a matter about South American drugs and the problematic of blackmailing like in the real world, is less probable to take serious this one, when the conformity of the places are confusing as Isthmus City (Panama, Chile, Puerto Vallarta?) and Bond being tossed around like a formidable informer in the villain's organization, c'mon! But nothing can be so bad after all. Robert Davi and a less known actor at the time, Benicio del Toro makes a formidable duplet of main villain and henchman, which makes the other Bond´s villains look like cliche and unrealistic in the entire series.

Beside from a revenge story, drugs and not a briefing typical mission like the other films, this one would mark not only the last road for Dalton as Bond, but also an hiatus of six years of the franchise after EON/MGM decide to take a personal battle in court for the legal rights of the franchise as his character.

Recommendable for those who want to see a different Bond movie never seeing before in this clashing vengeanful tale and drugs like you never imagine it!