Review of Licence to Kill (1989) by Ben B — 23 Oct 2012

My easy choice for most underrated Bond movie, Licence to Kill finds Timothy Dalton channeling a darker, more serious Bond. The plot is typically 80?s, but the action and characters resonate like few Bond's have even attempted.

While this is far from the lightweight popcorn fare the series is known for, it wins many points for delivering a more adult Bond ahead of its time. The pacing is excellent, the action scenes are smart and avoid cheesy cliches, and the villain is effective if unspectacular.

I appreciated the storyline of a rogue Bond on the run, as it had not been done to this point. The foreshadowing works well here and does not beat the audience over the head like in othe Bond films. The biggest knock on "Licence to Kill" is that it really doesn't feel like a Bond movie, which is why it is typically so under-appreciated.