Review of Licence to Kill (1989) by Andrew C — 26 Dec 2008

Here we have James Bond as his most frightening. Timothy Dalton is on the warpath. This is one of the most graphically violent Bond films complete with a man being fed to a shark, someone being ground up into power to be later disolved in gasoline and Bond vs. a seriously scary bad guy wielding a machete. Carey Lowell and Talisa Soto are a pair of my favourite Bond ladies. Lowell as the rugged and badass CIA chica and Soto as Davi's kept woman. And on that note of Robert Davi. He might be my favouite Bond villain since Goldfinger. Here we have an archetypical villain of the 80's. The latin drug baron. But this guy is worth 007's attention which makes him special. He's a sadisitc, paranoid and very smart creature built on greed and pride. This is a very sexy Bond film where his mission of vengence is well thought out and brilliantly excecuted. I think this could be the only Bond film where he never sets foot in England. I thought that was a neat thing to take note of. Also, we have Desmond Llwewelyn as Q in a very crucial role towards the end of the film. All in all a tough, gritty and rugged film that, if it weren't for the tux, wouldn't really feel like a Bond film. Solid action piece with plenty of automotive carnage towards the end.

Peace!