Review of The Living Daylights (1987) by John P — 02 Nov 2011

So, we're to Timothy Dalton. Bond "fans" may dismiss Mr. Dalton's two films because he only did two (apparently the less films a Bond actor is in, the worse they are), and for the fact that they're in the drab 80s (let's face it, there isn't a single Bond film from the 80s that is visually appealing. They're all shot terribly), but Dalton delivered two solid installments, this being one of them.

Dalton was the closest Bond to Fleming's works (until Daniel Craig), which meant he was serious and deadly, but not charming and flippant like Roger Moore (no harm meant to Mr. Moore, though). I guess that's where the backlash may have come in. Dalton's Bond was never *sexy* like Connery or handsome like Moore, he was just... Bond.

Anyway, this is one of the most solid entries, even if the humor is shoehorned in, age hasn't been kind to it, and the villain's scheme is never really... Laid out that well. We get great action, great acting from Dalton, a believable Bond girl, and the last score from John Barry, which was an awesome one. Good stuff all around.