Review of The Living Daylights (1987) by Etienne B — 14 Dec 2010

The Living Daylights(1987)-6/10...the 15th Bond film and the 1st appearance for Timothy Dalton. Certainly not my favorite Bond, but his portrayal probably was the closest resemblance to Ian Fleming's character. The film was directed by John Glen with the title song sung by a-ha. This isn't one of the best Bond's because the plot is a mess...it features a false defection of a KGB agent, a musician, a plot to assassinate spies, arms dealings, diamonds, heroin and all set on the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Afghanistan. The Bond girl Kara Milovi(a cellist and girlfriend of the defecting agent) is played by Maryam d'Abo. Jeroen Krabbe plays Koskov who is selling diamonds for heroin, while scheming with American Brad Whitaker played by Joe-Don Baker, who is selling arms and all trying to get Bond to assassinate the head of the KGB-Leonid Putin played by John Rhys-Davies. It also features Art Malik as the charismatic leader of the Mohajadin(Afghan resistance fighters and we all know what became of that). This film also brought a new Miss. Moneypenny played by Caroline Bliss. There aren't many great scenes, but the chase scene in the snow in Bond's car and subsequently using the cello case as a sled is a good one. Like I said Dalton is not my favorite Bond...its not really his fault though as he just wasn't in very good films.

"Reginald Bundy...critic for the times.".