Review of The Living Daylights (1987) by Filipeneto — 19 Feb 2018

Directed by John Glen and produced by Albert Broccoli, it has script by Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson, and is the fifteenth film in the franchise. In this film, besides the central cast inherited from previous films, Timothy Dalton embodies, for the first time, the role of James Bond, alongside a great cast: Maryam d'Abo plays the Bond- girl Kara Milovy, Jeroen Krabbé gives life to General Koskov, John Rhys-Davies plays General Pushkin and Art Malik plays Kamran Shah.

In this film, Bond is tasked to assist in the defection of a Russian general who, as in London, announces the resumption of "Smert Spionam" (Death to Spies) policy by the USSR. However, after several setbacks and after meeting the girlfriend of the fugitive general, Bond discovers that the defection was nothing but theater and there is someone interested in triggering a new world war.

For the first time, Timothy Dalton gave body and life to James Bond. and, despite his way was quite different from the polite and courteous Moore, its not difficult for us, after some minutes of film, see Dalton as the new 007. Hard, violent and seductive at the right time, the actor was able to give a new impetus to the spy and bring Bond definitely to the eighties. And, although Maryam d'Abo doesn't fit the usual pattern of Bond-girls (super attractive, fatal, curvaceous and sexy), its impossible don't think that her sweet, gentle and loving ways blends very well with the vigorous and virile Dalton's Bond. The script is very interesting and addresses some issues that are still present in our society: the fear of a new world war or arms trafficking, for example. Some scenes in this film are iconic, such as the escape of Bond and Kara to the border with Austria by skiing inside a cello case, or the incredible fight scenes in the Afghan airport. Also great is the opening theme, sung by A-ha, in my opinion one of the best achieved in the franchise.