Licence to Kill - The Living Daylights (part 2)

 I watched Timothy Dalton's first performance (Living Daylights) just before his second (and final) outing as Bond. I have to say they were pretty much similar. Not in story, but the fact that he never seemed truly comfortable playing Bond. That - perhaps - was both films' major let-downs which means that cinema history has chalked both up to little more than footnotes in the Bond lore.

However, just because Dalton isn't at his best (yet?) doesn't make them bad films. In both, the story (and of course action) rolls along nicely and carries both movies equally.

If you're a fan of Bond in general, I can't see why you won't like either or both these movies, just on the story and `fun factor' alone. Then, if you're not really into Bond in general and are looking for an action film, perhaps it may be best not to think of this as Bond and just enjoy if for a gritty revenge action film. The tone is definitely the darkest (Bond) to date and the `humour' of the Roger Moore era has definitely been swept aside. Is it for the better? Well, the box office returns didn't think so. Most people judge it on Dalton. If you judge it on story and action, you may be a little more surprised.

8/10 The Force is definitely strong with this one