IMDb > Licence to Kill (1989)
Licence to Kill
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Licence to Kill (1989) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   23,184 votes
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Director:
Writers (WGA):
Michael G. Wilson (written by) and
Richard Maibaum (written by) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Licence to Kill on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 July 1989 (USA) more
Tagline:
Out for revenge. Glimpse behind the cool facade of 007. And see how sweet revenge can really be. [USA poster] more
Plot:
James Bond leaves Her Majesty's Secret Service to stop an evil drug lord and avenge his best friend, Felix Leiter. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(10 articles)
News: Theme Tune Envy
 (From Kasterborous. 28 November 2009, 1:51 PM, PST)

Moore Eyes Dr Who Role
 (From WENN. 4 September 2009, 5:16 AM, PDT)

User Reviews:
CLASSIC BOND! more (255 total)

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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Bond 16 (UK) (original script title)
Bond XVI (UK) (original script title)
Licence Revoked (UK) (working title)
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MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for action violence and drug content. (2006 video version)
Runtime:
133 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | West Germany:16 (video rating) (cut) | Germany:16 (re-release) (uncut) | Ireland:15 | USA:R (original rating) | USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Iceland:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Singapore:PG
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Sanchez is from Isthmus City, a reference to the country of Panama which lies on an isthmus and the corrupt dictator Manuel Noriega, whom the CIA were working very hard to oust, at the time. He was eventually deposed by U.S. troops in the same year this film was released. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Bond is hanging on the pontoon plane his hair is dry despite coming straight out of the sea. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
AWACS radar operator: We have a mid-course deviation. Target heading 036, 126 miles, bearing 062, Havana VOR.
Voice of DEA agent: He's landing at Crab Key. Advise Key West Drug Enforcement.
AWACS radar operator: Roger, sir. AWACS to Key West. Key West Drug Enforcement, please come in.
Voice of DEA agent: If they hurry, they just might be able to grab the bastard.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Dirty Love more

FAQ

How does Bond know to look behind the picture of Della to find the computer disk?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
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32 out of 43 people found the following review useful.
CLASSIC BOND!, 28 October 2003
8/10
Author: eamon-hennedy (eamon.hennedy@talk21.com) from Co Down, Northern Ireland

I really liked Timothy Dalton as Bond. I really thought the guy did a great job. The Living Daylights was an excellent Bond thriller, more in line with Dr No and From Russia With Love in tone and style, but with Licence To Kill you can tell that Broccoli decided to compete with the big boys with this action packed spectacular that aims high and scores. What we have here is Bond with spectacular action scenes and a more nastier steak with regards to the violence that is more in line with Hollywood action blockbusters than with quintessential British spies. This is why the film works. Licence To Kill is much more darker than any of the Bond films that has come before, and after the silliness of the Moore era, that was what this franchise needed. Why have world domination craving villains when you can just p*ss Bond off, big time. Having Felix Lieter maimed and his wife killed on their wedding day is inspired and immediately puts the film on a darker streak. The script here is very strong as we watch a darker more violent Bond infiltrate the bad guy's lifestyle and then proceed to work from there.

Don't make any mistakes this is not a Bond film that would be broadcast during a Bank Holiday afternoon. What we have here is a film that is graphically violent. Check out the head explosion scene or the nasty incidents involving sharks. Having Bond on the revenge path makes for a more interesting tale than just another villain trying to take over the world. The more personal element fits in with this more darker Bond. Dalton really rises to the occasion here and ensures that he will be remembered as a fine actor who played the part of James Bond. The ice cool look of anger as he dumps a bad guy into a shark tank with a case fool of money is fantastic as is his reaction to finding Lieter's dead wife. It may not be said, buy OHMSS is being referenced. Helping Dalton along the way is a great support cast. Robert Davi is superb as Franz Sanchez, without doubt the nastiest Bond villain there has ever been. We have two Bond girls too. Talisa Soto is beautifully sultry, but Carey Lowell just pips her to the post as Pam Bouvier who really gives Bond a run for his money. Another great casting point is an increased role for Q. Desmond Lewellyn appears here more than he ever has done before, helping out in the mission that makes one wonder the Bond writers never thought of it before, or why they never did it after.

Licence To Kill is classic Bond. Purists may give of with the more American touch to the narrative (you just know that any theatrical trailer is crying out for voice over man to go "this time it's personal"), but the more darker narrative suits the film and it shows that Dalton was a good Bond no matter what his critics say. With some of the most spectacular action sequences at the time, this is a genuine Bond classic.

Shaken and stirred most definitely.

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