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102 out of 128 people found the following review useful:
Fleming's Bond is Back, 1 January 1999
Author: GaryMook from New Hampshire, USA

This is the most underrated film in the series. It's ironic that the first of the EON films not to draw its title directly from an Ian Fleming story is also the closest in spirit to Fleming since "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." Of course, the titles had long since become the ONLY connection between Fleming's original stories and the movies -- the film plots and Roger Moore's portrayal bore almost no resemblance to Fleming's Bond.

In "License to Kill" continues what he started in "The Living Daylights": he portrays a Bond that is still an ultra-suave superagent, but is also moody and reckless -- in other words, human.

Bond is driven to avenge the near murder of his friend Felix Leiter (and the murder of Leiter's wife) at the hands of drug lord Franz Sanchez. Sanchez is excellently played by Robert Davi. He ends up being assisted by CIA agent Pam Bouvier. Bouvier is played by Cary Lowell, in a performance that earns her automatic entry onto the list of top 5 all time Bond women.

Some elements of the story come from Fleming's short story "The Hildebrande Rarity." Sanchez's doomed henchmen Milton Krest is lifted directly from "The Hildebrand Rarity," and elements of the relationship between Sanchez and his girlfriend Lupe echo that of Krest and his wife Liz in the original story.

The other Fleming story drawn upon is "Live and Let Die" for the plot-driving scene in which Leiter is thrown to the sharks. (This marks the second time that Fleming's "Live and Let Die" was drawn upon for a key scene in a movie other than the film version of LALD. The other is the "dragged behind a speedboat over the reef" scene in "For Your Eyes Only." It kind of makes you wonder what the powers that be at EON were thinking when they couldn't find a place for these powerful, effective scenes in the pastiche that is LALD.)

"License to Kill" features a realistic, believable story. Add to it the equal ruthlessness of Bond and Sanchez in their respective portrayals by Dalton and Davi and you have a movie that will stand out over time as one of the best in the series.

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81 out of 102 people found the following review useful:
Hard-edged Bond film. Not a great commercial success, but it has interesting points., 10 October 2003
Author: Jonathon Dabell (barnaby.rudge@hotmail.co.uk) from Todmorden, England

Timothy Dalton only played Bond twice, but he tried to base his interpretation of the character on the descriptions provided by Ian Fleming in the original novels. Therefore, his Bond is quite ruthless and embittered, and always ready to stick two fingers up at the establishment if he feels they've got it wrong.

Bond is vacationing in Florida, acting as best-man at his friend Felix Leiter's wedding, when the unthinkable happens. Leiter and his wife are assaulted by some Central American thugs; the wife is murdered and Leiter is crippled by sharks. Bond is obviously deeply unhappy about this, but his bosses instruct him to let the matter drop and get on with another assignment. 007 knows who is responsible for the injuries to his friend, so he revokes his licence to kill and becomes a rogue agent, tracking down the villainous drug lord Sanchez (Robert Davi) to his Latin America headquarters. Here, aided by Sanchez's unfaithful mistress Lupe (Talisa Soto) and CIA agent Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell), Bond attempts to wipe out their enormous clandestine drug operation single-handedly.

There's definitely an uneasy, hard edge to the film which makes it unique among the Bond series. Whether or not this improves the film depends on your personal taste: if you like safe, humorous Roger Moore escapades, you'll probably find this too jarring, whereas if you prefer espionage stories with a bit of grit and sweat, this may be just what you're after. The action sequences are still outrageous in the tried-and-trusted Bond style, with memorable episodes featuring a daring helicopter .vs. airplane pursuit; a barefoot water-skiing sequence; and a truck chase down the side of a mountain. Some of the language, though not out-and-out "foul", is a bit stronger and more believable than in other Bond entries. The theme tune from Gladys Knight and the Pips is one of the better 007-tracks.

Licence to Kill is a new twist on the Bond theme. It isn't the best, and some of its new ideas don't fit with the usual routine (which may or may not be a good thing), but it is certainly interesting.

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74 out of 95 people found the following review useful:
A criminally underrated Bond picture, 22 November 2006

Author: Gavin Salkeld from United States

Licence To Kill is one of the most underrated Bond movies since On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Slipping easily back into 007's shoes with style after his previous role as Bond, Timothy Dalton embodies the character. With a break away from the comic-book villains and fantastical locations, the filmmakers decide to focus instead on a very adult and contemporary story about drug smuggling and revenge. Michael G. Wilson and Richard Maibaum's story is engaging and exciting, with a steadfast confidence in their leading man. This is a Bond movie that took risks -- it was the first 15-rated Bond film in the UK -- and surely deserves kudos for doing so. Make no mistake; this is not a family Bond picture. Its themes require a more mature perspective than its predecessors, and the violence is certainly stronger than anything that had come before. Unfortunately, these factors seem to be what critics of Licence To Kill call 'faults'. But why is change so bad, I ask? Casino Royale is getting major appreciation from critics for its grittiness and its darker edge. So why not Licence To Kill? After all, this is the movie that started the current trend, with Dalton's mature portrayal of Bond paving the way for Pierce Brosnan and, without doubt, Daniel Craig. It always amazes me that people do not give Dalton more respect for what he did with the character. This guy started the ball rolling. And boy did he give it a hard push.

The characters in Licence To Kill are one of it's major plus points. James Bond is the most human we have seen him in 20 years, as Dalton brings a real sense emotional depth to the character; a tortured man full of hurt and pain and vengeance, his determined and stony face almost cracking with the burning hatred that is barely contained inside of him. We also get a strong female lead with Carey Lowell, whose portrayal of Pam Bouvier is at once intelligent, sexy, and funny. On the flip side of the coin, we have a genuinely terrifying villain in the shape of Robert Davi, playing his role deadly straight with not a hint of camp. It's a rare scenario where you feel Bond has met someone of equal competence. The Sanchez character is a frightening presence, and an early role from Benicio Del Toro is just as effective; his chilling grin a fear-inducing sight.

Technically speaking, John Glen's direction is taught and assured, with the pace never really letting up for the 130+ minutes running time, save at the very end of the movie where the spectacular truck chase sequence perhaps drags just a little. The brilliant Michael Kamen also supplies us with an elegant, sensual and brooding score that is a vital player unto itself, complimenting the visuals excellently.

In spite of these pluses, there are some minor quibbles. As I said before, the truck finale is perhaps a bit long, even though the stunt work is amazing, but it does slow the pace a bit. Talisa Soto is indeed beautiful as Sanchez' girlfriend but, bless her, she isn't exactly the most talented actress on the planet. She plays her part well enough, but the role isn't exactly Oscar-worthy, and it's not helped by the fact that the script tends to relegate her to the sidelines. Everett McGill's cigar-chomping Killifer is rather too pantomime for me - he just doesn't stand up to the characters of Sanchez or Anthony Zerbe's Krest but he doesn't stick around long so doesn't get in the way too much.

With a striking leading man in Bond's shoes, Licence To Kill deserves a lot more credit than it gets. This is the film that broke the mould, opening the doors to a more adult, violent Bond world that continued briefly with some of the Brosnan films and certainly with Daniel Craig's portrayal of the character. In Timothy Dalton we have a brilliant actor in the starring role who brought us a more human and believable Bond, yet it is Daniel Craig who is currently getting the credit for these exact traits. Don't get me wrong, his characterisation is superb. But Dalton is the one who started it off, and it is a shame that he only made the two films.

John Glen says that from all of the Bond movies that he directed, Licence To Kill is the one he is most proud of. And rightly so. Not only do we get a more fleshed-out character in Bond than previous outings, we get a more believable and mature storyline, with great characters and competent direction. Definitely one of the most underrated Bond movies, this engaging film is a great piece of entertainment, and one that I hope will gather praise with time. See it.

4 stars.

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77 out of 114 people found the following review useful:
Dalton's best run in the role, 17 August 2003
Author: didi-5 from United Kingdom

The worst-performing movie in the Bond movie in terms of grosses, it probably failed because it wasn't really a Bond at all. True, it is the character Fleming created, and Q is in there, but this extremely violent thriller with its strong female characterisation (Carey Lowell, perhaps the only Bond girl with `balls') is not a neat fit with the others.

The only one of the franchise created especially with star Timothy Dalton in mind (perhaps the sexiest Bond of them all?) it is a tale of loyalty, drug cartels, sharks, and 007 losing his licence and setting off as a vigilante. Lowell plays agent Pam Bouvier, who shines in a bar fight and gives 007 as good as he gets. And boy, do these two have chemistry together!

The only problem with this movie is that it gets so truncated on its TV showings that it loses a lot of its point (and in the worst edit I saw, its sense). There is perhaps too much going on - the abused Latino bimbo, the crooked evangelist, the Japanese businessmen touring the factory, the casino …

Not at all as bad as many commentators at the time and since have suggested. What a pity the series stagnated after this before its big budget Pierce Bronson revival. Dalton should have had the chance to show us more of the character he portrays in `Licence to Kill'. And what a great theme tune from Gladys Knight.

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56 out of 77 people found the following review useful:
One of the best Bond films, definitely the most underrated!, 9 October 2006

Author: cupidandpsyche85 from United Kingdom

A terrific thriller and a great Bond film, Licence to Kill was Timothy Dalton's second and final performance in the role of 007, and it's his finest hour as the world's most famous secret agent. With a brutality and edge unlike any other Bond film before or since, the darkness of this film turned off many fans; indeed, this is about as far from the likes of Octopussy and Moonraker than is imaginable. A heavy American influence is present; the likes of Lethal Weapon and Die Hard were upstaging the old-fashioned thrills of 007, so director John Glen and writers Michael G. Wilson and Richard Maibaum decided to match their rivals and deliver a grittier, bloodier and more intense storyline. The results are a success, and the film stands out as one of the most exciting, interesting and gripping Bond films of all time.

A memorable pre-credits sequence involves the capture of vicious drug lord Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi); he has left the security of his corrupt home to act out revenge on the lover of his mistress, so the DEA exploit this risk to carry out an audacious arrest. James Bond is along for the ride, as is his old friend Felix Leiter (David Hedison), who was just about to get married before word of Sanchez's whereabouts reached him. Unfortunately, it's not long before one of Sanchez's 'famous million dollar bribes' is doubled and he is helped to escape. Sanchez's first action is to exact horrific revenge on those who captured him; when Bond discovers Leiter's wife murdered and Leiter himself the victim of a shark attack, he swears revenge himself against Sanchez, even if it means acting alone, with his licence to kill revoked and the British government after him. As Sanchez never saw him at the time of his capture, Bond has the freedom to work undercover and into his enemy's world and business, encountering many friends and foes along the way; there's the egregious Milton Krest (Anthony Zerbe) whose underwater transport firm is a cover for Sanchez's drug deals, the sadistic Dario (Benicio del Toro) who used to be part of the Contras before he was kicked out, Sanchez's lover Lupe (Talisa Soto), and CIA agent Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell), who is the only one of Leiter's contacts in the Sanchez investigation who is still alive, and who works with Bond to successfully provide cover for him when he arrives in the fictional Isthmus City in the hope of climbing Sanchez's criminal ladder.

Usually, when reviewing Bond films, I can't be bothered with delving into the plot as there's barely one to speak of most of the time; it's the usual tale of globe-trotting and world domination. Licence to Kill actually has a tense and involving storyline that keeps the excitement and momentum moving at a cracking pace. Another major factor to the film's success are the performances, especially by Dalton and Davi as two men on opposing sides of the law. Dalton remodels Bond as a determined, often ruthless free agent who, I'm told, is a lot closer to Ian Fleming's original 007 in the novels; here, Bond is tougher, more vicious and clearly quite a dangerous person. Dalton delivers a great performance which combines a dark edge, humour (despite what most people say, Dalton is not humourless: 'Switch the bloody machine off!!!' is one of the most shamefully amusing lines in any Bond film!) and plenty of physicality that's a lot more convincing than any attempts from previous Bond actors. Davi on the other hand, makes for a chilling villain, one of the best in the series. This is no crazy megalomaniac with hollowed out volcanoes or grand airships for lairs; he's a powerful, scary criminal who nevertheless favours loyalty over money, something that gives him an interesting edge over many previous Bond villains. As the film progresses, Bond and Sanchez even become allies, though in Bond's case it's merely to get closer to his nemesis in order exact his revenge. Of course, Sanchez is still a Bond villain at heart; he has two chances to kill Bond on the spot, yet his sadism and desire to indulge in a protracted killing prove to be his downfall. When will these bad guys learn? Supporting performances are almost all excellent, with Lowell (as well as looking stunningly beautiful) proving to be one of Bond's best sidekicks, more than adept at taking on foes by herself, especially in the bar-room brawl sequence. Soto is unfortunately pretty wooden in the other main female role; she certainly looks the part, but her delivery of the dialogue is often stilted. A young Del Toro makes for a deeply unpleasant lackey, while Zerbe is agreeably slimy as Krest. Las Vegas performer Wayne Newton is pretty funny as the televangelist-type whose phoney 'phone donation shows are actually a sneaky cover for Sanchez and his business partners to communicate with each other effectively, while Desmond Llewellyn enjoys his biggest and best screen time as Q, who once again provides Bond with a couple of gadgets that prove to be conveniently very useful indeed.

The action surpasses even that of The Living Daylights, with spectacular aerial sequences, underwater fights and excellent chase sequences providing thrills in abundance. The one-man attack on Krest's boat in particular is a highlight, while the fiery finale is one of the best endings to any Bond film, as oil tankers, missiles, planes and the most lethal cigarette lighter on Earth all combine to deliver a truly exciting final confrontation. This is also by far the most violent and bloody of all the Bond films, though the violence suits the edgier, more brutal tone of the story; in fact, this is one of the only films in the series where there's a real sense of menace and danger to the proceedings, making Licence to Kill the most suspenseful and gripping of the series, and certainly one of the best.

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40 out of 55 people found the following review useful:
CLASSIC BOND!, 28 October 2003

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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29 out of 38 people found the following review useful:
The first Bond film to receive a Restricted (R) rating code for excessive violence…, 9 August 2005

Author: ironside (robertfrangie@hotmail.com) from Mexico

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

In the most serious Bond movie since "From Russia with Love," writer Michael G. Wilson eliminated some of the very elements that have contributed to the longevity of the series—namely, the biting humor, fascinating locations, and a grandiose scheme perpetrated by a fantasy villain… "Licence to Kill" was almost a claustrophobic Bond considering its limited and uninteresting trips to Key West and Isthmus City…

Dalton—who is once again serious and on target—should have been lightened up a bit… Audiences who spend two or more hours with Bond need to laugh once in a while… Thankfully, Q, awarded the biggest role of his film career (following a tip-off from an anxious Moneypenny), was on hand to provide some crucial comic relief…

The story was a brave departure from anything previously ventured: shortly after acting as best man at the wedding of Felix Leiter, Bond discovers that Leiter's bride has been murdered and that his friend has been savaged by a shark… With grim determination, 007 launches a personal vendetta against Frank Sanchez, the sadistic drug baron responsible; his obsession sees him stripped of his license to kill by a furious M (Robert Brown).

Robert Davi proved to be an excellent choice for the role of murderous South American drug lord Franz Sanchez… Surrounded by a private army that keeps potential assassins at arm's length, Sanchez was not an easy target… His main associates include corrupt seaman Anthony Zerbe, a drunken pervert and a sadist Benecio Del Toro…

Carey Lowell showed to be the best Bond girl in years… She was delightful as Pam Bouvier, a resourceful, beautiful CIA pilot and undercover operative who helps Bond at every turn… Her excellent introduction in the Barrelhead Bar is nothing but pure dynamite…

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44 out of 68 people found the following review useful:
A darker Bond but a good Bond, 4 July 2002
Author: bob the moo

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

After a major drugs bust CIA agent Felix Leiter gets married with his friend James Bond as his best man. However in a revenge attack drug lord Franz Sanchez mutilates Leiter and kills his wife. James Bond wants revenge but is ordered to stay out of it. Ignoring the order Bond goes on a personal vendetta to bring down Sanchez's organisation.

This was Dalton's second and last Bond movie. It was also his best. The nature of Bond is a lot darker than during the Roger Moore years and this lends itself to a more violent film with revenge as the motivation. The story is actually OK and allows some humour, however some may not like the idea of Bond as a vigilante type. The action is pretty good although not as visually stunning as other blockbusters. The drama is good and the Bond girls are all good.

Dalton was a good Bond no matter what is said – all he did was take it back to the root rather than playing it camp like Moore, he gave a harder edge to the role that was missing. Davi is a good bad guy – he can do this in his sleep and he's good here even if his 'evil Cuban guy' dial is turned up to 11! The girls are both good in different ways – Lowell's more demure comedy role or Soto's vixen. The inclusion of faces like Everett McGill is good and the rising star of Benicio Del Toro is an interesting find in retrospect. Wayne Newton is also really funny in a funny cameo.

Overall this isn't the best of the Bonds but it is a nice change after years of Moore being camp. The darker edge may put some off but it does add more action to the proceedings that had been missing recently.

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11 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Underrated, misunderstood entry in the 007 Series, 1 July 2003

Author: Chris Pappas from Howell

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Licence To Kill came out during the huge box office summer of '89 (which included Batman, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters II, etc). Unfortunately, lousy advertising and Timothy Dalton's lack of appeal to American audiences did not bring in the big bucks that could have been expected. While the film did not do great in the US compared to other Bond films, it still did well overseas. Because of the assumption that LTK was a flop, people consider it one of the weakest entries in the series. Needless to say, they're dead wrong.

(Possible Spoilers)

Sanchez is one of the most realistic, deadly villains Bond has ever met, and this is also 007's most personal mission yet. Felix Leiter, the trusted ally and Bond's best friend is fed to sharks and his newlywed bride has been murdered. After Bond decides to attend to Felix and find out what happens and doesn't leave for his mission, he resigns and his license to kill is revoked by M. Bond goes on a personal vendetta which involves more spying, more detective work and less gadgets and over the top villanious plans. Licence to Kill isn't everybody's cup of tea, and some think it's a Charles Bronson rip off, but personally I see it as more of an Ian Fleming Bond movie, which is ironic since this is the first movie title not to be taken from a Fleming novel. Q has a nice supporting role rather than the smaller role he usually has.

In a way, I always see Licence to Kill to be the end of an era for Bond films. It seemed with Goldeneye's release in 1995, Pierce Brosnan's Bond is not the same Bond as portrayed by his four predecessors. I don't know why, but with Felix Leiter out of action, Bond losing his license, the last appearance of so many members of the Bond crew and cast, it seems like Dalton's final portrayal was the end of one continuity, and Brosnan's is a new, revamped Bond. Nonetheless, this is one of the best Bond films of the entire series, both pre-Brosnan and the Brosnan era.

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14 out of 20 people found the following review useful:
I Don't Understand People's Reaction To the Violence In This Film, 16 April 2005

Author: deltron-0 from United States

Sure, it's not the best 007 film, and Dalton is not the best Bond (that would be Brosnan or Connery, leaning toward Connery for the better films), but the idea that anyone would be appalled by the violence in this movie is, err, appalling. Did people forget that in DR. NO Connery plugs six bullets into Prof. Dent? Or breaks the neck of No's security guard on the island? Or that Quarrel is graphically roasted alive by the dragon? In FRWL, people are strangled and stabbed and beaten and shot throughout the entire movie! Had no one actually read Fleming's LIVE AND LET DIE novel? Bond is a Secret Agent with a Licence To Kill, hence the title of this movie! At the time, I was very impressed with this movie, and still find it enjoyable to watch though it hasn't aged well. The dialog is rough at times and so is some of the acting, though it had the best cast in a 007 film in dog's years! The costuming is a joke, the drug story shop-worn, and 007's 'resignation' scene, what should have been the first truly dramatic moment of the entire movie, is treated as though the movie starred Steven Segal! Also, in a series where music plays an integral part, this movie just didn't come through. Knight's title theme has a rousing under-rhythm, but overall it's just a modern 'Thunderball', and Kamen's non-score makes me feel like I'm watching a 'Lethal Weapon' movie. When it ends and the most memorable music in the film is the Mex-mariachi music from the trucks' speakers, you know the music director f'd up big time! How come that wasn't on the soundtrack? Heh-he.

Still there are plenty high points thanks to the EON team: David Hedison as the best Felix Lieter ever, Carey Lowell as the best Bond Girl since Melina Havelock, Q's extended presence, the camera-gun, the Hong Kong narcotics plot twist, and the credible action stunts (007 overtaking the drug money plane is breathless from the moment he harpoon's one of Sanchez' men, pun intended)! Seeing James Bond actually get hurt at the end of the movie was a real stunner though! In the end, it's not great Bondage, but it's an overlooked cut above much of it's competition.

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