License To Kill (1989)

"Dalton brought a seriousness back to the films that somehow got lost in a lot of silliness along the way.  John J. Puccio, DVD Town
"Tough, mean James Bond adventure...one of the best of the series...  Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide
"...a commendable entry in the James Bond series, and a welcome twist to the traditional formula.  Nicholas Sylvain, DVD Verdict

Editor's Note James Bond (Timothy Dalton) returns with a vengeance in LICENCE TO KILL. Having just witnessed his best friend's wedding, Bond is shocked when he learns that ruthless drug runner Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi) has assaulted the couple on their honeymoon, killing the bride. Assisted by the twiggy Drug Enforcement Agent Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell) and the gadget wizard Q (Patrick Llewelyn), Bond resigns from Her Majesty's Secret Service and pursues justice on his own. Perhaps the darkest of the 007 films, LICENCE TO KILL, exhibits a previously unseen side of James Bond. Maniacal at times, ex-agent 007 detonates everything in his way on the road to avenging his friend's bride. The 16th installment of the James Bond series, LICENCE TO KILL, veers away from the pick-up artistry and light interlocution of former 007 films. Instead, director John Glen, gives the audience a crystal clear view of the man behind the martini glass.

	Anthony Zerbe
	Benicio Del Toro
	Carey Lowell
	Priscilla Barnes
	Robert Davi
	Talisa Soto
	Timothy Dalton
	Wayne Newton
	Albert R. Broccoli, et. al. - Producer
	Alec Mills - Cinematographer
	Dennis Bosher - Art Director
	Ian Fleming - Based On Characters Created By
	John Glen - Director
	John Grover - Editor
	Michael G. Wilson - Screenplay
	Michael Kamen - Original Music By
	Michael Lamont - Art Director
	Richard Maibaum - Screenplay

New York Times
"...A script that makes [Bond] fit for the 90's....Lowell becomes the most playful, modern Bond heroine in years..." 07/14/1989 p.C8

Los Angeles Times
"...The movie whips up a combustible brew of old and new..." 07/14/1989 p.C1

ReelViews 8 of 10
Licence to Kill, Timothy Dalton's second and final outing as the superspy (and the sixteenth overall in the series), is a most atypical Bond adventure. Not since Dr. No has 007 been so cool and ruthless, and never has a plot been this close to realistic plausibility...For the most part, action is toned down in favor of plot development. This overemphasis on story may be a mistake, because there are times when Licence to Kill's narrative bogs down. There are still two impressive action sequences, however. One involves an underwater struggle that develops into a mid-air fight. The other is a spectacular downhill chase featuring four loaded tanker trucks roaring along winding mountain roads. - James Berardinelli

Chicago Sun-Times 9 of 10
My favorite moments in all the Bond pictures involve The Fallacy of the Talking Killer, in which the villain has Bond clearly in his power, and then, instead of killing him instantly, makes the mistake of talking just long enough for Bond to make a plan. The fallacy saves Bond's life two or three times in this movie...On the basis of this second performance as Bond, Dalton can have the role as long as he enjoys it. He makes an effective Bond - lacking Sean Connery's grace and humor, and Roger Moore's suave self-mockery, but with a lean tension and a toughness that is possibly more contemporary. The major difference between Dalton and the earlier Bonds is that he seems to prefer action to sex. But then so do movie audiences, these days. "Licence to Kill" is one of the best of the recent Bonds. - Roger Ebert