We have a new Bond actor!
Dave's review: The Living Daylights featured a much more serious, intense James Bond, played by Welsh actor Timothy Dalton. This didn't work for a lot of people, as Dalton didn't flash the familiar charm of a Connery or Roger Moore. However, from a movie perspective, Daylights has one of the most satisfyingly complex stories. It also portrays Bond as a one woman man, again worked for some, not for others. The pre-credits sequence, a training exercise gone awry, is thrilling and one of the best Bond action scenes ever. A subsequent fight in a kitchen, sans 007, is hand to hand combat at its finest. The film meanders a bit in its middle and Maryam d'Abo as Kara, is not one of the more memorable Bond women. Overall due to the lack of dynamic characters and personalities, this film is an average entry in the James Bond canon.
Dave's grade: B-
TT's review: Sentimentally, The Living Daylights is my favorite movie. Dalton is my favorite Bond. His Aston Martin V8 is my favorite Bond car. Although I liked Moore's cheesiness, Dalton's dark presence was welcome. I was 13 when this came out, so it definitely left an impression.
However, upon watching it in 2021, it wasn't really that good. Something was lacking. The inflated grade is due more to nostalgia than merit.
Also, I watched this while the US was fleeing Afghanistan. In the movie, there were plenty of dead Soviet soldiers' bodies laying around. It was "acceptable" because they were our enemies and they were killed by local freedom fighters. How would we react if those bodies were American soldiers?
TT's grade: A-
Dave's reaction: Funny thing is, Daylights has a lot of sentimental value to me too as it was the first movie I ever saw in a theater! But upon repeat viewings it just seems a bit dry and not so fun.
TT's reaction: I agree with the assessment, but a B- is harsh.
Rate The Living Daylights:
— Tamerlane's Thoughts (@TamerlaneBlog) August 29, 2021
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