Licence To Kill Reviews

1989

Rated:
70
from 11,050 members

In LICENCE TO KILL, James Bond (Timothy Dalton) quits Her Majesty's Secret Service to go after a drug kingpin (Anthony Zerbe) who brutalised a fellow agent and his new bride. This 16th 007 installment is one of the best in the series and the first not based on an Ian Fleming story. Dalton makes his final appearance as Bond in .. Read more

Starring	Timothy Dalton, Carey Lowell, Robert Davi, Talisa Soto
Director	John Glen
Genres	Action/Adventure

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Critics' reviews (4) of Licence To Kill
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Without SMERSH or SPECTRE to outwit (this was the era of Mikhail Gorbachev's glasnost, after all), James Bond turned his attention to big-time drug barons. Timothy Dalton phones in his performance, Desmond Llewelyn is given his biggest role to date and there's a spectacular chase with an oil tanker, but the relentless violence and lack of sexual conquests make this more of a Lethal Weapon than a Bond movie. The title was to have been Licence Revoked until market research implied that Americans didn't know what “revoked” meant. Anyway, when 007 does get his licence revoked, he's asked to hand over his gun. “Then it's a farewell to arms,” he says to “M” in the garden of Hemingway's home in Key West. It's a rare moment of style in a jaded effort.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
"...A script that makes [Bond] fit for the 90's....Lowell becomes the most playful, modern Bond heroine in years..."
- New York Times
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
Not as witty as The Living Daylights, but it doesn't let the audience down in the arena of effects, gadgetry, and... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Licence To Kill
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

GREAT STORY,BUT NOT BOND

This movie has Bond at his most desperate. when Felix Leiter's wife

is murdered and Felix is mauled by a mad shark then Bond is on a mission to catch the man responsible who happens to be a south american drug dealer named Franz Sanchez. traveling through South America to stop Sanchez. The part of Felix Leiter getting his leg ripped off by a shark is nicked from the a scene in the book version of ' Live And Let Die' by Ian Fleming.

Franz Sanchez's hitman Dario{Benicio Del Toro} is pretty nasty too. Talisa Soto plays Sanchez's beat up mistress Lupe Lamora. Cary Elwes plays CIA agent Pam Bouvier. great movie but not of the bond formula. but a very great way to say goodbye to Dalton's Bond.
- - A customer from NEWCASTLE
  - Posted 22 Jun 2004 17:18
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Americanised one-liners

Sadly, the American's with their immense capital budgets have been able to influence James Bond as we knew him, tailoring him to the American market. The Americans try their best at presenting the cheesy catchphrases but always ending up with predictable one-liners. In my opinion, the classic JB's are the best.
- - Gavin Williams from London
  - Posted 21 Jan 2005 21:42
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Dalton still has it,

Timothy Dalton romps through this film in complete style, and we find that he was originaly asked to play the part of bond before Roger Moore, i wonder what the Moore films would have been like had it been Dalton.

The most down to earth Bond in the history of the part, well worth a look.
- - Dale Gonsalves from Hayes
  - Posted 30 Jun 2004 15:29
Most recent members' reviews (2) of Licence To Kill
View all
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Dalton still has it,

Timothy Dalton romps through this film in complete style, and we find that he was originaly asked to play the part of bond before Roger Moore, i wonder what the Moore films would have been like had it been Dalton.

The most down to earth Bond in the history of the part, well worth a look.
- - Dale Gonsalves from Hayes
  - Posted 30 Jun 2004 15:29
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Another James Bond

What can I say another James Bond you shouldnt bother with
- - A customer from Basildon
  - Posted 01 Feb 2009 09:55

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

GREAT STORY,BUT NOT BOND

This movie has Bond at his most desperate. when Felix Leiter's wife

is murdered and Felix is mauled by a mad shark then Bond is on a mission to catch the man responsible who happens to be a south american drug dealer named Franz Sanchez. traveling through South America to stop Sanchez. The part of Felix Leiter getting his leg ripped off by a shark is nicked from the a scene in the book version of ' Live And Let Die' by Ian Fleming.

Franz Sanchez's hitman Dario{Benicio Del Toro} is pretty nasty too. Talisa Soto plays Sanchez's beat up mistress Lupe Lamora. Cary Elwes plays CIA agent Pam Bouvier. great movie but not of the bond formula. but a very great way to say goodbye to Dalton's Bond.
- - A customer from NEWCASTLE
  - Posted 22 Jun 2004 17:18
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

Americanised one-liners

Sadly, the American's with their immense capital budgets have been able to influence James Bond as we knew him, tailoring him to the American market. The Americans try their best at presenting the cheesy catchphrases but always ending up with predictable one-liners. In my opinion, the classic JB's are the best.
- - Gavin Williams from London
  - Posted 21 Jan 2005 21:42
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Dalton still has it,

Timothy Dalton romps through this film in complete style, and we find that he was originaly asked to play the part of bond before Roger Moore, i wonder what the Moore films would have been like had it been Dalton.

The most down to earth Bond in the history of the part, well worth a look.
- - Dale Gonsalves from Hayes
  - Posted 30 Jun 2004 15:29
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Another James Bond

What can I say another James Bond you shouldnt bother with
- - A customer from Basildon
  - Posted 01 Feb 2009 09:55
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

Licence to Kill

I love me Bond films - watch em all like I have!!!
- - A customer from Stoke-on-Trent
  - Posted 03 Sep 2009 13:30
Another good James Bond film,with plenty of action and a interesting story,I think Timothy Dalton was very good in this film.
- - Bill#16 from WEYMOUTH
  - Posted 17 May 2004 18:42
good

another brilliant bond movie with plenty action
- - A customer from england
  - Posted 12 Jun 2005 17:04
FAIR

POOR OLD JAMES IS GOING DOWN HILL ONLY FOR DIE HARD BOND FANS
- - A customer from belfast
  - Posted 29 Aug 2005 11:50
Licence to Thrill.

James Bond leaves Her Majesty's Secret Service to stop an evil drug lord and avenge his best friend, Felix Leiter. James Bond 007 hasn't his licence to kill in this one. Timothy Dalton is okay in this and I particularly liked the story. Action adventure with gadets.
- - Cornetto from Lancaster
  - Posted 24 Apr 2007 20:02
Licence To Kill

Typical Bond film with plenty of chases and explosions. Reasonably exciting, but unfortunately my least favourite Bond. Timothy Dalton just does not hack it as a tough guy. Oh, for the days of Sean Connery!!
- - A customer from Bury St. Edmunds
  - Posted 03 Dec 2008 10:35

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Critics' reviews (4)
Without SMERSH or SPECTRE to outwit (this was the era of Mikhail Gorbachev's glasnost, after all), James Bond turned his attention to big-time drug barons. Timothy Dalton phones in his performance, Desmond Llewelyn is given his biggest role to date and there's a spectacular chase with an oil tanker, but the relentless violence and lack of sexual conquests make this more of a Lethal Weapon than a Bond movie. The title was to have been Licence Revoked until market research implied that Americans didn't know what “revoked” meant. Anyway, when 007 does get his licence revoked, he's asked to hand over his gun. “Then it's a farewell to arms,” he says to “M” in the garden of Hemingway's home in Key West. It's a rare moment of style in a jaded effort.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
"...A script that makes [Bond] fit for the 90's....Lowell becomes the most playful, modern Bond heroine in years..."
- New York Times
- Posted 11 Mar 2005
Not as witty as The Living Daylights, but it doesn't let the audience down in the arena of effects, gadgetry, and... read more on Time Out
- Time Out
- Posted 04 Nov 2008
The mixture is much as usual, though the action is more violent and Bond has become more of a free agent.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006

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  In LICENCE TO KILL, James Bond (Timothy Dalton) quits Her Majesty's Secret Service to go after a drug kingpin (Anthony Zerbe) who brutalised a fellow agent and his new bride. This 16th 007 installment is one of the best in the series and the first not based on an Ian Fleming story. Dalton makes his ...