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There was something about those hard, green eyes that made
you think - this bloke is a killer.
Unfortunately, the Moore-oriented audiences of the day didn't
handle the transition well and our Tim only made two (terrific)
Bond movies and The Living Daylights was the first.
It is the involved tale of a power struggle in the Soviet
Union and a defecting general. This sparks a campaign to kill
Western agents and sets Bondy off on the trail of arms dealers
that takes him to Eastern Europe, Vienna, England and Afghanistan.
In keeping with the more hard-edge nature of the reborn Bond,
The Living Daylights is filled with some terrific action
scenes and stunts. Who can forget the opening scenes in Gibraltar,
the bomb-laden jeep or the mid-air fight with Bond hanging
off the back of a Hercules transporter.
The cast is A1. Apart from Dalton, you have the likes of
Jeroen Krabbe, John Rhys-Davies, Maryam d'Abo, Art Malik and
Joe Don Baker. Baker's over-the-top appearance is a bit of
a shock - as he is superb in later movies as the CIA's Jack
Wade.
D'Abo is excellent as the love interest and puts in a very
strong performance as an independent, intelligent female partner
for Bond. She also marks the move away from wanton promiscuity
for Bond, towards a more monogamous (well, per movie) style
for the hero.
The transfer is not perfect - lacking a little in contrast
and suffering from a few spots here and there, as well as
some artefacts and aliasing - but the movie is the thing and
it is well-above average.
The Living Daylights is one of my favourite Bond movies
with a most welcome emphasis on action and spying, rather
than dopey bloody gadgets.
Conclusion: Movie 85%, Extras 85%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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