So Licence to Kill is a polarizing film in the Bond community, and for good reason. It’s one of the most brutal, dark, and gritty entries in the franchise. It’s about as far as the series could get from the Roger Moore era. Surprisingly, it’s also one of my favorites.
The big difference between this one and its predecessor, The Living Daylights, is commitment. Where the last one kept pulling back from the darker moments, this film embraces that tone. It makes the film much stronger as a result. Dalton in particular shines throughout, as he’s finally able to show the full breadth of his take on Bond.
It’s an interesting story for Bond too, as he goes rogue from MI 6 in order to hunt down the drug lord who maimed Felix Leiter and murdered his wife. Cut off from his usual contacts, Bond has to rely on his wits, guns, and whatever friends he can make along the way. But this drug lord , Sanchez (Robert Davi), is just as crafty as Bond, and even more ruthless. It’s a match-up that has Bond at a major disadvantage. If he truly wants to nail Sanchez, he’ll have to find a way to bring him down from the inside.
And it’s that constant back and forth between the two parties that keeps the film exciting. The closer Bond gets to his goal, the more dangerous his position becomes. And when he and Sanchez finally have their big confrontation it leads to one of the best climaxes of the series.
With all that said, there are some minor quibbles I have with the movie. While I do like the idea of Bond going on a revenge quest for his best friend, the truth is that we haven’t seen enough of his relationship with Felix to truly feel invested in Bond’s quest on a personal level. Dalton does his best to make up for it though, and between his performance and the film’s brisk pace it’s hard to notice while you’re watching.
The other, more notable problem is the love triangle the film introduces between CIA agent Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell) and Sanchez’s kept woman, Lupe Lamora (Talisa Sato). Leaving aside the fact that Sato’s performance is pretty wooden, the entire concept feels tacked on and unnecessary. This isn’t a film that particularly needs a romantic sub-plot. I’ve nothing against the characters, as Bouvier is a pretty cool character who can hold her own in dangerous situations, and Lupe helps demonstrate what a vile man Sanchez is. But throwing in the love triangle is unnecessary and adds a bit of a Three’s Company vibe to the film where it’s not needed.
But let’s circle back to Sanchez. Revenge movies live or die off of the strength of the protagonist and the villain, and thankfully Robert Davi was more than up to the task. He brings an air of equal parts charm and menace to the role. What’s unique about Sanchez among many Bond villains is that you understand why his people are loyal to him. He can be a genuinely good boss, and he rewards loyalty. But if you step out of line for even a moment, he will not hesitate to kill you. He’s much more complex and realistic than most Bond villains. He’s sharp too, and keeps Bond constantly on his toes while the Brit is trying to infiltrate his organization. He’s a worthy match for Bond, which makes the moment when Bond finally manages to win all the more satisfying.
And that’s really what the whole film comes down to. While it’s not a perfect film, the push-and-pull between Sanchez and Bond is riveting and keeps you invested the whole way through. It’s an exciting, tense ride that ends with a clash of two titans. And it’s a clash well worth seeing for any spy or action movie fan.
Film Licence to Thrill
So Licence to Kill is a polarizing film in the Bond community, and for good reason. It’s one of the most brutal, dark, and gritty entries in the franchise. It’s about as far as the series could get from the Roger Moore era. Surprisingly, it’s also one of my favorites.
The big difference between this one and its predecessor, The Living Daylights, is commitment. Where the last one kept pulling back from the darker moments, this film embraces that tone. It makes the film much stronger as a result. Dalton in particular shines throughout, as he’s finally able to show the full breadth of his take on Bond.
It’s an interesting story for Bond too, as he goes rogue from MI 6 in order to hunt down the drug lord who maimed Felix Leiter and murdered his wife. Cut off from his usual contacts, Bond has to rely on his wits, guns, and whatever friends he can make along the way. But this drug lord , Sanchez (Robert Davi), is just as crafty as Bond, and even more ruthless. It’s a match-up that has Bond at a major disadvantage. If he truly wants to nail Sanchez, he’ll have to find a way to bring him down from the inside.
And it’s that constant back and forth between the two parties that keeps the film exciting. The closer Bond gets to his goal, the more dangerous his position becomes. And when he and Sanchez finally have their big confrontation it leads to one of the best climaxes of the series.
With all that said, there are some minor quibbles I have with the movie. While I do like the idea of Bond going on a revenge quest for his best friend, the truth is that we haven’t seen enough of his relationship with Felix to truly feel invested in Bond’s quest on a personal level. Dalton does his best to make up for it though, and between his performance and the film’s brisk pace it’s hard to notice while you’re watching.
The other, more notable problem is the love triangle the film introduces between CIA agent Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell) and Sanchez’s kept woman, Lupe Lamora (Talisa Sato). Leaving aside the fact that Sato’s performance is pretty wooden, the entire concept feels tacked on and unnecessary. This isn’t a film that particularly needs a romantic sub-plot. I’ve nothing against the characters, as Bouvier is a pretty cool character who can hold her own in dangerous situations, and Lupe helps demonstrate what a vile man Sanchez is. But throwing in the love triangle is unnecessary and adds a bit of a Three’s Company vibe to the film where it’s not needed.
But let’s circle back to Sanchez. Revenge movies live or die off of the strength of the protagonist and the villain, and thankfully Robert Davi was more than up to the task. He brings an air of equal parts charm and menace to the role. What’s unique about Sanchez among many Bond villains is that you understand why his people are loyal to him. He can be a genuinely good boss, and he rewards loyalty. But if you step out of line for even a moment, he will not hesitate to kill you. He’s much more complex and realistic than most Bond villains. He’s sharp too, and keeps Bond constantly on his toes while the Brit is trying to infiltrate his organization. He’s a worthy match for Bond, which makes the moment when Bond finally manages to win all the more satisfying.
And that’s really what the whole film comes down to. While it’s not a perfect film, the push-and-pull between Sanchez and Bond is riveting and keeps you invested the whole way through. It’s an exciting, tense ride that ends with a clash of two titans. And it’s a clash well worth seeing for any spy or action movie fan.