MovieChat Forums > Licence to Kill (1989) Discussion > The Living Daylights vs. License to Kill

The Living Daylights vs. License to Kill

posted 9 years ago by safard
19 replies | jump to latest

I'm working my way through the Bond series right now and just recently watched the Timothy Dalton films. When I finished The Living Daylights, I was pretty disappointed because I found both Dalton and the entire plot line too drawn out and tedious. However, I was completely drawn into the story in License to Kill it changed my mind about Dalton as Bond. He definitely isn't my favorite Bond, but it made me accept him as qualified for the role (something I couldn't do for George Lazenby).

Which Bond movie with Dalton did you think was better?

[–] mdm42 9 years ago

I think Roget Ebert felt the same way. He praised his performance in Licence but didn't care for it in TLD. I just think Licence is the far better film too.

[–] Irishdrummer007 9 years ago

I Love both film and thought Dalton was the best as Bond. If I had to pick one film over the other. I would choose the Living Daylights. The style and story of the film was very Fleming Like. The Scene with Bond and Pushkin was the point that I knew Dalton was going to be great in the role.

[–] s007davis 9 years ago

Definitely TLD. An excellent debut film for Dalton's take on Bond. It has more of a traditional Bond film feel to it with the John Barry score and the Cold War atmosphere. Also, Maryam d'Abo's Kara is my favorite Bond girl. LTK does have the stronger lead villain in Robert Davi's Sanchez but I still prefer TLD on the whole.

[–] lilwith 9 years ago

LtK wins for me

[–] pmarsh025 8 years ago

I think The Living Daylights is pretty good, but License to Kill outranks it by a fair bit. LtK is borderline great and everything works real well.

Dalton was better in these 2 than Moore was in 7.

[–] politicaldefiance 8 years ago

I like The Living Daylights but Licence to Kill is better overall.

[–] IndianaMcClane 8 years ago

I like both a lot actually, but also prefer Licence to Kill

[–] maiderekk 8 years ago

Both of Timothy Daltons films were great. The Living Daylights is a good Bond film but I've always thought Licence to Kill was superior.

[–] BoSoxRules 8 years ago

I prefer TLD, has more of a Bond feel to it that LTK.

[–] darkstorm97 8 years ago

I like them both. But Daylights is nearly a top 5 Bond for me.

Call me Snake.