Licence to Kill (1989)

The critic calls it one of the five or six best Bond films, noting a darker, more somber tone and Dalton's desperate one-man vendetta against a cocaine czar. The elaborate, gag-filled stunt sequences, especially the truck chase, are singled out for praise.

The critic finds the film one of the best recent Bonds, with Dalton delivering a lean, tough contemporary Bond who favors action. The standout element praised is the exhilarating closing stunt sequence involving gasoline trucks, a helicopter, and a light aircraft.

Licence to Kill pushed Bond into darker territory with Dalton's intense performance, a revenge plot against a ruthless drug lord, and groundbreaking violence and stunts like the truck chase. It was subversive and ahead of its time but underperformed at the box office.

The review praises the high-octane action, spectacle, and drama, crediting Dalton's vigorous, physical performance for revitalizing the series. The superbly orchestrated thrills-and-spills chases through South Florida and Central American locations are highlighted.

Timothy Dalton's two Bond films directed by John Glen are underrated and now on DVD with extras. Licence to Kill features a ferocious foe in a Latin-American drug baron and is the first Bond to get a 15 certificate for violence.

The review notes it is not as witty as The Living Daylights but delivers on effects, gadgetry, locations, and a feisty Bond girl. It praises the pacy plot and hi-tech elements despite straightforward plotting.

The critic finds Dalton's second Bond outing a tougher, grittier affair well suited to his brooding style, more aligned with visceral 80s action films than Moore-era silliness. It is a watchable adventure with impressive action sequences and a fiery climax, though Dalton deserved another chance.

The review notes Dalton remains the element of surprise in the series and praises the mix of villains, women, and effects, but concludes the film is still a bit too conventional despite clever updates and stylish action.

The critic calls the film a noble misfire that was too gritty and serious for 1989 audiences, who preferred escapist fare, and notes it led to a six-year Bond hiatus amid studio issues. They single out its grounded revenge plot and Dalton's brooding, violent 007 as ahead of its time and influential on later entries like Casino Royale.

The critic finds the film dull and outdated, criticizing the watered-down villains and especially Timothy Dalton's wooden performance as Bond, calling him an utter bore.

The critic views Licence to Kill as a solid, ahead-of-its-time Bond entry whose gritty revenge plot and realism prefigured later films in the series and the spy genre. They single out its close adherence to Ian Fleming’s source material and character spirit, including deep cuts to the books and film lore, for particular praise.

The critic praises Licence to Kill for bringing gritty realism and increased violence to the Bond series, highlighting Timothy Dalton's intense portrayal and the film's departure from formula as a revenge story that foreshadowed later entries like Casino Royale.

The critic calls Licence to Kill a terrific film and the best of director John Glen’s five Bond outings for its spectacle, suspense and satisfaction. It stands out as one of the flat-out best action movies in the series because it takes place beyond the usual rules of Bond films.