--- title: "The Living Daylights: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-living-daylights/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-living-daylights" critics_score: 65 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Living Daylights (1987): what the critics said Critics' score 65 from 12 reviews: 7 positive, 2 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics come down in favour, and the praise clusters on Timothy Dalton. The reviews welcome his flinty, serious Bond as a corrective to the later Roger Moore films, and several describe a return to proper espionage, with real jeopardy and a Cold War setting that grounds the action. The pre-credits sequence draws the most consistent applause, along with the aerial finale; Variety also singles out John Barry’s score and the practical locations. The spread is wide, from those who call it a high point of the series to those who find it flat. Reservations cluster on the villains, which even admirers call colourless, on a convoluted plot that wanders between locations, and on a leading lady more than one critic finds irritating. The split is partly by date: the American reviews from 1987 are cooler, with Roger Ebert arguing Dalton lacks the humour the role needs, while later reappraisals are warmer. Slant Magazine dissents outright, saying Dalton never owns the part. ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 August 2020. The piece argues The Living Daylights is one of the series' high points as a proper espionage thriller, praising Dalton's instinctive and devious Bond in quieter dramatic moments. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/underrated-007-timothy-daltons-living-daylights-still-nastiest/) ## Time Out — BC Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. Despite a confused plot and globe-trotting digressions, this is the best Bond in years thanks to Timothy Dalton's emotionally committed take on 007 as a romantic hero. Specific praise for the gripping pre-credits sequence, the milkman raid, and the inventive final shoot-out; complaints about seedy villains and unmemorable Afghanistan scenes. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-living-daylights) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 September 2012. Debruge argues the film holds up better than prior entries in retrospect, restoring elegance and seriousness to the character through practical locations, a strong John Barry score and a more grounded approach. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/revisiting-1987-s-the-living-daylights-1118059667/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 October 2006. The critic welcomes Dalton’s Bond for bringing a fresh, grittier tone and proper intrigue after the later Moore entries. The real-world 1987 setting, credible villains, and strong set-pieces are singled out as strengths. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/living-daylights-review/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 25 February 2001. The critic highlights Timothy Dalton's two underrated Bond films as now available on DVD with extras. It notes the first film's colourful villains and safe-sex Bond flitting across locations. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2001/feb/25/dvdreviews.reviews) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 1987. Maslin finds the film scenic, engrossing and well-cast, with Dalton bringing a fresh edge. She notes the formula remains intact and the pace can tire, but it keeps the series afloat. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/31/movies/film-living-daylights-with-the-new-bond.html) ## Radio Times — Mark Braxton Rating 3/5. Timothy Dalton's flinty, serious Bond is a refreshing change from the late Roger Moore era, delivering a human, romantic adventure with strong set pieces like the prologue and aerial sequence. Villains are colourless and the finale is lame, but overall an underrated escapade. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-sbzyv7/the-living-daylights/) ## Los Angeles Times — Sheila Benson Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 1987. Benson sees the new Bond entry as more of the same pop-pop action and gadgets, with Dalton fitting the role but the overall formula feeling tired and forgettable after 25 years. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-31-ca-170-story.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 31 July 1987. Ebert finds Dalton deficient in the humorous tone essential to Bond, making the preposterous elements fall flat. He praises some stunts but criticizes the uncharismatic lead actress and weak villain. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-living-daylights-1987) ## Slant Magazine — Ted Pigeon Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 2 October 2012. The film is flat and fails to generate consistent energy or memorable set pieces beyond its opening. Dalton never fully owns the role and the convoluted plot and shoddy screenplay smother any smaller delights. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/summer-of-87-the-living-daylights/) ## Film Stories — Mark Harrison Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 July 2022. The critic praises Timothy Dalton's back-to-basics portrayal of Bond as restoring jeopardy and fortitude to the series after Roger Moore's lighter tone. The film's strong action sequences and more vulnerable Bond are singled out as highlights. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/features/the-living-daylights-and-what-timothy-dalton-brings-to-james-bond/) ## Den of Geek — Max Williams Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 27 June 2018. The critic finds the film strong if uneven overall, praising its return to a harder-edged Bond with Dalton's lean, cold performance, solid plot elements, memorable henchman Necros, and Cold War atmosphere, while noting issues with weak central villains, an irritating Bond girl, and pacing that prevents it from fully taking off. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-living-daylights-how-timothy-dalton-made-james-bond-serious-again/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-living-daylights.md