“I prefer the ‘53 myself.”
I still thoroughly enjoy this first Bond adventure. The Jamaica locations are beautiful, particularly Crab Key, and the Ken Adam-designed sets are also magnificent.
I love Bond’s intro at the casino with Sylvia Trench, it’s a timeless scene. We also get the first meeting of Bond and Felix, with the hilarious turn of character from adversary to ally in Quarrel at the time.
It’s not without it’s issues obviously. The mischieveous music while Quarrel swigs…
Genuinely one of my favourite movies of all time, I love this film so much.
Re-watching it now after several years, it still takes my breath away. The use of Phillip Glass music - particularly the scene in the street when he stops the bus - is just astonishing.
The best satires can also be genuinely funny- and that’s not easy. This film is absolutely laugh-out-loud funny at times. I’d forgotten how good Laura Linney is in this - hilarious…
I’ve always enjoyed The Living Daylights and watching it now I’m struck by just how bloody solid this is as a Bond adventure.
Following a thrilling intro in Gibralter where a training exercise uncovers the ‘smert shpionam’ - death to spies - plot, Bond is sent to Czechoslovakia to aid in the defection of Russian General Koskov.
Having been warned about a sniper in the area, he spots Kara with a rifle pointed at Koskov. Quickly recognizing her lack of skill…
This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
Claaaaaaassssic!
Have seen this plenty of times growing up, but this was the first time I noticed one of the credited writers is James Clavell, author of both Shogūn and, more importantly, King Rat - a terrific POW camp story set in the Pacific in WWII, which shares a lot of DNA with this.
Watching for the first time in many years, it felt fresh, and certain aspects hit differently. Ives is such an instantly likeable and indelible character, unlike…
