The GREAT Living Daylights DEBATE! | With Calvin Dyson

[@FromVadimWithLove]

Saunders Death is a powerful character moment from Bond. He's so furious not just because his partner is killed but because his death is BOND'S FAULT. Originally Bond and Saunders agreed to meet at midnight. Saunders came in time, but Bond egotistically decided to spend some time with Kara on the ferris-wheel. This gave Necros enough time to set up his trap. Such an overlooked character moment.

[@shinyphil87]

Totally agree. His anger when he bursts the balloon is solid gold 👌🏻

[@tonoormusic]

Yes, I loved it too

[@nickbode5211]

Wow never noticed before that Bond was late. Great catch!

[@spaceodds1985]

Could not agree more. The way Bond says thanks to him, Barry’s score over the scene and then the aftermath of Kara asking Bond what was wrong... absolutely sensational. Dalton is pitch perfect in this scene.

[@seanwarren5613]

Was about to write the exact same thing! Couldn't agree more. Very intense scene and acting.

[@Plally06]

Dalton's intensity wins the day for me. Flat one liners aside, he can be really chilling. "Yes, I got the message...." It's no wonder so many Fleming fans adore him.

[@lanejoyner5175]

The Living Daylights is my most listened to soundtrack

[@treadstone1970]

Where has everybody gone?

[@tomhockman6267]

Mine too, although Thunderball is a close second.

[@treadstone1970]

My most listened to soundtracks are the three in a row of You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and Diamonds Are Forever. John Barry at the peak of his Bond scoring powers.

[@Aceimus1066]

It's so good isn't it

[@Atticus75]

Yes, I had it on cassette. John Barry?

[@vikingofvegas]

That first close up of Dalton on the cliff face at the start of the movie still gives me chills... its iconic

[@crobeastness]

i love his delivery of "Bond, James Bond" in that scene the most out of any bond too.

[@ramencurry6672]

He’s better than Sean Connery

[@kristianjanse182]

The living Daylights is in my Top 3 Bond films.

[@Daniel-hz7tk]

Same! It is one of the best.

[@rogerpattube]

Brave pair.

[@nothingtoseehere2336]

Same.

[@scotthix2926]

Agree

[@robertdenton3617]

Just misses out on the top 10 for me

[@jaquesravalec242]

Dalton's Shakespearean intensity and anger is great to watch. The way he snaps "No!...Sir" To M when discussing Pushkin. The classical training and stage experience made a difference.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

He really was phenomenal in the role but he was let down by the scripts. He never got the film he deserved.

[@SPEEDPAINTER1]

The Bond girl on the yacht at the beginning is Belle Avery. She's now a movie Producer (Meg) I've worked with a few times. I'm a concept artist in motion pictures. She's such a sweet and kind woman. One time she asked me how long it was gonna take for me to finish a concept I was working on for her on. My response? "I'll have it for ya in a day." Then I paused.... "Better make that two." She immediately laughed. She got it immediately. I couldn't resist. Haha Great lady.

[@MichaelHonscar]

The only weak points to me are Koskov and Whitaker. Everything else hits it mark perfectly. Dalton, Kara, Necros, the music, etc. All perfect. This is a top 3 Bond film for me. For me, Kara’s romance with Bond tops his romances with Tracy and Vesper. My favorite romance in the series.

[@ShawHortonMusic]

I love the way Q was used in the Timothy Dalton films. It created this interesting dynamic where the rest of the cast is now fairly young, but Q is older, and it becomes this sort of Doc Brown crazy old inventor thing that I really love. Considering this was the first Bond film made after Back to the Future, I can’t help but think there was some sort of influence there with Q’s role in TLD.

[@discodavid26]

Great point if it was intended Q’s doc brown years until maybe his last film was definitely the best version off Q and loved it!

[@BillyC1975]

Of all the Bond's, I've always thought this thespian trained actor took the role most seriously in deference to Fleming's Bond. His adherence to the Fleming novels most respects Ian's description of Bond's persona overall.

[@pret0n]

Now that OHMSS has gotten the respect it deserves The Living Daylights has become the most underrated Bond film in my opinion. Dalton is awesome in it, it has gadgets, hard-edged spy action, a great henchman, outstanding opening, one of the most believable romances in the series, and fantastic music. The fight on the cargo net is phenomenal! The villains and the end are a little weak, but there's nothing else that this movie doesn't nail.

[@cooperwolfe5478]

Yeah I agree. I enjoyed this film a lot and I’m glad to see that it is starting to become more popular in the eyes of the public, but that could be being bias because Timothy Dalton is my favorite James Bond. If you don’t mind me asking do you like this more than License to Kill?

[@pret0n]

@@cooperwolfe5478 Quite a bit more, although I think LTK has a lot of strengths of its own. If great villains and ruthless Bond are your favorite parts of the series then Licence is everything you could ever ask for. I really like Dalton too, especially in TLD. I buy him as a real spy more than any of the others, including Craig, because he totally sells the ass kicking while simultaneously being someone that could believably blend in with a crowd. Connery and Lazenby are too tall to be real spies, Moore and Brosnan are too handsome and flashy and Craig stands out because he just naturally looks like a professional murderer that would frighten anyone that saw him up close. He's a fantastic actor too, as good as Craig if you ask me. Dalton used to be my second favorite - I wouldn't say that anymore but I still love his portrayal of Bond, he's great. Which Dalton movie is your favorite?

[@cooperwolfe5478]

@@pret0n I’m sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. The Living Daylights is my favorite of Dalton’s films, but I still like License to Kill. I would say that one of the reasons I prefer TLD over LtK is because it just feels more like a Bond film, but that might be because it was the final Bond film that was scored by John Barry. Another reason is that I’ve always liked Kara as a Bond girl. I’m not going to say she is an all time great Bond girl but she is far from the worst. Probably my last two reasons are that (and I’ll tell you right now that these are stupid reasons) TLD has the much better end credits song than LtK, as well as it has the better poster. But I do like both movies and when I ranked all the Bond films I put TLD at 11th and LtK at 13th so there isn’t that much of a difference in quality in my opinion.

[@BigBeakEntertainment]

The Living Daylights is my favorite Bond movie, and I agree with every point you both made. I think there are certainly better Bond films. There are Bond films with tighter scripts, better production, deeper characters, and stronger scores, but for some reason I just love the Living Daylights the most.

[@samuelstephens6163]

The Living Daylights is the most adventure-genre of the films. The strong parts are so strong I don't notice the weak parts....except the bad guy is pretty lame.

[@cvtuttle]

I was a huge fan of The Living Daylights. I loved Dalton as Bond. I thought this movie was a bit more serious than others. A fantastic take on Bond. The opening scenes are so awesome.

[@johneyton5452]

Make that . . . two hours.

[@henryhammond7393]

I love this one. It definitely feels like the first attempt to do what the series later did with the Craig era, but they just weren’t quite ready to move past the Moore era, but overall I love it for its heavy atmosphere. And even if the two main villains are a bit weak by Bond standards I think Necross has to be the most underrated henchman in the series.

[@exodus1960]

I love the Bond-Kara dynamic. I also love how Dalton says "He got the boot" so forcefully.

[@joergzabbee3921]

Bond and Kara - a wonderful duo. So sweet together. It's still my favourite Bond.

[@blabbyboy]

@calvindyson missed the point of that line. That line wasn't meant to be a "wink wink" one-liner to be delivered with humour, it was delivered properly by Dalton almost with resignation and exhaustion after one of the great Bond fights.

[@pr-tj5by]

matt zeni, I have to say that I hated that dynamic cos it felt like a love story , not my type of Bond

[@Plally06]

Re the Barry Manilow line - when I attended the Bond Stars event with Caroline Bliss in London in late 2018, you'd be amazed at how many people asked her to sign Barry Manilow albums. To her credit, she was an absolute delight.

[@willmemmott2843]

Daylights has really grown on me . At one point I would've had this as my least favourite were as now I love it and it's in my top 10

[@nate1066pollock]

I like the amusement park scene. The Ferris Wheel part is sweet & romantic. And I always laugh when Bond is playing the target shooting game to win a large stuffed animal for Kara, and the vendor pleads "No more!" because Bond has probably hit 10 bullseyes in a row.

[@brianlehmkuhl8162]

Patrick Stewart would have made a great villan against Daltin's Bond.

[@tonoormusic]

Worst scene: When Bond uses his front wheel to cut the ice.. Best scene: This line and the face Bond makes with it: "Go ahead, tell M what you want. If he fires me, I'll thank him for it. Whoever she was, it must've scared the living daylights out of her."

[@josersandoval]

Agree at 100% here!

[@spaceodds1985]

Agree with the best scene. This is James Bond the way Fleming wrote him, a man of contradictions, bitterness and regret.

[@awesomedudesinc]

"Stuff my orders! I only kill professionals."

[@DafyddBrooks]

i know john glen in the audio commentary said Dalton wanted to be more casual in his clothes and have his hands in his pockets and stuff, but Glenn had to remind Dalton that he is a Royal Navy Commander and one may not be too casual

[@URBANBLITZPARKOUR]

Can’t wait for this one. Such an under appreciated classic in my opinion. Dalton properly studied Fleming’s work and acts like it, Necros’ milkman attack is great too. Green four to base!

[@dereklewis4321]

He re read every book before filming this movie. What a G

[@gabesalgado789]

This and OHMSS are the most underrated Bond films. In fact, they are my two favourites. Edit: The Living Daylights soundtrack is freaking amazing. Maybe my favourite too.

[@PungiFungi]

I don’t think OHMSS is

[@benoit9503]

Ice chase was freaking when we heard it first

[@oldman5247]

Dalton deserved more Bond films than he got. Pierce Brosnan was a good bond in terms of his character being what Bond needs to be. In order to be accurate to be what the character requires. However Dalton pulled off the role just as well as Brosnan, and he could've easily played the Bond needed to be there in Goldeneye.

[@AllardRT]

He was offered to come back for GoldenEye, but he was unwilling to do more than one, while Broccoli wanted a four-film contract.

[@paulcharter9066]

How can there be a debate on this film. It's brilliant, my second favourite.

[@MichaelBakerFilmmaking]

I do like this film but it was written as a Roger Moore film not for Timothy Dalton

[@the_narthex]

Well, show me a movie that 100% of people love. For me, it's a great first act and a mediocre finish. Not a perfect film but I do watch it a LOT because... you know... it's Bond.

[@jueezzzz]

People have different opinions. If someone doesn't like the movie it's fine.

[@paulcharter9066]

@@jueezzzz obviously 🙂

[@jonzygon391]

It’s a classic 👍🏻

[@LittenMandrake]

Very surprised that the opening scene/introduction of Dalton's Bond was not discussed more. That is possibly the best of the franchise.

[@arsena1978]

Love this movie. Think you can allow some leniency in the tailoring of the role for Dalton (both literally and with the script) given his late casting. I love the details of the fairground sequence, with the exasperated shooting gallery stall owner who Bond has hustled and the subtle references to The Third Man with the big wheel. Definitely one of my favourite 80s Bonds.

[@r.vazquez7880]

Love The Living Daylights. Was stationed in Europe at the time and the sights and sounds bring me back. The opening theme by AHA was awesome and still is to this day. The musical score was perfect. Believe it may have been John Barry’s last for Bond.

[@davidw5532]

You are correct, it was Barry’s last score for Bond. And then Michael Kamen came on board for License to Kill.

[@dirtyguava8209]

David is the kind of guy that you have at a party and during the breaking the ice hesitation, all of a sudden everyone feels comfortable to be themselves.

[@benoit9503]

And handsome too... Tiffany Case should ask: "is he married?!"

[@unclepatrick2]

As someone who was watching the Bond Movies when this came out , Dalton was a breath of fresh air after the silliness , of the Roger Moore . I bought Dalton as the blunt instrument .

[@Juzdoit50]

You guys are both legends to listen to and watch for a Bond enthusiast like myself. Despite all the plot holes and tonal inconsistencies, I love this movie.

[@holydiver73]

My dad took me and my brother to see this at the Odeon Cinema in Coventry in 1987 on my 14th birthday. It was the first Bond movie I saw at the cinema and it was such a happy and treasured memory, more so now since my dad’s sad passing. I was already a Bond NUT by that point and I remember how weird it felt at first NOT seeing Roger Moore as James Bond, but after the Gibraltar opening scene, I was hooked and totally comfortable with Dalton as Bond and it remains one of my favourite Bond movies.

[@stephanmartini4514]

When TLD was 1st released in '87 I was still a teen and had been through an intense 7 year Bond journey, beginning with TV viewings, collecting/reading all of the novels (many 60's editions) and seeing each first release since FYEO. When TLD was released I should have been ecstatic and lining up - but I'd experienced such burnout and disappointment after seeing AVTAK, knowing that the series had deviated so much from what made the original films/ books which I'd now all seen/read so good, that I actually didn't go and see it for about 6 months. When I did, what I saw in Tim and the Writers/Producers reinterpretation of the character and series potential completely blew my mind and brought me back into the fold. It's not the perfect Bond film with plenty of faults and inconsistencies (as Calvin & David mentioned) but as the last cold war era Bond film, it was back on form offering so many iconic scenes, as well as a proper espionage plot and mission. Also, in Tim's portrayal and appearance, we have the most faithful interpretation of the character as written by Fleming and arguably what laid the groundwork for the successful Craig era two decades later.

[@husker4life109]

This is probably my favorite bond movie Dalton is so underrated as bond

[@anthony3557]

Re:the Bond girl, I find it refreshing to have a tender relationship in this film. You can’t have a Vesper or a Tracy every time, and in the circumstances EON were hardly going to go for a disposable character whose relationship with Bond was built on sexual tension. In a way, I wonder if the two Dalton films wouldn’t have worked even better flipped around. Kara is scarred by Koskov’s treatment of her, and coming out of ‘Licence to kill’, Bond is also very damaged but healing. The two could have been really good for each other. (Cue headcanon!)

[@SergioMach7]

The Pretenders-Where has everybody gone? = best non bond theme of all the non bond themes

[@Juzdoit50]

If there was a man?

[@DafyddBrooks]

I didnt't like how Kara/ Maryam d'abo was overly sexualised in the publicity images and posters as she isn't that type of person in the movie

[@MorganOwen8958]

I feel like where The Living Daylights falters with the villains, it makes up for that with the allies.

[@bedfordshiremodeller4491]

TLD wasn,t one of Timothy,s best Bond films sadly

[@gary6514]

I have a soft spot for this film because it was the very FIRST Bond movie I went to the cinema to watch. For me Dalton is THE Bond visualized by Fleming. The looks and his demeanor are spot on. Perhaps his two movies suffered from the 1980s style of the time but he was a great actor and really quite intimidating at times in his Bond outings. The cinema I saw this movie was long ago knocked down and is now part of a University campus!!!

[@groovesinman9112]

If I remember correctly, I saw that Dalton was the first choice for Bond in OHMSS, but he turned it down because he thought he was too young for the part. That's admirable.

[@jannashesgbcnemophilafan4317]

Awesome job guys on these. Living Daylights is in my top three Bond Films, love it. Loved Dalton in this film. His Bond in Pushkins hotel room, is for me, the best Bond, ala Flemming in the series. Favorite pre title. One of my favorite scores. He gave Bond edge, grit long before Craig. I actually love Bonds face off with Whittaker. Whittaker obsession with war strategy, his ego in thinking he's better then histories generals. And his war rooms, being Whittakers own arsenal of gadgets against Bond, was so cool. Whittaker just lacked screen time. But, Whittaker being a world reknown arms dealer, made him a perfect foil for Bond in 1987. Kuskov is great as the weasel like villian running events along. Necros a favorite henchman of mine, behind Oddjob and Onnatop. His use of a Sony Walkman like Oddjobs hat.Kamaran Shaw a favorite ally. The use of the Mujahedinn was clever given the time. A true cold war style story. Love the Vanguish. Whittaker had little developements, but a great final face off with iBond. Opposite of Rennard, who had good developements, but his Bond face off on the sub, was eh. " Figures Bond, you would take refuge behind that British vulture, Wellington". And one of my favorite Bond quips - " where free !, Kara, were stuck in a Russian airbase, in the middle of Afghanastan".

[@spaceodds1985]

Totally agree. Also the scenes between Saunders and Bond, pure Fleming dialogue exchanges.

[@damienristori8376]

Whitaker underrated. He still causes chaos around him and that's my preferred villain role. Can't be physically challenged each film.

[@terryRBNF]

YES, That hotel room scene was masterful, Dalton killed that!

[@arthurlongshanks]

Exactly. The way Dalton looks at Kara in some scenes with those Big, Brown eyes. And then later on the involvment of the Mujahadeed. Its so, so romantic. Just beautiful. A beautiful beautiful Bond film. By far the best non-Connery Bond film.

[@crobeastness]

you guys had a problem with his face after popping the balloon? No, that was pure threatening menace. Dalton was easily the best actor to play bond. he came from the theatre.

[@weatherman15]

John Terry plays Felix in this film... it's a shame he wasn't given more to do or more to work with. He was excellent as Christian Shepherd in LOST.

[@G4PP3R]

Good footballer too

[@moomin7461]

And Hawk the Slayer

[@jordanthurston2629]

I love you Guys!!! Calvin and David are awesome at debating in such a light hearted way! You guys are just perfect.

[@fyllingenoy131]

According to a-Ha, they actually got along well with Barry. The problem was that he had told them to change a specific chord right before he left. When the time came to record, the band forgot all about the requested chord change. When Barry then heard the final version and realized they hadn't changed the chord he was furious and referred to the band as the Hitler Youth. I think it all just boils down to an overreaction from John Barry.

[@remy_3277]

The Living Daylights is one of my favourites. I did miss the mention of the two great action pieces: The opening in Gibraltar and the Necros/ cargo plane fight. Two of the highlights in the series. Love all the locations. Although it has some flaws, for me it gives the entertainment I want from a good Bond-movie. Like the Bond/ Kara relationship. I agree with David on the Kara and Saunders character ark.

[@AnthonyP73]

I've been bingeing this whole series of debates/discussions, really enjoying the heck out of them! You chaps have great chemistry and banter and you really get me thinking in greater depth and detail about my own Bond taste. Great stuff!

[@ajvargas8199]

TLD and Timothy Dalton is still my favorite Bond to this day. Daniel Craig gets a lots of kudos for his more serious take on Bond but Dalton did it first. My favorite John Barry score too!

[@Apanblod]

The only truly bad things I can think of in TLD are Felix Leiter and Moneypenny (easily the worst versions of both in the series). Other than that, apart from a few minor things here and there, this is a nearly flawless Bond film.

[@marklechman2225]

I remember seeing TLD in the theater with my dad when I was 15, it was our tradition to always go see the new Bond movie together and I was really excited to see Dalton take over for Moore. My dad, who’d always preferred Connery, wasn’t as impressed as I was, but I absolutely loved the film and Timothy’s performance. It’s been one of my favorites ever since and I’ve always been disappointed that he only got to do the two films. Incidentally, I just rewatched the film tonight on laserdisc - vastly superior to any overly-processed digital format available these days :)

[@nickbode5211]

I just love both Calvin and David having a cocktail during these chats. Fleming would approve!

[@connoranovick8546]

Interesting. I would have expected both of you to be more positive on this film as I always felt TLDL balanced the various tones of Bond films pretty effectively and therefore would satisfy a wide range of Bond fans. But it seems like it’s a jack of all trades master of none situation for you. Which makes sense.

[@darrensmith6999]

I always loved Roger Moore because its Roger , but it was Timothy Dalton who got me into James Bond. After seeing the Living Daylights back in 1987 i was taken by the character and started reading the Fleming Novels and there was Dalton as Bond!! So for me he is the best Bond. (: Ps check out Timothy Dalton in the mini series " Framed" brilliant!

[@tomhockman6267]

I agree with all the criticism of Jereon Crabbe and Joe Don Baker, but I'm totally supportive of Dalton as Bond. He may have been a little rough with the humor, but I was SOOO relieved to leave Roger Moore era behind in 1987 I was overjoyed by the selection of younger, fit, serious Bond.

[@berndskorczyk8516]

I really enjoy these videos. I´m a Bond-Fan for 37 years now and Dalton was always one of my favorite Bonds. It´s a shame he only did two movies. Thank you, David Zaritsky and Calvin Dyson for these informing and entertaining debates.

[@shinyphil87]

If Krabbe had played Koskov as seriously as Dalton played Bond, this film would have been BRILLIANT. As it is, I still love it - Dalton's serious portrayal of Bond was wonderful, and desperately needed 😊👍🏻

[@williamweed2364]

Yes, Jeroen Krabbe ruined the whole movie.

[@sandrafledglingmixologista2221]

I have been binge watching all the debates ever since I discovered them! More please! I love it when David shows us his props and gadgets!

[@derdestroyer5566]

The Living Daylights has always been one of my favourite Bond movies (4th favourite). Absolutely love it!

[@SwordmasterKane]

This might be the strangest thing with me and "Living Daylights": It is my favourite Bond movie up till this day. But it is objectively not the best - there are IMHO three other Bond films that are better than this one. But "Living Daylights" is for me like any good cult movie or phenomenon: the circumstances for it are perfect. It has my favourite Bond actor with Timothy Dalton; it has a well-established director with John Glen who directed three very good movies before that (and directed two of the movies I find superior to this one), and it mixed elements of traditional Bond films with elements from this specific era. The John Barry synth score was a product of its time, as was no other music score by him before (although the electric guitars in "View To a Kill" suggest otherwise), the supporting cast was superb with some very big actors like John Rhys-Davies and Art Malik (btw, you never mentioned him once!), and the action made the thin red line between the overblown spectacles of the Lewis Gilbert movies and the gritty realism that was more to the style of John Glen. Unlike "License to Kill" this is still what I would consider a traditional Bond film with a traditional, albeit convoluted plot, in which Dalton needs to go about his business for queen and country. I can totally see your point here what bothers you about this entry, and you brought up some things that I haven't even thought of (the goofiness of Koskov, for example; Whitaker as the bad guy was pretty bland and had not much time to develop). But still: Be it nostalgia or just the perfect mix for me, it is my favourite entry in the series.

[@SamR1995]

I don’t think The Living Daylights is never going to be a favourite. Licence To Kill grew on me a lot but this just doesn’t work for me, despite several elements being pretty great. I see a lot of love for this film nowadays which is great but for me it’s not peak Bond, and many of the “worst” Bond films are a much more enjoyable ride. Dalton is a wonderful actor though and i’m so glad that I enjoy Licence To Kill more as I really appreciate his take on the character in that film.

[@bengaze4739]

Thanks David for doing a debate on The Living Daylights fully enjoyed this. It was one of my favourites as it was the first bond I saw in the cinema when I was twelve and this the film that got me massively into bond.🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@arrgghh1555]

Did I miss something or did you just spend an hour discussing this film and not once mention one of the best pre title sequences of the franchise?

[@davidw5532]

I’m surprised they didn’t talk about the Gibraltar opening sequence. You’re right, it’s one of the best of the series. I always felt this. Also this film was my introduction into the Bond world. This sequence blew my 8 year old mind back in ‘87. I still get the same excitement for it over 30 years later! 👍🏻

[@saunders9047]

Personally I rate The Living Daylights as one of the best, agree that Whitaker is a weak villain but apart from that I'll just politely, quietly fume at your surprisingly luke warm opinions ( Still think you're both great though!).

[@rafael_500]

Interesting debate. Dalton’s films will have to go through a forty-year evolution like OHMSS, before they really get the respect they truly deserve. I can see totally why the “Joe Public Mutliplex” audience at the time did not warm to Dalton at the time. Roger Moore was highly liked as Bond and had built a huge legacy. Imagine, post View to a Kill, late 80s, we have a complete cultural shock, from going from a light-hearted Bond to a more serious and true portrayal of the role. Pure Fleming. GoldenEye was such a success as it reverted to what the audiences wanted (at the time), in essence Octopussy 2.0. As the Brosnan interlude progressed, this built again on this popular formula during mid to late 90s into the 00s. However, that approach soon became quickly dated and farcical. xXx came out a 90s version of Our Man Flint and that out-hammed Bond at its time. The Bourne ID films then followed (with their somewhat serious approach in content), and with Die Another Day, the franchise was looking somewhat calamitous. By the time Craig took over, the “seriousness” returned, as by then, it had become acceptable to audiences to see. Living Daylights is arguably Bond at its absolute best. The pre-credits of Daylights comes close to the start of the opening of the seminal OHMSS. We then go into an amazing another second “pre-credits” sequence involving the sniper. This is pure Cold War. I could not see Brosnan with his limited acting ability deliver well in these scenes in the film. Dalton brings a mood presence and this reflects on the co-stars acting around him. Acting at its purest form. Likewise, again, the “stuff my orders” car sequence, the balloon incident in the theme park and not forgetting the hotel room part, where Bond is sent into kill. With a such a strong soundtrack, what a swansong for John Barry. For me Dalton is numero uno!

[@b.chaline4394]

I completely agree that one of the most underrated aspects of Dalton's acting is that he brings up the best in his co-stars, something that Brosnan, whom I still like and enjoy very much as James Bond, severely lacked on occasions, especially with the likes of Teri Hatcher and Robert Carlyle, when it feels like he is delivering his lines opposite a green screen, only to be added later to the scena à la-Christopher Plummer in the J. Paul Getty film. Dalton on the other hand is very generous in his interactions with his playing partners, as lacklustre as some of them may be (Jeoren Krabbe, Talisa Soto...)

[@Atticus75]

My first Bond film in a cinema, watched it 3 times and still is one of my favourite Bind films. The first half of the film much stronger than the second which based on Fleming short story. The Velcro collar tux, 3 piece suit and some of casual tops look great. The cinematography and soundtrack also elevate it above the average Bond film. I like Dalton’s Darker Bond. I saw Maryam D’Abo at The Hay Festival in 2012, a lovely sweet person.

[@themomentposters]

Excited for this already - that poster is brilliant 🤣

[@spaceodds1985]

My fourth favourite film of the series, starring my favourite interpretation of Bond to date. 4.5 out of 5 for me

[@MrCodyWarner]

Am I the only person who loves when Dalton says "salt corrosion"? I absolutely love it lol

[@seanwarren5613]

Dalton is great. Some truly great classic Bond moments in TLD. Agree the film is let down by the poor baddies.

[@donjames7647]

Licence to kill and living daylight are much better and amazing then all overrated Daniel Craig movies

[@lovejoy3347]

Well said!

[@SirHilaryManfat]

Like Goldeneye, there's just something about The Living Daylights that ticks all my Bond boxes. I can't exactly disagree with most of the criticisms made on this debate, but for me they're not movie breaking, unlike the Tarzan yell or the double take pigeon for example. Also, I find it odd how the amazing fight scene on the airplane wasn't mentioned in this debate.

[@abingleyboy]

Dunno if you are aware, but there is another version of a~ha's The Living Daylights, On their 1988 album Stay On These Roads. It's more synth and poppy or dance orinated, I believe, though not 100% sure, that this was the version the band were wanting as the film version, It's ok if you wanna dance to the tune but a Bond theme, it is not. I've read that this was what caused the fractions between the Band and Barry. As for Duran Duran, the band were at eachothers throats, arguing and falling out (they broke up after this recording & split into The Power Station & Arcadia) I read somewhere by one of the ban that they were hard into drugs and alcahol & binging into the early hours not turning up for recording sessions, As for Barry not getting on with them, I only heard of one arguement over a chord in the song, between Barry & Nick Rhodes, Rhodes said he won, but if you listen to the original 12" version of the song released a few years ago & clearly using demo versions of the song there is a stray chord that sounds totally off from the original, that I prosume is the cause of the argument.

[@garethdavies2145]

Weirdly I've gone the opposite way to Calvin on LTK. For years it was in my top 5 Bonds, but it's slipped into at least the lower half now. I can't get over the cheap production values in comparison to virtually every film up to that point. And as is so often said it is too Miami Vice. Dalton's terrific though. Great series of reviews guys - thanks 👍

[@johnaguiar7679]

TLD is an awesome movie, period. Dalton is the best Bond!

[@Jolar70]

I have not even watched the video yet! I will comment later. I just can't tell you how much I love (and look forward to) your "only-on-the-internet" collaboration and fan appreciation / argument network / that you've somehow weirdly created between you both! It's the BEST thing! David brings the props, Calvin brings the Justin Bieber hair (sorry, you truly bring more than that with your great knowledge!) and great joy for Roger Moore (which I also share). Please continue on with the series. I truly love you guys and your reviews together!

[@RighteousBrother]

The Great Living Daylights debate, its bloody awesome!! End of debate!

[@spaceodds1985]

Exactly. Enough said

[@anshumistry2617]

TLD is among my top Bond films. It is also the last big Bond film set in the Cold War era, so maybe historically relevant in the Bond franchise as well.

[@anshumistry2617]

@@bonghunezhou5051 I implied in terms of subject matter -> 'Smiert Spionam' , defection, etc. With the Cold War over and since Bond films tend to be set in the present, it is difficult to make such a Bond film unless the time period is changed for some reason.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

I perfer LD to Licence to Kill as that film feels like a generic revenge script to me rather than a Bond film [possibly as Richard Maibaum's influence was limited due to a writers strike]. I really like the Bond-Karla relationship as it has time to build through the film. Calvin recently said he could imagine Roger Moore retiring with Octopussy and I can imagine Dalton's Bond keeping in touch with Karla. Brad Whittaker should have been taken out of the film but it's a favourite of mine and it's great to see Dalton geting more appreciation than he did when I was growing up in the 90's.

[@richardvinsen2385]

Kara, not Karla.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

@@richardvinsen2385 Oops! rushing typing comments is not a great idea!

[@horatiocarrillo2176]

I will always hate that legal troubles from 1989-1994 cost us the Timothy Dalton era. It is just downright criminal that he only got two outings. Before that, Roger Moore should have been let go after Moonraker, and Dalton should have replaced him starting in 1981. For Your Eyes only was a serious movie, and would have been much better with Dalton. Octopussy might have been written differently (i.e. better) with Dalton in Mind. View to a Kill almost certainly wouldn't have been the snoozer that it was, with an in-his-prime TD starring, rather than Roger Moore, who was pushing 60.

[@nebularain3338]

The Living Daylights is maybe my favourite Bond film. Dalton's intensity, but subtle gentle undertones really sold it for me, and this is after years of being a Moore fan. If I had any criticisms it's that Brad Whittaker is a weak villain, and the find showdown is very anticlimactic. It would have been better if Baker had just played an ally, and Rhys-Davis was the main bad guy as he has that booming charisma to pull it off. Walter Gotell being denied his final turn as General Gogol was also criminal. If the film had that cast switch up, plus some vast Ken Adams sets for the finale (which it sorely lacked), it would be the perfect film!

[@Laukki]

My top Bond and top Bond movie 🤩 loving Dalton's portrayal so much

[@idiotslanterncomedy]

Top 5 Bond film for me. Just great stuff. Why is this even a debate? TLD and Dalton are awesome! I defended it passionately in the Ultimate Bondcast roundtable also on youtube.

[@spaceodds1985]

Really excited for this. We all know which side these guys will be on. I think this time David is going to have the upper hand... sorry Calvin, your videos are great and hilarious, but TLD is one of my top five favourite Bond films and Dalton is the my favourite Bond to date.

[@chrispopsjunior8978]

Dalton is the definitive Bond, closest to the literary character, but I prefer his second flik more... But TLD is still in my top 10 Bonds

[@qwertymanor]

Calvin likes Stacey better than Kara?! WHAT

[@TheRealBGregz]

I think he was kidding.

[@codpro627]

It's a much better film than Licence To Kill in my opinion. 1. It felt like a true spy movie, just like From Russia With Love. 2. Dalton is at his best in this entry. 3. The tone of the movie was so true to Fleming.

[@alexandredion2151]

'Ice Chase' from the soundtrack is a banger and the best way to start a workout. Works everytime !

[@PhilWare1]

Great film. Dalton is my favourite Bond, even more so now I have read the books. A real shame he he didn't stay in the role longer.

[@johnrigs6540]

Another stellar “ Battle”!! I’ve said it before -but I’ll say it again - you guys get so in depth with these videos that I constantly see whichever film you are talking about with fresh eyes and notice things that I never have before! They are just Brilliant. But the BEST part of all of them - of course - is watching Calvins reaction whenever you pull out a brand new prop!!

[@edoris9021]

One of the top 5 bond movies. Great action (not ludicrous 90s OTT browband stuff) interesting plot, great bond girl, and great sense of adventure in it from dalton

[@stephenkoranteng6260]

You guys didn't mention the pre-credits sequence and Dalton's physicality lol

[@williamweed2364]

Jeroen Krabbe playing Koskov in a silly way like: No, no, no, no, no, no, no... Dah, dah dah and Ugh, ugh.. 😂 ....Hilarious! But seriously, I think Dalton's portrayel of Bond was the change that we needed after the Roger Moore era and Maryam D'abo was a beautiful Bond girl in my opinion. However Jeroen Krabbe playing Koskov in a goofy mr. Bean type of way completely ruined the whole entire movie.

[@J.White86]

The best villains in this film are Necros and that jailer that keeps hitting bond.Koskov and Whitaker were alright.

[@oswintaylor2905]

I was 15 when I saw this and I thought it was very confusing with General Koskov's fake defection. Also Timothy Dalton was not like Roger Moore and his delivery of some of the lines seemed dry e.g. "I've had a few optional extras installed". However I did like this film and I did like Dalton. I got his autograph in 1988 when he did a play at the Old Vic called A Touch of the Poet. The more I watched it, the more I liked Dalton's Bond. He is Ian Fleming's Bond more than any other actor. He even looks like a young Hoagy Carmichael that Fleming said Bond resembles. Loved the Necros fight scene with the butler. Loved the gadgets and I liked the very sweet Kara Milovy. It has it's issues because you could see they were transitioning from Moore to Dalton and the main villains are weak. John Terry who played Felix Leiter was Hawk in Hawk the Slayer the legendary British fantasy film of 1980. However he was incredibly weak in this. Despite these faults I really do like this film and it was the first Bond film I saw in the cinema at Marble Arch. All the others I saw on TV. I give this an 8 out of 10. Great thriller.

[@jbotkin47]

This was my first watching you too debate, through I’m seen several of Calvin’s videoed before. It was great! Definitely earned a subscribe from me.

[@vikingofvegas]

I love Dalton as Bond and this is my favourite Bond movie... I honestly have nothing bad to say about this film

[@RocasThePenguin]

I love this film. But it has the same issue as the early Moore films. They were not quite sure how to write for him yet. Seems they found their stride with License to Kill and I'm sure, had Dalton stayed around, the films would have been quite good.

[@nickporter9264]

Just watched The Living Daylights this past weekend, and I will say that it has grown on me. Never been a huge Dalton fan, but he captures the intensity of Bond in both of his films. It's fantastic and has plenty of great moments. I didn't begin to lose interest until they go to Afghanistan, then it started to drag on (similar to how I lose interest in Die Another Day when they go back to Korea towards the end).

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Do agree. The frist 2 acts are great. The third turns into Rambo 3 a year early and loses the gritty somewhat realistic cold war feeling of the early scenes.

[@DafyddBrooks]

Ive been waiting for this debate for some time now!!! please keep em coming!!! :)

[@seanthornburgh8385]

I would love to see Licence to Kill be debated, finish out the Dalton era, love these videos