The Living Daylights (1987)

So there's a new angle here as a training mission goes wrong and a 00-agent falls to his death, leaving only the mysterious note (that we're not allowed to see until an hour later). There are stunts galore, including burning crates of TNT falling off transit at high speed, making sure there are more than enough explosions to set the mood. Bond's landing is of course perfect. He even dons the grin.

Dalton is rather pissy and brutish from the go here. He had reportedly demanded a less comical Bond, and he does deliver on that note. He never looks as suave as his predecessors in mannerisms nor clothing, but he does wear his arrogance well. With more of a sneer and sometimes exasperation. It makes for a more realistic character, re-introducing the cold,callous Bond. Though with some real affection for his woman. A man of passion indeed, and far from the quipping and smiling Moore.

Tension has improved in this instalment, as sniping tends to set that up brilliantly. The storyline is also better than in recent years, with a defecting Russian general at the centre of events. Furthermore, there is more of a spy feel as someone has taken the job of writing some smart pieces where the different parties elaborately play each other.

After 24 years, Lois Maxwell decided to call it a day and Caroline Bliss takes over as Moneypenny. Her chemistry with Bond lacks the class of the Canadian. John Rhys-Davies as Russian General Pushkin is predictably jovial and solid. Maryam d'Abo is a bit back to the 60's a demure damsel in over her head in need of rescue. She does it decently, though a bit over the top at times. Baker is not quite the villain you want. Just a mad American, not unlike Ed Begley in "The Billion Dollar Brain". And is he really the villain? Or is that the more buffoonish Koskov in the not very apt hands of Jeroen Krabbè. Probably the latter. Even worse.

Barry's score is a times dramatic and nice, but suffers greatly from the synth-sound of the 80's. Not his strong suit, and quite frankly just another example of a tragic decade for music.

So John Glen does manage to create more of a caper than in many years, and at times some realistic spy-themes. But without a real villain, this still fails to qualify as a great film. And fair enough that Dalton didn't want to be a cartoon Bond, but they could have provided him with one single one-liner, couldn't they?

6/10
Best car used: Aston Martin V8 Vantage (Me want)
Most memorable drink served: Vodka Martini, shaken not stirred (but drugged)
Henchmen: Necros in the hands of Andreas Wisniewski. Efficient and brutal.
Villain: Jeroen Krabbe as Koskov
Best one-liner: "He got the boot"
Song: "The Living Daylights" A-Ha. Very 80's, plenty of synth. As Barry hated working with A-ha, his trademarks are not really easy to spot, unfortunately. 
Bond-girl: Maryam d'Abo. A bit too demure for my taste, but she is a cellist.