MovieChat Forums > Licence to Kill (1989) Discussion > Timothy Dalton's James Bond

Timothy Dalton's James Bond

posted 11 years ago by mrrockey
22 replies | jump to latest

Was I the only person who found Dalton's Bond extremely one-dimensional. I mean, the only emotion he displays in his Bond films is that he's pissed, he's pissed, he's pissed, and this is unexpected but this time he's pissed! I'm not saying the other Bonds were super complex, three-dimensional characters that you could write a thesis on but at least we got to see different sides of their emotions.

Sean Connery: he's normally smooth, dashing, and witty but he does get pissed when things aren't going well for him

George Lazenby: he's pretty much like Connery in his usual personality traits but he has an emotional vulnerability to Tracy

Roger Moore: he's usually suave, debonair, and delivers cheesy one-liners but he also gets serious such as when Anya finds out he's the man who murdered her lover

Pierce Brosnan: he's probably the smoothest and most confident of them all but he does have an emotional vulnerability to people he cares about such as Alec or Elektra

Daniel Craig: he's charming in a bad boy sort of way to women but he does get affected by those he loves such as Vesper

I didn't get much out of Dalton's performances other than that he's pissed. Anyone else feel the same way?

[–] Mr_Blonde3 11 years ago

"Was I the only person who found Dalton's Bond extremely one-dimensional. I mean, the only emotion he displays in his Bond films is that he's pissed, he's pissed, he's pissed, and this is unexpected but this time he's pissed! I'm not saying the other Bonds were super complex, three-dimensional characters that you could write a thesis on but at least we got to see different sides of their emotions."

Gotta disagree here. I think the complete opposite, Dalton was one of the most multi-dimensional Bonds in the franchise.

Pissed all the time? When was he pissed during the wedding scene? Certainly wasn't when he was with Della, hanging out with Felix, and dancing with the bridesmaids. He's saddened and reliving old memories when Della throws him the garter, because it reminds him of Tracy. For most of the scenes when he sees the aftermath of Sanchez, he's shocked and saddened, and he only gets angry when he finds the note Sanchez left on Felix's maimed body.

The scenes at Krest's warehouse ooze dangerous professionalism and determination, not anger. He shows anger in the scene with Pam and Dario at the bar, but later tenderness and humor when they have their romance on the boat waiting to drift into town.

When he gets to Isthmus City, yeah, he's more angry than he has been the rest of the film, but that's because he has the rat in his sights. Certainly he's happy and calm when Q shows up and reveals the toys. And he's overprotective of Q and Pam, trying repeatedly to get them to leave. He seems to be treating this as a "Last mission" of sorts.

I dunno, I think the opinion that Dalton's Bond is just angry all the time really sells the actor short. Is he angrier in this film than others? Of course. He has a personal stake in this mission. He's reliving the memories of losing Tracy, and his friend has been maimed by the man he's after. That's not a situation you can entirely detach yourself from.

And as much as I love Connery as 007 (My 2nd favorite after Dalton) I'll take Dalton's performance in this over Connery's detached last outing in "Diamonds are Forever" any day. I mean, if you watch that right after "OHMSS" you're left asking yourself, "You realize the man that you're sparring with murdered your wife in the last film, right?"

I love to love my Lisa.

[–] mrrockey 11 years ago

I think you took what I said too literally. I meant that he was pissed throughout the MAJORITY of the film, not every scene.

My problem with his Bond is that he focused too much on Bond's ruthlessness and not enough on his other personality traits in his films. I mean, even with Daniel Craig, we got to see him be witty and sarcastic sometimes. Dalton's Bond still has these traits but they are so shoved into the background, it never feels like it's there. And also, his one-liners just weren't that good.

[–] Mr_Blonde3 11 years ago

I can understand where you're coming from, but I have to look at the subject matter of the film.

Not only does Bond's best friend get maimed, but he goes through the same fate Bond did himself, losing his bride on his wedding day. With that in mind, I can't believably see Bond being witty and firing off the cuff jokes based on the situation he's in. He is quite literally a guest star in his own life. In addition to his friend's life being ruined, he's replying the death if his own bride over and over when he sees Della.

Does Dalton's Bond lack the things you're talking about in this film? Yes, but again, I think based on the story, it makes sense. Bond rarely, if ever, goes on personal vendettas. So right from the start, Bond isn't quite Bond, because he's willing to turn his back on MI-6 to go after Sanchez. He has a detachment in other missions that allow him to have a little humor. (He seems to be playing it up when they first arrive in Ithsmus, which was nice)

But in this film, not only does he have all that going on in his character's mind, but he's also got M trying to stop him with MI-6. He has no allies, even Pam and he have a relationship of mistrust. Bond has gone on other missions alone, don't get me wrong, but this, I think, is the first time we've seen Bond played knowing that he might actually die. That's brought up a lot in the Bond of the books, but rarely seen on film. He's more unstoppable super hero in some of the others, but in reality, he's a man with skills hoping they pull him through. That's the vibe I get from Bond in this film. He thinks he can beat him, but he knows it may cost him his life, thus he keeps trying to get Pam and Q out of harm's way.

So I dunno. To me, I loved Bond being ruthless. I love Dalton's Bond being played fallible. I loved at the end of the film when Dalton's Bond rolled off that tanker with Sanchez, he freaking looked it. No standing up and dusting off the suit like Roger Moore's Bond (I liked Moore's Bond, don't get me wrong, but you know and I know Moore's suit would have been unsullied if he'd done this exact same scene)

In fact, I can't see many of the other Bond actors playing the Bond of this film. Personally, Dalton hit all the right notes for me. He was dangerous, he was romantic, He had time for a few casual jokes, but not to excess, and yes, he was angrier than we'd ever seen him. But again, it's Felix and Della (Whom Bond obviously has affection for) Not even Kerim Bey in "From Russia With Love" had a closer relationship than Bond and Felix do (Different actors notwithstanding)

I know a lot of people don't like him. Even I thought he was just ok until I read the books and rewatched the films. But afterwards, I was blown away, and Dalton's my favorite Bond with LTK and TLD being my top two Bond films.

Not trying to argue or sway you in the slightest. If you don't like him, that's your call. Just trying to explain a little why I did.

I love to love my Lisa.

[–] mrrockey 11 years ago

I think Timothy Dalton is an excellent actor but he just never really appealed to me as Bond but that's just me. To me, he didn't seem well-rounded enough in his personality traits during his Bond run. But I can see how he appeals to 80's action movie fans(even if Roger was young at the time, he would have become obsolete because his Bond persona would've been considered lame when he was competing against Schwarzenegger and Stallone at the time) and fans of the original Ian Fleming novels. So everybody wins, we have the grittier, darker portrayals from Lazenby, Dalton, Craig and the more lighthearted approaches from Connery, Moore, and Brosnan.

By the way, love your profile picture!

[–] Polaris01313-1 11 years ago

Timothy Dalton was the best version of James Bond. Dalton had gone back to Ian fleming's novels and based his interpretation of the role more on that than anything. He did an excellent job playing the character. He played Bond the way the character was meant to be played: a lethal professional and assassin with a darker, grittier, brooding, and cynical edge.

It just pisses me off when people kept saying that Dalton should lighten up when he played James Bond. The audience is totally missing the point.

This is the real version of Ian Fleming's James Bond. ANd I like that!

[–] mrrockey 11 years ago

I don't know about that. I feel his Bond was kinda one-dimensional.

[–] MovieKnut 11 years ago

Couldn't have put it better myself Mr Blonde.

You can't palm off a second-rater on me. You gotta remember I was in the pink!

[–] nutsberryfarm 11 years ago

he gets the job done.

We have a pool and a pond...pond be good for you.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] daughterofolaf 11 years ago

Disagree. Dalton was the best Bond, IMO. He was the only actor to portray the character from the books and it seems there are only about four people on earth who understand that. Everyone else seems to only consider Connery's portrayal when considering the character, which is pretty silly.

"It's Minnie Pearl's murder weapon."

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] Irishdrummer007 11 years ago

"He was the only actor to portray the character from the books and it seems there are only about four people on earth who understand that"

I feel the same way. Dalton was perfect as Bond.

[–] MovieMaster95 10 years ago

Exactly. Dalton's Bond is without a doubt the closest to Fleming's original character. I think the only thing they toned down was the original character's blatant misogyny. Connery got close in Dr No and especially in From Russia With Love, but beginning with Goldfinger, he became more of a glorified superhero, rather than the realistic spy that Fleming created.

I feel that most people who dislike Dalton just don't understand what the character is supposed to be. They all assume he's just supposed to be some gentlemen spy who chats up ladies and fights badguys, which is probably why there are so many Brosnan fans out there. The original character was a brute hiding behind the image of a British gentlemen. He was intelligent and his heart was usually in the right place but for the most part he was a very dark character.

"We'll be alive but like a nightmare. You drink blood, you won't wake up from nightmare."

[–] kennellygerard 11 years ago

you are rigghhtttt

100% right

no wonder Daniel craig won the oscar 3 times for casino, quantum and skyfall

[–] kurt7825 11 years ago

maybe he was just pissed off

[–] srb-3 11 years ago

Timothy Dalton's James Bond IS Bond. Beat for beat Ian Fleming's 007.

[–] spaceodds 11 years ago

Dalton and Craig, they're my favorite Bond's, but Dalton very very narrowly gets my vote due to the radical approach he took for Bond. This came straight after the pastiche days of Roger Moore, and Dalton was a major jolt to the system. I'm glad the he is now finally getting the acclaim he so richly deserved back in the day. This summer would be 25 years since the release of Licence To Kill, and quite frankly I still say its far better then any of the films in the Brosnan era.

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[–] sarizonana 10 years ago

I liked Timothy Dalton very much, i think he made a great Ian Fleming bond the clisest from the man of the books

Personally he is my 4th favorite, he was my third but Spectre came out and got the third place taking Dalton to my 4th spot

Im often a bitt shocked when the usual Rankings go Sean Pierce Brosnan and then Roger Moore.
I feel like wow how we went from two actors in a middle Ground between serious and funny to the one who is so comedic style.

My complete ranking goes this way

Pierce Brosnan
Sean Connery
Daniel Craig
Timothy Dalton
Roger Moore
George Lazenby

Another type of Ranking ive seen which i find quite strange is

Is Sean Connery, Daniel Craig and then Roger Moore. I didnt find it on IMDB but i couldnt belive what my eyes were reading
I read this and i was like really how we went from second place Daniel Craig who is the epythom of the serious dark and gritty Bond to get in third place Roger Moore the Epythom of the Funny and goofy Bond.

I found that one a very crazy Ranking one of the most bizarre i ever seen in my life.

The usual thing is going linear ranking
Going from the most similar to your first pick to the least.

But its really strange going from Dallton and then Moore or Lazenby.

[–] buddyboy28 9 years ago

Was I only the one who found Dalton's Bond extremely one-dimensional. I mean, the only emotion he displays in his Bond films is that he's pissed, he's pissed, and this is unexpected but this time he's pissed

He was mostly like that in this because of Bond's situation but I didn't find him like that in Living Daylights. There were different sides to him in that one, and I even thought he handled the humour well in the police chase sequence.

See if you bastards can do 90