
'Much darker forgotten' James Bond film ranks higher than Sean Connery favourite
Rotten Tomatoes has undertaken the mammoth task of ranking all the James Bond films, placing Licence to Kill at number 11 in a franchise spanning 27 films.
With a 79 per cent approval rating from critics, Licence to Kill has had a varied reception - skirting the boundaries of generally favourable reviews - one critic stated: "Many may have forgotten [Timothy] Dalton's time as the iconic agent, but whether you remember him or not, it's worth sinking your teeth into."
This 1989 entry is the sixteenth in the James Bond series and marked Timothy Dalton's second and last appearance as the famed MI6 spy. It was also John Glen's fifth and final film as director and the last to feature Caroline Bliss as Miss Moneypenny and Robert Brown in the role of M.
Reviews were polarised; while it was hailed as "very underrated" by one critic, another conceded it was merely "passably entertaining".
Notably, Licence to Kill was the first of the Bond movies not to borrow its name from an Ian Fleming story. Although the film's narrative is largely original, there are elements inspired by Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo, as well as injections from Fleming's own works - Live and Let Die and The Hildebrand Rarity, reports the Express.
The plot centres around Bond going rogue from MI6 to embark on a vendetta against Franz Sanchez, a nefarious drug lord who is behind a vicious attack on Bond's friend, CIA operative Felix Leiter, and subsequently responsible for murdering Felix's bride just after their nuptials.
GoldenEye (1995) followed Licence to Kill, marking the transition from Timothy Dalton to Irish actor Pierce Brosnan in the coveted James Bond role.
At the box office, Licence to Kill racked up a sum of $156.2 million (equating to $373.3 million when adjusted for 2022), all on a budget of $32 million.
One fan review heaped praises on the film: "One of my favourite Bond films. Loved the darker tone and do love this take on Bond. I enjoyed the story and the action."
Conversely, another viewer expressed disappointment: "Licence to Kill is a very bland Bond movie. Even after just finishing it, I'm having a hard time remembering the specifics about the movie."
On the Rotten Tomatoes ranking list of Bond films, Licence to Kill sits between GoldenEye at number ten and 007: You Only Live Twice at twelve. The Critics Consensus notes: "Licence to Kill is darker than many of the other Bond entries, with Timothy Dalton playing the character with intensity, but it still has some solid chases and fight scenes."
In another critique, it was mentioned: "You may find yourself shaken - not stirred - by the screenwriting cruelty and cynicism behind the 16th Bond."
One enthusiast praised Dalton's interpretation of Bond, commenting: "I enjoyed Moore's stint as Bond, it had excitement and humour but became increasingly silly and needed a reset. Dalton's much darker and more realistically human approach was a perfect bit of casting and made for a great Bond. This is one of my favourites of the franchise and for my tastes better than the following rather 'plastic' feeling Brosnan era."
Reflecting on his choice to portray the iconic character, Dalton mentioned in the 21st edition of OO7 Magazine: "I knew the danger of taking on something like Bond was immense; you know that if it hadn't worked, it would have been a very serious, serious problem for me personally. And I think, in many ways, that perverse thing in all of us wants to take on a challenge and risk oneself, and I wanted to see if I could overcome that challenge and get these movies back into being in a world that I consider to be James Bond's world."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Antiques Roadshow expert shares huge value of Titanic letter but guest refuses to sell
Antiques Roadshow expert Hilary Kay met with a guest whose father Sidney Daniels was hired to work on the Titanic as a plate washer at the age of 18 Antiques Roadshow's Hilary Kay had an emotional encounter with a guest whose father, Sidney Daniels, was employed as a plate washer on the Titanic at just 18 years old. Sidney was one of the survivors of the tragic sinking, and his daughter brought along a poignant letter he penned to the beloved BBC series. She recounted: "It was a Sunday, he was sound asleep, there was a banging and shouting and it was the night watchman. They were all a bit bleary-eyed because at first they thought it was a drill. "It wasn't until he got up on deck, there were hardly any people around at first and then officers came and turned to him and said, 'Go to these cabins.' Of course it was hard to wake people, they were asleep. "Some reacted in different ways. One or two said 'What does this young man know? He's 18, the boat is unsinkable. We're not going up on deck.' Others were saying, 'We've got children, they're going to get a chill if they go up on deck.' So he helped the children with the lifejackets and ushered them up on deck." Hilary reflected on the harrowing event, adding: "You can imagine the scene of chaos and despair because people realised there weren't enough lifeboats." Relaying the harrowing tale of survival, one of Sidney's kin recounted: "That was his job, to try and get people into the lifeboats and the water was rising all of the time. When all the lifeboats had gone, the water was up around his knees and he thought, 'It's time to go.' So he dived off the side of the boat, swam away from it, came to a lifebelt and to my Dad's mind, it was too close to the boat, he was afraid when the boat went down, the suction would take them down so he said to this chap, 'It's no good here, let's swim away.'". They continued with the gripping narrative: "Apparently this chap followed him and they just kept swimming. He said he saw a star in the sky which he thought was his mother and swam towards this star and eventually came to this life raft which was upside down and managed to cling onto that." The story took an emotional turn as they shared: "When he was on there, he said, 'I'm tired, I want to go to sleep,' and the chap next to him said, 'Don't go to sleep lad, if you do, it will be your last.' So they sat there singing hymns trying to pass the time away." Accompanying their visit, the relatives brought a poignant piece of history - a letter from Sidney's uniform pocket as he leapt from the Titanic, reports the Express. Expert Hilary weighed in on the artefact's significance and value: "It's an extraordinary item and anything related to Titanic has this extraordinary affect on people. It is an extraordinary moment to behold something which is so linked into an extraordinary moment in history." She estimated it's worth: "We're talking about around £10,000, is the realistic value." Upon hearing the valuation, the guest firmly stated: "It's very nice but it's not going out the family, it's going to a museum." Antiques Roadshow is broadcast on Sundays at 8.15pm on BBC One.


Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
I tried posh £21 fish and chips that David Beckham ordered – 3 words sum it up
I was dispatched to see if a luxury order of fish and chips was worth the hefty price tag What's the most you'd be willing to fork out for fish and chips? For me, it's not about the money but the time spent journeying to the east coast where two chip shops serve up fare so delightful it's downright soul-stirring. In St Andrews, Tailend and Cromar are where you'll find succulent haddock in a batter that's been fried to a masterful standard I've not seen elsewhere - an astonishingly light, supremely crunchy coating with frilly, jagged edges that audibly snap into fragments. This culinary masterpiece is nestled atop a pile of chips that aren't too chunky, boasting a crispness, fluffiness, and creaminess that could sway even a staunch advocate of skinny fries like myself. These chippies set the bar by which I judge all other fish and chips. Having once been a local, I now stay in Glasgow, regrettably a 90-minute drive from chippy heaven. However, I've recently been given the mission to determine whether a posh serving of fish and chips justifies its price tag, reports the Express. Inspired by a review of £18 fish and chips, my quest led me to Crabshakk, the fashionable seafood eatery, which opened its doors in Finnieston well before it became the Glasgow's foodie epicentre. The restaurant has drawn in celebrities like David Beckham and Sam Heughan. Although the Outlander star kept mum about his meal, Becks excitedly shared his dining experience on Instagram, praising the scallops "cooked to perfection", rollmops reminiscent of his grandmother's, and, of course, the fish and chips. Their latest venture, Crabshakk Botanics off Byres Road, exudes sleek and chic with industrial black fittings, trailing greenery, timber-clad walls and floor-to-ceiling windows — an ambience my fellow diner described as "very New York". We agree it's the type of swishy restaurant to bring friends visiting from out of town. When I'm off on a weekday, as someone with inflexible working hours, I like to wonder what other people who are out and about do for a living. I don't have to think too hard – at noon on a Wednesday, the clientele at this upmarket seafood restaurant consists of three tables populated by well-groomed, silver-haired guests. Before a father and daughter arrive, we are the youngest diners by decades - a journalist enjoying a day off in lieu with a friend on the backshift. One look at the menu and you know it's for seafood lovers. Lobster, crab, scallops, langoustine, squid, Arbroath smokies — whatever you fancy, they've got it. Non-seafood mains are few, featuring one meat option (steak frites) and four vegan dishes. My companion opts for the complimentary fizzy water, whilst despite being off duty, my afternoon plans rule out alcohol. I spring for the Spicy Rita (£8), a coral mocktail blending citrus, sweetness and savoury elements that pleasantly evoked tomato flavours. Rather than the traditional salted rim, black Himalayan salt adorns one edge of the glass, not unlike a sandy bum on the beach. The service here is courteous and prompt. It's a quiet lunch service and our hefty plates of fried seafood and chips soon arrive. So, my verdict on £21 fish and chips — not worth it. Giving credit where it's due, it's a good meal overall and they certainly don't scrimp on portion size. The chips are creamy and delicious, but it's the fish that falls flat. While I wasn't anticipating it to be the best I've ever had, the fried coating is thicker, darker and oilier than it should be. A look at TripAdvisor reviews reveals I'm not alone in this observation. The creamy tartare sauce is good but one glaring omission are peas, mushy or otherwise. Meanwhile, my friend happily tucks into her breaded monkfish cheeks accompanied by skinny fries, salad and a tangy and moreish housemade ketchup (£27). To share, we can't pass on the tomato and watermelon salad with salsa verde (£9) garnished with what appear to be edible succulent leaves that provide pops of salty juiciness. The restaurant didn't invite me for a review nor were they aware I was conducting one. Having footed the bill, I winced at the cost but I'm not overly put out. I'm not against the idea of posh fish and chips. But I'd suggest holding off on the craving until you can make your way to the East Neuk of Fife.


Metro
3 hours ago
- Metro
Film hailed ‘best sci-fi of all time' now available to stream for free
An iconic 80s sci-fi film lauded as the 'best of all time' is streaming for free right now on ITVX. Released in 1984, The Terminator launched director James Cameron's career while solidifying leading man Arnold Schwarzenegger as an action hero. It stars the actor as the titular cybernetic assassin who is sent back in time from 2029 to 1984 in a bid to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton), whose unborn son will save mankind from extinction in the future. At the same time, Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) is a soldier sent back in time to protect Sarah from the threat of Skynet, a hostile artificial intelligence. Defying studios' low expectations, The Terminator grossed a whopping $79.3 million (£59M) against a budget of just $6.4M (£4.7M). It spawned sequel films, a TV series, video games, novels, and a whole plethora of merchandise while regularly featuring on lists of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. The Terminator holds a rare 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics' consensus reading: 'With its impressive action sequences, taut economic direction, and relentlessly fast pace, it's clear why The Terminator continues to be an influence on sci-fi and action flicks.' In their review, The Spectator said: 'It's engrossing, suspenseful, has a personality all of its own and absolutely stands the test of time.' The Washington Post added: 'The Terminator brings film violence into the realm of the surreal.' Flavorwire wrote: 'Much of Terminator's greatness is due to its low-budget aesthetic and lo-fi energy; perhaps out of necessity, Cameron's sense of storytelling has a lean efficiency that both he and the series have long since abandoned.' Time Out said the film was 'damn close to perfect', while the BBC hailed it as 'one of the most effective science fiction films of recent decades.' The Hollywood Reporter echoed the same sentiments, saying: 'The havoc makes for a genuine steel metal trap of a movie that may very well be the best picture of its kind since The Road Warrior.' Speaking in 2021, Avatar director Cameron reflected on the unlikely inspiration behind The Terminator. 'The Terminator came from a dream that I had while I was sick with a fever in a cheap pensione in Rome in 1981,' he told the British Film Institute. More Trending 'It was the image of a chrome skeleton emerging from a fire. When I woke up, I began sketching on the hotel stationery. 'The first sketch I did showed a metal skeleton cut in half at the waist, crawling over a tile floor, using a large kitchen knife to pull itself forward while reaching out with the other hand. In a second drawing, the character is threatening a crawling woman. 'Minus the kitchen knife, these images became the finale of The Terminator almost exactly.' The Terminator is streaming now on ITVX Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: I'm a horror expert – these are the 7 best films of 2025 so far MORE: 'Masterpiece' 70s thriller with shocking twist now available to stream for free MORE: Nostalgic 90s sequel that 'ruined my Friday night' soars to number one on Netflix