I can agree with am747's post, as LTK is one of my favourite Bond films.
The higher certification was a killer for it along with the poor marketing.
It may have been in Europe but not in the U.S. Teens, of which I was one, regularly went to see "R" rated films in the U.S. rather than the "PG" ones, which were considered lame at the time. The "PG-13" rating was also lame, but certainly better in the eyes of many than a "PG."
In terms of marketing, this may have been true of general audiences. But Bond fans certainly were ready for the film, and it had publicity. What I recall is that audiences mostly thought it was too much a Miami Vice episode, which they were tired of from TV.
In the 80s, a teen in US who is also a big Bond fan is a relatively small sample size .... Vs. families who would go to movies targeted at them. Also since a bunch of such family focused releases, there could be constraints on time, budget, etc. as well .... Therefore, marketing initiatives targeted towards general audiences play a key role, along with certification
I was one of the people who went and saw Licence to Kill, Indiana Jones, Batman and much to my chagrin Lethal Weapon II (I was going out with someone who loved the cinema). I was twenty at the time
But Licence to Kill was the better effort out of all of them.
Don't give a **** whether it was filmed in Mexico, looked like cutprice Miami Vice....but it has the most powerful protagonist....in Tim Dalton
**** the American hordes. He still my man. My Bond.
1. For Your Eyes Only 2. The Living Daylights 3 From Russia with Love 4. Casino Royale 5. OHMSS 6. Skyfall
I have nothing against Brosnan. He's a great Bond, but the casting of Brosnan was basically a message saying that we want to tread as safely as possible with these films.
I count Six , although some are closer to the literary version than others.
True .... After reading the first 5 IF books + Trigger Mortis, I feel that it is good that the cinematic version of Bond differentiates himself from the literary version to some extent .... I guess with IF's approval, SC was able to strike the perfect balance
Below are a few excerpts from Fleming's letters that he wrote while editing FRWL:
"the point about Bond is that he makes a fool of himself and falls headlong into the trap. This is a change from making him the cardboard hero and I cannot help thinking it is a healthy change. There is so much danger of these books being all alike and my main satisfaction (such as it is) with the book is that a Formula which was getting stale has been broken."
^ RM provided that change in the 70s which worked well for the franchise .... His first two films are different
"There is also the point that one simply can't go on writing the simple bang-bang, kiss-kiss, type of books. However, hard one works at it, you automatically become staler and staler and very quickly the staleness shows through to the reader and all is indeed lost."
^ then TD brought in a lot of intensity
Other Bond actors have been a mix and match of the above 3 but still good in their own way
Comments
In terms of marketing, this may have been true of general audiences. But Bond fans certainly were ready for the film, and it had publicity. What I recall is that audiences mostly thought it was too much a Miami Vice episode, which they were tired of from TV.
that would be more an American thing.
Those of us who like it will always defend it, possibly illogically.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
But Licence to Kill was the better effort out of all of them.
Don't give a **** whether it was filmed in Mexico, looked like cutprice Miami Vice....but it has the most powerful protagonist....in Tim Dalton
**** the American hordes. He still my man. My Bond.
They brought Bond back in 1995....but we went backwards. We went into reverse
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
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#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
The Daltonator was dangerous.... :v
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
for years.
And what a mess they became.
Still stunned at the brilliance of licence to kill and within a few films it degenerated into **** like die another day
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Oh believe you me Craig immerses himself in a role
There's three superb actors as bond
Dalton, Craig and connery
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
1st - SC and RM (The Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Astons and Rolls)
2nd - TD, PB, DC and GL (The Porsches, Maseratis and Bentleys)
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Lazenby is not a superb actor. He hardly even qualifies as an actor. But I think he was still a superb Bond.
True .... After reading the first 5 IF books + Trigger Mortis, I feel that it is good that the cinematic version of Bond differentiates himself from the literary version to some extent .... I guess with IF's approval, SC was able to strike the perfect balance
Below are a few excerpts from Fleming's letters that he wrote while editing FRWL:
"the point about Bond is that he makes a fool of himself and falls headlong into the trap. This is a change from making him the cardboard hero and I cannot help thinking it is a healthy change. There is so much danger of these books being all alike and my main satisfaction (such as it is) with the book is that a Formula which was getting stale has been broken."
^ RM provided that change in the 70s which worked well for the franchise .... His first two films are different
"There is also the point that one simply can't go on writing the simple bang-bang, kiss-kiss, type of books. However, hard one works at it, you automatically become staler and staler and very quickly the staleness shows through to the reader and all is indeed lost."
^ then TD brought in a lot of intensity
Other Bond actors have been a mix and match of the above 3 but still good in their own way
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
If we are judging by how the actors performed as Bond, GL did a great job in OHMSS -{
I think if lazenby had had the training and worked his way up from drama school he could be a contenders