Is Licence to Kill a better 1989 film than Batman?
JimmyBond0129
United States Posts: 263MI6 Agent
Discuss.
Personally I think neither film was fun to watch and I prefer Indiana Jones III over both of them because director Steven Spielberg brought back the fun factor after the grim Indy II.
Personally I think neither film was fun to watch and I prefer Indiana Jones III over both of them because director Steven Spielberg brought back the fun factor after the grim Indy II.
"I admire your courage, Miss?..." "Trench, Sylvia Trench."
"I admire your luck, Mister?..." "Bond, James Bond."
"I admire your luck, Mister?..." "Bond, James Bond."
Comments
Having said that, I do prefer Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade more. I saw both of these in the cinema at the time, and I was at a very impressionable age at the time as well (14). So seeing these films was a big deal.
Last Crusade left a longer impression on me though. Perhaps this is also because Licence to Kill is one of many Bond films and when you think of Bond films, there's a whole bunch of them that you refer to.
Indiana Jones fans have always only had three movies to refer to. It's only recently that a fourth film was added.
Finally there's the fact that the Last Crusade was placed in a historical setting. This has caused the film to age less than Licence to Kill.
Indy 3 I think is the strongest of the 4 movies and it was very good. That said, I just feel that LTK made a bigger impact. As dark as it was and as un-Bond, I was just much more impressed.
Despite that I've always felt that Indy 3 is a better made movie than LTK. Despite that I still like LTK better - go figure
Well, I guess that sais it all, doesn't it...:v
I think that Batman is an immensely flawed film, but it has some brilliant moments and featured a performance from Jack, that while arguably wrong for the film, is nonetheless superb. LTK, however is IMO among the worst Bond films of all time.
Although there are a couple of saving graces (Sanchez for instance), Dalton's performance and the screenplay, both of which I hated, sank the film for me. I often wonder what it would have been like with a vastly superior screenplay and either a younger Connery or a Brosnan in the lead. Moore also could have done a great job. Dalton was however IMO absolutely dreadful.
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*The reason the era begins in 1987 is simply because the first Lethal Weapon film was released that year, and I couldn't just focus on 1989 as any discussion of great action films has to include Die Hard.
Shocked, John Drake realises he agrees with Dan Same!
TLD was an action film? :v Nonetheless, my omission of it was no oversight.
I actually haven't seen it, although the original was fantastic.
No I'm just comparing Batman to Licence to Kill because both films were released in the same year. I think the original Lethal Weapon is far superior to Lethal Weapon 2 which is why I didn't mention it. The late Gene Siskel's opinion on Lethal Weapon 2 is basically how I feel about it. Although I suppose Lethal Weapon 2 is better Lethal Weapon 3 & 4.
"I admire your luck, Mister?..." "Bond, James Bond."
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Licence to Kill is tantalizingly close, in places, to what Fleming's Bond ought to look and act like, but IMO it was wildly out of balance. At times in this one, Dalton utterly channels Fleming's character---at others, he's clearly uncomfortable with the material he's given to say and do.
I'd give Batman the edge in that head-to-head matchup. Whether one likes it or not, at least Burton's film knows what it's about.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
What made Licence to Kill stand out for me was the action scenes and the use of Q outside his laboratory for a change. As for Batman, Hollwoody did not due justice to the comic books until Batman Begins in 2005.
My opinion of LTK has improved over the years; I was cold to it upon its initial release, but having re-watched it recently after picking up the BluRay, I enjoyed it a lot more. It does have its problems, notably a forgettable title song, a weak score by Michael Kamen and the absence of the globe-trotting and general sense of fun vibe most of the movies conveyed. On the other hand, there is some great stuntwork on display and the action sequences are well paced. It's fun to see Bond methodically tear apart Sanchez's organization from the inside piece by piece, person by person, and Timothy Dalton does a good job at selling the action and Bond's personal story arc throughout the course of the film.
Batman on the other hand was an EVENT; a classic case of style winning out over substance. The plot is pretty weak; the movie grinds to a halt on several occasions to shoehorn those Prince songs, Jack Nicholson practically hijacks the movie and we really don't see all that much of Batman. But in spite of all that, the sheer spectacle of the thing and Anton Furst's amazing production design guarantee that it leaves a lasting impression.
Two very different films that are both fun to watch in their own very different ways.
I think the direction of LTK is too stiff, formal and old-fasioned. I would also like to see a scene or two outside Florida and Latin America. Perhaps the scene where 007 rescues Bouvier should have been on another continent?
In fact I find it amazing it was released in '89. I am sure that '80's movies had moved on so much more in terms of cinematography. LTK's lacks depth and like you put it, 'stiff' is how it feels when you watch it.
To me, the '80's Bond films always felt a little dreary. Only with GoldenEye the visual spectacle truly picks up again.
Out of all the '80's Bond films, Octopussy, in my opinion, trumps all of them in terms of substance. There's a good plot there and it has a very talented, wide cast, and made impressive use of seemingly old-fashioned cinema techniques.
James Bond- Licence To Kill
Some great actioners there Dan, although a good Bond, LTK looks a little dull in comparison...
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