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movie-reviews.colossus.net - : By 1989 and the release of Licence to Kill, James Bond had a lot of competition in the action genre. With so many higher-profile contenders (like Batman) in the arena, 007's popularity hit an all-time low. Audiences seemed less inclined to see the latest adventures of a twenty-five year old cinematic legend than those of Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone. The result was a staggeringly poor box office showing that (along with certain legal problems) led to a six-year layoff and lead actor change. more...
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3/4
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efilmcritic.com - : The debate over 'Licence To Kill' will go on and on. In many ways it's barely a Bond film, and with some justification it could be argued that it nearly killed the series. But despite the oddly brutal tone and savage portrayal of Bond, there's some terrific action and superb acting going on. It may be the darkest and least Bond-esque film, but it's also the one to take the most risks since 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' and one of the most interesting ones to watch. Serious re-evaluation required. more...
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4/5
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rogerebert.suntimes.com - : The James Bond movies have by now taken on the discipline of a sonnet or a kabuki drama: Every film follows the same story outline so rigidly that we can predict almost to the minute such obligatory developments as (1) the introduction of the villain's specialized hit man; (2) the long shot that establishes the villain's incredibly luxurious secret hideout; (3) the villain's fatal invitation to Bond to spend the night; (4) the moment when the villain's mistress falls for Bond; (5) the series of explosions destroying the secret fortress, and (6) the final spectacular stunt sequence. more...
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3.5/
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Critic Reviews
