LIVING ON THE EDGE. IT’S THE ONLY WAY HE LIVES.

James Bond (Timothy Dalton) helps a KGB general (Jeroen Krabbé) defect; there’s valuable information to be had, but Bond isn’t sure just how reliable the man is.

Bond flick nr. 15 introduced a new Bond and character actor Dalton plays the agent as a dangerous and cold-hearted man… but where’s the charm?

The story is somewhat confusing, the bad guys and the girl leave a lot to desire, but the action sequences are good (particularly the attack on the safe house) and the movie is entertaining enough without the silliness that marred Roger Moore’s later outings. Great title tune. 

1987-U.K. 130 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by John Glen. Short Story: Ian Fleming. Music: John Barry. Song: “The Living Daylights” (performed by a-ha). Cast: Timothy Dalton (James Bond), Maryam d’Abo (Kara Milovy), Jeroen Krabbé (Georgi Koskov), Joe Don Baker, John Rhys-Davis, Art Malik, Desmond Llewellyn.

Trivia: Sam Neill and Pierce Brosnan were considered as Bond; the latter had to bow out due to Remington Steele. Followed by Licence to Kill (1989).