License to Kill 1989

     Felix Leiter is a good friend of James Bond.  Drug baron Franz Sanchez leaves Leiter in a near death state and Leiter's new bride is killed.  Bond sets off on a manhunt for Sanchez and not everyone in the British Secret Service is happy with this mission.  MI6 feels Sanchez is not their problem and they remove Bond’s license to kill.  The result is that Bond is even more dangerous without the constraints and oversight of MI6.  Bond persuades a friend of Sanchez, Pam Bouvier to help him sneak into the drug factories owned by Sanchez.  The question is, will Bond be able to keep his identity and intentions a secret from Sanchez.

     It was nice to have a different actor in the role of Bond for a fresh perspective.  There is a LOT of action in this film and some action in the final scenes is spectacular.  The plot doesn’t seem to have as many twists and turns with a straightforward approach instead.  Pam Bouvier has a lot of talents including either carrying a big gun or at least two on her person plus she can fly a plane.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

133 min, Action directed by John Glen with Timothy Dalton, Robert Davi, Carey Lowell, Talisa Soto, Anthony Zerbe, Frank McRae, David Hedison, Wayne Newton, Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Starke, Everett McGill, Grand L. Bush.

Note:  Imdb 6.6 out of 10, 77% critic 60% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.2* out of 5* with 409 reviews, Roger Ebert 3 ½*.

Special Note:  This movie was filmed in England, Mexico and Florida.  Robert Davi and Grand L. Bush are reunited one year after they were FBI agents Big Johnson and Little Johnson in Die Hard of 1988.  The special edition provides widescreen picture, clearer sound and special features.  Carey Lowell was married to Richard Gere for ten years but they are now separated.