**YOU ARE NOW ENTERING SPOILERTOWN**
Plot: Koskov “defects” and tells MI6 there is a ‘kill all spies’ order from Moscow. But Bond senses a deeper plot.
Foiled by: Bond finds out Koskov is double-crossing everyone and plans to sell diamonds, opium and high tech weapons for crony profit. 007 helps Pushkin fake his death, blows up the opium deal and kills Koskov’s allies.
Intriguing Setting(s): Bratislava | Vienna | Tangier | Afghanistan
Bond: Timothy Dalton
Villain(s):
- General Georgi Koskov
- Brad Whitaker – West Point reject turned arms dealer to the black market
- Necros
- (NOT General Pushkin)
Bond Girl(s):
- Kara Milovy – Koskov’s girlfriend, decoy assassin, cellist and general pawn in a game of spies
- Woman on the opening sequence yacht, looking for a “real man”
HL’s Hot Take: I’m a Dalton guy! Actually had some spy shit in this one, but still couldn’t quite escape the many Bond clichés and a dragged out ending to be a top notch entry.
Head Librarian Rank: 9/24
Critical Rank: 13/24
TRIVIA SECTION!
Odds & Ends:
- Another ski chase, including an escape in a cello case used as a sled!
- A new Moneypenny for the first time
- Pierce Brosnan and Sam Neill were screen tested for this Bond. Brosnan was actually cast, but had to pull out due to obligations with tv show Remington Steele.
- Yet another Bond villain-ally swapperoo: Joe Don Baker, who plays “General” Whitaker, shows up again in two Brosnan Bond flicks as CIA liaison Jack Wade.
6 Degrees Cameos: John Rhys Davies as Pushkin. Offers a smorgasbord of links between the Indiana Jones and Lord of the Rings franchises.
Gadgets: whistle activated key fob; a boombox rocket launcher called the Ghetto Blaster?!?; a tricked out Aston Martin
Cars: Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante
Awards: nope
Release Order: 15/25 (1985)