3. Licence To Kill
I first saw a bond film in 2002, so for 4 long years, this was my favourite of the lot, and Dalton was unquestionably my favourite Bond. I was forever re-enacting the opening scenes and the truck chase, listening back to Michael Kamens epic score more time than I care to remember. For a long time Dalton was my Bond, much as I loved Brosnan and had no idea who Daniel Craig was. A lot of people forget how closely this does stick to the Bond formula. There are a lot of witty one-liners and stupid moments (bon appetit! and the barfight respectively), whilst we get a very effective villain and a contained plot. James is out for revenge against a man who doesnt want to take over the world, whilst having Q at his side (Desmond Llewellyns best performance, as he is given a lot more to do) and lots of gadgets like plastic explosive toothpaste. Again, this is criminally underrated because of the context- it was bloody and violent, gaining a 15 certificate and therefore limited its audience, which was not a good move as it was up against behemoth blockbusters like Batman and Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade that year. It made a healthy profit, but not enough to be called a runaway success, and it was sadly Daltons last appearance and the last time wed see Bond was 6 long years. One more film in this vein, perhaps dialled back a little, and I reckon Dalton would have got a lot more recognition.