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It's hard to believe with all the remakes being done that this 1975 gem is the only film of this notorious event, that said it would have a tough act to follow. Elizabeth Momtgomery gives a chilling dead-on performance of the 19th century spinster who allegedly axed her father and step mother to death. I remember seeing this film as a child when it was released and Momtgomery's Borden was genuinely frightening! A far cry from the Samantha Stevens we know and love from Bewitched. In fact the entire cast from Katherine Helmond, Fritz Weaver, Fionnula Flanagan, Ed Flanders, Hayden Roaurke and Bonnie Bartlet are flawless. But when a film is riddled with a cast and a director like Paul Wendkos all pros at their craft, there's little chance of failure. I do remember this film was presented with a disclaimer that it was not recommended for children due to violence and nudity and I have to admit that peaked my interest being a fan of scary movies. As I recall the film was a major hit so I wish Paramount would finally release this on DVD where it belongs it needs to be seen!! not left to fade away in oblivion. Even though I'm not a fan of remakes I kind of wish they would because usually they release the original when they make a remake.

In Timothy Dalton's second and final adventure as 007 we probably have one of the most realistic, gritty and underrated films in the franchise. After Sanchez (Robert Davi), a notorious violent drug dealer tries to kill Bond's buddy Felix Leitner and brutally murders Leitner's new wife on their honeymoon, Bond turns rogue, for justice and revenge.This outing seems custom made for Dalton who has always wanted to make Bond more human but also keeping the sophistication of the iconic character in check. The film succeeds because it perfectly mixes the typical style of the franchise: beautiful women, Carey Lowell as Bonds current colleague and love interest (But this Bond girl has balls!) Sanchez's femme fa-tale girlfriend and an evil sidekick played to the hilt by a young Benicio Del toro, a loyal moneypenny who always seems to be watching Bond's back and Desmond Llewellyn of course adding comic relief and gadgets galore as Q. Wayne Newton even has a cool cameo as a slick evangelist and of course an explosive finale pay off that defines a classic Bond film. Adding the expected to a storyline that could easily have been ripped from the headlines at that time, murder and an international drug ring along with Dalton's unfailing ability to show what makes James Bond tick made License to Kill for me a dark, yet unpretentious action extravaganza.

After hearing so much hype about how brilliant this film is from various sources, being a movie fan, I was looking forward to seeing it. I was aware of David Lynch's quirky style of film making (A style that I am not particularly fond of) still as a rule I've never been one to listen to critics, I've always taken them with a grain of salt (As everyone should) and then made up my own mind. Everyone has different tastes and everyone has a right to their own opinion. So I did view this film with certain expectations. I enjoy intelligent thrillers. Lynch seems to direct this film with the assumption that the more chaotic and metaphoric it is the more intelligent it is, leaving the average viewer in a state of saying to themselves "What the hell is going on here?" The talented cast seems to agree they go through scene to scene with looks of restrained bewilderment. Just when I thought I had the puzzle solved and knew the direction, it does a complete 360, which had to be frustrating to the average viewer. It's safe to say that this film demands multiple viewings (If you have that kind of time). For the Lynch fan it's right up your ally. For the average viewer it will make your head hurt. For me it was like watching a group therapy session. I enjoy intelligent thrillers that have a puzzle to solve but not when the puzzle is as exciting as a college exam. And when you do finally solve the puzzle you realize it wasn't worth being solved in the first place.