Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The Living Daylights’

Written by Shae Rufe

​Bond is back and so am I (for four more movies after this!). Has anyone noticed that 007 is dealing with the KGB a lot? It’s the easiest bad guy to go with given the era of the movies. But I digress. This was a fun film to watch, and admittedly I’ve not seen a lot of the Bond movies, but I have seen a few. I’m rather enjoying them, not going to lie!
 
So! Our spy of all spies is directed to be a counter sniper in order to protect Koskov, who happens to be a Soviet defector. The former KGB agent has some info, and either way, doesn’t want anything to do with the former union anymore.  However, at a symphony, Koskov is nearly picked off by an assassin, who happens to be a ‘cellist’. Bond shoots the rifle out of her hand and smuggles the former KGB agent out of the country and to a safe house back in Britain. It’s here that Bond learns that there is a new general of the KGB that’s hunting down spies and having them murdered. Mostly British and American spies. This is probably why 004 was killed, because it’s not a Bond movie if another agent isn’t being murdered.
 
Koskov is taken shortly after that, and it’s 007’s job to hunt down this elusive Pushkin. Yep, that’s the evil guy’s name. Upon meeting this Pushkin, though, the stories get a bit… funny. Pushkin has Bond doubting Koskov and his defection and story. There’s only one way to solve this debate. Find the hot cellist. Hot cellists always have the answers. Kara, as it turns out her real name is, is actually Koskov’s girlfriend. Yeah, the plot thickens! Bond convinces her to leave with them with the false story of reuniting them. All while the KGB tries to kill them.
 
So, Pushkin meets with some arms dealers that Koskov knew, only to cancel some deal the two of them had. You know, bad guy stuff. Just as Bond and his MI6 people find out about the deal going on between Koskov and said arms dealers, Koskov has Bond’s MI6 friend murdered. Yes, literally, at this point I was like “WHAT?” because Pushkin might have been telling the truth. Koskov is evading arrest by their government for money embezzlement. Our supposed bad guy is really a good guy and turns to Bond’s side. Only, our Bond Girl, Kara, is… not so on board. She gets in contact with Koskov, who lies even more. He’s convinced her fully that Bond is really a KGB agent, and that it’s her job to bring the spy to him.
 
Never trust the bad guy! Even if he is your “boyfriend”. As predicted, Koskov betrays Kara and locks her away with 007. But our spy of spies should never be underestimated. Of course, they escape, taking some new allies with them. It’s another aerial battle where a bomb is involved, activated, deactivated, activated again. People fall to their death, and in the end, Bond saves the day. Koskov is arrested by Pushkin, and Kara becomes lead cellist in the London symphony.  And don’t worry… Bond always gets the girl. That is until Licence to Kill.

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