"The Living Daylights" is the fifteenth spy film in the James Bond series, produced by Eon Productions, and the first to star Timothy Dalton as James Bond. It was released in 1987 and directed by John Glen.
In "The Living Daylights," James Bond is assigned to assist in the defection of a KGB officer, General Georgi Koskov, during a mission in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. However, Bond becomes suspicious when the defection is apparently staged. His investigation leads him to cross paths with a beautiful and mysterious cellist named Kara Milovy, who is unknowingly caught up in the conspiracy.
Bond discovers that Koskov is working in collusion with a wealthy arms dealer named Brad Whitaker to manipulate British and Soviet intelligence agencies. Together, they plan to profit from an elaborate scheme involving the sale of opium from Afghanistan. Bond must navigate a treacherous web of deception and danger to unravel the conspiracy and prevent a global conflict.
"The Living Daylights" is notable for its return to a more grounded and realistic portrayal of James Bond after the increasingly fantastical elements of some previous films. Timothy Dalton's portrayal of Bond is more serious and introspective compared to his predecessor, Roger Moore. The film also features intense action sequences, including a thrilling mid-air battle aboard a cargo plane.
Upon its release, "The Living Daylights" received positive reviews from critics, who praised Dalton's performance and the film's return to a more traditional Bond formula. It was also a commercial success, solidifying Dalton's place as the new James Bond.