Best of Each Bond?

[Hunter Rider]

Moore: This one is hard for me. I really liked the Moore films (save for Octopussy which was dull as drying paint and You Only Live Twice which was forgettable) and for me its a toss up between The Spy Who Love Me, The Man with the Golden Gun and View to A Kill. Spy had the iconic Carly Simon song, Jaws, Agent XXX the underwater car but Stromberg never really did it for me, whereas Golden Gun had Christopher Lee as Scaramunga, the Kung Fu vibe and locals, Knick Knack and the Fun House but Midnight was a dull Bond Girl, but View had Christopher Walken as Zorin, Grace Jones as Mayday, the Bay Area, the Golden Gate fight and Duran Duran's theme. I can't choose!

I always think The Man with the Golden Gun was a huge missed opportunity, Bond vs a lethal assassin with a unique gun played by Christopher Lee should have been epic, but it all felt a bit tepid and undercooked. I love the Eiffel Tower chase between Bond and Mayday in A View to a Kill.

I think the Moore era is the hardest to select from because they are all much of a muchness. He is the Bond I was 'introduced too' first, in that his were the Bonds being released in my early childhood, and was taken to see them as such but he just didn't stand out for me, I know he's gone on record as wanting to play it as different as possible to Connery, but there is playing it differently and playing the character as completely different to the written character as chalk and cheese, the problem for me was he played Bond the same as Templar, in the Saint, two very different characters but RM decided to simply repeat the same characteristics for Bond. I just don't rate his era at all. There are some 'good moments' but there isn't for me, one film, you can say, in all honesty, the complete film is a solid 'Bond' film.

Roger Moore was Bond when I was fist intrduced to the films but my Dad showed me the Connery films as well, so I had a mix, I think the problem for me with Moore's movies when you go back at an older age is he's not believeable as a lethal agent, he desn't move or act like he culd punsh his way out of a paper back. Having said that I think it's fairly easy to select his best as for me The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eys Only are comfortably his best.

That's why For Your Eyes Only is my favorite of the Moore era, Moore's Bond was notably darker in that film compared to the rest of his run.

The scene where he kicks Locque's car off the cliff after throwing the Dove pin in was without doubt the most ruthless we saw Moore's Bond.

 

[Mandon Knight]

I saw Connery on telly at Christmas and the like with my Dad and instantly thought they were a standard above, I think inherently the problem was as Moore's films and Bond films in general, had the same crew working throughout on them from the set go, so you had men in their 60's & 70's planning the stunt work in the 1980's and the pace of action had 'upscaled' by that stage in cinema, except Bond hadn't altered with it, hence why for example Octopussy and View to a Kill look so creaky in their execution.

 

[Iceman]

Maybe there should be a separate thread once this one has run its course for which Bond has the best line up of films. For eg Sean Connery is amazing as Bond to me and quite superior to Roger Moore, but I definitely prefer Moore's portfolio of Bond films. Brosnan's is weak, Dalton's is decent, Craig's is variable but good overall.

 

[MadderMaximus]

When I went through my Bond-o-Thon last month, it had been a very very long time since I'd seen several of the films (especially the Moore era). I used to hate Moonraker and would rank it the worst, but I've warmed up to it more, it's kind of in the middle of the Moore run for me now. Live & Let Die, The Man With The Golden Gun, and The Spy Who Loved Me were my favorites of his, with A View To A Kill, Octopussy and For Your Eyes Only at the bottom. Overall, my least favorite of all the Bond movies turned out to be Tomorrow Never Dies.

 

[Aximili86]

Moonraker's hands-down the worst for me, like even more than Die Another Day. Good god I hate me some Moonraker.

 

[jolldan]

Did anyone enjoy Quantum of Solace? It feels so underwhelming when I first watched it. Def weak compared to Casino Royale and Skyfall. Overall though; it's pretty average for a Bond film.

It's not as strong as Casino Royale I agree but it has an epic opening with the Mitchell fight I feel being one of the more creative action scenes in modern Bond movies and one of the most beautiful Bond girls of all time in Olga Kurylenko in my opinion.

However I will concede it has one of the absolute worst movie mistakes of all time, the infamous air sweeper lol.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Nolan directed that bit.

 

[Mandon Knight]

If they ever bring back Jaws (for whatever reason), Michael Shannon would be perfect casting if they wanted to keep likeness to Kiel.

 

[Hunter Rider]

I saw Connery on telly at Christmas and the like with my Dad and instantly thought they were a standard above, I think inherently the problem was as Moore's films and Bond films in general, had the same crew working throughout on them from the set go, so you had men in their 60's & 70's planning the stunt work in the 1980's and the pace of action had 'upscaled' by that stage in cinema, except Bond hadn't altered with it, hence why for example Octopussy and View to a Kill look so creaky in their execution.

That's a good point, the Bond movies didn't move in line with the change in action cinema in the 80's until LTK which was 1989. Vic Armstrong couldn't do it all himself, he was still at the will of the producers and directors they chose. The Brosnan and Craig runs were much more in tune with their respective eras in regards to the action component of the films.

Moonraker's hands-down the worst for me, like even more than Die Another Day. Good god I hate me some Moonraker.

The only 2 highlights of Moonraker are the cable car sequence and the fight with the Kendo assassin, the Gondola chase is ok but a bit goofy.

 

[Aximili86]

The whole thing's pretty goofy.

I don't know, it might have played better back in the day I guess. I think half my problem with Moore is I came to him pretty late, after seeing the others. Goldeneye upon release as a kid, then went back to the Dalton two, then back to Connery and worked forward from there. His whole era, even as an 11/12 year old seeing them for the first time, just come off so p*ss-weak compared to what came before and after. There are good films peppered throughout though, but Moonraker's definitely an extreme case of the negative.

Also, heh, reading up on that proto-Goldeneye script with Dalton earlier, just saw he was the only Bond asked to be a pallbearer at Cubby's funeral in '96, that's kind of odd/interesting. And Connery didn't even show up at all, said he was too busy, but apparently went on some Scottish TV show the same day talking politics punditry and ****.

 

[Herofan]

I think the best ones tended to be early on in their time, where both the actor was hungrier and more intense/charismatic and the filmmakers put more effort into the villain and female interest & general story, even if the story was simple the relationships were really good. Also nice is when the action set pieces feel like part of the story rather than just action set pieces (or they're so entertaining it doesn't matter).

Connery-Goldfinger (though From Russia with Love is close)
Moore-For Your Eyes Only (though The Spy Who Loved Me is close)
Dalton-The Living Daylights (by default given the other one)
Brosnan-GoldenEye
Craig-Casino Royale

The later FYEO worked well, Moore's best, probably because it felt like going in a new, different direction while also acknowledging the age of the character and the series overall (and still having energy despite that).

 

[Dark Raven]

Thunderball would've been great if not for the long underwater scenes that make it drag. There's a good film in there though which could almost make it the quintessential Bond film but it's slowed down by all the scuba diving. If they had edited it differently it could've been faster paced.

It has some of the best lines and two of the most beautiful Bond girls.

 

[Herofan]

I remember during the 90's everyone was loving Brosnan. And now people finally admit he wasn't exactly a good Bond.

He pretty much was, at least was trying to be, the Connery version combined with the Moore version/elements so he got liking from fans of both of the main previous versions. Nowadays there seem to be fewer vocal Moore fans and a lot more liking for Craig as Connery-ish without goofy elements.

Dalton is probably a good example of going in too big a different direction too soon.

 

[Sawyer]

I need to do a full Bond rewatch, because aside from Craig and Brosnan, and The Spy Who Loved Me most likely remaining my favorite Moore entry, I'm at a loss.

Hell, I don't think I've even SEEN Dalton's movies.

 

[Iceman]

If they ever bring back Jaws (for whatever reason), Michael Shannon would be perfect casting if they wanted to keep likeness to Kiel.

He does look like him a bit yeah.

 

[Dark Raven]

He does look like him a bit yeah.

He could wear lifts like RDJ to give him a bit of height. He'd look taller anyway if he were next to someone like Daniel Craig.

Or get Daniel Radcliffe as Bond, and Michael Shannon won't need any lifts at all.

 

[Iceman]

He could wear lifts like RDJ to give him a bit of height. He'd look taller anyway if he were next to someone like Daniel Craig.

Or get Daniel Radcliffe as Bond, and Michael Shannon won't need any lifts at all.

He'd have to wear 12 inch heels, or they could use hobbit camera tricks on Daniel Craig.

 

[Dark Raven]

He'd have to wear 12 inch heels, or they could use hobbit camera tricks on Daniel Craig.

Is Michael Shannon not that tall?

Maybe they can use Captain America: The First Avenger CGI tricks on him. CGI his head onto someone else's body.

 

[Iceman]

Is Michael Shannon not that tall?

Maybe they can use Captain America: The First Avenger CGI tricks on him. CGI his head onto someone else's body.

He's 6'4 vs Jaws at 7'2 (according to internet heights at least). Although I guess Moore is taller than Craig so 7 inch heels should be ok in this situation. Yes, many great options available here. They should also get Craig to inhale helium before he speaks so he sounds smaller.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

Probably not the best but if I had to choose one for each Bond :

• Dalton : License to Kill
• Moore : The Spy Who Loved Me
• Connery : You Only Live Twice
• Brosnan : Golden Eye
• Craig : don't really mind, all minus Quantum of Solace

 

[Dark Raven]

He's 6'4 vs Jaws at 7'2 (according to internet heights at least). Although I guess Moore is taller than Craig so 7 inch heels should be ok in this situation. Yes, many great options available here. They should also get Craig to inhale helium before he speak so he sounds smaller.

6'4" is still tall, and taller than a lot of actors these days. With lifts, he would appear even taller. He doesn't have to be quite 7'2". Next to Craig, he would look taller anyway. Moore was over 6ft, so that's a big difference than 6'4" and maybe 5'8" or whatever Craig is.

 

[Iceman]

6'4" is still tall, and taller than a lot of actors these days. With lifts, he would appear even taller. He doesn't have to be quite 7'2". Next to Craig, he would look taller anyway. Moore was over 6ft, so that's a big difference than 6'4" and maybe 5'8" or whatever Craig is.

Craig is supposed to be about 5'10. Anyway the main thing is the quality of the dental work. Shannon's pearly whites and braces will be the deciding factor.

 

[Dark Raven]

Craig is supposed to be about 5'10. Anyway the main thing is the quality of the dental work. Shannon's pearly whites and braces will be the deciding factor.

How does his actual teeth have anything to do with it? Richard Kiel wore metal braces over his own teeth (which then pushed his mouth out so that he looked more stupid). Shannon could wear them too.

The thing is that Shannon is a better actor than Kiel. Are they only going to want him to be a henchman, or now a proper main villain in his own right who can speak many more lines? A metal brace might make it harder for him to do so. They might modify his metal teeth to look different. Maybe some kind of metal-looking veneers instead, or they could CGI it in. I can't see them getting Shannon and then hardly give him any lines.

If you didn't give him any lines, it would be like getting Shannon for Zod but then have him act more like Non.

 

[KevTravels]

Yeah Craig is 5'10 while Moore/Brosnan was 6'1 while Dalton/Connery were 6'2

I imagine the next Bond will be another 6'1 fella.

 

[KevTravels]

Might we ever see an American playing Bond or is he forever the product of the British isles (minus that Aussie who played in 1 film)?