Best of Each Bond?

[Aximili86]

Why would you want an American playing Bond, though? Like what do you gain?

It's not an impossibility, if you can find someone who can nail the accent and understands all the cultural intricacies and stuff. But seems a little counterproductive risking it, just go with a Brit (pretty much counting all the non-North-American colonies as "Brit" here, haha - Australian/New Zealander/South African seems a little more doable).

They've toyed with the idea a couple of times though, James Brolin was considered at one point (in the Lazenby casting sessions I think? May have been Moore though), and Mel Gibson was considered the first time they were looking at Brosnan, where they eventually landed on Dalton.

 

[Hunter Rider]

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.

Yeah, if you watched them in that order I can see why you'd find Moore difficult to buy in the role to a degree as the style he played the character was pretty different and he was by far the least physical Bond. With that said I feel he gave us two of the best movies in the franchise, the second best Bond car and two great ski chase sequences, one that ended with one of the most iconic shots ever.

 

[Iceman]

Anyone watching Moore for the first time now would think it’s some kind of parody.

 

[Herofan]

Probably not if they watched Diamonds Are Forever before and even Goldfinger is also a precursor.

 

[Aximili86]

Yeah, Moore had his serious stuff too, it's not a total zero-sum "there are dark Bonds and goofy Bonds" situation. Moore definitely has his high points.

Guess personally he just leaned too far in the one-liners direction for me, the ratio's higher to the goofy stuff. He kinda seemed to just be playing The Saint the whole time, too.

 

[Iceman]

I said above that Moore has my favourite portfolio of Bond films. But just looking at it from the point of view of a younger guy used to Daniel Craig's Bond and the likes of Bourne and Mission Impossible. If they went back through Bond history and saw all the other Bonds they might think "Ok I kind of understand why this series is so respected". If they then start on the Roger Moore era with the wrong film then they are in for a bit of a "WTF is this?" kind of shock.

 

[TheVileOne]

Sean Connery's version is definitely iconic. Presence and magnetism. Seems to take over the room.

I like Dalton's because he was cold and harsh. Vengeful. I like License to Kill because it felt like the first time that Bond felt more like the character Fleming wrote.

Craig is my favorite and will always be my favorite because he played Fleming's character that I fell in love with. Fleming is the one who called Bond a "blunt instrument" not a hero. M even refers to Bond as a "blunt instrument" in Casino Royale. The problem is that the films in the Brosnan era had basically regressed Bond into a cartoon character. That's a disservice to the source material.

It finally addresses that Bond is basically a government-sponsored, supported and financed hitman. But being a hitman, an assassin, what does that do to a person? How does that affect him emotionally? There was actually material in the Fleming novels that addressed this. Craig is the first Bond actor IMO that truly captures this.

 

[Mandon Knight]

I said above that Moore has my favourite portfolio of Bond films. But just looking at it from the point of view of a younger guy used to Daniel Craig's Bond and the likes of Bourne and Mission Impossible. If they went back through Bond history and saw all the other Bonds they might think "Ok I kind of understand why this series is so respected". If they then start on the Roger Moore era with the wrong film then they are in for a bit of a "WTF is this?" kind of shock.

The Moore films actually take the 'action' elements of the films backwards from the Connery era. The train sequence from FRWL actually stands up very well as a brutal fist fight, even in, as you say, contemporary cinema, none of Moore's do but as he admits himself, he was never one to throw himself about and 85-95% of his fight work was a stuntman, even in his earlier days. Plus he was 46 when he took on the role, so as the films progressed, his input on direct contact in fights fell even less.

 

[Iceman]

The Moore films actually take the 'action' elements of the films backwards from the Connery era. The train sequence from FRWL actually stands up very well as a brutal fist fight, even in, as you say, contemporary cinema, none of Moore's do but as he admits himself, he was never one to throw himself about and 85-95% of his fight work was a stuntman, even in his earlier days. Plus he was 46 when he took on the role, so as the films progressed, his input on direct contact in fights fell even less.

Yep, and he did a lot of Bonds. What age would he have been for his last film?

 

[Mandon Knight]

Yep, and he did a lot of Bonds. What age would he have been for his last film?

He was 58 I believe, but don't quote me. He himself said he felt very uncomfortable towards the end (1983 onwards) having to get comfy with women, young enough to be his grand daughter.

Yep, 58, just done the maths.

 

[Iceman]

He was 58 I believe, but don't quote me. He himself said he felt very uncomfortable towards the end (1983 onwards) having to get comfy with women, young enough to be his grand daughter.

Yep, 58, just done the maths.

Oh yeah, 58 and back in those days is asking a lot from a guy who wasn't that particularly physical in the first place.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Oh yeah, 58 and back in those days is asking a lot from a guy who wasn't that particularly physical in the first place.

Watching AVTAK is hilarious watching all the edit switches to a stuntman from RM's close up's, even jumps from a step for example and the Eiffel Tower chase with MayDay, dear lawd…..

 

[Iceman]

Watching AVTAK is hilarious watching all the edit switches to a stuntman from RM's close up's, even jumps from a step for example and the Eiffel Tower chase with MayDay, dear lawd…..

Haha, I need to watch the film again now and pay attention to this. Need a good laugh.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Haha, I need to watch the film again now and pay attention to this. Need a good laugh.

...and you will sir, and you will.

 

[Dark Raven]

The problem is that the films in the Brosnan era had basically regressed Bond into a cartoon character. That's a disservice to the source material.

That's partly Brosnan's doing though, as well as the writers like Purvis and Wade. That whole era was very much a paint-by-numbers Bond. Very commercialised and almost a factory product. It didn't feel like real Bond. This was made more apparent by the fact that Brosnan didn't have any actual Fleming titles, which made it seem like he was starring in a greatest hits, almost fan fictionesque set of films. Also, what added to it was the BMW in 3 of the films. It became like this very German clockwork machine type of thing.

And Brosnan himself was playing a pastiche Bond. He didn't seem to have much personality of his own, but was trying to be both Connery and Moore. He felt almost like a computer game version of Bond. And he himself added to the cardboard cut-out feel. Sure, he played all the debonair, chauvinistic, woman-charming and secret agent side of things. But he didn't seem like he was a real person. Often his lines seemed dropped in rather than feeling natural.

With Moore, when he said his lines, they felt more like they were actually responding or reacting to events, and felt more natural. With Brosnan, they felt forced. For example, in Goldeneye, when Brosnan is in the casino after he meets Xenia, he suddenly comes up with "one rises to meet a challenge." It felt as if it were just someone trying to be Bond who felt they needed to tick all the boxes and get in some witty lines.

For all of Moore's more fantastical elements and silliness, he genuinely felt more like a real person. He seemed like someone you could actually have a conversation with. Brosnan's Bond seemed like he was projecting an image so much that he didn't even feel like someone you could really relate to outside of all the standard Bond lines.

But Brosnan has often felt that way in most of his roles. It wasn't helped by the fact that he almost wanted to be taken more seriously in a Connery mould, when that's not really who he is at all. So by trying to be someone he was not, he didn't feel like anyone at all.

 

[childeroland]

Connery -- From Russia With Love -- tight (for a Bond film), the best blend of glamour and mean in all the films, the best of all Bond villains, the best fight scene, best Bond girl

Moore -- For Your Eyes Only -- easy on the bloat (for a Moore Bond), one of the best Bond girls, one of the best Bond villains, a good fakeout concerning the villain, great ski chase

Dalton -- The Living Daylights -- underrated meaner Bond who looks and acts more like Fleming's Bond than most, great underrated Bond girl and assassin plot

Brosnan -- Goldeneye -- the only good Brosnan Bond, though I personally like World is Not Enough and Die Another Day is dumb fun

Craig -- Casino Royale -- the best Bond film after From Russia and Goldfinger, joins Dalton in returning Bond to his meaner roots while balancing them perfectly with movie Bond glamour. Wish they'd directly adapt more Fleming.

 

[Dark Raven]

For me, Thunderball probably is the film with the most beautiful Bond girls in it. Claudine Auger and Luciana Paluzzi.

That's not to say that there aren't other films with beautiful Bond girls, but sometimes there's only one who is outstanding rather than both.

 

[TheVileOne]

For me, Thunderball probably is the film with the most beautiful Bond girls in it. Claudine Auger and Luciana Paluzzi.

That's not to say that there aren't other films with beautiful Bond girls, but sometimes there's only one who is outstanding rather than both.

Sylvia Trench is and was always my favorite.

 

[Dark Raven]

I think the Bond films with the American Bond girls all seem to somehow get a bit too bloated (the movies, not the girls), or start straying away from its roots:

1. Diamonds Are Forever - Jill St John as Tiffany Case
2. Moonraker - Lois Chiles as Holly Goodhead
3. A View To A Kill - Tanya Roberts as Stacey Sutton
4. Licence to Kill - Carey Lowell as Pam Bouvier
5. Die Another Day - Halle Berry as Jinx

The lesson to learn is: don't have American Bond girls.

 

[Hunter Rider]

The Moore films actually take the 'action' elements of the films backwards from the Connery era. The train sequence from FRWL actually stands up very well as a brutal fist fight, even in, as you say, contemporary cinema, none of Moore's do but as he admits himself, he was never one to throw himself about and 85-95% of his fight work was a stuntman, even in his earlier days. Plus he was 46 when he took on the role, so as the films progressed, his input on direct contact in fights fell even less.

That train fight between Bond and Red Grant definitely stands the test of time, but I think the action set pieces from Moore's Bond movies hold up better than the ones from Sean Connery's era.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Connery -- From Russia With Love -- tight (for a Bond film), the best blend of glamour and mean in all the films, the best of all Bond villains, the best fight scene, best Bond girl

Moore -- For Your Eyes Only -- easy on the bloat (for a Moore Bond), one of the best Bond girls, one of the best Bond villains, a good fakeout concerning the villain, great ski chase

Dalton -- The Living Daylights -- underrated meaner Bond who looks and acts more like Fleming's Bond than most, great underrated Bond girl and assassin plot

Brosnan -- Goldeneye -- the only good Brosnan Bond, though I personally like World is Not Enough and Die Another Day is dumb fun

Craig -- Casino Royale -- the best Bond film after From Russia and Goldfinger, joins Dalton in returning Bond to his meaner roots while balancing them perfectly with movie Bond glamour. Wish they'd directly adapt more Fleming.

I agree with a lot of what you've posted here bar the bolded, I thought Daniela Bianchi was incredibly wooden and bland as Tatiana.

For me, Thunderball probably is the film with the most beautiful Bond girls in it. Claudine Auger and Luciana Paluzzi.

That's not to say that there aren't other films with beautiful Bond girls, but sometimes there's only one who is outstanding rather than both.

Domino was one of the most stunning Bond girls in the entire franchise.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

Oh yeah, 58 and back in those days is asking a lot from a guy who wasn't that particularly physical in the first place.

Connery by comparison was able to handle action well into his 60s. But he was far more athletic than Moore ever was. In terms of general looks, I do think Moore aged better though. Compare Connery in DAF to Roger Moore in LALD and I would definitely say Moore was the younger of the two, even though he wasn't. I don't think Moore's aging really got visible until FYEO (his fifth film) which was also the point when Moore wanted to retire from the role. The opening scene of the film at Tracy's grave was deliberately put in by EON to establish right away that this was the same James Bond despite being played by a new actor. Then Moore came back, but they left the opening the same.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

I agree with a lot of what you've posted here bar the bolded, I thought Daniela Bianchi was incredibly wooden and bland as Tatiana.

I think you mean Barbara Jefford. Bianchi was dubbed. This was a common practice in the early Bond films which had a lot of foreign actors. It was hit and miss. I think undoubtedly the best example of it working was Michael Collins as the voice of Goldfinger.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

That train fight between Bond and Red Grant definitely stands the test of time, but I think the action set pieces from Moore's Bond movies hold up better than the ones from Sean Connery's era.

The vehicle chases certainly do. Live and Let Die is still the standard for boat chases, IMO. The on foot scenes and fights are what are lacking in the Moore years. But I do think the Jaws fights are fun, if goofy. Action-wise, Octopussy is by far my favorite of the Moore films. There is a lot of good stuff there despite Moore being rather old by then.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Connery by comparison was able to handle action well into his 60s. But he was far more athletic than Moore ever was. In terms of general looks, I do think Moore aged better though. Compare Connery in DAF to Roger Moore in LALD and I would definitely say Moore was the younger of the two, even though he wasn't. I don't think Moore's aging really got visible until FYEO (his fifth film) which was also the point when Moore wanted to retire from the role. The opening scene of the film at Tracy's grave was deliberately put in by EON to establish right away that this was the same James Bond despite being played by a new actor. Then Moore came back, but they left the opening the same.

Connery is 41 at the time of DAF (he looks way older) and you are right, he aged very quickly from his last of the 'main' section of films to doing Diamonds, however then when he did get 'age appropriate', he's looked spot on, Last Crusade and The Rock for example.