So close

[DA Harvey Dent]

Let me preface my CR review by saying that Goldfinger with Connery as Bond is my #1 Bond film of all time. IMO Connery was the prototypical Bond. He had it all - the good looks, the charisma, the ruthlessness.


POSSIBLE SPOILERS:











CR was a great film and it had everything a Bond film should have - simplified dialogue, gratuitious violence, wide shots of Bond with his trademark "blue steel" expression, torture scene with and F-you manner from Bond, wrecked Aston Martin, easy women, etc.

But alas, CR was lacking one thing - namely James Bond himself. Now I was never a fan of Craig from the beginning. But I gave him the benefit of the doubt going into seeing CR. Given the positive reviews I figured while Craig may not have the good looks, he must have the charisma and ruthlessness of Bond. Well, He DOES have the ruthlessness. But he has ZERO charisma and lacks the good looks that epitomize James Bond. Le Chiffre, Le Chiffre's assistant, M's assistant, heck even the chinaman with the ponytail at the poker table looked more like James Bond than Daniel Craig.

Now, I know some of you may say, "Harvey, this is a reboot, Bond isn't established yet and thus he's rough around the edges." I can see that view, however take for instance Batman Begins. This was a reboot of the franchise and although it was grounded in reality, Bruce Wayne/Batman in Begins was never far removed from his portrait in the source material. Even without Bale's skilled acting and dedication to the role, he still LOOKED the part whereas Craig does not.

Ulitmately, CR does succeed in setting back the dial on the franchise but not completely. The franchise has a new direction, all it needs is a new bond. Close but no cigar.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Let me preface my CR review by saying that Goldfinger with Connery as Bond is my #1 Bond film of all time. IMO Connery was the prototypical Bond. He had it all - the good looks, the charisma, the ruthlessness.


POSSIBLE SPOILERS:











CR was a great film and it had everything a Bond film should have - simplified dialogue, gratuitious violence, wide shots of Bond with his trademark "blue steel" expression, torture scene with and F-you manner from Bond, wrecked Aston Martin, easy women, etc.

But alas, CR was lacking one thing - namely James Bond himself. Now I was never a fan of Craig from the beginning. But I gave him the benefit of the doubt going into seeing CR. Given the positive reviews I figured while Craig may not have the good looks, he must have the charisma and ruthlessness of Bond. Well, He DOES have the ruthlessness. But he has ZERO charisma and lacks the good looks that epitomize James Bond. Le Chiffre, Le Chiffre's assistant, M's assistant, heck even the chinaman with the ponytail at the poker table looked more like James Bond than Daniel Craig.

Now, I know some of you may say, "Harvey, this is a reboot, Bond isn't established yet and thus he's rough around the edges." I can see that view, however take for instance Batman Begins. This was a reboot of the franchise and although it was grounded in reality, Bruce Wayne/Batman in Begins was never far removed from his portrait in the source material. Even without Bale's skilled acting and dedication to the role, he still LOOKED the part whereas Craig does not.

Ulitmately, CR does succeed in setting back the dial on the franchise but not completely. The franchise has a new direction, all it needs is a new bond. Close but no cigar.

Good review. As of yet I haven't seen the movie. Clearly you're not simply a, 'Craig hater', you've seen the movie and noted your reasons for disliking him in the role.

 

[Tojo]

Le Chiffre, Le Chiffre's assistant, M's assistant, heck even the chinaman with the ponytail at the poker table looked more like James Bond than Daniel Craig.

No, no they didn't.

 

[TheBat812]

I disagree with everything you said. He had the charm, the body and the attitude that James should have. Simply put, he was the most badass Bond ever.

 

[spittingkitty]

Le Chiffre, Le Chiffre's assistant, M's assistant, heck even the chinaman with the ponytail at the poker table looked more like James Bond than Daniel Craig.

Disagree completely. But glad you still saw the film to formulate an opinion. It separates you from the naysayers who don't care to see it at all but want to play judge, jury and executioner on it.

 

[DA Harvey Dent]

I disagree with everything you said. He had the charm, the body and the attitude that James should have. Simply put, he was the most badass Bond ever.

There is no doubt that Craig would annihilate the prior Bonds in a fight. But he definitely lacked the charm and charisma of the others, notably Connery and Brosnan. I can see what the producers were going for - a ruthless Bond who is rough around the edges and isn't the "bond" we all know yet. The concept is a good one, but the execution didn't come out right.

Like I said, you look at Batman Begins and you can see the gritty quality; the tumbler is a tank, the batcave isn't finished, the costume is an amalgam of different pieces that don't blend together uniformly. But, throughout the film you are sold on the idea that Bale is Wayne/Batman purely from a physical standpoint.

I tried my hardest to visualize Craig as Bond during the film. I went in with a blank slate without trying to compare him to the previous Bonds and even gave him credit from the positive reviews I had read. I went in to be proven wrong, but I just couldn't buy it. The entire film works except him, IMO.

 

[Master Chief]

Craig was great in this movie, but when I was watching I didn't really see him as Bond. He could've been anyone else and it wouldn't have really mattered to me. So. I see what you're saying. He was badass no doubt, but the only time I could see him as Bond would have had to be at the end. Intentional? I dunno. But that's me.

 

[Golgo-13]

...... but the only time I could see him as Bond would have had to be at the end. Intentional? I dunno. But that's me.

Not it was not just you...it was intentional, hence the Bond theme starting to play after he shoots Mr.White and playing into the end credits. basically, the end signifys Bond is born!

 

[DA Harvey Dent]

but the only time I could see him as Bond would have had to be at the end. Intentional? I dunno.

I think that's what the director was going for, hence him saying Bond, James Bond. But even at that moment, I still didn't buy Craig as Bond.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

I just got back from the viewing and I have to say I'm impressed. This is the Bond film that I've been waiting for. Craig IS Bond now that I've seen the film and was blown away by his performance.

Sean Connery, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, and Brosnan were good Bonds for the material that was written. Neither of which had the true bad assness that is James Bond. I'm not gay or anything of that nature, but Craig is not a bad looking guy and he had the looks, charm, the sarcasm, and the viciousness that was necessary for this role.

As I said before, this is the Bond film I've been waiting for. I definitely say bring on Bond 22.

I'll post a review sometime later on or tomorrow.

 

[StorminNorman]

Christian Bale IS Batman.

Brandon Routh IS Superman.

Daniel Craig IS James Bond.

I could right a few paragraphs about how Daniel Craig captured every bit of what I wanted to see in James Bond, but it would do no good in trying to change your mind.

 

[DA Harvey Dent]

Christian Bale IS Batman.

Brandon Routh IS Superman.

Daniel Craig IS James Bond.

I could right a few paragraphs about how Daniel Craig captured every bit of what I wanted to see in James Bond, but it would do no good in trying to change your mind.

You don't have to change my mind. The proof is in the pudding so to speak.

Ian Fleming based James Bond on a young Hoagy Carmichael.

Hoagy Carmichael:

Daniel Craig:

Bond is cold and ruthless, but he is very far from the pugilist look of Craig.

 

[DACrowe]

Anyone who says Craig is better than Connery should never speak again.

I've read that too many times today.

With that said he was an excellent Bond and while IMO not quite as good as Brosnan, he has time to refine his portrayal and smooth the edges, because afterall for over half the film he is just a thug though.

 

[Catman]

Christian Bale IS Batman.

Brandon Routh IS Superman.

Daniel Craig IS James Bond.

WOW! I couldn't disagree more. First of all....Christopher Reeve IS Superman! Not Brandon Routh. And, secondly Sean Connery IS James Bond. Craig was good. No question about that but he was too real. The way Fleming wrote Bond was how Craig (and even Dalton) played him but there was still a tremendous amount of fantasy involved. None of which Craig had.

 

[Catman]

The proof is in the pudding so to speak.

Ian Fleming based James Bond on a young Hoagy Carmichael.

Hoagy Carmichael:

Um...sort of. Fleming was in the secret service and many people influenced Fleming in a way but in reality Bond was based on Fleming. James Bond is Fleming's male fantasy. It's who he wanted to be. So, Bond is really Fleming.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Anyone who says Craig is better than Connery should never speak again.

I've read that too many times today.

With that said he was an excellent Bond and while IMO not quite as good as Brosnan, he has time to refine his portrayal and smooth the edges, because afterall for over half the film he is just a thug though.

In my opinion, he is better than Connery. Connery didn't have the bad ass attitude that I think is necessary for Bond. I can't see Connery pulling off the same lines as Craig did.

Connery is great, but I feel Craig is better.

 

[Catman]

Connery didn't have the bad ass attitude that I think is necessary for Bond.

WOW! Connery is NOT a badass?!?! Go and watch some Connery films right now. Seriously. You have no idea what you're talking about. No offense but you don't.

Craig didn't play Bond. He played Bond becoming the 007 we all know and love. So, just wait till the next one is released. Watch his performance be completely different.

So till then Connery IS still James Bond.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

WOW! Connery is NOT a badass?!?! Go and watch some Connery films right now. Seriously. You have no idea what you're talking about. No offense but you don't.

Craig didn't play Bond. He played Bond becoming the 007 we all know and love. So, just wait till the next one is released. Watch his performance be completely different.

So till then Connery IS still James Bond.

I know exactly what I'm talking about. Connery, as great as he is, didn't have that badass appeal to me that Craig does. I've seen every Connery Bond film and while I love him as Bond. He just doesn't have that viciousness that makes Craig a better Bond.

In my opinion, Craig surpasses Connery. Craig IS Bond to me as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Catman]

I feel so bad for you, man. You're gonna be so disappointed when Craig's 2nd film is released. You have to understand that this is an origin film of sorts. Bond was different in his first mission. He learned a lot and that will shape him into the Bond we all know and love. In Craig's 2nd film we'll see a Bond similar to that of Connery and Brosnan. Just wait and see.

Secondly, Connery was a badass. You just think he isn't cause he wasn't beating people up in a bathroom or chasing someone through a construction site.

Connery was a badass in his own way. Simple as that.

 

[Tojo]

No we will not see Craig be more like Brosnan or Connery. He will be different than in CR-less reckless and arrogant to the point where he messes up, but he will still be Craig's Bond. If he reverts to the way Brosnan did it i may aswell not bother watching it. And there's no point in doing what's already been done.

Brosnan or Connery's Bond never really got hurt and concequently were not as believable(even though Connery was the man). I like how Craig makes Bond a real person. His reaction in the hotel suite bathroom after he killed those guys with a machete was priceless and something you'd never see Connery or Brosnan do.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

In my opinion, he is better than Connery. Connery didn't have the bad ass attitude that I think is necessary for Bond.

The appeal of Connery was that he was effortlessly charismatic and gentlemanly, but you knew just below the surface he could kill someone in an instant.

 

[Two-Face]

Sean Connery is James Bond only, no actor matches him maybe Daniel Craig.

 

[TNC9852002]

I wasn't even trying to compare him to anybody while watching the movie. Whenever I thought Bond while watching the movie, I only thought of Craig. As a man, I can't really gauge a man's looks, but Craig, IMO, doesn't look more or less attractive than the previous Bonds...Maybe it's because they all look so different.

-TNC

 

[Kevin Roegele]

As a man, I can't really gauge a man's looks,

LOL. All men say this. Including myself.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

This thread should be about this.....awesome flick.