Who should/could be a Bond actor?

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  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Ludovico wrote: »
    I believe I did say his date of birth was constantly changing.

    Yes to keep Bond young.
    Born in 1918, or 1921. Take your pick.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,976
    Talking about other options in the future isn't a way to speed things up, just a friendly conversation we are having as we await confirmations. No harm in that at all.
  • Posts: 15,125
    Ludovico wrote: »
    I believe I did say his date of birth was constantly changing.

    Yes to keep Bond young.
    Born in 1918, or 1921. Take your pick.

    He was still depicted as a man in his 30s. And often fought older villains.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Late 30s, early 40s. By today's standards, that's mid-50s.
  • Posts: 15,125
    Late 30s, early 40s. By today's standards, that's mid-50s.

    What standards? Who'se setting them?
  • Late 30s, early 40s. By today's standards, that's mid-50s.

    whaa.....

    Face it, you've missed your chance to be Bond. Is this what all this is about lol?
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Late 30s, early 40s. By today's standards, that's mid-50s.

    What standards? Who'se setting them?
    The nature of humanity and evolution of the lifestyle by itself.
    Late 30s, early 40s. By today's standards, that's mid-50s.

    whaa.....

    Face it, you've missed your chance to be Bond. Is this what all this is about lol?
    Mate, I'm only 22. I'd shoot anyone who'd try to cast me as Bond at this stage... Unless I'm playing a Young Bond, that I don't mind. ;)
  • edited September 2016 Posts: 2,081
    So if I get this right, 95% of action films today should not have been made. Tom Cruise is thus too old for 'Ghost Protocol', 'Rogue Nation', 'Edge of Tomorrow', 'Jack Reacher', 'Never go Back', Mel Gibson is too old for 'Blood Father', Jason Statham is too old for 'Safe', 'Homefront', 'Mechanic: Resurrection', Stallone/Arnie are too old for 'Escape Plan', 'The Last Stand', 'Rambo 4', 'Expendables 1/2/3', Liam Neeson is too old for 'Taken 1/2/3', 'Unknown', 'Non Stop', 'The Grey', 'The A Team', 'Run All Night', Keanu Reeves is too old for 'John Wick 1/2', Brad Pitt is too old for 'Fury', Matt Damon is too old for 'Jason Bourne', Pierce Brosnan is too old for 'No Escape', 'The November Man', 'The Foreigner', Jackie Chan is too old for 'Skiptrace'...

    Good point, I'm sure. I haven't seen most of those movies so I can't comment on the actors' suitability age-wise to their roles, but those that I have seen I had no issues with whatsoever on that front.

    However, you have quite a big age range there, and that harms your overall argument a bit I think. Might have just kept the 50-somethings and 60-somethings there. I mean, Matt Damon is only 45... soon 46, but anyway - no way "elderly" (ehem) at all. I don't think anyone was saying people in their 40s are too old for that type of roles. ;)
    I'm sure if I called Russell Crowe, Keanu Reeves or Jason Statham 'middle aged' guys, they would wipe the floor with my ass and then snap my legs within 2 seconds.

    And I'm pretty sure they aren't insane, and so they wouldn't. :P I mean why on earth ould they be upset by that anyway? They are middle aged and have been for quite some time, and besides, it isn't an insult to refer to a middle aged person as middle aged - it doesn't imply some sort of disability or weakness. The age-PC-ness can get so silly.
    do fans of Marvel and Mission: Impossible question Robert Downey Jr. or Tom Cruise?

    Cruise is going to film the next M:I film in 4 months time. Downey Jr is filming his next 3 films as Iron Man. That's why they are not questioned, we know they are making further sequels. Daniel Craig is not confirmed for Bond 25 as of today, thus it's normal for people to wonder if he'll be in it, and if not, who will replace him.

    That is fair enough. But age has nothing to do with it. I already came across with some 'facial comparison pictures' of Craig in 2006 and in 2015. I mean, WTF? Daniel Craig simply is a different actor, a classic method-actor who also loves stage acting and starring in plays. And although I'm ok if people keep wondering if Daniel Craig will be in or out, I find it an uninteresting discussion. It doesn't speed up things, EON doesn't look at our worries in here. And frankly, I understand that. Patience these days isn't a virtue anymore, and I think it should be again.

    Really? Is he? I very much doubt it, but anyway I haven't seen him called that before, and I admit I don't even know what that really means. I'm immediately thinking of Stanislavski and Strasberg and sense memory and so on, and I suspect you probably meant something else. Most people do. Which leaves me constantly confused by what anyone means when they use that term. :)
  • Ok your intentions are pure lol.
  • Posts: 15,125
    What is that: "the nature of humanity and evolution of the lifestyle"? Seriously that is empty buzzwords. Basically you came up with this. And according to today's standards, people of 22 should really be in primary school. That's just human nature and universal wisdom.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Ok your intentions are pure lol.
    Confessions of A Dangerous Mind. :))
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,582
    NicNac wrote: »
    Look at what Craig did in CR - in just the pre title scenes. He wouldn't be able to do that now I would wager.

    Sitting in a chair? Then it s clearly time to go.


    Got me!
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    People are living longer, are healthier for far longer and look better than ever before, assuming they take care of themselves. So again, age is somewhat irrelevant, to a point.
  • Even assuming that, old people have different outlook on life. They couldn't convince as the character, assuming they're trying to be somewhat faithful to fleming
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    The theory hasn't been tried yet. If it happens, then we'll see if they can or can't.
  • Posts: 15,125
    bondjames wrote: »
    People are living longer, are healthier for far longer and look better than ever before, assuming they take care of themselves. So again, age is somewhat irrelevant, to a point.

    Yes but we are not only talking about health and fitness. Bond is also Bond in relation to other people.

    Monica Bellucci notwithstanding would we be having such debate about the Bond girl? A Bond girl in her 60s anyone?
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    Posts: 15,423
    Ludovico wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    People are living longer, are healthier for far longer and look better than ever before, assuming they take care of themselves. So again, age is somewhat irrelevant, to a point.

    Yes but we are not only talking about health and fitness. Bond is also Bond in relation to other people.

    Monica Bellucci notwithstanding would we be having such debate about the Bond girl? A Bond girl in her 60s anyone?
    Bond Girl is a different role by far than Bond, and with different standards.
  • Posts: 15,125
    But you're making things up as they go. Women in their 50s are not as attractive comparatively to men the same age? Who set these standards you keep referring to?
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited September 2016 Posts: 23,883
    Ludovico wrote: »
    bondjames wrote: »
    People are living longer, are healthier for far longer and look better than ever before, assuming they take care of themselves. So again, age is somewhat irrelevant, to a point.

    Yes but we are not only talking about health and fitness. Bond is also Bond in relation to other people.

    Monica Bellucci notwithstanding would we be having such debate about the Bond girl? A Bond girl in her 60s anyone?
    At the risk of appearing sexist, I think it's different for women, and especially women in Bond films, where their looks and youth tend to be a more important consideration.

    Although I would have preferred if Moore had started his tenure as Bond earlier (he moved much better during the Saint years and had more muscle on him too), I found him to be more than adequate in his first few Bond films.

    The same goes for Cruise. I wouldn't have wanted anyone else playing Hunt in the last two MI films in particular. He puts the younger Renner to shame.

    So it all depends on the actor, which is my point. Generally speaking, you are correct of course. I'm thinking more of the exceptions, and don't want them excluded from consideration purely on age.
  • Posts: 15,125
    In other words @bondjames, is a mature Bond seducing lolitas not creepy? That is what I am getting at. He has to be young enough to be seen as a suitable lover for a woman who is generally in her 20s-30s. I have read here complains about Craig and Seydoux.
  • ClarkDevlinClarkDevlin Martinis, Girls and Guns
    edited September 2016 Posts: 15,423
    Ludovico wrote: »
    But you're making things up as they go. Women in their 50s are not as attractive comparatively to men the same age? Who set these standards you keep referring to?
    James Bond is the rugged handsome heroic man, stealing women's hearts, foiling the villain's plans while looking good at doing what he does. A manly man who's also debonair and sophisticated.

    And let's face it, I'm not trying to be sexist here or anything if my statement is to be taken out of context. But, the Bond Girl is to attract while serving as a key in the plot. And I haven't had any complaints about Monica Bellucci, nor would I have a problem with a woman in her 40s or 50s being cast as a Bond Girl. There are lots of actresses in that period of age who are more than attractive than some models in their 20s.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited September 2016 Posts: 23,883
    Ludovico wrote: »
    In other words @bondjames, is a mature Bond seducing lolitas not creepy? That is what I am getting at. He has to be young enough to be seen as a suitable lover for a woman who is generally in her 20s-30s. I have read here complains about Craig and Seydoux.
    I thought Craig looked a little creepy coming onto Bellucci to be honest, but that was more on account of the approach. I didn't have a problem with him and Seydoux apart from the fact that I found zero spark/chemistry between them.

    Once an actor starts to look too old for Bond, then yes, perhaps they shouldn't come onto younger women. I believe that started with Moore around the time of FYEO, and that is why they played it coolly, with Melina basically being the one to offer herself up and then only at the very end. OP worked because Adams was more age appropriate. AVTAK didn't and I'm one who strongly believes Roger shouldn't have made that film.

    These are actors at the end of the day. They should be able to act. Once that credibility is lost for whatever reason, then they must be replaced, or the narrative must be changed to accommodate their years (as happened with Moore).

    I didn't find Grant to be creepy in North by Northwest acting opposite Marie-Saint.
  • SzonanaSzonana Mexico
    edited September 2016 Posts: 1,130
    bondjames wrote: »
    The trick is to find an actor who is mature enough and who can convey that maturity on screen, while still being fit enough for the physical demands of the role for at least 10 years. That's not an easy task, but I'm sure they can do some physical tests to determine if an actor will be able to handle it.

    Craig is a perfect example actually. He started as 'rookie' Bond at 38. Hardly a spring chicken. His tenure has been hampered by these studio delays, but if that hadn't happened, he would surely have had 5 under his belt by now, 10 yrs later.

    Connery was 32 in DN but had a maturity that suggested he was in his early 40's. Moore was 45 when he started and acted as such (with that level of maturity), even though he looked closer to 35.

    So the key is to get an actor who has the screen maturity, but who can also age nicely into the role for 10 yrs while still being able to keep up with the physical demands. At the moment, Fassbender seems to be right in the sweet spot imho.


    Couldn't agree more with it. And lets say our new guy is not that great in action well, there are always stunt men, Pierce used them quite often and still in my opinion was a great Bond.

  • Posts: 15,125
    @bondjames Age is a relative criteria of course. A Bond actor should be old enough to be a believable war veteran and spy, but young enough to be in the peak of his physical strength and stamina... And susceptible to be able to easily seduce a young woman. A Bond girl should be young to be in her sexual peak... But old enough to be Bond's lover, given his age. A Bond actor should also be relatively young so he would not age too quickly (something that happened not only to Moore but also Brosnan).
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Wasn t Honey a teenager?
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited September 2016 Posts: 23,883
    Yes, I agree @Ludovico. I realize there is a tipping point with most people where they markedly age and it's apparent for all of us. It's just that this is different for different people.

    As many mention here, Statham and Cruise for example still look and move essentially like they did 10 years ago, despite their advancing years. Cruise in MI-RN is a force of nature and I've heard the same about Statham in Mechanic-Resurrection. No doubt they will both hit that tipping point rather soon given their respective ages, but until that time, I'm ok with them seducing and doing whatever they want to on screen, because they are still believable and credible despite their age.
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,591
    Wasn t Honey a teenager?
    Different times.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,217
    bondjames wrote: »
    Yes, I agree @Ludovico. I realize there is a tipping point with most people where they markedly age and it's apparent for all of us. It's just that this is different for different people.

    As many mention here, Statham and Cruise for example still look and move essentially like they did 10 years ago, despite their advancing years. Cruise in MI-RN is a force of nature and I've heard the same about Statham in Mechanic-Resurrection. No doubt they will both hit that tipping point rather soon given their respective ages, but until that time, I'm ok with them seducing and doing whatever they want to on screen, because they are still believable and credible despite their age.

    This entire post is brilliant, spot on.

  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Woody Allen reached that tipping point in his 20s. Sixty years later he is still running after teens.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,217
    :D
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