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Craig names DN and FRWL as his favourite Bond films, due to Connery

Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
edited December 2011 in Actors Posts: 13,355
It's only a 12 second audio clip but here it is:

http://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/2011/12/15/skyfall-star-daniel-craig-reveals-best-bond-picks/

Good picks from Craig, these are my two favourite films as well.

Comments

  • Agent005Agent005
    edited December 2011 Posts: 562
    They're definitely Connery's two best and both are in my Top 10. Always nice to hear bits of news reinforcing Craig as a Bond fan.
  • 0BradyM0Bondfanatic70BradyM0Bondfanatic7 Quantum Floral Arrangements: "We Have Petals Everywhere"
    Posts: 28,694
    OH but I thought Craig hated Connery?! :) Up your nose the rubber hose, the proof is in the pudding Entertainment Weekly! ;)

    Good choices Dan, shout out to Sean. =D>
  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    Excellent choices from Craig. He picked the Bond movies that preceded the silliness firmly established by GF.
  • QuarterdeckQuarterdeck
    Posts: 136
    From Russia is always a good pick movies or books - it's my fave Fleming - and demonstrates DC's commitment to the part i think. Beneath the PR, I think he's a genuine Fleming/Connery fan
  • timmertimmer
    edited December 2011 Posts: 4,622
    doubleoego wrote:
    Excellent choices from Craig. He picked the Bond movies that preceded the silliness firmly established by GF.
    But this why I don't like the picks. I would be more encouraged if he had selected TSWLM, MR, YOLT, GF or DAF. Those selections might have held out hope for lightening things up some.

    DN and FRWL are of course both excellent Bond films and both a lot more fun than either of Craig's outings. However it was the more sensationalized GF and TB that brought Bond its greatest international success and drove Bondmania.
    To each his own cup of Bond. The Craig era clearly will be about a more sombre, serious, drama-driven Bond vibe, moreso even than either DN or FRWL. I think from the canon, those two films are probably, simply the closest to what Craig wants.
    He seems to want to define his films, the way Sean defined those two films,by putting his own Craig-Bond stamp all over them.


  • QBranchQBranch Always have an escape plan. Mine is watching James Bond films.
    edited December 2011 Posts: 14,586
    re: Craig names DN and FRWL as his favourite Bond films, due to Connery

    Further proof that Craig is awesome. If he ever needs to step in as a writer again (a la QoS), then these two should be his inspiration.
  • BounineBounine
    edited December 2011 Posts: 2,599
    What Mr. Craig? Not OHMSS aswell? ;) Two great choices. He sounds like more of a Bond purist nnot unlike myself. Loved Casino Royale (it's in my top 5 Bond films) but QOS just had way too much action and very little story.

    Most actors who star in action films also desire a definite focus on the thriller/character aspect instead of just sole action. Man, what a coup it was for Eon to get Craig as Bond. He's the best thing that could have happened to the Bond series since Timothy Dalton and I'm not talking in terms of box office takings.

    I remember in '05 when he first became Bond. After that trip down the Thames, during the interview, he was asked what his favourite Bond film was and back then he said Goldfinger. I remember suspecting then that he had seen very little, if any of the Bond films. Maybe Martin Campbell told him to just say GF as this is the director's favourite.

    My top six:

    FRWL and OHMSS (first equal)
    Dr. No
    Casino Royale and The Living Daylights (3rd equal I think)
    Moonraker (yes, Moonraker! You have to accept the Moore films for being almost slapstick action/comedies and go along with it and in MR there are some scenes and sets that are very reminsicent of the original Fleming books. It's big, beautiful and surreal.)

    I used to rank Thunderball above MR but I've changed my mind...I think. ;)
  • actonsteveactonsteve
    Posts: 1,492
    Always a man of impeccable taste Mr Craig. The films are obviously not going down the MR route under him as he has a brain in his head. Be interested to see what he says about LALD which was the first one he saw with his dad.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,355
    I believe Craig has said positive things about Live And Let Die in the past. The novel at least.
  • JBFan626JBFan626
    Posts: 1,497
    timmer wrote:
    But this why I don't like the picks. I would be more encouraged if he had selected TSWLM, MR, YOLT, GF or DAF. Those selections might have held out hope for lightening things up some.

    I know what you mean, those seem like "safe picks" to me. The problem though, I can't see a DC film treading too deeply into the more light-hearted comic tone without falling into the Brosnan level of buffoonery. Those campier Bond films are fun in their context as 60's and 70's action-spy films. It's tough to make films with that balance of suspense and comedy today as DAD proves.

  • timmertimmer
    Posts: 4,622
    You might be right, @JBFan626 Craig's got his own Bond comfort level. He might be fish out of water if he tried something similar in tone and style to Spy or MR.
  • St_GeorgeSt_George Shuttling Drax's lovelies to the space doughnut - happy 40th, MR!
    edited December 2011 Posts: 1,699
    Good choices from Dan The Man there. He certainly goes for the gritter, 'realistic' yet classy and stylish Bond film. Rather like those he's made - and will no doubt continue to.

    Bet he enjoys Spy after a tipple like any decent bloke, mind... :p
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited December 2011 Posts: 11,189
    It would be funny to see him in a Moonraker-esque flick :P
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    Posts: 1,778
    Good choices. And appropraite considering Craig's style as both films were more grounded in reality and focused more on Fleming's Bond.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,184
    Not so long ago, I read awful statements here from members claiming that Craig's alleged disliking of Connery demonstrated his total lack of respect for the series. So, where is that disliking? Anyone who treasures DN and FRWL as two of the greatest films in the franchise doesn't fit the description, I'd say.
  • BounineBounine
    Posts: 2,599
    "The films are obviously not going down the MR route under him as he has a brain in his head."

    Good Lord, you wouldn't have a disliking for MR would you?! :)

    While I am a purist who likes the films that are closest to the literary JB I am also a fan of the Moore era. They stuck to one style which works and harmonised with Moore's portrayal of the character. They weren't all just pretty much action either like the horrible Brosnan films that also incorporated a cocktail of different styles which didn't work.
  • timmertimmer
    edited December 2011 Posts: 4,622
    Bounine wrote:
    "The films are obviously not going down the MR route under him as he has a brain in his head."

    Good Lord, you wouldn't have a disliking for MR would you?! :)

    While I am a purist who likes the films that are closest to the literary JB I am also a fan of the Moore era. They stuck to one style which works and harmonised with Moore's portrayal of the character. They weren't all just pretty much action either like the horrible Brosnan films that also incorporated a cocktail of different styles which didn't work.
    Moonraker is an awesome Bond film, in the grand tradition. Maybe the last of the great Bonds. Well it was the last Bond to be directed by one of the classic-era, 1960's directors. But I don't think Craig could pull off a MR. We'll have to wait for the next actor, to get back to Bondian adventure of such grand scale and scope.
    However if Craig really does like DN so much, maybe he could be reminded that Dr No himself, is one of the iconic, larger than life Bond super-villains, who did live in a very expensive, very grand, top-secret island lair, surrounded by henchmen, the latest hi-tech, and sexy nurses. There may yet be hope. Maybe sit Craig down and make him watch the last half of DN, over and over again, until the NO vibe penetrates.
    And even FRWL featured the very escapist Spectre island and supervillain Blofeld himself, with cat.

  • danslittlefingerdanslittlefinger
    Posts: 886
    Great choices, two of the best. Craig is certainly a man of classic taste.
  • BounineBounine
    edited December 2011 Posts: 2,599
    timmer wrote:
    Bounine wrote:
    "The films are obviously not going down the MR route under him as he has a brain in his head."

    Good Lord, you wouldn't have a disliking for MR would you?! :)

    While I am a purist who likes the films that are closest to the literary JB I am also a fan of the Moore era. They stuck to one style which works and harmonised with Moore's portrayal of the character. They weren't all just pretty much action either like the horrible Brosnan films that also incorporated a cocktail of different styles which didn't work.
    Moonraker is an awesome Bond film, in the grand tradition. Maybe the last of the great Bonds. Well it was the last Bond to be directed by one of the classic-era, 1960's directors. But I don't think Craig could pull off a MR. We'll have to wait for the next actor, to get back to Bondian adventure of such grand scale and scope.
    However if Craig really does like DN so much, maybe he could be reminded that Dr No himself, is one of the iconic, larger than life Bond super-villains, who did live in a very expensive, very grand, top-secret island lair, surrounded by henchmen, the latest hi-tech, and sexy nurses. There may yet be hope. Maybe sit Craig down and make him watch the last half of DN, over and over again, until the NO vibe penetrates.
    And even FRWL featured the very escapist Spectre island and supervillain Blofeld himself, with cat.

    There's no reason why Eon/Craig can't make a good action/thriller film that features grand fairy tale sets and villains reminscent of Dr No but with realistic, gritty action scenes, gadgets that are subtle (or none at all), with a little natural humour just like in the Fleming books. This would be nice to see one day. They were on the right track with CR but it was just missing the big fairy tale type set but then the story doesn't demand it.

  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    I hope skyfall takes more inspiration from DN, I want an evil villian with a secret base and a big finale. Dr no proved this could be done without going over the top, so there's no reason they can't do it again.
  • EllisEllis
    Posts: 224
    I guess I'm cynical but, I wonder if DC just picked out the first 2 out of thin air because they were the first 2. And it is the "political" answer as well.
  • DoubleOhhSevenDoubleOhhSeven
    edited December 2011 Posts: 1,778
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    I hope skyfall takes more inspiration from DN, I want an evil villian with a secret base and a big finale. Dr no proved this could be done without going over the top, so there's no reason they can't do it again.

    I second that. I can so see Jarvier Bardhem as a Dr.No/Bolfeld type.

  • St_GeorgeSt_George Shuttling Drax's lovelies to the space doughnut - happy 40th, MR!
    Posts: 1,699
    DoubleOhhSeven wrote:
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    I hope skyfall takes more inspiration from DN, I want an evil villian with a secret base and a big finale. Dr no proved this could be done without going over the top, so there's no reason they can't do it again.

    I second that. I can so see Jarvier Bardhem as a Dr.No/Bolfeld type.

    It'd be awesome if we got that with SF - if done well. But something tells me we won't. As you say, though, there's no reason it couldn't be done and done well. For me, the last time Eon did that right was with the climax to GE, which, for me, was pretty darn brilliant...
  • BounineBounine
    Posts: 2,599
    When I say natural humour I mean without one liners.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,718
    Bounine wrote:
    When I say natural humour I mean without one liners.

    Bond films without one liners aren't Bond films... The more one liners and gags, the better, IMO.

  • BounineBounine
    Posts: 2,599
    That means Casino Roylale (2006) and QOS aren't Bond films. Do you count "I wouldn't dream of it" as a one liner? I don't know. "He had no head for heights" and lines like that don't really suit the Craig era just as they didn't the Dalton films. Unless a Bond film just entirely revolves around comedy like the Moore era and later Connery films then I don't think there should be any more humour in a Bond film then there is in CR. That struck a good balance between seriousness and comedy which is appropriate for a Craig Bond film I guess. Personally I prefer the amount and style of humour in QOS which is more reminscent of the books. One of the few things I liked about QOS.

    No doubt Skyfall will have more humour than QOS but if they have any sense it won't have more than CR.
  • GrantGrant
    Posts: 140
    Very 'safe' choice on Craigs part. From Russia with Love is a superb film but Doctor No, in my opinion, has weak points.

    It would have been nice if Craig had chosen a different film, say On Her Majesty's Secret Service. It just feels like picking by numbers,
  • Baltimore_007Baltimore_007
    Posts: 5,634
    It's easy to say Connery's first two efforts were his best as it's arguably true that in subsequent releases Sean wasn't up to much, I remember Thunderball being a fun ride but tediously dull during the underwater battle scenes with Largos henchmen, and remember it as one of Connerys better pictures from what I can remember from last viewing but will always go with Doctor No and From Russia With Love as his best Bond adventures, it's hard to argue against

    While they may be the best of Connery's tenure I can't quite say the same with regards to the franchise as a whole, Doctor No is fun, exotic and it's the first of them all and while FRWL is serious no nonsense fare it does get somewhat dull here and there, for those reasons alone I could never accept them as favorite Bonds, I would actually rather watch something like Moonraker or The Man With The Golden Gun over them right now if i was so inclined, simply because they are more energetic albeit more in the ways of poor humor and they don't take it seriously like Connery's early appearances

  • BounineBounine
    edited December 2011 Posts: 2,599
    "...I remember Thunderball being a fun ride but tediously dull during the underwater battle scenes with Largos henchmen"

    I agree, the underwater battle borders on boring. Almost the same goes for the big gun battles at the end of YOLT, TSWLM and MR. These full on assaults with all the calvary just don't do it for me really. I prefer one on ones between Bond and the bad guy. I think the climax of GE between Bond and Trevelyan is superb. Not only is it a good fight sequence but it involves an interesting set piece which just makes the whole scene so much more exciting and suspensful. It's one of the few things I like about this picture.
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