It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
Okay this next one might not be close BUT you just never know. Lets do a battle of the finales' between Dalton and Craig
Would you rather watch Dalton's finale LTK OR Daniel's finale in NTTD?
If I want something utterly light and fun and silly, then Dalton. If I want the most serious, moving, and appropriate final goodbye for Craig's Bond, then NTTD.
LTK will always be in the bottom for me.
LTK....by several millions light years.
And NTTD... isn't.
Oh, and James Bond is in it!
I don't think I've ever heard anyone describe Dalton's performance in LTK as light, fun, and silly!
Anyway, in terms of the films I prefer LTK. NTTD does, however, have the edge in terms of filmmaking, but it's the script that I think puts LTK over the edge.
Performance wise, I think Craig has moments which rank amongst the best acting of his Bond tenure (him visiting Vesper's grave is an example), and it's clear there was a specific direction that was taken with the character in this film. You have a Bond who has been out of the spy game for five years, and in his isolation seems much more relaxed and willing to form connections with those around him. Obviously there are some controversial moments within that performance (the interrogation scene is the most apparent one, which I'm not terribly fond of either), but I get what they were doing.
That said Dalton is at his best as Bond. Dalton didn't quite have Connery's irony or Moore's tongue in cheek-ness so that side of the cinematic Bonds dialled back in this one slightly, but it really shows a Bond who is ruthless, dark, and actually quite human. So I'll go for Dalton.
Yeah, like I said it very much played to Dalton's strengths as a dramatic actor. But some of the lighter moments are very humanising. I really like him giving a big grin when he commandeers the plane with the money, or the 'switch the bloody machine off' line.
I think Dalton's portrayal in LTK is unbeatable. After that, I would have to go all the way back to Connery in GF in terms of an amazing performance to match it.
I think it's a really interesting performance. Dalton in that film just looks much more tired and almost haggard throughout most of it, which is of course unusual for a Bond performance but very fitting for this story. There are moments when his ruthlessness is almost scary (the bit when he holds Lupe at knife point in the boat is an example) which is a side of Bond I like seeing brought out from time to time. But again there are those more human moments too which are much lighter. It's a different performance to Connery's in GF (which I agree is excellent, has moments of vulnerability, but still really epitomises the essential qualities of the cinematic Bond). I'd say it's more comparable to Connery's performance in FRWL, which is I think the first time we see a Bond who is less self-assured.
I can see why younger Bond fans and viewers gravitate a bit more towards Dalton nowadays than in his time. I often speak to people who tell me that until Craig, Dalton's Bond was the first truly rounded and multifaceted version of the character. Whether true or not it's certainly something that's felt with a lot of modern audiences, and it says something.
LTK is a solid entry, but the first half was riddled with poor lighting and photography, giving it that tv- look.
The story, acting and filmmaking pick up with Bond arriving in Isthmus City. But the production values are still dodgy in places...
NTTD is beautifully shot and more pleasing to my eye (and I love the story, warts and all).
Looks like LTK is the clear winner so far. My faith in humanity has been restored... <:-P