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First Bonds
Inspired by echo's thread, here's the opposite end of the spectrum
I'd like to discuss the first movies, as well as the actors approach to the role and how it's changed as their films went on. (I guess this really just applies to Connery, Moore and Brosnan since they're the only ones that have done a bunch)
Connery I felt has played the character pretty consistently- you could argue that he dwindled in YOLT and let himself go in DAF, but that's another discussion. Even in the very first film, in a time when there was no guarantee there would even be another movie at all, he had the character down flat, which was impressive!
Moore played the role a bit differently- and was even kind of an ******** in TMWTGG. He didn't really become the 'Roger Moore Bond' that we know until The Spy Who Loved Me. That's 3 films to finally get into character. Not saying that's bad but in comparison, just think of what we could have gotten out of George and Tim if they had more movies!
Brosnan was cool in GoldenEye, but he must have been under pressure- first Bond film in many years, as well as finally playing the role he missed out on in TLD.... in GE he seemed to be trying too hard to be 'perfect'. Like every movie he made was like a vogue pose. I can't put my finger on it but I'm sure you know what I'm trying to say.
He did loosen up in later films, but unfortunately each movie he did was worse than the last (not his fault though)
I'm curious to hear what you all think as well
echo wrote:While each actor's first Bond film is generally strong, why is it that their last ones are often weak?
I'd like to discuss the first movies, as well as the actors approach to the role and how it's changed as their films went on. (I guess this really just applies to Connery, Moore and Brosnan since they're the only ones that have done a bunch)
Connery I felt has played the character pretty consistently- you could argue that he dwindled in YOLT and let himself go in DAF, but that's another discussion. Even in the very first film, in a time when there was no guarantee there would even be another movie at all, he had the character down flat, which was impressive!
Moore played the role a bit differently- and was even kind of an ******** in TMWTGG. He didn't really become the 'Roger Moore Bond' that we know until The Spy Who Loved Me. That's 3 films to finally get into character. Not saying that's bad but in comparison, just think of what we could have gotten out of George and Tim if they had more movies!
Brosnan was cool in GoldenEye, but he must have been under pressure- first Bond film in many years, as well as finally playing the role he missed out on in TLD.... in GE he seemed to be trying too hard to be 'perfect'. Like every movie he made was like a vogue pose. I can't put my finger on it but I'm sure you know what I'm trying to say.
He did loosen up in later films, but unfortunately each movie he did was worse than the last (not his fault though)
I'm curious to hear what you all think as well
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Comments
Live and Let Die: It's decent, about half-and-half. The music, villains, and Roger Moore are the big three here, and the only serious flaws are the locations, which are seemingly dull at times, and the action, which is just not good enough.
The Living Daylights: Excellent, a real Bond classic right here! Dalton is exceptional, the music is rockin', the locations are varied and exotic, and the action is kickin'! Plus, we get an awesome espionage plot that goes along with the likes of FRWL and FYEO.
GoldenEye: The #1 James Bond movie of all time, no questions asked! None other can beat it!
Casino Royale: A real Bond classic here! All the elements of a solid 007 movie are present, with a great performance by Craig, epic action, stunning locations, swinging music, and ruthless villains.
RM: Roger did not start off strong, but came into his own in the middle films. Simply was too old and dated for AVTAK.
TD: Given a chance to do another Bond film or two, probably would have done worse than LTK.
PB: Last film was actually his best performance. A shame it was wasted on festering garbage surrounded with the film.
DC: Will surely improve on QOS.
On Her Majesty's Secret Service: Slow at times, but really picks up once Bond gets into Switzerland. Lazenby is probably my favorite thing about the film. Well, that and the score, of course.
Live and Let Die: OH GOD KILL ME NOW
The Living Daylights: Love it. It's probably my favorite "debut" Bond film, although I haven't watched Dr. No in a while so I can't be too sure.
GoldenEye: Ehh, it has some good things about it, but Ourumov was underused, and the plot was just all over the place.
Casino Royale: OH GOD KILL ME NOW, Part II.
I also like Dalton and Brosnan's introduction. Dalton enters with a serious look of concern at the death of a fellow agent, and Brosnan enters with possibly the funniest scene in any Bond movie, the bathroom scene!
*edit- just occurred to me-- in its own unique way, was Craig's intro in QOS reminiscent of Lazenby's intro? (driving, showing bits of his face at a time, etc.)
Possibly so, since QoS followed up on the tragic events of CR like DAF did after OHMSS. Never thought of that before, nice observation!
That was exactly my line of thinking when I first saw QoS! Great minds and all that... ;)
IMO, Connery had the most success; DN, FRWL, GF, TB were all excellent. Moore had LALD, FYEO, TSWLM as his best. Brosnan had GE, Dalton had TLD, Craig has CR (so far).
Lazenby is the oddity, only doing the one; but his one was quite good. 100% hit rate for Lazenby, congratulations to him.
No other Bond really had such a record- Moore came close with LALD & TMWTGG being modest hits, only to score big with his third, TSWLM
Here's hoping Daniel continues his great streak with no.4
* DR. NO - Still a classic Bond film. Connery is in top shape, and the cast is great. A bit rough around the edges, but overall an excellent film.
* OHMSS - My favorite Bond film. 'Nuff said.
* LIVE AND LET DIE - Eh, this one is just okay. Moore is still fresh, and looks much younger than he actually was. The villains are great, but Solitare never really did it for me. Does not hold up too well. So overall, a mixed bag.
* THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS - A great Bond film! Dalton is excellent, and the tone is perfect for a Bond film. The Bond Girl is forgettable at first, but repeated viewings have made me like Kara more. The villains (Aside from Necros) are somewhat weak, and the theme song leaves a lot to be desired, but still a great film.
* GOLDENEYE - Another great one! I don't really have anything new to say, just a great film!
* CASINO ROYALE - Again, nothing new to say, other than that this is my second favorite Bond film. A perfect film.
Sean Connery: Really, the only way to describe his debut performance is as a "force of nature". He commands the screen so forcefully that himself and the character of James Bond instantly become iconic in the history of film. Fully formed in the first film, his character remained constant in FRWL and then a certain twinkle and humour was added in GF. But he shines here; there's one moment that for me defines Connery's Bond. When he's been captured and is in the decontamination room, he demands to be let out of his handcuffs. So commanding is Connery that one of Dr. No's flunkies actually WALKS OVER TO UNDO HIS HANDCUFFS before his boss tells him to stop. Only Connery could have done that scene and make it believable. And his charisma is off the charts. No other Bond actor was as credible as a ladykiller.
George Lazenby: An interesting study in contrasts. More affable and down to earth than Connery's Bond, he's a little closer to the Bond of the books. While he's wooden in some scenes, in others he's incredibly effective. I really believe he would have given a much better performance in a second film as he showed that he was picking up "that acting thing" very quickly as filming progressed.
Roger Moore: My least favourite Bond. His performance in LALD seemed more about "I have to be different than Connery" and "I have to be funny" than "I must be a good Bond". He comes across as more upper class and also more pompous. He found a better balance in his later films (such as TSWLM) but here it just doesn't work very well.
Timothy Dalton: Wow. A three-dimensional Bond who has a face that let's you know what he's thinking even when he isn't delivering a line. Not as commanding as Connery, he nevertheless gave the best "performance" as Bond out of all the actors in their debuts. He had a nice light touch with the humour and was perfectly charming (at least in his first film) despite what some detractors say. He also did a great job of bringing the romanticism and chivalry of the character to the screen.
Pierce Brosnan: An unpopular opinion, but I actually rate his performance in GE as his best. Not over-reaching his abilities like in TWINE, not being as smug or smarmy as his later performances, and a little more earnest and believable here (and, unlike his other films, credibly tough in the fight scenes). He may be a little green and his performance may be a bit too "light" in some scenes (the "What, no small talk? Noooo...chitchat?" seemed more Remington Steele than Bond) but he does the serious and silent scenes much better here. If only Campbell could have kept directing him in more films.
Daniel Craig: Even more wow than Dalton. A tour-de-force performance and even more three dimensional than Dalton. Incredible to take a character that had been around so long and to put your own stamp on it so firmly and clearly. As commanding and tough as Connery, and an even more full-blooded performance than Dalton. The most impressive debut of all of the actors, and the most complete performance out of all of the films. I pity the actor that follows him; surely they'll go for a far different style and perhaps a return to the lighter style of films past.
Performance wise though, Connery nails it. Right from his intro he is James Bond.
LALD- Not Moore's best but it's a fun flick with some cool moments.
I don't really think Moore came into his own fully until TSWLM but I think he did a good job in LALD.
TLD- Fantastic film and Dalton knocks it out of the park and shows why many (including me) think he's the best.
GE- I love the film, it's in my top 3 and it's definetly Brosnans best, but I don't think Brosnan himself was amazing here. He's good and he has some great moments, I love the M scene, the graveyard scene (or basically anytime he's on screen with Alec), but he doesn't seem as comfortable as he would be in his next 3.
CR- Craigs best performance but I think the film itself is overrated. Middle ranker for me.
Live and Let Die 1973 - My favorite James Bond release, and needless to say, my favorite Moore release. Only Golden Gun and Moonraker comes close to all round excitement and thrills and spills
The Living Daylights 1987 - It's better than License to Kill, and most other James Bond releases around it. The closest Bond has come to resembling the original Fleming creation since Connery in From Russia With Love. Dalton takes all the accolades going
Goldeneye 1995 - Too much hyperbole for me sometimes. I see it's a very good adventure and Brosnan does very well, but seems a bit exaggerated sometimes. Great opening and tank chase, but I always find it goes downhill once we get to Cuba in the second half of the movie. Brosnan's best after The World Is Not Enough
Casino Royale 2006 - Craig's best of the three thus far, although Skyfall does come close, but not close enough. Great action sequences, a fine Cornell theme intro, Green is a memorable Bond girl, although Lechiffre was a massive disappointment and it does seem to stick in places, but nonetheless, a very good Bond adventure. One of the very best of the last 40 years I've witnessed
OHMSS- My personal favorite Bond film. You can tell Peter Hunt respected the source and got a decent performance out of Lazenby. I just love everything about this film.
Live and Let Die- You can tell that Guy Hamilton was pretty much ignoring the change in actors by making a "normal" Bond film without making anything a big deal. Although it's enjoyable at times, it's one of my least favorite films of the series.
The Living Daylights- In my opinion, a near perfect Bond film. My favorite thing is this.The reveal of Dalton as Bond is the best directing of John Glen in his tenure. The zoom close up with the wind blowing with 004's screams in the background. A classic shot
Goldeneye- A great film for many reasons. You can tell Bond has been away 6 years. Brosnan basically combines all the good traits of earlier Bonds. Also the first time that a Bond's first film has a truly classic villain. (Sorry Dr. No fans, No doesn't show up until 2/3rds in.)
Casino Royale- I considered myself a Bond fan in 2005. But when I saw this film the next year, I was reborn. Craig is the perfect example of taking what came before him and using it, but making it his own. A true classic
Good ol George did enough to move the story along. He showed potential and it would have been interesting to see if could have become more comfortable in the role.
Sir Rog was kind of the opposite of Connery. He just got better and better as he went on. Until he got too old.
Dalton did a good job in portraying Bond the way he wanted to. I guess.
Pierce also got better as he went along. Unfortunately none of his movies did.
Craig also nailed it right from the beginning. He is evolving the character into the more experienced and polished 007 that we all know and love. Can't wait to see more.