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Favourite Bond- Determined by initial exposure????

The_Preacher711The_Preacher711
edited April 2011 in Bond Movies Posts: 139
A couple of years ago, I co-lectured at a film studies evening class at a local college.

The other lecturer and I (who was also a Bond fan) ran a Bond experiment:

We took 8 people- two from each of the four main age brackets..... All of them had seen the majority of the Bond movies, and were loaned the dvds to fill in the blanks......

We then gave them questionnaires to complete..... the hidden goal of which was to see whether you favorite Bond actor and indiviual movie was determined by your first exposure to the series.....

Our finding was that all 8- regardless of age bracket- preferred their first Bond actor, and a movie from that actors tenure, but not necessarily the first actual movie they saw.....

The same was true for both me and my colleague.

So my question to the community (since you all represent a larger sample than 8!!): Is this true of you?
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Comments

  • CoH_GHOST_007CoH_GHOST_007
    edited April 2011 Posts: 303
    Yep, GoldenEye (while not been my first bond film, that i had watched, but the first that i'd fully watched) along with Brosnan were instantly upon my top list of Bond, until i saw Casino Royale (now my top Bond film :P).

    But for Bond actor, yes, Brosnan, was the one who i always pictured as Bond and was the first one that i actually saw, and is still my favourite (even after watching all 22, plus 2 'un-official', no-matter what people say)
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,189
    I think thats very true. Many people will favour their "first" Bond as, in their eyes, he IS 007. The rest that you see subsequently will (often) be compared.

    I can only speak for myself ;)
  • jaguar007jaguar007
    Posts: 638
    I honestly don't remember if it was Connery or Moore who I first saw on TV, however my first Bond film in the theater was TSWLM and I grew up and became a big fan during the Moore era. When I was younger (mid-late 70s) I preferred Moore but by the early 80s it had switched to Connery.
    Today my favorites rank
    1. Connery
    2. Craig (may just one day tie him if Bond 23 is as good as CR)
    3. Dalton
    4. Moore
    5. Lazneby
    6. Brosnan

    The funny part is that I was a big fan of Remington Steele back in the 80s and even when AVTAK was announced, I did not want to see Moore in the role, but Brosnan. I was disappointed when Brosnan was not cast as Bond in TLD, but on my first viewing of TLD, I knew Dalton was the best choice.
  • boldfingerboldfinger
    Posts: 5,767
    That is the most original title thread in years.

    To be on topic, no.
    My first Bond films were NSNA and AVTAK, watched on VHS in some summer camp, and consequently Connery and Moore both were my favorite Bonds. However at the time I didn´t know there was a third one, and the fourth one, Dalton, had yet to have his debut.
    TLD was my first cinematic Bond experience. By then I was aware that all Bond watchers had a serial conciousness, most of them if not all being biased toward Conners or Moore. Since I was too late to experience those two in the cinema, I decided to live out the Dalton phase and declared him my favorite Bond. I think by then I hadn´t even seen all of the other films.
    Later on I noticed that it´s the best fun if I simply take the actor who´s in the film I´m just watching to be the best of them all, and that´s how it still works for me.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    edited April 2011 Posts: 15,718
    My first Bond actor was Brosnan... #5 in my ranking. I then discovered (in order) Dalton (#3), Moore (#1), Connery (#2), Lazenby (#4) and finally Craig (#6).
  • saunderssaunders Living in a world of avarice and deceit
    Posts: 987
    The first films I saw were a double bill of DN/TSWLM so technically either Connery or Moore should be my favorite, having said that the first time I seriously took note of Bond as a cultural icon was George Lazenby's cameo for 'The Return Of The Man From Uncle' and the next film I watched was OHMSS so it's little surprise that George is my favourite Bond actor (and considering he was between Connery and Moore it sort of vaguely fits with the DN/TSWLM first film theory).
  • boldfingerboldfinger
    Posts: 5,767
    Though my first Bond films didn´t much influence my later preferences of Bond films or actors, I think that because my first two Bond films were NSNA and AVTAK I never had a problem with Bond being slightly older. In fact, I had to get used to the young Connery when I first saw films like Dr. No or Goldfinger!
  • dragonskydragonsky
    Posts: 2,491
    yup it is true for me but i dont think that everyone will be same
  • BondBond
    Posts: 503
    Quoting The_Preacher711: Our finding was that all 8- regardless of age bracket- preferred their first Bond actor, and a movie from that actors tenure, but not necessarily the first actual movie they saw.....
    Yeah, makes sense. I grew up with Brosnan and I'll always have a soft spot for him. He keeps falling in my rankings though, he's now at #4. After rewatching his films recently I think I can say it's the video games featuring him during his era that make me nostalgic about him. His last three films aren't that great, and his acting is a bit stale in GE, but he was still the Bond of my childhood in all the video games I played.
  • PrinceKamalKhanPrinceKamalKhan Monsoon Palace, Udaipur
    Posts: 3,262
    Quoting jaguar007: I was disappointed when Brosnan was not cast as Bond in TLD, but on my first
    viewing of TLD, I knew Dalton was the best choice.
    Exactly. I had that same experience. Dalton may not have been the first choice for many at the time but he turned out to be the best choice.

    Back on topic: I'm sure for many viewers, their first Bond is their favorite. However, in my case my first Bond was Roger Moore(LALD) but my favorite Bond is Sean Connery.
    The triumvirate of Sean, Tim and Rog will probably always remain my top 3 007s.
  • JBFan626JBFan626
    Posts: 1,497
    Sean Connery in Diamonds Are Forever was my first Bond experience.

    Sean Connery is probably my favorite incarnation of Bond. But I love Rog, Laz, Tim and Craig too. Pierce has his moments. The Dalton films were the last ones I saw in succession, and probably the longest for me to get on board with. Now, I think Dalt's two outings are brilliant. So I suppose there's something to this theory.
  • RogueThunderballRogueThunderball
    Posts: 306
    I think that this is completely true. I don't remember which bond film I actually saw first but the first one I saw in theaters was DAD. I loved Brosnan's performance and after I'd been hooked on Bond and watched all the movies I still love Brosnan. It has much to do with the fact that I was young and impressionable and Brosnan just hit all the right notes for me. I usually recognize Connery as the number one bond but Pierce is right there with him, for me. Coincidentally I love all of Brosnan's bond films ( I know most people despise them) but I think it is definitely partly due to the fact that Brosnan was my first real exposure to Bond and hence I like the films he is in.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited April 2011 Posts: 11,189
    Quoting RogueThunderball: Coincidentally I love all of Brosnan's bond films ( I know most people despise
    them) but I think it is definitely partly due to the fact that Brosnan was my
    first real exposure to Bond and hence I like the films he is in.
    Agreed, except re the "love" part. I don't love DAD. ;)

    I don't think there are THAT many people who go from loving their first Bond to downright dispising him though.

    In my opinion the first Bond is nearly always remembered in high regard. People may favour other actors as they get older but they have a strong attraction to their "first" Bond. On a lesser level, its like your first car or your first gf. You may find something better in the future but the "first" will stay with you.

    Like it or not Luds I think Pierce will always remain in my top 3 because of this.
  • GeorgeLazenbyGeorgeLazenby
    Posts: 295
    Possibly as a generalization, but I don't think it's anywhere near an absolute. My first Bond movie was AVTAK, and my first in the cinema was TLD, and both Moore and Dalton are on the lower echelon of my Bond preferences. Lazenby is my favorite Bond, and this has only been a relatively recent thing. When I was younger my sensibilities were tainted with the widespread myth that his Bond performance was a lesser one.
  • The_ReaperThe_Reaper
    Posts: 1,092
    At first, sure, Moore was mostly my favorite b/c I grew up with him. But now, having matured (somewhat :p ) I can look at his films and honestly say I like him the most in the role. Not always in the best movies but as a Bond actor, Moore rules.
  • 007007
    Posts: 42
    I saw all of the Brosnan films before watching any other Bond film and to me he was always a great Bond, despite his films not being too good. However Moore is now my favorite Bond and I know similar with my friends. I certainly think it has an impact on your favorite Bond though.
  • LudsLuds MIA
    edited April 2011 Posts: 1,986
    Quoting The_Preacher711: So my question to the community (since you all represent a larger sample than 8!!): Is this true of you?
    I certainly believe that initial exposure has a role in our appreciation of Bond. However in my opinion, and this is something I've discussed over here and the previous forum many times in the past. I wouldn't call it "initial" exposure per say, I've named it "childhood Bond" in a way, but the true meaning would be the Bond actor which was in the role while we started getting accustomed, or enjoy the series.

    My personal initial Bond was Sean Connery in Goldfinger, which I saw at least in parts at the age of around 6 or 7 years old. I remember being very impressed by the images in the film, the golden girl, the well dressed agent, but I do not recall seeing more movies for a few years. However, I remember very well knowing of the series and other Connery movies when at the age of around 11 to 13 years old I watched The Living Daylights at my best friend's place. I remember this being my first exposure to Dalton, and understanding that he was the active Bond, which was in 90-93 timeframe. I very much consider myself a Dalton boy, and that i grew up with Dalton as my Bond. I don't consider my exposure to Connery to be significant other than to know who the character of Bond was as I wasn't old enough to comprehend the character. Dalton to this day remains my #2 favourite James Bond, behind Connery. And there is a very large margin after Dalton for Moore, Craig, and Lazenby, and far behind, Brosnan.

    Additionally, two of my good friends are also Dalton boys, both a few years older than I am and in both cases, just like I do, consider Dalton to be the second best Bond after Connery. So again, I see a clear tendency for fans to really take into their childhood Bond. I've had similar discussions with teammates from work who are in their 40s and in most cases, Roger Moore near the top of most's list, with much less support for Dalton.

    So overall I detect a string tendency to like our childhood Bond, or the Bond which we associate as our first, and would be very interested to see each Bond's popularity amongst each age group.
  • The_Preacher711The_Preacher711
    Posts: 139
    A big thanks to all of you for replying to this!

    Its been really interesting to read your stories/theories.
  • royale65royale65 Caustic misanthrope reporting for duty.
    Posts: 4,423
    I was aware of Bond, but I had no idea what the character comprehend, like Lud’s so eloquently put it. I’m a big fan of Pierce Brosnan, I was born in 1988, and my first Bond movie was TWINE. He so encapsulated everything I wanted to be, suave, sophisticated, elegant, confident… that’s important to a shy, 12 year old boy… And Brosnan was the video game Bond, like RogueThunderball and BAIN123 said.

    @BAIN123, I agree… your first Bond is something special. I would rank Dalton and Connery above him, but Brosnan… My brain says Dalton, but my heart says Brosnan.
    Some say he was smarmy, but I saw confidence… it depends, I guess, on the age which you are exposed to him…

    Anyway…

    :">
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,189
    Quoting royale65:
    I was aware of Bond, but I had no idea what the character
    comprehend, like Lud’s so eloquently put it. I’m a big fan of Pierce Brosnan, I
    was born in 1988, and my first Bond movie was TWINE. He so encapsulated
    everything I wanted to be, suave, sophisticated, elegant, confident… that’s
    important to a shy, 12 year old boy… And Brosnan was the video game Bond, like
    RogueThunderball and BAIN123 said.

    @BAIN123, I agree… your first Bond is
    something special. I would rank Dalton and Connery above him, but Brosnan… My
    brain says Dalton, but my heart says Brosnan.
    Some say he was smarmy, but I
    saw confidence… it depends, I guess, on the age which you are exposed to him…


    Anyway…

    :">
    Welcome aboard indeed Royale. It's good to see that great minds think alike, although be prepared to get the inevitable "TWINE? I feel sorry for you!!" bull.

    I do find there is often a conflict between what your brain says and what your heart says when it comes to Bond (e.g. my heart says Moore but my brain says Dalton). Ultimately however, its who you respond to the most.

  • lalala2004lalala2004
    Posts: 162
    It's true for me, but I wouldn't say the initial exposure is necessarily what determined it. The first film I saw was TLD, and it's still my favorite, along with Dalton.

    That said, I was 14 years old and well aware that Brosnan was Bond, and I had seen snippets of him as such. At the time I liked him a good deal, mainly because he was good-looking.

    Dalton has always been my favorite, though. I really think it's just a preference and not necessarily because I saw him first. Every movie I saw just strengthened my fandom for him, as did reading the novels.
  • MajorDSmytheMajorDSmythe "I tolerate this century, but I don't enjoy it."Moderator
    Posts: 13,978
    I can't really agree with this. Connery was the first Bond I saw and through YOLT. He remained my favourite Bond up until I got around to the Dalton films. Just don't ask what order I saw the films in, I really can't remember.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,355
    I wouldn't say so either. I saw Connery first but there are others actors (Dalton, for example) that are just as good. Though seeing the first actor as Bond first, perhaps there is a difference for others.
  • Agent005Agent005
    Posts: 562
    The first Bond film I saw was The Living Daylights and Dalton is my favourite Bond. However, I ranked Connery as number one for quite a while when I was younger and only decided within the past five years or so that Dalton is my true favourite.
  • Bond_EdBond_Ed
    Posts: 37
    True for me, my first Bond was Connery in Goldfinger. Connery is the quintessential Bond, for me.
  • jaguar007jaguar007
    Posts: 638
    I would say this theory is most common in the Brosnan fans. I have found that most Brosnan fans are in their early to mid 20s. I have found that preferences of people older than mid 20s are all over the board, except most recognize that Connery is the best (and that is because he really is the best, no personal opinions are needed :) )
  • RogueThunderballRogueThunderball
    edited April 2011 Posts: 306
    Quoting jaguar007: I would say this theory is most common in the Brosnan fans.
    This is very interesting, and I'd have to agree with you. I'm not sure what it is but Brosnan seemed to have the ability to appeal to younger viewers more than the others could. Part of it, I think is that Brosnan coincided with the digital age when technology boomed. There was more access to the Bond universe (T.V., video games, internet). Young viewers such as myself grew up in this era and the only Bond we knew was Brosnan. So I think it was natural to develop an affinity for him in the role when he was the face of everything Bond.
  • sheriouslyseansheriouslysean
    Posts: 16
    Quoting jaguar007: I would say this theory is most common in the Brosnan fans. I have found that most Brosnan fans are in their early to mid 20s. I have found that preferences of people older than mid 20s are all over the board, except most recognize that Connery is the best (and that is because he really is the best, no personal opinions are needed :-) )
    +1 I'm (very) late 20s :-| and grew up with videos of Moore (in my teens, Brosnan was Bond). Initially, my first memories of Bond was Moore - he's probably more child-friendly than the edgy Connery or brooding Dalton. Lazenby, unless your a Bond fan, will probably be unheard of. Having said that, during my teenage years, I was drawn towards Connery and the more modern Dalton. Brosnan, to me, was too sleazy and in the cast of Moore, without Moore's charm or humour. For instance, I would watch Brosnan films, but not go to a cinema to view them. Craig has been a revellation, though - the first recent Bond to bring the franchise back to life and the first Bond which I've actually bothered to see on the silver screen (I was too young for LTK and then there was that hiatus until Brosnan started in '95. Still, to my mind, the best Bond is the first and the best film is the first as well - Dr No!!
  • 00Beast00Beast
    Posts: 4,762
    This would be a fair bet, considering that my first Bond exposure came from 007 Nightfire which featured Pierce Brosnan as 007, and he remains my favorite to this day along with Roger Moore, who follows extremely closely in second place. In recent viewings I've given Brosnan the edge here, but both Roger and Pierce are top notch. It's funny though, I would have thought that Connery and Brosnan would have been top spots since they were my two first Bonds, but as the series grew on me, Moore displaced Connery.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,304
    I disagree. Moore was the first Bond I saw, and he's my fourth or fifth favorite Bond.

    I have found that the older generation who only knew Connery as Bond tend to be diehard Connery fans, though.
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