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Ok, look at it another way. Dalton's introduction is full of intrigue and a little action, are you going to tell me that Connery's introduction (as worshipped as it is) matches up to that of Dalton's for action and intrigue? It's all a matter of perspective, and in what category you choose to judge.
And I do believe Dalton's Bond was charming at times. See, I would prefer an actor to reign in the charm, and keep it in check, than overdo it.
I was at one time bowled over by Dalton's Bond, I was there in 97 & 99 in his corner when it was a rather lonely place but over the years I've noticed flaws in his portrayal and unlike you Craig just convinced me from the get go and unlike you I think his SPECTRE performance is the worst of his era.
That over confident smart arse Bond is not his strength he needs to play it with depth and mystery, his version in SPECTRE at times looked like he wasn't engaged not like he was previously.
Possibly his injury had a part to play in this but despite him saying I think the fact he made that comment to the press about slashing his wrists would suggest that all was not well on the set of SP as I never got this attitude from him while he was promoting SF, he was overjoyed with it and didn't mind saying it.
Even during QOS promotion he seemed proud of what he'd done it was only in retrospect that he turned on the film and started to say it had problems.
I love George, and have been wholly won over for years. He was a mortal man that took on a god-like role, and didn't cock it up. Massive kudos must go to him, as few were brave enough to step up to that plate, and OHMSS is partly the classic it is because of the physicality and vulnerability he was able to transmit. He kills me and gets the tears flowing every time he holds Tracy, and that counts for a lot in my book. You're young yet, you'll grow to like him later.
@bondjames, honestly, after hearing Sean's delivery of that line in the beginning of DN, it's hard to listen to any other actor saying it. In that one moment, the way he moved and enunciated the words were just utterly, utterly perfect. Classic or iconic doesn't begin to describe it.
Yes, it's a piece of film that caught the exact moment he went from actor to icon and nothing was ever the same again.
But an actor who makes Bond look believable, and more importantly, echoes on screen the exact same character that Fleming wrote about in the novels, Dalton wins hands down, because the Bond of the novels wasn't full of swagger and charisma. He was more introverted, had self doubts.
great post.
I agree, I've always thought Dalton brought that touch of Ian Flemingness better than any other actor. That's why he's my favourite as well.
Even down to the small things, like his reaction to Saunders' murder. You can feel Dalton has read the novels. I have that feeling only with him.
Even Dalton admitted that Craig and CR took Bond further than he did.
Yes, the PTS in SP is wonderful. Probably the best thing Mendes has done with Bond IMO. SP is just a much more satisfying Bond experience for me than SF.
Just Dalton being polite. You have to say that kind of thing, don't you.
True, but I do think Craig benifitted from Martin Campbell's direction and a creative team who were all on the same page in bringing a darker Bond to the screen (I have an inkling Glen and a lot of the team in TLD missed Roger's presence and lighter approach).
It was a polite way of saying "no sh*t, sherlock."
No one's denying Dalton read all the books and was big exuding this in his interpretation but Connery and Craig echoed traits of IF Bond but Sean set the blueprint of who Bond is on the big screen.
Confidence and Swagger is an element of that, Bond being uncertain doesn't really strike me as a good thing throughout, yes I think Craig shows Bond isn't unbreakable in his films.
I know one thing no other actor hit the inner conflict and psychological distress of Bond than Craig did in CR. I really couldn't see Dalton doing the fight on the staircase then the moment when he medicates himself with alcohol and tends to his wounds.
This was a moment no previous actor had tried with Bond, also Dalton would have never been able to better Craig in that moment in the shower with Vesper. Sorry but the darker more layered Bond was aced by Craig.
An out and out IF Bond on the big screen in this day and age would be a big turn off to wider audiences.
(The scene that made me change my mind wasn't CR funnily enough but QoS when he's talking to Camile in the cave).
I'm going to go flat out and say it, the Bond of the novels is (albeit deliberately) boring. They kind of had to "sex him up" for the big screen.
Personally, I suspect that had Dalton stuck around for GE, they would have put some levity back into the character.
It's critical that an actor combine both the intent & spirit of Fleming's character with the swagger & style of the much loved movie iteration. That's traditionally when we end up with a great Bond film.
There's no mistaking that Craig is great as Bond and the role seems to fit him like a second skin, but let's give Dalton a modicum of credit for having the strength, ability and balls to try and tweak Moore's Bond without totally jettisoning some of the same traits. Dalton took over from Moore with steadily declining box office receipts. Craig was fortunate to be handed a revived franchise thanks to the popularity of Brosnan, notably in the US market.
I guess what I'm alluding to is that I don't really see Dalton playing the same role. Sure, he's playing the same character, but there's a seismic change in the writing, the style, direction, personal backstory and geopolitical landscape, that I don't believe you can compare the two on equal footing without favouring the more up to date version due to its current popularity.
It wouldn't seem that way had they been able to keep Blofeld as the villain instead of Stromberg. It definitely feels like quite the personal kill in the finished film.
I think Moore was good with those scenes (his killing of Grishka in OP is a great one) but he seemed a bit long in the tooth to be credible as a "blunt instrument".
I agree, it seemed almost a bit too...personal perhaps. At least when Connery did it there was a reason (i.e. avenging the killing of Dent). Actually, even when Moore does it in FYEO and OP he's avenging the deaths of his colleagues.
I do like "you've shot your bolt Stromnberg, now it's my turn" though.