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I know ;) but only half the time and he did it better!
I feel the same way. Had Craig called it a day after CR and never made another Bond movie I'd still rank him #1 or #2. His performance in CR was the most engaging Bond portrayal since the early Connery days.
The last time I posted on this thread was 3 years ago, before the release of SF and the trailer for SP. Since then I hold Craig in an even higher regard and now think he's much better than Dalton. In the SP trailer Craig was giving out dashes of Connery and as of right now it looks like it'll be his most Bondian performance to date.
There a number of times he delivers dialogue where it just sounds off, "better make that two" "He got the boot" "Dellah" and of course "It was about to turn nasty"
Although until Craig came along Dalton was no. 2 with Connery at no. 1 as Bond for me I realised the films themselves aren't that great. Dalton is for the most part but lets face it LTK is a very jarring film, as jarring as Skyfall is full of plot holes. Skyfall for all the faults leveled at it does not jar and doesn't shoehorn in Bondian moments and characters that don't suit the tone of the plot.
Dalton just never nailed the overall traits of the character, yes he was deadly and tough but the dead pan wit, the suaveness? those other refinements were missing for me, Dalton also isn't particularly cinematic as Bond.
Whereas Craig is the most cinematic Bond since Connery, at times Moore could have been playing the role on TV for the cosy feel of his entries, Dalton is similar but Craig's interpretation like Sean's feels cinematic, a Bond for the big screen.
So it's going to be Craig for me, CR was the best debut since Connery and for me he's just gone from strength to strength in the role. Maybe if Dalton had of got a better director and more time in the role the awkwardness would have subsided as he got more confident with the role but I guess we'll never know.
The main challenge in comparing those two is the different amounts of movies they made (make).
Craig's fourth is on its way and from what I've seen only the story could ruin it at this point and it could become another Skyfall, which I certainly don't hope.
If Spectre is as good as CR then it will be difficult to say Dalton is better than Craig.
If I only judge from acting, then it's blatantly clear. Craig is nowhere near Dalton.
Craig is one-dimensional. I've said this before, he's only good at running, fighting, looking grim, angry or hurt. That he does better than any of his predecessors including Connery! But when it comes to dry humour, wit or even romantic scenes, Craig fails.
Dalton can do about anything, being a trained stage-actor helps and this can be seen in his two Bond movies. He has the same qualities as Patrick Stewart.
Captain Picard and Dalton's Bond are acted in the same way and both succeed at it.
I'm pretty certain if Dalton had gotten his third movie and possibly fourth, he would be everybody's favourite.
From an acting point of view: Dalton
From the overall Bond experience: now Dalton, after Spectre probably and deservedly Craig.
Dalton in certain parts (usually the more action oriented and suspenseful parts) was very good indeed, but he was just so darn uncomfortable with the ladies (imho) that I just don't think he is a good 'screen' Bond when it's all said and done. I really believe I could have held my own much better with Bouvier and Kara (not to toot my own horn).
DC does the suspense bits very well (and oh so cool - witness CR pretitles opener with Dryden - a scene to rival Connery's Dent kill). However, he is also quite smooth with the ladies when he needs to be.....the clowns who have directed him since CR have just not optimized that skill properly.
Incidently, talking of 'harder Bonds' Connery would knock both TD & DC into the middle of next week in a fight (in his prime).
Craig on the other hand is an attention magnet just like Connery before him that commands the screen and elevates the material. The man is electrifying and has simply embodied the role with a natural and charismatic comfort where his two predecessors; Brosnan and Dalton failed.
Craig's acting, his charisma, his showmanship abd his swagger is ridiculously on point....to levels not seen since early Connery. To be fair, for me, this isn't even a real contest. Craig wins each and every time. For me, Craig's only competition when it comes to the battle of tge Bonds is Connery and nobody beats big Tam.
I don't know if Dalton could have been everyone's favourite. But for me, the number of films doesn't really matter. Dalton did more with 2 than what Craig has done with 3, soon to be 4. Dalton's Bond was different between TLD and LTK, and no doubt would have been refined for Bond #17. While Craig mumbles his way through each film, with all the charm of a tree stump, starting out as not the Bond we know and love and ending exactly the same. He's consistently monotonous, i'll say that for for him.
Consistency is something you share with him though :D
Also, Craig has been able to demonstrate a real brutality Dalts only really hinted at. He (Dalton) never got a fight scene that on par with the bathroom or stairwell fight. To me, those gave Craig the edge.
And we're both not right for Bond.
How would that scene have ended though? Presumably Bond would have been knocked out like Green 4 was?
Now then, which is the best Bond? Well, that's a matter of personal opinion. Either or both, neither or none. Who cares? I prefer Craig, but Dalton looks ok, has nice timbre to his voice, is terrific in the action scenes. But on the downside no charm, lacking in the humorous moments, no real sex appeal and crying out for a decent haircut.
Craig has charisma, has the most intriguing handsome/ugly face, is more convincing in the sex scenes, and his line delivery is confident and convincing (the most obvious since Connery). The biggest downer for me - he walks like a Neanderthal and should really sort that out. I liked the way Dalton walked and even now I copy it :-)
It is all about the walk ;-)
I'm a big fan of DC, but I completely agree that he walks like there's an obstruction stuck somewhere causing undue discomfort. It could be the overly tight outfits Jany Temime has him in....not sure.
On overall line delivery though, I personally think RM is just as good as SC (just different) and better than DC, who I rate 3rd.
Fleming wanted Roger Moore as Bond.
No one seemed to know what to do or where to go.
Hands down for me its Craig.
No he didn't. That's a myth. I heard Rog himself dispute it at one of his tours.
I like this the most ;)
Such fan made trailers are quite revealing some uncomfortable truths!
There's also a Connery one, the reason that one doesn't work so good is only because the age of the footage of Connery doesn't match the new footage. Otherwise of course even Connery would work better in the Spectre trailer.