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Timothy Dalton or Daniel Craig?

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  • GetafixGetafix
    Posts: 11,425
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    Germanlady wrote:
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    Germanlady wrote:
    Its Easter and so on, but your way of throwing him into our faces gets tiring. I don't see anybody else, not even DC, who is that insisting in not tolerating any other opinion. So - whether this is in earnest or not, please restrain from this atttitude. Its childish and just plein annoying. Thanks and happy Easter.

    It's just a bit of fun. There have been people who throw Craig into our faces on other threads. Still, happy Easter.

    Excuse me, but I am starting miss the fun factor. I would even start complaining, if it was Craig, whom you handled like that. There is fun and there is fun...

    Maybe I've gone a bit OTT with it but this is a Craig vs Dalton thread. And I do tolerate other opinions, I get that you think Craig is better, just like I get that 007RogerMoore and DC think Moore is better. I just think Dalton is better. I'll stop now, but like I said, people have thrown Craig into my face on other threads.

    Don't worry Living Royale, germanlady makes a habit of aggressively accusing other people of intolerance or going too far on threads specifically dedicated to discussing daft and amusing subjects like this. As I think I've said before, it's probably best for those who can't deal with a little bit of DC criticism to steer clear of these threads.
  • GermanladyGermanlady
    Posts: 6,601
    Terribly aggressive, indeed. The poor Royale will loose sleep over it... ;)
  • connerybondconnerybond
    Posts: 163
    For me:
    SC first and always, then: GL, DC, TD, RM, PB...

    I would not have put GL after GOD ( a poster collegue's observation about SC), in 1980s, but since then I have watched OHMSS many times, and appreciated how GL who had had no acting experience fitted nicely into Bond role, after GOD left, a very difficult act to follow. TD was a good actor but the Bond role needed some one who was easy going with raised eyebrows at times metaphorically-speaking and TD was not that kind of actor. IMHO, DC has brought back SC's toughness ( I agree with Wilson the co-producer guy), and RM to me was excellent as the Saint in those days- I read Charteris ad Fleming before their novels were filmed, and hence the above ranking..
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    edited April 2012 Posts: 12,837
    Getafix wrote:
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    Germanlady wrote:
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    Germanlady wrote:
    Its Easter and so on, but your way of throwing him into our faces gets tiring. I don't see anybody else, not even DC, who is that insisting in not tolerating any other opinion. So - whether this is in earnest or not, please restrain from this atttitude. Its childish and just plein annoying. Thanks and happy Easter.

    It's just a bit of fun. There have been people who throw Craig into our faces on other threads. Still, happy Easter.

    Excuse me, but I am starting miss the fun factor. I would even start complaining, if it was Craig, whom you handled like that. There is fun and there is fun...

    Maybe I've gone a bit OTT with it but this is a Craig vs Dalton thread. And I do tolerate other opinions, I get that you think Craig is better, just like I get that 007RogerMoore and DC think Moore is better. I just think Dalton is better. I'll stop now, but like I said, people have thrown Craig into my face on other threads.

    Don't worry Living Royale, germanlady makes a habit of aggressively accusing other people of intolerance or going too far on threads specifically dedicated to discussing daft and amusing subjects like this. As I think I've said before, it's probably best for those who can't deal with a little bit of DC criticism to steer clear of these threads.

    Exactly. And I think it's unfair how everybody who doesn't like Craig is "being negative" but then when I talk about how good Dalton is I'm "throwing him into everyones faces" To be honest I think she just can't get her head around the fact that Dalton is the better Bond ;)
    Germanlady wrote:
    Terribly aggressive, indeed. The poor Royale will loose sleep over it... ;)

    I'm sure I will ;)
  • FromCanadaWithLoveFromCanadaWithLove Canada
    Posts: 612
    Chuck wrote:
    As much as I like Daniel Craig, I have to give the edge to Dalton. They're close, but I just see Dalton being a bit more in line with Fleming's Bond than I do with Craig. Both are fantastic, though, and perhaps with another film or two I could see Craig claiming the top spot.

    Your name is Chuck, and you have Dalton as your photo? Must be a Chuck Season 4 fan? I like you already.
  • ChuckChuck
    Posts: 212
    FromCanadaWithLove wrote:
    Chuck wrote:
    As much as I like Daniel Craig, I have to give the edge to Dalton. They're close, but I just see Dalton being a bit more in line with Fleming's Bond than I do with Craig. Both are fantastic, though, and perhaps with another film or two I could see Craig claiming the top spot.

    Your name is Chuck, and you have Dalton as your photo? Must be a Chuck Season 4 fan? I like you already.

    I'm definitely a fan of Season 4, as well as the entire series (save for a few Season 5 episodes ;) ). Been a fan of Dalton even longer, as he's been my favorite Bond dating back to the first time I saw The Living Daylights sometime in the early 1990s, so needless to say I was quite pleased when they announced he was going to guest star on the show. :)
  • BounineBounine
    edited April 2012 Posts: 2,599
    My list:
    Best Bond: Sean Connery (in Dr No and FRWL as his portrayal of the character is darker. It becomes more light-hearted in the remainder of his Bond films)
    2nd: Timothy Dalton
    3rd: Daniel Craig (only slightly behind Dalton)
    4th: Roger Moore
    5th equal: George Lazenby and Pierce Brosnan

    If Dr No and FRWL hadn't have been made and the series began with GF where Connery gave exactly the same performance, then I would rank Connery after Daniel Craig. I prefer the darker portrayals of the character that are in line with the literary man.

    ...or maybe equal with Craig. :)
  • identigraphidentigraph
    Posts: 1,052
    I think the timing has been kinder to Craig, Dalton followed a string of 7 films with one actor who became identified with the role, despite whether you like him or not and TLD came out within the usual timeline, CR came out after a four year gap and had the advantage of a reboot etc, Dalton didn't get this treatment.
    Also these days anything with name recognition or any kind of franchise always seem to do good business whereas in the late 80's Bond was maybe seen as a bit old fashioned?

    Did Dalton get the same kind of hype as Craig for his debut was Timbo promoted enough?
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,584
    A thread titled 'Daniel Craig or Timothy Dalton' is surely left open to interpretation?

    Earlier in the thread I discussed them as cinema stars and was told this thread is about which is the best Bond. Now it seems it's about which one interprets Ian Fleming's book character the best.

    Well, Craig is the greater film actor, Craig is the greater Bond, but which one captures Fleming's character best? No idea, it's so long since I read the books! But I do remember that in Casino Royale Bond habitually called Vesper 'darling', a term neither of the above use, and the only Bond actor who did? Sir Rog.
  • 007RogerMoore007RogerMoore
    Posts: 1,082
    Connery said "darling" to Romanova in FRWL.
  • jayemjayem
    edited April 2012 Posts: 1
    I prefer Timothy Dalton where he played a more realistic, more humane side of James Bond but still with class and sophistication in tradition to the previous Bond films. Daniel Craig is a good actor, a great action star but not convincing as Bond. When I watched his last two movies i keep on reminding myself that I'm watching a Bond movie and that Craig is portraying James Bond not as Jason Bourne nor Xander Cage. Definitely he lacks the charisma and elegance of a true James Bond.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited April 2012 Posts: 11,189
    NicNac wrote:
    A thread titled 'Daniel Craig or Timothy Dalton' is surely left open to interpretation?

    Earlier in the thread I discussed them as cinema stars and was told this thread is about which is the best Bond. Now it seems it's about which one interprets Ian Fleming's book character the best.

    Well, Craig is the greater film actor, Craig is the greater Bond, but which one captures Fleming's character best? No idea, it's so long since I read the books! But I do remember that in Casino Royale Bond habitually called Vesper 'darling', a term neither of the above use, and the only Bond actor who did? Sir Rog.

    and Broz at the very end of GE ;)

    "darling...what could possibly go wrong hey?"

    There was also Connery in GF:

    "a little lower darling"
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,584
    Yes, I was guessing I must admit... ;)
  • PussfellaPussfella
    Posts: 56
    what a tough one!

    but it's pretty clear how much of a debt dan owes tim - see my previous post ref. john glen telling me that "tim dalton was ahead of his time"

    i think i and a lot of people love tim dalton because he was the first bond i saw in the cinema - and his reign was so cruelly robbed by court room bs..

    what i love about craig is that he's clearly much more into tim dalton's interpretation than he let's on - that bit at the beginning of Casino when he chastises his mi6 colleague for having his finger in his ear - is pure dalton/smithers
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    Dalton is ahead in the poll and all is right with the world again :)
  • MollyMolly
    edited April 2012 Posts: 17
    Come on, DC in CR was "basically" just out of the MI6 training, and cannot be compared with the others, he's like the Alpha, I've liked all of the actors, comparison, unless in the same movie is made by all actors, is subjective. I'm still with Craig ahead of Dalton. The movies have so much more to do with the producers, directors and stories, it's whether we like watching the person and excepting them as that character than anything. Craig is a younger version, which is what they were going for, up against the Bourne movies, etc. I didn't think I would accept him as Bond either, but he proved me wrong. I did and do like him. Still Craig . . . .
  • casino007casino007
    Posts: 6
    Timothy Dalton most certainly reverted back to Fleming's Bond following the Moore legacy. Don't get me wrong, I really like Roger, I have listened to his audiobook many, many times but he did approach Bond very differently. However, Casino Royale has got to be considered as one of the best. Timothy Dalton was great and I have watched both films many times though he was criticised for his over-serious portrayal and I believe Daniel (albeit a serious portrayal) did in my opinion add something extra though I am bound to be biased as I grew up in the same town as he did.
  • MollyMolly
    Posts: 17
    Re: casino007
    You're allowed, you grew up in the same town . . . most acceptable :)
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    How come every time Dalton is in the lead, afew more people pop up and vote for Craig??? CONSPIRACY!!!
  • MollyMolly
    Posts: 17
    We just cannot help ourselves . . . :)
    Have a great day/evening.
  • SirHenryLeeChaChingSirHenryLeeChaChing
    edited April 2012 Posts: 3,494
    I have to pop in long enough to say that I cannot decide. I love both of these guys as witnessed below- I will wait for Skyfall and Craig's classic interpretation to decide-

    1. Connery
    2 (tie) Dalton and Craig
    4. Moore
    5. Lazenby
    6. Brosnan
    Molly wrote:
    Come on, DC in CR was "basically" just out of the MI6 training, and cannot be compared with the others, he's like the Alpha, I've liked all of the actors, comparison, unless in the same movie is made by all actors, is subjective. I'm still with Craig ahead of Dalton. The movies have so much more to do with the producers, directors and stories, it's whether we like watching the person and excepting them as that character than anything. Craig is a younger version, which is what they were going for, up against the Bourne movies, etc. I didn't think I would accept him as Bond either, but he proved me wrong. I did and do like him. Still Craig . . . .

    That is what I have been saying for the past 6 years. Glad you have the intelligence to see that!
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,584
    identigraph wrote:
    I think the timing has been kinder to Craig, Dalton followed a string of 7 films with one actor who became identified with the role, despite whether you like him or not and TLD came out within the usual timeline, CR came out after a four year gap and had the advantage of a reboot etc, Dalton didn't get this treatment.
    Also these days anything with name recognition or any kind of franchise always seem to do good business whereas in the late 80's Bond was maybe seen as a bit old fashioned?

    Did Dalton get the same kind of hype as Craig for his debut was Timbo promoted enough?

    Now I don't agree with this @identigraph. I see it the other way round. After a tired Moore gave up the role the world was desperate and ready for a new Bond. Media attention and the eyes of the world were truly focused. Dalton couldn't lose really.

    Craig also came in on the back of a popular osutgoing Bond so no difference other than the fact everyone thought Brosnan had another film in him (Moore clearly didn't).

    As for the franchise, Bond had little competition in the mid 80s compared to today so he had more advantage. And he was promoted just as much as Craig but without the world wide web to either help or hinder.

    No, the success or otherwise of a new Bond will always come down to the film itself and the popularity of the actor in that film.
  • identigraphidentigraph
    Posts: 1,052
    You may be right NicNac, maybe Dalton just didn't excite people, but I think the amount of competion in the mid 80's is maybe underestimated this was the era of the blockbuster and new franchises were born such as Indiana Jones and Back to the Future as well as more violent action films which may have made Bond look tame (Die Hard, Leathal Weapon etc).
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    Posts: 12,837
    I think there was plenty of competition in the 80s. TLD managed to beat Die Hard (released at the same time), and the past 2 Moore films so I think it did well.

    LTK didn't do very well because of bad advertising, the new 15 rating, and it was put up against Batman, Lethal Weapon, Indiana Jones, etc.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited April 2012 Posts: 11,189
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    I think there was plenty of competition in the 80s. TLD managed to beat Die Hard (released at the same time), and the past 2 Moore films so I think it did well.

    LTK didn't do very well because of bad advertising, the new 15 rating, and it was put up against Batman, Lethal Weapon, Indiana Jones, etc.

    Die Hard was released a year later in 1988. The films in '87 were Leathel Weapon, Predator, Dirty Dancing and The Untouchables - pretty big movies. According to the US box office TLD did quite well but still came below all of these.

    The sad truth is that most American's weren't all that fond of Timothy Dalton.

    http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=1987&p=.htm
  • NicNacNicNac Administrator, Moderator
    Posts: 7,584
    No, Dalton wasn't popular in USA, the most important individual market for Bond. I'm always a bit of a Dalton-basher but I loved TLD (still do) and accept that LTK was probably the worst promoted of all Bonds at a time when it needed every ounce of help because of the imergance of other franchises around that time.
  • thelivingroyalethelivingroyale
    edited April 2012 Posts: 12,837
    BAIN123 wrote:
    thelivingroyale wrote:
    I think there was plenty of competition in the 80s. TLD managed to beat Die Hard (released at the same time), and the past 2 Moore films so I think it did well.

    LTK didn't do very well because of bad advertising, the new 15 rating, and it was put up against Batman, Lethal Weapon, Indiana Jones, etc.

    Die Hard was released a year later in 1988. The films in '87 were Leathel Weapon, Predator, Dirty Dancing and The Untouchables - pretty big movies. According to the US box office TLD did quite well but still came below all of these.

    The sad truth is that most American's weren't all that fond of Timothy Dalton.

    http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=1987&p=.htm

    That's right, thanks. But still, even though he wasn't that popular in America, he still had lots of competition, and TLD did well enough. LTK had bad advertising, lots of competition and a higher rating.
  • identigraphidentigraph
    Posts: 1,052
    Timbo's films still made decent money, not as big as most of the previous entries but still profitable, the fact he only made two and the huge gap between LTK and GE due to legal issues, has always given people the impression that Dalton nearly destroyed the series but who knows what would have happen if he had made a third.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited April 2012 Posts: 11,189
    identigraph wrote:
    Timbo's films still made decent money, not as big as most of the previous entries but still profitable, the fact he only made two and the huge gap between LTK and GE due to legal issues, has always given people the impression that Dalton nearly destroyed the series but who knows what would have happen if he had made a third.

    I still maintain that, had he done it, GE would not have been as successful as it was - despite the long gap. Yeah I'm sure it would have done fairly well but it wouldn't have been the powerhouse it was IMO. Rog, who suffered a similar situation with TMWTGG and TSWLM was already hugely popular with the public in America thanks to The Saint and The Persuaders, hence he didn't need to try as hard to win them over. Thats what a lot of people forget.
  • identigraphidentigraph
    Posts: 1,052
    I know when I was growing up I never heard a good word about Dalton, it seems he was seen as a bit of a disaster by the general public and I was generally dismissive of him myself until I watched LTK properly for the first time.
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