It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
nice. the tide is turning on dalts
When I saw The Living Daylights back in 1987, the cinema roared with laughter when Dalton said : "Why didn't you learn the violin?!". If that is not a great one liner in that situation then I do not know what is. And I doubt Moore or Connery could have done it any better. And they were the masters of the one liner for sure!
Dalton was dry and he used his eyes to convey humour. And he had style as well as panache. When he is smoking that cigarette at Uuniversal Exports whilst Q is explaining about the woman who strangles with her thighs.
Love the "Salt Corrosion" one too which is classic sarcasm.
What is up with this "relaxed" concept. Bond is a sadistic bastard and has killed many. Dalton was relaxed where the scene called for it like when he is courting Kara. Fleming's Bond was a tense bastard and Dalton wanted to convey that.
The attitude of Bond is film and story dependent. Daylights is cold war and bear in mind 00 agents had been killed and would you be relaxed if you are on a list for being killed? Bond is more like a real spy than Playboy.
An old friend's father who was a spy during WW2 told him that if any spy behaved like Roger Moore, he would end up getting a terrible death. It's a ruthless business and not a holiday. He liked Dalton's grit and realism.
Bond in the books is not a nice character. Dalton played him close to that. And you cannot ignore the books or why does every film say "As Ian Fleming's James Bond 007".
Anthony Hopkins got praised as Hannibal Lecter for being close to the book. In Bond you get destroyed for that unless you are Daniel Craig.
The fact is that there are some poor people out there who just don't get Dalts. They're missing out big time with all their talk of him being too 'serious', 'thespy', not humorous enough ot too dark or whatever it is this week. The fact is that those in the know have realised for a long time that he is one of the best. Even though he only did two, he amply demomstrated that he was more than worthy of the role. Cubby knew this and stuck with him for years, even though the dumb studio and Renny Harlin wanted him out. He even carried Cubby's coffin at his funeral. as Bond Dalton was pure class. He treated Bond like a real character and for some people that just wasn't allowed. And so we had to endure a decade of Austin Reed Bond - a supposed imitation of Moore, but without the wit, style or acting ability.
But after Bourne Eon knew that the only way forward was to reinvent Bond as a character driven series, paving the way for Mr Craig to step in. I guess if you're going to be entirely honest DC's Bond owes more to Matt Damon than TD, but it would still be nice to hear Craig acknowledge that Dalton was doing similar stuff with the character two decades ago.
Classic!
Yes, you are right. I accepted Dalton because Cubby said he was going to be great. I trust Cubby's word and liked the previous entries. Cubby was honest to the audience and tried to always give them something new. He made no mistake with Dalton.
And I am seeing fans on Youtube saying Dalton even on his first film looks he has done several Bond films. The mark of a highly trained actor who knew what direction to take the series and not wait to be told. Cubby said that.
And I just saw a Youtube review of Skyfall and the fan loved Skyfall though he said his favourite Bonds are Connery and Dalton. Dalton was ahead of his time and will keep growing that way. Dalton is more the Sean Connery mould with his own style and Cubby said that back in 1987. Cubby knew Connery better than anyone here I can say as a fact! That will do me!
If I don't like Dalton then I don't like Bond. Simples!
that's exactly what i felt. Dalton stepped onto the screen as Bond in 87 and he was fully formed from the first moment. i still think that is a remarkable achievment. Rog didn't fully settle into the role until Spy IMO. DC was great in CR but IMO he was not yet the Bond we know and love. that was a deliberqte decision but it made his task slightly easier i think. he had three movies to grow now into the character and the films have been designed to explicitly allow him to do that. Dalts had to be 007 from day one and i think he achieved that perfectly.
I've always felt that Moore's famous car kick was performed just as well as anything Dalts ever did.
And OP
Man is it great to hear other people like you say that about Dalton. I spent the last twenty years arguing with people who wrote him off without having seen him. And Cubby alludes to that in his book. Yes Daniel gets the praise but he is following in the footsteps of others who made it possible for him to be the Bond he is.
I like Daniel as Bond, but do not have to like him by hating Roger, Tim or Pierce. And you rightly say that Daniel did not have to play the seasoned 007 straight away which was an advantage for sure.
And if I ever met Barbara Broccoli, I would tell her how much I liked her father for casting Dalton. I grew up with Moore and had no problem with the change. Moore was all I knew about Bond as a child. People are swayed too easily by the press and then repeat what they have read. Not intelligent or Bond like either. Bond thinks for himself.
That's the whole point about the "same character". What one actor was hated for the other is praised. Double standards. I am going to see Skyfall anyway, but always enjoy Bond more when the past contributions are respected.
As for the decades ago argument. We are still talking about Connery after 50 years from his debut. Bond has immense history and it is a compliment to Cubby as well as Harry that they did a great job in getting it right from the beginning.
It's literally only just come out, give us a chance! ;) I couldn't get premiere tickets, but I'm seeing it tonight. It looks like Craigs best though, could definetly be the best since GE or it might even beat that and be the best since LTK imo.
Well I've heard that argument used against Brosnan way more times than I can count on this site (Moore and Connery had done it all before, greatest hits, etc).
Like I said, it'll be a few more hours until I see SF but in CR/QOS, I can't see much from Craig that hasn't been done by past Bonds (mainly Dalton and Lazenby).
Doesn't bother me, I still like him as Bond, but I don't think it's fair that it can be used as an argument against one Bond actor but not the other.
I agree. Craig is fine and he can be enjoyed without this pointless need to elevate him above the others.
just below goldeneye i bet!
BAIN I am one of those who regularly says that Roger was underrated. Not only was his Bomd highly entertaining, but there is far more light and shade, seriousness and tension than most people give him credit for.
This ties in with my view of Dalton. I don't actually see Dalton as the 'dark' 'serious' 'thesp' that you do. Yes he played it straighter than Rog but for me these are gradations on a scale and not polar opposites. Dalton was working within a context that had been created by Sean and Rog.
For me PB is the only actor who stepped outside the tradition and really lost sight of the classic Bond. That's why I'm not a fan of his. He thought looking tall dark and handsome was all it took. Even Laz tried harder in the part than he did.
Contrary to popular perception, I'd say it's not Dalts but DC who is the most serious Bond so far. But I am looking forward to him lightening up a bit in SF.
Dalton was a great Bond and at least we can all confidently agree that they tried to do something different with the character and they did. However, audiences just weren't ready for it. With Craig, they've done something different too and of course, when actors are playing the same character, there will be character traits and hallmarks that are the same, similar or at the very least familiar and the 2 actors that are the most alike are probably Crsig and Dalton but like with everyone else, we have a preference and that's usually based on what sets them apart and in my OPINION Craig is better because I think he's just more interesting to watch based on his voice, his body language, physicality and overall demeanour. He embodies Bond in a way no other actor has since Sean Connery. Naturally as it's just my opinion I don't expect people to necessarily agree with my views.
I can see the positives in all the actors, with one exception...
I think DC is great casting but I haven't been blown away by either of his first two films. I am hoping SF changes all that. And the news that they've finally got rid of Purvis and Wade gives me great hope for the future.
is that to me?
if so, i'll let you know when I've seen it. i think i am going to like it.
it's not that i wasn't impressed by CR, i just wasn't that entertained. i don't go to see a Bond movie to get too serious. i am a big fan of DC's portrayal but i don't think the scripts or directing were all that great in either CR or QoS. I actually enjoyed QoS a lot more than CR though, so things are on an upward trajectory.
Me too. I like Craig as an intelligent actor. But his first two films to me are less rewatchable. They have some great moments and he surely does shine in them. A good friend of mine who used to sell me Bond posters says if you like the Bond of Licence To Kill, then Skyfall is the best thing going. It is adult oriented Bond. And he rarely praises the newer Bond films.
Sorry, it was to you. The damn auto correct on my iPhone can be a real pain.
ah yes, apple's auto correct. very annoying. and it gets the gender wrong!
http://twitchfilm.com/2012/10/twitch-in-bondage-why-timothy-dalton-was-the-best-bond.html
http://voices.yahoo.com/james-bond-turns-50-why-timothy-dalton-better-than-11806369.html
and the Incredible Suit's LTK review during the recent Blogalongabond:
http://theincrediblesuit.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/blogalongabond-licence-to-kill-best.html
I was going to post the TotalFilm one too, but someone else beat me to it.
I just want to clarify that I like both Craig and Dalton. They both have their outstanding qualities that don't necessarily match each other's. I just don't see it as a competition... they are both good and they will both have people who prefer one over the other. Craig would obviously win any popularity contests now because he is the current Bond and the Bondmachine is at an all time hyped-up high. I just appreciate Dalton for who he is and what he brought and he happens to be my favorite incarnation of Bond.
(and no I haven't watched SF but I just don't think it will make a difference in terms of who I personally enjoy the most. I won't go into it with any preconceived notions though. I will go into it full of excitement and ready to enjoy the hell out of myself).
If only... :( Still waiting here!!
By the way, thanks for the Dalton media info. Like you I will see Skyfall but there is something about Tim's Bond that was ultra unique and though I admire Daniel's Bond, Tim will be one of my favourites. I love the controversy of Dalton.
I don't know about you. But Clive Owen is a Dalton/Connery looker and I would have loved to see him do Bond. He reminds me of Tim.
There will never be another Connery or Dalton. Not in my lifetime. Those broke the mould when they left.
have to disagree. not a big owen fan. he has a VERY boring voice/accent. glad DC got the gig.