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Yeah I've always said that: Dalton's Bond misses the swagger, the total self-confidence that Bond should have. All of the other screen Bonds understood that: even Lazenby.
Craig's Bond is basically Dalton's Bond but with added swagger. Dalton's Bond doubts himself, whereas Craig's Bond, just like Connery's and Moore's, absolutely knows for a fact that he has the biggest balls in the room :D
And audiences love that, and that's why they love Craig's Bond but never connected to Dalton's. Plus Craig just has movie star charisma that Dalton never quite had.
It's odd, because in many of his other films Dalton actually shows that charisma and is the biggest actor in them, but in Bond he doesn't quite manage it.
Just to show I can be reasonable and find some middle ground to agree on, this part I actually do agree with.
I also think Connery is a far superior cinematic actor to Dalton (and Craig) too. That doesn't mean either Connery or Craig nailed Fleming Bond.
Fleming Bond isn't really a larger-than-life charismatic character, not really humorous, probably not someone you would want to spend much time with. I'd even go as far as saying probably slightly dull and introvert. Even a slight recluse.
Dalton isn't that charismatic either, which is why he pulls if off brilliantly. Not overly great for fans of cinematic Bond (obviously), but great for fans of Fleming Bond.
Indeed: that's why I actually find Lazenby to be the closest. The only thing he gets a bit off is that he comes across as slightly smug, which Fleming's Bond isn't, but otherwise there's not much wrong.
Agreed, 100%. Dalton is my favourite Bond for this very reason.
OHMSS is one of my favourite films, and I like Lazenby in the role too. I partly agree with this, but just feel Lazenby lacked the acting chops that Dalton or Craig had to really pull it off properly. There are times in the film when you just know Lazenby is acting, awaiting instructions from Hunt in the way he nods, moves his head, eyebrows, etc.
When Bond has his first meeting with Blofeld, who is describing his family history, Lazenby really looks bored and wooden in his reaction to what Savalas is telling him. Likewise in his 2 way scene with Draco in Portugal, Lazenby is too inexperienced and at times it really shows.
In terms of Dalton I have to say I love his performance in TLD. Especially the first half. Fleming or cinematic Bond, who cares? He just nails it. Again I think Dalton at his best aces any of Craig's performances. LTK has always been slightly problematic for me. I used to actually really dislike it as a movie but have come to appreciate it more over the years. Surprisingly I really appreciate Pam a lot more. She's quite entertaining - definitely the best American Bond girl. But I find it hard to buy into the idea that it's an underappreciated classic. I think it's a lot better than many casual fans give it credit for, but not a classic.
Coming back to Craig I just think it's so obvious that CR and QOS are his best performances. I don't love his take on Bond like I do the first 4 actors, but in CR and QOS there's just this energy and momentum that carries those films along. I really think QOS is the standout for me. Maybe it's because the film was a little bit troubled and he is stressed out, but I just feel it brings out his best. He's on fire in QOS.
I don't get the same energy or intensity from SF at all. And I just don't think he's that great an actor that you want to watch him moping around depressed. There are some big stars where you're happy to watch them doing practically anything. Connery for example. But I don't have that with Craig. There are moments where his Bond just bores me and he looks like a hired thug who doesn't know why he's there.
Craig might be a better actor than Dalton, I haven't seen much of Daltons work outside Bond (I have probably seen more of Craig, than Dalton). but Craig isn't a cinematic actor. Craigs fan club make him out to be some major movie star. What kind of Wonderland is this? He is a character actor that lucked out on Bond, and only Bond.
Oh yeah; he's not a good star at all. But as you said, we're not talking good actors or stars, just who's closest to Fleming. And for my money that's Lazenby, because he doesn't add as much as the others do (because he's not an actor!) and there's not really all that much to Fleming's Bond to start with.
Craig isn't Fleming's Bond at all, I'd agree: he's more interesting. As is Dalton's psychopathic version.
Wise words. Pretty much sums up my views on Craig as well. I saw him in Knives Out the other day and wasn't that impressed. I realised halfway through that he was doing a (half decent) impersonation of Kevin Spacey in House of Cards. It all felt a bit wooden and forced. It made me wish they'd cast Spacey himself, who would have relished the role and stolen every scene.
Yes Craig is a decent character actor. And his string of underperforming big budget movies outside Bond show he doesn't really have the star power himself. He must have sunk more franchises than pretty much any other actor. How he turned TGWTDT into a turkey I will never know, although Fincher must bear some responsibility.
The tank chase isn’t supposed to be suspenseful.
It's probably supposed to be intense and exciting. I like it, but fair play if it isn't for everyone.
It's fun. And it's funny. I laughed the whole way through when I first saw it. And if you try to claim that that's not as good as 'suspense' then you've missed that Bond films are supposed to make you laugh as well as excite you: there's nothing lesser in making good fun.
And it's a huge character moment about Bond and the lengths he will go to, and the bonding moment Natalya has with him in that sequence.
Quite right.
And, important to note, it wouldn't be any more suspenseful if it was Bond being chased in a tank! ;)
+1.
Lazenby does nail the tragic scene at the end. Also, by the time we reach the action finale, with Lazenby laid flat out on the ice, sliding and shooting at everyone, we have really accepted him as Bond by this point in the movie. I always feel this was his defining moment in embodying the role as Bond every time I see OHMSS.
Funny enough, I don't think Dalton's performance is that great in TLD. For me its LTK where he really grows into the part.
And when it comes to cinematic Bond, forget Craig. No one beats Connery.
I genuinely do think they're neck and neck now. Connery is obviously superb (surely no-one would argue that, would they?) but for a lot of people Craig simply is Bond.
For me, no-one gives me more pleasure to watch than Roger, but I think in terms of best, it's Craig and Connery right up there at the top.
I know what you mean, I see where you are coming from. Maybe what I like more about TLD is how the lightness of what could have been just another Moore Bond, is tempered by Dalton's performance.
Craig got the keys to the castle, Dalton barely got the drawbridge up.
Craig did not make TGWTDT a turkey!
Why don't you just admit you don't like him.
You have real hard on over Skyfall and how not so good Craig is, it's all getting a bit tiring.
Have you got yourself some kind of bat signal when Skyfall is mentioned that you must chime in once again?
You are quite pathetic.
You're the one who's having a meltdown.
Grow up.
Coming into an appreciation thread continuously to slag it off shows what an empty life you must have.
The film wasn't a turkey.
It was made for USD90 million
It made USD 130 million in NA
USD 232 million WW.
It's a well known joke that Sony pushed to release this in the CHRISTMAS SEASON. A dark thriller about a f***** up family and one of their missing kin.
Yes, Sony expected more money. They screwed up their marketing campaign thinking they could release something this dark as counter-programming for the Holiday season. And then they screwed up again recently by re-casting with lesser talent in front of and behind the lense.
But that's on Sony. Not on Craig, and certainly not on Fincher!
Dislike an actor all you want, but this is a well known marketing screw-up. The "feel bad movie of the season" was its tag-line. They were right about that.
I'm not a moderator, but I think that is quite enough with insulting each other, yes? We can agree or disagree (the latter sometimes vehemently) but personal attacks do not need be a part of it.
I became a bigger DC fan because of TGWTDT. I went to see it because of Rooney Mara...and did like her in the film. But I was shocked by how good DC was. I think he brought a lot of the inner turmoil from Blomqvist's character to Bond in SF. The two were filmed practically back to back. Similarly, a case could be made that Connery's work in Marnie affected (positively) his work in GF and TB.
@TripAces -- the same thing happened to me (I didn't go and see TGWTDT because of Mara, but I left the cinema a bigger fan of Craig (and Mara)). And I thought he was great as the theatrical Benoit Blanc... I've mentioned this before: my 18 year old boy noticed how different Craig moved as the character. Slower. He was more hound dog, than James Bond. I'm happy that we will get another film (at least), of Blanc's misadventures!
EDIT: to get back to the thread title, SF isn't the best Bond film in my opinion. But it is neck and neck with CR (behind only OHMSS and FRWL)... I'd say CR and SF are my third favourite Bond films.