Who's your favorite James Bond?

[mussel]

Who's your favorite James Bond? And why?

 

[Tokyo Slim]

Dalton is my favorite. Why? I have no idea. Cause he's a shark that pretends to be a man... Or maybe its because The Living Daylights was the first Bond I ever saw...

Dalton suffered from bad writing, but was probably the most believable to me. He's very capable.

Connery was great, he set the bar, but the movies themselves sometimes lack believable action. Craig might be great, in subsequent movies, the jury is still out, but if he can get better writing, he might make something great. Lazenby was better than Brosnan, but wore preposterous clothes and had horrible music. Brosnan was better than Moore, and actually, Goldeneye is probably the fifth or sixth best bond movie IMO, but all his other ones stink.And poor Roger Moore...he sucks, and yet made more Bond movies than anyone else, trying his best to destroy the franchise.

Thats my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Full Canvas]

Timothy Dalton is a ruthless, amoral, handsome ladies' man with a possible scintilla of compassion. He is a true rogue. Despite the scripting/directing handicap I noted in another current thread, Dalton menaced better with a glance than any of the others. My daughter could fend for herself with any of the other Bonds. I wouldn't give her even odds with Dalton.

Let's see what Daniel Craig can bring to the party in a reprise. He may well be the equal of Dalton regardless of having better scripting and directing. For now, my vote is with Dalton.
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[Full Canvas]

Gentlemen! All these votes and little or no justification, perhaps a villain cut your tongue away? Explain your preference, please!
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[Aaron]

....

 

[RJman]

You left off Barry Nelson, Peter Sellers, David Niven, Daliah Lavi, Ursula Andress, Barbara Bouchet, and a few others from earlier versions of Casino Royale...

 

[von Rothbart]

I voted for Dalton. I still think Clive Owens would have been a better Bond than Daniel Craig.

 

[Tokyo Slim]

Oh man, its neck and neck Connery vs Dalton...

 

[Ramses]

I have never watched an entire JB film, I only watch the opening cast sequence.

 

[Full Canvas]

Some interesting trivia awaits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Dalton
Two samples of the trivia are below.

Excerpt:
". . . Dalton had been offered the role of James Bond twice. In 1968, he was asked to replace Sean Connery, who declared that he would not do another James Bond movie - which became On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) - after You Only Live Twice (1967). Dalton turned the offer down, feeling he was too young for the role and because of what he felt was an imposing legacy left behind by Connery; the role finally went to George Lazenby. During the late 1970s, he was approached again, but he did not favour the direction the movies were taking. As he explained, his idea of Bond was different. Work commitments made him again refuse the role in 1986, but when asked a fourth time, he agreed to appear in three James Bond films."

Excerpt:
"James Bond's parentage in Fleming's novels is that of the union of a Swiss mother and a Scottish father, both parents dying in a climbing accident in the Alps. In this way, Timothy Dalton's physical attributes closely match the result of such a parentage, and he has been described as being the closest genetic composite of James Bond."
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[montecristo#4]

Good lord. Dalton sucks. The wimpiest Bond ever.

Connery gets my vote for setting the bar. He also had a physical presence that most of the other Bonds lack, with the possible exception of Lazenby, who I'd rank #2.

Haven't seen the new Bond yet.

 

[Full Canvas]

It's certainly interesting to read the various ideals and opinions. I wonder how many voters/posters have actually read any of Fleming's novels.

Originally Posted by montecristo#4

Good lord. Dalton sucks. The wimpiest Bond ever.

Connery gets my vote for setting the bar. He also had a physical presence that most of the other Bonds lack, with the possible exception of Lazenby, who I'd rank #2.

Haven't seen the new Bond yet.

It is a little piquant that you voted while admitting to not having seen all the Bonds. Nevertheless, I feel rather certain you are not the only one doing so.

At least you had the energy and gumption to explain your vote for Connery. I agree that Connery has great physical presence in the role.

But . . . you actually think Lazenby had physical presence on screen? If showing up and standing in front of the camera is the sole criteria for physical presence, then Lazenby had it. Yes, your word "rank" is descriptive of Lazenby's portrayal.

On another note, the service kitchen of the Whaling Bar at La Valencia Hotel makes the best Monte Cristo sandwiches!
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[visionology]

I like Roger Moore, followed closely by Connery. I like the sense of humor he brought and the sarcasm.

 

[montecristo#4]

Originally Posted by Full Canvas

It's certainly interesting to read the various ideals and opinions. I wonder how many voters/posters have actually read any of Fleming's novels.



It is a little piquant that you voted while admitting to not having seen all the Bonds. Nevertheless, I feel rather certain you are not the only one doing so.

Hard to believe that you are offended because I haven't seen a movie that came out three days ago. Since I've seen every other Bond at least ten times, plus read my share of Fleming, I think I'm entitled to an opinion.

Originally Posted by Full Canvas

At least you had the energy and gumption to explain your vote for Connery. I agree that Connery has great physical presence in the role.

But . . . you actually think Lazenby had physical presence on screen? If showing up and standing in front of the camera is the sole criteria for physical presence, then Lazenby had it. Yes, your word "rank" is descriptive of Lazenby's portrayal.

All of the first three Bonds (Connery, Lazenby, Moore) were physically large actors. After that, they shrank the character (funny how so many actors these days are smaller). I am hoping the new Bond offers a return to the larger, more phyically intimidating Bonds of old. FWIW, I enjoy the Moore movies but I think his character is just a bit too over the top, campy and sardonic to really be Bond.

 

[Full Canvas]

Originally Posted by montecristo#4

Hard to believe that you are offended because I haven't seen a movie that came out three days ago. Since I've seen every other Bond at least ten times, plus read my share of Fleming, I think I'm entitled to an opinion.

Sheesh! How you inferred any offense taken is a mystery to me. I believe I remarked on the piquancy of any vote (the poll and thread are about one's favorite Bond) without the voter seeing all of the candidates. I suppose it is possible to have a favorite without a complete sampling.

As for entitlement, certainly it is yours whether or not you saw any of the Bond films or read any of Fleming's work.

Originally Posted by montecristo#4

All of the first three Bonds (Connery, Lazenby, Moore) were physically large actors. After that, they shrank the character (funny how so many actors these days are smaller). I am hoping the new Bond offers a return to the larger, more phyically intimidating Bonds of old. FWIW, I enjoy the Moore movies but I think his character is just a bit too over the top, campy and sardonic to really be Bond.

Lazenby 6'2½" http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493872/bio
Dalton 6'2" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Dalton
Connery 6'2" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Connery
Moore 6'2" http://www.allmovieportal.com/c/rogermoore.html
Brosnan 6'1" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierce_Brosnan
Craig 5'11" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Craig

Shrank? If the citations are correct, all actors are physically large by my standard. I am 5'9".

For me, all the films (including the relatively disappointing On Her Majesty's Secret Service) are fun and entertaining. That doesn't preclude anyone's ability to passionately express an opinion. Hopefully, it is all in good fun!

Try the sandwich if you are near the hotel. Undoubtedly, your #4 will be even more satisfying after the repast.
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