Who is James Bond?

[Smokey]

Everyone has a favorite Bond actor, and more often than not they don't like any of the others. In light of Rensa's warnings, I have decided to stir up this particular nest of controversy and ask you all who Bond is to you.

Personally, Pierce Brosnan will always be Bond, 'cause that's who I grew up with, but I've learned to appreciate Connery. As for Craig, no matter how badass he may be, he just doesn't look like Bond.

[Darc Requiem]

Everyone knows that George Lazenby is Bond. Come on Smokey, I'd expect you to know that ;)

[Tanooki]

Connery for the win as he really does the best job aside from Daniel Craig in capturing the true book version sadist cold bastard murder machine that James Bond is supposed to be in his spying like ways. The others are kind of pretty boys (and not so pretty in some cases) babe magnets that kill a few things, blow up a few things, and just move along, but they don't really fit the role.

[Lizzaroni]

I've seen two Bond movies: Goldfinger and Casino Royale. The reason is that I really disliked the Bond I saw in Goldfinger and had no real interest to watch a movie where the guy always wins, both the girl and against the villain. As a character, that just seemed really dull, almost a Mary Sue. Craig's bond is a bit rougher around the edges and reminds me of Reilly Ace of Spies (a series I highly recommend to anyone who enjoyed Casino Royale.) I'm pretty convinced that all other portrayals are closet homosexuals, but maybe they're just really British.

[Smokey]

Everyone knows that George Lazenby is Bond. Come on Smokey, I'd expect you to know that ;)

Then why did "Bond" only play in one movie?:P

[virion]

daniel craig revamped the bond series into something that was enjoyable once again. i still need to see quantum of solace.. i'm going to download it right now.

[Z.E.I.D.A.N]

Daniel Craig can kick the other guys' asses, so there's your answer.

[Darc Requiem]

Then why did "Bond" only play in one movie?:P

Simply because Her Majesty's Secret Service was so spectacular that no movie hence has ever topped it ;)

*Actually its because Lazenby didn't like all the attention. Following Connery was a huge deal. They actually did want to continue with him as Bond, he just turned them down. It's part of the reason why Connery was Bond for so long.

[Monkeylord]

Missed a couple of Bonds off your list there:


David Niven (First Casino Royale, which was the first 007 movie filmed in 1967
Barry Nelson (Famously the first actor filmed as Bond in the 1954 TV adaptation of Casino Royale)

[Darc Requiem]

^You forgot the voice actor for the James Bond Jr. Animated Cartoon series ;)

[MR EPIC]

I grew up with Roger Moore but I think Pierce Brosnan was the best. Goldeney is easily my favorite Bond movie of the bunch.

[Monkeylord]

^You forgot the voice actor for the James Bond Jr. Animated Cartoon series ;)

I was only going on screen actors... but if you want voice actors included then there have been many who'd portrayed Bond in radio plays, the first of which is the legendary Bob Holness who played him in a South African radio play back in the 50's (or was it 60's?).













I'm not gonna list them all.

[DEATHSTAR]

I haven't been interested in any Bond movie made in my adult life. Roger Moore and Sean Connery were the bonds of my youth and I'd give Moore the slight edge.

This new dude, never knew his name until just now, hasn't compelled me to see his interpretation of bond either.

And I agree that all of them are sissified versions of what Bond is really supposed to be.

Truth be told I like Jame Coburn (Flint) better than Bond.

[Smokey]

Arguably, Daniel Craig is more badass than the others, but he just doesn't look like Bond. From Connery on to Brosnan, they've all had black hair, or something really close. Sandy brown hair? Not Bond.

[HGW XX/7]

Connery all the way. I suppose Brosnan if you don't mind James Bond being a cartoon of the real thing, for some reason I couldn't take him seriously in any of the movies (doesn't mean I didn't like them though).

Maybe it's because I always think of him being allergic to pepper from Mrs. Doubtfire?

Also, Sean Connery, even in his current old man state, could beat the living daylights (see what I did there?) out of Daniel Craig.

[prime_timer]

lawl, living daylights.

I'm partial to Pierce Brosnan myself.

[Darc Requiem]

All jokes aside, Brosnan and Connery are close for me. I give the edge to Connery because he was Bond before I was born and he still resonates with me. Brosnan did get screwed with those Roger Moore style outlandish Bond movies near the end of his run. Of he didn't get stuck with Moon Raker. Live and Let Die was awesome though. Brosnan should have been Bond instead of Dalton to begin with.

[Tanooki]

Nice to see Connery up there as he was for the longest time the closest thing to the book Bond, and visually so still is. Daniel Craig though is while not looking as much the part, is closer by far to the sadist bastard of the print that formed so many of these movies today.

If you could take Connery in some style and visual and combine him with the cruelty factor and coldness of Craig you'd have a damn fine book Bond representation. To see the two of them fighting for first is nice.

On a side note I grew up in the era of Moore and then Dalton. Dalton was ok, but not great... Moore I never liked. He seemed just fake, didn't fit the part, and didn't look the part either. I found later he was only chosen because in his day he was a pretty boy male model and the ladies loved him so he got it...lame. While I grew up in that era though I started with Connery and moved up through the lot of them until seeing them 'new' with Dalton and then Brosnan.

[Brian-AMN]

I'd say Connery is the best Bond actor (and certainly the best actor to play Bond), but I like the Roger Moore movies better (at least most of them). Brosnan was a good Bond, but 3 out of four of his films are pretty bad (the scripts and style are lacking). I thought Casino Royale was just okay, but not great and haven't seen the new one (and don't think I'm going to).

[Smokey]

The latest one is great for an action film, but it isn't Bond if you're used to Brosnan and, if From Russia With Love was any indication, Connery. Still, it's worth at least one visit to the cinema. Olga's hot.:)

[RivenWinner]

Timothy Dalton gets my vote. It's a shame legalities got in the way of EON making more Bond films in the early 90s with Dalton, because I'm sure things would have turned out quite well. Dalton was someone who brought a level of seriousness and darkness to the role, and both of his films are quite solid. Yes, they contain flaws, but what Bond film doesn't (aside from "FRWL" and "OHMSS")? I liked his interpretation of the character, and being an actor who started on stage early in his career he certainly is the one Bond actor who has had the greatest depth and diversity of characters throughout his career. Sadly, his film career never really took off after the mid 90s or so. Makes me sad.

Sean Connery is great for obvious reasons. He was the first one and brought many of the literary characteristics to the screen in his interpretation. He was witty, good looking, dangerous and charming all at the same time. The early Bond films are great, because they maintain their romantic and exotic feel of adventure during the 1960s.

Roger Moore was pretty good looking in his early career, but I find that he aged a lot faster than the other Bonds (although he was the oldest actor to both begin and end playing Bond). Moore is an entirely different Bond, especially when compared to the literary figure, but despite some of his lighthearted Bond films, I really still enjoy him as Bond. It's a different take for a different time. The adventures and locations that Moore's Bond took us are ones that I continue to be fascinated with. Sir Roger is also quite possibly one of the classiest men out there, and he continues to work hard today for the UN.

Lazenby should never have been chosen. To begin with, he wasn't even an actor, but that being said, for his first (and only) Bond film, I thought he did a good job. It certainly helps that "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is one of the best Bond films. Being an expert in martial arts, he filmed various Hong Kong action films, and was on the verge of a major blockbuster with a project that he and Bruce Lee were getting ready to film, although Lee sadly died before filming commenced.

When asking around and looking on the internet Pierce Brosnan is usually brought up as being the best Bond. A lot of this has to do with the fact that Brosnan is the Bond that many people grew up with, and that's understandable. I think Brosnan is a good Bond as he combines many aspects from previous characters. I always felt that he was too handsome though, and that bothered me somewhat. It's a shame he was never given the opportunity to work on a "down to earth serious" Bond film, like he always wanted to. Instead, he was stuck with influx of one liners, massive explosions and guns spraying all over the place. That bothered me, as James Bond is not a Rambo type character. And of course, there is "Die Another Day" which in my mind is the worst Bond film. I feel like Brosnan could have given us one or maybe two more Bond films.

I was very satisfied with the choice of Daniel Craig. He was British, and relatively unknown outside of the Isles. Like Dalton, he also came from acting background. His rugged looks, very reminiscent of Steve McQueen, don't exactly come to my mind when I think of James Bond, but again, it's all part of his interpretation of the character. I hope EON will keep him for several more Bond adventures.


In summary, I enjoy all the Bond actors for different reasons, just as I enjoy all the Bond films for different reasons.

[Smokey]

Lazenby should never have been chosen. To begin with, he wasn't even an actor, but that being said, for his first (and only) Bond film, I thought he did a good job. It certainly helps that "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is one of the best Bond films. Being an expert in martial arts, he filmed various Hong Kong action films, and was on the verge of a major blockbuster with a project that he and Bruce Lee were getting ready to film, although Lee sadly died before filming commenced.

Really? That's crazy. I thought I pretty much knew Lee's life story.

I was very satisfied with the choice of Daniel Craig. He was British, and relatively unknown outside of the Isles. Like Dalton, he also came from acting background. His rugged looks, very reminiscent of Steve McQueen, don't exactly come to my mind when I think of James Bond, but again, it's all part of his interpretation of the character. I hope EON will keep him for several more Bond adventures.

Okay, someone's gonna have to tell me, 'cause I haven't read the novels. Does Bond have black hair in the novels? Or is Craig a better Bond analog than I would have realized? I've always thought that the image was just as important as the actions when it comes to Bond and other such action flicks.

[virion]

after quantum of solace craig is actually signed on to make 2 more bond movies.. and maybe a 5th.