Favorite Bond actor

[EnriqueH]

Ha, I didn't read the article, but I heard he talks about a white actor playing Al Sharpton or MLKJ, which are BAD, BAD, BAD examples. He cited historical figures, people who actually existed. (Though I'm usually bored by biopics since they are often Hollywoodized and not as interesting as the real people. I was bored as hell by "Ali" and "Walk the Line".)

 

[Captaindemotion]

Limbaugh agrees: #Elbanotbond.

Nothing like being on the same side of an argument as Rush.

Gotta love an obese, ugly American man telling a fit, handsome Englishman that he's unqualified to play James Bond.

 

[EnriqueH]

Eh, in all fairness, we all take turns playing armchair quarterbacks on different topics.

Rush just gets paid for sharing them.

 

[Lance]

It's Dalton and Craig for me. I'm not elitist about the whole "Book Bond vs Movie Bond" thing, but even on their own merits, Dalton and Craig are the two that seem the most credible as 'real' agents. Even Connery's movies were too 'fantasy' for me to quite believe in them. Dalton and Craig were placed in situations which were credible and believable. The stakes are high and the performances reflect that.

 

[the G-man]

Eh, in all fairness, we all take turns playing armchair quarterbacks on different topics.

Rush just gets paid for sharing them.

I disagree with what Limbaugh in that I believe Elba'd be a great bond. That being said, from what I read, his criticism was that he thought the character should hue more closely to Fleming's depiction, who was white and Scottish. Saying you think a character should be played in the movie by an actor who more closely resembles the way the character was depicted in the book seems to be less a question of racism and more question of how much fealty you want to the original.

 

[Davros]

Peter Sellers

 

[EnriqueH]

It's Dalton and Craig for me. I'm not elitist about the whole "Book Bond vs Movie Bond" thing, but even on their own merits, Dalton and Craig are the two that seem the most credible as 'real' agents. Even Connery's movies were too 'fantasy' for me to quite believe in them. Dalton and Craig were placed in situations which were credible and believable. The stakes are high and the performances reflect that.

I think Connery in the first two Bond films---"Dr. No" and "From Russia With Love"---resemble that realistic agent that you admire in Dalton and Craig. Highly recommend you see them if you haven't. In Goldfinger and beyond, it started becoming more of that spectacle that the series has become known for.

Eh, in all fairness, we all take turns playing armchair quarterbacks on different topics.

Rush just gets paid for sharing them.

I disagree with what Limbaugh in that I believe Elba'd be a great bond. That being said, from what I read, his criticism was that he thought the character should hue more closely to Fleming's depiction, who was white and Scottish. Saying you think a character should be played in the movie by an actor who more closely resembles the way the character was depicted in the book seems to be less a question of racism and more question of how much fealty you want to the original.

Well, if they plan to use Elba, they better hurry up because pretty soon he'll be closer to Roger Moore's age when he retired from the series than when he started. Age was already a factor for Craig in Skyfall (at least in the storyline) and he's younger than Elba. Unless they want to do an "older Bond" storyline like "Never Say Never Again".

I think audiences like it when the "current Bond" sticks around for several movies, and I don't forsee Elba having much longevity.

 

[the G-man]

Other than some grey in his beard, Elba looks a fair but younger than his age, however.

But let's face it, as good as he probably be, this is the same Sony that also had emails leaked where they talked about Denzel Washington not being a good international box office star because of worldwide racism. That says to me they're not going to be brave enough to make Elba bond. These Elba leaks are probably akin to the same speculation we've had in the past when theyve talked about female bonds and American Bonds.

 

[RandyS]

I love Roger Moore.

I always talk about Connery (and now Craig) being so great, but man, I have to say that I really, really enjoy Moore in the role.

Me too. I was born the year before Connery did Diamonds Are Forever, but I didn't see his movies until the Dalton era began in the late 80s, on VHS. Roger Moore was my introduction to Bond with Moonraker in 1979. I was nine and it was the first Bond I saw in the theater.

 

[JarodRussell]

Can't decide. Probably Craig and Dalton, preferably Dalton. The Living Daylights is imo the best Bond movie they ever made. But I also love the Roger Moore films.

 

[EnriqueH]

Jarod, I have some problems with The Living Daylights, but the first 20 minutes or so---from the pre-credits scene through Koscov's escape in the pipeline---were practically Fleming INCARNATE.

They could've ended the movie with Dalton's line, "Whoever she was, must've scared the living daylights out of her." and it would've been the PERFECT Bond mini-movie.

Just perfection.

My big problem with The Living Daylights were:

1) I didn't think the villains were very menacing. I liked Koscov, but there was no one menacing to balance him. Necros, the badass underling, was cool but he wasn't in the movie much. The only other villain is Brad Whitaker, who likes playing with GI Joes; he was one of the weaker Bond villains.

2) The plot got kinda convoluted and hard to follow when we get to Afghanistan.

But I liked it overall!

IMO, there's no such thing as a flat-out bad Bond movie.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Jarod, I have some problems with The Living Daylights, but the first 20 minutes or so---from the pre-credits scene through Koscov's escape in the pipeline---were practically Fleming INCARNATE.

They could've ended the movie with Dalton's line, "Whoever she was, must've scared the living daylights out of her." and it would've been the PERFECT Bond mini-movie.

Just perfection.

My big problem with The Living Daylights were:

1) I didn't think the villains were very menacing. I liked Koscov, but there was no one menacing to balance him. Necros, the badass underling, was cool but he wasn't in the movie much. The only other villain is Brad Whitaker, who likes playing with GI Joes; he was one of the weaker Bond villains.

2) The plot got kinda convoluted and hard to follow when we get to Afghanistan.

But I liked it overall!

IMO, there's no such thing as a flat-out bad Bond movie.

I do agree the plot was convoluted, but the Bond films - especially during Moore's run - already had been quite convoluted up until then. The convoluted plot messed up the pacing of the film, which is one reason I can't call it one of my favorites.

It still was a refreshing change after the Roger Moore comedies that were going on. (Granted, I didn't know any different since I grew up in the Moore era. It wasn't until I finally saw the Connery Bonds that I really became hooked).

Three other things I enjoyed from TLD were, One: The closing credits song "If There Was a Man" which fits Dalton's Bond, who comes off more of a 'gentleman' than previous Bonds, albeit still womanizing. The song is a sort of signified we were going into a new era of Bond, as I don't think that song would have fit either Moore or Connery. Two: I liked the one-sheet for the film; pretty sexy. Three: The John Barry theme 'The Mujahadin' is just awesome...

 

[the G-man]

I agree with EnriqueH that the opening of TLD was some great Bond. If the rest of the film and, more importantly, Licence to Kill had kept up standard I think Dalton would be up there with Connery and Craig. Unfortunately however for whatever reason they did not. Maybe they were trying too hard to get away from the campiness that ended up pervading the series by the end of Roger Moore's run. Maybe they could not figure out how to keep up in a decade that gave us Raiders and the terminator. Either way, the series suffered and Dalton was unfairly tagged with the blame

 

[the G-man]

By the way, off topic, but I always thought Robert Davi back in the day it would've been the definitive punisher

 

[Relayer1]

I agree with EnriqueH that the opening of TLD was some great Bond. If the rest of the film and, more importantly, Licence to Kill had kept up standard I think Dalton would be up there with Connery and Craig. Unfortunately however for whatever reason they did not. Maybe they were trying too hard to get away from the campiness that ended up pervading the series by the end of Roger Moore's run. Maybe they could not figure out how to keep up in a decade that gave us Raiders and the terminator. Either way, the series suffered and Dalton was unfairly tagged with the blame

I agree Dalton needed better movies but he did pretty well with what he had. I didn't mind him, which is quite impressive as I think he's a bloody awful actor.

Mind you, after Moore, anyone was an improvement...

 

[CorporalClegg]

I don't know. I think, overall, TLD is as good as Goldeneye or Royale.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I agree with EnriqueH that the opening of TLD was some great Bond. If the rest of the film and, more importantly, Licence to Kill had kept up standard I think Dalton would be up there with Connery and Craig. Unfortunately however for whatever reason they did not. Maybe they were trying too hard to get away from the campiness that ended up pervading the series by the end of Roger Moore's run. Maybe they could not figure out how to keep up in a decade that gave us Raiders and the terminator. Either way, the series suffered and Dalton was unfairly tagged with the blame

I agree Dalton needed better movies but he did pretty well with what he had. I didn't mind him, which is quite impressive as I think he's a bloody awful actor.

Dalton is pretty bland as an actor, but I did enjoy him as Bond...

Mind you, after Moore, anyone was an improvement...

Agreed.

 

[CorporalClegg]

I take it you've never seen Chuck?

Dalton kills in that.

 

[the G-man]

Dalton was great in Flash Gordon.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I take it you've never seen Chuck?

Dalton kills in that.

I was supposed to see "Chuck" for Kristen Kreuk, but I never got around to it. (And since it's Christmas break, I may put that on my 'too see' list).

Dalton was also okay in "Doctor Who" and "Hot Fuzz."

Dalton was great in Flash Gordon.

He was a cool Prince Barin. That's where I first saw him.