1. Daniel Craig- Just redefiened the role of Bond and will in time be held up alonside Connery as the Bond actors want to be. He has the nod over connery for me simply cause he gave a human side to Bond sdly lacking in all Bond films. Plus Casino Royale and Skyfall are two of the best Bond films for me plus he's the best thing in QOS.
2. Connery
3. Dalton
4. Lazenby
5. Moore
6. Brosnan
1. Roger Moore: Not my first Bond, but always my favorite. He played the role to his strengths and is a proven success with the most official Bond films to his name. Perhaps his dry humor and lighter approach was a deviation from what Fleming had intended, but it served the series well for twelve years.
2. Pierce Brosnan: His films went from brilliant (GoldenEye) to progressively worse (Die Another Day), but I felt he suited role nicely. Even in the sub-standard The World Is Not Enough, you can see that he's really giving it his all. I wish he had stayed on for longer.
3. Daniel Craig: It's taken me a while to get used to Craig as 007, but I understand why many consider him to be the best actor to play Bond. His performance in Casino Royale was brilliant, and he was about the only thing remotely watchable in the sub-standard Quantum of Solace.
4. Sean Connery: The classic Bond. In my opinion, Connery came away with two perfect Bond films: From Russia With Love and Goldfinger. Had I enjoyed his performances in You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever, I might have rated him higher. For now, he sits at #4. Criminally low, hey?
5. George Lazenby: Lazenby lucked out at his one shot -- On Her Majesty's Secret Service -- and by all means it's a fine performance (though his real strength was in his fighting style). Unfortunately he had large shoes to fill with Connery out of the role, and trying to emulate his predecessor was ultimately to his detriment.
6. Timothy Dalton: He played it close to Fleming, and lots of fans enjoy his tougher, cynical portrayal of Bond, but count me out. I feel like Dalton kept his audience at arms' length, and totally lacked the suave charm of Connery and Moore.
2- Roger Moore - somebody wrote he was 'Luxury on two legs'....right on the money!!
3- Timothy Dalton - he really is tied for second
4- Brosnan - tried hard to go against his pretty boyishness
5 - Daniel Craig - good movies, I'm not sold on him as Bond though
6- Roger Lazenby
...on another note, I don't get how some here state that Dalton lacked 'suaveness' and class, the guy had it in ample amounts! It came totally natural to the guy...witness how cool and relaxed he was in the presence of Sanchez' office while he interrogated Bond as to his motives.
Plus his action scenes while in the Tux are miles more convincing that Craig's. Idk...just my two cents. -{
2- Roger Moore - somebody wrote he was 'Luxury on two legs'....right on the money!!
3- Timothy Dalton - he really is tied for second
4- Brosnan - tried hard to go against his pretty boyishness
5 - Daniel Craig - good movies, I'm not sold on him as Bond though
6- Roger Lazenby
...on another note, I don't get how some here state that Dalton lacked 'suaveness' and class, the guy had it in ample amounts! It came totally natural to the guy...witness how cool and relaxed he was in the presence of Sanchez' office while he interrogated Bond as to his motives.
Plus his action scenes while in the Tux are miles more convincing that Craig's. Idk...just my two cents. -{
1. Roger Moore: He is such a joy to watch. Though he was the most comical Bond, he was just as believable as a serious and down-to-earth Bond. He always put everything he could into the role but at the same time never tried too hard. He was the most comfortable in the role, partially because he was just being himself. Even when Moore had to be tougher than he wanted to be as Bond, he pulled it off.
2. Sean Connery: He was cool, tough and very charismatic. His biggest fault was not caring at all in Diamonds Are Forever and just acting very wooden in that film.
3. Timothy Dalton: I find him very believable in the role. He never tries too hard, he plays Bond with some emotion, but he also has fun. He didn't have the charisma that Moore and Connery had, but neither did Fleming's Bond.
4. George Lazenby: Not a great actor, but the fight scenes were very believable. I found the love story very believable as well. He didn't ruin one of the best films in the series, and for a star who's not an actor that means a lot.
5. Pierce Brosnan: He tried too hard to act cool and just seemed uncomfortable the whole time. He doesn't act like this in other roles, just Bond. Based on other things I've seen him in, he could have been a great Bond if he just acted more naturally. He also plays Bond as too much of a superhero and never struggles. In a sense, he played the most shiny ideal Bond, but Bond shouldn't be that shiny ideal.
6. Daniel Craig: He doesn't have the class or charisma for Bond. I don't believe him at all in scenes where he is supposed to have emotions and I didn't find the love story in Casino Royale at all believable. Unlike Fleming's Bond, Craig's Bond never takes pleasure in anything. He just hates everything in life. And like Brosnan, he is often too machine-like in action scenes, though he is always struggling. He lacks the confidence that other Bonds have. He's the only Bond I aspire to be nothing like.
1. Brosnan- Always been my favorite. What made me fall in love with the series as a kid. Mimicked his movements and knew every quote. He was the man to me. Also in my favorite GE. Although his other outings are rather average. I feel that is not his fault.
2. Connery- The original. Set the standard. More then any others I feel like he was the man he was playing. He seemed so natural for the role and set the standard for the future iterations.
3. Craig- Modern Bond. Made Bond the modern juggernaut it is. Brought alot of new fans in. Love the gritty more realistic take. He actually gets hurt. Makes you actually understand the mental toll it takes to be a 00. Not as humorous but those saying he has no humor must be watching a different film.
4. Moore- Don't get me wrong. I love Moore as Bond. It's just that to many of his films are very forgettable for me. The later films in particular. Yet he was different type of Bond that really kept the franchise rolling. Was great in the role and his sense of humor was perfect.
5. Dalton- Good films. But felt the least like Bond films to me. Felt more like 80's action films. Would loved to have seen him have 2 more shots at the role to see what else he could have done.
6. Lazenby- Is apart of one of the best films in the franchise. Can you really dig at him so much? In fact I don't think Connery would have been able to pull off the Bond needed for OHMSS. Great film.
1. Craig - I LOVE Craig his Bond, the more grittier one, he does a great job.
2. Brosnan - The one I met for the first time as a Bond.
3. Dalton - Same as Craig, I like the more hardish ones, but I prefer Brosnan just a bit more.
4. Connery - Great first three films, weak fourth and fith, fine sixth.
5. Moore - I adore TMWTGG and TSWLM, and his others were fine, just not as fantastic as the others.
6. Lazenby - He did a good job, OHMSS is one of my favourite films, sad we never saw more of Lazenby
Don't confuse me with the other DutchBondFan, but be sure to follow his YouTube account. You can read my articles on James Bond Nederland: www.jamesbond.nl/author/gosse/
1. Timothy Dalton - Terrific Bond, followed the Ian Fleming novels perfectly. Only two films came from Dalton, but that's all he needed to really shine. He was the darkest, most memorable and the most realistic of all the Bond actors. His performance on TLD is significant, while LTK shows him on a revenge plot to avenge the death of the wife of Felix Leiter. Had he done AVTAK, that film would have been the best, make no doubt. Wonderful actor.
2. Sean Connery - Of course, Connery is one of the best. Dr No, FRWL and GF should be viewed by any person, Bond fan or not. Those three films showed him at his best, he IS James Bond. It was Russia and GF that attracted people from all over the world to the series. You can't go wrong with Sean, he played the job perfectly. Even in TB, but slipped during YOLT and in DAF.
3. Roger Moore - Used to be my second favourite, but Connery has slipped in ahead. Moore did the most films, and I like just about all of them, with maybe the exception of LALD. Superb actor, bringing comedy into the series, a suave agent and also a very intelligent Bond. His performances on TSWLM and especially in FYEO put him up there. He is terrific. My least favourite Moore performance would be OP, where I just found him to be too comedic to the point where he did not take anything seriously at all. FYEO and AVTAK would be the more serious performances from Moore.
4. Daniel Craig - Overrated, just overrated. Sorry, but this is the point where I start to dislike many aspects of Craig and the remaining two actors. He has only done one Bond film that I would even consider to be a true 007 film, and that would be Skyfall. In SF, he played the role perfectly, showing a seriousness of Dalton and a Connery performance as well. He never held too well with me.
5. George Lazenby - OHMSS is a fantastic addition to the series, and I don't think that there was anything wrong with Lazenby in particular, but he did feel "too young" to play the role (like Dalton would have been had he done this one) and I believe this was his first big performance. There is something really good to be said about him and his performance, it is Bondian in many respects - driving a DBS, smoking cigars, being serious with Tracy. He was good, but not great. Craig is only ahead due to having more appearances.
6. Pierce Brosnan - Least favourite, always was and always will be. Apart from GE, I just don't see James Bond in him at all. His films were weak, and TND and DAD were borderline unwatchable. I did enjoy his confident, hard edged performance in Goldeneye, but otherwise he is over confident, and full of himself. Just didn't do it for me
1 Sean Connery - The original and still the best. The card playing introduction in DN alone puts him at the top of the pack (no pun intended). He had fantastic screen presence - very charismatic. He could be charm itself in one scene and ruthless in the next and you believed it. A genuine movie legend.
2. Timothy Dalton - Great actor. Pity he only did two Bond films but they were both brilliant so has no weaker films on his Bond CV. Brought Bond back to it's roots. Serious in the role, he brought a darker edge to the character and made the films believable again.
3 Daniel Craig - Again a fantastic actor. Not my vision of what Bond should look like but has brought an intensity to the films that has proven to be very successful. Made the role his own after CR. Ruthless and determined he is not a Bond to mess with.
4. Roger Moore - The Bond I grew up watching. Brought a lightness/comedy to the role making his films entertaining and re-watchable. Gentlemanly - master of the quip and raised eyebrow, didn't take himself too seriously but when called upon could be serious to great effect. He doesn't look like a man who really could save the world but I have great fun watching him try.
5. George Lazenby - Its a bit unfair because he only has one Bond film to his name but it is the best one in my opinion. Would love to have seen him tackle DAF. Used to dislike his performance but it has grown on me as I enjoyed the film more with every re-watch. Physically capable he had great on screen chemistry with all the actors (not sure about off screen). Could have been one of the great Bonds, we will never know.
6 Pierce Brosnan - Don't get me wrong I think Pierce did a good job as Bond. His four films were certainly popular. Handsome, charming and he can time a one liner with the best of them. I just feel he never stamped his own mark on the role and he never really convinced me he could be a secret agent. Maybe in part he wasn't helped by the directors he worked under. But to be fair I do like all of the Bonds. -{
I just read the latest issue of Empire Magazine. In the magazine is an interview with casting director Reg Poerscout-Edgerton. He is asked: "What's the best audition you've ever seen?" He replies: "Daniel Craig's audition for Bond, from when I was associated to Debbie McWilliams, was pretty awsome to watch. You just knew he was it"
Interesting. I remember Craig saying his first audition was terrible: "My eyes were all over the place .."
I assume this must be a later audition. Please note that he no longer works for McWilliams. A synic might say he just mentions Craig to get his foot in the door again, but this is a vert successful casting director (Guardians of the Galaxy, Kingsman, The Man from UNCLE ....). He could have mentioned many important names, and Craig wasn't even his decision.
Connery is incomparable. Not only did he make the character of Bond, he made a whole new type of film character. The cold, emotionally detached, physically invulnerable ubermensch, half epic hero and half anti-hero. Critics were confused by Bond in DN because they couldn't figure out if he was supposed to be a good guy or a bad guy; instead, he was something completely new.
Since then, the same basic template has been used hundreds of times for spies, cops, hitmen, thieves, etc., so it's hard to understand the impact Connery's Bond had originally, but the character changed film.
1) Brosnan: I grew up with him, but to be honest, I've come to appreciate him more in recent times. IMO he was a consistent performer, a great charmer, looked great firing a machine gun, could be a cold killer, and had some humor as well. If I want to charm the ladies, or just look cool in a party, Brosnan's Bond is my role model.
2) Dalton: Highly underrated (although that's debatable, since it seems that many love him these days). I used to not think much of him, but that has changed and he is now my 2nd favorite. He had some great quotes, and it's a shame he didn't get to be in more films. Both of his performances were excellent imo, and while he could be dark, he also had a sense of humor (which is possibly his more underrated aspect). I prefer Brosnan to him because I prefer the way Brosnan's Bond ordered a martini, but I still love Dalton very much as Bond.
3) Moore: The suave English gentleman Bond. He and Brosnan are quite possibly the most controversial Bonds, as people seem to either love or hate their eras. He amassed a wide array of memorable one-liners, and while often remembered as "the funny Bond" he could be cold and brutal as well. The reason why I prefer Brosnan and Dalton to him is because I detect a certain hard-edge to their Bonds that I don't quite get with Moore. Nevertheless, apart from FYEO I can enjoy his movies and imo he was a fairly consistent performer.
4) Connery: The one who started it all. While I have great respect for Sir Sean's legacy as Bond, to me his performance in TB was rather average and his DAF performance was terrible. I don't hate on his YOLT performance as much as many do, but his inconsistency is the fundamental reason why he's at this spot. Still, he was untouchable in GF, excellent in DN, and very good in FRWL, and has some memorable quotes to his credit.
5) Lazenby: I think Lazenby doesn't deserve the hate some give him. Whether or not Connery would've done as well as Lazenby did in OHMSS is up for debate. But I think that, for his only stint as Bond, Lazenby delivered convincingly as an emotional/vulnerable Bond.
6) Craig: Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Craig. It's just that I think many of his quotes aren't all that great and he just doesn't have all that much impact on me. I think his CR performance was overall bland and his SF performance rather average. However, I do think his performances in QoS and SP were quite good, but overall, he's the Bond that least inspires me.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
^ While I'm going to shuffle around the rankings, I agree with many of your reasons. Particularly Craig and Connery. You're bang on about Craig being the Bond who inspires the least - I feel the same - although SP has helped me on this front.
Here are my rankings:
1. Moore - I just think he's awesome. He carries every single film he does with gusto and full enjoyment. IMO he saved the series after the Lazenby issues and took it through two decades which had challenging changes politically and how Bond fitted into all of that. He's charming, handsome, funny and can act the serious stuff well too. While he doesn't have that SC presence - you can tell he loved being Bond and it reflected in his performances. TSWLM, MR, FYEO and OP are are perfect run of performances by him.
2. Connery - While TB, YOLT and DAF he's visibly bored - DN, FRWL and GF are flawlessly played by him. He sets the whole thing up, he's the best looking, he did it all. The fight in the train in FRWL in particular makes me think very highly of his portrayal. He really is James Bond and it's hard to look past this. His portrayal has slightly dated (misogyny) and elements of that are hard to watch now - but it's easy enough to look past this as a fan.
3. Dalton - He only did two but I really enjoy his portrayal. He plays it real and tough - but unlike Craig, I find him a bit more likeable. TLD is one of my favourite Bond films and Dalton for me makes this. It's great to see Bond played by a theatre actor, great to see him do many of the stunts. LTK for me is good, but not great, and I'd probably rate him higher if LTK followed the same feeling as TLD.
4. Brosnan - Almost a tie with Craig. Brosnan was my growing-up-through Bond and each of the films he's in, I feel a great affection for the way he plays it. He's a well rounded Bond who plays to SC's good-looks, Moore's humour and range and Dalton's ability to throw in a bit of action. While his films are a bit hit and miss, nothing is hit or miss about the way he plays it - similar to Moore (although he had better material). Whenever I watch a Brosnan Bond, I love him as Bond.
5. Craig - He's moved up since Spectre. Like Agent Purple, he's the Bond who I find it difficult to be inspired by - I don't have the affection for him like I do for SC, RM or PB. Only in Spectre have I actually felt he was playing Bond. I rank him higher than Lazenby because I do feel that he respects the role and he's created many new fans who love his meaty portrayal. I think I will enjoy him more over time and hope it does another film like Spectre to top off his era.
6. Lazenby - I admire his performance in OHMSS, it is nothing short of incredible that he was able to actually carry the film when he'd never acted before. IMO, he's got the best looking physical presence of all the Bonds and looks absolutely impeccable in a suit, the way he looks in a fight is unmatched too. I only rank him at the bottom because he only did one film and I don't have other films to compare him against - other than films done by the others above.
As I've said before, I don't dislike any Bond. They're all between 7.5 and 9.5 out of 10 in terms of my rank.
Whoa, a big Lazenby fan, now that's interesting to see.
"Hostile takeovers. Shall we?"
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Eventhough Lazenby did one film, he still left a positive mark. He was awesome esp in action sequences. Who can forget the scenes where he enters Draco's office with a knife, the escape from Piz Gloria and his raw action in the PTS
Comments
1. Connery - Lazenby - Moore - Dalton - Brosnan - Craig
They're all of equal rank to me.
2. Connery
3. Dalton
4. Lazenby
5. Moore
6. Brosnan
2) Dalton
3) Connery
4) Brosnan
5) Moore (Roger's a total class act; I just think the films veered a bit too much into comedy).
6) Lazenby
2) Connery
3) Craig
4) Dalton
5) Moore
6) Lazenby
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Craig
Brosnan
Connery
Moore
Dalton
Lazenby
The descriptions are close to what I opine. By far my favorite is
Peter Sellers/Ursula Andress/David Niven/Daliah Lavi/Terence Copper. Not everyday you like 5 actors playing the same character in the same movie
2- Roger Moore - somebody wrote he was 'Luxury on two legs'....right on the money!!
3- Timothy Dalton - he really is tied for second
4- Brosnan - tried hard to go against his pretty boyishness
5 - Daniel Craig - good movies, I'm not sold on him as Bond though
6- Roger Lazenby
...on another note, I don't get how some here state that Dalton lacked 'suaveness' and class, the guy had it in ample amounts! It came totally natural to the guy...witness how cool and relaxed he was in the presence of Sanchez' office while he interrogated Bond as to his motives.
Plus his action scenes while in the Tux are miles more convincing that Craig's. Idk...just my two cents. -{
Connery
Dalton
Lazenby
Brosnan
Moore
Connery went into space with Bond, but Dalton was the Moonshot.
Metaphorically speaking.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
1 - Roger Moore
2 - Daniel Craig
3 - Timothy Dalton
4 - Sean Connery
5 - Pierce Brosnan
6 - George Lazenby
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
1. Roger Moore: He is such a joy to watch. Though he was the most comical Bond, he was just as believable as a serious and down-to-earth Bond. He always put everything he could into the role but at the same time never tried too hard. He was the most comfortable in the role, partially because he was just being himself. Even when Moore had to be tougher than he wanted to be as Bond, he pulled it off.
2. Sean Connery: He was cool, tough and very charismatic. His biggest fault was not caring at all in Diamonds Are Forever and just acting very wooden in that film.
3. Timothy Dalton: I find him very believable in the role. He never tries too hard, he plays Bond with some emotion, but he also has fun. He didn't have the charisma that Moore and Connery had, but neither did Fleming's Bond.
4. George Lazenby: Not a great actor, but the fight scenes were very believable. I found the love story very believable as well. He didn't ruin one of the best films in the series, and for a star who's not an actor that means a lot.
5. Pierce Brosnan: He tried too hard to act cool and just seemed uncomfortable the whole time. He doesn't act like this in other roles, just Bond. Based on other things I've seen him in, he could have been a great Bond if he just acted more naturally. He also plays Bond as too much of a superhero and never struggles. In a sense, he played the most shiny ideal Bond, but Bond shouldn't be that shiny ideal.
6. Daniel Craig: He doesn't have the class or charisma for Bond. I don't believe him at all in scenes where he is supposed to have emotions and I didn't find the love story in Casino Royale at all believable. Unlike Fleming's Bond, Craig's Bond never takes pleasure in anything. He just hates everything in life. And like Brosnan, he is often too machine-like in action scenes, though he is always struggling. He lacks the confidence that other Bonds have. He's the only Bond I aspire to be nothing like.
Moore
Craig (Will probably overtake Moore after his run is finished)
Dalton
Brosnan
Lazenby
3/4/5. Connery, Brosnan & Craig
6. Lazenby
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
01 Craig
02 Connery
03 Dalton
04 Brosnan
05 Moore
06 Lazenby
"Do you expect me to talk? "No Mister Bond I expect you to die"
2. Connery- The original. Set the standard. More then any others I feel like he was the man he was playing. He seemed so natural for the role and set the standard for the future iterations.
3. Craig- Modern Bond. Made Bond the modern juggernaut it is. Brought alot of new fans in. Love the gritty more realistic take. He actually gets hurt. Makes you actually understand the mental toll it takes to be a 00. Not as humorous but those saying he has no humor must be watching a different film.
4. Moore- Don't get me wrong. I love Moore as Bond. It's just that to many of his films are very forgettable for me. The later films in particular. Yet he was different type of Bond that really kept the franchise rolling. Was great in the role and his sense of humor was perfect.
5. Dalton- Good films. But felt the least like Bond films to me. Felt more like 80's action films. Would loved to have seen him have 2 more shots at the role to see what else he could have done.
6. Lazenby- Is apart of one of the best films in the franchise. Can you really dig at him so much? In fact I don't think Connery would have been able to pull off the Bond needed for OHMSS. Great film.
2. Brosnan - The one I met for the first time as a Bond.
3. Dalton - Same as Craig, I like the more hardish ones, but I prefer Brosnan just a bit more.
4. Connery - Great first three films, weak fourth and fith, fine sixth.
5. Moore - I adore TMWTGG and TSWLM, and his others were fine, just not as fantastic as the others.
6. Lazenby - He did a good job, OHMSS is one of my favourite films, sad we never saw more of Lazenby
2. Sean Connery - Of course, Connery is one of the best. Dr No, FRWL and GF should be viewed by any person, Bond fan or not. Those three films showed him at his best, he IS James Bond. It was Russia and GF that attracted people from all over the world to the series. You can't go wrong with Sean, he played the job perfectly. Even in TB, but slipped during YOLT and in DAF.
3. Roger Moore - Used to be my second favourite, but Connery has slipped in ahead. Moore did the most films, and I like just about all of them, with maybe the exception of LALD. Superb actor, bringing comedy into the series, a suave agent and also a very intelligent Bond. His performances on TSWLM and especially in FYEO put him up there. He is terrific. My least favourite Moore performance would be OP, where I just found him to be too comedic to the point where he did not take anything seriously at all. FYEO and AVTAK would be the more serious performances from Moore.
4. Daniel Craig - Overrated, just overrated. Sorry, but this is the point where I start to dislike many aspects of Craig and the remaining two actors. He has only done one Bond film that I would even consider to be a true 007 film, and that would be Skyfall. In SF, he played the role perfectly, showing a seriousness of Dalton and a Connery performance as well. He never held too well with me.
5. George Lazenby - OHMSS is a fantastic addition to the series, and I don't think that there was anything wrong with Lazenby in particular, but he did feel "too young" to play the role (like Dalton would have been had he done this one) and I believe this was his first big performance. There is something really good to be said about him and his performance, it is Bondian in many respects - driving a DBS, smoking cigars, being serious with Tracy. He was good, but not great. Craig is only ahead due to having more appearances.
6. Pierce Brosnan - Least favourite, always was and always will be. Apart from GE, I just don't see James Bond in him at all. His films were weak, and TND and DAD were borderline unwatchable. I did enjoy his confident, hard edged performance in Goldeneye, but otherwise he is over confident, and full of himself. Just didn't do it for me
1. Dalton 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Lazenby 5. Craig 6. Brosnan
1 Sean Connery - The original and still the best. The card playing introduction in DN alone puts him at the top of the pack (no pun intended). He had fantastic screen presence - very charismatic. He could be charm itself in one scene and ruthless in the next and you believed it. A genuine movie legend.
2. Timothy Dalton - Great actor. Pity he only did two Bond films but they were both brilliant so has no weaker films on his Bond CV. Brought Bond back to it's roots. Serious in the role, he brought a darker edge to the character and made the films believable again.
3 Daniel Craig - Again a fantastic actor. Not my vision of what Bond should look like but has brought an intensity to the films that has proven to be very successful. Made the role his own after CR. Ruthless and determined he is not a Bond to mess with.
4. Roger Moore - The Bond I grew up watching. Brought a lightness/comedy to the role making his films entertaining and re-watchable. Gentlemanly - master of the quip and raised eyebrow, didn't take himself too seriously but when called upon could be serious to great effect. He doesn't look like a man who really could save the world but I have great fun watching him try.
5. George Lazenby - Its a bit unfair because he only has one Bond film to his name but it is the best one in my opinion. Would love to have seen him tackle DAF. Used to dislike his performance but it has grown on me as I enjoyed the film more with every re-watch. Physically capable he had great on screen chemistry with all the actors (not sure about off screen). Could have been one of the great Bonds, we will never know.
6 Pierce Brosnan - Don't get me wrong I think Pierce did a good job as Bond. His four films were certainly popular. Handsome, charming and he can time a one liner with the best of them. I just feel he never stamped his own mark on the role and he never really convinced me he could be a secret agent. Maybe in part he wasn't helped by the directors he worked under. But to be fair I do like all of the Bonds. -{
Interesting. I remember Craig saying his first audition was terrible: "My eyes were all over the place .."
I assume this must be a later audition. Please note that he no longer works for McWilliams. A synic might say he just mentions Craig to get his foot in the door again, but this is a vert successful casting director (Guardians of the Galaxy, Kingsman, The Man from UNCLE ....). He could have mentioned many important names, and Craig wasn't even his decision.
1. Pierce Brosnan - Childhood Bond, need I say more?
2. Roger Moore - always loved his (especially last 2) films, great chemistry between all the actors
3. Timothy Dalton/Daniel Craig - love the efforts they (successfully) tried to put in the films
4. Sean Connery - classic films but I only really admire TB
5. George Lazenby - LOVE OHMSS but since he only did it once there was no possibility for him to grow to the audience
Since then, the same basic template has been used hundreds of times for spies, cops, hitmen, thieves, etc., so it's hard to understand the impact Connery's Bond had originally, but the character changed film.
2) Dalton: Highly underrated (although that's debatable, since it seems that many love him these days). I used to not think much of him, but that has changed and he is now my 2nd favorite. He had some great quotes, and it's a shame he didn't get to be in more films. Both of his performances were excellent imo, and while he could be dark, he also had a sense of humor (which is possibly his more underrated aspect). I prefer Brosnan to him because I prefer the way Brosnan's Bond ordered a martini, but I still love Dalton very much as Bond.
3) Moore: The suave English gentleman Bond. He and Brosnan are quite possibly the most controversial Bonds, as people seem to either love or hate their eras. He amassed a wide array of memorable one-liners, and while often remembered as "the funny Bond" he could be cold and brutal as well. The reason why I prefer Brosnan and Dalton to him is because I detect a certain hard-edge to their Bonds that I don't quite get with Moore. Nevertheless, apart from FYEO I can enjoy his movies and imo he was a fairly consistent performer.
4) Connery: The one who started it all. While I have great respect for Sir Sean's legacy as Bond, to me his performance in TB was rather average and his DAF performance was terrible. I don't hate on his YOLT performance as much as many do, but his inconsistency is the fundamental reason why he's at this spot. Still, he was untouchable in GF, excellent in DN, and very good in FRWL, and has some memorable quotes to his credit.
5) Lazenby: I think Lazenby doesn't deserve the hate some give him. Whether or not Connery would've done as well as Lazenby did in OHMSS is up for debate. But I think that, for his only stint as Bond, Lazenby delivered convincingly as an emotional/vulnerable Bond.
6) Craig: Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Craig. It's just that I think many of his quotes aren't all that great and he just doesn't have all that much impact on me. I think his CR performance was overall bland and his SF performance rather average. However, I do think his performances in QoS and SP were quite good, but overall, he's the Bond that least inspires me.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
Here are my rankings:
1. Moore - I just think he's awesome. He carries every single film he does with gusto and full enjoyment. IMO he saved the series after the Lazenby issues and took it through two decades which had challenging changes politically and how Bond fitted into all of that. He's charming, handsome, funny and can act the serious stuff well too. While he doesn't have that SC presence - you can tell he loved being Bond and it reflected in his performances. TSWLM, MR, FYEO and OP are are perfect run of performances by him.
2. Connery - While TB, YOLT and DAF he's visibly bored - DN, FRWL and GF are flawlessly played by him. He sets the whole thing up, he's the best looking, he did it all. The fight in the train in FRWL in particular makes me think very highly of his portrayal. He really is James Bond and it's hard to look past this. His portrayal has slightly dated (misogyny) and elements of that are hard to watch now - but it's easy enough to look past this as a fan.
3. Dalton - He only did two but I really enjoy his portrayal. He plays it real and tough - but unlike Craig, I find him a bit more likeable. TLD is one of my favourite Bond films and Dalton for me makes this. It's great to see Bond played by a theatre actor, great to see him do many of the stunts. LTK for me is good, but not great, and I'd probably rate him higher if LTK followed the same feeling as TLD.
4. Brosnan - Almost a tie with Craig. Brosnan was my growing-up-through Bond and each of the films he's in, I feel a great affection for the way he plays it. He's a well rounded Bond who plays to SC's good-looks, Moore's humour and range and Dalton's ability to throw in a bit of action. While his films are a bit hit and miss, nothing is hit or miss about the way he plays it - similar to Moore (although he had better material). Whenever I watch a Brosnan Bond, I love him as Bond.
5. Craig - He's moved up since Spectre. Like Agent Purple, he's the Bond who I find it difficult to be inspired by - I don't have the affection for him like I do for SC, RM or PB. Only in Spectre have I actually felt he was playing Bond. I rank him higher than Lazenby because I do feel that he respects the role and he's created many new fans who love his meaty portrayal. I think I will enjoy him more over time and hope it does another film like Spectre to top off his era.
6. Lazenby - I admire his performance in OHMSS, it is nothing short of incredible that he was able to actually carry the film when he'd never acted before. IMO, he's got the best looking physical presence of all the Bonds and looks absolutely impeccable in a suit, the way he looks in a fight is unmatched too. I only rank him at the bottom because he only did one film and I don't have other films to compare him against - other than films done by the others above.
As I've said before, I don't dislike any Bond. They're all between 7.5 and 9.5 out of 10 in terms of my rank.
"Better make that two."
2...LAZENBY
3...CRAIG
4...DALTON
5...BROSNAN
6...MOORE
Lazenby is massively underated Imo
Whoa, a big Lazenby fan, now that's interesting to see.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
"Better make that two."
1. SC (his image automatically flashes when I m reading the books)
2. RM
3. Rest (they hv their +eves and -eves, overall almost equal)