Which Bond is closest to....

JimmyBond0129

The Ian Fleming novels? Having seen Casino Royale (2006) and having read the CR novel I'd say Daniel Craig is closest to the original Fleming creation because in the first novel Bond is a cold-hearted ******* and that's pretty much how Craig portrayed Bond on the silver screen.

7289

The script factors heavily into the actors ability to play the role of Bond. I would say Dalton and Craig work the best for me.

Dalton deserved another shot at the charecter. A third TD Bond would likely have been more along the lines of the CR'06 reboot.

Thunderpussy

Have To Agree Dalton & Craig Have The Best Take On the Character,Dalton's Being A Little More Sophisticated, But As Craig's Portrayal Is Of A Younger More Inexperienced Bond He'll Become More so As His Character Evolves.

Mister White

I guess we all agree on this one then. Dalton and Craig.

Even though it is Dalton for me that I see in my head when I read, Craig's portrayal is fenomenal.

Mailfist

Have to agree Dalton and Craid, but I think Dalton just has the edge.

LS176074

I recall reading somewhere that Ian Fleming himself was a fan of Sean Connery. I believe that Fleming even wrote in somewhere that Bond's father was Scottish to add credibility to Connery's portrayal. So in my opinion Connery was how Fleming saw Bond in the books.
But also, the movies started at Dr.No, which is actually the 6th book, so by then Bond is rather experianced and matured. I agree that Craig did the developing Bond well, and I hope he does well in other movies, but I still think Connery is the defining Bond and has Fleming's stamp of approval.

Thunderpussy

Bonds Father Was Scottish, But Casino Royale Was Published In 53 Long Before Connery.And From What Little I Know Connery Thought Fleming a Snob And Fleming Thought Connery Was A Scottish Lorry Driver.I've Read That Roger Moore Was In The Running To Play Bond Even Then Though Fleming Was Thinking Of The Likes Of David Niven Who Later Appeared As Sir James Bond In The Spoof Casino Royale (67).But For All Actors Connery Was a Hard act To Follow.

Loeffelholz

Connery had to earn Fleming's approval, though---Fleming was famously opposed to Connery's casting early on, dismissing him as a 'lorry driver,' or the like )

I think Craig is closest to Fleming's literary character in spirit, and Moore is farthest. Connery remains the benchmark for the film audience's conception of the character. Timothy Dalton, given better scripts, would have been classic (he's a close second to Craig, spirit-wise, IMO). Brozzer looked great in a tux, and certainly had some fine moments.

George Lazenby owns one of the most 'Fleming' scenes in cinematic Bond history: the final one in OHMSS B-)

EDIT: Thunderpussy beat me to the lorry driver )

JimmyBond0129

7289 wrote:

The script factors heavily into the actors ability to play the role of Bond. I would say Dalton and Craig work the best for me.

Dalton deserved another shot at the charecter. A third TD Bond would likely have been more along the lines of the CR'06 reboot.

GoldenEye was suppose to be Timothy Dalton's third Bond film but legal issues in court delayed the production and by the time the legal matters were settled it was 1994 and Dalton's contract had expired in 1993 so he bowed out of the production and the role was given to Pierce Brosnan.

Thunderbird 2

I fully agree Loeffelholz! Each of the Bond actors has brought something to the role.

I can fully understand Mr Dalton moving on. Because of the legal carry on the Bond franchise ground to a halt and that is career death to an actor. There is a saying, "You are only as good as your last piece of work." However in the film and theatre industries, its more accurate to say "You are only as good as your next piece of work." If you sit still, you will get forgotten about, as reality television reguaraly demonstrates at Warp speed!

I have only read the novels of Moonraker and Goldfinger, but I would like to think taking the modern timeframe into account, Mr Flemming would approve of Mr Craig's take on Bond. Certainly he has given the character a fresh conviction and hard edge that matches the tone of those books.

JimmyBond0129

Thunderbird 2 wrote:

I have only read the novels of Moonraker and Goldfinger.

You should read Casino Royale it's a great book.