Dalton as Bond: TLD vs. LTK

chrisisall

Which movie do you think Timothy Dalton gave a better performance as James Bond in? I'm curious as to opinions seeing as my heavy bias (I hate LTK) probably prevents me from making an objective choice.
In any case, I feel that the superiour script gave him the opportunity to deliver a better performance in TLD.

Napoleon Plural

Oh gee I don't know. I preferred his performance in LTK, it seemed less awkward, more natural. Not sure it was more Bondian. I preferred his suave look in the first one, esp the opening shot. Wish you could mix and match really. Not an actor with a great range, though bags of gravitas.

It's awful to say, but Mel Gibson would have been great in both those films for me. Ironically, if you know the personal history between the two. Gibson did the mad revenge thing well (and still does of course... )

minigeff

TLD is one of my favorite flicks.

There are several scenes that smack of 'Fleming Bond' and I just think its got everything a bond film needs. Action, a twist in the tale, AM chase, gadgets and Q, exotic locations, plus its got Art Malik, I mean what more could anyone want?!

Thunderpussy

He was good in Both but I think his performance in LTK is Fantastic. -{

chrisisall

Napoleon Plural wrote:

Not an actor with a great range

I thought in The Rocketeer he displayed quite a range... just sayin'.

Thunderpussy

Not an actor with a great range

I didn' know he had an aga or was having trouble with it. )

minigeff

Thunderpussy wrote:

Not an actor with a great range

I didn' know he had an aga or was having trouble with it. )

apparently there was water in the basement and the pilot light was out....

Peppermill

As a movie I like TLD better, but I think Dalton's acting performance is better in LTK. He looks more at easy and comfortable in the role of Bond. LTK fits his style more than TLD which had a few lines that were clearly written with Roger Moore in mind while LTK was a very very serious movie that fitted Dalton's approach to Bond better. The scenes with Robbert Davi are one of the highlights IMHO. He brings much more to the screen than Baker but I do like Krabbé as Koskov.

001

TLD is a great Bond film. Dalton was at his best in this one, as LTK was just bad. Too corny.
-{

chrisisall

Peppermill wrote:

As a movie I like TLD better, but I think Dalton's acting performance is better in LTK.

Okay, this is what I was getting at in my OP (original post, not Octopussy!), I find it so hard to see his arguably better performance in LTK since to me it feels like a generic 80's revenge flick. I remember thinking Lethal Weapon 2 was a better version of this... 8-)

Peppermill

Maybe it has more to do with his interaction with other characters in the movie, I don't know.

chrisisall

001 wrote:

TLD is a great Bond film. Dalton was at his best in this one

I feel it's a really GOOD one, but 'great'? Hmmmm...maybe, from a novel perspective. -{ B-)

LTK was just bad. Too corny.
-{

I think the concept was good enough, but Glen wasn't a director capable of exploring that territory effectively without reliance on a bit of corn sprinkled about.

001

chrisisall wrote:

001 wrote:

TLD is a great Bond film. Dalton was at his best in this one

I feel it's a really GOOD one, but 'great'? Hmmmm...maybe, from a novel perspective. -{ B-)

LTK was just bad. Too corny.
-{

I think the concept was good enough, but Glen wasn't a director capable of exploring that territory effectively without reliance on a bit of corn sprinkled about.

I meant it from a novel perspective. That's how that film works best. As for the LTK concept, it just seemed too much like a run-of-the-mill revenge flick, not a Bond film. Plus, add Wayne Newton, a drugged-up Benicio and a shark that apparently gets bored while eating a man, and it just adds up to a subpar film. Having Glen certainly didn't help things at all.
-{

chrisisall

001 wrote:

I meant it from a novel perspective.

From that perspective, I suppose it is a among the likes of FRWL & OHMSS. -{
Even though the story is mostly fabricated to support the initial premise.
:007)

Blackleiter

Have to agree with you again, TP!

Thunderpussy wrote:

He was good in Both but I think his performance in LTK is Fantastic. -{

chrisisall

Blackleiter wrote:

Have to agree with you again, TP!

Can you expand on that opinion just a bit BL? I'm really interested...
Because I feel like he came off more like an English version of Riggs from Lethal Weapon 2 than James Bond, mostly due to the script & direction (and musical score, I'll admit) IMO. 8-)

Blackleiter

For one, I think Dalton did a good job of conveying Bond's feelings of friendship with Felix and Della in a few short scenes. That made more believable his feelings of rage and the need for revenge when Della was killed and Felix was wounded. I also admired the way he portrayed Bond's craftiness as he ingratiated himself with Sanchez. I think the Bond character is smoother and more sophisticated in the way he carried out his revenge than say a character like Martin Riggs would have handled himself in a similar situation, and I feel Dalton was largely successful in carrying it off. That's why I agree with TP that Dalton's performance in LTK was noteworthy. While I agree with you that some of the other elements of the film spoiled the Bond-like feel a bit (especially the score), I think Dalton's performance made up for it.

chrisisall wrote:

Blackleiter wrote:

Have to agree with you again, TP!

Can you expand on that opinion just a bit BL? I'm really interested...
Because I feel like he came off more like an English version of Riggs from Lethal Weapon 2 than James Bond, mostly due to the script & direction (and musical score, I'll admit) IMO. 8-)

Napoleon Plural

Fewer awkward moments in LTK. I never cared for his soppy attitude to Kara in TLD, or am even sure if it was meant to be genuine seeing as he lies to her about Yogi and so on. He seemed more of a stuffed shirt, a bit too poised, and some of the jokes never really worked, they filled me with dread frankly, like watching Farmer Boldwood trying to be a jolly sort near the end of Far From the Madding Crowd. I just hate him trying to be light, like treating the gal to nice clothes in Vienna, it's horrible over acting. Less of that in LTK, though the Northern accent in place of the Welsh, well, actually I think I prefer it.

77007

TLD sucks minus a couple scenes. LTK sucks minus a couple scenes. Still I'd watch LTK, because Carey is worth the price of admission.

chrisisall

77007 wrote:

Carey is worth the price of admission.

Heh, that's what Gere said... )

Higgins

I'd say LTK

In TLD he looked like an overmotivated schoolboy to me trying to play a hardedged agent ( the pathetic balloon-popping comes to mind ), partnered with an over-worried weak-hearted wet-eyed lover for Kara.

In LTK things went better - mostly because he could interact with Carey and Desmond, he seems to be a bit more secure in the role - however misty eyes again when they revoke his license 8-)

Sir Miles

Bondtoys wrote:

however misty eyes again when they revoke his license 8-)

Misty eyes ? Does that have a different meaning in German ?


He's angry and frustrated...that is obvious...

Higgins

No, he's shedding tears.
Like a guy called SRK in the bollywood movies when he's getting angry or sentimental.

Sir Miles

Bondtoys wrote:

No, he's shedding tears.
Like a guy called SRK in the bollywood movies when he's getting angry or sentimental.

Once again, Markus, you must have a dodgy copy of the film...he certainly isn't crying in the true version of the film...

chrisisall

Sir Miles wrote:

Bondtoys wrote:

No, he's shedding tears.
Like a guy called SRK in the bollywood movies when he's getting angry or sentimental.

Once again, Markus, you must have a dodgy copy of the film...he certainly isn't crying in the true version of the film...

Yeah, eyes glazing over with anger is not the same as tears.

Higgins

We haven't seen that from all other actors ( except Craig in CR)

.... And not because ALL of them where bad actors. And what you call 'glazing' ( I call it misty eyes - what you see is the same) you can almost see everytime that he sees Kara 8-)

Puppy, so-in-love- cutie-snuggle eyes- so sweet! :v

Look at SC when he sees Jill Masterson dead, look at Sir Roger saying goodbye to Lisl. All these scenes show a lot of anger but are played with seriousness and grace.

chrisisall

Bondtoys wrote:

And what you call 'glazing' ( I call it misty eyes - what you see is the same) you can almost see everytime that he sees Kara 8-)

Puppy, so-in-love- cutie-snuggle eyes- so sweet! :v

Ummm, I just watched TLD last night... the snuggle eyes was part of the act, wasn't it? At the end (when the lies were all done) it was more like horizontal mambo eyes IMO. :v

Higgins

Snuggle eyes part of the act?

Maybe you should watch that movie again......

Higgins

Sir Miles wrote:

Once again, Markus, you must have a dodgy copy of the film...he certainly isn't crying in the true version of the film...

As the op sees the 'glazing' as well maybe it's time to check your copy, Sir Miles.

Moore's tarzan yell in Octopussy could not embarass me more than Dalton's entire performance in TLD, simply shameful

chrisisall

Bondtoys wrote:

Snuggle eyes part of the act?

Maybe you should watch that movie again......

In Vienna when he was being all fuzzy wuzzy with her getting the dress & stuff, I suddenly saw an act, not honest schoolboy crush stuff. Later on the Ferris wheel he dumps that nonsense in favour of the simple lust he actually had been developing.
At least, that's MY interpretation of it.

chrisisall

Bondtoys wrote:

As the op sees the 'glazing' as well maybe it's time to check your copy, Sir Miles.

'Glazing' is like, glassy, as in blood pressure raised, not wet, as in tearful.