Nap - you make many of the points I would have made, and I think it is ludicrous for anyone to suggest that those of us who view Connery as the best Bond do so only because he was first or because he can do no wrong, or that we are mindlessly criticizing those who followed Connery as losers who can never measure up because we hold them to a different standard, or that if you look closely at Connery's films most of them don't hold up, and blah, blah, blah. Let me make it simple - I think Sean Connery was the best Bond because he provided the most appealing blend of seriousness and humor, charm and menance, intellect and brute force. Others actors have their strong points - Dalton made a strong impression on me as a Bond closer to Fleming's conception, Brosnan could do humor without completely losing the ability to be taken seriously, and Craig has done a remarkable job of showing us more layers of Bond, and he is running a close second to Connery as my favorite Bond (and I haven't even seen Skyfall yet). The bottom line is that there are valid reasons to believe that Connery is the best without implying that those who feel that way are just a pack of star-struck doofuses who don't know any better.
I'm Blackleiter, and I approved this message! :007)
I think it's because Moore kind of had to play it for laughs... he didn't have the gravitas or range to be a serious Bond, whereas Connery could play it light and play it serious. So in that sense it's Moore's fault in his case, esp as he himself has admitted he never took the role seriously or researched it much, and made it a joke because he disapproved of him killing.
Same with Dalton. It is his fault that he can't deliver a one liner well. So they made LTK to accommodate that, but many like the oneliners Bond comes out with.
Brosnan - I agree it's unfair to be down on him because I think he had the material but they gave him bad scripts. He was like Moore but with a serious side and a bit more gravitas, more of an acting range.
Not overly controversial but Dalton is my favourite Bond! Michael Kamens score for Licence To Kill is my favourite music in any Bond Film (I've always found it really exciting for some reason) and I always found the reveal of Blofeld hilarious when I was younger because of the ridiculous scar across his face; used to rewind it back over and over and laugh my face off. Not too sure why now to be honest but it assisted in You Only Live Twice becoming one of my Favourite Bond films, which it still is! Also I really liked Domonic Greene, especially when his maniacal side came out at the end.
I think Sean Connery was the best Bond because he provided the most appealing blend of seriousness and humor, charm and menance, intellect and brute force.
I've thought about this a lot recently, and I've come to the conclusion that Connery was the best Bond, for his time. NO ONE in the Sixties could have been better, no one.
BUT, at the same time, in pouring himself into the mould that he & Terence Young had cast, he instilled an indelible impression in viewers that will inevitably be compared with later actors who portray the same character.
For example, if Craig had been the first Bond (if you will allow my time travel paradox here), when Connery came along it would be all "he's too tall, he smiles too much, he's too big, he moves like an ox, he's too self-confident, blagh blagh..."
IMO the Bond universe is unfolding, just as it should. -{
Not overly controversial but Dalton is my favourite Bond! Michael Kamens score for Licence To Kill is my favourite music in any Bond Film (I've always found it really exciting for some reason) and I always found the reveal of Blofeld hilarious when I was younger because of the ridiculous scar across his face; used to rewind it back over and over and laugh my face off. Not too sure why now to be honest but it assisted in You Only Live Twice becoming one of my Favourite Bond films, which it still is! Also I really liked Domonic Greene, especially when his maniacal side came out at the end.
Funny, I´m watching the beginning of LTK at this very moment and I just thought the score is very powerful. Michael Kamen was at his peak in the late 80s. I bought the soundtrack back when the movie was released (in vinyl, mind you!) and liked it a lot (the score, not then songs, although the title song is quite good).
I don´t find YOLT Bloefeld amusing, I don't think the scar was really needed. Mike Myers must have thought he was amusing, and created Dr. Evil.
I also like Dominique Greene and QoS. It was a bit of a let down after CR, but I watched it recently and loved it.
You make a very fair point about Connery. But you have to admit that we can only form our opinions based on what has occurred, not on what might have occurred. So Connery had the good fortune to be the first Bond, and he carried it off quite well. The others have been trying to catch up ever since. To be fair, for some 007 fans Connery has been matched and even surpassed by the likes of Dalton, Craig and (gulp) Moore. For me, not yet.
BUT, at the same time, in pouring himself into the mould that he & Terence Young had cast, he instilled an indelible impression in viewers that will inevitably be compared with later actors who portray the same character.
Funny, I´m watching the beginning of LTK at this very moment and I just thought the score is very powerful. Michael Kamen was at his peak in the late 80s. I bought the soundtrack back when the movie was released (in vinyl, mind you!) and liked it a lot (the score, not then songs, although the title song is quite good).
I don´t find YOLT Bloefeld amusing, I don't think the scar was really needed. Mike Myers must have thought he was amusing, and created Dr. Evil.
I also like Dominique Greene and QoS. It was a bit of a let down after CR, but I watched it recently and loved it.
The music during the PTS always sticks in my mind for being a really good piece of music, I can't remember what the piece is actually called though (Sanchez is in the Bahama's maybe?). The YOLT thing was when I was pretty young, maybe 8 or 9. I just remember me and my brother watching that scene over and over then emerging from behind any wall in my house saying "My name is Ernst..Stavro..Blofeld!"
You make a very fair point about Connery. But you have to admit that we can only form our opinions based on what has occurred, not on what might have occurred.
Umm, why? I can imagine a world in which Patrick McGoohan was the first Bond, and Connery would have been laughed off as too rough & tough.
After decades of being a Connery-only guy, I now find that Dalton is the most interesting Bond to me, and my personal pick for 'best' Bond is a three way split between Dalton, Connery & Brosnan, with Craig closing in. This will no doubt change with time. )
Nap - you make many of the points I would have made, and I think it is ludicrous for anyone to suggest that those of us who view Connery as the best Bond do so only because he was first or because he can do no wrong, or that we are mindlessly criticizing those who followed Connery as losers who can never measure up because we hold them to a different standard, or that if you look closely at Connery's films most of them don't hold up, and blah, blah, blah. Let me make it simple - I think Sean Connery was the best Bond because he provided the most appealing blend of seriousness and humor, charm and menance, intellect and brute force. Others actors have their strong points - Dalton made a strong impression on me as a Bond closer to Fleming's conception, Brosnan could do humor without completely losing the ability to be taken seriously, and Craig has done a remarkable job of showing us more layers of Bond, and he is running a close second to Connery as my favorite Bond (and I haven't even seen Skyfall yet). The bottom line is that there are valid reasons to believe that Connery is the best without implying that those who feel that way are just a pack of star-struck doofuses who don't know any better.
I'm Blackleiter, and I approved this message! :007)
I think it's because Moore kind of had to play it for laughs... he didn't have the gravitas or range to be a serious Bond, whereas Connery could play it light and play it serious. So in that sense it's Moore's fault in his case, esp as he himself has admitted he never took the role seriously or researched it much, and made it a joke because he disapproved of him killing.
Same with Dalton. It is his fault that he can't deliver a one liner well. So they made LTK to accommodate that, but many like the oneliners Bond comes out with.
Brosnan - I agree it's unfair to be down on him because I think he had the material but they gave him bad scripts. He was like Moore but with a serious side and a bit more gravitas, more of an acting range.
Well, Blackleiter. You are not getting my vote.
Moore Not Less 4371 posts (2002 - 2007) Moore Than (2012 - 2016)
You make a very fair point about Connery. But you have to admit that we can only form our opinions based on what has occurred, not on what might have occurred.
Umm, why? I can imagine a world in which Patrick McGoohan was the first Bond, and Connery would have been laughed off as too rough & tough.
After decades of being a Connery-only guy, I now find that Dalton is the most interesting Bond to me, and my personal pick for 'best' Bond is a three way split between Dalton, Connery & Brosnan, with Craig closing in. This will no doubt change with time. )
McGoohan would have been a fine Bond, but would never deliver that latent animalistic and rebellious quality in my view. Connery just had that insolent quality that is palpable but hard to explain. Not my favourite Bond BTW (Dalton is)
You make a very fair point about Connery. But you have to admit that we can only form our opinions based on what has occurred, not on what might have occurred.
Umm, why? I can imagine a world in which Patrick McGoohan was the first Bond, and Connery would have been laughed off as too rough & tough.
After decades of being a Connery-only guy, I now find that Dalton is the most interesting Bond to me, and my personal pick for 'best' Bond is a three way split between Dalton, Connery & Brosnan, with Craig closing in. This will no doubt change with time. )
McGoohan would have been a fine Bond, but would never deliver that latent animalistic and rebellious quality in my view. Connery just had that insolent quality that is palpable but hard to explain. Not my favourite Bond BTW (Dalton is)
McGoohan would have been a fine Bond, but would never deliver that latent animalistic and rebellious quality in my view.
Ohhh, I don't know... there are some episodes of The Prisoner where he was quite rebellious & even animalistic in spots. But yeah, it came pretty natural to Connery.
My point really was though, that if McGoohan & Young had created Bond first, we'd all have judged future Bonds by THAT one, instead of Connery's.
Nap - you make many of the points I would have made, and I think it is ludicrous for anyone to suggest that those of us who view Connery as the best Bond do so only because he was first or because he can do no wrong, or that we are mindlessly criticizing those who followed Connery as losers who can never measure up because we hold them to a different standard, or that if you look closely at Connery's films most of them don't hold up, and blah, blah, blah. Let me make it simple - I think Sean Connery was the best Bond because he provided the most appealing blend of seriousness and humor, charm and menance, intellect and brute force. Others actors have their strong points - Dalton made a strong impression on me as a Bond closer to Fleming's conception, Brosnan could do humor without completely losing the ability to be taken seriously, and Craig has done a remarkable job of showing us more layers of Bond, and he is running a close second to Connery as my favorite Bond (and I haven't even seen Skyfall yet). The bottom line is that there are valid reasons to believe that Connery is the best without implying that those who feel that way are just a pack of star-struck doofuses who don't know any better.
I'm Blackleiter, and I approved this message! :007)
I think it's because Moore kind of had to play it for laughs... he didn't have the gravitas or range to be a serious Bond, whereas Connery could play it light and play it serious. So in that sense it's Moore's fault in his case, esp as he himself has admitted he never took the role seriously or researched it much, and made it a joke because he disapproved of him killing.
Same with Dalton. It is his fault that he can't deliver a one liner well. So they made LTK to accommodate that, but many like the oneliners Bond comes out with.
Brosnan - I agree it's unfair to be down on him because I think he had the material but they gave him bad scripts. He was like Moore but with a serious side and a bit more gravitas, more of an acting range.
Moore is my favourite Bond followed by Lazenby. Most other Bond fans I come across prefer Connery.
I dislike Dalton in the role.
I feel Lazenby should of got more Bond roles or even Bond esque roles (The only roles I know of was him playing J.B in a film and a spy in a commercial)
Live and Let Die is one of my favourite Bond films.
LALD is a great Bond film, and I too would of Loved to see Llazenby do a few More.
Sadly I have to disagree On Dalton. He's My Favourite.
Thank you for the welcome
Dalton seems very hit and miss with most fans, My Uncle was a huge Dalton fan but I couldn't get into him, I don't really know why either I think it may be because he looks like a bit of a villain.
My Uncle was a huge Dalton fan but I couldn't get into him, I don't really know why either I think it may be because he looks like a bit of a villain.
He *SHOULD* look a bit like a villain IMO. Have you read the Fleming novels, ausbondfan? Bond drinks too much, smokes too much, abuses tranquillizers... he's given to fits of anger- not at all the pure hero of some of the more popular movies. Don't get me wrong, I sometimes want to see a Bond-as-hero movie, but Dalton & Craig have taken Bond as close as they could to Fleming's vision of the man, and for that I am grateful.
- I think Connery's constantly wisecracking Bond that emerges from GF onward is terrible
- I think Eunice Gayson as Silvia Trench was FAR sexier than Ursula Andress as Honey Rider
- TB is my least favorite Bond movie. Ages terribly, horribly edited, and has way too many glaring plot holes to be taken seriously as the serious Bond movie it is trying to be. See also my first comment.
- As far as I'm concerned, Blofeld and Bond should never have met until the moment came for Bond to kill Blofeld (and never magically escape). If you are going to have a Blofeld type, he is the evil equivalent of M, and not Bond.
- I like the score to FYEO and also FYEO is one of my top 5-7 Bond movies ever depending on my mood of the day
- Franz Sanchez is my favorite Bond villain.
- Pierce Brosnan's best performance as James Bond came in The Thomas Crown Affair.
- I really liked QoS and, other than all the jet-setting, consider it one of the most Flemingesque Bond plots
- Granted I need to see it more than once to form a better opinion, but SF, on first viewing, while good just is not a top tier Bond movie for me yet
Let me also welcome you to the group, ausbondfan. And if I may offer a word of advice - don't listen to Thunderpussy! He's insane (except, of course, when he agrees with me!) -{
Moore is my favourite Bond followed by Lazenby. Most other Bond fans I come across prefer Connery.
I dislike Dalton in the role.
I feel Lazenby should of got more Bond roles or even Bond esque roles (The only roles I know of was him playing J.B in a film and a spy in a commercial)
Live and Let Die is one of my favourite Bond films.
don't listen to Thunderpussy! He's insane (except, of course, when he agrees with me!)
I'm glad this was posted in "Your Most Controversial Bond Opinions." as Many would disagree, and I
know many of them Personally as the live inside my head.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
don't listen to Thunderpussy! He's insane (except, of course, when he agrees with me!)
I'm glad this was posted in "Your Most Controversial Bond Opinions." as Many would disagree, and I
know many of them Personally as the live inside my head.
- Bond cooking quiche for Sutton, like it!
- Lazenby breaking the 4th wall at the start of OHMSS, great!
- Lazenby reading a porn mag while breaking into a safe, top stuff.
"Thank you very much. I was just out walking my RAT and seem to have lost my way... "
Comments
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I'm Blackleiter, and I approved this message! :007)
BUT, at the same time, in pouring himself into the mould that he & Terence Young had cast, he instilled an indelible impression in viewers that will inevitably be compared with later actors who portray the same character.
For example, if Craig had been the first Bond (if you will allow my time travel paradox here), when Connery came along it would be all "he's too tall, he smiles too much, he's too big, he moves like an ox, he's too self-confident, blagh blagh..."
IMO the Bond universe is unfolding, just as it should. -{
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
And welcome!!
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Thanks, i've been browsing as a guest here for too long!
Funny, I´m watching the beginning of LTK at this very moment and I just thought the score is very powerful. Michael Kamen was at his peak in the late 80s. I bought the soundtrack back when the movie was released (in vinyl, mind you!) and liked it a lot (the score, not then songs, although the title song is quite good).
I don´t find YOLT Bloefeld amusing, I don't think the scar was really needed. Mike Myers must have thought he was amusing, and created Dr. Evil.
I also like Dominique Greene and QoS. It was a bit of a let down after CR, but I watched it recently and loved it.
The music during the PTS always sticks in my mind for being a really good piece of music, I can't remember what the piece is actually called though (Sanchez is in the Bahama's maybe?). The YOLT thing was when I was pretty young, maybe 8 or 9. I just remember me and my brother watching that scene over and over then emerging from behind any wall in my house saying "My name is Ernst..Stavro..Blofeld!"
After decades of being a Connery-only guy, I now find that Dalton is the most interesting Bond to me, and my personal pick for 'best' Bond is a three way split between Dalton, Connery & Brosnan, with Craig closing in. This will no doubt change with time.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Well, Blackleiter. You are not getting my vote.
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
McGoohan would have been a fine Bond, but would never deliver that latent animalistic and rebellious quality in my view. Connery just had that insolent quality that is palpable but hard to explain. Not my favourite Bond BTW (Dalton is)
McGoohan would have been a fine Bond, but would never deliver that latent animalistic and rebellious quality in my view. Connery just had that insolent quality that is palpable but hard to explain. Not my favourite Bond BTW (Dalton is)
My point really was though, that if McGoohan & Young had created Bond first, we'd all have judged future Bonds by THAT one, instead of Connery's.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I dislike Dalton in the role.
I feel Lazenby should of got more Bond roles or even Bond esque roles (The only roles I know of was him playing J.B in a film and a spy in a commercial)
Live and Let Die is one of my favourite Bond films.
LALD is a great Bond film, and I too would of Loved to see Llazenby do a few More.
Sadly I have to disagree On Dalton. He's My Favourite.
Thank you for the welcome
Dalton seems very hit and miss with most fans, My Uncle was a huge Dalton fan but I couldn't get into him, I don't really know why either I think it may be because he looks like a bit of a villain.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
- I think Eunice Gayson as Silvia Trench was FAR sexier than Ursula Andress as Honey Rider
- TB is my least favorite Bond movie. Ages terribly, horribly edited, and has way too many glaring plot holes to be taken seriously as the serious Bond movie it is trying to be. See also my first comment.
- As far as I'm concerned, Blofeld and Bond should never have met until the moment came for Bond to kill Blofeld (and never magically escape). If you are going to have a Blofeld type, he is the evil equivalent of M, and not Bond.
- I like the score to FYEO and also FYEO is one of my top 5-7 Bond movies ever depending on my mood of the day
- Franz Sanchez is my favorite Bond villain.
- Pierce Brosnan's best performance as James Bond came in The Thomas Crown Affair.
- I really liked QoS and, other than all the jet-setting, consider it one of the most Flemingesque Bond plots
- Granted I need to see it more than once to form a better opinion, but SF, on first viewing, while good just is not a top tier Bond movie for me yet
The only things I seem to agree with the masses about, are that SF is one of the best, and that DAD is one of the worst...
1 - Moore, 2 - Dalton, 3 - Craig, 4 - Connery, 5 - Brosnan, 6 - Lazenby
I'm glad this was posted in "Your Most Controversial Bond Opinions." as Many would disagree, and I
know many of them Personally as the live inside my head.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
- Lazenby breaking the 4th wall at the start of OHMSS, great!
- Lazenby reading a porn mag while breaking into a safe, top stuff.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS