I thought I'd make up my own list, and see who agrees, or has their own ideas. This is based on their first appearance.
#6. George Lazenby. The hiding of the face was alright, as was the sleuthing he does watching Tracy make plans to kill herself, but his delivery of "My name's Bond, James Bond, is just cornball. Overall, he's an ok Bond, but that line reading was bad, and I'm surprised it made the final cut.
#5. Roger Moore. Ahh, Roger, we definitely got a taste of what we were in for in Roger's outing from his intro in LALD. Funny, to be sure, but a bit demeaning for the Bond character to have to hide his latest conquest from M in the closet like a boyfriend hiding his date from a nosy parent.
#4. Pierce Brosnan. The whole sequence leading up to the reveal is well done, and I even kind of like the fact that we start off with him socking a guy in the toilet. The following shot of him actually right side up is also well done. He definitely has the movie look of James Bond.
#3. Daniel Craig. Much like Roger Moore's intro let us know what to expect, so did Daniel Craig's. He's definitely a Bond that means business. The interplay between himself and Dryden, intercut with his first kill, is well done, and I like the brief shot we get as Dryden falls of a picture of him and his family. Not even a wife and kids at home are enough to deter 007 from doing his duty. And "Yes...Considerably" is a nice bit of levity after the intense scene.
#2. Timothy Dalton. From the moment he turns, he's the character. He earns some props as well for not really having a single line all through the opening sequence until the phony 00 is dead. Much like Daniel Craig, it's easy to see his Bond means business, from taking the phone to making himself at home on Linda's yacht. And his "Bond, James Bond". is one of my favorite deliveries of the line. Nobody can put the pause in and get away with it like Connery, so his brusque method, again fitting the man-of-action tone set up by the Gibraltar sequence works for me.
#1. Sean Connery. No question. His reveal started it all. From the casual way he lights his cigarette to the way he introduces himself to Sylvia Trench, he's created a character that has audiences hooked. We find out just about everything we need to about James Bond and his lifestyle and his tendencies towards pursuing lots of women from that opening scene in the casino. It takes a hell of a presence to be able to pick up a woman you just won several thousand pounds off of. He's my second favorite Bond, but when it comes to introductions, he created the one that was the most iconic and created the template that all the subsequent actors had to follow, and weather being compared to.
#5. Roger Moore. Ahh, Roger, we definitely got a taste of what we were in for in Roger's outing from his intro in LALD. Funny, to be sure, but a bit demeaning for the Bond character to have to hide his latest conquest from M in the closet like a boyfriend hiding his date from a nosy parent.
I love your observation here! Yet it's interesting to note how similar the openings of DN and LALD are! Both start with the death of an agent/agents. Both show Bond in his home. Both have Bond engaging in a little "romance" before starting his next mission.
But when it comes to the actual introduction I think that Roger was given the weakest and Sean has the best! Sure Lazenby, Dalton, Brosnan, Craig all had pretty strong intros but Sean was not only introducing himself as the character, he was also introducing the movie audience to James Bond! He's cool, he's sauve, confident, in a few minutes of screen time he sets some of the principal trademarks of cinematic character!
Yeah, well they'd been bitten by Lazenby, so they wanted to do something different to ease people in.
Dalton's opening look is great but it goes downhill quick; the slight wobble as he sets off in pursuit (trying too hard), and his dodgy line delivery of admittedly rubbish corny jokes: "Better make that two" I mean, he doesn't look like he's thinking of sex or has any boyish cheek in him.
1. Dalton. Just about as good an introduction as its possible to get for Bond. I really don't think they'll ever top this one. He's dangerous, awesome and incredibly cool.
God No Dalton's was so 80's and cheesy to the max even he looked bored.
Connery's and Craigs are so far ahead of anybody's elses its not even funny.
#5. Roger Moore. Ahh, Roger, we definitely got a taste of what we were in for in Roger's outing from his intro in LALD. Funny, to be sure, but a bit demeaning for the Bond character to have to hide his latest conquest from M in the closet like a boyfriend hiding his date from a nosy parent.
I love your observation here! Yet it's interesting to note how similar the openings of DN and LALD are! Both start with the death of an agent/agents. Both show Bond in his home. Both have Bond engaging in a little "romance" before starting his next mission.
But when it comes to the actual introduction I think that Roger was given the weakest and Sean has the best! Sure Lazenby, Dalton, Brosnan, Craig all had pretty strong intros but Sean was not only introducing himself as the character, he was also introducing the movie audience to James Bond! He's cool, he's sauve, confident, in a few minutes of screen time he sets some of the principal trademarks of cinematic character!
I agree, but I can still imagine Sean doing the same scene, and doing it very well.
There introductions just weren't that memorable to me. It takes me a while to actually remember them in fact.
4 - Connery... great intro and sets the stage. It's iconic for a reason.
3 - Brosnan -Really good powerful intro that includes some quirkiness still with the bathroom scene.
I'd say those above two are tied really, and not very far behind the top two.
2 - Craig - perfect intro to a younger just got the LTK Bond. Quick, action packed, good lines, and the perfect barrel segway ever.
1 - Dalton... as has been said, just a really defining introduction that managed to set his Bond up perfectly and really tell you that this Bond will be special.
I can't really choose between the top two. They both are extremely memorable and powerful introductions that manage to set the tone for those actor's Bonds. Can't go wrong with either of them.
Top Ten Bond - 10:Goldfinger 9:Thunderball 8:The Spy who Loved Me 7:For Your Eyes Only 6: Casino Royale 5:The Man with the Golden Gun 4:Quantum of Solace 3:Licence to Kill 2:Goldeneye 1:The Living Daylights
Wait, there's actually a discussion on this? I thought it was an overall understanding fact that Connery's introduction was the best one? Wait... so, some people actually DISAGREE? ?:)
It's not even close. -{
Whenever I watch DN I am still struck by how perfect Bond's introduction is played.
It is one of the most iconic scenes ever put on film.
Comments
6: Moore
5: Brosnan
4: Connery
3: Dalton
2: Lazenby
1: Craig
Hi Muston, how come you rate Lazenby's so highly? It's my least favourite (I don't dislike it, it's just bottom of my list.) Just curious.
11- TB. 12- OP. 13- LALD. 14- TMWTGG. 15- FYEO. 16- YOLT. 17- TND. 18- QoS.
19- TWINE. 20- AVTAK. 21- MR. 22- DAF. 23- DAD.
5. Lazenby
4. Craig
3. Dalton
2. Connery
1. Brosnan
1. GoldenEye 2. Goldfinger 3. Skyfall 4. OHMSS 5. TWINE
I love your observation here! Yet it's interesting to note how similar the openings of DN and LALD are! Both start with the death of an agent/agents. Both show Bond in his home. Both have Bond engaging in a little "romance" before starting his next mission.
But when it comes to the actual introduction I think that Roger was given the weakest and Sean has the best! Sure Lazenby, Dalton, Brosnan, Craig all had pretty strong intros but Sean was not only introducing himself as the character, he was also introducing the movie audience to James Bond! He's cool, he's sauve, confident, in a few minutes of screen time he sets some of the principal trademarks of cinematic character!
Bond never looked as dangerous and cool (yes that includes Connery)
You Sir, are a Brave Man.
Dalton's opening look is great but it goes downhill quick; the slight wobble as he sets off in pursuit (trying too hard), and his dodgy line delivery of admittedly rubbish corny jokes: "Better make that two" I mean, he doesn't look like he's thinking of sex or has any boyish cheek in him.
Connery nails the look, the lines and the lady.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
God No Dalton's was so 80's and cheesy to the max even he looked bored.
Connery's and Craigs are so far ahead of anybody's elses its not even funny.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I agree, but I can still imagine Sean doing the same scene, and doing it very well.
Sorry, but no.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Ah i'm sure we can get over our dislike of each other with a drink -{
I love Dalton but his Interduction is no where near the greatness that is Craig and Connery even you know that deep down.
Sorry Napoleon for misquoting you
First martini's on me.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
5 - Moore
There introductions just weren't that memorable to me. It takes me a while to actually remember them in fact.
4 - Connery... great intro and sets the stage. It's iconic for a reason.
3 - Brosnan -Really good powerful intro that includes some quirkiness still with the bathroom scene.
I'd say those above two are tied really, and not very far behind the top two.
2 - Craig - perfect intro to a younger just got the LTK Bond. Quick, action packed, good lines, and the perfect barrel segway ever.
1 - Dalton... as has been said, just a really defining introduction that managed to set his Bond up perfectly and really tell you that this Bond will be special.
I can't really choose between the top two. They both are extremely memorable and powerful introductions that manage to set the tone for those actor's Bonds. Can't go wrong with either of them.
Making his first line "I need to use your phone" is kind of underwhelming for a spoken intro.
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Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
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Weaker introduction scenes.
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
I've always liked Roger's introduction.
" I don't listen to hip hop!"
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
It's not even close. -{
Whenever I watch DN I am still struck by how perfect Bond's introduction is played.
It is one of the most iconic scenes ever put on film.