Are Tim & Pierce YOUR favourites too? Ramblings on perceptions....

chrisisall

Here is my Bond paradox: Pierce is my second favourite Bond, and Tim is my first.
Strange, eh? Tim is so close to the Fleming Bond, yet Pierce is more a cinematic Bond with moments of Fleming... you'd think that if Dalton was my favourite, my second favourite should be Craig, or Connery-? ?:)
So why? What is the connection between liking two so seemingly different takes on Bond more than the rest??
Emotional content.
All the other Bonds were (& are) great in their own ways IMO, and I love 'em all, but Tim & Pierce rise to the top for ME because while they had very different takes on how to play the character, the one thing they shared was seeing Bond as an emotional being, not as entirely- not as successfully- detached from the events and relationships in his life as he tries or would like to be. Yes, able to drop it all like carry-on luggage in a moment when the action starts, but never absolutely free of it in the end.

For the record, I have enjoyed Craig's moments in manifesting this as well. -{

Thoughts?

MooseWithFleas

I no longer have a favorite Bond. If you were to ask me who I thought was best, I would say Craig, but I can't say he is my favorite. I love them all and they each have such beautifully different styles that makes the series so engaging to me.

Craig represents the present to me. Skyfall is the first Bond film my fiance and I watched together and now I think of her when watching a Craig Bond.

Brosnan reminds me of my childhood. Growing up with the films and the video games. Brosnan's carefree nature and flare for action parallels the no worry attitude of being a child.

Dalton's movies were released around my date of birth. The end credit songs to both songs are so beautiful and I can't help but get emotional during them.

Moore's films were before my time and yet they seem so familiar since they are in the setting of my parents era. Since I grew up heavily influenced by them and their interests, I often connect with these films.

Connery and Lazenby represent the classic era. Well before my time, but the appreciation of the era. These films are timeless.

I guess it goes back to the saying of Guys want to be Bond, so it's my connection with the actor on the screen as I watch him that draws me in.

Kabraxal

I'm pretty much the same... though I think what ties those two together is that Goldeney really served as a great bridge between the actors. Brosnan was great in it and you could easily have seen Dalton sliding into the movie without having to change a beat really.

Honestly, Brosnan I think takes a lot of flak for DAD... which the second half really just seems to make the character less hard edged compared to the previous three films. TWINE still has one of the best "he is a trained killer" moments. Course, Dalton is just hard to top with the whole darker take yet still quite human in how he copes and deals with it all.

chrisisall

Kabraxal wrote:

I'm pretty much the same... though I think what ties those two together is that Goldeney really served as a great bridge between the actors.

In fact, I see TLD, LTK & GE as an actual trilogy. :007)

Barbel

Kabraxal wrote:

Honestly, Brosnan I think takes a lot of flak for DAD....

That's true, and it's unfair. There are faults with the film, but he's not one of them,

zaphod

Barbel wrote:

Kabraxal wrote:

Honestly, Brosnan I think takes a lot of flak for DAD....

That's true, and it's unfair. There are faults with the film, but he's not one of them,

yep, a fine performance in a film with a fatally flawed 2nd half after a really strong start

Thunderpussy

I have to agree with all, I thought Brosnan gave a great performance. -{ Simply far too much
CGI in DAD.

Blackleiter

zaphod wrote:

Barbel wrote:

Kabraxal wrote:

Honestly, Brosnan I think takes a lot of flak for DAD....

That's true, and it's unfair. There are faults with the film, but he's not one of them,

yep, a fine performance in a film with a fatally flawed 2nd half after a really strong start

I agree.

Kabraxal

zaphod wrote:

Barbel wrote:

Kabraxal wrote:

Honestly, Brosnan I think takes a lot of flak for DAD....

That's true, and it's unfair. There are faults with the film, but he's not one of them,

yep, a fine performance in a film with a fatally flawed 2nd half after a really strong start

So true... probably the strongest first half of a film in the Bond series... if DAD had continued like that I'd probably say it is not only the best Bond film but easily one of the best films period. I still watch that film because the first half is so good... and by the second half I am tipsy enough to enjoy the ridiculous nature of the gadgets overwhelming everything like Moonraker

chrisisall

Kabraxal wrote:

by the second half I am tipsy enough to enjoy the ridiculous nature of the gadgets overwhelming everything like Moonraker

Hahahahahah!! )

Thunderpussy

There are Times I just want to sit down and be entertained, Moonraker, DAD and YOLT are
my go to films. )

Walter P Peekay

Moosewithfleas has made an absolutely cracking point: "I no longer have a favourite Bond" - well, I wish I'd said that, because it's a bit like when you're a kid and you have to have a FAVOURITE colour, a FAVOURITE song, etc. When you're young, things are simpler, and you feel you can define yourself (and represent yourself as a confident individual) if you have strong beliefs. Yes, people do still say to me, "Bond fan, eh? Who's your favourite?", but due to Moosewithfleas' brilliant insight I can really say I don't have ONE. Connery started it, but I can't just relegate the other actors to "2nd rate" or whatever, because their contributions have been so enjoyable.

Sean is my 007 from when I was a kid, but Pierce, Daniel and Timothy are real James Bonds to me. And I say "to ME" because we all pick and choose what we like from the smorgasbord of Bond - I can't go near Roger (except for "Spy Who Loved Me", and ditto George... but that's based on my life and expectations.

This forum is just littered with philosophers...

Thunderpussy

I don't know about philosophers but many seemed to be Stoned when posting .
( a very poor Harry Potter pun, )

Everyone who has played Bond has done IMHO a great Job, I've even warmed to DC.

chrisisall

Thunderpussy wrote:

Everyone who has played Bond has done IMHO a great Job, I've even warmed to DC.

Agreed. -{