My Take on Daniel Craig's Tenure as Bond
Jamesbondjr
Posts: 462MI6 Agent
Sorry, long (but hopefully interesting) post.
I wrote this for my blog a couple of days ago and thought I'd share it:
When I first saw Casino Royale I didn't know what to think. Part of me loved the action and the new direction the films were headed and another part of me was pining for the old formula. I was genuinely nonplussed and remained that way until my second viewing, after which the film rocketed up to the top of my favourite Bond films list, supplanting On Her Majesty's Secret Service. I came to really love Casino Royale and I still do (although On Her Majesy's Secret Service has reclaimed top-spot), it's an excellent film in it's own right and is up there with the best of the Bonds.
Because I love the film so much I have not often stopped to think of what I think of Daniel Craig's take on the character. I always say I love Craig as Bond but lately I have been questioning this. Owing to the fact that I love all of his films (yes, even Quantum), I automatically associate my love of his films with a love of his portrayal as Bond. I do have, or had, a few reservations about Craig's Bond as follows:
He lack the raw magnetism of Connery.
He lacks the effortless cool of Connery, Moore and Brosnan.
His one liners, with one exception*, come off a little stiff - *"That last hand... nearly killed me".
While undoubtedly attractive, he lacks the good looks of Connery, Moore and Brosnan.
It was while thinking of these reservations that I realised that I was not really being fair. Why should he have to measure up to the other Bond actors. Such comparisons are a little trite. It is particularly unfair on Craig as his Bond is a completely new Bond, he may be the same character but he is operating on a completely different timeline and Daniel Craig is the first actor since Connery that is afforded the luxury of a completely fresh start. As I came to realise this, my reservations vanished, to me they simply don't count or matter in the slightest. His Bond is a new Bond and future actors operating on this new timeline should be judged against Craig.
Given the direction the 'old style' films were heading, Craig's portrayal was a brave one and quite a gamble. The creation of the utterly stupid websites in protest of Craig's casting stand as proof of this gamble but it paid off spectacularly. Not even the most ardent of Daniel Craig supporters could have dreamed that Casino Royale would turn out the way it did, not only was it not a complete failure, it is held up by many as the best film in the series.
In the past we have seen many great individual character moments and on occasion a film with a genuinely interesting character arc, On Her Majesty's Secret Service being the best example, but all too often the character is lost among the action. An over emphasis is placed on the set-pieces to the point were the central character almost doesn't matter and the some of the worst films in the series are nothing but set pieces strung together by poor dialogue. This is were Craig stands out, his first two films, and Skyfall to a lesser extent, place the character front and centre and take him on an incredible journey from awkward killer to ruthless double-0 agent. This would not be possible without Daniel Craig's performance as 007. We see him go from earning his 00 status in Casino Royale, where killing is difficult - "Made you feel it did he" - to the point where he kills without emotion mid way through Quantum of Solace. By the end of the film though he regains some humanity and becomes less of a stone cold killer and more of the charming yet ruthless agent we all know and love. This is shown through his refusal to let Greene die in the fire and his leaving Vesper's boyfriend alive at the end of Quantum of Solace. The old films were tied to a rigid formula that, while exciting, did not really allow room for the character to breathe fully. The rebooted series is doing just that and in Daniel Craig we have the right man for the job.
After much consideration I came to realise that I do love Daniel Craig as James Bond and while he isn't my favourite of the Bond actors, Connery takes that honour, he runs a very close second just ahead of Dalton. The problem we have now is that with each new film released and with large gaps in between them comes the realisation that he is not going to be Bond forever and it will be interesting to see the direction the series takes when he is no longer part of it.
I wrote this for my blog a couple of days ago and thought I'd share it:
When I first saw Casino Royale I didn't know what to think. Part of me loved the action and the new direction the films were headed and another part of me was pining for the old formula. I was genuinely nonplussed and remained that way until my second viewing, after which the film rocketed up to the top of my favourite Bond films list, supplanting On Her Majesty's Secret Service. I came to really love Casino Royale and I still do (although On Her Majesy's Secret Service has reclaimed top-spot), it's an excellent film in it's own right and is up there with the best of the Bonds.
Because I love the film so much I have not often stopped to think of what I think of Daniel Craig's take on the character. I always say I love Craig as Bond but lately I have been questioning this. Owing to the fact that I love all of his films (yes, even Quantum), I automatically associate my love of his films with a love of his portrayal as Bond. I do have, or had, a few reservations about Craig's Bond as follows:
He lack the raw magnetism of Connery.
He lacks the effortless cool of Connery, Moore and Brosnan.
His one liners, with one exception*, come off a little stiff - *"That last hand... nearly killed me".
While undoubtedly attractive, he lacks the good looks of Connery, Moore and Brosnan.
It was while thinking of these reservations that I realised that I was not really being fair. Why should he have to measure up to the other Bond actors. Such comparisons are a little trite. It is particularly unfair on Craig as his Bond is a completely new Bond, he may be the same character but he is operating on a completely different timeline and Daniel Craig is the first actor since Connery that is afforded the luxury of a completely fresh start. As I came to realise this, my reservations vanished, to me they simply don't count or matter in the slightest. His Bond is a new Bond and future actors operating on this new timeline should be judged against Craig.
Given the direction the 'old style' films were heading, Craig's portrayal was a brave one and quite a gamble. The creation of the utterly stupid websites in protest of Craig's casting stand as proof of this gamble but it paid off spectacularly. Not even the most ardent of Daniel Craig supporters could have dreamed that Casino Royale would turn out the way it did, not only was it not a complete failure, it is held up by many as the best film in the series.
In the past we have seen many great individual character moments and on occasion a film with a genuinely interesting character arc, On Her Majesty's Secret Service being the best example, but all too often the character is lost among the action. An over emphasis is placed on the set-pieces to the point were the central character almost doesn't matter and the some of the worst films in the series are nothing but set pieces strung together by poor dialogue. This is were Craig stands out, his first two films, and Skyfall to a lesser extent, place the character front and centre and take him on an incredible journey from awkward killer to ruthless double-0 agent. This would not be possible without Daniel Craig's performance as 007. We see him go from earning his 00 status in Casino Royale, where killing is difficult - "Made you feel it did he" - to the point where he kills without emotion mid way through Quantum of Solace. By the end of the film though he regains some humanity and becomes less of a stone cold killer and more of the charming yet ruthless agent we all know and love. This is shown through his refusal to let Greene die in the fire and his leaving Vesper's boyfriend alive at the end of Quantum of Solace. The old films were tied to a rigid formula that, while exciting, did not really allow room for the character to breathe fully. The rebooted series is doing just that and in Daniel Craig we have the right man for the job.
After much consideration I came to realise that I do love Daniel Craig as James Bond and while he isn't my favourite of the Bond actors, Connery takes that honour, he runs a very close second just ahead of Dalton. The problem we have now is that with each new film released and with large gaps in between them comes the realisation that he is not going to be Bond forever and it will be interesting to see the direction the series takes when he is no longer part of it.
1- On Her Majesty's Secret Service 2- Casino Royale 3- Licence To Kill 4- Goldeneye 5- From Russia With Love
Comments
Oh that awful website.
I have to say the persona of Daniel Craig is a major attraction here. The screenwriters can go in any direction. And whatever they give him he can pull it off.
Your view ( given our favourite movie list is almost identical
On first viewing, left the cinema on a high, Bond was Back! Big time. {[]
Took me ages to get to like QOS, more my fault as I was advised to go back
And read the books again. I put it off but eventually did and gradually got to
Understand what QOS was all about.
Connery is still my Favourite followed by Dalton (who I think was the Best)
But Craig is very close to Dalton in my opinion and who knows may even surpass
Him eventually as I thought Craig added many subtle changes to his portrayal of
Bond in SF, making him closer to the more suave, experienced agent.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Much more Mellow and understanding.
Sorry for the late reply, it's qbranchpodcast.com, cheers.
I was disappointed, I wanted Clive Owen, but wasn't one of those "anti Craig" guys. I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Then I saw him in Layer Cake and Sylvia, and knew he could be brilliant. And he just surpassed all my wildest dreams of how good he could be.
I thought from day one he was the best since Connery. IMO he has it all; raw magnetism and coolness not since early Connery, he is ruggedly handsome, as the books describe Bond, and believable in every action he undertakes, from walking into a room to killing. As for his one liners, thankfully the writers use them sparingly and always to make a point (mumbling "then you're an idiot...",then "you're a bloody idiot!"),and his delivery is always dead on. He gave Bond fans nothing short of a miracle: he reinvented the character and made it current again.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Casino Royale - becoming Bond > perfect ending, kind of hints that he has become the Bond we all know
Quantum Solace - kind of a step backward and he goes back to being a blunt instrument
Skyfall - old dog, down and out, plays the comeback agent, comes back from the death
We presume (I believe anyhow) that between QoS and Skyfall he has become a well established 00 who has been on many missions as suddenly in the series he is a has been.
Have we had the DC Bond in the middle? the Bond in his prime without any baggage, e.g. typical Connery, Moore, Brosnan etc without trying to make the character too complex.
I love the DC films so far but I think we need the above to happen, it would be great to see DC simply get on with the mission, get the girl at the end etc, make the process simpler for once!
Somehow though I dont think we will see this, well not in Bond 24 anyhow since Logan penned the script (unless P&W have dramatically changed things)
Was Bond ! -{ My only annoyance was with QOS ( but I've made peace with it )
The few changes I wanted, they made with Skyfall, so I can't complain.
They made one Fu*king Great Movie !
Dinosaurs of Bond happy, with just enough modern elements to keep the young
And gifted Bond fans like myself happy.
Many could and can play Bond, few are chosen.
I really do think his films will be marked as a turning point in the whole series. With
Him being hail as one of the best ever ( with Connery & Dalton) -{
Well add me to the list of the soon-to-be extinct, because I agree with you too!
Members of AJB , than me.
Books. Then you'll see that Craig like Dalton has done his research
and is playing Fleming's Bond, updated of course for a modern audience. -{
I'd always wanted Clive Owen for the role & although a fan of Craig's acting, never thought him right for 007. His casting seemed as leftfield as Christopher Eccleston for Doctor Who! But LAYER CAKE showed a good tough-guy side & I was quickly convinced by his performance in CASINO ROYALE. I agree he's not necessarily aging well but he has a good screen presence, appears committed to the part & brings back the Connery machismo. That he's not got black hair & isn't 6' 2" seem daft reaons to dislike him - Connery wore a wig, Moore wasn't dark & inventive camera angles can easily mask any lack of stature.
So, I see Craig as a phase for Bond. The series needed Craig, but after another film or two, I want a new Bond to provide something that Craig couldn't.
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS