Which Bond Was Better in Their Last Movie

Goodnight007

Which actor do you think did the best in their last appearance as Bond. Personally, I think Dalton did the best in his final film, but this could possibly be because I don't think he knew it was going to be his last one.

Roger did well in AVTAK, but of course it is obvious he was too old and it was clear he knew it too.

Brosnan seemed ready to leave and wasn't overly concerned with DAD.

Connery of course couldn't be bothered. He was there for the paycheck.

Thoughts?

Matt S

Craig's best performance was in his last film, but if he makes another one that could change.

I don't think Brosnan seemed ready to leave in DAD, and since he wanted to make more Bond films that couldn't have been the case. I wouldn't say it's his best performance, but I don't think it was his worst (I'd say GE was).

Miles Messervy

If we're comparing each actor's last performance against those of the other Bond actors, I would say Dalton's was best. I would go Dalton, Brosnan, Craig, Moore, Connery.

If the question is which actor gave their best overall performance in their last film, I would say none of them.

walther p99

I don't think any of the Bond's have really had a great swan song except for maybe Lazenby. If Spectre is indeed Craig's final film as it seems to denote then that's the best swang song for an actor so far.

Diabolik

Matt S wrote:

Craig's best performance was in his last film, but if he makes another one that could change.

I was shocked by how witty and good-humored he was in Spectre. I've never been a fan of Craig but that film actually made me like him.

Matt S wrote:

I don't think Brosnan seemed ready to leave in DAD, and since he wanted to make more Bond films that couldn't have been the case. I wouldn't say it's his best performance, but I don't think it was his worst (I'd say GE was).

He's my favorite Bond but he was definitely a bit wooden in GE, especially in the beach scene which I'm convinced was written with Dalton in mind.

Speaking of Dalton, I definitely think he gave a far better performance in LTK than in TLD. A revenge tale is just so much more his speed than the traditional Bond adventure.

zaphod99

They have not been all of a piece. If we are talking about the actor and not the film Brozzer improved steadily but was given little to work with in DAD. I agree that Dalton was even better in LTK than TLD. Big Tam really hit his stride in FRWL but was frustrated, jaded, paunchy and bored by YOLT. Georgy boy was just the ticket in his one offering and gave enough for me to feel that he would have escaped the yoke of being Connery lite given time. I can't comment re Sir Roger as I don't know his films well enough and don't rate his characterisation although I like LALD but others will have a more informed view. With Daniel it's really interesting, as I think with Spectre he gave his best performance but in a disappointing film. I'm convinced that he knows that SP although successful was not up to snuff, and he will care about that. Therefore I think he would only return if convinced that it would be a stonker. If he does return we will get a superb outing I'm sure.

Blackleiter

Dalton.

zaphod99

Blackleiter wrote:

Dalton.

Yes.

Agent Lee

If I had to pick one I'd definitely say Dalton. Of the four (I assume we're not counting Lazenby given his one-and-only turn) his swan-song performance is the most distinct and the most accomplished.

In contrast, I'd say both Moore and Brosnan are given very little to work with in their respective films so you can hardly rate them as good or bad either way. Both just kind of meh by no fault of their own, really.

With Connery, I suppose you could either count DAF or NSNA as his "final" performance. Either way, I'd say he takes a close second to Dalton. I'm of the opinion (which seems like the minority) that Connery's performance in DAF is pretty great. He may not be in the best physical shape, but he shows a lot of charisma, energy, and star power that was completely absent in YOLT. NSNA, same thing. I'm not a huge fan of the film itself, but Connery's performance really elevates it. In fact, it surprises me almost every time I watch NSNA how up to par his performance is with that of the first four Bond films.

eric7064

If Spectre is indeed Craig's last film then he had the best last performance. Although I do also really like Brosnan in DAD.

Number24

I think Lazenby was at his best in his last Bond, it was even his career best

I also think Dalton was at his best in LTK.

Thunderpussy

and both are two of my favourite Bond films.

Dutchfinger

Just Dalton! And you could argue Craig too. (Although so far he has been pretty well rounded in all four of his films)

caractacus potts

Dalton has the advantage not only of only making two, but also I think the Living Daylights was written more to Moore's style, making Licence to Kill the definitive Dalton film

what if Dalton had done five or whatever like he was originally committed to before the hiatus? I think that would make Goldeneye his last, following two imaginary films (right? 6 years between LTK and GE, therefor two missing films?)
one can only imagine Dalton in Goldeneye, but I think it is already the lesser film as we know it in our reality, and were it Daltons fifth film, he'd be perhaps tired of the part and the filmmakers would not have been trying so hard as they had to with a new actor and a risky revival
... though Dalton might have found more actorly potential in the surprise relationship to the villain than Brosnan did, I would like to see him chew the scenery with that plot twist come to think of it

what if the others only made two? I think only From Russia With Love is an improvement upon a Bond actors debut


overthinking some more: A View to a Kill is surprisingly good for Moore's last film, compared to the issues of bloat and/or laziness that afflict the other actors final films

Revolver66

As great as Connery and Moore were in their respective last films, it has to be Dalton. He is just pure brilliance in Licence To Kill. One of the best Bond performances ever -{

James Suzuki

Revolver66 wrote:

As great as Connery and Moore were in their respective last films, it has to be Dalton. He is just pure brilliance in Licence To Kill. One of the best Bond performances ever -{

Agreed.
I think he's better in LTK, than in TLD (maybe because TLD was originally written for Brosnan)