From Messy Fights to Choreographed Combat
opal
Posts: 35MI6 Agent
The Bond films up till the Brosnan era showed Bond as a man who could get hurt, make mistakes and still somehow survive—making him feel relatable to male audience members. But as the films developed into the Craig era, Bond became more like a superhuman, capable of facing impossible odds without much threat to his survival.
Connery’s, Lazenby’s, Moore’s and Dalton’s Bonds were vulnerable and relatable as human beings. They were suave and capable, but were not infallible. Their fights (especially Connery’s) were messy and far from the choreographed, perfectly executed sequences seen in the Craig era fights. The fight scene in the train compartment in From Russia With Love and the fight in the lift in Diamonds Are Forever were famous examples of this. There was real danger in these fights, which built suspense in a way that the Craig fights didn’t uniformly achieve—apart from the train fight in Spectre.
Connery’s, Lazenby’s, Moore’s and Dalton’s Bonds were not just hired killers; they were likeable Bonds who could get hurt and caught off guard. Their Bonds weren’t necessarily expert fighters but ones who could hold their own. This made their fights suspenseful because we weren’t sure if they would make it out of the fights alive. In contrast, Craig’s fights were too over-choreographed and made him look almost invincible. This also removed any potential for dramatic tension.
The trend toward invincible heroes was also seen in films like the Jason Bourne series, where Bourne, like Craig’s Bond, seemed to effortlessly take on multiple opponents with minimal effort. Because of this, the emotional stakes in these action scenes were diminished. There was little suspense when the audience knew the hero wouldn’t be hurt or have to struggle too much to overcome the threat. In Craig’s Bond or Bourne, the tension wasn’t about the hero’s survival—it was about the spectacle of the fight itself.
Comments
I’d say it was exactly the opposite. Craig gets far more beaten up and bloody in his films and just about barely wins fights against single individuals on numerous occasions. He’s even tortured to the point of death in his first outing, loses to Hinx in his third, then is fatally wounded and dies in his last. The fights in the first two films are very visceral and brutal. Stairwell fight in CR and the scissor killing in QoS to name two. The previous Bonds hardly get a scratch on them. Craig is shot, stabbed, beaten raw and hit by shrapnel numerous times. At times he seems over vulnerable.
DC’s opening fight in the toilet in CR is a knock down, dragged out brawl too…
I find that a really weird take, when did Connery or Moore ever get hurt? I certainly can’t recall ever feeling worried for them.
Whereas with Craig you have him assessing his injuries in the mirror after the stairwell fight, which he barely wins, in CR and knocking back whisky to dull the pain, and that’s just one example
I love Roger’s Bond, but the idea that tension was generated in his fight scenes because we the audience were unsure of his survival is an experience I don’t recognise at all. I guess we all take different things from these films but I struggle to see his rather stagey, campy fights from that point of view.
CraigBond after a fight with scars on his fact:
Roger Moore's Bond after one of his most brutal fights, against Jaws in TSWLM. I think this is special because Moore actually has several hairs out of place.
I haven't seen anyone make the point you're trying to make before, in fact the opposite view is pretty much the standard. In my opinion there are reasons for this. Craig's fights are generally more brutal and look less choreographed. It can be argued that Craig comes across as a more advanced fighter than the earlier Bonds, and the actor probably spent more time training fighting techniques than the others. But the people he fights also seem like better fighters, so CraigBond doesn't come across as invincible. "Judo chops" no longer works for the modern audience. I find it ironical that you claim CraigBond was invincible, Have you forgotten the ending of NTTD? While there are examples of this with the other Bond actors, CraigBond felt fresh to many precisely because he felt human and he felt more real. I enjoy Roger Moore's Bond movies, but in my opinion your post would've made a lot more sense if you wrote Roger Moore instead of Daniel Craig.
You make some good points about Craig’s Bond facing physical harm, but I think the issue lies more in the tone and execution of his fights rather than just the injuries he sustains. While Craig’s Bond does indeed get beaten and bloodied, the fights themselves often feel like showcases of his physical superiority rather than moments of genuine peril. For example, the stairwell fight in Casino Royale is brutal, but Bond is still portrayed as in control, overcoming the odds with raw physicality. It’s intense, yes, but there’s never much doubt he’ll prevail.
Contrast this with Connery or Dalton, whose fights—like the train fight in From Russia With Love or the fight in Licence to Kill—feel more chaotic and less choreographed, adding to the tension. There’s a real sense of danger and uncertainty because their opponents are often presented as equally skilled or even stronger. Bond’s success feels less assured, which heightens the suspense.
Also, while Craig does endure serious injuries, his resilience sometimes borders on the superhuman. Being shot off a moving train in Skyfall and recovering to perform at peak capability is a prime example. Earlier Bonds didn’t face as much physical punishment, but they also weren’t portrayed as unstoppable forces—they could falter, be outmatched, or narrowly escape danger by luck or resourcefulness, making their victories feel more grounded.
Yes, I agree. That is a good fight.
I get where you’re coming from, but I think the difference lies in the type of tension and relatability we’re discussing. It’s true that Moore’s fights were often played with a touch of humor and camp, so I agree that they didn’t generate much suspense about his survival. However, earlier Bonds, especially Connery and Dalton, had fights that felt more grounded and dangerous. The train fight in From Russia With Love is a great example—it’s rough, claustrophobic, and Bond only narrowly escapes. That scene made me feel like he was truly at risk, something I rarely feel with Craig’s Bond despite the visible injuries he sustains.
Craig’s moments of self-assessment, like in Casino Royale, do show vulnerability, but they often feel like brief interruptions in a larger narrative where we’re meant to admire his near-superhuman endurance. Yes, he gets hurt, but the framing of his fights often focuses on his ability to overcome those injuries without much slowing down. Compare that to Connery’s Bond in From Russia With Love or Dalton’s in Licence to Kill—their fights were scrappier, less polished, and their survival felt more precarious. That sense of chaos and unpredictability added a layer of tension, even if we “knew” Bond wouldn’t die.
It’s not that Moore or even Connery were routinely hurt (they weren’t), but their fights often relied on improvisation and luck rather than brute force or flawless choreography. That made their victories feel more earned, and the tension came from wondering how they’d make it out, not if. For me, Craig’s Bond, while more physically battered, rarely gives me that same sense of uncertainty.
I agree that Craig’s fights are brutal and more grounded in terms of physicality compared to Moore’s more theatrical style. But I think my argument isn’t necessarily about how the fights look, but rather about how the tone and framing affect the tension and stakes.
While Craig’s fights feel more realistic in terms of technique and choreography, I think the outcomes are often more predictable. The sheer brutality can sometimes undermine the suspense because we’re still ultimately shown that Craig’s Bond can handle just about anything—even when he’s facing equally skilled fighters.
You mentioned the ending of No Time to Die, which is an important point. But that’s a narrative choice, not a consequence of the fights themselves. Earlier Bonds didn’t die because of a creative decision to keep the character immortal, but within the fights, they often felt like they could lose—Connery’s fight in From Russia With Love or Dalton’s in Licence to Kill both come to mind. The choreography was rougher, and the outcomes felt more precarious, which added to the tension.
Craig’s Bond is definitely more advanced as a fighter, and I agree that his training adds a layer of realism. But I’d argue that this very competence diminishes the dramatic tension in many of his scenes because it’s hard to believe he might actually lose. With Moore, the fights were campy, so the stakes were low in a different way. Craig’s Bond feels human in terms of emotional vulnerability, but in the physical sense, his portrayal leans closer to the superhuman archetype.
I appreciate your perspective, though.
I appriciate your perspective too. This forum would be a boring place if everyone agreed in everything. For a short while I was a member of an other Bond forum. I once offered my opinion on one of the Bond girls, and I wasn't a huge fan. The Moderators responce was that everything in the Bond movies is wonderful and he really didn't like to hear anything else. I left.
The feelings you get when watching a scene is an individual thing and it's not really a question of right or wrong. Personally I felt there was more tension and higher stakes in most Craig fights than most of the Bond fights that came before, but that's me.
Thanks. I completely agree — it’s the range of opinions that makes forums like this so interesting. I’ve also come across forums where dissenting opinions weren’t welcome, and it really does take the fun out of discussions. Glad this forum allows for more nuanced discussions
You’re right that how we feel during a scene is personal. For you, the tension in Craig’s fights feels heightened, while for me, it’s the scrappiness and unpredictability of some of the older Bonds’ fights that resonate more. That’s what makes the films so unique—it offers so many interpretations and styles that there’s something for everyone.
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It’s not that Moore or even Connery were routinely hurt (they weren’t), but their fights often relied on improvisation and luck rather than brute force or flawless choreography. That made their victories feel more earned, and the tension came from wondering howthey’d make it out, not if. For me, Craig’s Bond, while more physically battered, rarely gives me that same sense of uncertainty.
If you win fights by luck, then I’m not sure they are earned…but it’s a thought…and I agree with you about Connery/Moore/Dalton fights - about how not if…same with Craig - but his fights are more brutal and he uses his training - which you are supposed to do 😄 it’s odd you don’t get that “same sense of uncertainty” with Craig…especially as the others make it through…and he doesn’t 🤭
Thanks for your response. I see what you’re saying about the difference between "luck" and "earned" victories, and I think there’s an important distinction. When I mention luck, I mean that Bond often finds himself in situations where the outcome is uncertain, and he survives more because of quick thinking, resourcefulness, or just barely getting out of dangerous situations. It’s not about pure chance, but more about the unpredictability of how he wins. I think that randomness, the sense that Bond could lose, made the stakes feel higher and more real.
With Craig’s Bond, his training and skill are undeniable, and I agree that the choreography is more brutal and realistic. But as you mentioned, that does create a different kind of tension—one where we can predict that Craig will find a way to survive, even if it’s not without some serious injuries. My point about Craig is that his skill and resilience, while impressive, tend to make him less vulnerable in a dramatic sense. His fights feel more like battles of endurance and sheer strength, not the same kind of scrappy, desperate struggle you see in earlier Bonds.
And I do get that uncertainty from Craig at times, especially considering his ending in No Time to Die, but I think overall the fights in Craig’s era feel like they’re designed to highlight his survival skills more than to make the audience wonder if he’ll make it out. But I appreciate your perspective on this—it’s definitely a different take on the same fight dynamics.
CraigBond is the only one to get killed off in one of his adventures, therefor he's the most vulnerable. He was also lost, presumed dead for months in one of his previous adventures, and required weeks of hospitalization near the end of his first adventure. The other Bonds are just lucky Craigbond lived (and died) in a different timeline. Even when he didnt die, or require hospitalization, he was a bloody shambles at the end of the adventure.
that was one of the things I liked when his version of the character was first introduced: every Fleming book ends with Bond so messed up he requires hospitilization. CraigBond was the first cinematic Bond to experience these authentic Fleming endings. all previous Bonds end their adventure in a liferaft with a hot chick.
some of Craigs fights are overchoreographed, to the point of looking more like a music video than a Bondfilm. The fight in SkyFall where Bond and his opponent are silhouetted against the everchanging lighted advertisements across the street. The opera house fight in Quantum... is chopped into shorter and more random edits until the most violent bits are nearly subliminal, almost entirely left to our imagination. taking out the guards at Monica Belluci's house also looks more like ballet than a real fight. These are all attempts to arty up the Bondfilm, and in each case the selfconcious artiness takes me out of the story, makes me aware I'm watching a work of artifice.
Moore was by far the most invulnerable Bond. Nothing believable about any of his fight scenes. His fights in The Saint were more violent. and Brosnan seemed to be following Moores lead in this regard. No matter what happens to Brosnan he just straightens his tie. Well, except for the shoulder injury, but that was invisible and did not spoil his good lucks. And the eighteen months torture, well except for the shoulder injury and the eighteen months torture Brsonan Bond was invulnerable. BrosanBond also tended to avoid hand to hand combat at all, preferring to pick up a convenient handheld machine gun and mow down dozens at a time, including Moscow municipal police doing their jobs.
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. You’ve raised some interesting points about Craig’s portrayal and how it ties into Fleming’s vision. I agree that Craig’s Bond brought a level of vulnerability and consequence we hadn’t seen before—he’s undeniably the most physically and emotionally battered of the Bonds, and the fact that he’s the only one to be killed off really does set him apart. The parallels to the endings in Fleming’s books are an excellent observation, and I can see why that authenticity resonated with fans.
That said, I think where Craig’s Bond feels less “vulnerable” to me isn’t in the aftermath of his fights but during them. He takes a beating, no doubt, but I rarely get the sense he’s truly improvising or scrambling to survive. It’s more about endurance and sheer willpower, which is compelling in its own way but a bit different from the scrappy unpredictability I associate with some of the earlier Bonds. With Connery or Dalton, for example, there’s often a sense that they’re making it up as they go, and that uncertainty creates tension.
I also agree with your critique of the over-choreographed fights. That silhouetted fight in Skyfall and the opera house sequence in Quantum of Solace do feel more like visual set pieces than grounded, high-stakes brawls. They’re stylish, sure, but sometimes at the cost of narrative immersion. For me, fights like the train brawl in From Russia With Love or even the brutal stairwell fight in Casino Royale feel more raw and immediate.
Your point about Moore is spot on—his Bond was practically invincible, and the fights often felt more like comedic interludes than genuine life-or-death struggles. Brosnan had a bit more grit, especially in GoldenEye, but I agree that his tendency to brush off injuries could make his Bond feel less grounded.
In the end, I think the beauty of the franchise is its range. Whether it’s the camp invulnerability of Moore, the stylized brutality of Craig, or something in between, every Bond brings something unique to the table—and every fan connects with them differently.
That said, I think where Craig’s Bond feels less “vulnerable” to me isn’t in the aftermath of his fights but during them. He takes a beating, no doubt, but I rarely get the sense he’s truly improvising or scrambling to survive. It’s more about endurance and sheer willpower, which is compelling in its own way but a bit different from the scrappy unpredictability I associate with some of the earlier Bonds. With Connery or Dalton, for example, there’s often a sense that they’re making it up as they go, and that uncertainty creates tension.
There is the fight with Slate in QoS that is an improvised fight, he’s jumped and has to use a telephone…DC’s Bond is very much scrambling to survive there.
Thanks for pointing that out, I'd overlooked it. It’s definitely one of the more scrappy and improvised fights in Craig’s era, and you’re right that it shows him scrambling to survive. I think it stands out for precisely that reason —it feels raw and chaotic in a way that reminds me of earlier Bond fights.
I’d say, though, that moments like this are the exception rather than the rule in Craig’s era. Most of his fights, while brutal, tend to feel more choreographed and deliberate, like the one with Patrice in Skyfall, which sets it apart from the more unpredictable and messy fights we saw with Connery or Dalton.
But I do appreciate you bringing up the Slate fight — it’s a good example of Craig’s Bond showing a more desperate side. Perhaps it’s just that these moments didn’t happen as often as I’d liked to have seen during his era.
I don't think many of Craig's fights feels more choreographed than for example Dalton's fight in the Afghan prison in TLD. Often the opposite is the case.
I see your point, but I’d argue there’s a distinction between choreography and the overall feel of the fight. The fight still has a rawness to it that makes it feel more improvisational.
While Craig’s Bond does face real physical danger and often takes a beating, the fight choreography tends to feel more methodical. The moves are precise, even when they’re chaotic, and this can make them feel more staged or polished compared to the messy nature of some earlier fights. Craig’s Bond fights with skill and endurance, but sometimes it’s almost too fluid, and that can detract from the unpredictability that made earlier Bond fights feel so suspenseful - to me anyway.
That said, I think Craig's fight scenes, when compared to those in many other action films, are impressive. Take Steven Seagal’s films, for example—his fight choreography is so overly polished and predictable that it becomes almost mechanical. The precision and repetition of his moves removes the intensity from the scenes, making them feel like robotic fights than real ones. In contrast, while Craig’s fights are more deliberate and controlled, they still maintain a sense of tension and raw physicality that sets them apart from the over-choreographed fights of Seagal, and even those of Jason Bourne.
DC made 5 films and we’ve mentioned at least 4 ‘messy’ fights…so perhaps it’s more common than you first thought? 🤔
Doesn't make you wrong…it’s all about perspective…and what you consider ‘messy’ v ‘choreographed’ 🙂
You make a fair point, there are definitely moments in Craig's tenure that lean toward the "messy" side. The fights with Slate, Patrice, and even the stairwell scene in Casino Royale certainly have that raw, visceral quality. I think my perspective comes down to the overall feel of Craig's Bond in comparison to his predecessors. For me, the choreography in his fights — while often brutal—still feels more polished, as if designed to showcase Craig's Bond’s physicality and technique.
In contrast, earlier Bonds, particularly Connery and Dalton, often conveyed a sense of unpredictability in their fights. It wasn’t always clear how they’d come out on top, which added a unique tension. But as you say, it’s all about perspective.