Craig or Brosnan?

The Sly Fox · March 2007

Now, I'm probably creating a duplicate of something that already exists somewhere, but if I am, I can't find it. So I'm going to post it here in hopes that it's not already an existing topic... Feel free to close it if you see fit.

I've just seen Casino Royale, and I was completely awed by it. Craig's performance was brilliant, and it got me thinking about all my comments about Brosnan being my favorite Bond. I think they're both incomparably different, but Craig would win in a toss up...

However not everyone probably agrees with me. What do you think about the subject? Strictly based on the actors' Bond portrayals and not the films, do you prefer Daniel Craig or Pierce Brosnan?

Nightshooter · March 2007

I hate to judge since Craig has only done one film and Brosnan has done four, so it would be nice to wait a few films and then really look.

That having been said, Craig gets my vote.

Barbel · March 2007

I hate to judge since Craig has only done one film and Brosnan has done four, so it would be nice to wait a few films and then really look.

That having been said, Brosnan gets my vote.

B-)

Neville James · March 2007

To answer this question one must think back to November 1995.
Goldeneye had just been released, Brosnan was considered by many to be the best since Connery.
Goldeneye's script was mature and up to date, yet the film also included many ideas held over from previous films, and despite the script being written for Timothy Dalton Brosnan shines throughout.
The point I would like to make is that, like a new band's 'difficult second album' we will only know if Craig is as good as we think he is when Bond 22 is released in Nov 2008.
Brosnan's films went downhill after GE, and while TND is still a decent effort, I feel TWINE and DAD are among the worst Bond films ever.
This is also (IMO) not down to Brosnan, as he is a fine actor, and played his heart out in all the 4 pictures, he suffered from having poor scripts, bad supporting actors, and was a victim of the worst kind of CGI ever in DAD.
If it wasn't for Brosnan laying down the groundwork to bring Bond back up to date with GE Craig's role may have been made even harder.
I also think that a lot of the credit to CR's (and GE's) success is down to Martin Campbell. He seems to know what the public wants in many ways and delivers.
On this subject, if a PPK was held to my head and I had to pick one...

Sean Connery.
(ask me agin in Nov 2008)

Monique · March 2007

Barbel wrote:

I hate to judge since Craig has only done one film and Brosnan has done four, so it would be nice to wait a few films and then really look.

That having been said, Brosnan gets my vote.

B-)

) I'm with you Barbel!

Barry Nelson · March 2007

Craig was better than I thought he would be, but for me Brosnan is Bond.

Moore Not Less · March 2007

Nightshooter wrote:

I hate to judge since Craig has only done one film and Brosnan has done four, so it would be nice to wait a few films and then really look.

That having been said, Craig gets my vote.

I hate to judge because Daniel Craig wasn't portraying the fully refined experienced agent that Pierce Brosnan portrayed.

That having been said, neither of them gets my vote......at least until Bond 22.

Gassy Man · March 2007

Craig. He still doesn't top Connery for me, but he confirmed for me that Brosnan mostly got by on his looks.

Loeffelholz · March 2007

For me, Craig's Bond is the absolute best since Connery...therefore, obviously he's ahead of Brosnan in my book.

arthur pringle · March 2007

I much prefer Brosnan to Craig. If pushed I'd take Timothy Dalton over either though. I haven't watched one of the Brosnan films since he left the role so that will be a strange experience when I do, knowing the Brozzer era is part of history now and not an ongoing thing anymore.

Barbel · March 2007

Monique wrote:

) I'm with you Barbel!

{[] Cheers!

TonyDP · March 2007

Barbel wrote:

Monique wrote:

) I'm with you Barbel!

{[] Cheers!

Next round's on me. -{ -{ -{

As others have said, it's a little unfair to compare Brosnan's 4 movies to Craig's 1 - and their interpretations are so very different. So I'll just go ahead and compare them in their first respective outings.

I give Craig all the credit in the world for his hard work and the conviction he brought to the part in CR. I was a doubter and I was convinced he couldn't pull it off. But he proved me wrong and I have no trouble admitting that. I'm looking forward to seeing what the sequel to CR is and where he'll take the character.

Having said all that, I still prefer Brosnan and Goldeneye because, quite simply, I find his performance and the film itself more fun and enjoyable, given my personal tastes. I thought Brosnan brought a better balance of charm, humor and toughness to the part in his first outing. I also think GE has a superior PTS, a better villain, better action, and a more compelling plot; again, given my personal tastes.

blueman · March 2007

Neville James wrote:

To answer this question one must think back to November 1995.
Goldeneye had just been released, Brosnan was considered by many to be the best since Connery.
Goldeneye's script was mature and up to date, yet the film also included many ideas held over from previous films, and despite the script being written for Timothy Dalton Brosnan shines throughout.
The point I would like to make is that, like a new band's 'difficult second album' we will only know if Craig is as good as we think he is when Bond 22 is released in Nov 2008.
Brosnan's films went downhill after GE, and while TND is still a decent effort, I feel TWINE and DAD are among the worst Bond films ever.
This is also (IMO) not down to Brosnan, as he is a fine actor, and played his heart out in all the 4 pictures, he suffered from having poor scripts, bad supporting actors, and was a victim of the worst kind of CGI ever in DAD.
If it wasn't for Brosnan laying down the groundwork to bring Bond back up to date with GE Craig's role may have been made even harder.
I also think that a lot of the credit to CR's (and GE's) success is down to Martin Campbell. He seems to know what the public wants in many ways and delivers.
On this subject, if a PPK was held to my head and I had to pick one...

Sean Connery.
(ask me agin in Nov 2008)

Good assessment, although disagree about Brosnan's talent. I know he appeals to many as their favorite in the role, for me he was a space-filler. Different strokes.

I do think in one film Craig knocked the ball out of the park, and showed more Bond than Brosnan did in 4 films, or Dalton in 2 films. Or even Moore in 7 films. Best since Connery, looking forward to Bond 22.

darenhat · March 2007

TonyDP wrote:

As others have said, it's a little unfair to compare Brosnan's 4 movies to Craig's 1 - and their interpretations are so very different. So I'll just go ahead and compare them in their first respective outings.

I give Craig all the credit in the world for his hard work and the conviction he brought to the part in CR. I was a doubter and I was convinced he couldn't pull it off. But he proved me wrong and I have no trouble admitting that. I'm looking forward to seeing what the sequel to CR is and where he'll take the character.

Having said all that, I still prefer Brosnan and Goldeneye because, quite simply, I find his performance and the film itself more fun and enjoyable, given my personal tastes. I thought Brosnan brought a better balance of charm, humor and toughness to the part in his first outing. I also think GE has a superior PTS, a better villain, better action, and a more compelling plot; again, given my personal tastes.

I agree with this wholeheartedly, TDP. It is very hard to compare (apples and oranges and all that) but when I boil it down, I realize I enjoy GE more than CR.

Loeffelholz · March 2007

blueman wrote:

I do think in one film Craig knocked the ball out of the park, and showed more Bond than Brosnan did in 4 films, or Dalton in 2 films. Or even Moore in 7 films. Best since Connery, looking forward to Bond 22.

Seconded {[]

Jermaine76 · March 2007

I have to go with Brosnan. I was the first in the neighborhood when I was around 6 or 7 years old that predicted him to be 007 and was right. Brosnan rejuvenated the series after being gone for six years. Each of his films topped the previous film in sales. All the successful Bond video games that came out during his reign as 007(GoldenEye 64, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, Agent Under Fire, Nightfire, Everything or Nothing, GE: Rogue Agent). I haven't seen or heard about ONE GAME in development now that Craig is 007. Plus, I don't recall the same hatred against Brosnan like there has been for Craig. I like all the Bonds except for Gollum, I mean Craig.

Loeffelholz · March 2007

Yeah...that one never gets old.

I'm not sure it's fair to lay the lack of a video game on poor Danny's doorstep...but, with a bit of concentration, I'm sure we can pin responsibility for Global Warming on him

)

Might as well blame Sir Sean for the lousy reception of the FRWL game, and EA selling the licence...

Nah. It's Craigger's fault.

TonyDP · March 2007

There haven't been any Bond games recently because Goldeneye: Rogue Agent was a turd and From Russia With Love was an unpolished, unfinished and generally rushed game which tried to cover its poor execution by giving us the voice of Sean Connery and hoping we wouldn't notice. The games didn't sell because they were bad and that is why there have been no Bond games for a while.

As for global warming, it's not Craig's fault. I blame Caterina Murino - she's smokin' hot!

Barry Nelson · March 2007

TonyDP wrote:

There haven't been any Bond games recently because Goldeneye: Rogue Agent was a turd and From Russia With Love was an unpolished, unfinished and generally rushed game which tried to cover its poor execution by giving us the voice of Sean Connery and hoping we wouldn't notice. The games didn't sell because they were bad and that is why there have been no Bond games for a while.

As for global warming, it's not Craig's fault. I blame Caterina Murino - she's smokin' hot!

What Tony says about video games you can take to the bank.

He's right about Murino too.

Jermaine76 · March 2007

TonyDP wrote:

The games didn't sell because they were bad and that is why there have been no Bond games for a while.

I thought GoldenEye 64 for N64 was game of the year, right? TND was wack, TWINE was alright., Agent Under Fire was garbage, EON was pretty good.

TonyDP · March 2007

Barry Nelson wrote:

What Tony says about video games you can take to the bank.

He's right about Murino too.

I always knew you had good taste Barry.

Jermaine76 wrote:

TonyDP wrote:

The games didn't sell because they were bad and that is why there have been no Bond games for a while.

I thought GoldenEye 64 for N64 was game of the year, right? TND was wack, TWINE was alright., Agent Under Fire was garbage, EON was pretty good.

I was talking mainly about the last couple of Bond games which Electronic Arts released. If you want to talk about gaming head on over to the Game Bond Gaming section. There are a bunch of thriving threads over there and you'll find plenty of folks who are happy to shoot the breeze about videogaming. Let's let this thread get back to Brosnan and Craig.

Andy A 007 · March 2007

Is it even a contest? Brosnan was good for his day but, for me at least...

Daniel Craig IS James Bond!

Dan Same · March 2007

Craig or Brosnan? Brosan of course!

Brosnan remains my second favourite Bond, with GE among my all-time ten favourite Bond films. Craig is fourth on my list. I don't hate him, but nor do I particularly like him. I think there were one or two moments in which I think he did a very good job (like Lazenby) but, also like Lazenby, I wasn't particularly impressed with his general performance. I think Brosnan did a much better job of exuding the combination of suaveness and ruthlessness that I so love about Bond than Craig. I will, of course, see Bond22, but IMO Craig could never be as good a Bond as the great Pierce Brosnan.

Classic · March 2007

{[]

Classic · March 2007

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Krassno Granitski · March 2007

Fish1941 wrote:

Is this thread about which actor we prefer as Bond, or who is the better Bond?

Yes

Craig > Brosnan

blueman · March 2007

Fish1941 wrote:

Is this thread about which actor we prefer as Bond, or who is the better Bond?

It's the same question, really.

IanT007 · March 2007

I was made up, thrilled to bits and chuffed to f**k when Brozzer got the part of Bond. I was gutted when he stepped down and even more so when DC got the job.

Then I watched CR, and I watched it in the context of an entirely new Bond series and I have to say that I thought DC was excellent.

So what I am trying to say is that Brozzer was perfect as the "old" Bond - an evolution of 40 years.
DC is perfect as the "new" Bond.

They are two different Bonds.

They're not better than each other, they're just different (and you get a bonus point for correctly attributing that "adjusted" quote).

Barbel · March 2007

IanT007 wrote:

They're not better than each other, they're just different (and you get a bonus point for correctly attributing that "adjusted" quote).

Bond in the PTS to YOLT, comparing Peking Duck to Russian caviar.

Barbel · March 2007

And Chinese girls to all other girls.

IanT007 · March 2007

No. It's not a Bond film.

Craig or Brosnan?

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