While I don't dislike Connery, I'm often frustrated by purists who still insist that he's the number one Bond. Part of the reason most of the other Bonds got crapped on, and still do to this day, was because many critics have a tough time letting go of his iconic portrayal. It's infuriating.
Well ... he is still the number one Bond. It's got nothing to do with not being able to let go of the past, it's a recognition of his acting talents that his portrayal of Bond is still considered by many as the definitive Bond. Perhaps it was Connery, or perhaps it was Terence Young who basically taught Connery everything he knew about the character. Either way, from a Fleming purist's perspective, only Dalton's two performances as Bond are right up there with Connery's first two as being the most "authentic" and "true" to the character.
Yes, it's arguable that he didn't maintain that sort of momentum throughout his stint as Bond. And on that point, I agree. But his performances as Bond in his first two films set the bar so high that I find it difficult to consider that any other actor - Dalton aside - have been able to reach.
While I don't dislike Connery, I'm often frustrated by purists who still insist that he's the number one Bond. Part of the reason most of the other Bonds got crapped on, and still do to this day, was because many critics have a tough time letting go of his iconic portrayal. It's infuriating.
Well ... he is still the number one Bond. It's got nothing to do with not being able to let go of the past, it's a recognition of his acting talents that his portrayal of Bond is still considered by many as the definitive Bond. Perhaps it was Connery, or perhaps it was Terence Young who basically taught Connery everything he knew about the character. Either way, from a Fleming purist's perspective, only Dalton's two performances as Bond are right up there with Connery's first two as being the most "authentic" and "true" to the character.
Yes, it's arguable that he didn't maintain that sort of momentum throughout his stint as Bond. And on that point, I agree. But his performances as Bond in his first two films set the bar so high that I find it difficult to consider that any other actor - Dalton aside - have been able to reach.
Yes they have been reached by Daniel Craig in his first three Bond films. He's actually playing Bond. Connery is playing Connery. Craig is the best actor to have played Bond, the Bond purists know it but are afraid to admit it.
I rank YOLT in my bottom 5. Bad plot, corny script, no dynamic characters. Only the last act gives it some redemption, and I even find the scenes in the volcano rather poorly done. (though the set itself is wonderful)
It's all right. It's quite all right, really. She's having a rest. We'll be going on soon. There's no hurry, you see. We have all the time in the world.
I'm not afraid to admit anything. For me, Connery plays the best cinematic Bond, with Craig second. And Dalton to me is the closest to Fleming's Bond. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. -{
While I don't dislike Connery, I'm often frustrated by purists who still insist that he's the number one Bond. Part of the reason most of the other Bonds got crapped on, and still do to this day, was because many critics have a tough time letting go of his iconic portrayal. It's infuriating.
Well ... he is still the number one Bond. It's got nothing to do with not being able to let go of the past, it's a recognition of his acting talents that his portrayal of Bond is still considered by many as the definitive Bond. Perhaps it was Connery, or perhaps it was Terence Young who basically taught Connery everything he knew about the character. Either way, from a Fleming purist's perspective, only Dalton's two performances as Bond are right up there with Connery's first two as being the most "authentic" and "true" to the character.
Yes, it's arguable that he didn't maintain that sort of momentum throughout his stint as Bond. And on that point, I agree. But his performances as Bond in his first two films set the bar so high that I find it difficult to consider that any other actor - Dalton aside - have been able to reach.
Yes they have been reached by Daniel Craig in his first three Bond films. He's actually playing Bond. Connery is playing Connery. Craig is the best actor to have played Bond, the Bond purists know it but are afraid to admit it.
I think Quantum of Solace is, like TND, a complete letdown and a betrayal of the innovative previous entry. Also, like TND again, Daniel Craig's portrayal is rather monotone and, aside from a couple of scene, really plays Bond as a superhuman.
In essence, QOS is to CR what TND was to GE, for me. I know this may not be an exactly controversial opinion, but I wanted to share it anyway.
I rank YOLT in my bottom 5. Bad plot, corny script, no dynamic characters. Only the last act gives it some redemption, and I even find the scenes in the volcano rather poorly done. (though the set itself is wonderful)
I think Quantum of Solace is, like TND, a complete letdown and a betrayal of the innovative previous entry. Also, like TND again, Daniel Craig's portrayal is rather monotone and, aside from a couple of scene, really plays Bond as a superhuman.
I found a couple of things what Craig went through in Skyfall stretching believability, though he seemed more one track in QoS.
In essence, QOS is to CR what TND was to GE, for me. I know this may not be an exactly controversial opinion, but I wanted to share it anyway.
I much preferred TND to QoS (which I still find relatively good) and my controversial opinion is that I also do not find TND intrinistically worse than GoldenEye or Skyfall in terms of scripting and directing.
'Alright guard, begin the unnecessarily slow moving dipping mechanism...'
Whatever you might think of TND, it completely falls under its weight in the third act. Chief flaw interred in is: Did Carver really need to be in that submarine, other than to have him conviniently offed by Bond as well as the rest of them villains in there?
I much preferred TND to QoS (which I still find relatively good) and my controversial opinion is that I also do not find TND intrinistically worse than GoldenEye or Skyfall in terms of scripting and directing.
I forgot to mention that I do prefer TND over QOS, too, although I wouldn't go as far as to proclaim the former one of the better Bonds. But, in comparison, at least it has a great first act.
Really? I thought she was a much more assured and three-dimensional character during the Craig era. Seemed to me like she was given more acting to do... I remember being kind of wowed when she flips out at the start of Casino Royale!
"The secret agent. The man who was only a silhouette..." -- Ian Fleming, Moonraker
1) The Spy Who Loved Me 2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service 3) GoldenEye 4) Casino Royale 5) Goldfinger
Really? I thought she was a much more assured and three-dimensional character during the Craig era.
No, you're right, I just like the Brosnan movies better, and she started with him.
God i feel sorry for you )
I hated Connery in DAF. I think he dented his repuation with that one. I always stick to Dr No (the film isn't great but he is) to Thunderball, thats when Connery was at peak form for me.
I think Quantum of Solace is, like TND, a complete letdown and a betrayal of the innovative previous entry. Also, like TND again, Daniel Craig's portrayal is rather monotone and, aside from a couple of scene, really plays Bond as a superhuman.
In essence, QOS is to CR what TND was to GE, for me. I know this may not be an exactly controversial opinion, but I wanted to share it anyway.
For me QOS so underatted by fans. its shocking as its a very good Bond film with flaws and holds the best perfomance of Bond by any actor.
Couldn't disagree with you more. The entire film is, simply put, a filler. Only the ending counts, and if you took that and edited it into CR, you wouldn't miss anything from QOS.
And best Bond performance? I guess Craig's CR or SF turns don't count...
Chief flaw interred in is: Did Carver really need to be in that submarine, other than to have him conviniently offed by Bond as well as the rest of them villains in there?
That's a fair enough comment but these are Bond villains we're talking about here, their schemes and their lives getting undone through their own hubris, deciding to make the kind of faulty, convoluted decisions that a exasperated Scott Evil routinely called out to Dr. Evil to satisfy their own egos. Elliot Carver wanted to orchestrate the world shaking events himself at the healm of his stealth boat. In a similar way why didn't Alec Trevelyan simply execute Bond and Natalya quietly instead of just leaving them in the stolen helicopter ready to blow (and likely tipping off the event to the Russian authorities) in a convoluted framing scheme? Worse still Alec Trevelyan (a Keyzer Soze of the Russian underworld who convinced Western intelligence that he died and became a reclusive mastermind) showed up in person to gloat at Bond.
And in Skyfall:
Silva was undone by his own insane ego and his stupidly convoluted scheme of executing M when she was getting torn to shreads in the media spotlight when overwhelming evidence in the story showed he could've killed her off quite easily and quickly (the small army of hitmen with assault rifles with access to disguises and heavy hardware, the ability to place bombs in heavily policed areas, and the ability to remotely explode her office at the press of a keyboard).
'Alright guard, begin the unnecessarily slow moving dipping mechanism...'
Also what makes Trevelyan, Carver, and Silva is that they're loosely based on real life public figures linked with organised crime, big business, and mass media, only ramped up to 11.
Tevelyan - he seems to have some striking similarities to real life gun runner Viktor Bout (trading massive amounts of weapons in planes as opposed to Trevelyan's trains) and could also be commentary on the embarrasing number of British agents who defected to the Soviet Union in real life (though Trevelyan doubled crossed Britain to sell or misuse ex-Soviet weaponry).
Carver - blatantly modelled on Rupert Murdoch, Robert Maxwell, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates. Slightly more staid as a Bond villain, though Pryce does a great job as the most pretentious, sadistic showman on planet driven insane by almost unlimited resources.
Silva - cross the darker side of Julian Assange with Ledger Joker. For the most part Silva is much like what TWINE's Renard was initially advertised as (a terrorist for terrorism's sake) but later kinda failed to deliver on by being revealed as a disposable pawn with a milquetoast personality.
'Alright guard, begin the unnecessarily slow moving dipping mechanism...'
I think Quantum of Solace is, like TND, a complete letdown and a betrayal of the innovative previous entry.
I disagree. Mind you, "QUANTUM OF SOLACE" had its flaws (uneven pacing in the first half and . But the story, at least for me, was the right follow-up to the semi-tragic ending of "CASINO ROYALE".
I wish that EON Productions had done something similar after "ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE". Instead, they gave us the funny, yet extremely flawed "DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER". Even Fleming followed up his tragic "OHMSS" with "You Only Live Twice", which explored Bond's grief over his dead bride.
Comments
Yes they have been reached by Daniel Craig in his first three Bond films. He's actually playing Bond. Connery is playing Connery. Craig is the best actor to have played Bond, the Bond purists know it but are afraid to admit it.
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In essence, QOS is to CR what TND was to GE, for me. I know this may not be an exactly controversial opinion, but I wanted to share it anyway.
Is this even remotely controversial?
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Interesting. What did "QoS" do well that "Skyfall" didn't?
bore the piss out of him
I found a couple of things what Craig went through in Skyfall stretching believability, though he seemed more one track in QoS.
I much preferred TND to QoS (which I still find relatively good) and my controversial opinion is that I also do not find TND intrinistically worse than GoldenEye or Skyfall in terms of scripting and directing.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Really? I thought she was a much more assured and three-dimensional character during the Craig era. Seemed to me like she was given more acting to do... I remember being kind of wowed when she flips out at the start of Casino Royale!
1) The Spy Who Loved Me 2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service 3) GoldenEye 4) Casino Royale 5) Goldfinger
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Nah more life with Craig for me is when her role became more interesting.
God i feel sorry for you
I hated Connery in DAF. I think he dented his repuation with that one. I always stick to Dr No (the film isn't great but he is) to Thunderball, thats when Connery was at peak form for me.
For me QOS so underatted by fans. its shocking as its a very good Bond film with flaws and holds the best perfomance of Bond by any actor.
And best Bond performance? I guess Craig's CR or SF turns don't count...
That's a fair enough comment but these are Bond villains we're talking about here, their schemes and their lives getting undone through their own hubris, deciding to make the kind of faulty, convoluted decisions that a exasperated Scott Evil routinely called out to Dr. Evil to satisfy their own egos. Elliot Carver wanted to orchestrate the world shaking events himself at the healm of his stealth boat. In a similar way why didn't Alec Trevelyan simply execute Bond and Natalya quietly instead of just leaving them in the stolen helicopter ready to blow (and likely tipping off the event to the Russian authorities) in a convoluted framing scheme? Worse still Alec Trevelyan (a Keyzer Soze of the Russian underworld who convinced Western intelligence that he died and became a reclusive mastermind) showed up in person to gloat at Bond.
And in Skyfall:
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Tevelyan - he seems to have some striking similarities to real life gun runner Viktor Bout (trading massive amounts of weapons in planes as opposed to Trevelyan's trains) and could also be commentary on the embarrasing number of British agents who defected to the Soviet Union in real life (though Trevelyan doubled crossed Britain to sell or misuse ex-Soviet weaponry).
Carver - blatantly modelled on Rupert Murdoch, Robert Maxwell, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates. Slightly more staid as a Bond villain, though Pryce does a great job as the most pretentious, sadistic showman on planet driven insane by almost unlimited resources.
Silva - cross the darker side of Julian Assange with Ledger Joker. For the most part Silva is much like what TWINE's Renard was initially advertised as (a terrorist for terrorism's sake) but later kinda failed to deliver on by being revealed as a disposable pawn with a milquetoast personality.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I disagree. Mind you, "QUANTUM OF SOLACE" had its flaws (uneven pacing in the first half and . But the story, at least for me, was the right follow-up to the semi-tragic ending of "CASINO ROYALE".
I wish that EON Productions had done something similar after "ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE". Instead, they gave us the funny, yet extremely flawed "DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER". Even Fleming followed up his tragic "OHMSS" with "You Only Live Twice", which explored Bond's grief over his dead bride.