Daltons Best?

DieAnotherDay · January 2013

Simple Questions?
Do you think Timothy Dalton made a good James Bond? And What is your favourite of Daltons two films?

I, personally, am not a fan of Timothy Dalton but it's hard for me to explain why....I just think he lacks any kind of charisma in the role. Out of his two films I feel that Licence to Kill is probably the superior because it has a hard edge to it.

Blackleiter · January 2013

I enjoyed Dalton's stint as Bond, and I agree that the harder edge to LTK was noteworthy. However, I liked TLD slightly more because it played more like a traditional Bond film.

DieAnotherDay · January 2013

Blackleiter wrote:

I enjoyed Dalton's stint as Bond, and I agree that the harder edge to LTK was noteworthy. However, I liked TLD slightly more because it played more like a traditional Bond film.

Yeah, LTK did stray from the Bond formula a bit too much. This did work to its advantage in some areas but not in others.

Moore Than · January 2013

I feel he took the role a bit too seriously and would like to have seen him lighten up a bit more, but otherwise Timothy Dalton was a very good Bond. I enjoy both his films a lot. I favour Licence To Kill mainly because of Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell) she's attractive, intelligent, feisty, and a real help to Bond. David Hedison is not only my favourite Felix Leiter but one of my favourite actors. And I love the tanker sequence.

Napoleon Plural · January 2013

There are just too many to choose from.

chrisisall · January 2013

DieAnotherDay wrote:

Simple Questions?
Do you think Timothy Dalton made a good James Bond?

No. He made a great James Bond- my favourite, in fact.

And What is your favourite of Daltons two films?

If pressed, I'd have to say TLD mainly for the Barry score & darkly lit moody scenes, but I basically like them about equally.

I, personally, am not a fan of Timothy Dalton but it's hard for me to explain why....

I'll help you there; you haven't read the novels. Tim was going for the literary Bond; Connery had already perfected the cinematic one. Personally, I find the literary Bond more interesting.

-{

DieAnotherDay · January 2013

chrisisall wrote:

DieAnotherDay wrote:

Simple Questions?
Do you think Timothy Dalton made a good James Bond?

No. He made a great James Bond- my favourite, in fact.

And What is your favourite of Daltons two films?

If pressed, I'd have to say TLD mainly for the Barry score & darkly lit moody scenes, but I basically like them about equally.

I, personally, am not a fan of Timothy Dalton but it's hard for me to explain why....

I'll help you there; you haven't read the novels. Tim was going for the literary Bond; Connery had already perfected the cinematic one. Personally, I find the literary Bond more interesting. -{

I know that a lot of the fans of the Bond Novels love Timothy in the role because he was going for the 'Fleming' Bond. I haven't read the novels right enough so that might be the season why I cannot take to him, I'm sure if had made more films I would of really got into his style of Bond but as it stands with me he was an okay bond in two relatively forgettable films.
I respect your opinion on the matter and can completely understand it as you are probably a more faithful Bond fan than me

chrisisall · January 2013

DieAnotherDay wrote:

he was an okay bond in two relatively forgettable films.

Before I read the novels I had pretty much that opinion too.

DieAnotherDay · January 2013

chrisisall wrote:

DieAnotherDay wrote:

he was an okay bond in two relatively forgettable films.

Before I read the novels I had pretty much that opinion too.

Yeah I'm definitely going to make a start on the novels .... Any you would particularly recommend?

chrisisall · January 2013

DieAnotherDay wrote:

Yeah I'm definitely going to make a start on the novels .... Any you would particularly recommend?

Most folk would say just start with the first one, Casino Royale. But only if you have the time & intend to read them all. If not, I'd say Moonraker was a really great one, probably my favourite... I also liked Thunderball a lot, though it's slower paced. For Your Eyes Only & Octopussy had some good short stories if you like that venue. -{

DieAnotherDay · January 2013

chrisisall wrote:

DieAnotherDay wrote:

Yeah I'm definitely going to make a start on the novels .... Any you would particularly recommend?

Most folk would say just start with the first one, Casino Royale. But only if you have the time & intend to read them all. If not, I'd say Moonraker was a really great one, probably my favourite... I also liked Thunderball a lot, though it's slower paced. For Your Eyes Only & Octopussy had some good short stories if you like that venue. -{

Right thanks, I'll make a start soon. I fancy reading Thunderball even though I have heard it is very simple and completely different from the convoluted film (which I love)

Jarvio · January 2013

I loved both Dalton films, but my preference goes to LTK. I just found it more memorable, and the main villain is MILES better...

chrisisall · January 2013

Jarvio wrote:

I loved both Dalton films, but my preference goes to LTK. I just found it more memorable, and the main villain is MILES better...

LTK was a little rough, kind of non-subtle, maybe a bit brutal in spots.... in fact, it was totally ultra-violent & messed up! Yeah, awesome. -{

raptors_887 · January 2013

I haven't seen License To Kill yet but I watched The Living Daylights just at random and I thought it was awesome. Timothy Dalton did a great job and I realized half way through that he was the bad guy in Hot Fuzz LOL. I liked him in that movie too.

chrisisall · January 2013

raptors_887 wrote:

ITimothy Dalton did a great job and I realized half way through that he was the bad guy in Hot Fuzz LOL. I liked him in that movie too.

Tim was also Alexi Volkoff is series four of CHUCK. B-)

DEFIANT 74205 · January 2013

DieAnotherDay wrote:

Do you think Timothy Dalton made a good James Bond?

Better than "good". He was the epitome of the James Bond character as created by Ian Fleming. In my view, that's how ALL actors should try to portray Bond - as he was written, and not any other way.

DieAnotherDay wrote:

And What is your favourite of Daltons two films?

That's a tough question. I like both. I rate them at 6 and 7 in my "list" of favourite Bond films in order. If I had to pick one, it'd be The Living Daylights purely because the early part of the film was adapted from the short story of the same name.

DieAnotherDay wrote:

I, personally, am not a fan of Timothy Dalton but it's hard for me to explain why....I just think he lacks any kind of charisma in the role. Out of his two films I feel that Licence to Kill is probably the superior because it has a hard edge to it.

http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/entertainment/articles/2012-11/08/timothy-dalton-the-best-james-bond-007

If you read the novels, you'll understand.

Polynikes · January 2013

Jarvio wrote:

I loved both Dalton films, but my preference goes to LTK. I just found it more memorable, and the main villain is MILES better...

Agreed Ltk. It's in my top 5 I too enjoy TD's portrayal of bond. The villain is one of the most convincing of any.

chrisisall · January 2013

TLD and LTK are absolutely Dalton's best Bond movies.

Smiert-Spionam · January 2013

LTK for me. Better villains, better Bond girls, darker edge while still maintaining some humour, Dalton is perfect in the role once again and I absolutely love the title song and the closing song. That's not to say I don't like TLD. Both films appear in my top 5. -{

Higgins · January 2013

chrisisall wrote:

TLD and LTK are absolutely Dalton's best Bond movies.

??? That's even by your standards pathetic.....

chrisisall · January 2013

Bondtoys wrote:

chrisisall wrote:

TLD and LTK are absolutely Dalton's best Bond movies.

??? That's even by your standards pathetic.....

No, really, those are his best two! -{

chrisisall · January 2013

Smiert-Spionam wrote:

LTK for me. Better villains, better Bond girls, darker edge while still maintaining some humour, Dalton is perfect in the role once again

One thing I REALLY appreciate is how different the two films are! One, a darkish moody cold war spy adventure, the other a bright & brutal Yojimbo-like revenge thriller!

superado · January 2013

DieAnotherDay wrote:

Blackleiter wrote:

I enjoyed Dalton's stint as Bond, and I agree that the harder edge to LTK was noteworthy. However, I liked TLD slightly more because it played more like a traditional Bond film.

Yeah, LTK did stray from the Bond formula a bit too much. This did work to its advantage in some areas but not in others.

You all notice how this take on Bond by Dalton in LTK has now become the norm? Disrespecting "M," vengence mission, dressing down... This is now DC's lunch bag and even PB took a few bites out of Dalton's sandwich.

chrisisall · January 2013

superado wrote:

You all notice how this take on Bond by Dalton in LTK has now become the norm? Disrespecting "M," vengence mission, dressing down... This is now DC's lunch bag and even PB took a few bites out of Dalton's sandwich.

Besides enjoying your metaphors immensely, I also agree.

davidelliott101 · January 2013

Here's my POV... we just (in 1987) had Roger Moore's run come to an end. Just as Connery was the Bond of the 1960's, Roger Moore was the Bond of the 1970's (and early '80's but by then he was long in the tooth). The Bond films became comical farces (with two exceptions... TSWLM and FYEO) and even AVTAK was just a remake of Goldfinger. Moore was the Bond of my generation, but seeing him put the moves on Tanya Roberts was just creepy.

Dalton made Bond dangerous again. It was as if the Bond of the Fleming novels was there on the screen. TLD was such a welcome breath of fresh air that now is taken for granted. In AVTAK we are TOLD Bond is dangerous... in TLD we SEE he is! Dalton's Bond set up Brosnan and especially Craig to show how tough he is.

I was recently watching the excellent documentary Everything Or Nothing, and someone noted that it took three films to establish Connery as Bond. Come to think of it, Moore's third film established him fully. If Dalton had his three, he would have been a GREAT Bond and highly regarded today.

In a nutshell, next to Connery, he is my favorite Bond... with Craig as number three on the list.

chrisisall · January 2013

davidelliott101 wrote:

The Bond films became comical farces (with two exceptions... TSWLM and FYEO)

I grew up on Moore, and even his most serious stuff seems like Flint (not altogether a bad thing) compared to early Connery, Dalton or Brosnan's first three.

Dalton made Bond dangerous again. It was as if the Bond of the Fleming novels was there on the screen. TLD was such a welcome breath of fresh air that now is taken for granted.

In those pre-reading-Fleming days, I remember LOVING the new tone, but I missed the old super-confidence I had been used to from Cinema Bond super spy. Now, I really enjoy HUMAN Bonds...

)

someone noted that it took three films to establish Connery as Bond. Come to think of it, Moore's third film established him fully. If Dalton had his three, he would have been a GREAT Bond and highly regarded today.

"Property Of A Lady" would have cemented his reign.

moonraker84 · January 2013

Dalton was great imo and both his films were highly enjoyable, TLD edges it for me though.

Firemass · January 2013

The Living Daylights has always been one of my favorites harking back to renting 007s on VHS.

Licence to Kill is really good, but not exactly "escapist fun" I honestly can't handle some of the violent bits and especially the scene where Felix's wife is raped and murdered on her wedding night. Even though it takes place off screen it's still just too brutal for me.

chrisisall, which Fleming novel would you say most inspires Dalton's performance ?

Firemass · January 2013

davidelliott101 wrote:

Here's my POV... we just (in 1987) had Roger Moore's run come to an end. Just as Connery was the Bond of the 1960's, Roger Moore was the Bond of the 1970's (and early '80's but by then he was long in the tooth). The Bond films became comical farces (with two exceptions... TSWLM and FYEO) and even AVTAK was just a remake of Goldfinger. Moore was the Bond of my generation, but seeing him put the moves on Tanya Roberts was just creepy.

Interesting point about Dalton establishing himself in the third film. Personally, I think he nailed it the first time and wasn't really going to improve. LTK might have even been a slight step backwards due to some unfortunate slicked back hair. (someone here called it "Vampire Hair" i believe)

Still, having a 3rd would have made him more of a household name instead of an obscurity that only Bond connoisseurs seem to appreciate. I'm glad Lazenby only did one, but I wish Dalton could have had 4.

Okay, and I couldn't help but take offense to your line about putting the moves on Tanya as being "creepy." Roger could not have been more of a gentleman! He cooked her dinner, fixed her electricity, and slept in a chair all night with a shotgun. If anything he was more of an old-school noble John Wayne type hero in AVTAK.

Remake of Goldfinger? puh-lease. No more than Quantum of Solace was a remake of Goldfinger for featuring a girl covered in oil and damming the water supply to create a monopoly. Or Lewis Gilbert's TSWLM and MR basically being remakes of YOLT doesn't seem to bother anyone. I'd rather see Bond borrow from himself than other non-Bond films.

The scene in AVTAK most reminiscent of Goldfinger is obviously the business meeting in Zorin's blimp. However, instead of just plain copying it (like the above scene in QoS) they actually reworked it rather brilliantly. I mean, one reoccurring complaint about Goldfinger is why did Auric go to all the trouble of giving the big presentation only to gas the audience anyway? And why take time to kill Mr. Solo separately when he could have died inside with the rest of the gangsters?

Key differences between the two scenes:

1. The business man was very likable and polite. I felt really bad for him when he fell out of Zorin's airship. Unlike in Goldfinger, where Mr. Solo was an irritable thug who gained no sympathy from the audience. This is just one of many examples at how AVTAK does NOT soften the blow for casualties. Each death is taken pretty seriously.

2. Zorin does not waste a ton of time and resources disposing of the dude.

3. Zorin does not "pull a goldfinger" and drop the rest of the investors out of his airship.

Also, Mayday's switching allegiance at the end was far more believable than Pussy Galore and the controversial "judo match"

whoops, did I just go on another tangent defending A View to a Kill? sorry guys

chrisisall · January 2013

Firemass wrote:

chrisisall, which Fleming novel would you say most inspires Dalton's performance ?

Well, Dalton slavishly read all of Fleming's books, so it seems to me no single novel inspired him more than the body of work as a whole.

Brosnan_fan · February 2013

I thought Timothy Dalton made a very good Bond, and it was a great shame he could only do 2 films.

The positive note is both those films were extremely good ones for the Bond canon; I wouldn't choose between them.

Daltons Best?

Comments