Daniel Craig - 'Ian Fleming's James Bond?'

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Comments

  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    A Troll Doll? Denial indeed.
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    AOK wrote:
    Craig's looks remind me of the face on a Troll Doll. The Denial Craig movies are good, but he is not James Bond, and never will be. The broke the mold after Sean Connery. Craig as Bond is about the same as the actor Verner Troyer playing the lead in a movie about the life of Micheal Jordan.

    That's quite an engaging first post, AOK. Welcome to AJB, where (if you stick around) you'll find quite a broader array of opinions than the narrow little ledge you've put yourself upon ;) I'd recommend the article to you...but never mind 8-) You'll find some like-minded allies here...but they're more adept at the oblique jab B-)
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,610MI6 Agent
    AOK wrote:
    Craig's looks remind me of the face on a Troll Doll. The Denial Craig movies are good, but he is not James Bond, and never will be. The broke the mold after Sean Connery. Craig as Bond is about the same as the actor Verner Troyer playing the lead in a movie about the life of Micheal Jordan.

    That's quite an engaging first post, AOK. Welcome to AJB, where (if you stick around) you'll find quite a broader array of opinions than the narrow little ledge you've put yourself upon ;) I'd recommend the article to you...but never mind 8-) You'll find some like-minded allies here...but they're more adept at the oblique jab B-)

    Hey, I don't even dislike Daniel Craig this much. :D
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    Matt S wrote:
    AOK wrote:
    Craig's looks remind me of the face on a Troll Doll. The Denial Craig movies are good, but he is not James Bond, and never will be. The broke the mold after Sean Connery. Craig as Bond is about the same as the actor Verner Troyer playing the lead in a movie about the life of Micheal Jordan.

    That's quite an engaging first post, AOK. Welcome to AJB, where (if you stick around) you'll find quite a broader array of opinions than the narrow little ledge you've put yourself upon ;) I'd recommend the article to you...but never mind 8-) You'll find some like-minded allies here...but they're more adept at the oblique jab B-)

    Hey, I don't even dislike Daniel Craig this much. :D

    I recognize the MO. It's typical of those from

    danielcraigoccupiesmyeverywakingmoment.com

    ...and you can generally time their membership here with a stopwatch.
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Hey guys, let's all head over to CraigisnotBond.com and make fun of Sean Connery! :))
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    AOK wrote:
    Craig's looks remind me of the face on a Troll Doll. The Denial Craig movies are good, but he is not James Bond, and never will be. The broke the mold after Sean Connery. Craig as Bond is about the same as the actor Verner Troyer playing the lead in a movie about the life of Micheal Jordan.

    That's quite an engaging first post, AOK. Welcome to AJB, where (if you stick around) you'll find quite a broader array of opinions than the narrow little ledge you've put yourself upon ;) I'd recommend the article to you...but never mind 8-) You'll find some like-minded allies here...but they're more adept at the oblique jab B-)

    Hey, I don't even dislike Daniel Craig this much. :D


    Not even me!!! :))

    And Loeffelhoz's website is not working... as usual.
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    That's because they're out of Fleming titles, and are having to scrounge for crumbs with poor craftsmen.

    But they're not out of Fleming titles or material.


    Fleming was a skilful craftsman, but not exactly the best writer in the world. Just because they're out of Fleming titles is not an excuse for bad writing (like SP).
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    Jag wrote:
    Matt S wrote:
    That's because they're out of Fleming titles, and are having to scrounge for crumbs with poor craftsmen.

    But they're not out of Fleming titles or material.


    Fleming was a skilful craftsman, but not exactly the best writer in the world. Just because they're out of Fleming titles is not an excuse for bad writing (like SP).

    Perhaps not the best. But one of the better ones ;) And as ever I will not defend Eon's writers. There's still good Fleming source material to be had...and of course places to go with 007 that Fleming couldn't have imagined. They simply need new/better writers.
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    Jag wrote:
    And Loeffelhoz's website is not working... as usual.

    No? Try this one:

    tossersagainstdanielcraigasbond.com
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:
    Matt S wrote:

    But they're not out of Fleming titles or material.


    Fleming was a skilful craftsman, but not exactly the best writer in the world. Just because they're out of Fleming titles is not an excuse for bad writing (like SP).

    Perhaps not the best. But one of the better ones ;) And as ever I will not defend Eon's writers. There's still good Fleming source material to be had...and of course places to go with 007 that Fleming couldn't have imagined. They simply need new/better writers.


    I know it's unbelievable, but we're in agreement again.

    And, you know what... no point creating all those website domains if you do not intend to pay for them! :))
  • Gala BrandGala Brand Posts: 1,172MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:
    Matt S wrote:
    That's because they're out of Fleming titles, and are having to scrounge for crumbs with poor craftsmen.

    But they're not out of Fleming titles or material.


    Fleming was a skilful craftsman, but not exactly the best writer in the world. Just because they're out of Fleming titles is not an excuse for bad writing (like SP).

    There's only two kinds of writing. Good writing and bad writing.

    Fleming was a good writer.

    Among other things, he created an entirely new kind of hero. Half epic hero and half anti-hero. No character quite like Bond had existed before. Since, he's become the template for innumerable spies, cops, private detectives, thieves, assassins, etc.

    Quite an accomplishment for "not exactly the best writer in the world."
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    Gala Brand wrote:
    Jag wrote:
    Matt S wrote:

    But they're not out of Fleming titles or material.


    Fleming was a skilful craftsman, but not exactly the best writer in the world. Just because they're out of Fleming titles is not an excuse for bad writing (like SP).

    There's only two kinds of writing. Good writing and bad writing.

    Fleming was a good writer.

    Among other things, he created an entirely new kind of hero. Half epic hero and half anti-hero. No character quite like Bond had existed before. Since, he's become the template for innumerable spies, cops, private detectives, thieves, assassins, etc.

    Quite an accomplishment for "not exactly the best writer in the world."

    {[]

    He's my favourite; my own character/series owes him a debt.
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    Gala Brand wrote:
    Jag wrote:
    Matt S wrote:

    But they're not out of Fleming titles or material.


    Fleming was a skilful craftsman, but not exactly the best writer in the world. Just because they're out of Fleming titles is not an excuse for bad writing (like SP).

    There's only two kinds of writing. Good writing and bad writing.

    Fleming was a good writer.

    Among other things, he created an entirely new kind of hero. Half epic hero and half anti-hero. No character quite like Bond had existed before. Since, he's become the template for innumerable spies, cops, private detectives, thieves, assassins, etc.

    Quite an accomplishment for "not exactly the best writer in the world."


    If you choose to see things in life and black and white only! In reality, there are millions of shades of grey in between black and white. There are absolutely great writers, just great writers, good writers, decent writers, average writers, mediocre writers, bad writers, terrible writers... and this is just the beginning. Fleming was good, perhaps very good. And there have been quite a few better ones and countless worse ones.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:
    There are absolutely great writers, just great writers, good writers, decent writers, average writers, mediocre writers, bad writers, terrible writers... and this is just the beginning. Fleming was good, perhaps very good. And there have been quite a few better ones and countless worse ones.
    I am forced to agree with my esteemed colleague here.
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,610MI6 Agent
    chrisisall wrote:
    Jag wrote:
    There are absolutely great writers, just great writers, good writers, decent writers, average writers, mediocre writers, bad writers, terrible writers... and this is just the beginning. Fleming was good, perhaps very good. And there have been quite a few better ones and countless worse ones.
    I am forced to agree with my esteemed colleague here.

    Fleming wasn't the greatest of writers, but he was very creative and had brilliant ideas. As far as the films are concerned, that's the part of Fleming that counts.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    chrisisall wrote:
    Jag wrote:
    There are absolutely great writers, just great writers, good writers, decent writers, average writers, mediocre writers, bad writers, terrible writers... and this is just the beginning. Fleming was good, perhaps very good. And there have been quite a few better ones and countless worse ones.
    I am forced to agree with my esteemed colleague here.

    Only one, however, created James Bond.
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    Matt S wrote:
    chrisisall wrote:
    Jag wrote:
    There are absolutely great writers, just great writers, good writers, decent writers, average writers, mediocre writers, bad writers, terrible writers... and this is just the beginning. Fleming was good, perhaps very good. And there have been quite a few better ones and countless worse ones.
    I am forced to agree with my esteemed colleague here.

    Fleming wasn't the greatest of writers, but he was very creative and had brilliant ideas. As far as the films are concerned, that's the part of Fleming that counts.


    Of course, there would be no cinematic Bond without Fleming. However, Fleming was literary Bond's sole parent, but when it comes to films, it's a different story. Fleming had a lot of input initially, but we know Connery was not from his first choice originally. And the Fleming was gone, Connery was gone, times changed, non-Fleming scripts were written... and that's how Bond came of age for better or worse.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    Jag wrote:
    Matt S wrote:
    chrisisall wrote:
    I am forced to agree with my esteemed colleague here.

    Fleming wasn't the greatest of writers, but he was very creative and had brilliant ideas. As far as the films are concerned, that's the part of Fleming that counts.


    Of course, there would be no cinematic Bond without Fleming. However, Fleming was literary Bond's sole parent, but when it comes to films, it's a different story. Fleming had a lot of input initially, but we know Connery was not from his first choice originally. And the Fleming was gone, Connery was gone, times changed, non-Fleming scripts were written... and that's how Bond came of age for better or worse.

    The cinematic fiddling with the source material started with DN; Fleming himself said that fans of the novel would likely be disappointed with the film, but those who hadn't read it would find it enjoyable. So in a sense, not a great deal has changed, really, except that the dollar amounts at each end get bigger.

    Another constant is that someone is always unhappy about the state of affairs -{
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • zaphod99zaphod99 Posts: 1,415MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:
    And Loeffelhoz's website is not working... as usual.

    No? Try this one:

    tossersagainstdanielcraigasbond.com

    Very funny ;)
    Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    Only my two cents but ..... I just can't see how anyone watching Spectre
    didn't think. Here's a guy so confident and comfortable in his own skin.
    He is simply so at home playing Bond. -{ relaxed, assured, sanguine.
    Many of the old elements have been reintroduced ( so should please
    the traditionalists) while at the same time keeping the gritty violence
    of the fight and action sequences. So they are trying to make a traditional
    Bond film, but in a contemporary manner.
    I'll give the producers and film makers credit for that -{ Although it is a
    shame when fans dislike an actor, Sir Roger for example, as they are denying
    Themselves, so many wonderful films.
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BleuvilleBleuville Posts: 384MI6 Agent
    For some reason I imagine the literary Bond to look like the storyboard version of T-Dalt.

    I don't imagine Craig. While he is less "model-like" looking that all the other actors, he's still quite soft looking.

    Yes DC is a good actor for the character, but doesn't have the black haired look of book-Bond that Fleming described.
    Also like other famous actors you just think of him as "Daniel Craig" not so much as "James Bond" that Sean Connery had
    in the 1960s. (avoids typecasting I suppose.)

    Bleuvile.
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    Any literary work adapted for the screen will require an adaptation. So of course it started with DN, but the film and the novel are very close. But compare Moonraker - the novel and the movie - and the similarities are few and far between.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    Jag wrote:
    Any literary work adapted for the screen will require an adaptation. So of course it started with DN, but the film and the novel are very close. But compare Moonraker - the novel and the movie - and the similarities are few and far between.

    Well of course; I am intimately familiar with the screen adaptation process---my point is that with DN it had already strayed beyond Fleming's taste (a common complaint among novelists who sell those rights). None of the Lewis Gilbert extravaganzas had anything at all to do with the source material except for YOLT, which occurred in Japan as the events of the novel did...and the unwise inclusion of Bond masquerading as Japanese :#
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:
    Any literary work adapted for the screen will require an adaptation. So of course it started with DN, but the film and the novel are very close. But compare Moonraker - the novel and the movie - and the similarities are few and far between.

    Well of course; I am intimately familiar with the screen adaptation process---my point is that with DN it had already strayed beyond Fleming's taste (a common complaint among novelists who sell those rights). None of the Lewis Gilbert extravaganzas had anything at all to do with the source material except for YOLT, which occurred in Japan as the events of the novel did...and the unwise inclusion of Bond masquerading as Japanese :#


    What would you expect? Fleming as the novel author and Dahl as the script writer. There just had to be huge departures from the original material, and as much as I am a Bond fan, I consider Dahl to be a much better writer. YOLT was the first Bond movie I watched, and I judge all the others by its standard for this particular reason. It will always be my favourite. So many great line, some of which are not even in the novel.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    Jag wrote:
    Jag wrote:
    Any literary work adapted for the screen will require an adaptation. So of course it started with DN, but the film and the novel are very close. But compare Moonraker - the novel and the movie - and the similarities are few and far between.

    Well of course; I am intimately familiar with the screen adaptation process---my point is that with DN it had already strayed beyond Fleming's taste (a common complaint among novelists who sell those rights). None of the Lewis Gilbert extravaganzas had anything at all to do with the source material except for YOLT, which occurred in Japan as the events of the novel did...and the unwise inclusion of Bond masquerading as Japanese :#

    What would you expect? Fleming as the novel author and Dahl as the script writer. There just had to be huge departures from the original material, and as much as I am a Bond fan, I consider Dahl to be a much better writer. YOLT was the first Bond movie I watched, and I judge all the others by its standard for this particular reason. It will always be my favourite. So many great line, some of which are not even in the novel.

    Eon was in no way ready to do a more proper YOLT adaption in the 60s, to be sure, nor was the filmgoing public ready to accept it. But I think that has changed now, with the current era and the way that Craig's interpretation of the role (like/agree with it or not) has pushed Bond into brave Flemingesque territory (SP's retro lighter tone notwithstanding). So I expect the actual YOLT storyline to see the light of day soon.
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • Matt SMatt S Oh Cult Voodoo ShopPosts: 6,610MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:
    Jag wrote:
    Any literary work adapted for the screen will require an adaptation. So of course it started with DN, but the film and the novel are very close. But compare Moonraker - the novel and the movie - and the similarities are few and far between.

    Well of course; I am intimately familiar with the screen adaptation process---my point is that with DN it had already strayed beyond Fleming's taste (a common complaint among novelists who sell those rights). None of the Lewis Gilbert extravaganzas had anything at all to do with the source material except for YOLT, which occurred in Japan as the events of the novel did...and the unwise inclusion of Bond masquerading as Japanese :#


    What would you expect? Fleming as the novel author and Dahl as the script writer. There just had to be huge departures from the original material, and as much as I am a Bond fan, I consider Dahl to be a much better writer. YOLT was the first Bond movie I watched, and I judge all the others by its standard for this particular reason. It will always be my favourite. So many great line, some of which are not even in the novel.

    Dahl wrote YOLT pretty much on his own and only took a few elements and characters from Flrming's novel. The stories are pretty much unrelated.
    Visit my blog, Bond Suits
  • JagJag Posts: 1,167MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:

    Well of course; I am intimately familiar with the screen adaptation process---my point is that with DN it had already strayed beyond Fleming's taste (a common complaint among novelists who sell those rights). None of the Lewis Gilbert extravaganzas had anything at all to do with the source material except for YOLT, which occurred in Japan as the events of the novel did...and the unwise inclusion of Bond masquerading as Japanese :#

    What would you expect? Fleming as the novel author and Dahl as the script writer. There just had to be huge departures from the original material, and as much as I am a Bond fan, I consider Dahl to be a much better writer. YOLT was the first Bond movie I watched, and I judge all the others by its standard for this particular reason. It will always be my favourite. So many great line, some of which are not even in the novel.

    Eon was in no way ready to do a more proper YOLT adaption in the 60s, to be sure, nor was the filmgoing public ready to accept it. But I think that has changed now, with the current era and the way that Craig's interpretation of the role (like/agree with it or not) has pushed Bond into brave Flemingesque territory (SP's retro lighter tone notwithstanding). So I expect the actual YOLT storyline to see the light of day soon.


    Why wasn't a more literal adaptation possible back then? Half a century later, it would be tricky to do it – first, the title has already been taken. Then, either you set the movie 50 years ago (unprecedented), or you have to change quite a bit to bring it to modern times (which would mean that the movie will likely be as removed from the literary original as the first one).

    I think we should accept that there is no point re-frying Fleming material again and again. For goodness sake, why not just get some able script-writers?
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Jag wrote:
    For goodness sake, why not just get some able script-writers?
    They will not pay US.... :))
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,865Chief of Staff
    Jag wrote:
    Why wasn't a more literal adaptation possible back then?

    Mainly because they hadn't filmed OHMSS first.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Barbel wrote:
    Jag wrote:
    Why wasn't a more literal adaptation possible back then?

    Mainly because they hadn't filmed OHMSS first.
    Yeah. That.
    Dalton & Connery rule. Brozz was cool.
    #1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
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