Roger Moore- A Bond of His Own

chrisisall · August 2013

Think about it, all of the other actors share in well of similar traits, cinematic or literary, but Roger's Bond is like an alternate reality Bond. There is the air of fine breeding and upper class upbringing about him... he fights like he's using a westernized Tai Chi more than fisticuffs, he's nicer, more humorous, even a bit more noble...
To really appreciate Roger's Bond, one must accept a totally different take on the character. He is not Connery's Bond, nor the one from the novels.
More than any other actor to carry the PPK, he made Bond his own.

Thoughts?

hehadlotsofguts · August 2013

I like his humourous take on the role. He's the Bond i watch if i feel down and need a laugh

Thunderpussy · August 2013

I grew up watching Roger Moore on the TV and then as Bond. So I'm a fan
although I know many dislike his tenure as Bond. His films are great fun viewing.
Mabey not the Bond of the novels He did as chrisisall points out put his own
stamp on the character of Bond. Also as a fan of movie stunt work, his films
have some of the greatest stunts ever captured on film.

hehadlotsofguts · August 2013

He has said that the hardest thing about replacing Connery is saying "Bond, James Bond" without a slur.

chrisisall · August 2013

Thunderpussy wrote:

I know many dislike his tenure as Bond.

Back then, I never, ever had anything against him, in fact LALD was a favourite film of mine in 73.

Thunderpussy · August 2013

I know to many Sir Roger wasn't the greatest Bond and to a point I'd agree, but as I said I grew up watching him. He was on so often in our house he seemed like a member of the family. So I get great pangs of guilt if I say anything about him that's not complimentary. Sort of feeling like you're speaking bad about a favourite uncle.

)

chrisisall · August 2013

Thunderpussy wrote:

He was on so often in our house he seemed like a member of the family. So I get great pangs of guilt if I say anything about him that's not complimentary

Yeah, and he's so cool IRL too. As I got into my late teens & early twenties though, I was getting tired of the goofy stuff that seemed to litter many of his films. When MR came out I thought they'd finally killed Bond movies for me. Luckily, later they made FYEO and I realized all was not lost. -{
Today I enjoy most of his movies immensely.
Except MR... X-(

Napoleon Plural · August 2013

Like Connery and Craig, he created the role in that he reinterpreted it, invented it. Connery brought his own swagger, nonchalence, fiddling with cufflinks thing to it. I feel that Lazenby and Brosnan sort of followed someone else's blueprint a bit, not sure about Dalton, I don't think he nailed a whole new persona, but Moore did, albeit his self-created one. That said, he did seem more natural as The Saint, more relaxed.

Jarvio · August 2013

chrisisall wrote:

Roger's Bond is like an alternate reality Bond.

I kind of see all 6 bonds as alternate realities to be honest. I think they all brought something different to the role (except maybe Brosnan, who was kind of like a combination of many - not dissing him, just an observation).

But I do see what you mean. I do think Roger is the most different of the 6 bonds, and the one who made bond his own the most. I think the closest to him is Brosnan - Clearly Moore is nothing like Dalton or Craig. And Connery had more of a balance with the comedy. So did Brosnan I guess, but I still think Brosnan is the closest to Moore. It's difficult to tell with Lazenby as he only did one film, so who knows what kind of route he would have gone down if he'd continued...

chrisisall · August 2013

Jarvio wrote:

I do see what you mean. I do think Roger is the most different of the 6 bonds, and the one who made bond his own the most.

And that's not at all a bad thing IMO. In the circle of motion picture production, keeping Bond vital & alive trumped a true literary screen translation.

Bond life · August 2013

I think it was vital that we had his humourous portrayal before we got Timothy daltons super serious bond

Blackleiter · August 2013

Bond life wrote:

I think it was vital that we had his humourous portrayal before we got Timothy daltons super serious bond

Why do you say that? Just curious.

MooseWithFleas · August 2013

I agree with Bond Life.

My reasoning is that Bond needed to be revitalized after OHMSS and Diamonds are Forever. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE OHMSS. However, Lazenby's debut did not have the drawing power that Connery did and the world wasn't ready for the human Bond.

Diamonds are Forever is one of the only duds in the franchise for me. I still get enjoyment out of it, but far less than the others whenever I watch it. DAF did decent at the box office, but it was clear Connery was done after that film. The world was not ready for a humanized bond nor did it want a Connery ripoff. The worst mistake they could make was imitating an act. Moore had his own style and was an established actor with drawing power.

While Moore is not the ONLY reason LALD is 4th in All-Time Bond Box Office (inflation adjusted), he certainly deserved a large portion of the credit.

screename · August 2013

I will be the first to bash Moore's films. But only his films. I really enjoy his character, the gentleman Bond. He has some great scenes in all his movies, unfortunately the cheesiness of the scripts and plots deters me from viewing them more often.

Peppermill · August 2013

As some of you may know I am a big fan of Roger Moore and his movies. I can understand that some (a lot) of people don’t like his movies because some have a lighter tone then most movies. However, I think that you have to place all Bond movies in the time they premiered. I wasn’t around for most of his tenure because I wasn’t born before Octopussy came out but I do remember that the first part of the 80’s was a pretty gloomy time. During the 70’s the optimism that had coloured the 60’s started to wane off a bit. So I always thought that people in that time wanted their Bond films to be fun and bring an escape from all the harsh news from the real world.

Only blaming Roger Moore for the lighter tone of the movies is not right in my opinion. If there one movie that shows the direction Bond was headed in the ‘70’s and 80’s it is Diamonds Are Forever.

Sir Miles · August 2013

I don't think that 'a lot' of people don't like Roger....I think he has a strong following....his films were perfect for the time...and without his interpretation I'm sure Bond wouldn't have lasted through to this day...his films were a staple of British Bank Holidays and Christmas - films the whole family could enjoy...therefore bringing through new generations that could enjoy James Bond -{

Higgins · August 2013

Sir Miles wrote:

.his films were perfect for the time...and without his interpretation I'm sure Bond wouldn't have lasted through to this day...his films were a staple of British Bank Holidays and Christmas - films the whole family could enjoy...therefore bringing through new generations that could enjoy James Bond -{

Very well said, Sir Miles.

Sometimes you are dead wrong

but here you've nailed it!

-{

Sir Miles · August 2013

No, Bondtots....I'm right all the time..you'll learn...you'll learn

)

And please take your keys out your pocket next time, they are digging in my spleen

Roger Moore- A Bond of His Own

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