Let's rate the Bond actors...

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Comments

  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy Behind you !Posts: 63,792MI6 Agent
    If only everyone on AJB007 would say that, My work would be done. Then I could
    move on to MI6 ! :))
    "I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
  • BarbelBarbel ScotlandPosts: 37,866Chief of Staff
    I think it'd be quite a while before that happens, TP, so it looks like you'll be here for the foreseeable. :)
  • AlphaOmegaSinAlphaOmegaSin EnglandPosts: 10,926MI6 Agent
    I suggest you sit down and watch a bit of Thunderball ;) :))

    Thanks, but I think I'll watch A View To A Kill instead. I need a nap! :))

    Always helps :v :))
    1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
  • DutchfingerDutchfinger Holland With LovePosts: 1,240MI6 Agent
    I always found this absolutely impossible to do. As I kind of appreciate each Bond actor in it's own way, except for maybe Lazenby... But anyway, here's my attempt:

    1. Sean Connery
    The man of all men. The original. There simply isn't anyone as cool and smooth as him. It is often said that Dalton was the closest to Fleming's Bond. I actually think Connery was pretty darn spot on as well to Fleming's Bond, when i'm reading the novels, Connery comes to mind a lot. The most important thing I feel when watching Connery in his prime years: "I want to be this man!"

    2. Pierce Brosnan
    Though he has some movies that didn't have the best scripts, looking purely at his performance as Bond you got to admit that Brosnan was one cool dude! He could do the one-liners, he has the looks. And like Connery, when watching him I also feel: "I want to be this man!"

    3. Daniel Craig
    Very comparable with Timothy Dalton, but slightly better with the one-liners. Unfortunatly he's the actor that looks the least like my idea of Bond. He is very fit, he has the same 'I don't give a **** about anyone' quality that Connery had. He has pretty much everything down for being a perfect Bond, except for the psycical appearance.. I don't have the 'I want to BE this man" feeling that I get when watching Connery or Brosnan.

    4. Timothy Dalton
    Dalton I have a great deal of respect for. Not just because he happens to be Bond in my favorite Bond movie, but simply because he seems to be the actor that put the most effort into preparing for the role, and trying to take it into a different direction. He was ahead of his time, and I really wanted to see him give it another attempt. He wasn't as good with the one-liners as the others, and often he comes off as to intense. A great Bond, but he missed a certain X-factor that the top 2 actors do have for me.

    5. Roger Moore
    I almost feel bad for having Roger Moore this low on my list. Because I think the man is a legend! He is the king of one-liners, he's the ultimate gentleman. But as James Bond, you always had to take his performance with a big wink. You just cannot take him to seriously. (He didn't take himself seriously for that matter) To me, he would be a man you would love to have a chat with, feel huge respect for and simply listen to the stories. But there are hardly any moments on which I wish I could be him.

    6. George Lazenby
    I hardly have as much respect for Lazenby as the majority on this forum must have for him. I do admire his story of sneaking into the EON office and convincing Harry Saltzman he had acted in a lot of foreign places (He told this story in the Everything of Nothing documentary) But fact remains. He wasn't an actor, he was an Australian male model that only did some commercials, and that shows a LOT. I won't flame him much more than that. He was just one hell of a lucky fella to actually become James Bond like that.
    Better known as DutchBondFan on YouTube. My 007 movie reviews: Recapping 007
    YouTube channel Support my channel on Patreon Twitter Facebook fanpage
  • JuraquagmireJuraquagmire CanadaPosts: 49MI6 Agent
    edited December 2014
    1-Timothy Dalton is most close to Ian Fleming's Bond. Brilliant actor...

    2.1-Sean Connery; Classic

    2.2-Roger Moore is good; but not best Bond, but his charming and sense of humor win it for me. And most his movie are repeatable- get him in highest position.

    3.1-Daniel Craig would be last place but Skyfall's just so awesome... Will be in second place if his first two movies' good. Hopeful his next two movies' better than or good as Skyfall...

    3.2-Pierce Brosnan's pretty good, but stories wasn't so good.



    George Lazenby- Only good things about his movie is Diana Rigg, great location, and action/chase scenes..
    And gunbarrel, I cannot believe I forget that one.
    Dalton is the Bond! Lazenby is the other fella.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    1-Timothy Dalton is most close to Ian Fleming's Bond. Brilliant actor...
    The reason why Dalton's moveis are my favourite Bonds isn't because they are the best movies; they're NOT. It's because Dalton's Bond is so fascinating to watch. At the end of the other Bonds I feel like I've seen a great movie; after Dalton's movies I almost feel like I've seen a novel come to life- his performance is that rich IMO! :007)
    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
  • FiremassFiremass AlaskaPosts: 1,910MI6 Agent
    chrisisall wrote:
    After Dalton's movies I almost feel like I've seen a novel come to life- his performance is that rich IMO! :007)

    Hmm I have yet to experience this feeling. Any novel in particular?
    My current 10 favorite:

    1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
  • Virgil37Virgil37 Posts: 1,212MI6 Agent
    chrisisall wrote:
    after Dalton's movies I almost feel like I've seen a novel come to life- his performance is that rich IMO!   

    True. Dalton managed to convey that combination of bluntness, cruelty and tenderness (at times) that comes across when reading the novels. Craig too, to some degree.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Virgil37 wrote:
    Craig too, to some degree.
    Especially in QOS, IMO.
    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
  • DutchfingerDutchfinger Holland With LovePosts: 1,240MI6 Agent
    It's amazing some members rank Lazenby above even Dalton or Brosnan. I might be a bit harsh on the guy myself, so please take no offense in this, but I find it SO hard to understand why people would rank him above others? (Others who actually ARE actors!) Is it because he happened to have starred in a movie that is generally loved among Bond fans?

    Once again, no offense, just intrested to hear why he would be higher than others...
    Better known as DutchBondFan on YouTube. My 007 movie reviews: Recapping 007
    YouTube channel Support my channel on Patreon Twitter Facebook fanpage
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    edited December 2014
    I didn't watch all the movies so these assessments aren't set in stone.
    But here are my impressions of each actor so far.

    Connery - Not the only legitimate Bond, but the most influential by far. His performance in the first 3 films were outstanding, but his acting quality gradually diminished. At his best he was a charmer, an overall well-rounded sophisticated yet primal guy who totally nailed those famous one-liners. At his worst, he was smugly arrogant and a miserly misogynist.

    Lazenby - He wouldn't have made a good Bond in general, but his personality (a cross between Connery's groundedness and Moore's politeness) was perfect for OHMSS. But somebody has to be on the bottom of the ranking list, and due to his small body of work, that's him.

    Moore - He saved the series from degenerating and even helped turn it into a franchise. Some enjoy his really far out of left field take on Bond - other didn't. He didn't have the most acclaimed movies or the most competent writers, but we're judging by acting skill, right?

    Dalton - He's tough to rank. I find his darker more literary take very fascinating. It challenged my tastes and took me time to appreciate it, but it was for the best that he moved the series away from depending on one-liners and silly gadgets. He may very well just be the most skilled actor of the bunch, but are we judging these actors by what they did, or purely their acting ability.

    Brosnan - He's agreeable, has everything I'd want in a Bond, and doesn't do too much to shake things up. He lacks the more artistic and unique styles of the other actors. He's quite transparent that I don't even notice him on screen. I just notice Bond. This is good in the sense that it increases immersion, but at the same time, I'm not really raving about his performance either.

    Craig - He's a beneficiary of modern-day hype, but at the same time he is quite a good actor, showing Bond's vulnerable side and taking the character back to the dark side. He can really tug on the emotional strings, get you to relate to him and still be a badass. He re-defined Bond for our current generation, just like the other ones.
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,757Chief of Staff
    It's amazing some members rank Lazenby above even Dalton or Brosnan. I might be a bit harsh on the guy myself, so please take no offense in this, but I find it SO hard to understand why people would rank him above others? (Others who actually ARE actors!) Is it because he happened to have starred in a movie that is generally loved among Bond fans?

    Once again, no offense, just intrested to hear why he would be higher than others...

    I think it's exactly for the reason you gave...he's in the best movie from the franchise -{
    YNWA 97
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    Sir Miles wrote:
    It's amazing some members rank Lazenby above even Dalton or Brosnan. I might be a bit harsh on the guy myself, so please take no offense in this, but I find it SO hard to understand why people would rank him above others? (Others who actually ARE actors!) Is it because he happened to have starred in a movie that is generally loved among Bond fans?

    Once again, no offense, just intrested to hear why he would be higher than others...

    I think it's exactly for the reason you gave...he's in the best movie from the franchise -{

    I agree that's probably the reason (one of the best, at least). And although there is not a doubt in my mind that Roger Moore is a far better actor than Lazenby, I actually like Lazenby be better as Bond.
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Sir Miles wrote:
    It's amazing some members rank Lazenby above even Dalton or Brosnan. I might be a bit harsh on the guy myself, so please take no offense in this, but I find it SO hard to understand why people would rank him above others? (Others who actually ARE actors!) Is it because he happened to have starred in a movie that is generally loved among Bond fans?

    Once again, no offense, just intrested to hear why he would be higher than others...

    I think it's exactly for the reason you gave...he's in the best movie from the franchise -{

    I agree that's probably the reason (one of the best, at least). And although there is not a doubt in my mind that Roger Moore is a far better actor than Lazenby, I actually like Lazenby be better as Bond.
    +1 -{
    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
  • VesperMelogranoVesperMelograno The SouthPosts: 901MI6 Agent
    It's amazing some members rank Lazenby above even Dalton or Brosnan. I might be a bit harsh on the guy myself, so please take no offense in this, but I find it SO hard to understand why people would rank him above others? (Others who actually ARE actors!) Is it because he happened to have starred in a movie that is generally loved among Bond fans?

    Once again, no offense, just intrested to hear why he would be higher than others...

    I have been pondering this and I am going to attempt to answer this (potentially hypothetical) questions. As I have stated extensively, I am a huge Lazenby fan and OHMSS is my favorite Bond film. Both are flawed, but all Bond films are. So much of loving Bond is having memories associated with the films. For me Connery is Saturdays with my Dad, Dalton is endless evening with my best friends, DC is my husband harassing me every weekend to re-watch Skyfall while having a glass of wine. It is not objective. Far, far from it. Lazenby is not an amazing actor but him as Bond has become something important to me. All of the Bonds have. Anyway, that might sound silly but I think that is why the franchise has survived. Everyone can find something in the different Bonds.
    I've always wanted to have Christmas in Turkey
  • MilleniumForceMilleniumForce LondonPosts: 1,214MI6 Agent
    1. Moore
    2. Brosnan
    3. Craig
    4. Dalton
    5. Connery
    6. Lazenby

    I just don't see all what's so great about Connery. Moore just has a certain...uniqueness to his role as Bond. You could never imagine any of the other actors doing his films. But you could see Connery doing OHMSS, Dalton doing GoldenEye, Brosnan could pull off TLD etc. But you wouldn't see Connery going into space and doing laser battles.
    1.LTK 2.AVTAK 3.OP 4.FYEO 5.TND 6.LALD 7.GE 8.GF 9.TSWLM 10.SPECTRE 11.SF 12.MR 13.YOLT 14.TLD 15.CR (06) 16.TMWTGG 17.TB 18.FRWL 19.TWINE 20.OHMSS 21.DAF 22.DAD 23.QoS 24.NSNA 25.DN 26.CR (67)
  • DutchfingerDutchfinger Holland With LovePosts: 1,240MI6 Agent
    It's amazing some members rank Lazenby above even Dalton or Brosnan. I might be a bit harsh on the guy myself, so please take no offense in this, but I find it SO hard to understand why people would rank him above others? (Others who actually ARE actors!) Is it because he happened to have starred in a movie that is generally loved among Bond fans?

    Once again, no offense, just intrested to hear why he would be higher than others...

    I have been pondering this and I am going to attempt to answer this (potentially hypothetical) questions. As I have stated extensively, I am a huge Lazenby fan and OHMSS is my favorite Bond film. Both are flawed, but all Bond films are. So much of loving Bond is having memories associated with the films. For me Connery is Saturdays with my Dad, Dalton is endless evening with my best friends, DC is my husband harassing me every weekend to re-watch Skyfall while having a glass of wine. It is not objective. Far, far from it. Lazenby is not an amazing actor but him as Bond has become something important to me. All of the Bonds have. Anyway, that might sound silly but I think that is why the franchise has survived. Everyone can find something in the different Bonds.

    Intresting, I actually find this quite nice to read. And I have to agree, we Bond fans are rarely objective, sentiment could often be part of our judgement. The great thing of Bond fandom is how diverse peoples opinions are. I always feel like I'm one of the very few people on the forum that isn't so fond of OHMSS for example. Some people hate LTK or SF, others love it. To each they're own, and i'm glad it is that way, or else there wouldn't be much point of having such a forum if we all felt the same about everything!
    Better known as DutchBondFan on YouTube. My 007 movie reviews: Recapping 007
    YouTube channel Support my channel on Patreon Twitter Facebook fanpage
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    I have a really tough time ranking these actors.

    My top 2 would be Dalton and Moore (unsure of the order). Since they're vastly different, I have a tough time comparing.

    Craig and Connery both have three great performances as Bond, so they're tied for now until Spectre comes out maybe.

    And Brosnan, while he's the least innovative Bond, I also feel he immerses himself in the role the best.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    For me, Connery is the most iconic, Dalton is the best literary, and Brosnan is (currently) the most under-appreciated. Moore, Craig & Lazenby seem to be fairly treated in these parts.
    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
  • beatles5beatles5 Posts: 10MI6 Agent
    My Top 6 James Bond actors are
    1. Roger Moore
    2. Daniel Craig
    3. Pierce Brosnan
    4. George Lazenby
    5. Timothy Dalton
    6. Sean Connery
  • hot crossed bondhot crossed bond at the barPosts: 181MI6 Agent
    Daniel Craig, he is my fav actor in and out of the roll
    Sean Connery, could not be beat in his day
    Roger Moore, I grew up with him as Bond, and he in and out of the role is the definition of a Gentleman!
    the rest don't count!!!
    I'm motivated by my duty
  • 75vette75vette South Outer BanksPosts: 82MI6 Agent
    Craig - For me he embodies Fleming's Bond from the novels better than the others, which puts him squarely at the top of my list. I like that he is deeply flawed and reminds me of a tiger that is just beyond taming, even by the likes of M. Though popular opinion seems to rail against him in QOS, I don't believe he has had a poor outing yet. And if the hype of SP proves anywhere near accurate, he will continue his streak.

    Connery - A close second to Craig, though for different reasons. He was first and, as such, set precedent. Classic, calm, collected, chivalrous, and constant. Prior to Craig he was hands down my favorite. Has had a couple of poorer showings (DAF & NSNA), however, he remains the standard by which all Bonds will forever be measured.

    Moore - He is smack in the middle for me, not the best and not the worst. He was the Bond with which I grew up and, as such, I'm probably more than a little nostalgic about him. He is the only Bond able to pull off the cheesy one liners the script writers, for some unknown reason, insist forcing on Bond. And last but not least, I fell in love with Ms. Bouquet in FYEO when, as a senior in high school, this became the first Bond film I ever saw in a theater. And now some 34 years later, the fact that Moore/Bond (at 54) and Ms. Bouquet (at 24) are together at the end of the film still gives me hope.

    Lazenby / Brosnan - Neither one of these should be this far down my list but, alas, here they sit. With only OHMSS on which to judge Lazenby, I feel he might be getting a raw deal here, because it was such a good Bond flick. Though seeming at times out of step, unsure of himself, and unable to fill Connery's size 12 shoes, he still pulls off a really good Bond performance, due in part to a convincing villain, gorgeous girls, and wonderful locales. It would be great to have two or three more films with him as Bond. No doubt he would move up the ranks for me were that the case. And now Brosnan. First, let me just say that I am a huge Brosnan fan, having seen and liked many of his non-Bond films (The Thomas Crown Affair, After the Sunset, The Matador, The Tailor of Panama, etc.). He could have been a better Bond. He should have been a better Bond. I so wanted him to be a better Bond. But for some reasons (lackluster scripts, trying to bridge the gap between Connery and Moore, it was the '90s, etc.), I believe he had the decks stacked squarely against him. After seeing The November Man, I just wish he had played Bond with the same stuff he played Deveraux.

    Dalton - There was a time (pre-Craig) when Dalton was the only thing we who enjoy Fleming's novels had as far as a Bond with a human side. However, I think Craig does a superior job at portraying the Bond from the Fleming Novels, so much so that now I don't really have a category for Dalton. That he doesn't fit into the Connery/Moore/Craig categories wouldn't bother me so much were his portrayal of Bond not so wooden and clumsy. His two offerings seem most contrived and vanilla of all, be it the dialogue, stunts, girls, locations, or vehicles. At least he gives us Sanchez as a noteworthy villain.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    #1. The Daltonator. He hath delivered unto us the penultimate literary Bond, sure of purpose and unsure of direction. At ease in matters of conflict, yet affected by the needs of the females under his protection & loving touch.
    #2. Sir Sean. The instigator of this whole mess and the co-architect of its cinematic inception. Bold and brash, lethal and cunning; there are no equals to his knight in tarnished armour.
    #3. Brosnan The Fair. Pretty yet aged, funny yet serious, he embodied the tropes of yon series striving to be reinvented (yet failing in the words written) whilst being solidly entertaining all along the way.
    #4. Craig The Destroyer. He hath given unto us a Bond unchained by time & custom. A Fleming intent doth he bear if a contemporary bent doth he share.
    #5. Roger Of The Moore. Sheer volume of work and love of the subject doth he revel in. Entertainment unbound!
    #6. Laz Of The B. Bold of spirit yet green in season, he was as good in the epic as any other talented varlet might have been.

    All are 'round my table.
    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
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    Honestly, I have a hard time rating any of them. I like them all so much. Maybe because I'm a balanced objective-minded person it's hard for me to pick favorites but they all have a ton of pros and a few cons. Well, Lazenby still gets last place but you know what I mean.
  • chrisisallchrisisall Western Mass, USAPosts: 9,062MI6 Agent
    Honestly, I have a hard time rating any of them. I like them all so much.
    You be then a brother of mine I've not met, truly.
    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
  • Absolutely_CartAbsolutely_Cart NJ/NYC, United StatesPosts: 1,740MI6 Agent
    My #1 favorite changes by the day, but I'd say Moore is my favorite on most days, followed by Dalton.
  • AwesomeshizzAwesomeshizz Posts: 26MI6 Agent
    beatles5 wrote:
    My Top 6 James Bond actors are
    5. Timothy Dalton
    6. Sean Connery
    You put my 2 faves, at the bottom, I respect your opinion but why, are they your least faves?????????
    1) connery 2) dalton 3) craig 4) brosnan 5) moore 6) lazenby
  • BlackleiterBlackleiter Washington, DCPosts: 5,615MI6 Agent
    beatles5 wrote:
    6. Sean Connery
    ?????

    Judging from your name, I guess you just can't forgive him for the crack he made about The Beatles in Goldfinger!

    That's the only explanation that makes any sense! :))
    "Felix Leiter, a brother from Langley."
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