I've ultimately come to the conclusion, that, despite all of the other factors favoring Craig (writing, direction, public opinion shift, better actors), I just think Craig was a better in the role, in general.
It's hard to put in words but Craig was just more immersed in the role. With Dalton, it felt like he was a Shakespearian theatre actor portraying James Bond in a slightly over-the-top way. It was a great portrayal, and one that was faithful to Fleming. It all comes down to subtlety, facial expressions and such, but with Craig, I didn't see an actor who was playing James Bond on the screen. I just saw James Bond.
Dalton put a lot of effort in his performance (which is much better than sleepwalking through it), but Craig made it look like he was doing it effortlessly. Don't get me wrong though, I still enjoy Dalton's Bond.
Craig made it look like he was doing it effortlessly.
Craig's that kind of actor. You show up & say the lines. That sheer simplicity is a great method for focused performers that basically play versions of themselves onscreen, and that's why his Bond is so convincing. Tim is old school, create your character & then inhabit them for a while. Tim plays other people, not himself.
Both ways work well IMO.
It's hard to put in words but Craig was just more immersed in the role. With Dalton, it felt like he was a Shakespearian theatre actor portraying James Bond in a slightly over-the-top way. It was a great portrayal, and one that was faithful to Fleming. It all comes down to subtlety, facial expressions and such, but with Craig, I didn't see an actor who was playing James Bond on the screen. I just saw James Bond.
Well said -{
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"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
I think it's a combination of "right guy wrong time" and bad marketing. I wasn't around then, so anyone out there who was can correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that Dalton was genuinely well received when TLD came out, but all good will went out the door with the lackluster release of LTK. With the exception of a few awkwardly cheesy scenes (#WayneNewton) LTK has aged pretty well, and has become kind of a precursor to the Craig films. That being said, you can even look at the marketing material of the movie now and see how crappy it was. It also had some other big budget blockbusters to contend with that summer, most notable among them Batman, which completely revolutionized the Hollywood marketing structure. I think this accounts for the failure of the Dalton era, but doing a 180 in tone-change and following Moore--a long-time, beloved Bond--didn't help either.
Now, it's important to remember that Craig followed a beloved Bond as well, and as has already been pointed out, was met with harsh criticism upon his induction as Bond. But his movie was ripe for the times and the marketing strategy was impeccable.
I think it's a combination of "right guy wrong time" and bad marketing. I wasn't around then, so anyone out there who was can correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that Dalton was genuinely well received when TLD came out, but all good will went out the door with the lackluster release of LTK. With the exception of a few awkwardly cheesy scenes (#WayneNewton) LTK has aged pretty well, and has become kind of a precursor to the Craig films. That being said, you can even look at the marketing material of the movie now and see how crappy it was. It also had some other big budget blockbusters to contend with that summer, most notable among them Batman, which completely revolutionized the Hollywood marketing structure. I think this accounts for the failure of the Dalton era, but doing a 180 in tone-change and following Moore--a long-time, beloved Bond--didn't help either.
Now, it's important to remember that Craig followed a beloved Bond as well, and as has already been pointed out, was met with harsh criticism upon his induction as Bond. But his movie was ripe for the times and the marketing strategy was impeccable.
1+
You just nailed it.
1.On Her Majesties Secret Service 2.The Living Daylights 3.license To Kill 4.The Spy Who Loved Me 5.Goldfinger
It also didn't hurt Craig that he was playing Bond for the first time as Bond on his first mission in Fleming's first novel. If someone is going to reboot a character and series, wow did EON get lucky obtaining CR finally. Dalton or Brosnan would have loved to have had that opportunity. Instead they got stuck with the writers trying to create Fleming like plots who didn't have Fleming's style or creativity. Granted, CR's set pieces were not in Fleming's novel, but they complimented his plot well and made it modern and relevant.
Granted, CR's set pieces were not in Fleming's novel, but they complimented his plot well and made it modern and relevant.
I disagree; the over-the-top physicality brought Bond to a Bourne level, and that still doesn't sit entirely well with me.
Dan's Bond would have wiped out Grant with ease. He would have killed Largo & his men like annoying flies. Broken Sanchez's neck in an instant. Taking a character who's a fit & capable fighter and jacking him up to equal & surpass professional cage-match-dudes is kinda ludicrous IMO. Part of Bond's appeal to me (in the movies anyway) is that he was a normal human being in top shape. Making him Bourne-level takes him just a bit too far out of my Bond comfort zone.
But, in the age of superhero movies, I guess an all-too-human Bond is too much to expect.
I think it's totally fine for each Bond to add their own personal flavor to things to reflect the contemp. generation. With Craig, I think it works because it incorporates the mind state of the millennial generation but his character is more in line with Fleming's than some of the other Bonds.
Granted, CR's set pieces were not in Fleming's novel, but they complimented his plot well and made it modern and relevant.
I disagree; the over-the-top physicality brought Bond to a Bourne level, and that still doesn't sit entirely well with me.
Dan's Bond would have wiped out Grant with ease. He would have killed Largo & his men like annoying flies. Broken Sanchez's neck in an instant. Taking a character who's a fit & capable fighter and jacking him up to equal & surpass professional cage-match-dudes is kinda ludicrous IMO. Part of Bond's appeal to me (in the movies anyway) is that he was a normal human being in top shape. Making him Bourne-level takes him just a bit too far out of my Bond comfort zone.
But, in the age of superhero movies, I guess an all-too-human Bond is too much to expect.
Though Bond now has super-human strength, he never before had so many faults. I think Daniel Craig's Bond has made more blunders than all the other Bonds combined! Brosnan's Bond was probably the most superhero-like of all the Bonds since he made few mistakes and won every fight.
Brosnan's Bond was probably the most superhero-like of all the Bonds since he made few mistakes and won every fight.
Okay, arguing stuff like this with kids that never had to climb fences fast or fight off bullies is pointless. Reality is now in the purview of the CGI specialists. It's seemingly more 'realistic' to parkour endlessly over bloody great builder cranes than dodge gunfire & shoot automatic weapons.
Whatever.
I used to love Hong Kong movies for their over-the-top mentality. Now even Bond movies have it.
As we say on Earth, c'est la vie. 8-)
I think it's down to luck. The introduction of Craig's gritty Bond was well-timed whereas Dalton's Bond was too ahead of his time. One factor that isn't to do with luck might be that Dalton's Bond was more aloof; he wasn't your ordinary bloke off the street, his Bond was a guy who associated in rarefied circles.
Agreed, although Fleming's Bond isn't your ordinary bloke off the street, he was a guy who associated in rarefied circles and Dalton was playing Fleming's Bond.
LTK....for all its great elements, still came across like a fancy episode of Miami Vice...... Right after the public had just burned out on the actual Miami Vice television series. Dalton was a victim of this collateral damage marketing. DAD was so over the top in a bad way and Brosnan had to go down with that particular sinking ship. Not his fault either.....If QOS had been the first in the reboot, Craig might have been gone already by now..........
LTK....for all its great elements, still came across like a fancy episode of Miami Vice...... Right after the public had just burned out on the actual Miami Vice television series. Dalton was a victim of this collateral damage marketing. DAD was so over the top in a bad way and Brosnan had to go down with that particular sinking ship. Not his fault either.....If QOS had been the first in the reboot, Craig might have been gone already by now..........
Bond is more angry than menacing. He's basically a nice guy who is really pissed off.
You should have brought lilies..... :v
That scene is like when Moore pushes the car off the cliff in FYEO and beats up Maud Adams in TMWTGG. Yeah, it's bad ass, but it seems out of place overall.
More typical is when M tells Bond that his license is revoked and Bond really does look like he's about to cry.
The real badass in LTK is M who apparently has no problem ordering the execution of his top agent if he thinks that agent will make MI6 look bad.
Comments
It's hard to put in words but Craig was just more immersed in the role. With Dalton, it felt like he was a Shakespearian theatre actor portraying James Bond in a slightly over-the-top way. It was a great portrayal, and one that was faithful to Fleming. It all comes down to subtlety, facial expressions and such, but with Craig, I didn't see an actor who was playing James Bond on the screen. I just saw James Bond.
Dalton put a lot of effort in his performance (which is much better than sleepwalking through it), but Craig made it look like he was doing it effortlessly. Don't get me wrong though, I still enjoy Dalton's Bond.
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
Both ways work well IMO.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Well said -{
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
Now, it's important to remember that Craig followed a beloved Bond as well, and as has already been pointed out, was met with harsh criticism upon his induction as Bond. But his movie was ripe for the times and the marketing strategy was impeccable.
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#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
Funny that his followers find any possible excuse instead of the obvious?
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
But that's impossible to tell...especially from just two movies...which both made a healthy profit...
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
1+
You just nailed it.
Dan's Bond would have wiped out Grant with ease. He would have killed Largo & his men like annoying flies. Broken Sanchez's neck in an instant. Taking a character who's a fit & capable fighter and jacking him up to equal & surpass professional cage-match-dudes is kinda ludicrous IMO. Part of Bond's appeal to me (in the movies anyway) is that he was a normal human being in top shape. Making him Bourne-level takes him just a bit too far out of my Bond comfort zone.
But, in the age of superhero movies, I guess an all-too-human Bond is too much to expect.
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
Though Bond now has super-human strength, he never before had so many faults. I think Daniel Craig's Bond has made more blunders than all the other Bonds combined! Brosnan's Bond was probably the most superhero-like of all the Bonds since he made few mistakes and won every fight.
Whatever.
I used to love Hong Kong movies for their over-the-top mentality. Now even Bond movies have it.
As we say on Earth, c'est la vie. 8-)
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
AJB007 Favorite Film Rankings
Pros and Cons Compendium (50 Years)
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
I'd say Dalton was menacing..
Dalton was very menacing.
Have you seen LTK?
Yes, many times. It's one of my fvorite Bond films.
Bond is more angry than menacing. He's basically a nice guy who is really pissed off.
Craig's Bond and especially Connery's Bond aren't very nice people in the first place.
Connery's menace is effective, but he still acts like a good guy. Daniel Craig has a more villainous menace.
Ummmm....I'd say Dalton was menacing without trying. He scares me
#1.TLD/LTK 2.TND 3.GF 4.GE 5.DN 6.FYEO 7.FRWL 8.TMWTGG 9.TWINE 10.YOLT/QOS
That scene is like when Moore pushes the car off the cliff in FYEO and beats up Maud Adams in TMWTGG. Yeah, it's bad ass, but it seems out of place overall.
More typical is when M tells Bond that his license is revoked and Bond really does look like he's about to cry.
The real badass in LTK is M who apparently has no problem ordering the execution of his top agent if he thinks that agent will make MI6 look bad.
Still had to come crawling back to Bond at
The end though.