Connery had the most confidence, which is truly the essence of Connery's Bond. No other Bond comes close, with Craig the furthest from Connery in that department.
That's interesting; I never thought Craig's Bond seemed particularly insecure...nor have any of them, really. Suaveness (or lack of) is a fair criticism, perhaps, but grading Bond actors on confidence seems a much taller order, as it really speaks to the DNA of the character, and also takes subjectvity to the next level.
I think it may be confidence in the sense of inscouant swagger, a man at home with his place in the world.
Yes; I sense that in all six actors.
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
I don't think it matters so much any of these points, it's more the general drift of the movies that counts. Craig started out as his own guy then later became a team player. He isn't as narcissistic as previous Bonds, I mean in his personality.
It's the actor really, and really I'm not sure the Connery Bond is current now. Unless you pick a black guy, because culturally I think it would be interesting to see them with a bit of swagger, whereas white male actors tend not to be in the Clooney mold but more like Ryan Gosling and so on. Not exactly macho men.
So once they fix the approach they want, with the actor they want, then they can slow things down, but I do think there's a danger of it all appearing a bit like LTK, you know, a bit so what amongst all the other action films out.
"This is where we leave you Mr Bond."
Roger Moore 1927-2017
superadoRegent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
Quite right, superado. Craig is my favorite Bond, but his take on the character was definitely not the Connery mix of toughness and elegance, which I'd also like to see in the 7th Bond. A Connery clone would be a huge mistake, but someone who can bring the same winning formula that Connery brought (albeit in their own way?) would be the right choice, especially in the context of the original proposal of this thread.
Connery had the most confidence, which is truly the essence of Connery's Bond. No other Bond comes close, with Craig the furthest from Connery in that department.
That's interesting; I never thought Craig's Bond seemed particularly insecure...nor have any of them, really. Suaveness (or lack of) is a fair criticism, perhaps, but grading Bond actors on confidence seems a much taller order, as it really speaks to the DNA of the character, and also takes subjectvity to the next level.
Indeed, it’s difficult to totally restrain subjectivity when reflecting on what one observes. I especially like to observe how a Bond actor interprets the character in their first movie, which IMO draws from so much context that involves their casting and the comparisons with the recently vacated actor. More than his predecessors, Craig assuming the role came with so much angst and drama which undoubtedly found their way in his interpretation. I remember when he was first presented to the press, there was so much brouhaha about his wearing a life-preserver on that boat-ride on the Thames and when the question about his hair color came up and he had to sheepishly defer to Campbell for an answer.
So, in this context I read a lot into Craig’s body language as Bond, as if he’s poised to intimidate and cocked to respond to naysayers. Another thing that’s irked me is his usual spread-legged stance that to me speaks a lot about posturing, but for what? Dare I say that this, along with the other physical preparations for the role (bulking up) were meant to compensate for what maybe he himself perceives as shortcomings to the “classical” Bond vital statistics? But when he’s actually interacting with another character, he’s okay because those preoccupations and any self-consciousness are diverted. To be fair, I think there’s a degree of these dynamics in all the actors, including Connery who IMO at the onset suffered a little under Fleming’s shadow.
So it’s in this nitpicking of mine that I can’t help but think that there are feelings of inadequacy Craig might have suffered from despite the smashing success of his revolutionary tenure as Bond. My take on this, is that his performance in SP seems so relaxed, liberating and refreshing, so much so that I wish he had loosened up much earlier.
"...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
CraigBond also has this creepy close-talking thing he does, I noticed he did it a lot in SPECTRE, not sure what that's about, but none of the earlier Bonds got all in peoples faces like that and I don't see how this is actually part of the inherent Bond character, just a mannerism Craig decided on that for some personal reason he thinks looks cool
it does tie in with the lack of confidence interpretation though ... if CraigBond is confident of what he wants to say to another character, why not stand back at a normal polite distance and let everybody hear what he thinks?
It's possible that all Bond actors go through some kind of arc in terms of how well regarded they are (obviously not GL having only one outing) I have not done 'the math' but what seems likely is that after their tenure a more critical evaluation takes place. DC was different in as much as Casino Royale quickly obliterated all the negative press pre release. Brosnan was 'Bond in waiting' for so long that he was (from memory) seen as the rightful owner and Dalton as a misstep by many (not by me BTW)
DC seems to be very well regarded by most here to me, and by critics and moviegoers. Just my impression, but I do not recall much negativity surrounding his tenure.
Of that of which we cannot speak we must pass over in silence- Ludwig Wittgenstein.
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,762Chief of Staff
There are quite a few. It would be impossible for me to cut and paste them all here.
No it wouldn’t...there are only 41 posts in this entire topic and you can discount 11 of those posts as they are yours and mine...so that 30 posts to pick from :v
I’d settle for you telling me the post reply numbers -{
Craig silenced all of his critics with Casino Royale ! :007)
All that Blond hair colour and too short, crap was shut down
by his magnificent performance. Suddendly Bond was Dangerous,
contemporary and "Cool" again. Only my opinion obviously, but
Daniel has made the part his own.
There are a few ( still ) who take any opportunity to Attack Daniel,
over some small point or other, but Craig has made some great Bond
films.
I agree SPECTRE is not his strongest outing it has a few problems,
although I still enjoy it. also given how much success at the box office
his films have had. I don't think the public have any problem with him as 007
either -{
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
before anybody quotes my posts as proof I don't like Craig, let me say for the record that I like him fine
any problems I have with these last four movies are the fault of the writers, directors, or producers*, not his performance
I find his interpretation of Bond very amusing. He's always adding little touches to his scenes to demonstrate his patented Bond-itude, which are often more interesting than the plot going on around him
in fact let me suggest something really radical: Craig is the funniest Bond since Moore
his sense of haha may be completely different, but Moore's humour was different from Connery's, and the thing is I don't remember either Dalton nor Brosnan being funny at all (watching Brosnan try to trade quips with John Cleese was painful)... Craig even cracks witty's during his torture scenes!
______________________________________________
(* there is the separate issue of him getting Producer's credit, because I woulda thought one of a producer's responsibilities would include script approval ... oh well, at least he's given himself four years to properly read this next one)
Of all the actors to follow Connery only Craig and Moore have
made the part their own. Both with very different interpretations
of the role.
In my opinion Craig's comedy is best with a cruel streak and not
the more good natured delivery of the Late Sir Roger.
"I've been informed that there ARE a couple of QAnon supporters who are fairly regular posters in AJB."
1) Find an actor who resembles and can mimic Sean Connery. Connery’s portrayal is so iconographic and foundational that it is similar to Peter Seller’s portrayal of Inspector Clouseau. No one can play Clouseau like he did. The same goes for Bond, in that Connery stamped on screen what a screen Bond should be like. All the other Bonds after him apart from perhaps Lazenby and Dalton (in some aspects) seem bland.
2) For non-action scenes, revert back to the camera style used up until TLD. This slower, more definite and leisurely style, using a colour process that balances the full range of colours in such a way so as not to emphasis the blue and green colour spectrums (like modern films tend to do) made the look of a Bond film glamorous, languid and luxurious.
3) For action and fight scenes, revert back to the editing used in OHMSS. I don’t think this needs much explanation.
4) Dress Bond in clothes that don’t look too small on him. They should not hide his physique but neither should they make him look like he is about to burst out of his suits.
5) Re-introduce the kind of car (etc.) chases used in OHMSS, DAF and LLD. Let’s get away from the almost pedestrian (no pun intended) chases used in the Bourne films etc. More multiple cars, boats and skiers need to be chasing Bond (and these need to be shot in a visually clear way—no shaky cameras nor too fast and confusing editing etc.
6) Bring back David Arnold to do the musical scores. But ask him to make them more closely resemble John Barry’s style. The Bond music has to be more than just “action” music. It also needs the full range of musical instruments that Barry used: flute, saxophone, harp, bongos etc.
Some might say this is too retrograde an approach, but I view the Bond cinematic world as timeless, and existing in a parallel aesthetic universe, similar to how some view Shakespeare’s plays.
This would make for a very interesting “experiment”.
Comments
Yes; I sense that in all six actors.
"I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
"Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
It's the actor really, and really I'm not sure the Connery Bond is current now. Unless you pick a black guy, because culturally I think it would be interesting to see them with a bit of swagger, whereas white male actors tend not to be in the Clooney mold but more like Ryan Gosling and so on. Not exactly macho men.
So once they fix the approach they want, with the actor they want, then they can slow things down, but I do think there's a danger of it all appearing a bit like LTK, you know, a bit so what amongst all the other action films out.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Indeed, it’s difficult to totally restrain subjectivity when reflecting on what one observes. I especially like to observe how a Bond actor interprets the character in their first movie, which IMO draws from so much context that involves their casting and the comparisons with the recently vacated actor. More than his predecessors, Craig assuming the role came with so much angst and drama which undoubtedly found their way in his interpretation. I remember when he was first presented to the press, there was so much brouhaha about his wearing a life-preserver on that boat-ride on the Thames and when the question about his hair color came up and he had to sheepishly defer to Campbell for an answer.
So, in this context I read a lot into Craig’s body language as Bond, as if he’s poised to intimidate and cocked to respond to naysayers. Another thing that’s irked me is his usual spread-legged stance that to me speaks a lot about posturing, but for what? Dare I say that this, along with the other physical preparations for the role (bulking up) were meant to compensate for what maybe he himself perceives as shortcomings to the “classical” Bond vital statistics? But when he’s actually interacting with another character, he’s okay because those preoccupations and any self-consciousness are diverted. To be fair, I think there’s a degree of these dynamics in all the actors, including Connery who IMO at the onset suffered a little under Fleming’s shadow.
So it’s in this nitpicking of mine that I can’t help but think that there are feelings of inadequacy Craig might have suffered from despite the smashing success of his revolutionary tenure as Bond. My take on this, is that his performance in SP seems so relaxed, liberating and refreshing, so much so that I wish he had loosened up much earlier.
it does tie in with the lack of confidence interpretation though ... if CraigBond is confident of what he wants to say to another character, why not stand back at a normal polite distance and let everybody hear what he thinks?
Is it? ?:)
How do you back that claim up...?
Which comments exactly...? And from how many different people...?
DC seems to be very well regarded by most here to me, and by critics and moviegoers. Just my impression, but I do not recall much negativity surrounding his tenure.
No it wouldn’t...there are only 41 posts in this entire topic
I’d settle for you telling me the post reply numbers -{
All that Blond hair colour and too short, crap was shut down
by his magnificent performance. Suddendly Bond was Dangerous,
contemporary and "Cool" again. Only my opinion obviously, but
Daniel has made the part his own.
There are a few ( still ) who take any opportunity to Attack Daniel,
over some small point or other, but Craig has made some great Bond
films.
I agree SPECTRE is not his strongest outing it has a few problems,
although I still enjoy it.
his films have had. I don't think the public have any problem with him as 007
either -{
any problems I have with these last four movies are the fault of the writers, directors, or producers*, not his performance
I find his interpretation of Bond very amusing. He's always adding little touches to his scenes to demonstrate his patented Bond-itude, which are often more interesting than the plot going on around him
in fact let me suggest something really radical: Craig is the funniest Bond since Moore
his sense of haha may be completely different, but Moore's humour was different from Connery's, and the thing is I don't remember either Dalton nor Brosnan being funny at all (watching Brosnan try to trade quips with John Cleese was painful)... Craig even cracks witty's during his torture scenes!
______________________________________________
(* there is the separate issue of him getting Producer's credit, because I woulda thought one of a producer's responsibilities would include script approval ... oh well, at least he's given himself four years to properly read this next one)
made the part their own. Both with very different interpretations
of the role.
In my opinion Craig's comedy is best with a cruel streak and not
the more good natured delivery of the Late Sir Roger.
This would make for a very interesting “experiment”.
Maybe you should have started a poll here for it.
Sorry to resurrect such an old thread.