Favorite "Bond" actor and "Bond" film???

[moviegyrl]

Maybe a "Bond" film doesn't count as "cult" cinema, but the franchise does have its "devotees.":smokin

So, name your favorite "Bond" actor and "Bond" film.

For me, it's Brosnan and a tie between THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS and GOLDENEYE.

[Tosh]

I think Sean Connery was the best Bond, my favorite movie would be a toss up of Goldfinger and Moonraker, I liked the villian in these, the big Japanese guy and Jaws. I think the franchise has run it's course though.

[BKarza]

Actually, I rather liked Lazenby in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. They gave him a lot to work with and imo, he succeded. Good action, good story and a very important part of his(Bond) life to boot.

[Daisho2004]

Being a die hard Bond fan I'd have to say Brosnan was the best he was everything a Bond Guy should be. And all his films were good.

[sevenhooks]

Yeah, Lazenby often gets a bad rap but he wasn't bad at all and I actually don't think Connery would've been able to convincingly pull off the final scene with Bond crying over the body of his beloved Teresa.
Oh, and OHMSS is probably my overall favorite Bond film alongside The Spy Who Loved Me.
A close third place would be my guilty pleasure Bond, Diamonds Are Forever. Yeah Connery was getting a bit long in the tooth and chubby too, but it was probably the most fun Bond overall. Best Bond score too, which is saying a hell of a lot.

Favorite Bond: Roger Moore.

[Markgway]

Best 007?

I want to be loyal to the majestic Sean Connery... but perhaps Timothy Dalton was the best Bond. He played the part with such integrity that he made a comic-book character believeable.

Best film?

I can't choose one, honestly. Here are some of my faves: From Russia With Love, OHMSS, The Living Daylights, Licence to Kill.

[Barsader]

Connery by far.

IMO he WAS bond, and everything after him was not in the bond spirit.

I dont like the newer ones,they seem to,for a lack of better
words , highly produced?

Gimme old school bond, slap the girls ass,great one-liners,
"we use live targets as well"

I'm with you mark, Dalton would be my 2nd chioce if i had to.
And not to contradict my previous comments, The Living Daylights was quite good.

Lots of Bond fans amongst my crowd, and i am the only one to like daylights.

Favs would be-
Man with the golden gun
From russia with love

[Barsader]

Maybe i had kid the golden arm on my mind, replace Man with the golden gun w/ Goldfinger.

[rebelliousreign1]

Well, my favourite film is an easy choice. 'OHMSS' has to be it- it gets better and better every time I see it. Diana Rigg is imo the very best Bond girl of the lot in terms of both acting ability and beauty (I'm also a big fan of The Avengers which she starred in) and the action is superb, give or take the odd bit of dubious back projection. Lazenby is excellent and I can find little to fault in his performance. Lots of superbly written scenes throughout, and a stunning John Barry score.

Other faves include 'Goldfinger', 'Dr No', 'You Only Live Twice', 'The Spy Who Loved Me', 'For Your Eyes Only', 'Goldeneye' and 'Tomorrow Never Dies'.

As for favourite Bond actor, that's a toughie. I actually like all of them. I suppose if pushed it would have to be Connery, even if he gave some rather lacklustre performances in some films, imo.

I'm really looking forward to 'Casino Royale'- I hope Daniel Craig proves all the doubters wrong. Most of all, let's hope it's better than The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day, two of the most boring and bloated in the series.

[BKarza]

TWinE was friggin' terrible. Brosnan looked like he would rather be anywhere else. DAD had nothing. Was nothing.

[rebelliousreign1]

Yeah, Pierce was superb in 'Goldeneye' and 'Tomorrow Never Dies', but seemed to give up a bit in the last two, perhaps because the material was so weak. 'Die Another Day' agitated me with its constant continuity references like 'well you know what they say, diamonds are forever...'.>: Reminds me of the 80s Doctor Who episodes with footage of 60s/70s episodes and endless regurgitations of old foes....

Actually, to be fair, the opening of Die Another Day was excellent. Bond being captured, tortured and disowned by MI5 at the start was a truly excellent premise, yet they gave up on that straight away, Bond was seemingly indifferent towards his treatment from 'M' and plunged headlong into what was possibly the weakest and stupidest Bond film since 'Moonraker'.

[moviegyrl]

I enjoyed Dalton's performance in THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, too (sans the ill-delivered one-liners -- Boy! Did he ever mess those up?! :x ).

What do you think of his second go in LICENCE TO KILL? I wasn't impressed. And, talk about your weak "Bond" films! That one was cast almost entirely with B-rated actors. It's 'saving grace' was the awesome 'monster' truck sequence as the finale! 'Still tops after 14 years! :smokin

[sevenhooks]

I could never get through all of LICENSE TO KILL.
Probably due to the fact that it seemed more like an episode of Miami Vice than a Bond film.
A little TOO grounded in "it-could-really-happen" reality for my tastes.
Come on now, Bond should be matching wits with billionaire meglomaniacs, not wasting his time battling sleazy, smarmy drug dealers that just left central casting.

:x

[Markgway]

I actually thought Robert Davi was excellent as Sanchez - probably my favourite Bond villain. He made his character real, three-dimensional, rather than some cartoon megalomaniac, with bad dialogue. He may not be an A-list star but I would certainly not call his acting B-grade. As you can tell I really rated the film... ;)

[Chinatown Kid]

Anyone seen Casino Royale yet and if so, how do you rate Craig? From the trailer and clips I saw there was several hand to hand combat scenes that looked pretty good.

[Markgway]

Opens here (in the UK) later today (Thursday)

I want to see it as soon as... but I've got a cold coming on. Bah!

[Chinatown Kid]

Sorry to hear that Mark, hopefully you will make a quick recovery. If you do get a chance to see it let me know what you think, thanks.

[KyFi]

Ok, saw this today, and I thought it was fantastic. Craig is superb---bad-ass, intelligent, controlled, complex. Awesome pre-credit sequence (in B&W), and a totally kick ass final 2 minute scene!!! Definitely my favorite Bond since Goldeneye, and I certainly rank Craig as good as any of the others at their best.

Good story, and to me it really felt like a very fresh take on the character. The movie's not perfect, maybe, but I think it's exactly what the franchise needed after the horrible Die Another Day. I hope they bring back Martin Campbell to direct the next one as well.

[kungfusamurai]

I don't know if I should warn about *SPOILERS* below. I didn't really reveal any plot twists, as far as I can tell.

By the way, the girl who plays Vesper is hot. Her name is Eva Green. She's presented as some stuffy conservative lady, but she's totally stacked. She was in some Bertolucci film a few years ago where she took it all off. All I can say is that "they're real and they're spectacular." :)

-----------------------------------------------------------

I've never been a huge Bond fan. I like the occasional flick like On Her Majesty's Secret Service and Live & Let Die, but I found Casino Royale rather weak. It probably would have been better had it been made in a tongue-in-cheek manner like the Moore Bond films because there were so many problems with the film. First of all, it was too long. I think they could have made a better flick in a shorter time length. The plot developments and continuity and editing really sucked. For example, they don't explain how he got away from a sex-filled evening with that Penelope Cruz look-alike. He just says he wants champagne and caviar for one, and then next thing you know he's driving to the airport. I guess we're to assume he excused himself by saying he needed to go to the drug store and get more rubbers or something. And the whole puffer 'sub-plot' with that supposedly asthmatic french guy - how come that was heavily emphasized throughout most of the time we saw him, and then suddenly after the bug was planted, he didn't need it anymore? Did the fight in his room cure him of his ailment? And last, but not least, I think Daniel Craig is tiresome. He's got no charisma, and he's got that pouting lip look that makes him more like Zoolander than Bond. I found him more diva-esque than macho (yes...I think Daniel Craig is probably gay, not that there's anything wrong with that).

The ending was weak too...

KFS

[The Running Man]

I'll hold off my thoughts until I see Casino Royal.

[Chinatown Kid]

Hmm, one thumbs up and one thumbs down so far......

[moviegyrl]

Peace, everyone!

I haven't read all of kungfusamurai's posting because it may/may not contain dreaded "spoilers." Please ease up on those, as the film is newly released. 'A lot of us have yet to see it! 8o

[kungfusamurai]

I take it nobody is in a rush to go see this film judging by the plethora of reviews. :)

KFS

[BleuVenom]

Royale. Casino Royale. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It's been awhile since a movie had me grinning from ear to ear, sitting forward in my seat with anticipation and then getting exactly what I wanted in coming to see the film. I was entertained, intrigued, mesmerized and intoxicatingly hooked from the first minute to the last. On top of that, I went on to be the days' Spokesperson for the movie. I will recommend this movie to a friend, to a stranger, and guess what? to an enemy as well.

I was not a die hard follower of the James Bond movies nor have I read any of the Ian Fleming novels. But I had gotten into seeing some of the later films like Goldeneye, License To Kill, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, The Living Daylights, A View To A Kill and Die Another Day. Yet not in the way most people go to see a Bond movie. My seeing a James Bond movie was closely linked to another source plugged into the film. Let me explain: I went to see A View To A Kill because of my favorite band at the time: Duran Duran's Video. I saw The Living Daylights because it was a continuing chapter, I saw License To Kill because of Benicio Del Toro's later films I liked then researched his older roles. Seen Goldeneye because I liked Pierce from Remington Steele and that he brought something nice, cool & suave to the role, considering what I'd seen so far. Tomorrow Never Dies because of Pierce, Michelle Yeoh (like her films) and a cameo by Philip Kwok (big fan of Venoms movies). The World Is Not Enough for Pierce but then the story was convoluted and at this point I was starting not to feel the James Bond character with my heart not being too into it like before. I gave it one last shot with Die Another Day. I waited for it to come out on video and still I couldn't sit through it entirely. They added Halle for window dressing and Ricky Yune (fast and furious fame) as an antagonist. I was out at this point and moved on. The story sucked, the silly invisible car, the weak nemesis, whatever, I was done.

Then along came the idea of Daniel Craig later on. I was familar with him having seen him in the Tomb Raider movie and thought - hey, give this guy a bigger role in his next film. I liked him. He had something at the time I couldn't quite put a single finger on. Then I saw the preview of Layer Cake, like other films in the similare genre, I didn't allow the fluffy title to dissuade me in seeing it. Then I knew after seeing it why I began to like this guy. He had this cold-cool exterior, smart, serious yet funny demeanor and I found it hard to look away from him even when others were on screen too. I knew I was becoming a fan.

So when they announced that he'd be the new Bond, I was stoked. I had every belief in that he'd make a formidable Bond. Then came the harsh critics, haters and any other anti- Daniel Craig basher. I thought, God, let the guy do the film, let him & the film suck --then berate him if need be. But no, they based everything on his blond hair, his beefy physique, his shorter stature, and on and on.

I just knew that at this point Bond needed a new life breathed into it. At the rate it was going, no offense to Pierce, but the real fans wasn't in it and nor was he, so he got replaced by Craig. I felt Bond was reduced to smirks, winks, pucker-ups, dinner jackets, bedding any woman, and overblown gadgets, martinis & that Aston Martin. Blah, blah, yada, yada, whatever.

I felt Daniel Craig was going to bring a fierceness, hardness, coldness, smartness, cunningness, a he could care less/ doesn't give a damn sort of attitude to the role and so on. He had a cool that wasn't manufactured but that he was already carrying. So did I like the New James Bond Movie? Absolutely! Go see the film. It's truer to what I think Bond should be. It's grittier, darker, more suspenseful, a great story and exciting action. And I'll be a fan of the Bond movies-to-come as long as they have Daniel Craig, the same writers and director attached. I've already read that they're doing another Bond film with him after Casino Royale. I hope so. Because if they can renew my faith in the Batman movies with Batman Begins, why not James Bond with Casino Royale. I came out from seeing that movie shaking with excitement and stirred up to share it with anyone who was or wasn't curious. Consider my ticket to the next one already purchased! :D

[limubai2000]

My favorite bond actors in order -

Pierce Bronson
Daniel Craig (yes 2nd place)
Roger Moore (notice no one else mentioned him)
Sean Connery

Favorite films in order -

Tomorrow Never Dies
View To A Kill
Casino Royale
Moonraker

I loved the new film and this is coming from someone who totally doubted Craig could pull it off at all. They totally reinvented bond in a more intersting and dark way. The last 2 movies DAD and TWINE both sucked badly, I only liked the intro sequence and credits of DAD, the rest of the film totally sucked and was far to "out there". They really needed to "reboot" the franchise and I think they pulled it off quite well. Adding a new multi-movie storyline arc was great as well as it adds some new dimension to James Bond-land. I don't want to spoil the film for those who haven't seen it yet, but definetely go see it and judge for yourself. I hated the new theme song however, it sounded like crap, but the intro credits were well done but I like my dancing ladies thank you very much.

[sevenhooks]

Roger Moore (notice no one else mentioned him)

I listed him as my favorite as a matter of fact.

[Markgway]

Not much love for Dalton.

If he had made more films would he be better appreciated?

He's technically the best actor to have played the part.

[sevenhooks]

If he had made better films would he be better appreciated?

[limubai2000]

I don't think so because the films themselves focused on straight violence, granted there is a reason LtK is like that.
I cannot even remember any memorable scene from either of the Dalton films while I can remember almost shot for shot the opening sequence to View To A Kill. Mostly from Dalton I just remember the city hall sequence with the fire and Bond on the ladder fire truck, and I think I remember that because it was rather melodramatic.

[sevenhooks]

Mostly from Dalton I just remember the city hall sequence with the fire and Bond on the ladder fire truck,

Wasn't that Moore in View To a Kill?

[limubai2000]

See your right, I can't even think of ANY of Dalton's action scenes!!! Clearly Dalton and his films are not nearly the caliber of the other Bonds...

[rebelliousreign1]

I don't think 'The Living Daylights' or 'Licence To Kill' are first raters, but I quite like watching them. Dalton is terrific in LTK but I find him a bit stilted in The Living Daylights- it gives him one-liners that I don't think he pulled off. At all. But, they are a lot better than 'The Man With The Golden Gun' (imo, one of the worst themes ever for the series, though a lot here like it) or 'Moonraker', joke laden follies.

[sammofan]

I like Dalton! For a long time he was my fave but I think the reason why I rated him was because I hated A View to A Kill so much (worst Bond film ever imo) Other Bond films I don't like are Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, OHMSS (Lazenby is awful imo) and Live and Let Die. All the others are ok with me.

[Markgway]

Dalton-haters must die! :evil

I think he's the most misjudged Bond and I find it amazing that Daniel Craig (whom I thought did a very good job) is being praised for something Dalton started 20 years ago and got no respect for. Limubai criticizing his films without even knowing what they are proves my point!

[limubai2000]

I saw both Dalton films in the theater, on VHS, and probably 1 or 2 times on HBO. I don't remember them, hence I did not like them at all.

[moviegyrl]

You're so right about Craig following in Dalton's footsteps! I was listening to the Premiere Magazine radio show last weekend, and this was a point of discussion.

Dalton was the first "Bond" to enter the dark territory of the Fleming character. He strove to restore the character's edge, i.e., the scene in TLD where "Bond" first tries to kill "Gen. Pushkin" was particularly disturbing (and tasteless, IMO) and Bond having quit British Intelligence to exact a personal vendetta in LtK.

Perhaps the serious tone that Dalton set is the reason why he was so poor at delivering the one-liners. ;)

[sevenhooks]

Dalton-haters must die! :evil

I think he's the most misjudged Bond and I find it amazing that Daniel Craig (whom I thought did a very good job) is being praised for something Dalton started 20 years ago and got no respect for. Limubai criticizing his films without even knowing what they are proves my point!

Au contraire. I think it actually proves just how dull and ultimately forgettable Dalton's FILMS were.
Therein lies the key difference.
Do NOT fail to make the distinction here about what it is I'm actually saying.
Dalton - like Pierce - was a fine Bond IMO.
It was the FILMS themselves that had problems.
Two different things altogether.


And the "most misjudged Bond" award clearly goes to Lazenby IMO as well.
He had it the toughest by far.
Being the first actor to replace Connery in the role, and as a result, he was forever stigmitized by it.
Having ZERO acting experience (the press was ready to eat him for breakfast from Day 1).
Having an actress of such world class calibre as Diana Rigg as your co-star?? Just a wee bit intimidating, no?
Not to mention having to cry at the end of the film??!
Come on, we all know that Bond never, ever shows emotion, let alone (shudder) fall in love!!
And nevertheless, OHMSS went on to become regarded by many (if not most) fans as THE best film in the series.
No small feat, Mr. Never-acted-before-in-my-life-Lazenby!!

Oh, and Craig was great too.
Casino Royale = easily the best Bond film in YEARS.



What were we talking about, again?

[BKarza]

Daulton had a strike going against him when he came on board. That was the time AIDS was blowing up and they wanted to take the womanizing aspect off of him as a result. TLD is just not interesting. To tell the truth, it's the only one that I have not gotten all the way through. Dull.
I love LtK. It's less a "Bond" movie and more of an action/revenge ride. The premise(Felix), sets him up to do something different with the character. It works in spades. I think of it as a Bond movie with an * next to it.
CR didn't do anything for me. It was long, not deep. I'm adjusting to DC(his look). I understand that this is the "first one" in many ways, so on many levels, it as to be restrained. That's why this felt so eh. They can't really do too much because it's the first and they need to develop him over the course of the new series.
The foot chase was cool but the rest didn't do much for me. It was nice to see a return to action that is not done to show off masturbatory cgi.
Didn't find CR interesting but I very much look forward to the next one.

[Markgway]

I saw both Dalton films in the theater, on VHS, and probably 1 or 2 times on HBO. I don't remember them, hence I did not like them at all.

That's odd logic. There are plenty shite films I can remember. Forgetting a film doesn't make it bad, especially if it's been a long time since you saw it. Perhaps with the Casino Royale reboot, it's time for a revisit?

He strove to restore the character's edge, i.e., the scene in TLD where "Bond" first tries to kill "Gen. Pushkin" was particularly disturbing (and tasteless, IMO)

You mean the assassination in the theatre?

Perhaps the serious tone that Dalton set is the reason why he was so poor at delivering the one-liners.

He was forced to against his will. By the time of Licence to Kill Dalton had persuaded the producers to give MOST OF his one-liners to other cast members. He saw Bond as an assassin not a smirking millionaire playboy -- and I agree.

And the "most misjudged Bond" award clearly goes to Lazenby IMO as well.

Yeah, poor bugger. Mind you, by arrogantly quitting the series after one go, he brought a lot of the flak on himself. I think he did a fine job in OHMSS, and the film is better than the next half-dozen that followed.

Daulton had a strike going against him when he came on board. That was the time AIDS was blowing up and they wanted to take the womanizing aspect off of him as a result.

In Casino Royale Bond only sleeps with two women -- the SAME number as Dalton in The Living Daylights. Besides who wants to see that much nookie when it's action and intrigue we buy tickets for?

[limubai2000]

That's odd logic. There are plenty shite films I can remember. Forgetting a film doesn't make it bad, especially if it's been a long time since you saw it. Perhaps with the Casino Royale reboot, it's time for a revisit?

For me it does, I always remember some really good part or most of the film if I liked it at all. I know you are on your Dalton crusade but give me more credit than that.

As for a revisit, nope. Got to many things I haven't seen to watch yet.

[moviegyrl]

You mean the assassination in the theatre?

No, the hotel room scene in which they planned the fake assassination. The assault to Pushkin's mistress was dark (and distasteful). As well, the angry tone by Dalton conveyed a cold (and vulnerable) side to Bond.

[Markgway]

Yeah, I liked that scene.

[Iron Boat]

My favorite is a "View To a Kill" and "Tomorrow Never Dies"

[moviegyrl]

Thanks, Iron Boat!

I have to tell ya that those two films rate on my "worst" list, however (barring the Duran Duran tune and Michelle Yeoh's performance, respectively).

May I ask what you liked about them? :)

[kungfusamurai]

Getting back to Casino Royale and Daniel Craig. I said that my impression of DC was that he was rather diva-esque and didn't have much chemistry with the ladies, so I think he might be gay. Well, check it out:

Craig Wants Gay Bond Scene (http://uk.news.yahoo.com/29112006/364/craig-wants-gay-bond-scene.html)

I don't know of any hetero male star who would be FOR a gay scene. He could be bi, but my bets are on gay all the way. Sorry ladies...

KFS

[limubai2000]

Gay scene? Won't happen, interesting idea but simply won't happen.

I saw Casino again last weekend during a vicious power outage in my neighborhood and I find myself liking it more after the 2nd viewing. I think it's a great film.

I don't think he's gay, metro-sexual maybe, but I doubt he is gay. But I've been wrong before and will be again, I just hope this aint the time! :p

[Markgway]

No straight guy volunteers for a gay scene.

And hopefully the producers will have more sense.

Bond is a @#%$-magnet and that's all there is to it.

8)

[Chinatown Kid]

Bond Gay? No way man, that's like saying John Wayne or Chuck Norris was light in the loafers. :lol

[Markgway]

"Listen up, Pilgrim. Get back on your horse before I bum ya! :smokin

[Chinatown Kid]

:rollin

[kungfusamurai]

Bond Gay? No way man, that's like saying John Wayne or Chuck Norris was light in the loafers.

http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00004CQSX.03._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V1057215938_.jpg

KFS

[limubai2000]

KFS, that's just wrong man...

Bet you can't find one for Chuck, so there! :p

[jirpy100]

Didn't Chuck play the horse in that one?

[kungfusamurai]

Bet you can't find one for Chuck, so there!

Would this count?

http://www.youngactors.net/01-dvd_f-l/forest_warrior/forest_warrior_cover01r2.jpg

KFS

[Markgway]

You better be careful KFS, you know Chuck can break a man's neck with just his erection.

[Chinatown Kid]

Shame on ya KFS, dissing such macho legends!:b If the duke was still alive he'd make you pay for such sacraligious statements.

Man, can you imagine Chuck singing this song similar to his Walker Theme: "When your in the gay bar look behind you, cause that's where Chuck is gonna be." Just kidding Chuck, please don't hurt me! :D

[limubai2000]

:rollin

[kungfusamurai]

You better be careful KFS, you know Chuck can break a man's neck with just his erection.

Perhaps if he let the other man do all the work he wouldn't have that problem. :)

KFS

[Dahnamics]

chuck norris ainy gay

http://www.toadking.com/6x9=42/Chuck%20Norris%20Action%20Figure.jpg

[Chinatown Kid]

Wow, wish I was that "Chucky" doll. :lol

[Iron Boat]

I liked crazy azz Grace Jones and Christopher Walken as Villians, and I thought Tommorrow Never Dies was fun, way more fun than Golden Eye.

[jirpy100]

I watched Casino Royale last night. Very good. One of the best in my book. Eva Green was hot, but they used too much makeup on her. Craig was quite good, but too sauve a few times. The action was very good. I assume the Madagascar guy is a Parkour? For those who don't know, there's this excellent chase sequence where a man is chased by Daniel Craig and he performs as well as the guy's from the 70's kung fu movies in terms of agility. He performs like a "street-gymnast."

[limubai2000]

I assume the Madagascar guy is a Parkour?

He is the other "inventor" of it. The white guy was in District 13.

[Dion Brother]

After seeing CASINO ROYALE (Best Bond since OHMSS), I realized what they did wrong with Dalton. I liked Dalton and enjoyed his movies, but his films were made by the same talent behind the Moore films. They should have given the series a complete overall/reboot like CASINO ROYALE. Craig got a complete reintroduction of the character like no other actors that followed Connery. In no way is this 007 in the same universe as the Brosnan movies. Having Paul Haggis do punch up on the script was a smart move, and the parkour sequence is easily my favorite action sequence in the entire series. There's little you could spoof in an Austin Powers movie. The style of action and storytelling is completely different from prior films. Finally.

And for once, it feels like the 007 series is now on the edge of action filmmaking instead of slavishly remaking GOLDFINGER(most Moore movies, Brosnan's) or trying to Joel Silver-ize the series (LICENCE TO KILL). A well deserved international blockbuster.