007...an Agent for the Ages

[cinemalover]

James Bond has always held a spot near and dear to my heart. I tried a thread about the character on TCM many months ago and it drew marginal interest. I'm hoping there are a few more Bond fans over here (where all the cool people hang out).

James Bond was introduced to the big screen in 1962 in Dr. No with the definitive Sean Connery. 45 years later his escapades are continuing in the form of Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. Bond fans tend to be very passionate about their favorite actor to play the role or their favorite movies in the series. Some say that you always like the one that you first saw in the role the best. For me that's true. I started with Sean, and everyone else has been a pale imitation to me. Though I really enjoyed the latest Bond, Daniel Craig. In fact, I chose to go to two movies in the theatre last year and Casino Royale was one of them (good choice!).

So, Sean is my favorite actor (easy pick) and Goldfinger is my favorite Bond picture. In fact, I would put Goldfinger on my all-time top ten movie list. The music is perfect, the action is thrilling and Bond is Bond.

Who and which are your favorites?

[movieman1957]

The Bond series is a lot of fun for me. I like Sean but I also think Timothy Dalton was pretty good. After Moore he brought some of the edge back.
Like you, I thought Craig did a fine job. Even Lazenby did ok if one can keep from comparing hime to Connery (which is impossible.)

There isn't one so far above the others but Thunderball, For Your Eyes Only and probably Goldfinger.

My least favorite is The Man With The Golden Gun.

Bring back John Barry. (I know he's probably enjoying retirement.)

[Dewey1960]

Up until I saw CASINO ROYALE around Christmas time I would have automatically responded: Sean Connery with DR. NO, GOLDFINGER and NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN being my three top faves. But now I have to seriously rearrange my thoughts on this. Daniel Craig is unbelievable as Bond and CASINO now ranks as my favorite Bond film of all time. I know for most of you this is heresy but Craig now ranks as my favorite. I've seen CASINO twice more since my first time and my enthusiasm for it hasn't diminished one bit. Yikes, what a movie!!!

[MissGoddess]

I love Sean Connery so he's my favorite agen 007, and his movies in the series are also the best, with Roger Moore's coming in second.

I actually did enjoy On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but Lazenby didn't stand out personality-wise. He and Daniel Craig are ho-hum to me. Dalton was ok, Brosnan is handsome but too "light weight".

Nothing beats Sean. I think I like From Russia With Love best of them all.

John Barry's theme and many of the songs of the franchise are among my favorites tunes ever,, starting with "Goldfinger". I did not, however, like any of the music in Casino Royale, I even thought the rendition of the dlassic theme was done badly.

Who is your favorite Bond leading lady? I'm a fan of Jane Seymour so I liked her but I thought the girl in Thunderball was the prettiest of them all.

[cinemalover]

Hi Chris,
I thought Lazenby did respectably. He had the luxury of being surrounded by a good movie. Telly Savalas made an entertaining villain and I loved Diana Rigg from her days as Emma Peel. The ending of that movie was truly touching. So, overall, the movie is one of my favorites and has stood the test of time. I like it more now than when I originally saw it, because, as you mentioned, it was impossible not to think of Connery in that role.

[cinemalover]

Dewey,
Daniel Craig was outstanding and his performance has helped resurrect the franchise. I would like to see him repeat the role so that I know he's not a one-hit wonder, but I believe that he can. They'll have to come up with an equally compelling script for that to work. The finale of the movie when he finally uses the "Bond, James Bond" line which cues the playing of the classic theme is incredibly well done. That was a scene that will long be remembered by Bond fans.

[Dewey1960]

Chris (so righty) wrote: "That was a scene that will long be remembered by Bond fans."

Boy, will it ever, Chris! But I have the utmost confidence in our new boy; this guy's got the goods! Are they in pre-production with him on a new Bond film? I have to assume so, but haven't heard anything yet. Can't wait!

[cinemalover]

Miss Goddess,
I love that picture, thank you.

As to who is my favorite leading lady? I'll have to ponder that one. As I mentioned, I loved Diana Rigg, but I also really enjoyed Honor Blackman (who, like Diana, had The Avengers on her resume). Ursula Andruss sparks a pleasant memory or two. So many choices...

[cinemalover]

Dewey,
They are in pre-production of Bond 22 as they're elusively calling it. It is targeted for a November 2008 release. Rumors are that it will be a direct sequel to Casino Royale. I don't know how reliable any of this information is. (IMDb)

[Dewey1960]

Thanks for that!

[Mr. Arkadin]

I would agree that From Russia With Love is the definitive Bond film. Other Connery favorites would be Goldfinger, Thunderball, You only Live Twice.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service, has recently undergone a major re-evaluation for me. It's definitely the best shot and most beautiful looking film in all the Bond series. The storyline is more mature than the later Connery films. Lazenby was much different from Connery and thus was more harshly judged than he should have been. You can see a bit of his inexperience on the screen (this was his first leading role), but he plays the role well.

As far as the best player of Bond I have seen, Dalton rides head and shoulders above them all. His Bond was always the epitome of everything I thought JB repesented: a sophisicated man with a wounded heart and maniacal edge. So much of his acting in this role is simply how he holds his body or facial expression. Unforunately at this time Dalton had nothing to work with writing wise. He was originally called for OHMSS, but had prior commitments. One wonders if his playing of that part (which he would have definitely shone in) would have changed the whole series as Bond was trying to move out from formula productions with that film.

OHSS failure caused them to retreat back into the simpler character that had orginally brought them the dough in the first place. Connery's Bond peaked with From Russia With Love and if you look at his character, it actually becomes simpler and more humor laden from this point on. In Goldfinger and Thunderball Bond actually physically does less and finds the best way to attack Spectre is to insult them verbally! Connery grew weary of these roles and felt it would typecast him so he left for more interesting projects (One of which was The Hill (1965) released to DVD this month and coming up on TCM's schedule. Check this film out--it's incredible!).

I still haven't seen Daniel Craig yet (my brother has the DVD, but I haven't borrowed it yet) but am anxious to. I am very interested to see what he brings to the role.

[movieman1957]

Mr. Arkadin:

I think in some ways Craig is similar to Dalton in the intensity he brings. He's cool, quite athletic (something I never really felt with Moore) and handsome in a tough way. I think he'll do well.

As fas as the women go I like Blackman and Rigg primarily because they are strong women. They are not window dressing.

I enjoy "OHMSS" now as well. The only drawback is the really loud sound effects that accompany the fight scenes. Some of the hitting sound like small explosions.

Note: If anyone has Encore they are showing several on their onDemand and in widescreen. The channel is too but not always in widescreen.

[cinemalover]

Is there anybody here that enjoyed Roger Moore's rendition of Bond? I found most of the films sub-par and some of them embarrassing. The southern sheriff? Jaws in space? Moore always seemed way too soft to be the Bond that I wanted to watch. It's not all his fault, the writers had sunk to new lows with his dialogue and puns. What are your thoughts on Roger?

[mrsl]

I saw Dr. No, and Goldfinger, after that I told my husband to go by himself, it was a waste of money for me to see Bond movies. The only thing I liked about them was Sean Connery, I love him in anything, EXCEPT Bond. I've never seen another one. I've seen lots of clips of each different actors in the role, but as much as I like action and adventure movies, I cannot abide Bond films. I think mainly because of the women who, until recently, were all just toys for 007.

I love Arnold, Stephen Seagall, Sly, Norris, Willis, and ayone else you can mention, I've seen them all, I guess it's just all the silly gadgets in Bond.

Anne

[MissGoddess]

Is there anybody here that enjoyed Roger Moore's rendition of Bond? I found most of the films sub-par and some of them embarrassing. The southern sheriff? Jaws in space? Moore always seemed way too soft to be the Bond that I wanted to watch. It's not all his fault, the writers had sunk to new lows with his dialogue and puns. What are your thoughts on Roger?

I'm not crazy about the movies themselves, but I enjoy Moore more than the others after Connery. I guess because he impresses me as someone who is genuinely a man of the world, whereas the others don't convince me. I do agree that he lacks anything physically threatening about him, which is why he's No. 2 in my book.