Who is the best James Bond?

[cambsno]

So... who is the best Bond ever? I have included them all, even though Lazenby only did the 1, and Dalton 2, and I doubt they will get a look in.

 

[cambsno]

Struggling to choose between Moore and Connery... my thinking is clouded that I dont like the new Bond films so mark down Craig for that. I find Moore and Connery more watchable. In fact, I dont think Lazenby was all that bad and I would vote him 3rd, as OHMSS is a good film. Went for Moore in the end, as I like Golden Gun and Moonraker a lot, plus I do like the humour he added to it.

 

[viv1969]

Craig for me all the way.
I hated Bond when it was all double entendre, ohh errr matron, which it was before he made Bond credible. Just my opinion.

 

[Trig's]

Connery & Craig - could never stand RM..... He was ok in the likes of The Saint & The Persauders but that was about it.....

 

[new2me]

Connery & Craig - could never stand RM..... He was ok in the likes of The Saint & The Persauders but that was about it.....

+1

 

[joxby]

Moore was absolutely awful, I liked Lazenby and Connery but JB films these days are a country mile better than the 60's, in fact I think they've really pushed on with Daniel Craig.

Daniel Craig, by such a margin, it ain't even funny.

 

[HMansfield]

I liked Brosnan as Bond, but his films were very hit and miss.

I didn't "get" Dalton when he took over the role, as I was quite young and was used to the light hearted approach of Moore, but in hindsight, he's quite brilliant.

Daniel Craig is still my least favourite Bond. The trailer for Skyfall where he jumps/falls into an unconvincingly disintegrating CGI train carriage and then adjusts his cuffs a la Goldeneye 64 cutscene makes me cringe.

He can't do suave like Connery or Moore could. He tries, but just ends up pouting.

Bond doesn't pout.

 

[viv1969]

I liked Brosnan as Bond, but his films were very hit and miss.

I didn't "get" Dalton when he took over the role, as I was quite young and was used to the light hearted approach of Moore, but in hindsight, he's quite brilliant.

Daniel Craig is still my least favourite Bond. The trailer for Skyfall where he jumps/falls into an unconvincingly disintegrating CGI train carriage and then adjusts his cuffs a la Goldeneye 64 cutscene makes me cringe.

He can't do suave like Connery or Moore could. He tries, but just ends up pouting.

Bond doesn't pout.

OK then it must be a female thing.
I so would.

 

[notaclue]

Bob Holness!

In 1956, Bob Holness provided the voice for James Bond in a South African radio adaption of the Ian Fleming novel Moonraker. He would later go on to become an actor and game show host for Take a Letter and Blockbusters.

The Moonraker special remains today as the only known radio production of James Bond. Bob has said that it was broadcast live, and as such, there is no known recording of it.

 

[Nod]

Connery by far. Most true to the books (do any of the others smoke on screen? One of the books opens with something like "Bond lit the first of his 60 cigarettes that day"). And who could (or would want to) forget Arsula Undress emerging from the sea in "that" bikini?

 

[Ricardodaforce]

Has everyone who says "Connery" actually seen "Diamonds Are Forever"? Appalling film.

OHMSS is the best. Lazenby was the best.

 

[cuthbert]

Roger Moore for me. I think your favourite Bond has a lot to do with who happened to be the actor who was around when you were a child, I was indeed a kid when the Roger Moore was doing the rounds. I think Daniel Craig is great and the modern bond films are enjoyable to watch, but the fact that the Roger Moore era didn't really take itself too seriously (like the utterly stupid moonraker) is maybe why I enjoyed his portrayal over all the others.

 

[Thats my sock]

Craig for me all the way.
I hated Bond when it was all double entendre, ohh errr matron, which it was before he made Bond credible. Just my opinion.

+ 1

 

[strumstrum]

Roger Moore for me. I think your favourite Bond has a lot to do with who happened to be the actor who was around when you were a child, I was indeed a kid when the Roger Moore was doing the rounds. I think Daniel Craig is great and the modern bond films are enjoyable to watch, but the fact that the Roger Moore era didn't really take itself too seriously (like the utterly stupid moonraker) is maybe why I enjoyed his portrayal over all the others.

Pretty much sums it up for me, I don't watch Craig era Bond films as Bond films, they are just good watchable spy action films much like the Bournes

 

[FourRingCircus]

David Niven!!!

Who could forget the original Casino Royale? To be fair, that so-called 'film' is best forgotten as it's really a poor Scottish themed nightmare Bond spoof. I actually think David Niven could have been quite a good Bond though.

Daniel Craig is highly watchable and ALL recent films eclipse the rest of them in terms of the genre IMO, but as has been pointed out already, they were all of their time.

Connery was very good (best?), although he should have stuck to the mantle of 'never again'. Lazenby was very decent, but I can't get the (bad) picture of him kilted with a frilly shirt on out of my head. Moore was quite effite most of the time and my least favourite - although my first viewing of any bond film (at the Odeon) was Diamonds are Forever so he was my contemporary bond as a child. Dalton was convincing, though under-rated for some reason, and the same could be said for Brosnan. However, in the era of Jason Bourne, Daniel Craig has brought Bond into the 21st century and there are only a few of the previous films which are really enjoyable now, as most seem to be parodies of themselves in a modern era. Goldfinger is possibly my favourite of the old-school films and OHMSS is up there too.

 

[norters]

Voted for Brosnan. Goldeneye is the best film by a long chalk. Although all the guys who have played it have done a good job apart from Moore IMO who played Bond as The Saint. Understandable really. Moore was also too old for Bond when he got the part and this did him no favours.

Dalton played Bond the closest to how he is written in the novels. Bond is supposed to be a horrible man and Dalton did this perfectly. Shame they gave him terrible scripts.

I kind of lump Connery and Lazenby together. Both non actors who looked good in suits and were a bit handy. Some cracking films though, especially From Russia With Love and OHMSS.

Craig has the potential to be up there but I hope he stops after four films.

Brosnan had it all. Could be a b*stard, coped with the silly oo-err jokes well. He was helped by Goldeneye granted. A truly great film. Would have loved him to have done the mooted Casino Royale with QT directing but deep down I knew that after Die Another Day he was too long in the tooth for Bond. He stopped at the right time.

As for the next Bond I think they need to go younger. Tom Hardy would be boss.

 

[norters]

Connery by far. Most true to the books (do any of the others smoke on screen? One of the books opens with something like "Bond lit the first of his 60 cigarettes that day"). And who could (or would want to) forget Arsula Undress emerging from the sea in "that" bikini?

They all did up until Dalton who was the last of the Bond's to smoke cigarettes on screen. Brosnan smoked cigars in Die Another Day though.

 

[robhooley167]

While Connery was an excellent Bond for his time, Brosnan and Craig are excellent modern day Bonds

Roger Moore doesn't really tickle my pickle as a Bond, Brosnan was playful without being as cheesey and Craig is quite icey which is a nice change

Best film for each actor?

 

[norters]

While Connery was an excellent Bond for his time, Brosnan and Craig are excellent modern day Bonds

Roger Moore doesn't really tickle my pickle as a Bond, Brosnan was playful without being as cheesey and Craig is quite icey which is a nice change

Best film for each actor?

From Russia With Love.

Default.

Live and Let Die.

The Living Daylights.

GOLDENEYE.

Will reserve judgement until after I have seen Skyfall this week. Casino Royale was pretty badass though.

 

[Marc]

Best film for each actor?

That's a good idea

Connery - Goldfinger
Lazenby - erm....
Moore - Live & Let Die
Dalton - Licence to Kill
Brosnan - Goldeneye
Craig - Casino Royale (Quantum of Solace didn't work for me, just didn't feel like Bond)

Oh, and I'm a Connery man.

 

[HMansfield]

Brosnan had it all. Could be a b*stard, coped with the silly oo-err jokes well. He was helped by Goldeneye granted. A truly great film. Would have loved him to have done the mooted Casino Royale with QT directing but deep down I knew that after Die Another Day he was too long in the tooth for Bond. He stopped at the right time.

The weird thing is, at 55, Brosnan looked a similar age to Craig at 38.

As for going younger, no way. Bond is supposed to be in his early 40s. He's a Commander in the navy, which is a rank a younger man couldn't believably carry. What we don't want is for Bond to go the way of Dr Who with younger and younger actors carrying the role.

 

[u8myufo]

[YOUTUBE]?v=8AeTZ4-wLXk[/YOUTUBE]

 

[StephyB]

Connery

Then maybe Daniel Craig, but I'm actually not that big a fan of him... As it was said earlier by someone, he just fails at being suave....

 

[tiler65]

David Niven!!!

Who could forget the original Casino Royale? To be fair, that so-called 'film' is best forgotten as it's really a poor Scottish themed nightmare Bond spoof. I actually think David Niven could have been quite a good Bond though.

I think Ian Flemming wanted Niven to be the original Bond but the producers over ruled him on account of his age.......can you imagine Niven in Goldfinger.....

I like all the Bonds, they all have their own cut on the character.

I have also read most of the novels by Flemming.

 

[SnappyHappy]

Roger Moore for me. I think your favourite Bond has a lot to do with who happened to be the actor who was around when you were a child, I was indeed a kid when the Roger Moore was doing the rounds. I think Daniel Craig is great and the modern bond films are enjoyable to watch, but the fact that the Roger Moore era didn't really take itself too seriously (like the utterly stupid moonraker) is maybe why I enjoyed his portrayal over all the others.

Same here, Mark...
Connery was the 'best' bond probably but I much preferred the films with Roger Moore - The Man With The Wooden Delivery
Most people hate Moonraker etc, but I grew up with them and find them enjoyable I think some of Ken Adams work is amazing on those sets, when you look at the times
...and the guy who did the models (English guy, died a few years ago, and have just forgotten his name:bang: - will remember it in a minute, can see his face, grey hair...)

LALD was actually quite strange, dont want to say 'brave' (?) in the early 70's having all the white people as 'goodies', quite different times really (black power, black panthers time if you see what i mean).

Agree re the books, are a bit different.

Got no real interest after View to a Kill and i've only saw Casino Royale from the 'new' era. 'Nuff said. (probably only because i've grown up) Seriously to me now, they are just like any other action film and hold no magic for me:shrug:

 

[MartynK]

Connery by far. Most true to the books (do any of the others smoke on screen? One of the books opens with something like "Bond lit the first of his 60 cigarettes that day"). And who could (or would want to) forget Arsula Undress emerging from the sea in "that" bikini?

I agree about Sean Connery and prefer the early films. No-one took them too seriously and the gadgets were, sort of, plausible.

I don't know why your quote sticks in my memory, but it does. I think it was 'Bond lit his 70th cigarette of the day...', from Casino Royale. Just for it's trivia value, Bond's cigarettes came from Morlands. The firm existed, in Bond Street - which is rather appropriate - and they were Ian Fleming's own tobacconist. Morlands have been gone for years now, and probably disappeared at about the same time as Sullivan Powell (my own favourite), Sobranie, Fribourg and Treyer and a few others. Pity.

 

[Ricardodaforce]

Connery by far. Most true to the books (do any of the others smoke on screen?

Lazenby smokes in OHMSS.

 

[SnappyHappy]

...derek meddings his name was (i think!) ...

 

[robhooley167]

From Russia With Love.

Default.

Live and Let Die.

The Living Daylights.

GOLDENEYE.

Will reserve judgement until after I have seen Skyfall this week. Casino Royale was pretty badass though.

That's a good idea

Connery - Goldfinger
Lazenby - erm....
Moore - Live & Let Die
Dalton - Licence to Kill
Brosnan - Goldeneye
Craig - Casino Royale (Quantum of Solace didn't work for me, just didn't feel like Bond)

Oh, and I'm a Connery man.

Good Choices

Connery - Goldfinger
Lazenby - Default
Moore - View to a Kill
Dalton - Living Daylights
Brosnan - Goldeneye
Craig - Casino Royale (yet to see Skyfall though so this may change)

I havent seen the Moore Bond films recently so that explains the odd choice

 

[cuthbert]

Craig - I enjoyed Moonraker a great deal too and A View To A Kill is perhaps one of my favourite Bond films (Live and Let Die is perhaps my absolute favourite not least because of the great soundtrack).

If any of you have Sky (but you don't have Movies) keep an eye out for the half price flyer... we just signed up and the 007 channel has all the classics in full HD. I'm waiting for Live and Let Die to start at 8... if the missus will let me watch it, of course ;-)

 

[robrevens]

Definitely NOT Lazenby.

Why?

Australian.
Dressed in a skirt & frilly shirt.
Almost blubbed on screen.

'nuff said.

 

[Uneducated_Rick]

Connery> Brosnan> Craig

a few more from DC might see him leap from PB

others don't even get ranked

 

[Ricardodaforce]

Definitely NOT Lazenby.

Why?

Australian.
Dressed in a skirt & frilly shirt.
Almost blubbed on screen.

'nuff said.

Oh that all in one piece bathing suit Connery wore was soooooo cool. And Moore's safari suits, so elegant!

 

[Matt]

Craig is very good, he is contemporary. Connery IS Bond though.

 

[HMansfield]

Craig - I enjoyed Moonraker a great deal too and A View To A Kill is perhaps one of my favourite Bond films.

Moonraker often gets slated because of the outer space element, and for Jaws turning face at the end, but it does contain this absolute corker of a scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PasdxEYHhMo

Beautifully shot, genuinely menacing, and none of that insulting damsel in distress falling over and twisting her ankle nonsense.

A View To A Kill is also a great film. Not intended for Roger Moore, but the other choices weren't available, and his performance is often overlooked in favour of moaning that he was too old by this point. He still has his classic "suave" moments, but his presence and intensity during the more serious parts has him at his best.

 

[odd jim]

Craig is very good, he is contemporary. Connery IS Bond though.

Why "is" Connery Bond? Although I love the Connery films, bar Diamonds Are Forever (he was practically bald by this point and wore a hairpiece), he was nothing special IMO. I also hate the fact he slates Bond, and has gone on record saying he regretted taking the part. Arrogant old git. But I do like him...

IMO Craig is easily, by far, the best embodiment of Bond.

 

[antihero]

IMO Craig is easily, by far, the best embodiment of Bond.

I'm no bond expert, far from it, but a licence to kill secret agent? As much as I liked moore...too comedic. Connery. Smooth, but not hard enough. Brosnan. Smooth but too smug. Lazenby. Just wrong.

Craig by a country mile. 007 needs to be smooth when needs be but overall needs to be a hard mofo. Craig excells at this.

 

[Ricardodaforce]

I stand alone waving the flag for George Lazenby!

 

[FourRingCircus]

Not unless you have voted for him three times in the poll yourself. It would appear that there are another two with you on your island.

Poor Timothy Dalton only has the one though.

 

[AshleyC]

im reading through the books now and, for me, the closest anyone has got to the character was george lazenby and the early 1 or 2 roger moore's. He seemed like a regular guy in the books and not some sort of super human encyclopaedic know it all. Im glad the Craig films have pulled things back towards reality a bit more but you might as well call him Jason Bourne.

Best films, The Spy Who Loved Me, Goldfinger, Casino Royale.