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However, Craig like Connery IS Bond. Craig embodies the character in a captivating way that just doesn't even make it a fair nor sensible contest between he and Brosnan. Craig is just magnificent and has ushered credibility back into the series. Just look at the cast and crew from CR to SPECTRE.
From my perspective, Brosnan's casting was all about putting bums on seats. EON had tried to go to the books with Dalton and it had not been all that successful. They were under pressure from the studio (in a pre-Sony money world) to get it right in terms of commercial success, especially after the 6 year gap, and with the entire film universe having moved on.
That is why we started to see the cliches, that is why they did not take too many risks and that is why they did not really get it right in my mind. The switchover from Cubby to Babs also reduced the risk taking, and she was getting her feet wet during this time.
Serviceable is the right word to use imo for Brosnan.
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Craig is just in a different league for me. His movies are in a different league as well. They are as credible as you can make them today, while still retaining the Bond fantasy element (e.g. not going to Le Carre style).
Having said that, and having watched all of his films recently, I think DC's best personal performance (by far........and I mean far) was in CR. I hope he is given an opportunity to bring that level of quality to the table again in SP.
2. Craig
3. Moore
4. Dalton
5. Brosnan
6. Lazenby
Very tough decisions, I kind of like them all. Brosnan was a great actor, goldeneye was fantastic, and he had 2 other good movies, but he just didn't really bring anything new to the series for me. I also like Lazenby.
Don't misunderstand me, I did enjoy Brosnan much more until Craig came along - and WHAT a revelation he was. He and Brosnan are two very different kinds of actors. I did enjoy GE and TWINE, but I never believed Brosnan's toughness or the little forays into deeper feelings. Yeah, no. In those movies at least, Brosnan's Bond was flat - a projection screen only. And at the time, I thought he had to be. (I understand that some fans want Bond to be exactly that. I myself find it a bit boring.) I went to the movies, but I never felt I was missing out by not watching older ones - or wanted to participate in discussions with other fans.
And then I saw CR. Craig's movies are just a completely different animal. You have a believable character who does not function primarily as blank screen. He's a round character, he has nuances, he's ambiguous and occasionally very dark, he has a reality to him that makes me feel for him - a real human being, not a cardboard cutout. And all that while still retaining many of those superhero qualities that many associate with 007. I'm invested in his story and his fate, I flinch when he's hurt and I feel solemn when he's heartbroken. While I could never be him (fear not, he will never be your average Joe), I can relate. And while that is greatly due to better scripts, it's also Craig's screen presence and acting range that allows me to do that. Where Brosnan was pleasantly bland, Craig is magnificent!
Obligatory list:
Craig > Connery > Dalton > Brosnan > Moore > Lazenby (it's the clothes, I'm sure)
Connery -- Emotionally unavailable superman.
Lazenby -- tough yet vulnerable.
Moore -- Ladies Man, Humourous and Topdog.
Dalton -- Down the earth, struggling with business human.
Brosnan -- Mixture of Connery and Moore, which is why he's my second favourite.
Craig -- Most believable and righteous human who's not a subject to corruption, and most vulnerable.
The next, from what I would gather, would be bringing the invincible superman fellow in characterization?
I personally think he was really good as Bond in DAD, but the movie is nothing more than comedy entertainment.
TND for me is neither here nor there. I like it a lot as bombastic fun, but I find the girls somewhat forgettable so I just don't watch it much. I agree with opinions that the film peaks in Hamburg (save for the innovative bike scene that comes later). I didn't find him to be too bad in this one, but he was still unsure of himself as Bond. TWINE is where he brought more confidence, but sadly for me, I couldn't stand his performance in it.
Well, now that you put it that way, I'm feeling bad about my remarks. I'm sure he is very professional, and if it makes fans feel better, I've just ordered November Man on Blu ray from Amazon (I've seen it before though).
That scene above is one of the ones that reflect my problem though. A tendency to sort of whine over the women rather than not give a damn. Perhaps it's because I didn't give a damn about Paris. Which reminds me, I forgot to make my bed :)
I still laugh when I read LALD. It practically kills Bond, to have to cut back his booze intake while training for his midnight swim to Big's hideout.
That could be what I misunderstood about that scene all these years!
I thought he was moping about thinking about her and reflecting, because she was with Carver and he got slapped. If only he'd grabbed her hand half way before it connected, I would have been all ok...
Yeah, I'd be drinking heavily too if I had been slapped by Terri Hatcher and forced to act with her. =))
Where did he say that? In most interviews he wanted to do the type of films Craig is doing.
I'll rank them on their boozing.
Broz pounding back straight vodka shots, and holding it together, like Book-Bond, beats Craig's boozy rambling over girly drinks on the plane.
I look forward to seeing an updated version after SPECTRE, Bond 25 etc...
Whats girlier about Vodka + Gin versus just Vodka? Is it the fortified wine?
EDIT: If we're going by "Book-Bond", those girly drinks on the plane are straight from the first novel, ingredient for ingredient :P
I realize I'm telling you things you already know, just want to clarify your comment :D
Eh? He just escaped from Carvers goons, got back to his hotel, poured himself a drink, readied his gun and awaited Carver 's next move. It was a throwback to Bond waiting for Dent. That TND scene was one of Brosnan's best moments.
He likes to stick it to Craig, he's got him at the bottom of his ranking so what do you expect.
He's getting excited about Spectre despite ranking him so low but I've a feeling he'll be bitching at it like SF come November.
I know, but what's the harm in a little discourse once in awhile :P
It's interesting to hear the comments here and how I've seen it differently all these years.
For me, as I've mentioned on other threads, there was this element inherent in his portrayal of being deeply affected by a number of women in consecutive films. Somewhat sensitive. The slap from Paris to me was very surprising, because I thought he should have grabbed her hand before she delivered it. The way he delivered the "made your bed" line too. This all occured within a few scenes of the vodka binge so I mentally connected them. Furthermore, the reflection scene in GE with Natalya berating him for his being alone, followed by the whining about re: Electra's betrayal in the following film all in combination gave me sort of an effete impression. The fact that all 3 movies were one after the other hammered this in for me re: his character. This continued in some of the bedroom scenes too. Only in DAD did he start showing the goods to me with Jinx on the beach ("too strong for you").
I've reflected on it, and I think it's just Brosnan's acting in these instances and how it appeared to me. Or maybe because of his refined appearance. Like he had to be treated delicately.
@timmer mentioned Craig's Bond's reflection about Vesper on the plane in QoS for instance, and that scene came across as very manly to me, despite the alleged girliness of the drink in comparison to TND's vodka bottle (and I realize he's joking). Perhaps it's because the whole movie is about finding solace regarding his beloved Vesper. Or Craig's somewhat rugged appearance. Or maybe it's because Craig's Bond kills people one on one violently with his bare hands, which compensates for these sensitive Bondian moments of alcoholic reflection. :)
Ok I take back the girlie, but Broz still wins with Vodka from the bottle. Plus Craig babbling a lot of nonsense. Broz's drunk talk I thought had more heft.
These are important discussions. :P
But you're not wrong. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's there. There was always something a little off about the good Broz's performance.
Mind you I don't really care. He maintains his mojo in the films. Broz was always on mission.
He saved the world a few times, and I do salute him for his service.
Enjoy retirment with ...hmm..pick a Broz Bond girl. Christmas Jones! :P
But I am serious. That's who I'd ring up.