The TIMOTHY DALTON Appreciation thread - Discuss His Life, His Career, His Bond Films

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  • chrisisallchrisisall Brosnan Defender Of The Realm
    Posts: 17,687
    acoppola wrote:
    "And let me tell you, I think that 'Skyfall' is going to be the best ever." -Tim

    As great as Skyfall no doubt is, no actor does it better than Dalton (IMO), and his humility is very endearing here.
  • Posts: 173
    acoppola wrote:
    Regan wrote:
    Timothy Dalton, the best James Bond?http://fandangogroovers.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/timothy-dalton-the-best-james-bond/

    I especially like this:

    "And now the Zenith of what Dalton started, Skyfall (2012) has taken Bond further from Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan than many thought possible. He may have taken it too far to be recognisable as a Bond, but it is proving popular with fans (including me), audiences and critics. Don’t expect the ever humble Dalton to take any credit where Bond is today, but I don’t think he would have got to this point without the new direction he took the character in 1987."

    Super @Regan I do think Dalton is too humble and has survived the storm of ignorance against him. His films hold up well and have that nostalgia factor. And like a fine Scotch whisky, they aged well!

    I know that Dalton is close to the Broccoli family and Barbara is very fond of him.They have been seen socialising and I assume she would have asked Tim about what he thought of the idea of casting Daniel. Because Dalton was the first actor to publicly support him during the media backlash.

    Thank you @acoppola for that link and for the comment on mine. Actually I didn't know he was still close to the Broccoli family so that is very nice to know. I heard a while back that he once dated Barbara, do you know if this is true or was it just gossip? Very little is known in terms of his private life.

    I just adore Tim, both as an actor and as a man. He is the definition of class act in my book.
  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    Posts: 1,243
    chrisisall wrote:
    acoppola wrote:
    "And let me tell you, I think that 'Skyfall' is going to be the best ever." -Tim

    As great as Skyfall no doubt is, no actor does it better than Dalton (IMO), and his humility is very endearing here.

    There is one common theme I am noticing on Youtube with Skyfall. I have heard people say several times that even though they are not a Bond fan, they like Skyfall. The old Bond films made no apologies for what they were and mostly depended on the fan base. They were Bond take it or leave it. Most of the people who went to see Bond went for exactly because of what they were. I went to see my first cinema Bond because I liked Bond on tv. So I was a fan already.

    I understand why new Bond has to go in this direction as competition is so fierce and audiences are way more cynical than ever before. And these audiences though not qualified in the history of cinema can go on Youtube within minutes of seeing the film and offer an opinion to the world. They can also say any rubbish they please and it will influence others. That was not the case 50 years ago or even 20 years ago.

    So this makes it a very dangerous time for the franchise. Because you have so many different types of people to please. And you cannot please everybody.The film has to stand up to people who may not necessarily care for Bond or be a fan.







  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    edited November 2012 Posts: 1,243
    Regan wrote:
    acoppola wrote:
    Regan wrote:
    Timothy Dalton, the best James Bond?http://fandangogroovers.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/timothy-dalton-the-best-james-bond/

    I especially like this:

    "And now the Zenith of what Dalton started, Skyfall (2012) has taken Bond further from Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan than many thought possible. He may have taken it too far to be recognisable as a Bond, but it is proving popular with fans (including me), audiences and critics. Don’t expect the ever humble Dalton to take any credit where Bond is today, but I don’t think he would have got to this point without the new direction he took the character in 1987."

    Super @Regan I do think Dalton is too humble and has survived the storm of ignorance against him. His films hold up well and have that nostalgia factor. And like a fine Scotch whisky, they aged well!

    I know that Dalton is close to the Broccoli family and Barbara is very fond of him.They have been seen socialising and I assume she would have asked Tim about what he thought of the idea of casting Daniel. Because Dalton was the first actor to publicly support him during the media backlash.

    Thank you @acoppola for that link and for the comment on mine. Actually I didn't know he was still close to the Broccoli family so that is very nice to know. I heard a while back that he once dated Barbara, do you know if this is true or was it just gossip? Very little is known in terms of his private life.

    I just adore Tim, both as an actor and as a man. He is the definition of class act in my book.

    I think they are rumours and only that! They started about 7 years ago when Tim was seen out and about with Barbara at some premiere of a film in London. Knowing the man Tim is, I can only assume that he would never go beyond the boundary of friendship.

    But not related to the rumours in any way, I have to admit that Barbara is a very beautiful woman who has many attractive qualities for sure! She looks better and better.


    Tim and Barbara must be close friends as she knows that Tim was there for her dad even when he had left the franchise. Tim is a loyal person.

    When her father was really ill, Tim was around him a lot and possibly the closest out of all the 007 actors to him. I think Albert R Broccoli treated Dalton like a son, because he valued his intelligence and honesty. Dalton was not about the money and would always think through the best interests. And years later, Dalton's wise words have paid dividends for the franchise in terms of direction.



  • Posts: 11,189
    Forgive me if you have already said so on this board but have you seen Skyfall yet @acoppola? If so what did you think?
  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    edited November 2012 Posts: 1,243
    BAIN123 wrote:
    Forgive me if you have already said so on this board but have you seen Skyfall yet @acoppola? If so what did you think?

    Hi @Bain123 I was supposed to see it this week but my plans got altered. I will be seeing it on wednesday once the queues die down. I cannot stand sitting in a packed cinema with people texting and paying little attention to the film. I have had so many films ruined by morons who are uncultured and think it is okay to take calls in the auditorium.

    20 years ago, people went to the cinema to watch a film and not continue dealing with their social life whilst a film is playing.

  • Posts: 11,425
    chrisM wrote:
    watched TLD today, havent watched it in awhile, and it blew me away!!! THAT's the finest debut of any Bond actor - CR may be the stronger FILM but Craig cant match how awesome (and accurate) Dalton is in that movie...

    And is the scene where it looks like Dalton is going to execute a kneeling John Rhys Davies THE tensest in ANY Bond movie???

    Totally true. An awesome debut. Am missing the Dalts a lot right now. TLD is the perfect Bond movie in many ways. The opening section in Prague is one of the most effective and atmospheric in any Bond film. Thoese were happier days in the Bond universe.
  • edited November 2012 Posts: 11,189
    TLD is good but Skyfall is better. More atmospheric set pieces and more suprises. SF offers some of the best photogaraphy in the series.
  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    Posts: 1,243
    Getafix wrote:
    chrisM wrote:
    watched TLD today, havent watched it in awhile, and it blew me away!!! THAT's the finest debut of any Bond actor - CR may be the stronger FILM but Craig cant match how awesome (and accurate) Dalton is in that movie...

    And is the scene where it looks like Dalton is going to execute a kneeling John Rhys Davies THE tensest in ANY Bond movie???

    Totally true. An awesome debut. Am missing the Dalts a lot right now. TLD is the perfect Bond movie in many ways. The opening section in Prague is one of the most effective and atmospheric in any Bond film. Thoese were happier days in the Bond universe.

    Damn right! The opening in Prague captures the essence of the Cold War and Dalton is amazing. He looks suave but underneath is the killer. TLD will always be one of my favourites. Oh and don't get me started on how shocked I was when Dalton says : "Stuff my orders! I only kill professionals!..."

    I like new Bond but am not fooling myself that it is like the old films. It is fine in it's own way but a total reworking of the character. I know the Dark Knight and when I see SF, I will be looking out for what has been nabbed from that. I know my popular culture.

  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    edited November 2012 Posts: 1,243
    BAIN123 wrote:
    TLD is good but Skyfall is better. More atmospheric set pieces and more suprises. SF offers some of the best photogaraphy in the series.

    They have Roger Deakin who is one of the best cinematographers in the world. That is fine, but I love the old style Bond cinematography as it was super original and took you out of this world.

    I want to ask does the cinematography in SF really look like a Bond film or a film that wants an Oscar nomination?. Because from what I saw, it looks beautiful but in a different way to the Bond I know. What I want from Bond is great atmospherics and a style that can only be Bond and not an amalgamation of what is hip like the Christopher Nolan style.

    I think what I miss about the old Bond cinematography is that it was not perfect but so distinct. I mean when you see the opening shot in LALD where you see the United Nations building, the cameraman is wobbling the shot like he had a few beers but it still looks amazing.

  • Posts: 11,189
    It depends on what you define "Bond style". I'd say there are some genuinely striking images in SF. The highlands of Scotland probably being the best of the bunch.

    Bear in mind aswell that most of the creative team behind the old Bond films are either retired or are no longer with us so a different approach/look by a new team is inevitable.
  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    Posts: 1,243
    BAIN123 wrote:
    It depends on what you define "Bond style". I'd say there are some genuinely striking images in SF. The highlands of Scotland probably being the best of the bunch.

    Bear in mind aswell that most of the creative team behind the old Bond films are either retired or are no longer with us so a different approach/look by a new team is inevitable.

    Yes but these days there is less in house promotion like there was in the old Bond days. For instance a man like John Glen would prove himself in second unit as well as editing before he got the job to direct. But he knew Bond inside out. The man got the opening to TSWLM done and that made the audience stand and applaud. The opening to TLD was jaw droppingly cool.

    Look at Peter Hunt who was the editor of the Connery Bonds and then directed the masterpiece OHMSS. And I have to say that promoting within answers why the old Bonds had this trade mark look that still referenced back to the first.

    By no means am I saying that SF looks horrible. I take your word that it is beautiful. But I don't want Shawshank Redemption/American Beauty meets Bond.:)

    I know how film studios are these days and they want as much publicity as they can get. So we are now getting very famous cinema people working on them. But I prefer the unsung heroes of the past like Glen, Hunt, Young who just did their jobs and got way little credit from the Hollywood hip crowd.

  • edited November 2012 Posts: 11,425
    BAIN123 wrote:
    It depends on what you define "Bond style". I'd say there are some genuinely striking images in SF. The highlands of Scotland probably being the best of the bunch.

    Bear in mind aswell that most of the creative team behind the old Bond films are either retired or are no longer with us so a different approach/look by a new team is inevitable.

    SF looks fine. Shame DC did not actually do any.location shooting in China Imo. the exterior shots of the entrance to the entrance office block was in London and a building i know well
  • Posts: 173
    acoppola wrote:

    I think they are rumours and only that! They started about 7 years ago when Tim was seen out and about with Barbara at some premiere of a film in London. Knowing the man Tim is, I can only assume that he would never go beyond the boundary of friendship.

    But not related to the rumours in any way, I have to admit that Barbara is a very beautiful woman who has many attractive qualities for sure! She looks better and better.


    Tim and Barbara must be close friends as she knows that Tim was there for her dad even when he had left the franchise. Tim is a loyal person.

    When her father was really ill, Tim was around him a lot and possibly the closest out of all the 007 actors to him. I think Albert R Broccoli treated Dalton like a son, because he valued his intelligence and honesty. Dalton was not about the money and would always think through the best interests. And years later, Dalton's wise words have paid dividends for the franchise in terms of direction.

    Thank you so much for answering :x , I always thought it was probably always rumours although they looked cute in that Primetime special for TLD where Tim's showing her how to operate a camera. Love that bit! (If you've seen it and know what I'm referencing). Made them look all "couple-y". And yeah, even as a girl myself, I have to say Barbara is a very attractive lady.

  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    Posts: 1,243
    Regan wrote:
    acoppola wrote:

    I think they are rumours and only that! They started about 7 years ago when Tim was seen out and about with Barbara at some premiere of a film in London. Knowing the man Tim is, I can only assume that he would never go beyond the boundary of friendship.

    But not related to the rumours in any way, I have to admit that Barbara is a very beautiful woman who has many attractive qualities for sure! She looks better and better.


    Tim and Barbara must be close friends as she knows that Tim was there for her dad even when he had left the franchise. Tim is a loyal person.

    When her father was really ill, Tim was around him a lot and possibly the closest out of all the 007 actors to him. I think Albert R Broccoli treated Dalton like a son, because he valued his intelligence and honesty. Dalton was not about the money and would always think through the best interests. And years later, Dalton's wise words have paid dividends for the franchise in terms of direction.

    Thank you so much for answering :x , I always thought it was probably always rumours although they looked cute in that Primetime special for TLD where Tim's showing her how to operate a camera. Love that bit! (If you've seen it and know what I'm referencing). Made them look all "couple-y". And yeah, even as a girl myself, I have to say Barbara is a very attractive lady.

    You are welcome @Regan Yes, I have seen her and Tim when he is joking around with the camera. Tim is a right laugh on set and then he goes into character.

    Have you seen the outtakes of Hot Fuzz? Wow, but Tim can swear and the filth that comes out of his mouth makes me laugh. So much for those who thought he was square!

  • Posts: 173
    BAIN123 wrote:
    TLD is good but Skyfall is better. More atmospheric set pieces and more suprises. SF offers some of the best photogaraphy in the series.

    Not to go all "Skyfall!" on this thread, but although I can say that production-wise SF is better, just because it obviously is. (you cannot compare something done in 2012 with something done 25 years ago), TLD still surpasses SF for me. That is just me. The atmosphere in TLD, from the Cold-Warish... sheer espionage feel of the first few minutes, to the sweeping Afghanistan desert dunes with Barry's beautiful music lending the atmosphere, to the sheer romanticism of his relationship to Milovy in Austria. It's just... so Bond. Don't get me wrong, I think SF is a great flick, and as far as contemporary gothicky versions go, it's extremely well done, but I just prefer TLD and derive such enjoyment from it. Does that make sense? If I was banned to a desert island and I could only choose one, I'd choose TLD. The idea of never seeing it again is something I can't live with, whereas SF... well, I wouldn't mind too much.

    I really need to see SF a second time by the way, I was very distracted by The Dark Knight the first time around. As much as I tried, I kept thinking of TDK because the "feel" of it was just so close.

  • Posts: 173
    acoppola wrote:
    Regan wrote:

    Thank you so much for answering :x , I always thought it was probably always rumours although they looked cute in that Primetime special for TLD where Tim's showing her how to operate a camera. Love that bit! (If you've seen it and know what I'm referencing). Made them look all "couple-y". And yeah, even as a girl myself, I have to say Barbara is a very attractive lady.

    You are welcome @Regan Yes, I have seen her and Tim when he is joking around with the camera. Tim is a right laugh on set and then he goes into character.

    Have you seen the outtakes of Hot Fuzz? Wow, but Tim can swear and the filth that comes out of his mouth makes me laugh. So much for those who thought he was square!

    No... I haven't seen the Hot Fuzz outtakes but I really need to it seems LOL. I did watch the movie last Saturday and... what a hoot!! It was freaking amazing, Dalton was spot on as Skinner. Loved every single minute and laughed my ass off, so much. One of the best comedies I've EVER seen and his performance was gold there. I plan on watching it again this weekend.
  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    Posts: 1,243
    Regan wrote:
    BAIN123 wrote:
    TLD is good but Skyfall is better. More atmospheric set pieces and more suprises. SF offers some of the best photogaraphy in the series.

    Not to go all "Skyfall!" on this thread, but although I can say that production-wise SF is better, just because it obviously is. (you cannot compare something done in 2012 with something done 25 years ago), TLD still surpasses SF for me. That is just me. The atmosphere in TLD, from the Cold-Warish... sheer espionage feel of the first few minutes, to the sweeping Afghanistan desert dunes with Barry's beautiful music lending the atmosphere, to the sheer romanticism of his relationship to Milovy in Austria. It's just... so Bond. Don't get me wrong, I think SF is a great flick, and as far as contemporary gothicky versions go, it's extremely well done, but I just prefer TLD and derive such enjoyment from it. Does that make sense? If I was banned to a desert island and I could only choose one, I'd choose TLD. The idea of never seeing it again is something I can't live with, whereas SF... well, I wouldn't mind too much.

    I really need to see SF a second time by the way, I was very distracted by The Dark Knight the first time around. As much as I tried, I kept thinking of TDK because the "feel" of it was just so close.

    Well written and well thought out. TLD looks epic and you really feel like you are there. I like the romanticism you mention, because that is the most believable Bond relationship.To this day, I think Dalton and Maryam should have been an item.

    Oh, and the scene at the funfair is gorgeous. Bond is having fun and smiling. Dalton plays it so cool and he has her in the bag!:) Though some say Dalton never smiles and looks like the portrait of Dorian Gray at all times!

    Regarding newer production styles, I will give an example where sometimes character is missing. For me, Bram Stoker's Dracula's production has better atmospherics than a newer glossier horror flick. I like the old style cinematic look rather than a CGI enhanced one. Things look too perfect and calculated. But can be charmless and indistinguishable from the next film apart from the characters or story.

    A lot of Americans are mentioning The Dark Knight look but some Bond fans are in denial :) I will find out soon enough and will do digital battle with others if it is the case!:)
  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    edited November 2012 Posts: 1,243
    Regan wrote:
    acoppola wrote:
    Regan wrote:

    Thank you so much for answering :x , I always thought it was probably always rumours although they looked cute in that Primetime special for TLD where Tim's showing her how to operate a camera. Love that bit! (If you've seen it and know what I'm referencing). Made them look all "couple-y". And yeah, even as a girl myself, I have to say Barbara is a very attractive lady.

    You are welcome @Regan Yes, I have seen her and Tim when he is joking around with the camera. Tim is a right laugh on set and then he goes into character.

    Have you seen the outtakes of Hot Fuzz? Wow, but Tim can swear and the filth that comes out of his mouth makes me laugh. So much for those who thought he was square!

    No... I haven't seen the Hot Fuzz outtakes but I really need to it seems LOL. I did watch the movie last Saturday and... what a hoot!! It was freaking amazing, Dalton was spot on as Skinner. Loved every single minute and laughed my ass off, so much. One of the best comedies I've EVER seen and his performance was gold there. I plan on watching it again this weekend.

    Some say he should have played Bond like that. But that is not how the character is in the books. And his Bond was sexy but in a nuanced way not in a "hey ladies, don't you want to sh*g me?" way.

    Some will say a Bond is better than another Bond because he adjusted his cuff links. WTF? I mean a retard could do that and if that is what wins the day rather than an acting performance, then it is not a reflection of a sophisticated culture.

  • Posts: 173
    Having watched Framed (like 4 times now, I love it THAT much) I am sure he would have probably played Bond a little more like Eddie Myers in his third film. Not as suave/sleazy perhaps, because he would have always favored consistency with the books, but he would have probably lightened it up just a bit like that to segue from the intensity of LTK.

    As for the cuff adjusting... it's a cool move, but nothing more than that in my eyes. To me it was actually just a bit too forced in SF. (It's like they said, ok now cue in the Bondness)
  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    edited November 2012 Posts: 1,243
    Regan wrote:
    Having watched Framed (like 4 times now, I love it THAT much) I am sure he would have probably played Bond a little more like Eddie Myers in his third film. Not as suave/sleazy perhaps, because he would have always favored consistency with the books, but he would have probably lightened it up just a bit like that to segue from the intensity of LTK.

    As for the cuff adjusting... it's a cool move, but nothing more than that in my eyes. To me it was actually just a bit too forced in SF. (It's like they said, ok now cue in the Bondness)

    I saw the cuff adjusting in the trailer and it looks forced considering the intensity of the scene. In other Bond films he would do a move like that after he was out of danger.

    That style worked better with Brosnan and it suited the tank scene in Goldeneye. And the tie adjustment was perfect and original. It later began to be overused and became a gimmick.But he had the right persona for that.

    Craig on the other hand is a serious Bond and scenes like that are best left out. Or should he wink at the camera too?:) I mean what is the difference?

    Yeah, Eddie Myers is a sleaze bag. The kinky 007 would have been too easy for Dalton, but I could see an element of that had he done a third. Dalton wanted to pace himself in the role and not play everything straight off the bat. And having just followed on from Moore, he wanted to separate himself from the earlier style.

    I will say this @Regan When you see Dalton outside the bank in Framed, wearing the three piece suit, he looks like a perfect Bond. The intensity in his face and he is an alpha male totally. Dalton did not overplay the Bond persona and used a less is more approach.

  • Posts: 173
    acoppola wrote:
    I will say this @Regan When you see Dalton outside the bank in Framed, wearing the three piece suit, he looks like a perfect Bond. The intensity in his face and he is an alpha male totally. Dalton did not overplay the Bond persona and used a less is more approach.

    That's exactly what was going through my mind during those scenes. The one at the restaurant when he orders in Italian, that was real smooth. All sorts of Bond-y thoughts crossed my mind and it really made me curse at the knowledge that we didn't get a third Dalton Bond film.
  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    edited November 2012 Posts: 1,243
    Yes @Regan Now you can see why Cubby wanted him as Bond and believed in him despite what the naysayers said. There are not many actors around that have that particular look.

    Look at Dalton's face as well as Connery's or Craig. All these men show they have lived and every experience is on that face like a tattoo.

    Brosnan in Goldeneye on reflection looks so young. And I think they intentionally wanted that look to sell him to a wider and younger audience especially in the USA who knew him from Remington Steele. Call me cynical but time always reveals the truth. I am sure Brosnan who wanted to follow in Connery's footsteps can see where they went wrong if that was the goal of his era.

    He was the super Bond in the sense that he ticked all the stereotype boxes. Not too far off his Diet Coke Bond image adverts. As well as his later Visa card commercials.

    On reflection, having watched Haphazards analysis, I find plenty of faults in Goldeneye having watched it yesterday. It has it's moments but the film is trying too hard to kiss the audiences ass and say "Please like me!". And it tries to pretend like Dalton never happened which is why the series slowly weakened itself.






  • edited November 2012 Posts: 11,425
    I thought it was time to ditch the 'ironic' Brozza thumbnail and use a good pic of Dalts instead!
  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    edited November 2012 Posts: 1,243
    Getafix wrote:
    I thought it was time to ditch the 'ironic' Brozza thumbnail and use a good pic of Dalts instead!

    Great pic! I cannot believe that some say he has no presence. And the moon is made of cheese too I guess if I am to believe that!:) What did Cubby know after all, is what I say sarcastically to those who do not think it was a good choice.

    Cubby was very fussy about who could and who could not play Bond. This is why they would screen test the actors to see what the camera was showing.

    And think about this, but at 24 years old, Dalton was already seen as a possible replacement for Connery who was the biggest actor in the world. That should be speaking volumes and Eon obviously saw something in him.

  • edited November 2012 Posts: 11,189
    I wouldn't say Dalts has "no presence". More not quite the right kind of presence. Watchig him recently kind of confirmed my view about his "stagey"/"TV Drama-ey" manner. It doesn't help either that LTK in particular has a very "TV" feel to it.

    Its easy to see him in a drama on BBC/ITV. Craig has that a bit too but not as much as Dalton.

    Brosnan does look pretty young at times in GE but not as young as he did in Remington Steele.

    What did you think of GE this time round @acoppola?
  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    edited November 2012 Posts: 1,243
    BAIN123 wrote:
    I wouldn't say Dalts has "no presence". More not quite the right kind of presence. Watchig him recently kind of confirmed my view about his "stagey"/"TV Drama-ey" manner. It doesn't help either that LTK in particular has a very "TV" feel to it.

    Its easy to see him in a drama on BBC/ITV. Craig has that a bit too but not as much as Dalton.

    Brosnan does look pretty young at times in GE but not as young as he did in Remington Steele.

    What did you think of GE this time round @acoppola?

    There are parts of GE that I think are incredible. But on watching it again, I see so many wasted opportunities. Brosnan looks the part but I can see where he is trying too hard to be liked as Bond. And I think the pressure Martin Campbell put on him does not help.

    Brosnan comes across in some scenes like the world will end if his Bond is not accepted. You can sense a fear as well as cautiousness to not screw up and it is palpable in his body language as well as face expressions.

    Craig has a better "I don't give a sh*t what you think!" attitude. So has Dalton. And I like that in any person.

    Dalton to me has presence. Yes, he is a theatrical actor and if you see him in Jane Eyre, he is damn commanding. But he added a different take on Bond where you are in some ways watching a documentary of the real Bond. He is trying to play him as a real person rather than an icon.

    If you read a Fleming book, then Dalton gets it right. But you do take notice of him on the screen. Man, that shot in Gibraltar in TLD where we see Bond's face is awesome and knocked me out in the cinema. When he meets Saunders, he stands out but not in an obvious way just like a real spy would. There are many scenes.

    I mean Roger had huge presence and I loved his Bond before I went to see TLD. I did not see anything radically out of place just a different interpretation of the character.

    Roger's Bond was movie star like but then again he hardly pushed the boundaries in 7 films. But the comedy was funny, but his later films required excessive supsension of disbelief. You knew Roger could not be harmed in any way.

    I would have loved to see Guy Hamilton do a Dalton film in the 70's. They would be way different.Wishful, dreamy thinking on my part. But I am curious how Dalton would be shown and Hamilton had a way of filming that is different to Glen.

  • Posts: 173
    I think... I may be wrong, but I think BAIN has an all encompassing belief that Dalton is just a tad too "stagey". (<- bit o' good natured sarcasm there).

    All in all, BAIN, if that is your belief you are welcome to it but truth is once that's gotten into you, you'll find validation in almost every scene and gesture, because he's "acting" too much. Oh look he widened his eyes in that scene... He's too "thespy". His lips quivered there... Too drama-ey. Once again, everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but as a fresh, unpolluted fan, I never once got that from him. Perhaps the closest was the "strawberry jam" line but only barely. All I'm saying is Dalton was right for Bond and I'm glad as heck he got cast and we were treated to his two films. Should've done more.
  • acoppolaacoppola London Ealing not far from where Bob Simmons lived
    edited November 2012 Posts: 1,243
    Regan wrote:
    I think... I may be wrong, but I think BAIN has an all encompassing belief that Dalton is just a tad too "stagey". (<- bit o' good natured sarcasm there).

    All in all, BAIN, if that is your belief you are welcome to it but truth is once that's gotten into you, you'll find validation in almost every scene and gesture, because he's "acting" too much. Oh look he widened his eyes in that scene... He's too "thespy". His lips quivered there... Too drama-ey. Once again, everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but as a fresh, unpolluted fan, I never once got that from him. Perhaps the closest was the "strawberry jam" line but only barely. All I'm saying is Dalton was right for Bond and I'm glad as heck he got cast and we were treated to his two films. Should've done more.

    I have to say @Regan But to me, Dalton overpowered Moore in the sense of how he took command of the situation. I mean the scene where they try to put Koskov in the boot. Damn, but Dalton smolders with how he gives orders and takes charge. He is not a man I would want to displease.

    And when he delivers the line to Saunder's in the car "Sorry old chap! Section 5, paragraph 6 ; need to know. Sure you understand?!". Well to me that is Bond's wit and suaveness rolled into one. I thought that was cool as anything I saw before.

    Dalton revs his Bond like a gas peddle, but he does not keep the Bond persona on full rev at all times. He knows when to be the charmer and when to be the bastard. And does it all with ease.

    You cannot read Dalton's Bond easily and that shows complexity. What lies beneath is scary. Like when Saunder's is murdered and he almost wants to take it out on Kara, but holds back. It is similar to the scene in CR where Bond and Vesper are having an argument on the balcony when she does not want to give him more money.

    And at the end of the scene how he grabs Kara's hand like she is a toy and almost drags her away is another superbly shown part of Bond's dominance with the ladies and his sexism too.

  • edited November 2012 Posts: 11,189
    I'm not saying Dalton was wrong for Bond (I don't think he was btw) but part of me can understand the "too theatrical" criticism that has been levelled against him. You CAN see the expressions on his face, the way he looks round dramatically when he enters a room and how he does the same when he's angry - and the rather awkward smiles he sometimes makes when he's suppose to be relaxed.

    That's not to say he didn't have his moments (the Pushkin scene is great and Dalton sells it brilliantly). He looks the part, he's athelic and he's handsome but I think he had some faults.
    acoppola wrote:
    Regan wrote:
    I think... I may be wrong, but I think BAIN has an all encompassing belief that Dalton is just a tad too "stagey". (<- bit o' good natured sarcasm there).

    All in all, BAIN, if that is your belief you are welcome to it but truth is once that's gotten into you, you'll find validation in almost every scene and gesture, because he's "acting" too much. Oh look he widened his eyes in that scene... He's too "thespy". His lips quivered there... Too drama-ey. Once again, everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but as a fresh, unpolluted fan, I never once got that from him. Perhaps the closest was the "strawberry jam" line but only barely. All I'm saying is Dalton was right for Bond and I'm glad as heck he got cast and we were treated to his two films. Should've done more.

    I have to say @Regan But to me, Dalton overpowered Moore in the sense of how he took command of the situation. I mean the scene where they try to put Koskov in the boot. Damn, but Dalton smolders with how he gives orders and takes charge. He is not a man I would want to displease.

    And when he delivers the line to Saunder's in the car "Sorry old chap! Section 5, paragraph 6 ; need to know. Sure you understand?!". Well to me that is Bond's wit and suaveness rolled into one. I thought that was cool as anything I saw before.

    Dalton revs his Bond like a gas peddle, but he does not keep the Bond persona on full rev at all times. He knows when to be the charmer and when to be the bastard. And does it all with ease.

    You cannot read Dalton's Bond easily and that shows complexity. What lies beneath is scary. Like when Saunder's is murdered and he almost wants to take it out on Kara, but holds back. It is similar to the scene in CR where Bond and Vesper are having an argument on the balcony when she does not want to give him more money.

    And at the end of the scene how he grabs Kara's hand like she is a toy and almost drags her away is another superbly shown part of Bond's dominance with the ladies and his sexism too.

    I liked that bit too
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