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Ranking Bond Performances By Film

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  • GBFGBF
    Posts: 2,899
    I know my view on Craig's first two films is extremely controversial. I have never really warmed to him in these films. I don't know why. I just feel that there is something missing. Maybe he is a little bit too serious for my taste... I am not sure. I belong to the minority who like him more in SF and SP, even though I really do not care much about the latter.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited October 2017 Posts: 11,168
    GBF wrote: »
    I know my view on Craig's first two films is extremely controversial. I have never really warmed to him in these films. I don't know why. I just feel that there is something missing. Maybe he is a little bit too serious for my taste... I am not sure. I belong to the minority who like him more in SF and SP, even though I really do not care much about the latter.

    I find him less appealing in SP and far better in the previous three. The overly-flippant style doesn't suit him.

    Example: "you've got to be kidding me" when the machine guns don't work on the Aston.

    Craig's Bond would just say "shit!" or something a bit ruder - if he said anything at all.
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    Posts: 2,707
    BAIN123 wrote: »
    I'll have to think about the whole list but my top 5 would go something like this:

    1. Sean Connery - Goldfinger
    2. Daniel Craig - Casino Royale
    3. Daniel Craig - Skyfall
    4. Sean Connery - From Russia with Love
    5. Roger Moore - The Spy Who Loved Me

    Watched CR again at the Albert Hall over the weekend. Craig is f*****g brilliant in it. Took me a few viewings to really appreciate him though.

    The more you watch CR the more you notice just how bloody good Craig is in the film.

    Bond 25 needs to attain to CR's level to get the best out of Craig.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited October 2017 Posts: 11,168
    LeonardPine wrote: »
    BAIN123 wrote: »
    I'll have to think about the whole list but my top 5 would go something like this:

    1. Sean Connery - Goldfinger
    2. Daniel Craig - Casino Royale
    3. Daniel Craig - Skyfall
    4. Sean Connery - From Russia with Love
    5. Roger Moore - The Spy Who Loved Me

    Watched CR again at the Albert Hall over the weekend. Craig is f*****g brilliant in it. Took me a few viewings to really appreciate him though.

    The more you watch CR the more you notice just how bloody good Craig is in the film.

    Bond 25 needs to attain to CR's level to get the best out of Craig.

    He plays a more rounded character in the first three films and they (largely) play to his strengths.

    Incidentally, thought more about the list.

    6. Roger Moore - FYEO/OP
    7. Sean Connery - TB
    8. Daniel Craig - Quantum of Solace
    9. Sean Connery - Dr No
    10. Pierce Brosnan - GoldenEye
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    Posts: 2,707
    BAIN123 wrote: »
    LeonardPine wrote: »
    BAIN123 wrote: »
    I'll have to think about the whole list but my top 5 would go something like this:

    1. Sean Connery - Goldfinger
    2. Daniel Craig - Casino Royale
    3. Daniel Craig - Skyfall
    4. Sean Connery - From Russia with Love
    5. Roger Moore - The Spy Who Loved Me

    Watched CR again at the Albert Hall over the weekend. Craig is f*****g brilliant in it. Took me a few viewings to really appreciate him though.

    The more you watch CR the more you notice just how bloody good Craig is in the film.

    Bond 25 needs to attain to CR's level to get the best out of Craig.

    He plays a more rounded character in the first three films and they (largely) play to his strengths.

    Incidentally, thought more about the list.

    6. Roger Moore - FYEO/OP
    7. Sean Connery - TB
    8. Daniel Craig - Quantum of Solace
    9. Sean Connery - Dr No
    10. Pierce Brosnan - GoldenEye

    A good list, but Dalton in TLD deserves a spot. One of my favourite Bond performances of all the films.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,168
    I would probably put him at #11 and his Licence to Kill performance a few places below that. Like you, I feel kind of uneasy about it. Lots of scowling and dramatic but mannered expressions.
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    Posts: 2,707
    I'm afraid his LTK performance would be very low on the performances totem pole...
  • BirdlesonBirdleson San Jose, CAModerator
    Posts: 27,298
    Dalton ends up in the mid-teens on my list.
  • CrzChris4CrzChris4
    edited October 2017 Posts: 363
    I personally believe that Connery's first three, Craig in CR and QOS, and Moore in FYEO are probably my favorite performances in the series. I will have to sit down and genuinely think about ranking them in the future.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited October 2017 Posts: 11,168
    Laz would go at #12, below TLD Dalton but above LTK Dalton.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Station B, Belgium
    Posts: 3,739
    My top 5 for the moment: Sean in FRWL and TB, George, both Dalton performances and Pierce in GE.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger regnifrednuhT
    Posts: 34,684
    CrzChris4 wrote: »
    I personally believe that Connery's first three, Craig in CR and QOS, and Moore in FYEO are probably my favorite performances in the series. I will have to sit down and genuinely think about ranking them in the future.

    Excellent choices.
  • RoadphillRoadphill United Kingdom
    Posts: 667
    It is very hard to rank them all.

    Moore is my favourite Bond, but my all time favourite Bond performance is in Thunderball.

    He really had the character nailed down, and he was swaggering around like he owned the world in this.

    Other notable performances: Any Connery from Dr.No- TB

    Moore in TSWLM, FYEO and AVTAK.

    Broz in TWINE and DAD

    Craig in Casino Royale.
  • ForYourEyesOnlyForYourEyesOnly In the untained cradle of the heavens
    edited October 2017 Posts: 1,984
    Interesting. Connery's great in all of his adventures from '62-'65, but I honestly think he was the best in TB. He had the experience of all the previous films and managed to maintain that cool, effortless suaveness whilst managing the best deliveries of his one-liners (or just lines in general). Next I would nominate FRWL, but it's really close between them all.

    Craig's also pretty incredible in CR (the only portrayal I would intersperse the top 4 Connery portrayals with). That's for the human Bond. QoS and SF also very good.

    1. Sean Connery - TB
    2. Daniel Craig - CR
    3. Sean Connery - FRWL
    4. Sean Connery - DN
    5. Sean Connery - GF
    6. Daniel Craig - SF
    7. Roger Moore - TSWLM
    8. Roger Moore - FYEO
    9. Daniel Craig - QoS
    10. Pierce Brosnan - GE
    Honourable mentions: Timothy Dalton - TLD, Roger Moore - OP, Roger Moore - MR
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger regnifrednuhT
    Posts: 34,684
    That is a pretty good top nine.
  • ForYourEyesOnlyForYourEyesOnly In the untained cradle of the heavens
    Posts: 1,984
    Was Brosnan's appearance a letdown? Haha. I guess nostalgia influences my opinion of GE as it was my first.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,168
    ForYourEyesOnly wrote: »
    Was Brosnan's appearance a letdown? Haha. I guess nostalgia influences my opinion of GE as it was my first.

    I'm the same. People who don't like the film are oxygen thieves as far as I'm concerned ;)
  • ForYourEyesOnlyForYourEyesOnly In the untained cradle of the heavens
    Posts: 1,984
    Brosnan was great there, indeed. Campbell controlled any overacting he might've had, and he nails a smooth blend of soft-spoken suave with cold-blooded ruthlessness. People say he was failing his Connery-Moore hybrid in later films but he did it right in this film as far as I'm concerned.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,168
    it's not one of the best performances, but it is the performance that got me into Bond.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited October 2017 Posts: 23,883
    ForYourEyesOnly wrote: »
    Brosnan was great there, indeed. Campbell controlled any overacting he might've had, and he nails a smooth blend of soft-spoken suave with cold-blooded ruthlessness. People say he was failing his Connery-Moore hybrid in later films but he did it right in this film as far as I'm concerned.
    I agree. I don't rank it as high as you do but I think it's a very good performance from him. The scene where he tells Trevelyn to kill Natalya because she means nothing to him before taking out Ouromov sums it up for me. Same goes for the M office intro and the dish ending just before he drops Alec. Less Brosnan and far more Bond here, which is a good thing.

    I really like Connery's TB turn as well (my #2). I put it just below FRWL, where I think he's icy cool perfection.

    Must do a new ranking soon.

    It's good to see this thread getting some activity.
  • NSGWNSGW London
    Posts: 299
    @ForYourEyesOnly Great list I have a similar top five but in a slightly different order:

    1. Sean Connery - FRWL
    2. Sean Connery - TB
    3. Daniel Craig - CR
    4. Sean Connery - DN
    5. Timothy Dalton - TLD

    I think Craig in QOS is up there too and Moore in TSWLM and LALD.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Station B, Belgium
    edited October 2017 Posts: 3,739
    Going to go give this another go, as I've been thinking quite a lot about it during the latest game.

    Perhaps controversial for some, but for me it's quite logical:

    1. Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights
    2. Sean Connery in From Russia with Love
    3. George Lazenby in On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    4. Sean Connery in Dr. No
    5. Pierce Brosnan in GoldenEye
    6. Timothy Dalton in Licence to Kill
    7. Sean Connery in Thunderball
    8. Roger Moore in The Man with the Golden Gun
    9. Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace
    10. Sean Connery in Goldfinger
    11. Roger Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me
    12. Pierce Brosnan in The World Is Not Enough
    13. Daniel Craig in Skyfall
    14. Pierce Brosnan in Tomorrow Never Dies
    15. Daniel Craig in Casino Royale
    16. Roger Moore in Live and Let Die
    17. Roger Moore in A View to a Kill
    18. Sean Connery in Never Say Never Again
    19. Sean Connery in You Only Live Twice
    20. Pierce Brosnan in Die Another Day
    21. Roger Moore in For Your Eyes Only
    22. Roger Moore in Moonraker
    23. Roger Moore in Octopussy
    24. Sean Connery in Diamonds Are Forever
    25. Daniel Craig in Spectre
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    Definitely controversial ,GG.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited October 2017 Posts: 11,168
    My attempt at a list:

    1. Sean Connery - Goldfinger
    2. Daniel Craig - Casino Royale
    3. Daniel Craig - Skyfall
    4. Sean Connery - From Russia with Love
    5. Roger Moore - The Spy Who Loved Me
    6. Roger Moore - FYEO/OP
    7. Sean Connery - TB
    8. Daniel Craig - Quantum of Solace
    9. Sean Connery - Dr No
    10. Pierce Brosnan - GoldenEye
    11. Roger Moore - Live and Let Die
    12. Timothy Dalton - The Living Daylights
    13. George Lazenby - On Her Majesty's Secret Service
    14. Daniel Craig - Spectre
    15. Pierce Brosnan - TWINE
    16. Pierce Brosnan - TND
    17. Roger Moore - MR
    18. Roger Moore - AVTAK
    19. Timothy Dalton - LTK
    20. Sean Connery - YOLT
    21. Sean Connery - DAF
    22. Pierce Brosnan - DAD

    Not expecting everyone to agree!
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    Updated. This continues to be difficult to do the further down the list I go. AVTAK is a tough one because I think Roger is very good. He's just not credible any more due to age. I'm not as negative on his MR turn because I think he nailed the tone for the film they made. Of all the actors, I find Dalton the most 'even' but then again, I think most of the actors who got to do more than one really nailed their first two.

    1. Sean Connery - FRWL
    2. Sean Connery - TB
    3. Sean Connery - DN
    4. Daniel Craig - CR
    5. Roger Moore - TMWTGG
    6. Sean Connery - GF
    7. Roger Moore - LALD
    8. Daniel Craig - QoS
    9. Roger Moore - TSWLM
    10. Roger Moore - FYEO
    11. Daniel Craig - SF
    12. Timothy Dalton - TLD
    13. Timothy Dalton - LTK
    14. Roger Moore - OP
    15. Sean Connery - YOLT
    16. George Lazenby - OHMSS
    17. Roger Moore - MR
    18. Pierce Brosnan - DAD
    19. Pierce Brosnan - GE
    20. Sean Connery - DAF
    21. Roger Moore - AVTAK
    22. Pierce Brosnan - TND
    23. Daniel Craig - SP
    24. Pierce Brosnan - TWINE
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,168
    The issue with Roger in AVTAK is that you just have to watch the PTS to tell he's phoning it in. The smarm feels too blatant.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    BAIN123 wrote: »
    The issue with Roger in AVTAK is that you just have to watch the PTS to tell he's phoning it in. The smarm feels too blatant.
    The PTS is far from his finest hour, I agree. They made a mistake teaming him up (at his age) with Mary Stavin. However, I thought he was pretty good in the rest of the film.
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited October 2017 Posts: 11,168
    I think Roger's best scene in View was when he was directing Mayday lowering the rig.
  • barryt007barryt007
    Posts: 19,339
    BAIN123 wrote: »
    I think Roger's best scene in View was when he was directing Mayday to lower the rig.

    His dialogue with Zorin is a highlight for me ,Walken and Roger bounce off eachother well.

  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,168
    Yes he's good in those scenes too. Maybe I should rank his performance a tad higher.

    How do you rank Dalton's performances @barryt007?
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