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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 5 2009, 12:51 AM EDT | 007FANATIC | 7 words added, 17 words deleted |
| Apr 3 2009, 11:12 PM EDT | koolkikij | 9 words added, 30 words deleted |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
| James Bond Actors | Best Bond? |
| May the best Bond win!
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| Sean Connery |
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- The first - defined Bond a generation
- Athletic, rugged, handsome, deadpan, sex appeal - the complete package
- A tough guy, with refinement. Connery learned his lessons from Terence Young well, and made an archetypal character--smart, relaxed, smooth
- The 'Alpha Wolf'--did it first, did it best--everybody else has to catch him.
- WON!the James Bond Wiki Tournament! (3 of the 4 remaining films in the Semi-Finals, were Connery's)
Case Against:
- This is tough. He did come back for that unofficial Bond remake of Thunderball - Never Say Never Again. It wasn't bad though.
- Portrayal of Bond as a womanizer somewhat stigmatized the characer.
- Couldn't compete against all the spectacle and gadgetry, and became sort of lost in the chaos starting with Thunderball
- Rarely smiled in the absence of the Bond girl.
- Was not Ian Fleming's first choice for Bond (it was Cary Grant).
| George Lazenby |
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- A few great one-liners
- The closing scene of On Her Majesty's Secret Service - maybe George can act!
- Faithful representation of the Bond based on the novels.
- Portrayed Bond as sensitive and emotionally charged.
- Did the action scenes and the "This Service owes her a debt" and "...those girls" scenes impeccably, but that's about it...
- Created a more dark side to Bond; Dalton followed in these steps in later years, as did Craig.
- Took on one of the hardest roles emotionally i.e. the death of Tracy, getting married, and Tracy being captured after becoming lost in an avalanche.
Case Against:
- One hit wonder
- Model turned actor
- Blowing a huge opportunity by behaving like a recalcitrant tosser
- "Wooden" performance, saved by extensive dubbing throughout
- The one-liners should be credited to the writers, not the actor.
| Roger Moore |
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- He Was The Funny Bond
- Successfully updated Connery's sexual wit and innuendo without being condescending to women. Made Bond assessable to a wider audience. Can you imagine if Connery's "man talk" comments and smacking women on the bum was still par for the character?
- Portrayed Bond as a softer, wittier character. Added depth to the character.
- Roger did his best acting in bond films
- He turned bond into a kid friendly movie
Case Against:
- Following Connery is no easy feat....
- Fashion: did Moore get saddled with the most depressing era of men's attire of 20th century?
- Masculinity: Did you ever once real feel like Moore could kick anyone's ass? Seriously, would Pussy Galore have rolled in the hay (yes, literally) with Roger Moore?
- Didn't really seem to dig the chicks much.
- Was the funny Bond.
| Timothy Dalton |
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- He was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Academy.
- Reinterpreted Bond as a cynical, angry character. Gave Bond an edge and a dark side.
- Only actor who seems to have actually read Fleming
- Attempted more of his stunts than previous actors
- His Bond set the stage for the darker, more serious Bond performances of Brosnan and Craig
- Insisted on cutting innumerable "one-liners" from scripts
Case Against:
- The end of the cold war and AIDS did not give a womanizing secret agent much of a chance...
- Lacked some of the compassion of other portrayals that made Bond a more three-dimensional character. Closer to Fleming's Bond, but way short on the emotional mark.
- The bad luck Bond. After about 5 different offers, Dalton finally agreed. He was slated for an additional movie, but after a 5 year lawsuit, he dropped his contract. After Bond he made several appearances on the Lifetime channel.Insisted on cutting innumerable "one-liners" from scripts
| Pierce Brosnan |
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- The guy can wear a suit, i.e. modern sex appeal.
- Is anyone old enough to remember Remmington Steele?
- The most well-rounded Bond portrayal: Witty, charismatic, reflective of Fleming's original character, and believable ass kicker.
- Rejuvenated the series and made Bond "matter" again.
- Deep acting when he assassinates Electra King.
Case Against:
- Unlike the other portrayals, contributed nothing to the mythos of "Bond".
- Perhaps in an effort to "butch" Brosnan up, kept putting him through interminable fire-fights with automatic weapons *Yawn*.
| Daniel Craig |
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- Masculinity: Craig's brooding thug looks allow you to imagine that he's actually capable or hurting someone - how refreshing.
- Stoic, introverted portrayal of Bond very similar to Fleming's
- Takes Bond away from the "pretty boy" stereotype that was destroying the character
- Craig can actually do most of his own stunts while still portraying Bond as vulnerable and "human"- tough to pull off!
- Taking the role much more seriously than an "actor"--seems to be more of a participant in the production
Case Against:
- Range? Does Craig have it to be an enduring leading man?
- Positions Bond solidly within the "action hero" stereotype.
- Bond as the muscle-bound ass-kicker. Lack of subtlety.
NOW VOTE!
