OT: Best James Bond

Submitted by WindyCityBlue on

OK,  I just got done watching all the bonds (took me about a month), and I know I am going to get negged for this, but in my heart I truly 100% believe that Roger Moore was the best James Bond.  Sean Connery was great, but Moore just had way more class and pinache than any other bond.  Roger Moore was also the best at uttering the words, "Bond, James Bond"  Connery was more of a cocky tough ass.  Does anyone else agree with me?

Also, I think Daniel Craig is the worst James Bond.  I give him 1-2 more movies before Clive Owen takes the role as JB.

 

EDIT.  Did you know that Roger Moore had the longest James Bond career, both in years and movie volume.

Steve Lorenz

May 27th, 2010 at 10:11 PM ^

Best movie: The Man With the Golden Gun 

Best Bond: Connery, but Moore is really close. I think it's shortsighted to just blatantly say that Connery is the best because he was the first. Moore was excellent as well. 

Big_G

May 27th, 2010 at 10:22 PM ^

I've seen them all too and I've got to say if you compare the Daniel Craig Bonds versus any of the previous ones you are probably getting into an Apples and Oranges comparison.  The Craig ones are a whole other animal.  If you are talking about the best Bond up until the Craig series reboot then yeah, I've got to say Sean Connery is probably the best.  George Lazenby had a good story but he wasnt much of an actor.  Roger Moore probably stuck around a movie or two too long, and besides that the last ones he did regularly score among the worst ones made.  Timothy Dalton was Bland, James Bland.  Nearly killed the franchise, but License to Kill probably was where Bond films started to become more modern and have a bit of a darker undertone.  Brosnan brought the series back with a stellar entrance in Goldeneye but he did make some serious duds after that one.  Still you were starting to see the "Modern Bond" in those films though.  Ones that had darker themes (Stockholme Syndrome, etc), motivated by revenge,  and post cold-war themes.  You also started to see the reason why the series needed a reboot, in that the gadgets were getting a bit too outlandish (invisible car?) and the Bond method was getting a bit tired and routine (do 2-5 chicks per movie, 3-5 witty remarks, etc).  Finally the Craig movies appear to be bringing Bond into this century.  One that is a bit more edgier, less on gadgets, and more on crafting a believable story rather than one where you are putting lasers into space or trying to "sink" Silicon Valley.

Njia

May 27th, 2010 at 10:40 PM ^

Part of the fun of the Bond movies from the '60s and '70s is that the story lines were outrageously implausible. That's the same ingredient that made Austin Powers so much fun: tongue firmly-planted in cheek.

By making Bond more "modern", the series creators have somewhat reduced Bond to "just another action hero." Ironically, its in the Age of Al Qaida and rapidly advancing technology that the idea of a "super villan" on the order of Dr. No is actually more realistic than ever.

I Bleed Maize N Blue

May 27th, 2010 at 10:24 PM ^

I did like Roger Moore - he was the current Bond on the big screen when I was growing up, so that was a bit of an advantage compared to Connery TV repeats.  But over time I did come to think that Connery was the best.

I would have liked to have seen Pierce Brosnan as Bond earlier in his career, but unfortunately the resurrection of Remington Steele nixed that.

Wallaby Court

May 27th, 2010 at 10:33 PM ^

Connery as the originator of the film Bond is the clear number one. I saw Dr. No for the first time a few years ago and was absolutely stunned.

To me, Daniel Craig is the clear number two. I can't stand the camp of the Roger Moore years or the raw cheesiness of post-Goldeneye Brosnan. After seeing Dr. No recently, I was startled by how much the Casino Royale Bond resembled that version of Bond. Given my distaste for camp/cheese, this gives me my Connery/Craig list.

WindyCityBlue

May 27th, 2010 at 10:43 PM ^

Just keep in mind that Daniel Craig is not permitted to say, "Bond, James Bond" because he hacks it up and sounds horrible.  He didn't say it once in the Quantum of Solace.

To me, someone who cannot say those words with class and dignity should not be James Bond.  Therefore, he is worse than David Niven.

PurpleStuff

May 27th, 2010 at 10:48 PM ^

Connery is the best, but I like a lot of the Moore movies.  I like that he took the character in a different direction (suave, if sometimes corny, ladies man) rather than trying to do a Connery impression, which spelled the demise for Brosnan and Dalton, I think, since only Connery can be Connery. 

You just have to love "View to a Kill."  Psychotic super-genius Walken, the Eiffel Tower and the Golden Gate Bridge, indestructible microchips and doped up race horses, not to mention a pervy Bond who can go from banging out hot Tanya Roberts to she-male Grace Jones without batting an eye.

Of course the best part about Moore as Bond is the fact that he inspired me to call myself Sinjin Smythe (spelling?) when talking to women at bars who I never planned on seeing again.

EDIT: One more word in defense of Moore: Octopussy

3rdGenerationBlue

May 27th, 2010 at 10:51 PM ^

If I'm surfing through channels I'll always stop and watch Connery or Craig in their Bond flicks. They are more believable as agents that are licensed to kill. Most of the other guys would probably get their hats handed to them in a real fight. My Bond needs to be tough first and suave second.

DGDestroys

May 27th, 2010 at 11:11 PM ^

I don't know that anyone has brought this up in this thread, but Thunderball was easily my favorite Bond movie. It had every element, an exotic location, the threat of nuclear war, SPECTRE really exercising every part of its name, and for Christ's sake you never even saw Blofeld's face. I guess that makes Connery my favorite, but there are really no Bonds I dislike aside from Lazenby. I like Craig a whole lot as an actor too, just maybe not as Bond.

aawolve

May 27th, 2010 at 11:48 PM ^

I actually really liked Dalton in License to Kill, he was the first serious actor to play the role. I really like Craig too, I guess I like the harder edge Bond. Connery is the original. Moore is the lecherous Bond. Lazenby was one and done, but in a cool entry. Brosnan brought new life, but that last one was atrocious. Halle Berry, Koreans in white face, invisible cars, and reviving the electro-battle suit from Running Man are all steps in the wrong direction. Walther PPK to my head, I guess I choose Connery, because he IS Bond, and his movies are the best.

My favorite movies by actor:

Connery- Goldfinger

Moore- Live and Let Die

Lazenby- OHMSS (Not much controversy there)

Dalton- License to Kill (I think most people don't care for either of his movies)

Brosnan- Tomorrow Never Dies

Craig- Casino Royale (Probably not much argument here either)

uofmfootball97

May 27th, 2010 at 11:54 PM ^

i literally just finished Quantum of Solace before i got on here and saw this thread, which by the way is one of the worst Bond movies i have ever seen. right up there with The World Is Not Enough. which was equally as terrible.

I don't think Daniel Craig is that bad, i think the movies have been in just haven't been that good. he's certainly better than Timothy Dalton and George Lazenby. as to who is the best, nobody did Bond like Connery.

xchanyazy

May 28th, 2010 at 12:59 AM ^

Then Brosnan (really due to the insane amount of hours I wasted playing Goldeneye at my friend's house)

Then Craig (As other people have said above he isn't quite suave/slightly cheesy enough to really do Bond.  I really liked him in Defiance, that seems like the type of role he should play)

Moore, Dalton, Lazenby are all roughly equal to me, in that I will watch the movies if nothing else is on, but I wouldn't even go so far as to netflix them.  Not even instant streaming netflix.

MMB 82

May 28th, 2010 at 2:19 AM ^

3 measures Tanqueray

1 measure Russian Standard

1/2 measure Lillet Blanc

Dash of Angostura Bitters

Shaken until ice cold, add a large lemon peel.

 

Kicked ass, but next time I will try a different gin. I am still amazed I am able to type right now....

JeepinBen

May 28th, 2010 at 8:29 AM ^

But Anyway, a longish bond rant:

Roger Moore - I think Moore was an under-rated Bond because, frankly of the big 3 (Connery, Moore, Brosnan) he had the worst moives - they were 1980s, cheesy, and very 1980s. I loved "The Spy who Loved Me" but I distinctly remember asking my dad why there was 80's cheesy Shaft music in a Bond film. My dad's response: "It was the 80's this is what happened"

Connery - Knighted by the fricking Queen of England for being Bond. Enough Said. He was my favorite.

Craig/New Movies - I think that Batman Begins/The Dark Knight was very good for some franchises, and terrible for others. The whole "Maybe we can tell this story Darker, modernize it, with talented actors" thing did wonders for Batman and the new Marvel Movies... but I'm not a fan of what it did to the Bond franchise. Like many people said above Casino Royale was sweet... but what the hell! this was not a franchise that needed a reboot. My problems with Craig's movies so far:

No Q Scene. WHAT THE FUCK! The Q scene was my favorite in damn near every Bond movie. I thought Jon Cleese did an excellent job as the new Q, and where did he go? This is BS! In the opening scene to Q.of S. Bond's Aston doesnt even have jacks? I understand not giving the car missiles, but no jacks/oil slicks? These aren't even ridiculous gadgets! Bugged the hell out of me. I'm not saying the Aston vs. Jag car with guns scene from Die Another Day is the way to go... but Bond's car has to have at least SOMETHING.

Other Quantum of Solace issue - He didn't even bed the girl! WTF? Bond needs to take an average of 2.5 girls to bed per movie. I still have yet to hear a legit explanation why they didnt get it on.

OK, if youre still reading, here is the biggest issue I have with the Bond franchise to date... 

Plot. I know. you're thinking, Plot? Freaking plot? It's Bond! But just think about this: I know they had 4 movies with essentially the same plot - bad guys put something in space to kill people, Bond saves the day (Diamonds are forever, Goldeneye, Moonraker, Die another Day) so yeah, general plot stuff gets recycled. But, keep in mind, in the 5 of the last 6 movies (Goldeneye, The World is Not Enough, Die another Day, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace) we had the WORST trick of any spy movie - Double Agents! Traitors! I mean.... come on. If the next Craig movie has no Q and a double agent... and if craig doesnt get laid at least twice, I'm going to be pissed.

/end rant

 

Anunbiasedfan

May 28th, 2010 at 9:22 AM ^

I have seen all the bond movies and I liked Roger Moore the best.  My favorites are "the spy who loved me;, "for your eyes only", and "octopussy" in that order.  I liked his reserved, in control style with tongue in check humor. 

I think a persons favorite bond tends to depend on when they were born.  Baby boomers grew up on Connery and I think tend to like him best.  I am an Xer and grew up in the early eighties, so I grew up with Roger Moore.  I am not sure, but I imagine the younger kids would like Pierce Brosnan.  For Gen Xer's like myself, Roger Moore bond films are nostalgic.

Carcajous

May 28th, 2010 at 10:02 AM ^

I'm a fan of the Ian Flemming books, so I rate them according to how closely they match the character in the novels.  The Bond of the books is cruel, tortured, just like the opposition, but he happens to be working for the good guys.  In that sense:

Connery

Craig (close second)

 

All others pale (they are too goofy, polished, don't have an edge to them like in the novels).

thisisme08

May 28th, 2010 at 10:15 PM ^

1. Connery

2. Moore

3. Craig (Casino Royale only)

 Craig completely nailed Royale to the T, spot on performance of the gritty bond so prevalent in the early novels.  I own the 4 box set, plus Casino Royale but Quantum of Solace will never EVER muddy my collection with its stench.  Hands down worst Bond movie.

M-Wolverine

May 29th, 2010 at 5:04 AM ^

Connery, obviously.  It's not even close.  Because he's the only one who could do it all, convincingly.  Cool, bad ass, suave, dangerous, and babe magnet.  None of the others could be all that; some, but not all.

And for overall best Bond movie, that Goldfinger hasn't been mentioned is a crime against Bondage.  And From Russia with Love is close.  Keep hearing that Bond should be over the top, but those first 3 movies, while grand, were still realty based, and dark and sexy for the time.  It wasn't till Thunderball that they started becoming spectacles, with the slight turn back with OHMSS, then got silly with Diamonds Are Forever, and Moore.

I credit Moore with making it work, and keeping the franchise viable for all those years (the 70's weren't the time for government assassins to be heroes), but he'd probably me more towards the bottom of the list.

And Connery did as many movies (over a longer span) if you count the Thunderball remake not done by the same producers, Never say Never Again.