He’s in his prime
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Unlike Moore who came to the role too late and Dalton who arguably came to it too early, Craig is the first actor since Sean Connery to take on the role of Bond in his prime. As a result he embodies everything that Bond should be, a man in peak physical condition who oozes the type of on screen confidence that only comes from an actor who’s at the height of his powers.
Sean Connery was the only actor to meet and discuss the character with his creator Ian Fleming, part of this discussion was Connery wanting to inject a bit of humour. The early Sean Connery films were also the only ones where the storyline matched the book. Comparisons cannot really be made as the first two Bond films were low budget movies that were expected to flop.
Above all peoples (and the censors) view of violence was totally different in the period of the early films compared to say post 80's.
Who's the best Bond ever? Well for me that comes down to who comes closest to the character of James Bond that Ian Fleming created. If you've read the books then its probably Sean Connery who comes closest and he's always been my favorite. Plus he was in the definitive Bond film - Goldfinger, best story, best baddies with Auric Goldfinger & Oddjob (who can forget that hat!!) and of course best car the Aston Martin DB5.
Roger Moores first three outings as 007 were excellent too, with Live And Let Die becoming an all time classic. Tim Dalton tried to give Bond his edge back and overall he did a pretty good job. Pierce Brosnan was very good in Goldeneye but for me the rest were a let down, especially the ludicrous Die Another Day, absolute tosh.
When Daniel Craig was announced as the latest actor to take on the Bond role there were a few raised eyebrows, no doubt Roger Moores being amongst them, Clive Owen had been one of a few hotly tipped at the time. But for me Craig has made the role his own and we now have a Bond for the modern era. As in the books Bond is still a ruthless paid killer, dedicated to serving his country and being fiercely loyal, dogged and determind. But because they're "starting a fresh" with the franchise, we now see Bonds vunerable side which, as in the latest Batman film, sees our hero fall to rise again. For me Daniel Craig is doing an excellent job and i'm sure Sir Sean would agree with Sir Roger.
Connery and Moore brought us two bond characters with there own twists that both worked very well in equal measures.
I felt Bronson took cues from both Connery and Moore to create his character. which was correct for his time and gave bond a new edge.
But for these times Craig is well suited he is athletic and able to bring a level of grit and realism with highly choreographed action scenes that we have come to expect from a modern action movie that the other bond actors would not be able to.
I don't think there will ever be a ultimate bond as tastes and expectations change with time.
Sean Connery is definitely the best Bond, followed by Pierce. Much as I liked casino Royal, I didnt see it as a bond film, but more in the vein of a Bourne type film. And while I agree that Daniel Craig has a great body, he doesnt seem to have the suave and sofistication that the other Bonds had. I do feel that the recent Bond films have lost the essence that made them so watchable. I loved all the gadgets, and the one liners etc. Yes perhaps the scripts might have been a little far fetched, but for pure escapism you cant beat them.
So Craig is to be excused for being in a bond that was badly written, but commended for his ability to play Bond more seriously, when that film was written grittier than ever before? No wonder he plays Bond grittier if it's written grittier. He's an actor; a good one and so he plays the part as written.
I think Craig does as good a job with the scripts he is given than Moore, Connery, Dalton and Brosnan had with their scripts and if you're going to poo-poo the fact that Craig is not the tall, slim, dark-haired Bond that was written in the original text, then what other negatives are you going to ignore to crown him the King of Bonds?
The biggest flaw in this article was when he was praised for being Bond at the right time. Yes; I'm sure he planned to be born when he did, so he could compete for best Bond. Well done, there, Daniel!
The best Bond, in my opinion, will be the one that looks AND acts the part, NOT the one who is the most current and therefore new and still exciting.
I like my Bond the way Ian Fleming wrote it without the 'carry on' humour! Sean Connery was the first and was very good until Brosnan came along and out styled him nobody looks smarter I think than Pierce Brosnan.
But then the real Bond arrived in the form of Daniel Craig! believable, vulnerable yet powerful! This is the real deal and Daniel Craig is the best Bond for me so far by miles and miles!!!!! I do love all the James Bond movies by the way and consider myself a big fan.
