The Best Bond

frogus · #1 (**permalink**) 04-28-2002, 05:02 AM

it was mentioned in the 'sequels' thread, so what do you think?

Who was the best Bond?

I realise that this'll probably just become a Connery vs Brosnan thread, but that's fine, as I'm a big fan of Brosnan's Bond...so tell us what you think, and reasons as well...

Tamerlane · #2 (**permalink**) 04-28-2002, 06:04 AM

My fave Bond, well like everyone else I like Connery.

But Brosnan is an improvement over the Moore's and Lazenby.

Georgi · #3 (**permalink**) 04-28-2002, 06:08 AM

My favourite Bond... hmmm, probably Connery, but Pierce Brosnan comes a very close second, he's definitely the best since Connery IMO

Morlock · #4 (**permalink**) 04-28-2002, 06:24 AM

As I said- Connery is best by a long shot. Brosnan is a great action hero, but not at the James Bond persona- even though gambling, women and Martini's ain't too hard to get used to.

I liked Brosnan as Remington Steal (or is it steel?) more.

I heard that Brosnan is retiring from Bond- speculations about the next ones? So far names that have been mentioned are Robbie Williams and Russel Crowe- Well, Williams first hit was a James Bond tune rip-off.

Tamerlane · #5 (**permalink**) 04-28-2002, 06:26 AM

IMO Having Williams would trivialise the whole Bond franchise.

Hope its just an internet rumor...

Georgi · #6 (**permalink**) 04-28-2002, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Morlock
I heard that Brosnan is retiring from Bond- speculations about the next ones? So far names that have been mentioned are Robbie Williams and Russel Crowe- Well, Williams first hit was a James Bond tune rip-off.

Yup, I think the one currently in production is his last. From what I hear, Robbie Williams is out of the running, thankfully. (BTW @Morlock, Millenium is on his second album, thus hardly his first hit, and the album it's on is called "I've been expecting you", as in the evil villain thing from Bond... all supposedly because he looks a bit like Sean Connery.) Russell Crowe - also very doubtful I'd say. I haven't heard any rumours about it for ages, and can't remember the names being bandied around the last I heard, but I think they were all British actors, not especially famous ones.

Edit: Brosnan will be doing Bond 21, then retiring...

Kayless · #7 (**permalink**) 04-28-2002, 06:39 AM

Connery was the best Bond, no contest. Brosnan is definitely second best, but still doesn’t come near Connery. Unlike some of the other Bonds, Connery wasn’t a pretty boy. He’s handsome, but in a more rugged sort of way and he actually looks like he’s capable of taking a punch (unlike say, Moore). This relates to one of main reasons I feel Connery’s Bond is the best. He’s an unapologetic cold-blooded professional. No other Bond (with the arguable exception of Dalton) could muster the type of steely toughness Connery displayed. With Connery you knew that once the chatting was over the killing would commence and there’d be no mercy.

In Dr. No for example, Professor Dent (who works for S.P.E.C.T.R.E.) sneaks into Bond’s room and shoots up his bed, not knowing Bond is calmly sitting behind the door, having used the old “pillows under the covers” trick to simulate himself asleep. When Dent walks forward Bond pulls the rug out from under him, causing him to drop his gun. After a brief interrogation, Dent tries to reach for his gun when Bond goes to light his cigarette. Unbeknownst to him, he’s empty. Bond, having cruelly toyed with his victim for long enough, tells him “That's a Smith and Wesson, and you've had your six...” before calmly shooting him.

Connery’s Bond knew what he was and accepted it, not bothering to psychoanalyze himself and the source of his eccentricities. On the other hand, In Goldeneye Brosnan’s Bond seems dejected when the new M (played by Judi Dench) calls him “a sexist misogynist dinosaur; a relic of the cold war” and when Natalya Simonova (Goldeneye’s Bond Girl) asks how he can be so cold Bond responds with startling honesty by saying “it’s what keeps me alive.” Connery’s Bond would never had indulged in such sentiment. 007 is not a role model. He would be considered an incorrigible snob were it not for his profession. He’s a simplistic hero, who should not be humanized. The Bond archetype is so pervasive it would be tantamount to sacrilege to attempt to alter it into something politically correct (which is the direction I see the franchise heading towards).
http://home.talkcity.com/SunsetBlvd/...cs/drnoxs8.jpg
"You've had your six." *BANG*

Kayless · #8 (**permalink**) 04-28-2002, 07:00 AM

On the subject of new Bonds, I’m quite partial to the idea of the new Bond being a woman. http://boards.wizards.com/rpg/eek.gif http://boards.wizards.com/rpg/wink.gif When Katherine Zeta Jones was asked if she would play a Bond Girl she said she wanted to play Bond him/herself! I rather like this, since it would really shake up the genre. Imagine if you will, a sexy female Bond seducing male villains with outrageous names (what would be a masculine equivalent for Pu$$y Galore? http://www.smilies.org/basesmilies/razz.gif ), gambling and drinking vodka martinis. http://www.soccerforums.com/images/s...superhappy.gif You could even get Connery to play the new M and hint (but never explicitly state) that he’s the original James Bond and that this new Jane Bond is the result of one of his countless sexual escapades (or more likely his granddaughter). Connery and Zeta Jones had great chemistry in Entrapment, but I’d love to see a more paternal side to it (not to mention the delicious irony of an older Bond trying reel in the maverick new 007 http://boards.wizards.com/rpg/biggrin.gif ). The Apocryphal Never Say Never Again first introduced us to an aging 007 (with Connery as the star no less) and I think it’s a cool angle to follow up on. Though some hardcore fans might hate this revolutionary new approach, I (as a hardcore Bond fan myself) would love it. It would really inject some life into an admittedly aging franchise. The same old politically incorrect Bond archetype, just applied to a women instead. I think it has great potential. http://www.linda-goodman.com/ubb/winkgrin.gif

frogus · #9 (**permalink**) 04-28-2002, 07:16 AM

If we are going to have a female Bond, we might as well have Robbie Williams. For that matter, we might as well just stop the Bond series and make a new movie. Bond is a man, and masculinity is absolutely the most central charateristic of his character, his entire life revolves around being a man. and a manly man at that.
Russel Crowe could be a really good Bond, but he doesn't look right, so I think he's out...it's gonna have to be a new (unknown) actor...I don't think any of the current crop are credible...

however, I think Connery's Bond (great as he was) was too sensitive. Bond was a man's man, not a ladies' man.
Also I thought he was a bit serious, not boyish enough, when the image I have of Bond is a boy with toys...he doesn't know how silly he seems, but Connery did. Connery was a bit too knowing, a bit arch for me.

anyway, no flames please, you all seem to appreciate Brosnan enough not to get silly about me liking his Bond better than Connery's...

Kayless · #10 (**permalink**) 04-28-2002, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by frogus
If we are going to have a female Bond, we might as well have Robbie Williams. For that matter, we might as well just stop the Bond series and make a new movie. Bond is a man, and masculinity is absolutely the most central charateristic of his character, his entire life revolves around being a man. and a manly man at that.

That's one of the reasons why I think having Connery as M would be great. We'd still have that masculinity in the series. But saying Bond is quintessentially masculine is being dishonest to one's self. IMHO no Bond since Connery has had that quality.

Quote:

Originally posted by frogus
however, I think Connery's Bond (great as he was) was too sensitive. Bond was a man's man, not a ladies' man.
Also I thought he was a bit serious, not boyish enough, when the image I have of Bond is a boy with toys...he doesn't know how silly he seems, but Connery did. Connery was a bit too knowing, a bit arch for me.

Sensitive?! http://forums.civfanatics.com/ubb/lol.gif No offense intended, but how the heck can you see Connery’s Bond as sensitive? I’ve never seen any Bond b!tch slap as many women as he routinely did. http://boards.wizards.com/rpg/eek.gif http://boards.wizards.com/rpg/graemlins/diablo.gif The Bond of the Ian Fleming's novels was a cold-blooded professional. While Dalton's Bond is closer to this humorless original, Connery's Bond better captures the ruthlessness essential (IMO) to the character.

Quote:

Originally posted by frogus
anyway, no flames please, you all seem to appreciate Brosnan enough not to get silly about me liking his Bond better than Connery's...

No flames. We're all entitled to an opinion. http://boards.wizards.com/rpg/smile.gif (No matter how bizarre it may be) http://www.smilies.org/basesmilies/razz.gif http://www.linda-goodman.com/ubb/winkgrin.gif