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Best Bond ACTOR?
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Sean Connery29 Votes - [43.28%]
David Niven0 Votes - [0%]
George Lazenby0 Votes - [0%]
Roger Moore4 Votes - [5.97%]
Timothy Dalton1 Votes - [1.49%]
Pierce Brosnan1 Votes - [1.49%]
Daniel Craig32 Votes - [47.76%]

2009-10-22 12:32 PM

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Subject: Best Bond ACTOR?
Of course the "Who's the best Bond" poll has appeared zillions of times across the net, so I want to put a slight twist on it.  Instead of just saying who you think the best overall James Bond is, I want you to really think about who was/is the best ACTOR to play him?

By this, I mean who showed the most range of expression/emotion, had dramatic depth, and was the most convincing?  (For instance, one of the Bonds I think looked very much the part, and was very suave and so on, but didn't have the same range of acting capability.  Another Bond I felt was more comedic than dramatic.  Etc.)


2009-10-22 12:55 PM
in reply to: #2473755

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Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
Since I had to choose one, it would be Craig.

But Connery was totally awesome and Moore played it differently, but quite good.  Too bad Moore's scripts went from ehhh, to bad, to awful and ended at unwatchable.
2009-10-22 1:04 PM
in reply to: #2473755

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Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
IMO, it's really hard to divorce the actor's charisma from their acting ability... Bond is not an actor's role. He's a larger-than-life character. Craig is probably the best actor of the bunch, and I really like him in the role, but Connery is the most fun to watch. Moore was also decent, but as was pointed out above, had the worst scripts to contend with.

2009-10-22 1:11 PM
in reply to: #2473755

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Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
If I had to rank them I would say:

Craig (because I think he plays it closest to Fleming’s image of the character. Bond is described as a “blunt instrument”—a spy and a killer—in the novels. He’s also the most talented actor of the group, I think. Even better than Connery was at this stage.

Connery:I put him above Pierce Brosnan in part because I think he got generally better scripts. “Never Say Never Again” was a joke, though. I bet he wishes he had that one back.

Brosnan: As with Moore, he started better than he finished, and became kind of a cartoon, but he restored the franchise after Moore’s last couple of movies had become ridiculous and Dalton’s false starts.

Moore: Because of Live and Let Die and Spy Who Loved Me. View to a Kill never happened. And don’t even get me started about For Your Eyes Only. A 60+ year old Bond getting lusted after by a 16-year old Lynne-Holly Johnson? Right.

Dalton: I think he could have been good, but his scripts were terrible. He was the first attempt to get away from the fey version of Bond that Moore had become and back to the former SAS soldier/assassin that Bond was supposed to be.

Lazenby’s underrated because he only made the one movie, but it’s a great movie and solid performance.
2009-10-22 1:11 PM
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Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
scoobysdad - 2009-10-22 1:04 PM

IMO, it's really hard to divorce the actor's charisma from their acting ability... Bond is not an actor's role. He's a larger-than-life character. Craig is probably the best actor of the bunch, and I really like him in the role, but Connery is the most fun to watch. Moore was also decent, but as was pointed out above, had the worst scripts to contend with.



Ok...now you're scaring me a little....
2009-10-22 1:17 PM
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Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
scoobysdad - 2009-10-22 11:04 AM IMO, it's really hard to divorce the actor's charisma from their acting ability... Bond is not an actor's role. He's a larger-than-life character. Craig is probably the best actor of the bunch, and I really like him in the role, but Connery is the most fun to watch. Moore was also decent, but as was pointed out above, had the worst scripts to contend with.


Yep, I agree, which is why I phrased the question the way I did.  I plan to re-read the books, but I don't believe they portrayed Bond as such a larger-than-life character.  I think that only developed through the movies.


2009-10-22 1:24 PM
in reply to: #2473755

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Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
I voted Brosnan...but I'm too young to remember most of them.  Perhaps I shouldn't have voted.  Surprised
2009-10-22 1:27 PM
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Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?

connery was my fave, but craig is hot.

2009-10-22 1:47 PM
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Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
jmk-brooklyn - 2009-10-22 1:11 PM

  • ..................

  • Dalton: I think he could have been good, but his scripts were terrible. He was the first attempt to get away from the fey version of Bond that Moore had become and back to the former SAS soldier/assassin that Bond was supposed to be.

    Lazenby’s underrated because he only made the one movie, but it’s a great movie and solid performance.


    I liked Dalton. I thought "The Living Daylights" was pretty good, better than the late Moore movies. "License to Kill" was just bad. I also think Dalton was a pretty good actor.

    I did not like Lazenby and didn't like his Bond movie.





    Edited by eberulf 2009-10-22 1:49 PM
    2009-10-22 9:24 PM
    in reply to: #2473755

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    Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
    I can't believe Craig is winning - he is the CLEAR #2 but Connery is the BEST!!
    2009-10-22 9:29 PM
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    Subject: ...
    This user's post has been ignored.


    2009-10-22 9:34 PM
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    Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
    I had to vote for Craig purely because of the way the question was framed.  While Connery always be my favorite Bond, Craig has clearly shown his superior acting skills in just the two movie he has done.
    2009-10-22 11:27 PM
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    Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
    Any1 who voted for craig as the best because of his acting clearly has never seen another connery movie outside of entrapment and the rock.

    Untouchables was awesome. Highlander was bad , The wind and the lion, Indiana Jones, The man who would be king, The hunt for the red october, Finding forrester. Just to name a few. Craig? Mother was a solid movie but didnt require much acting from him, flashbacks of a fool was a really solid movie but he played a small part.
    2009-10-23 11:32 AM
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    Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
    I voted for Craig.  I only saw the most recent one and thought it was phenomenal.  I think he did a great job!  It was tough to choose between him and Connery.
    2009-10-23 12:26 PM
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    Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
    mkarr0110 - 2009-10-22 11:27 PM

    Any1 who voted for craig as the best because of his acting clearly has never seen another connery movie outside of entrapment and the rock.

    Untouchables was awesome. Highlander was bad , The wind and the lion, Indiana Jones, The man who would be king, The hunt for the red october, Finding forrester. Just to name a few. Craig? Mother was a solid movie but didnt require much acting from him, flashbacks of a fool was a really solid movie but he played a small part.


    Are we talking about “who is the best actor to have played Bond” or “who did the best acting job while playing Bond”?

    I interpreted the OP as asking the latter question and I think Craig showed more range and depth in his role than Connery did, though, granted, Connery’s scripts didn’t always call for it.

    As to the question of who’s a better actor, Craig to Connery is hardly apples to apples. Most of Connery’s portrayals of Bond happened before Craig was even born and he’s got a resume that’s three decades longer than Craig’s. He’s got some winners like Name of the Rose, Untouchables, and The Man Who Would Be King, but he’s also made some clunkers as well along the way, too.

    FTR, I thought Craig was really good in Road to Perdition and he’s getting really good reviews for this play he’s in on Broadway with Hugh Jackman.
    2009-10-23 2:11 PM
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    Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?

    jmk-brooklyn - 2009-10-22 1:11 PM If I had to rank them I would say:

    Craig (because I think he plays it closest to Fleming’s image of the character. Bond is described as a “blunt instrument”—a spy and a killer—in the novels. He’s also the most talented actor of the group, I think. Even better than Connery was at this stage.

    Connery:I put him above Pierce Brosnan in part because I think he got generally better scripts. “Never Say Never Again” was a joke, though. I bet he wishes he had that one back.

    Brosnan: As with Moore, he started better than he finished, and became kind of a cartoon, but he restored the franchise after Moore’s last couple of movies had become ridiculous and Dalton’s false starts.

    Moore: Because of Live and Let Die and Spy Who Loved Me. View to a Kill never happened. And don’t even get me started about For Your Eyes Only. A 60+ year old Bond getting lusted after by a 16-year old Lynne-Holly Johnson? Right.

    Dalton: I think he could have been good, but his scripts were terrible. He was the first attempt to get away from the fey version of Bond that Moore had become and back to the former SAS soldier/assassin that Bond was supposed to be.

     Lazenby’s underrated because he only made the one movie, but it’s a great movie and solid performance.

    Gotta say this is the way I lined them up too...

    The new Bond films are different - much darker than that fluffy stuff of the Roger Moore days...  I like them better.  Seems that the film makers learned something from the Bourne series of movies...



    Edited by ashort33 2009-10-23 2:12 PM


    2009-10-23 7:15 PM
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    Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
    jmk-brooklyn - 2009-10-23 1:26 PM
    mkarr0110 - 2009-10-22 11:27 PM Any1 who voted for craig as the best because of his acting clearly has never seen another connery movie outside of entrapment and the rock.

    Untouchables was awesome. Highlander was bad , The wind and the lion, Indiana Jones, The man who would be king, The hunt for the red october, Finding forrester. Just to name a few. Craig? Mother was a solid movie but didnt require much acting from him, flashbacks of a fool was a really solid movie but he played a small part.
    Are we talking about “who is the best actor to have played Bond” or “who did the best acting job while playing Bond”? I interpreted the OP as asking the latter question and I think Craig showed more range and depth in his role than Connery did, though, granted, Connery’s scripts didn’t always call for it. As to the question of who’s a better actor, Craig to Connery is hardly apples to apples. Most of Connery’s portrayals of Bond happened before Craig was even born and he’s got a resume that’s three decades longer than Craig’s. He’s got some winners like Name of the Rose, Untouchables, and The Man Who Would Be King, but he’s also made some clunkers as well along the way, too. FTR, I thought Craig was really good in Road to Perdition and he’s getting really good reviews for this play he’s in on Broadway with Hugh Jackman.



    If this is what is intended connery is still the smoothest man ever, hes the action version of frank sinatra, craig doesnt have that suaveness, but if you go by the books he is definitely the more spy/killer type.
    2009-10-23 9:09 PM
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    Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
    jmk-brooklyn - 2009-10-23 10:26 AM
    mkarr0110 - 2009-10-22 11:27 PM Any1 who voted for craig as the best because of his acting clearly has never seen another connery movie outside of entrapment and the rock.

    Untouchables was awesome. Highlander was bad , The wind and the lion, Indiana Jones, The man who would be king, The hunt for the red october, Finding forrester. Just to name a few. Craig? Mother was a solid movie but didnt require much acting from him, flashbacks of a fool was a really solid movie but he played a small part.
    Are we talking about “who is the best actor to have played Bond” or “who did the best acting job while playing Bond”? I interpreted the OP as asking the latter question and I think Craig showed more range and depth in his role than Connery did, though, granted, Connery’s scripts didn’t always call for it. As to the question of who’s a better actor, Craig to Connery is hardly apples to apples. Most of Connery’s portrayals of Bond happened before Craig was even born and he’s got a resume that’s three decades longer than Craig’s. He’s got some winners like Name of the Rose, Untouchables, and The Man Who Would Be King, but he’s also made some clunkers as well along the way, too. FTR, I thought Craig was really good in Road to Perdition and he’s getting really good reviews for this play he’s in on Broadway with Hugh Jackman.



    Yep, you are correct, that was my intended meaning.

    I must say that prior to Craig, Connery was always at the top of my list, even taking the acting into account.

    But he just doesn't show the same range as Craig, in my opinion.  With Craig, you really sense that he's a bit unhinged at times, and can really get mad and frustrated, or mean, whereas Connery was almost always a cool, cool customer.  I'm definitely not saying that Connery didn't have it in him to match Craig, but that he didn't for whatever reason.  Probably the director's choice more than anything.
    2009-10-23 10:50 PM
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    Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?

    Connery is my favorite!  Classic!  Daniel Craig is a great Bond too.  I can't watch Casino Royal enough!!!  I love it.  Quantum, tho, didn't impress me so much.  Maybe it wasn't meant to tho.

    Also, back in the 80's when I was a teen, I totally pegged Pierce to be 007 one day...just sayin.

    But, as far as your question.  I think Roger Moore and Sean Connery were the best actors to fit the bill.

    2009-10-24 3:36 PM
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    Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
    Sean Connery is the man
    2009-10-24 7:14 PM
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    22legs - 2009-10-23 11:50 PM

    Connery is my favorite!  Classic!  Daniel Craig is a great Bond too.  I can't watch Casino Royal enough!!!  I love it.  Quantum, tho, didn't impress me so much.  Maybe it wasn't meant to tho.

    Also, back in the 80's when I was a teen, I totally pegged Pierce to be 007 one day...just sayin.

    But, as far as your question.  I think Roger Moore and Sean Connery were the best actors to fit the bill.



    Ya Quantum wasnt  that good, the villain just wasnt big enough, when I first saw him I was like okay where is the spectre behind him.


    2009-10-26 9:19 AM
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    Subject: RE: Best Bond ACTOR?
    After looking at the poll with Connery and Craig neck and neck, I said to myself...

    In a SNL Connery accent...  "Craig, your mom is a w#ö®3."

    And then Craig kicks Connery's arse.  Cool

    Edited by Indiana_Geoff 2009-10-26 9:21 AM
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