Daniel Craig done as James Bond? Who is up next? 2 2

[delekkerste]

For me, Connery and Dalton were the best, and everyone else is the rest. If you can, track down the BBC program "Premium Bond" from 2015, where they go through all the films and rate the Bonds, the results being:

 

 

A split decision between the classic (Connery) and "the connoissseur's Bond" (Dalton). I wholeheartedly concur

 

 

Also, watch the Bratislava sequence that begins after the opening credits of "The Living Daylights". That's the kind of Fleming-esque Bond I want to see. Dalton, the best actor who has played Bond, nailed it, but the '80s-era audience wasn't ready for it after more than a decade of Roger Moore.

 

My ranking of the Bond films varies over time, but here's my current thinking based on multiple viewings of every film except SPECTRE (viewed just once thus far):

 

1. Thunderball - the biggest Bond of all, loses whatever early '60s stiltedness the first three films had as the series really hits its stride

2. From Russia With Love - excellent all around. A contender for the top spot

3. Goldfinger - "the" classic, but feel like it bogs down a bit and gets a little silly when the scene shifts to Kentucky

4. The Spy Who Loved Me - the high point of Moore's run - they aimed high, spent big, and succeeded. Outstanding opening sequence

5. Casino Royale - best Bond film since the '70s, though a bit too long and could almost have been a Bourne film

6. Dr. No - great debut, but series does get better. You've had your six

7. On Her Majesty's Secret Service - an acquired taste - my appreciation grows with every viewing

8. You Only Live Twice - Classic, though not quite as good as the first four

9. For Your Eyes Only - very good effort to bring Bond back to earth after Moonraker

10. The Living Daylights - Not the 10th best story-wise, but Dalton's perfect casting and superior acting should be lauded

11. The Man With the Golden Gun - Christopher Lee and Herve V. - campy, but fun

12. Octopussy - I insist this one gets a bad rap - yes, Moore is too old for the role here, but the story is actually one of the better/best ones. I didn't mind the Tarzan bit personally...

13. Licence to Kill - Like Craig's films, this one suffers from not being very 007-esque (a bit Miami Vice-like) but Dalton shines again and I like the grim and grittiness

14. Goldeneye - Liked it more when it came out - has not aged well, but at least better than the following two films in the series

15. Never Say Never Again - Connery way past his prime here, but I recently saw it again and it was enjoyable

16. Live and Let Die - the book is arguably the best of the series; the film, not so much

17. Diamonds Are Forever - Connery showing his age, while early 1970s blandness had taken over from the hip '60s

18. Die Another Day - Silly, unrealistic, and over the top (invisible Aston was too much) - BUT, at least no one would confuse this for a Jason Bourne film

19. Quantum of Solace - Repeat viewings have shown me that this one is simply not as bad as first thought - credit for creating a more plausible villain with real-world ambitions. Certainly nowhere near as stupid as the two that have followed, though still a bit bland, James Bland

20. The World is Not Enough - I originally had this one lower, but realized that it's just not as bad as the ones below it. I'd at least watch it again, even if Denise Richards is playing a nuclear scientist

21. Skyfall - Britain's in real trouble if they can't protect M better than this...briefly enjoyable going down, but leaves a bad taste in your mouth once you digest afterwards how completely moronic the story was

22. Moonraker - I wouldn't blame anyone for ranking this silly one lower, but at least it had Jaws. And, at least some of the non-space elements were decent

23. SPECTRE - Stupid in the extreme. May eventually go lower when I eventually bring myself to view it again

24. A View to a Kill - Moore now way too old for the role, Tanya Roberts was terrible, and the whole thing was generally absurd

25. Tomorrow Never Dies - That scene with the bumbling German hit-man may be the low point of the entire series (or maybe it was Moonraker's laser fight in space). I recently re-watched this one as well and it was a struggle to get through

[Doc McCoy]

 

 

In related news, this reports suspiciously coincides with bookmakers around the

world no longer accepting bets on whether Tom Hiddleston will succeed

Craig as 007.

 

 

He maybe a little 'low key' to play Bond.

 

 

 

Though I hate to see Craig go, if anyone has been watching The Night Manager, Tom Hiddleston could easily make a great 007. I hope the bookmakers in the UK have reliable sources and the role is offered to him.

[delekkerste]

Though I hate to see Craig go, if anyone has been watching The Night Manager, Tom Hiddleston could easily make a great 007. I hope the bookmakers in the UK have reliable sources and the role is offered to him.

 

I'm loving his portrayal in The Night Manager (can't wait for the finale this week in the U.S.), but I don't see him as James Bond. He's a good enough actor to put a decent spin on the role, but, I think others would be a better fit for what I'd like Bond to be. I'd probably prefer him over Tom Hardy (who I think would be even more Bourne-like than Craig) or Damian Lewis, though.

[Lucky Baru]

Though I hate to see Craig go, if anyone has been watching The Night Manager, Tom Hiddleston could easily make a great 007. I hope the bookmakers in the UK have reliable sources and the role is offered to him.

 

I'm loving his portrayal in The Night Manager (can't wait for the finale this week in the U.S.), but I don't see him as James Bond. He's a good enough actor to put a decent spin on the role, but, I think others would be a better fit for what I'd like Bond to be. I'd probably prefer him over Tom Hardy (who I think would be even more Bourne-like than Craig) or Damian Lewis, though.

 

Tom Hardy would be a horrible choice for Bond. If you needed a trigger puller/knuckle dragger with zero intelligence he's your guy. Bond is much more than that.

 

Best Bond movie - On Her Majesty's Secret Service

 

Had dinner in the 1980's with Sean Connery in Japan. He was doing an ad there for one of my dad's companies. Really a nice guy. Very at ease with who he is, and how the public sees him. I respected how protective of his wife he was during the dinner and drinks.

[Forbush-Man]

Daniel Craig Done With JAMES BOND, Turns Down $99 Million

 

According to a report from The Daily Mail, actor Daniel Craig has officially let MGM know that he's done playing James Bond, turning down an offer of £68 million ($99 million US) to return to the franchise for two more installments. Aside from the $99 million, the deal also included endorsements and profit sharing as a producer. Some estimates speculate that in reality, Craig is walking away from a figure closer to $175 million US.

 

After four films as Bond, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre, where does Craig rank on your list of 007 actors?

 

In related news, this reports suspiciously coincides with bookmakers around the world no longer accepting bets on whether Tom Hiddleston will succeed Craig as 007.

 

 

 

I'd like to point out that to other sources The Daily Mail is not the most reliable, and the source of their information has not been confirmed. There is still hope that Craig remains.

 

BBC reports "No Decision" on Craig Bond

[revat]

I think Fassbender is a great pick, but I don't think he wants it. I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up as a Bond Villain at some point though.

 

Sullivan Stapleton (mentioned earlier) is Australian, which doesn't make a difference to Americans, but means something in the UK.

 

My current money is on Idris Elba

[kimik]

 

I'd like to point out that to other sources The Daily Mail is not the most reliable, and the source of their information has not been confirmed. There is still hope that Craig remains.

 

BBC reports "No Decision" on Craig Bond

 

He is trying to get a better deal than RDJ does with Iron Man.

 

FWIW, Craig is the best Bond in my eyes. Watching Connery and Dalton in reruns is fun, but they are more representative of a different generation. The Craig Bond is what brought me back to the franchise after the failed Brosnan run.

 

That being said, Dalton is doing a great job on Penny Dreadful right now.

Edited May 20, 2016 by kimik

[delekkerste]

Tom Hardy would be a horrible choice for Bond. If you needed a trigger puller/knuckle dragger with zero intelligence he's your guy. Bond is much more than that.

 

 

That was my problem with Craig - he was more than that, but not much more. I think Tom Hardy (or Jeremy Renner, another sometimes-mentioned candidate, who even played lead in the last Bourne film) would take 007 even more in that direction. No, thank you.

 

 

FWIW, Craig is the best Bond in my eyes. Watching Connery and Dalton in reruns is fun, but they are more representative of a different generation. The Craig Bond is what brought me back to the franchise after the failed Brosnan run.

 

Different strokes for different folks. Every actor that has played Bond has brought something different to the table, and there are reasons to prefer each one of them. That said, for me, Connery and Dalton are head & shoulders above the rest; the former takes the top spot by virtue of being the original and working with the best scripts, while I think the latter's run as Bond was unfortunately short-changed.

 

Bottom line, though, is that this is far and away my favorite film series of all-time, and I'll watch and enjoy all of the entries over and over and over again.

[Forbush-Man]

I would enjoy seeing Tom Hardy as 007, that is IF Craig leaves.

[kimik]

I would enjoy seeing Tom Hardy as 007, that is IF Craig leaves.

 

Only if he wears the Bane mask and talks like he did in DKR.

[Brian48]

I'm with the Scottish guy.

 

[Hawkman]

Idris Elba

[Bosco685]

BOND...JANE BOND? X-FILES Star Gillian Anderson Responds To Being Fan-Cast As The Next 007

 

The usual suspects such as Idris Elba and Tom Hiddleston obviously got a lot of love, but there were also actresses like Emily Blunt and Gillian Anderson in the mix. The latter got in on the action by posting a fan-made image of herself as James Jane Bond.

 

[Bosco685]

THOR And THE AVENGERS Star Tom Hiddleston In Talks For JAMES BOND

 

Between the tepid response to Spectre and the fact they have a leading man who has expressed a desire to slash his wrists rather than return to the role, you can see why the producers of the James Bond franchise are listening to fans by talking to Tom Hiddleston about taking over as 007. According to Birth.Movies.Death, source close to the British actor have confirmed that he's in advanced talks to take over from Daniel Craig, and while no official offer has been made, The Avengers star wants the role.

 

While some of you may struggle to picture Loki as Bond, The Night Manager and High-Rise have made it clear that the actor would be perfect to take over as the iconic Ian Fleming creation. Whether or not he will obviously remains to be seen, but with Craig sleepwalking through the underwhelming Spectre, this franchise needs some new blood and it's hard to think of anyone better than Hiddleston.

 

[Lucky Baru]

Fleming wanted Cary Grant for the role and Hiddleston is the most like Grant in the current crowd. Maybe he'll work out.

[Gatsby77]

Fleming wanted Cary Grant for the role and Hiddleston is the most like Grant in the current crowd. Maybe he'll work out.

 

I thought Fleming wanted David Niven for the role -- one of the original film producers is on record as saying Fleming even wrote Casino Royale with Niven in mind.

[delekkerste]

THOR And THE AVENGERS Star Tom Hiddleston In Talks For JAMES BOND

 

Between the tepid response to Spectre and the fact they have a leading man who has expressed a desire to slash his wrists rather than return to the role, you can see why the producers of the James Bond franchise are listening to fans by talking to Tom Hiddleston about taking over as 007. According to Birth.Movies.Death, source close to the British actor have confirmed that he's in advanced talks to take over from Daniel Craig, and while no official offer has been made, The Avengers star wants the role.

 

While some of you may struggle to picture Loki as Bond, The Night Manager and High-Rise have made it clear that the actor would be perfect to take over as the iconic Ian Fleming creation. Whether or not he will obviously remains to be seen, but with Craig sleepwalking through the underwhelming Spectre, this franchise needs some new blood and it's hard to think of anyone better than Hiddleston.

 

I can't believe the writer of this article was able to put so much gushing fanboy-ness into just two paragraphs.

[Batman]

Nooooo! Craig is second only to Connery. Loki is bond? Too skinny

 

I was going to say that. However, I appear to be a week too late

 

I guess too skinny to play the role is the new desirable quality in Hollywood...

[delekkerste]

Fleming wanted Cary Grant for the role and Hiddleston is the most like Grant in the current crowd. Maybe he'll work out.

 

I thought Fleming wanted David Niven for the role -- one of the original film producers is on record as saying Fleming even wrote Casino Royale with Niven in mind.

 

They were both at the top of Fleming's list in the beginning, though the snobbish Fleming eventually warmed up to Connery's portrayal so much that he made the literary Bond half-Scottish. In Casino Royale (the first novel), Bond is described as looking like Hoagy Carmichael with a scar on his cheek. He's also variously described in the books as being cold and ruthless, with a cruel smile - when I think of that, I envision something close to how they portrayed Bond in the '60s comic strip (regardless of what Fleming himself might have thought).

 

Among the cinematic 007s, I think Timothy Dalton came closest in both looks and portrayal - no surprise, since he studied the novels and purposely modeled his Bond on what he read. There are several moments in The Living Daylights where he is stone cold ruthless, cruel and world weary as if leaping out of one of Fleming's books. I'd like to see that again.

 

Like Craig, I think Hiddleston is a fine actor, but wrong for the part. I'm sure the producers are drooling over the prospect of a younger, sexier Bond, but I get this feeling that they and the general movie-going public would be happy to see anyone who's good-looking, fit, has a British accent and can sell tickets play the role, whereas I really would like to see them find someone who fits the nuances of the part. James Bond should be James Bond, not just some generic British secret agent (which is really what Craig's Bond was).

[Batman]

Among the cinematic 007s, I think Timothy Dalton came closest in both looks and portrayal - no surprise, since he studied the novels and purposely modeled his Bond on what he read. There are several moments in The Living Daylights where he is stone cold ruthless, cruel and world weary as if leaping out of one of Fleming's books. I'd like to see that again.

I liked Dalton's gritty Bond. It's a shame he was only ever a "stop-gap".