Bond Books vs Movies

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by jersysman

I think also who we liked most as Bond is a little generational. While I only think of Connery as being the best Bond, my son loves Brosnan and he thinks that Craig is the best. Of course, the last few Bond films have been excellent movies in their own right and either Bond actor would have been great in those movies.

I'm not sure it is generational. I was in my late teens when the first Bond movie hit the theaters. I thought Connery was good, but not great, even then.

My son, who is 32, likes Connery, Craig, and Brosnan, in that order.

I think rather than it being generational, it is a matter of what you think Bond should be. When sharing drinks with gazillionaires, which is what usually happens, I find it difficult to see Connery being accepted into that social class as an equal (relative or otherwise). He comes across with a certain roughness. Brosnan, on the other hand, would, I think, fit smoothly.

If you think that what matters most is action, not sophistication, I think Craig is hard to beat. I can't imagine Connery sitting tied naked in a chair and having his "privates" whipped and telling the villain to move it over a little to catch the itch.

I view Connery as a compromise when viewed against Brosnan and Craig, although for the 1960s, I don't think there was anyone who could have done a better job as Bond. When I imagine them all in their prime and having to audition for Bond today, my choice would be between Brosnan and Craig, depending on whether social abilities or raw action were to be emphasized, with Connery as the backup compromise for either case.

[rhadin]

Originally Posted by crich70

Sean Connery will always be my favorite Bond I think.
Bond (tied to table with laser beam getting closer):"Do you expect me to talk?"
Goldfinger: "No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!"

Classic movie magic.

Classic but not as good, I think, as the scene I described with Craig having is "privates" smacked by a heavy knotted rope, when he said: "I've got a little itch down there. Would you mind?"

[jhempel24]

Originally Posted by rhadin

Classic but not as good, I think, as the scene I described with Craig having is "privates" smacked by a heavy knotted rope, when he said: "I've got a little itch down there. Would you mind?"

HAHA!

Not seen the Craig movies, so I'll have to check them out.

[TaraMcTiernan]

I'm a Connery fan, but the first Bond movies I saw were with Roger Moore. I didn't start to appreciate Connery until I read Fleming's books and saw that Connery was actually much closer to the rough-around-the-edges Bond in the books. One of the books bears no resemblance to the movie at all: The Spy Who Loved Me. Couldn't believe they used that title when the movie didn't even try to match the story!

[crich70]

Originally Posted by TaraMcTiernan

I'm a Connery fan, but the first Bond movies I saw were with Roger Moore. I didn't start to appreciate Connery until I read Fleming's books and saw that Connery was actually much closer to the rough-around-the-edges Bond in the books. One of the books bears no resemblance to the movie at all: The Spy Who Loved Me. Couldn't believe they used that title when the movie didn't even try to match the story!

A classic scene with Roger Moore as 007 is from Moonraker (I think)
Bond girl: "hang on James!"
Bond (hanging onto side of cable car):"The thought had occurred to me."

[jhempel24]

Originally Posted by crich70

A classic scene with Roger Moore as 007 is from Moonraker (I think)
Bond girl: "hang on James!"
Bond (hanging onto side of cable car):"The thought had occurred to me."

heh.

Gonna have to buy these collections on DVD. I've got Her Majesties Secret Service on Audiobook as well, gotta love Dr. Who reading Bond.

[TaraMcTiernan]

Originally Posted by crich70

A classic scene with Roger Moore as 007 is from Moonraker (I think)
Bond girl: "hang on James!"
Bond (hanging onto side of cable car):"The thought had occurred to me."

Yeah - Roger Moore was the best at those one-eyebrow-raised one-liners....

[tompe]

Originally Posted by rhadin

It's interesting on how people view the Bond films, the actors who played Bond, and the books.

I like the books better. And I like the movies that have a more realistic Bond that are nearer to the book's Bond better.

[caleb72]

For me, I loved Connery because - well, I love Sean Connery as an actor. Always have. But for me, I was always waiting for Brosnan to become Bond. After Moore, I thought Brosnan was going to be the next as he was always James Bond - just renamed to Remington Steele.

So I was pretty put out when Dalton got the role. Not that I don't like him as an actor. He's actually a fantastic actor, but wasn't the Bond I wanted.

Ironically, when I finally got my wish with Brosnan, I didn't actually like the movies that much.

As for Craig, I haven't watched those. I will one day I'm sure and Craig is also a really good actor, but - well - I don't know, one day I guess.

Meanwhile, I purchased every Fleming ebook recently when they were $1.99 each and this year I'll read Casino Royale. I have only read one Bond book by Fleming and one by Gardner. So it will be interesting working out whether Fleming really is just a hack as I've heard mentioned before.

[mewmartigan]

Originally Posted by caleb72

For me, I loved Connery because - well, I love Sean Connery as an action. Always have. But for me, I was always waiting for Brosnan to become Bond. After Moore, I thought Brosnan was going to be the next as he was always James Bond - just renamed to Remington Steele.

So I was pretty put out when Dalton got the role. Not that I don't like him as an action. He's actually a fantastic actor, but wasn't the Bond I wanted.

Ironically, when I finally got my wish with Brosnan, I didn't actually like the movies that much.

As for Craig, I haven't watched those. I will one day I'm sure and Craig is also a really good actor, but - well - I don't know, one day I guess.

Meanwhile, I purchased every Fleming ebook recently when they were $1.99 each and this year I'll read Casino Royale. I have only read one Bond book by Fleming and one by Gardner. So it will be interesting working out whether Fleming really is just a hack as I've heard mentioned before.

I am pretty sure that Brosnan was wanted for the role when Dalton got it but they wouldn't let him out of the Remington Steele contract...and then after he was forced to turn down the role, Remington Steele was cancelled. Tough break, haha.

For the newer Bonds, I find that their first movie is always their best.

Dalton - The Living Daylights
Brosnan - Goldeneye (one of the absolute best!)
Craig - Casino Royale

I'm not sure which I like best, I like them all. Roger Moore was great in his early ones but stayed in the role too long. His last 3 movies or so were blah.

Brosnan was good but his last two movies were SOOOOO over the top it was ridiculous.

[LovesMacs]

I think I like Connery and Craig about equally. Both of them have the physicality that I think the Bond character should have. That's a quality I don't see in Moore's Bond movies, where I get the impression that the spy gadgets are used as a substitute. Dalton never struck me as quite right for the part even though I've enjoyed his work in other roles. I think Brosnan has the charm and suavity down but the plots for his movies were uneven. I can't even remember which movie starred George Lazenby.

Having said all that, I've never read a Bond book. Where is a good place to start?

[TaraMcTiernan]

Originally Posted by LovesMacs

I think I like Connery and Craig about equally. Both of them have the physicality that I think the Bond character should have. That's a quality I don't see in Moore's Bond movies, where I get the impression that the spy gadgets are used as a substitute. Dalton never struck me as quite right for the part even though I've enjoyed his work in other roles. I think Brosnan has the charm and suavity down but the plots for his movies were uneven. I can't even remember which movie starred George Lazenby.

Having said all that, I've never read a Bond book. Where is a good place to start?

I've read most of Fleming's books and recommend On Her Majesty's Secret Service as a good starting point. It gives you a deeper look into Bond's character and shows a pivotal moment in his life, after which he is never the same.

[orlok]

Originally Posted by TaraMcTiernan

I've read most of Fleming's books and recommend On Her Majesty's Secret Service as a good starting point. It gives you a deeper look into Bond's character and shows a pivotal moment in his life, after which he is never the same.

That's the one in which Lazenby played Bond. I also really liked The Spy Who Loved Me, which is very different from the others and is told from a woman's perspective (and bears absolutely no resemblance to the movie of the same name).

For the record, Craig is my fave, followed by Connery. I could never take any of the others seriously, and in fact stopped watching them during Brosnan's run as Bond).

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by TaraMcTiernan

I've read most of Fleming's books and recommend On Her Majesty's Secret Service as a good starting point. It gives you a deeper look into Bond's character and shows a pivotal moment in his life, after which he is never the same.

That's the only Fleming I've read when I was in high school and I do remember liking it. Of course, I was much younger then, so I'm interested to see what I think now.