The Best Bond
61The Bonds
“My name is Bond, James Bond” that line is a cult classic, but I it always struck me that if the guy is this hotshot spy and undercover agent and all, how come he’s introducing himself as himself? How come he is not incognito or in disguise or something? Hmm… not very undercover to give your real name now is it!
The Bond Props
The sharp suits, the martinis (shaken not stirred), the women (fast), the cars (also fast), the gadgets (sometimes rather outlandish), they are all the regulation props for a Bond film. I think the unparalleled popularity of the Bond films is because of these props. I think all guys secretly want to have all the gadgets, be irresistible to women and be all suave and smooth. That and of course the license to kill: All men are boys at heart who want to play with guns!
I'm not mocking The Bond; Really...
Actually I did not decide to do this post to mock the Bond films (or only just a wee bit) but to survey the Bonds and decide who made the best Bond: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig (the current Bond).
It all began with Sean Connery (now Sir Sean after his knighthood) of course who was the first ever James Bond and played Bond 7 times. Connery was known for his laid-back smile, wit and impassive manner, and was known among Italian cinema goers as Mr. Kiss-Kiss, Bang-Bang. Methinks that explains all!
George Lazenby is perhaps the least known of all Bonds, he did just the one Bond film and he was the first Australian Bond.
Roger Moore has also essayed the role of Bond a record seven times and had the longest Bond career among all the Bond actors.
Next came Timothy Dalton, who gave Bond a more serious, less humorous edge. He played Bond twice.
Pierce Brosnan who was already quite well known as the sophisticated but lovable private investigator Remington Steel came next and acted in four Bond films. He went on to do some very interesting and eclectic films after his Bond stint as well.
Daniel
Craig has now taken up the Bond mantle though critics have decried his
being blond; James Bond has
to be dark haired. He is probably seen as the toughest Bond till date. He is a dark Bond, figuratively speaking of course without the wry humour that characterises Bond. He takes some getting used to, I think.
I think all in all the first Bond remains the best Bond till date, he so epitomizes all that Bond is supposed to be. But that is me being objective. Subjectively speaking, Pierce Brosnan is my personal favorite. And yours?
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Come to think of it, Bond is fairly inept; getting caught fairly regularly.
I think it is from Bond that our HIndi films also get their elaborate plans for destruction as well. They wont just put a bullet thru the brain: they will suspend the would be victim over a vat of sulphuric acid or raveous crocodiles with a rope that is supposed to burn being triggered by a time bomb or something equally convoluted.
Loved them all in turn. Each was certainly the Bond for their own time.
Connery was certainly suave and dangerous. Lazenby was a bit too nice for my taste - more of a TV weight Bond. Roger Moore was much decried, but his Bond fit well into the era of Smoky and the Bandit - chase-happy movies, all. It did become a bit of a competition for the biggest baddest silliest chase, though. And what about David Niven in Casino Royale? That was almost an abberation in the catalogue of Bond films.
Pierce Brosnan was quite lovely, but I have always rather liked Timothy Dalton as Bond. He has tackled some intriguiging roles in his career, and I felt the Bond franchise was returning to its roots with Dalton's edge.
I'd have to say that the current Bond is closest to my reading of the character in the Iam Fleming novels. Daniel Craig brings a weight and toughness to the character that is more attuned to our present day sensibilities (besides being quite easy on the eyes).
Thanks for a thoughful and thought provoking Hub.
Thanks for your considered view on the Bonds RedElf, I think you are quite right, Craig is closest to the Bond I imagined when I read the books by Ian Fleming, but I dont think he is any FUN; know what I mean?
Some people actually call me James Bond!
LOL, Am so honoured to have Bond, James Bond visit my hub!
Definitely Sean Connery is the best Bond. Although I'm Scottish too I'm not that biased :-)
bala99 2 years ago
Yes, the Bond series is a classic. In fact my boy has the total collection. What intrigues me is the way every villain has got an elaborate plan to eliminate Bond. Bond getting out of these situations is the high point of the movies. If Bond was shot the moment he is caught, (he gets caught regularly) the movie and the series would end. Very watchable, extremely readable.