The BJMDDS General Discussion Thread......

[Pluto007]

I sincerely hope you accept my suggestion of a live conversation, Benny.
In other news, there has been rumbles coming out of Amazon/MGM and how some of the anointed executives that Amazon has put in play to deal with feature film slates are untested in the blockbuster/tentpole arena. Their background is in the 20-30 million dollar range not $200 million. This has pissed off producers who have worked with them (and seen terrible films being greenlit as a result), and has pissed off others, like (yes), EoN.
So the pause we are also experiencing may also have an added wrench in the entire proceedings: producers are unhappy with these execs, and don’t want to work with them.

There seems to be a power struggle going on, which does involve EoN as well.

[dirtybenny]

And Dirty Benny, I should say I don’t know why I may’ve rubbed you the wrong way, however, I’d be willing to have a further conversation with you.

Because this type of communication is difficult and anything can be read between the lines, I’d be happy to set a video call with you?

I could send you a zoom link. I think after speaking live to me, you’ll probably have your fears put to rest.

Let me know and we can arrange something today or tomorrow?

Setting aside the obvious folly of exposing sensitive personal information to a random person on the internet, I don't see what this would accomplish, unless you're going to divulge you've really been Barbara Broccoli all along.

Let's just chalk up my out burst to one too many medium dry vodka martinis, give each other a wide berth and leave it at that.

[bjmdds]

Pluto, any relation to ALVIN on other websites? Cr-egg's newest incarnation is a photo shoot for clothes from LOEWE:

[kater23]

NO.Just no.

[dirtybenny]

Upper left pose looks like Iggy Pop meets Bill Cosby.

[Kristatos]

The first one looks like he should be on some sort of register.

Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk

[Pluto007]

And Dirty Benny, I should say I don’t know why I may’ve rubbed you the wrong way, however, I’d be willing to have a further conversation with you.

Because this type of communication is difficult and anything can be read between the lines, I’d be happy to set a video call with you?

I could send you a zoom link. I think after speaking live to me, you’ll probably have your fears put to rest.

Let me know and we can arrange something today or tomorrow?

Setting aside the obvious folly of exposing sensitive personal information to a random person on the internet, I don't see what this would accomplish, unless you're going to divulge you've really been Barbara Broccoli all along.

Let's just chalk up my out burst to one too many medium dry vodka martinis, give each other a wide berth and leave it at that.

Well, all I would need is an email account so I could send you a zoom invite, or I would go so far as even giving you one of my cell numbers(I don't mind). My offer genuinely stands.

And you don't have to give me a wide berth. If I say something that over steps decorum etc, or if you feel like engaging me on anything I say, please feel free.

Pluto, any relation to ALVIN on other websites? Cr-egg's newest incarnation is a photo shoot for clothes from LOEWE:

I'm on no other website by the name of Alvin.

[acid]

And Dirty Benny, I should say I don’t know why I may’ve rubbed you the wrong way, however, I’d be willing to have a further conversation with you.

Because this type of communication is difficult and anything can be read between the lines, I’d be happy to set a video call with you?

I could send you a zoom link. I think after speaking live to me, you’ll probably have your fears put to rest.

Let me know and we can arrange something today or tomorrow?

Setting aside the obvious folly of exposing sensitive personal information to a random person on the internet, I don't see what this would accomplish, unless you're going to divulge you've really been Barbara Broccoli all along.

Let's just chalk up my out burst to one too many medium dry vodka martinis, give each other a wide berth and leave it at that.

Well, all I would need is an email account so I could send you a zoom invite, or I would go so far as even giving you one of my cell numbers(I don't mind). My offer genuinely stands.

And you don't have to give me a wide berth. If I say something that over steps decorum etc, or if you feel like engaging me on anything I say, please feel free.

Hello Pluto. It's good to have someone bringing a new perspective to this forum especially if it generates some new discussion.

I am probably biased but in my experience dirtybenny is usually a pretty reasonable guy who is often happy to have in depth discussions on here if approached in the right way. The medium of the written word is perfectly fine for us here and I am sure you can appreciate the desire to maintain anonymity, especially given the views expressed on this site have generally been opposed to the angle taken by the mainstream media on the Bond movies in recent years.

Perhaps if you could expand on what it is you do and don't enjoy in the Bond films before and after Craig's debut, it might help generate some more intelligent discussion. How did you feel about each actor's portrayal of the character before Craig and how do you feel Craig's portrayal compares? Which are your favorite pre-Craig Bond movies and why?

I get your point that the non fans have different thoughts and expectations regarding Bond to the fans and hear that you have some kind of experience of the industry. While I admit I haven't had a lot of time yet to consider your posts in depth, my initial impression is that you are repeating a few key points multiple times without trying to find much common ground for discussion. That is just an initial impression so I hope I am not being unfair. That could be what is rubbing DB up the wrong way though. You seem quite a prolific poster. I wish you well anyway.

[bjmdds]

Ianfleming.com: ANNOUNCING THE Q MYSTERIES

We’re pleased to announce a new crime series project in collaboration with Zaffre, the flagship commercial fiction imprint of Bonnier Books UK. The new series, The Q Mysteries, will be centred around the iconic character of Q from the James Bond adventures. The first book, Quantum of Menace, will be published autumn 2025. This top-secret project will be written by acclaimed crime writer and Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, Vaseem Khan.....after Q (aka Major Boothroyd) is unexpectedly ousted from his role with British Intelligence developing technologies for MI6’s OO agents, he finds himself back in his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water. His childhood friend, renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier, has died in mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a cryptic note. The police seem disinterested, but Q feels compelled to investigate and soon discovers that Napier’s ground-breaking work may have attracted sinister forces . . . Can Q decode the truth behind Napier’s death, even as danger closes in?

[Kristatos]

From the description, and interviews I've read, this does appear to be about Desmond Llewellyn's Q, rather than Cleese's or Whishaw's. Surprised IFP has the rights to use the character - I thought he was strictly from the movies, and doesn't appear in the books.

Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk

[acid]

In other news, there has been rumbles coming out of Amazon/MGM and how some of the anointed executives that Amazon has put in play to deal with feature film slates are untested in the blockbuster/tentpole arena. Their background is in the 20-30 million dollar range not $200 million. This has pissed off producers who have worked with them (and seen terrible films being greenlit as a result), and has pissed off others, like (yes), EoN.
So the pause we are also experiencing may also have an added wrench in the entire proceedings: producers are unhappy with these execs, and don’t want to work with them.

There seems to be a power struggle going on, which does involve EoN as well.

If what you say is true (and I have no way to tell either way), maybe some execs who deal with lower budget and more experimental film could actually turn out to be a good thing to take some more risks, focus more on finding a good story and doing more with less, rather than the usual approach of throwing almost unlimited piles of money at a project and sticking to what they know. Or maybe not. I can dream!

[acid]

From the description, and interviews I've read, this does appear to be about Desmond Llewellyn's Q, rather than Cleese's or Whishaw's. Surprised IFP has the rights to use the character - I thought he was strictly from the movies, and doesn't appear in the books.

But with the title of Quantum of something. Still, if that's only a reference to the quantum computing and not the Quantum organization, it might not involve the Craig era universe.

[Pluto007]

And Dirty Benny, I should say I don’t know why I may’ve rubbed you the wrong way, however, I’d be willing to have a further conversation with you.

Because this type of communication is difficult and anything can be read between the lines, I’d be happy to set a video call with you?

I could send you a zoom link. I think after speaking live to me, you’ll probably have your fears put to rest.

Let me know and we can arrange something today or tomorrow?

Setting aside the obvious folly of exposing sensitive personal information to a random person on the internet, I don't see what this would accomplish, unless you're going to divulge you've really been Barbara Broccoli all along.

Let's just chalk up my out burst to one too many medium dry vodka martinis, give each other a wide berth and leave it at that.

Well, all I would need is an email account so I could send you a zoom invite, or I would go so far as even giving you one of my cell numbers(I don't mind). My offer genuinely stands.

And you don't have to give me a wide berth. If I say something that over steps decorum etc, or if you feel like engaging me on anything I say, please feel free.

Hello Pluto. It's good to have someone bringing a new perspective to this forum especially if it generates some new discussion.

I am probably biased but in my experience dirtybenny is usually a pretty reasonable guy who is often happy to have in depth discussions on here if approached in the right way. The medium of the written word is perfectly fine for us here and I am sure you can appreciate the desire to maintain anonymity, especially given the views expressed on this site have generally been opposed to the angle taken by the mainstream media on the Bond movies in recent years.

Perhaps if you could expand on what it is you do and don't enjoy in the Bond films before and after Craig's debut, it might help generate some more intelligent discussion. How did you feel about each actor's portrayal of the character before Craig and how do you feel Craig's portrayal compares? Which are your favorite pre-Craig Bond movies and why?

I get your point that the non fans have different thoughts and expectations regarding Bond to the fans and hear that you have some kind of experience of the industry. While I admit I haven't had a lot of time yet to consider your posts in depth, my initial impression is that you are repeating a few key points multiple times without trying to find much common ground for discussion. That is just an initial impression so I hope I am not being unfair. That could be what is rubbing DB up the wrong way though. You seem quite a prolific poster. I wish you well anyway.

Somehow I deleted a full response to this lovely gesture Acid, and now I will try and do it again, but now in parts, as I’ve got to get a move on to something I’m presently working on.

First of all, as I said in my original and now deleted post: thank you for this, Acid!

I am new here. I actually don’t know much about the history of this website, and I was trying to start conversations that really didn’t catch on.

I did feel like a trespasser, and that’s not a good feeling at all.

I think this offer to share a little of myself is fantastic. Please excuse the length:

What do I like about Bond, pre and post Craig?

Connery
Connery
Connery
…and…
Connery

I was about eight when we got our first VHS, and my father made sure that we got a healthy dose of Connery Bond, so you can imagine, I was confused and upset when I discovered he was no longer 007 by the time I started watching these films (except for that one film that really made me scratch my head: the man I obsessively watched and admired was back. But he looked… different. He sounded a little different too. The film didn’t click for me then, nor now (but mainly due to its history)).

A decade of lightning in a bottle worth of films, the 60s will never be captured again. I was passionately in love with the style, the music, the clothes, and this iconic giant of a man, James Bond, agent 007, with a license to kill— played by Sean Connery.

It was magic to me as a boy.
It’s magic to me as a man, with my own family.

And, although Sean Connery IS James Bond, my favourite Bond film was/is, OHMSS, which didn’t go over well with Dad! Connery was Bond— no ifs ands or buts.
And I understand this, and I believe it too, but this film still stands as the numero uno. Why? By the time I had discovered the film, I was also starting to plow through the Fleming novels, and loved them. Adored them.

And like Fleming’s latter books, I love when a Bond film stretches a little bit. Shows a little more humanity. And the humanity, in this case, came from Dame Rigg. All George had to do was react off her lead— and that’s when he was at his best.
What a beautiful film. Barry hitting a high. Hunt really shooting the hell out of that script and it seems the best of the novel started to show up magically on my TV screen. And the contrasts to the book are just as interesting, as in; in the novel, Bond was on the other side of jaded. In the film, Lazenby seemed naive and innocent, the opposite to what Fleming wrote. But it worked.
However, even as a child, I didn’t believe for one second that this man was the same agent that took on Dr. No, Bunt and Grant, Goldfinger and Oddjob, Largo and Fiona, or Blofeld from the previous films. But that naivety of Lazenby’s worked and the larger narrative of Bond falling in love, swept me away then, as it still does today.
What a film to end the 60s on.

To recap: I fell in love with Connery as an idol of masculinity, alpha masculinity; he moved so smoothly, his clothes were classy, he was a physical menace who was cool as a cucumber, but, if vulnerability did leak from a crack, he sealed it up by virtue of his actions. He was the ultimate hero, and while my peers were into GI JOE and Star Wars, I was begging my parents for thin black ties, pointed shoes, pleated pants and blazers.

Suffice to say, I had issues with Roger Moore.
Gone was the panther, and in his stead, a knobby-knees, not athletic , jokester.
This guy was comfortable in bell bottoms and large collared shirts.
He didn’t fight very well, lacking that physical edge I fell in love with.
And to this day, I can’t tell you what his hair color is.
But, over time, I leaned into this man, and realized that behind the cocked eyebrow, he really made choices to capture the essence of Bond, but in a different way than Connery. He was a little more layered and vulnerable. And I eventually found his charm to be comforting.
Saying that, I was happy when his tenure came to an end.

I was even more happy when Dalton was announced. I was 11. And here was this dark haired, square jawed new actor with eyes like a wolf.

By the time I saw Daylights for the first time, my heart almost pounded its way through my chest. Bond was back! This new Bond could run, body check people out of his way. Jump on moving vehicles…

A couple years later, I thought License to Kill was a tremendous drop in production value, but, Dalton was consistently terrific, and only got better as he infiltrated Sanchez’s gang (side note: Ive met with Davi several times. He is larger than life, literally! His head and hands are ENORMOUS!!!! He is as charming as Sanchez, his voice a lovely baritone and he is a genuine gentleman. I indeed love this man (not in a romantic way, . Happily married to my beautiful wife, !!).

When Dalton didn’t return, I was extremely upset. I knew Pierce Brosnan from living all around North America, and I hated his Bond-lite shtick in Remington Steele.

What I am about to say is not meant to offend. It’s purely subjective, and is only right to me:

I disliked Brosnan in most everything I’ve seen him in except for The Fourth Protocol and The Thomas Crown Affair.

My problem with him is, he’s a terrible actor.
He poses.
And as Bond, he claimed to take a little Connery (what? cuz I see no evidence of even a sliver of greatness that Connery exuded), and; a little from Moore (which I found outrageous as Brosnan isn’t naturally funny, nor nowhere near as charming as Moore).

I find Brosnan the worst James Bond, and his films, to me, are, without a doubt, bottom of the barrel. I found some interesting things to enjoy in Goldeneye and Tomorrow Never Dies, but they were just glimpses. And every time he tried to play “serious” I fell over laughing (he knew all about my shouuuuuuuuuuulder, where to huuurt me”…..).

Once again, I apologize if I’m offending anyone, but from the moment I saw him in Remington, I didn’t like him. Found him a fake poseur. And this continues to this day. I just dont find him genuine; Connery’s presentation was genuine and authoritative masculinity in beautiful suits; Moore was a sly performer, layered with authentic charm and humour; Dalton was an authentic machine man of action. His passion for literary Bond fuelled his fever pitch performances.
But Brosnan? In my eyes, he was an empty suit.

I wanted change. The next era to come left me frustrated, at times tinged with confusion, but it’s a long one, and, since I had to rewrite my original post, I need to get back to my real work, . I will dedicate time to clarify where I stand with the next era.

I hope this gives an insight into who and what I am as a Bond fan. Feel free to pick at anything I said, and I again apologize if my harsh Brosnan take upset you (I hate even writing about it, to be honest, as it’s all subjective and I know others genuinely love him as Bond. I wish I could too, but, no matter how I’ve tried, i now accept, I just don’t like him).

Thanks for giving me this opportunity, acid!!!

[bjmdds]

Pluto, you are NOT offending anyone stating who you like or do not like as Bond. Connery will always be Bond to me. The rest are his replacements to carry on. I cannot stand Cr-egg as Bond. I am curious how you found this forum by the way online, and joined our fortress of Bond solitude?

[Pluto007]

Pluto, you are NOT offending anyone stating who you like or do not like as Bond. Connery will always be Bond to me. The rest are his replacements to carry on. I cannot stand Cr-egg as Bond. I am curious how you found this forum by the way online, and joined our fortress of Bond solitude?

Thanks bjmdds… I was more concerned with upsetting a Brosnan fan. I know he was great for a segment of fans, and my words on him are just my subjective feelings. Very real to me, but they should mean squat to others, especially fans of the man.

I was searching Bond websites on google a few weeks ago, and this one came up as one of the first. Not quite sure why I dove in to interact, because o still don’t quite understand how to use the site, lol!!

But every day I come on, and if I have any kinda news, I drop it. Or an opinion or something to start a chat. Which I wasn’t successful at.

I am happy that Acid invited me to share some details. And later today, or tomorrow, I’ll get into my issues with the Craig era. I don’t dislike him as much as many on here seem to, but I don’t think he’s close to God’s gift to James Bond. Some of my issues revolve around the actor, some around choices in the script and direction; I saw really good ideas that died due to poor execution. In short: it was a frustrating 15 years.

[Kristatos]

All the Bond actors have their fans and detractors (hey, poetry), though few people would deny that Connery is the definitive Bond. This site started around the time that Casino Royale came out, as a refuge for those who didn't like the new actor, or the film. At the time, it was pretty much verboten on the main fan forums to utter anything less than breathless adulation for Craig.

Pro-Craig trolls would often follow us here in an attempt to bully us into submission, as not liking Craig was considered tantamount to heresy. There was one moderator in particular on one of the biggest Bond fan sites who was (and still is) notorious for banning people just because they criticised Craig and/or the Bond films he appeared in. He has continued to register here periodically under a variety of aliases, and post nasty personal attacks (including racist abuse against one of our members), so forgive us if we get a little paranoid when a new face arrives.

Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk

[kater23]

From the description, and interviews I've read, this does appear to be about Desmond Llewellyn's Q, rather than Cleese's or Whishaw's. Surprised IFP has the rights to use the character - I thought he was strictly from the movies, and doesn't appear in the books.

Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk

The Hannibal Lecter franchise has the same thing going..because of legal issues they weren’t able to use certain characters(if they did it would have made for interesting viewing past Season 3.)

[Pluto007]

All the Bond actors have their fans and detractors (hey, poetry), though few people would deny that Connery is the definitive Bond. This site started around the time that Casino Royale came out, as a refuge for those who didn't like the new actor, or the film. At the time, it was pretty much verboten on the main fan forums to utter anything less than breathless adulation for Craig.

Pro-Craig trolls would often follow us here in an attempt to bully us into submission, as not liking Craig was considered tantamount to heresy. There was one moderator in particular on one of the biggest Bond fan sites who was (and still is) notorious for banning people just because they criticised Craig and/or the Bond films he appeared in. He has continued to register here periodically under a variety of aliases, and post nasty personal attacks (including racist abuse against one of our members), so forgive us if we get a little paranoid when a new face arrives.

Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk

Oh, wow. Okay, this I certainly had no prior knowledge of. I honestly care less who someone's favorite James Bond actor is, but I ALWAYS find it interesting who they like, and who they don't like. It's always interesting, but in no way should it be offensive.

And they come on this site and attack others, and with rascist insults? Lovely. Truly lovely. Lovely as in psychopathic.

This is a fictitious character. We all have our reasons for loving him and his adventures. But not at the expense of basic human kindness and respect. So, yes, I understand fully, and now I understand why I felt like I was trespassing. I completely understand, and thank you for letting me know Kristatos.

[acid]

And Dirty Benny, I should say I don’t know why I may’ve rubbed you the wrong way, however, I’d be willing to have a further conversation with you.

Because this type of communication is difficult and anything can be read between the lines, I’d be happy to set a video call with you?

I could send you a zoom link. I think after speaking live to me, you’ll probably have your fears put to rest.

Let me know and we can arrange something today or tomorrow?

Setting aside the obvious folly of exposing sensitive personal information to a random person on the internet, I don't see what this would accomplish, unless you're going to divulge you've really been Barbara Broccoli all along.

Let's just chalk up my out burst to one too many medium dry vodka martinis, give each other a wide berth and leave it at that.

Well, all I would need is an email account so I could send you a zoom invite, or I would go so far as even giving you one of my cell numbers(I don't mind). My offer genuinely stands.

And you don't have to give me a wide berth. If I say something that over steps decorum etc, or if you feel like engaging me on anything I say, please feel free.

Hello Pluto. It's good to have someone bringing a new perspective to this forum especially if it generates some new discussion.

I am probably biased but in my experience dirtybenny is usually a pretty reasonable guy who is often happy to have in depth discussions on here if approached in the right way. The medium of the written word is perfectly fine for us here and I am sure you can appreciate the desire to maintain anonymity, especially given the views expressed on this site have generally been opposed to the angle taken by the mainstream media on the Bond movies in recent years.

Perhaps if you could expand on what it is you do and don't enjoy in the Bond films before and after Craig's debut, it might help generate some more intelligent discussion. How did you feel about each actor's portrayal of the character before Craig and how do you feel Craig's portrayal compares? Which are your favorite pre-Craig Bond movies and why?

I get your point that the non fans have different thoughts and expectations regarding Bond to the fans and hear that you have some kind of experience of the industry. While I admit I haven't had a lot of time yet to consider your posts in depth, my initial impression is that you are repeating a few key points multiple times without trying to find much common ground for discussion. That is just an initial impression so I hope I am not being unfair. That could be what is rubbing DB up the wrong way though. You seem quite a prolific poster. I wish you well anyway.

Somehow I deleted a full response to this lovely gesture Acid, and now I will try and do it again, but now in parts, as I’ve got to get a move on to something I’m presently working on.

First of all, as I said in my original and now deleted post: thank you for this, Acid!

I am new here. I actually don’t know much about the history of this website, and I was trying to start conversations that really didn’t catch on.

I did feel like a trespasser, and that’s not a good feeling at all.

I think this offer to share a little of myself is fantastic. Please excuse the length:

What do I like about Bond, pre and post Craig?

Connery
Connery
Connery
…and…
Connery

I was about eight when we got our first VHS, and my father made sure that we got a healthy dose of Connery Bond, so you can imagine, I was confused and upset when I discovered he was no longer 007 by the time I started watching these films (except for that one film that really made me scratch my head: the man I obsessively watched and admired was back. But he looked… different. He sounded a little different too. The film didn’t click for me then, nor now (but mainly due to its history)).

A decade of lightning in a bottle worth of films, the 60s will never be captured again. I was passionately in love with the style, the music, the clothes, and this iconic giant of a man, James Bond, agent 007, with a license to kill— played by Sean Connery.

It was magic to me as a boy.
It’s magic to me as a man, with my own family.

And, although Sean Connery IS James Bond, my favourite Bond film was/is, OHMSS, which didn’t go over well with Dad! Connery was Bond— no ifs ands or buts.
And I understand this, and I believe it too, but this film still stands as the numero uno. Why? By the time I had discovered the film, I was also starting to plow through the Fleming novels, and loved them. Adored them.

And like Fleming’s latter books, I love when a Bond film stretches a little bit. Shows a little more humanity. And the humanity, in this case, came from Dame Rigg. All George had to do was react off her lead— and that’s when he was at his best.
What a beautiful film. Barry hitting a high. Hunt really shooting the hell out of that script and it seems the best of the novel started to show up magically on my TV screen. And the contrasts to the book are just as interesting, as in; in the novel, Bond was on the other side of jaded. In the film, Lazenby seemed naive and innocent, the opposite to what Fleming wrote. But it worked.
However, even as a child, I didn’t believe for one second that this man was the same agent that took on Dr. No, Bunt and Grant, Goldfinger and Oddjob, Largo and Fiona, or Blofeld from the previous films. But that naivety of Lazenby’s worked and the larger narrative of Bond falling in love, swept me away then, as it still does today.
What a film to end the 60s on.

To recap: I fell in love with Connery as an idol of masculinity, alpha masculinity; he moved so smoothly, his clothes were classy, he was a physical menace who was cool as a cucumber, but, if vulnerability did leak from a crack, he sealed it up by virtue of his actions. He was the ultimate hero, and while my peers were into GI JOE and Star Wars, I was begging my parents for thin black ties, pointed shoes, pleated pants and blazers.

Suffice to say, I had issues with Roger Moore.
Gone was the panther, and in his stead, a knobby-knees, not athletic , jokester.
This guy was comfortable in bell bottoms and large collared shirts.
He didn’t fight very well, lacking that physical edge I fell in love with.
And to this day, I can’t tell you what his hair color is.
But, over time, I leaned into this man, and realized that behind the cocked eyebrow, he really made choices to capture the essence of Bond, but in a different way than Connery. He was a little more layered and vulnerable. And I eventually found his charm to be comforting.
Saying that, I was happy when his tenure came to an end.

I was even more happy when Dalton was announced. I was 11. And here was this dark haired, square jawed new actor with eyes like a wolf.

By the time I saw Daylights for the first time, my heart almost pounded its way through my chest. Bond was back! This new Bond could run, body check people out of his way. Jump on moving vehicles…

A couple years later, I thought License to Kill was a tremendous drop in production value, but, Dalton was consistently terrific, and only got better as he infiltrated Sanchez’s gang (side note: Ive met with Davi several times. He is larger than life, literally! His head and hands are ENORMOUS!!!! He is as charming as Sanchez, his voice a lovely baritone and he is a genuine gentleman. I indeed love this man (not in a romantic way, . Happily married to my beautiful wife, !!).

When Dalton didn’t return, I was extremely upset. I knew Pierce Brosnan from living all around North America, and I hated his Bond-lite shtick in Remington Steele.

What I am about to say is not meant to offend. It’s purely subjective, and is only right to me:

I disliked Brosnan in most everything I’ve seen him in except for The Fourth Protocol and The Thomas Crown Affair.

My problem with him is, he’s a terrible actor.
He poses.
And as Bond, he claimed to take a little Connery (what? cuz I see no evidence of even a sliver of greatness that Connery exuded), and; a little from Moore (which I found outrageous as Brosnan isn’t naturally funny, nor nowhere near as charming as Moore).

I find Brosnan the worst James Bond, and his films, to me, are, without a doubt, bottom of the barrel. I found some interesting things to enjoy in Goldeneye and Tomorrow Never Dies, but they were just glimpses. And every time he tried to play “serious” I fell over laughing (he knew all about my shouuuuuuuuuuulder, where to huuurt me”…..).

Once again, I apologize if I’m offending anyone, but from the moment I saw him in Remington, I didn’t like him. Found him a fake poseur. And this continues to this day. I just dont find him genuine; Connery’s presentation was genuine and authoritative masculinity in beautiful suits; Moore was a sly performer, layered with authentic charm and humour; Dalton was an authentic machine man of action. His passion for literary Bond fuelled his fever pitch performances.
But Brosnan? In my eyes, he was an empty suit.

I wanted change. The next era to come left me frustrated, at times tinged with confusion, but it’s a long one, and, since I had to rewrite my original post, I need to get back to my real work, . I will dedicate time to clarify where I stand with the next era.

I hope this gives an insight into who and what I am as a Bond fan. Feel free to pick at anything I said, and I again apologize if my harsh Brosnan take upset you (I hate even writing about it, to be honest, as it’s all subjective and I know others genuinely love him as Bond. I wish I could too, but, no matter how I’ve tried, i now accept, I just don’t like him).

Thanks for giving me this opportunity, acid!!!

You are welcome. You are obviously a big fan of Bond and you have reservations about the Craig era so you have those things in common with the rest of us here to start with.

Ultimately Bond is supposed to be about entertainment and works of fiction, so most of our feelings and opinions about these movies will of course be subjective but that doesn't stop it being fun and satisfying to share and discuss them. I personally think it's good when we don't agree on everything, provided everyone remains civil. It makes the discussion a bit more interesting.

As for the various actors, I think I can see where you are coming from. Connery was the one who started it all on the screen and is almost universally liked. He was the first Bond I saw when I was quite young so started off as my favorite but as I saw more of Moore's movies I eventually settled on slightly preferring his portrayal.

Both Moore and Connery starred in the best (and most) of the films and I feel they both had the most charisma and best looks for the character compared to the other actors.

Connery is a bit better in some of the fight scenes like you said and his cold deadpan humor works great as well. Moore's Bond often seems even more relaxed than Connery's I would say, really piles on the charm and humor and generally seems to be having a lot of fun. I like when Bond is fun.

Connery's Bond films are amazing achievements when compared with what else was showing in the 60s. By the time Moore came along I get the impression Cubby had a well oiled machine and the films seem very polished to me. In action movies I especially like the stunts and I feel the Moore era was the pinnacle here with some of the most incredible stunts ever attempted. I am a bit of a petrolhead as well so really enjoy the car chases and other vehicular action. Regarding action and stunts, OHMSS is another high point. The long ski sequences are just amazing (they recaptured a little of that with FYEO to an extent). The love story with Tracy is just perfectly done. Lazenby is OK but it's the movie itself that really holds up rather than his Bond I think.

Dalton I like, he added something to the role taking it really seriously and going back to the Fleming material. I always remember he nailed the look of fear when the trucks are side by side and a vehicle appears coming towards them. You don't usually see Bond getting that scared.

I personally like Brosnan as Bond but not to the same degree as Moore or Connery. I think Brosnan has exactly the right look for Bond and he had a great attitude to the role. He likes the character and wants to play him well. That said I think I might get where you are coming from, that sometimes his Bond acting comes across a little sort of flat compared to, say Connery or Moore. I think he appreciated he had big shoes to fill and that he needed some more time to really relax into and develop the character. I love GoldenEye but I have some issues with the later Brosnan movies which I won't go into now. Suffice to say I feel the scripts didn't do Pierce many favors. It is a pity his November Man movie didn't get released more widely and better reviews because in that I think he looks more relaxed and has more sort of swagger. The scene where he throws his sunglasses onto the table and casually munches an olive or something off the other characters' plate for example really shows this. He needed a bit more of that kind of thing to really make his Bond his own I feel.

I could write a load more and I probably will later.

[dirtybenny]

Hello Pluto. It's good to have someone bringing a new perspective to this forum especially if it generates some new discussion.

I am probably biased but in my experience dirtybenny is usually a pretty reasonable guy who is often happy to have in depth discussions on here if approached in the right way. The medium of the written word is perfectly fine for us here and I am sure you can appreciate the desire to maintain anonymity, especially given the views expressed on this site have generally been opposed to the angle taken by the mainstream media on the Bond movies in recent years.

Perhaps if you could expand on what it is you do and don't enjoy in the Bond films before and after Craig's debut, it might help generate some more intelligent discussion. How did you feel about each actor's portrayal of the character before Craig and how do you feel Craig's portrayal compares? Which are your favorite pre-Craig Bond movies and why?

I get your point that the non fans have different thoughts and expectations regarding Bond to the fans and hear that you have some kind of experience of the industry. While I admit I haven't had a lot of time yet to consider your posts in depth, my initial impression is that you are repeating a few key points multiple times without trying to find much common ground for discussion. That is just an initial impression so I hope I am not being unfair. That could be what is rubbing DB up the wrong way though. You seem quite a prolific poster. I wish you well anyway.

Thank you for your faith Acid and for putting a more eloquent spin on my feelings in the matter, so yeah, basically this /\

All the Bond actors have their fans and detractors (hey, poetry), though few people would deny that Connery is the definitive Bond. This site started around the time that Casino Royale came out, as a refuge for those who didn't like the new actor, or the film. At the time, it was pretty much verboten on the main fan forums to utter anything less than breathless adulation for Craig.

Pro-Craig trolls would often follow us here in an attempt to bully us into submission, as not liking Craig was considered tantamount to heresy. There was one moderator in particular on one of the biggest Bond fan sites who was (and still is) notorious for banning people just because they criticised Craig and/or the Bond films he appeared in. He has continued to register here periodically under a variety of aliases, and post nasty personal attacks (including racist abuse against one of our members), so forgive us if we get a little paranoid when a new face arrives.

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This too! I'm usually a bit more magnanimous when the trolls come to call, but for whatever reason I seem to be "in a mood" as of late.