Was Craig too old to play a young Bond.

[TheManWithNoName]

James Bond is 37 in Moonraker which is set in 1954. He gained his 00 number during WWII. for killing a Japanese man and someone else in Sweden.

So if he was 37 in 1954 that would make him 27 in 1944 and therefore in his mid 20's when he got his 00 number.

Of course Fleming contradicted himself and there are a number of wonderful spin-off books which play with the Bond chronology.

As a fan of the original Fleming books, I have always imagined James Bond to have joined the 00 section at a young age. If you want to believe that James Bond looks like Daniel Craig and has just joined the 00 section at the age of 38 from the SAS, then good for you; there is no fixed chronology, I suppose.

It wouldn't have happened, and at Commander Bond wouldn't have been that young, and a Commander would not have been in his 20's, most of these guys spend 15+ years in the Navy. When I read the books, I picture Bond between the ages of 33 and 35, which would've been the perfect age to become a 00.

[Skywalker]

James Bond is 37 in Moonraker which is set in 1954. He gained his 00 number during WWII. for killing a Japanese man and someone else in Sweden.

So if he was 37 in 1954 that would make him 27 in 1944 and therefore in his mid 20's when he got his 00 number.

Of course Fleming contradicted himself and there are a number of wonderful spin-off books which play with the Bond chronology.

As a fan of the original Fleming books, I have always imagined James Bond to have joined the 00 section at a young age. If you want to believe that James Bond looks like Daniel Craig and has just joined the 00 section at the age of 38 from the SAS, then good for you; there is no fixed chronology, I suppose.

It wouldn't have happened, and at Commander Bond wouldn't have been that young, and a Commander would not have been in his 20's, most of these guys spend 15+ years in the Navy. When I read the books, I picture Bond between the ages of 33 and 35, which would've been the perfect age to become a 00.

I don't think you would be too far away if you used an age range of between 28 and 35.

With this in mind why did they choose DC, he looks more like the age range of 38 to 45.

[ID]

Gerard Butler was 35 years old in the year they cast James Bond for Casino Royale. What a shame that no one at Eon could find him in the telephone book.

[Skywalker]

Craig just seemed too old to play Bond the way he did. I admire the fact he wanted to make the part his own, but surely even he should realise the way he played it belongs to a much younger Bond.

[paco chaos]

i think craig looks too old to be bond at the beginning of his career. he looks older than pierce brosnan.

[The Sweeney]

i think craig looks too old to be bond at the beginning of his career. he looks older than pierce brosnan.

Brozza in DAD???
You are kidding, right...

[Dr. No]

Craig looks old for his age. Matt Damon (only 2 years younger) looks at least a decade his junior. And even Damon didnt play a rooky agent.

[paco chaos]

i think craig looks too old to be bond at the beginning of his career. he looks older than pierce brosnan.

Brozza in DAD???
You are kidding, right...

well, I think that they look about the same age at this point.

[adam]

I think the only time age becomes relevant with Bond, is when the actor playing him looks considerably older than the part allows, and begins to lose credibility.

This has happened a few times in the franchise -

Connery in DAF
Moore in FYEO, OP and AVTAK
Brosnan in DAD

I thought Bond was supposed to always be 37. I suppose this idea went out of the window when a 44 year old Moore was annonced as Bond. The main thing is not how old is the actor, but does he still look good, fit and able to pull a few birds. I think Connery, Moore & Brosnan all looked older than 37 in a lot of their films. However they still looked handsome & had that special something about them which made them James Bond. Only Moore in AVTAK looked too old. Craig looks older than his 39 years. However in todays society he will have the option of Botox, a few discreet nips & tucks to his face & special effects to make him look younger. This won't make him handsome but will mean he will be able to carry on into his 40's. Which is a great shame.

[adam]

Craig looks too old to be a rooky agent. When he smiles looks even older.
If young Bond was intended then a young actor should have been hired. Still would have needed a better story and director.

I'm dreading the coming of those young bond movies.

I think a good topic for discussion would be - 'Was Brosnan too old to make his fifth Bond movie'. One of the reasons he was fired was because he was supposedly too old. Any thoughts.

[Kristatos]

I think a good topic for discussion would be - 'Was Brosnan too old to make his fifth Bond movie'. One of the reasons he was fired was because he was supposedly too old. Any thoughts.

I think he looks good for his age (botox is wonderful stuff ), and had EON not waited 4 years between Bond films*, he would have looked even better.

*=unless you count the game Everything Or Nothing which, according to Wikipedia, has been called "the Bond film for 2004" due to its high production values.

[Captain Nash]

I think a good topic for discussion would be - 'Was Brosnan too old to make his fifth Bond movie'. One of the reasons he was fired was because he was supposedly too old. Any thoughts.

I think he looks good for his age (botox is wonderful stuff ), and had EON not waited 4 years between Bond films*, he would have looked even better.

*=unless you count the game Everything Or Nothing which, according to Wikipedia, has been called "the Bond film for 2004" due to its high production values.

I'll have what kristatos is having.
You're saying Brosnan would've looked better as Bond if he'd have done a fifth film?
I'm going to have to disagree.

[Kristatos]

You're saying Brosnan would've looked better as Bond if he'd have done a fifth film?

Not quite. I'm saying that he would have looked better in a fifth film made in 2004 than he would in a fifth film made in 2006.

[paco chaos]

you can always put vaseline on the lens. I'm sure Mr. Brosnan is no stranger to this method, as I'm sure Mr. Craig is as well.

[Skywalker]

Craig looks old for his age. Matt Damon (only 2 years younger) looks at least a decade his junior. And even Damon didnt play a rooky agent.

Just watched 'The Departed' (Great film BTW) and MD does not seemed to have aged from Good Will Hunting.

[Captain Nash]

As we haven't been told exactly how old Craigs Bond is, is it really an issue?
If we find out he's supposed to be a late 20's early 30's then I would agree, but if he's in his mid to late 30's then I'd say Craig fit's the bill.
But I don't often go to a movie, watching it to pick faults all the time. If it's a good film, I'll go along for the ride. If not I'll notice any problems there are with the acting, the story or the general look of the film.
As a majority of people loved CR and Daniel Craig, I'd say many of the problems that some of the members here have are not the same as the masses.
Nothing wrong with either opinion of course.

[Skywalker]

As we haven't been told exactly how old Craigs Bond is, is it really an issue?
If we find out he's supposed to be a late 20's early 30's then I would agree, but if he's in his mid to late 30's then I'd say Craig fit's the bill.

This is the major sticking point for many members on this site. He looks too old to play Bond the way he did.

But I don't often go to a movie, watching it to pick faults all the time. If it's a good film, I'll go along for the ride. If not I'll notice any problems there are with the acting, the story or the general look of the film.

Same here. I really wanted to enjoy the film, but that just wasn't the case. My expectations were perhaps too high after all the glowing reviews.

[Captain Nash]

Judging from some of your thoughts on CR I'd say you were a very hard person to please Buzz.
It would be interesting to know the real you I would imagine.

[adam]

you can always put vaseline on the lens. I'm sure Mr. Brosnan is no stranger to this method, as I'm sure Mr. Craig is as well.

Brosnan was starting to show his age in DAD but he still looked good. However 4 years is along time for someone of his age. Just ask poor Roger who still looked good in O but looked positively geriatric in AVTAK just two years later. The 4 year gap after DAD may have been too long for Brosnan. Toby Mcquire, Brandon Roth, Christian Bale & Matt Damon, who star in rival action hero movies are at least 15 years younger than Brosnan. Even Tom Cruise is 10 years younger. Other stars in the Roger Moore era such as Newman, Reynolds, Eastwood & Redford were all older & Moore did'nt look out of place as Bond until AVTAK despite being in his 50's. People were not so age obsessed in the 70's & early 80's. That's not the case now. I say Brosnan should have made a fifth & the public & critics could have decided if he was still up for the job.

[Captain Nash]

Brosnan was starting to show his age in DAD but he still looked good. . I say Brosnan should have made a fifth & the public & critics could have decided if he was still up for the job.

Should've, could've, would've...didn't!
Maybe Brosnan could've made a fifth, and I think everyone expected him to, but circumstances changed. Maybe the shock of his departure is one of the reasons some of you guys can't accept the change.