Can Daniel Craig win you over.....

[stockslivevan]

Thought it was worth a try, then again 5 months without seeing it should have told me something.

[paco chaos]

AmeriBond, you should check the film out. It's not perfect, and I didn't care for it that much, but after having been told it was the best film in a long time by multiple people I gave it a chance. I agree with most of your points against Craig, but the film does have a few valid points worth checking out.
Regardless of my opinion, you should watch it before critisizing it as a film.
Had the film been the total turkey I had expected and I heard nothing but negative, I would have waited to see it on HBO or let a friend lend me their DVD. I'd give the film a 5 out of 10 rating. but this is my opinion. obviously I am in a minority, so rather than letting people's opinions sway you, make your own.

[James]

I was the infamous AMERIBOND because of my rejection of DC as Bond. Being a big Bond fan, and having posted on UE for years, I found it really strange that when DC's name came up as a possible Bond actor, there was nearly 100% ridicule across the board. After he was chosen as Bond the same people started singing his praises nonstop. Any dissenting voices dissapeared from the boards. Postings on the forums were being posted under my name that I did not post, and ect. Longtime members dissatisfied with the choice of DC dissapeared from the forums, kicked off by the moderators. My reasons for not seeing DC as Bond have always been the same. He is not tall. He is not in my view or my wifes view very good looking. He has blond hair. He does not have the classic deep "James Bond voice". He is not suave or cool or sophisticated. These are all things that previous Bond actors had, to varying degrees. DC has none of these. My wife said "Couldn't they have picked somebody who at least looked like James Bond? CR seems to do well with the younger crowd, but us older Bond fans will stick to the old stuff. I think i'll pass on CR.

I think UE means Universal Exports. I agree with AB that a lot of posters on the various forums were lost or kicked off after Craig was signed. And a lot of people (Cbn Mods,Dr Shatterhand etc,etc) assured us that Craig wouldn't be cast, said he didn't look the part and then suddenly became his biggest cheerleader as soon as he was signed as James Bond! I can understand your reluctance to see the film because I felt like that. After the reviews came out I went because everyone said it was amazing. I left the cinema wondering if I'd seen the same film as everyone else. My advice, as painful as it may be, would be to watch the film at least once so you can discuss it on the forum.

[Dr. No]

I was the infamous AMERIBOND because of my rejection of DC as Bond. Being a big Bond fan, and having posted on UE for years, I found it really strange that when DC's name came up as a possible Bond actor, there was nearly 100% ridicule across the board. After he was chosen as Bond the same people started singing his praises nonstop. Any dissenting voices dissapeared from the boards. Postings on the forums were being posted under my name that I did not post, and ect. Longtime members dissatisfied with the choice of DC dissapeared from the forums, kicked off by the moderators. My reasons for not seeing DC as Bond have always been the same. He is not tall. He is not in my view or my wifes view very good looking. He has blond hair. He does not have the classic deep "James Bond voice". He is not suave or cool or sophisticated. These are all things that previous Bond actors had, to varying degrees. DC has none of these. My wife said "Couldn't they have picked somebody who at least looked like James Bond? CR seems to do well with the younger crowd, but us older Bond fans will stick to the old stuff. I think i'll pass on CR.

You are not going to miss much. For me Cr was a lacking in many ways. I'm not alone in my disappointment among the people we went with.
I don't think CR was a good movie bond or no. options differ here and some either love it of hate it.

I don't think CR will stand the test of time and be as hyped in the next few year. It will be like reading a old review for a movie you hate and wonder where all of the good reviews came from.
Like I said I consider it disappointing. When Craig is gone IMo it won't be pointed to as a the best Bond movie or him as the best actor.

[Captain Nash]

Time will tell Doc, but surely you need to see a film before you can judge it?
You don't judge a book by it's cover do you?

[AMERIBOND]

I've only posted twice so far, and already I'm being accused of bashing CR. I have not bashed CR. I stated the physical and personality differences between DC and the other Bond actors that came before him. The topic here is, Can Daniel Craig Win Me Over. Not is CR a good movie or not. Can DC win me over. You tell me. I once thought he might be able to be Bond. That is until I saw the trailer. After I saw the trailer I knew you couldn't put a suit on a guy and call him James Bond, no matter how good he can act. DC does have his good points . He's not as hairy as Connery. He's a better actor than Dalton. He's in shape, and he works cheap. But does he have to look like he's sucking on lemons all the time? I will rent CR and watch it. Craig people,tell me what I should watch for. The worse thing I have heard about this film is that it is tooooo long and drawn out. Roger Moore said "Any idiot can be Bond". Who was he talking about?

[stockslivevan]

"Any idiot can be Bond". Who was he talking about?

Like he said, any idiot. Okay I'm kidding. I think that's just his way of saying that anyone could play Bond and the series would always survive. Every Bond actor is different, hence "any idiot" could play Bond. Or maybe we're just looking too deep into his sense of humor. He afterall supported Craig for the role... including Connery. Dalton and Brosnan are the only ones who watched the film (since Sean and Roger never watched films without them) and they both praised Craig's take, esspecially Brosnan going as far to say that Craig is the best Bond ever.

Of course that's their opinions and I think we'd all be glad to hear yours after you finally rent the film.

[AMERIBOND]

Before I watch CR, I would like to know what to watch for. Having seen 3 films and a trailer with DC, I know he lacks the physical standards set by the previous Bond actors. Being small, not as good-looking, blond haired, no suave or "Gentleman-Like qualities, what does DC have that I should look for, that makes him better than Sean or Pierce?

[stockslivevan]

I don't see how you can judge his Bond performance from other movies he performed in. He's a versatile actor, he's not like the kind of actors that act the same in all their movies, he's one of those few that actually dedicate themselves to acting which I really respect him for.

[The Sweeney]

Before I watch CR, I would like to know what to watch for. Having seen 3 films and a trailer with DC, I know he lacks the physical standards set by the previous Bond actors. Being small, not as good-looking, blond haired, no suave or "Gentleman-Like qualities, what does DC have that I should look for, that makes him better than Sean or Pierce?

He is better than all the other Bond's, but better than Connery? Hard to say at this stage. Let's see how he does in Bond 22.

Regarding what to look out for? I think what really struck me when I first saw CR, was that with Craig in the role, he hits the ground running. The opening Madagascar chase scene shows all his physical attributes very quickly, and for the first time since Connery, we actually believe that the man performing the stunts, jumping from cranes, punching people, shooting people IS the guy playing the role (and not some stunt guy cleverly interchanged with close-ups of Moore).

With Craig, you do believe this guy can kick ass! He bulldozes his way through the film like Russel Crowe Gladiator style, relentless, unstoppable, wreckless. Forget all what you have seen before, with Craig, we really do believe we are seeing a different, new character for the very first time. There is no homages or nods to previous Bond's.

And then he plays a vulnerability too that is reminiscent of the literary character, but done in a different way to Brosnan's attempts at this. Watch Craig's face before he makes that big jump off the crane. He hesitates, and looks slightly scared before making that jump. Watch him get slightly needled when Eva suggests he was orphaned. Watch his bottom lip tremble with fear before the harrowing torture scene. We see fear in Bond for the first time in Craig's performance. We hear him scream out in pain when he gets tortured, and we see him recover in hospital, something that only ever happened in the novels until now.

And then there is the cool elements that every Bond actor should portray. Watch Craig stroll into the casino with his tux, watch him walk anywhere - he has successfully adopted the Connery swagger and made it his own. Watch the cool way he stands behind a wall at the end shoot-out in Venice, bullets firing all around him, and he hardly flinches. Watch the smiles he gives to himself after smashing the Land Rover and sees the guys reaction on the security monitor, watch him smile after the bomber blows himself up. Craig portrays the same level of coolness as Steve McQueen.

You'll really have to see it for yourself to decide what you think. I'm a bigger fan of the novels than I am the films, and for me Craig is the closest I have seen to the Fleming version. I appreciate some of the traits I have outlined above has not pleased everyone, because it doesn't follow on from what we have seen before with the cinematic version, but if you are open to the new change, and fond of the novels, you may just like the new Bond too.

[Jermaine76]

What can Daniel Craig do to win you over and make you enjoy his next Bond adventures?

What he can do? He can make these last 2 films quick get the hell out of town. I've already dub CR as "The Dark Age of 007 - Episode I: Casino Royale".

[The Sweeney]

What can Daniel Craig do to win you over and make you enjoy his next Bond adventures?

What he can do? He can make these last 2 films quick get the hell out of town. I've already dub CR as "The Dark Age of 007 - Episode I: Casino Royale".

Are you aware CR has been both a financial AND critical success then...?

[paco chaos]

Before I watch CR, I would like to know what to watch for. Having seen 3 films and a trailer with DC, I know he lacks the physical standards set by the previous Bond actors. Being small, not as good-looking, blond haired, no suave or "Gentleman-Like qualities, what does DC have that I should look for, that makes him better than Sean or Pierce?

He is better than all the other Bond's, but better than Connery? Hard to say at this stage. Let's see how he does in Bond 22.

Regarding what to look out for? I think what really struck me when I first saw CR, was that with Craig in the role, he hits the ground running. The opening Madagascar chase scene shows all his physical attributes very quickly, and for the first time since Connery, we actually believe that the man performing the stunts, jumping from cranes, punching people, shooting people IS the guy playing the role (and not some stunt guy cleverly interchanged with close-ups of Moore).

With Craig, you do believe this guy can kick ass! He bulldozes his way through the film like Russel Crowe Gladiator style, relentless, unstoppable, wreckless. Forget all what you have seen before, with Craig, we really do believe we are seeing a different, new character for the very first time. There is no homages or nods to previous Bond's.

And then he plays a vulnerability too that is reminiscent of the literary character, but done in a different way to Brosnan's attempts at this. Watch Craig's face before he makes that big jump off the crane. He hesitates, and looks slightly scared before making that jump. Watch him get slightly needled when Eva suggests he was orphaned. Watch his bottom lip tremble with fear before the harrowing torture scene. We see fear in Bond for the first time in Craig's performance. We hear him scream out in pain when he gets tortured, and we see him recover in hospital, something that only ever happened in the novels until now.

And then there is the cool elements that every Bond actor should portray. Watch Craig stroll into the casino with his tux, watch him walk anywhere - he has successfully adopted the Connery swagger and made it his own. Watch the cool way he stands behind a wall at the end shoot-out in Venice, bullets firing all around him, and he hardly flinches. Watch the smiles he gives to himself after smashing the Land Rover and sees the guys reaction on the security monitor, watch him smile after the bomber blows himself up. Craig portrays the same level of coolness as Steve McQueen.

You'll really have to see it for yourself to decide what you think. I'm a bigger fan of the novels than I am the films, and for me Craig is the closest I have seen to the Fleming version. I appreciate some of the traits I have outlined above has not pleased everyone, because it doesn't follow on from what we have seen before with the cinematic version, but if you are open to the new change, and fond of the novels, you may just like the new Bond too.

you know, I still don't know what Steve McQueen has to do with James Bond. He's definitely an iconic actor, but so is John Wayne, and if they cast the next Bond and he resembles John Wayne, will that make him good as well? or Groucho Marx? James Dean? W.C. Fields? Boris Karloff? just asking.

[Jermaine76]

Are you aware CR has been both a financial AND critical success then...?

I am fully aware of the success of the film. James Bond is the man these days...thanks to my man Pierce. You could have Justin Timberlake as Bond and the movie would still be a success.

[Captain Nash]

Are you aware CR has been both a financial AND critical success then...?

I am fully aware of the success of the film. James Bond is the man these days...thanks to my man Pierce. You could have Justin Timberlake as Bond and the movie would still be a success.

No it wouldn't.
I'm gonna disagree with you there. The Bond producers have sense not to cast someone who is absolutely not suitable for the role.
Bond will not be played by an American anytime soon.

[carl stromberg]

I'm gonna disagree with you there. The Bond producers have sense not to cast someone who is absolutely not suitable for the role.

Are you sure about that statement?