Which Bond actor was closest to Fleming?

[Gary Seven]

Many of the articles on Casino Royale and Daniel Craig I have read over the last year praise him for being the closest to Fleming;s Bond.

But didn't Tim Dalton do the serious Fleming Bond intepretation in the 1980's?

I think Tim Dalton is unappreciated. He looked like Fleming's Bond, and they did not need to change the character to make him a Flemingesque Bond. He was tough, but handsome and charming as well. Tim did not play some morose thug who was unsure of himself. He played Fleming's Bond in a distinctive Bond movie, and I think all those who say Craig was Fleming's Bond ought to watch Dalton's two Bond movies to see how it is done.

[English Agent]

Many of the articles on Casino Royale and Daniel Craig I have read over the last year praise him for being the closest to Fleming;s Bond.

But didn't Tim Dalton do the serious Fleming Bond intepretation in the 1980's?

I think Tim Dalton is unappreciated. He looked like Fleming's Bond, and they did not need to change the character to make him a Flemingesque Bond. He was tough, but handsome and charming as well. Tim did not play some morose thug who was unsure of himself. He played Fleming's Bond in a distinctive Bond movie, and I think all those who say Craig was Fleming's Bond ought to watch Dalton's two Bond movies to see how it is done.

Very true.....................but there was something in TD's portrayal of Bond
which didn't appeal to the worldwide audience.

Not sure exactly what it was, but for in LTK for instance, it didn't have that good feel factor, maybe he seemed a bit too intense, or solemn perhaps.

[Will]

Many of the articles on Casino Royale and Daniel Craig I have read over the last year praise him for being the closest to Fleming;s Bond.

But didn't Tim Dalton do the serious Fleming Bond intepretation in the 1980's?

I think Tim Dalton is unappreciated. He looked like Fleming's Bond, and they did not need to change the character to make him a Flemingesque Bond. He was tough, but handsome and charming as well. Tim did not play some morose thug who was unsure of himself. He played Fleming's Bond in a distinctive Bond movie, and I think all those who say Craig was Fleming's Bond ought to watch Dalton's two Bond movies to see how it is done.

Timothy Dalton was vastly superior to Daniel Craig. He approached the character in a serious manner with a respect for the literary source. His interviews were laced with a forensic knowledge and enthusiasm for Ian Fleming and Bond. And Craig had a huge advantage over Dalton ~~ the winter box-office slot, a vast pre-release campaign by Sony.

Casino Royale brought us a generic new character who need not have even been called Bond. In fact, if Craig had been given another name in Casino Royale and the film put out under a different title, I suspect critics would have commented on the film and its star in terms of not having the pananche and wit of the James Bond series.

Craig is not Ian Fleming's James Bond. His 'Bond' owes his origin to Barbara Broccoli, Paul Haggis and Robert Ludlum.

[Skywalker]

Many of the articles on Casino Royale and Daniel Craig I have read over the last year praise him for being the closest to Fleming;s Bond.

But didn't Tim Dalton do the serious Fleming Bond intepretation in the 1980's?

I think Tim Dalton is unappreciated. He looked like Fleming's Bond, and they did not need to change the character to make him a Flemingesque Bond. He was tough, but handsome and charming as well. Tim did not play some morose thug who was unsure of himself. He played Fleming's Bond in a distinctive Bond movie, and I think all those who say Craig was Fleming's Bond ought to watch Dalton's two Bond movies to see how it is done.

Timothy Dalton was vastly superior to Daniel Craig. He approached the character in a serious manner with a respect for the literary source. His interviews were laced with a forensic knowledge and enthusiasm for Ian Fleming and Bond. And Craig had a huge advantage over Dalton ~~ the winter box-office slot, a vast pre-release campaign by Sony.

Casino Royale brought us a generic new character who need not have even been called Bond. In fact, if Craig had been given another name in Casino Royale and the film put out under a different title, I suspect critics would have commented on the film and its star in terms of not having the pananche and wit of the James Bond series.

Craig is not Ian Fleming's James Bond. His 'Bond' owes his origin to Barbara Broccoli, Paul Haggis and Robert Ludlum.

Welcome to the forum Will. A very insightful and knowledgeable read. I have to concur with your opinion.

[Commander 0077]

Many of the articles on Casino Royale and Daniel Craig I have read over the last year praise him for being the closest to Fleming;s Bond.

But didn't Tim Dalton do the serious Fleming Bond intepretation in the 1980's?

I think Tim Dalton is unappreciated. He looked like Fleming's Bond, and they did not need to change the character to make him a Flemingesque Bond. He was tough, but handsome and charming as well. Tim did not play some morose thug who was unsure of himself. He played Fleming's Bond in a distinctive Bond movie, and I think all those who say Craig was Fleming's Bond ought to watch Dalton's two Bond movies to see how it is done.

Timothy Dalton was vastly superior to Daniel Craig. He approached the character in a serious manner with a respect for the literary source. His interviews were laced with a forensic knowledge and enthusiasm for Ian Fleming and Bond. And Craig had a huge advantage over Dalton ~~ the winter box-office slot, a vast pre-release campaign by Sony.

Casino Royale brought us a generic new character who need not have even been called Bond. In fact, if Craig had been given another name in Casino Royale and the film put out under a different title, I suspect critics would have commented on the film and its star in terms of not having the pananche and wit of the James Bond series.

Craig is not Ian Fleming's James Bond. His 'Bond' owes his origin to Barbara Broccoli, Paul Haggis and Robert Ludlum.

Yes, welcome Will. You offer a fascinating insight : ".... I suspect critics would have commented on the film and its star in terms of not having the pananche and wit of the James Bond series."

I liked Dalton, especially in retrospect. But he lacked a certain charisma. One very positive thing he offered was in an interview: "Bond is a kind-seeming man." I'm fairly sure that's a precise quote. It was in the context of Bond being a decent man at his core. He isn't a cold-blooded killer. Odd, but Dalton displays more dash in other films.

[james stock]

I think Timothy Dalton was the closet to Flemming Bond, he had a touch of self loathing about him and a really ruthless streak.

i think the scene that defines this is when he engineers the death of milton crest in licence to kill, he stands by coldly and watches his head pop like a balloon

[Kristatos]

Can I just point out that forums for the individual Bond actors have been created, and that I am moderator of the Timothy Dalton forum. I thought it was going to be a bit lonely in there, but there seems to be a surprising amount of Tim-love on this thread. Feel free to post in the Dalton forum, folks.

[james stock]

Can I just point out that forums for the individual Bond actors have been created, and that I am moderator of the Timothy Dalton forum. I thought it was going to be a bit lonely in there, but there seems to be a surprising amount of Tim-love on this thread. Feel free to post in the Dalton forum, folks.

Tim was a great Bond, better than Craig, thats how to play a serious Bond and still keep the elements that made Bond popular not this reboot rubbish. My favourite Bond of all is Roger Moore.

[Commander 0077]

Can I just point out that forums for the individual Bond actors have been created, and that I am moderator of the Timothy Dalton forum. I thought it was going to be a bit lonely in there, but there seems to be a surprising amount of Tim-love on this thread. Feel free to post in the Dalton forum, folks.

Tim was a great Bond, better than Craig, thats how to play a serious Bond and still keep the elements that made Bond popular not this reboot rubbish. My favourite Bond of all is Roger Moore.

Right. At the very least Dalton was very much recognizable as Bond. You didn't have to go, Wha'?

[James1090]

Can I just point out that forums for the individual Bond actors have been created, and that I am moderator of the Timothy Dalton forum. I thought it was going to be a bit lonely in there, but there seems to be a surprising amount of Tim-love on this thread. Feel free to post in the Dalton forum, folks.

Tim was a great Bond, better than Craig, thats how to play a serious Bond and still keep the elements that made Bond popular not this reboot rubbish. My favourite Bond of all is Roger Moore.

Right. At the very least Dalton was very much recognizable as Bond. You didn't have to go, Wha'?

If you look at this picture all the others look pretty similar:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bonds-6.jpg

[James1090]

Can I just point out that forums for the individual Bond actors have been created, and that I am moderator of the Timothy Dalton forum. I thought it was going to be a bit lonely in there, but there seems to be a surprising amount of Tim-love on this thread. Feel free to post in the Dalton forum, folks.

Tim was a great Bond, better than Craig, thats how to play a serious Bond and still keep the elements that made Bond popular not this reboot rubbish. My favourite Bond of all is Roger Moore.

Right. At the very least Dalton was very much recognizable as Bond. You didn't have to go, Wha'?

If you look at this image almost all of the look similar except Daniel Craig:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bonds-6.jpg

[James]

I have an interesting Dalton question but I'll save it for the usergroup. I think I've just applied to join.

[The Sweeney]

I think Dalton is the closest to Fleming's Bond, especially in LTK.

The content of the second part of CR is probably the closest to Fleming, in terms of Bond looking scared, brutal torture and recovery in hospital - something that happened in just about every Bond novel, yet never once was shown on screen until now.

[Kristatos]

I have an interesting Dalton question but I'll save it for the usergroup. I think I've just applied to join.

All pending members to the Dalton usergroup have now been approved.

[Jedi007]

The content of the second part of CR is probably the closest to Fleming, in terms of Bond looking scared, brutal torture and recovery in hospital - something that happened in just about every Bond novel, yet never once was shown on screen until now.

You really don't like DAD do you?

I wonder if Craig would still be Bond to you if there were no hospital scene at all in "Barbara Bond" 22...

[The Sweeney]

The content of the second part of CR is probably the closest to Fleming, in terms of Bond looking scared, brutal torture and recovery in hospital - something that happened in just about every Bond novel, yet never once was shown on screen until now.

You really don't like DAD do you?

I wonder if Craig would still be Bond to you if there were no hospital scene at all in "Barbara Bond" 22...

So you really think the hospital scene in DAD, with Bond faking heart-attacks, and then suddenly springing to life to beat the crap out of all the doctors is comparable to what was in the novels? Fleming would be turning in his grave. This wasn't showing Bond recovering. This was an Austin Powers sketch.

And no, I don't like DAD. Was it really that obvious.....

[Commander 0077]

The content of the second part of CR is probably the closest to Fleming, in terms of Bond looking scared, brutal torture and recovery in hospital - something that happened in just about every Bond novel, yet never once was shown on screen until now.

You really don't like DAD do you?

I wonder if Craig would still be Bond to you if there were no hospital scene at all in "Barbara Bond" 22...

So you really think the hospital scene in DAD, with Bond faking heart-attacks, and then suddenly springing to life to beat the crap out of all the doctors is comparable to what was in the novels? Fleming would be turning in his grave. This wasn't showing Bond recovering. This was an Austin Powers sketch.

And no, I don't like DAD. Was it really that obvious.....

I re-watched Mission Imp 3 last night. They also have a heart-jumping scene. On the DAD scenes not comparable in the novels : there were of course many such physically impossible scenes in CR, too, so Fleming would be turning several times

[stockslivevan]

So you really think the hospital scene in DAD, with Bond faking heart-attacks, and then suddenly springing to life to beat the crap out of all the doctors is comparable to what was in the novels? Fleming would be turning in his grave. This wasn't showing Bond recovering. This was an Austin Powers sketch.

Oy. James Bond should never be Superman again. What's the point of all that torture for a whole 14 months and heart attacks if Bond is going to be in full condition a minute after the heart attack and start swimming a mile or half, running, rolling on floors and sword fighting like a Jedi? At least while CR stretched and bended the laws of physics for entertainment sake, it didn't completely obliterate it like DAD did. Hell, even the Steven Seagal film Hard to Kill had him go through a rehabilitation after years of being in a coma.

[Commander 0077]

I didn't read the scene as Bond actually stopping his heart; it would be easier for him to 'adjust' the machine to appear his heart was stopping. When they were about to apply the defibbies, he of course wouldn't have none of that, being completely awake.

In all of his films, Bond has used his brains. He wouldn't go to the trouble of stopping his heart (even if that were possible for him) when it was more efficient to put the fix on the monitors.

So one person sees the same scene and comes to different conclusions.

[The Sweeney]

I didn't read the scene as Bond actually stopping his heart; it would be easier for him to 'adjust' the machine to appear his heart was stopping. When they were about to apply the defibbies, he of course wouldn't have none of that, being completely awake.

In all of his films, Bond has used his brains. He wouldn't go to the trouble of stopping his heart (even if that were possible for him) when it was more efficient to put the fix on the monitors.

So one person sees the same scene and comes to different conclusions.

Nowhere in that scene is there evidence that he tampered with the monitors.