Review: Why I Am Not a Fan of Daniel Craig as James Bond

[Gary Seven]

Found this "review". It still surprises me to read criticism of Craig after the reaction to Casino Royale.

http://americanmissive.com/2008/11/24/d ... ames-bond/

Why I Am Not a Fan of Daniel Craig as James Bond

Quantum of Solace is definitely worth seeing in the theatres- it was all action from the very beginning. For $10, it was worth the price of admission. However, it was not even close to being among my favorite James Bond movies. Daniel Craig is not only the ugliest James Bond ever, he may also be one of the worst in my mind. Through his first two Bond films, I have made this judgment about Daniel Craig’s James Bond: his version of the character is that of a humorless, remorseless killer. For that reason, I find his James Bond to be unlikable. I have to admit, at various points in each of the first two Daniel Craig movies I found myself rooting against him.

The story-line of Quantum of Solace did not help. The entire premise of Quantum is that James Bond is seeking revenge for the killing of his girlfriend. He gladly chucks his position in MI-6 to pursue his personal ambitions. Those ambitions lead him to uncover a secret organization which is trying to usurp control over the global oil market. Ultimately, James Bond destroys the organization and kills its leaders.

But all of the “good” that he does here is really tangential to his actual pursuit, which is raw revenge. I found the plot-line of “revenge at all costs” to be banal and shallow. Perhaps the lowest point of the movie to me was when he discovers that a friend has been shot and wounded by members of the secret organization. Bond had used the friend to gain access to the organization. Upon finding him, he holds his friend in his arms as the he dies. But once he is dead, James Bond throws his body in a dumpster and drives away. The woman he was with protested his actions, but Bond replied coldly, “He wouldn’t have cared.” That introduced a very dark side to the James Bond character that I thought was too raw and indifferent. It basically put me off on him for most of the rest of the movie.

While this was an exciting and entertaining movie that I would not discourage anyone from watching, I am not impressed with Daniel Craig’s portrayal of James Bond. I am already ready for the next lead man to step into the role.

[Dr. No]

interesting. Thank you Gary

[James]

I have to admit, at various points in each of the first two Daniel Craig movies I found myself rooting against him.

He's not the most likeable character really. A bit boorish and thuggish.

[Saunders]

Found this "review". It still surprises me to read criticism of Craig after the reaction to Casino Royale.

People are gullible. Seen it happen with previous remakes or reboots... half-truths bandied about as truth... people swallow and propagate them...

[John Drake]

I have to admit, at various points in each of the first two Daniel Craig movies I found myself rooting against him.

He's not the most likeable character really. A bit boorish and thuggish.

Casino Royale is the first time I can remember not caring about Bond or his mission while I watched the film.

[Captain Nash]

Found this "review". It still surprises me to read criticism of Craig after the reaction to Casino Royale.

http://americanmissive.com/2008/11/24/d ... ames-bond/

Why I Am Not a Fan of Daniel Craig as James Bond

I have made this judgment about Daniel Craig’s James Bond: his version of the character is that of a humorless, remorseless killer. For that reason, I find his James Bond to be unlikable.

Isn't that what Bond is?
He's not supposed to be a freakin' comedian. Fleming's Bond didn't use a quip after he's disposed each villain. He was a haunted and dark man, with a constant struggle with who and what he was. What his job entailed, and what the consequences were for him and those around him. I think Craigs Bond has touched on that side very well so far. Especially in CR.

[James]

You could argue that certainly. Fleming's Bond is also a man who 'takes refuge in good living to efface the memory of danger and the shadow of death'. He's also quite jovial at times with a dry humour - and tall with black hair/filmstar handsome. So DC, despite a few hits (introspective moment additions) also has some mighty big negatives in my opinion.

[Captain Nash]

Other than the dark hair I can't see any problem with Craig in my opinion.

[Dr. No]

I found myself rooting against him

There are a few scenes in Cr that made me wonder what teh hell is wrong with Bond and made the "bad guys" more acceptable and interesting. I wanted some of them to get away and most of the to smack him hard enough to get him to stop.

[katied]

There is such a thing as too much humor,especially when it's the cheesy humor of the Moore and Brosnan years

[Captain Nash]

You're in trouble now.
Ya can't bash Brosnan. Not around here.

[katied]

Replying in general:


Cheesy Bond(especially the bad jokes) need to stay in the past

a certain segment of Bond fans are so attached to that stuff though.Lord knows why.

[Captain Nash]

Now you're bashing all the Bonds.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, you'll be banned for sure. Sent to the alt.OO7 site banished to the far reaches of the net.

[katied]

Replying in general:

I just want to see an actor who looks right in the role is all.Is that so much to ask?I think not.

[carl stromberg]

Now you're bashing all the Bonds.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, you'll be banned for sure. Sent to the alt.OO7 site banished to the far reaches of the net.

Rumour has it that you were losing all the arguments on the alternative007 forum and got so annoyed that you deleted your own account!

At least you have some like minded pro-Craig automotons to "debate" with on the MI6 forum.

James wrote:
You could argue that certainly. Fleming's Bond is also a man who 'takes refuge in good living to efface the memory of danger and the shadow of death'. He's also quite jovial at times with a dry humour - and tall with black hair/filmstar handsome. So DC, despite a few hits (introspective moment additions) also has some mighty big negatives in my opinion.

No James, you've got it wrong, Craig is Ian Fleming's Bond apparently. Fleming wrote about a Bond who is a 5'7 odd-looking evil sociopath who MI6 let out of prision now and again to run around killing people. Maybe Nash is confusing Bond with his literary namesake.

[Captain Nash]

See that's what happens when you believe rumours.
Word around the campfire is this site is going downhill faster than an olympic bobsleigh team.
Whether that's true or not, I'm not sure. Just a rumour I'd heard.
I did like your piece about Craig being Flemings Bond though Stromberg.
Then remembered that you're not a comedian, and it all made sense.

[carl stromberg]

See that's what happens when you believe rumours.
Word around the campfire is this site is going downhill faster than an olympic bobsleigh team.
Whether that's true or not, I'm not sure. Just a rumour I'd heard.
I did like your piece about Craig being Flemings Bond though Stromberg.
Then remembered that you're not a comedian, and it all made sense.

Yes. we are planning to close down the site and the forum next week. We simply cannot compete with the intellectual weight of Benny's arguments.

As James said, the MI6 forum must be tedious at the moment if you can spare hours every day trolling here!

[Captain Nash]

It's the weekend sunny. Plenty of time to waste here.
Besides, what would you do without me?
Getting grumpy in your old age Stromberg.
One mans trolling is another mans means to reply to lol, posts lol.

[James]

Other than the dark hair I can't see any problem with Craig in my opinion.

You could elaborate on that and stretch your point out. In an ideal world DC is perhaps a tad short to be James Bond, no? Also, how do you feel about the suggestion that Bond should be depicted as an everyman with a veneer of sophistication?

[Mazer Rackham]

Replying in general:


Cheesy Bond(especially the bad jokes) need to stay in the past

a certain segment of Bond fans are so attached to that stuff though.Lord knows why.

The bad jokes were crutches to sneak past the motion picture ratings. They actually became popular with the movie going public and stayed on long after their best if used by date.

Bond of the books and movies was charming and warm, the family he had around comprised of the HMSS staff were a integral part of the reality of his world. The neutering of Bond and sterilization of his world went greatly awry.
Moneypenny and M are important parts of what Fleming wrote, if you notice in the books Bond constantly making new Best Friends Forever with every Station Head he meets in his travels.