To date, only six men have ever played 007, but which was the best, and which was the worst? Join The Drinker on the ultimate Bond countdown, to discover who was the ultimate James Bond.
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Met Roger Moore once at a party in London as a kid...That was when The Living Day Lights was just released a month ago and all the marketing was Timothy Dalton centric that he is the new Bond and all that...this might sound silly but as a kid I believed that James Bond was real and Roger Moore was him...I approached Roger with excitement saying " Mr. Bond, Mr. Bond...what are you doing here ? Do you know that a man named Timothy has been impersonating you for a month ?" To which he replied with this extraordinary charm " Pipe down kid !" Then he leaned forward and whispered in my ear " I know kid, I told him to do so." I was shocked but I whispered back in his ear "But why Mr. Bond ?"...He whispered back " To fool the bad guys my dear lad !" Then he winked at me and went back to mingle with the guests....I was over the moon...I met him a couple of times after that and we had a laugh about that encounter at the party...but till this day he remains my James Bond ❤️
Much like Ringo, Pierce is a guy who got to narrate Thonas the tank engine despite just for a one off 2008 special called The Great Discovery and to date, he is the only official film bond to go so!
I wasn't a fan of Moore, he just didn't have the physique for the role. Though he had some really good scripts to work with, unlike Dalton. It's really too bad that Brosnan wasn't able to get in sooner. And seriously, why Die Another Day? I guess Connery went out on a low note as well.
Brosnan is definitely the hardest, rough around the edges, badass, masculine Bond. Daniel Craig always seemed like too much of a pretty/party boy to me. Still great, but Connery just had too much of an old timer type feel to him.
I really like Timothy Dalton's Bond, other than Sean (who I think is sort of the definitive bond), Dalton's actual Assassin bond and raw savagery is exactly why I like his portrayal.
Definitely, Dalton, Brosnan (because of Goldeneye, the rest were mostly meh), Connery & Moore (joint third, totally different Bonds, awesome in their own way) then Daniel Craig. Craig is by far the most boring Bond. The next Bond has to be Brosnan-esque with a strong Daltonian bias. A harder edged Dalton style Brosnan would be epic.
Amen, fellow Dalton fan. Roger Moore was absurdly old, and the films were unintentional satire by the time _View_ came out. _The Living Daylights_ returned Bond to being a proper independent operator who was never out of his element.
Everyone has their favorite Bond. Mine is Timothy Dalton. Living Daylights and License To Kill are two of my favorite movies. Also love the theory that Connery in The Rock is actually Bond who was finally caught and kept because his government denied that he was theirs. Makes that movie even better from that point of view.
His demeanour was "Bond" before and also after he was cast but in his films... he was not funny like Moore but condescending or even cringe; and when his character was challenged by opposition, not cool but acting out ... to my taste anyways.
@@naldorgarnier same. I think most people felt the same way when they saw him in Remington Steel. But yea Pierce was really what we all think when we think of Bond. Dark hair, tall, charm, badass, ruthless, credible as a ladies' man. Can say the one liners without sounding corny like Moore.
@@johnnyskinwalker4095 Allegedly, the execs thought Brosnan rocked the classic bond Tux look so well that they wrote into his contract that he wasn't allowed to wear a tux in any other role as long as he was making bond movies. That's why he never wears a straight up tux in Thomas Crown affair. They always had to do little modifications.
Personally I think Timothy Dalton's Bond is, after Sean Connery's, the best portrayal of the iconic character. The clash between his calm and suave mannerisms in one situation vs his aggressive and raw behaviour in others makes for a very compelling character that rises above the standard cartboard cutout 'cool spy' that it could have been. It's a darn shame that Dalton only got two films, he really would have deserved at least a third. After 'You only live twice' I must say that 'The living daylights' is my favourite Bond-film in the series, especially due to the opening scene which is suspenseful and has the awesome soundtrack made by A-Ha that immediately puts you into the right mood.
He was actually scheduled for the third, 'Goldeneye'. But instead of production starting a few months after release of 'The Living Daylights' (previously, Bond movies had been released every 2 years since Dr No in '62) it was a full 4 years before cameras rolled. Dalton ran out of patience, and you can't blame him. Besides, the legal battles pretty much excluded him anyway. It's a damn shame, because even though Brosnan did a great job with 'Goldeneye', I think Dalton would have put the movie into the top three greatest.
I actually met Sir Rodger Moore a few years before he passed away, he was staying at the hotel I worked in, I kept my fanboying to a minimum but got a handshake. Lovely man, seemed very down to earth.
Brosnan is my Bond!!! I was born in the 90s so the only Bond films I've seen in theaters are Craigs, but I watched the entire film collection multiple times with my dad growing up, and Brosnan was always the one I gravitated most too. Goldeneye is my favorite as I've gotten older, but I loved the spectacle, cars, and stunts of Die Another Day (plus Berry is a smokeshow) when I was much younger. Either way, besides Casino Royale, Spy Who Loved Me, and Goldfinger, the Brosnan films have always been right at the top and usually occupying at least my favorite spot. Just love the dude - watched all his other action films before and after too which made it crazy when I found out that so many originally saw him as a rom-com star.
I love that Die Another Day is the panned Brosnan movie now because I absolutely loved it as a kid. Yes, Berry played a role in that. But the flashy (though so unrealistic and over the top) stunts were crazy and I loved both the Austin and the Jaguar in that movie. Way corny compared to the other 3 (and frankly, Tomorrow Never Dies is not that far off to how I see modern media corporations). But I just loved it and had so much fun watching that one over and over.
@Floyd1504 Fleming hated Connery at first, but, after he grew on him, Fleming made Bond Scottish in the next to last novel "You Only Live Twice" after the success of "Doctor No" which had just been released. In the previous novel "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", Bond's family history referenced is simply British.
No, no, no, no. Fleming didn't like Connery at all. He only ACCEPTED Connery after the Connery movies made Fleming sell more books! That's why he changed Bond's back story.
@@pitchforker3304 despite it being a Michael Bay movie, it was before Bay became insufferable and self-indulgent. Yeah it's an other the top 90s action movie, but it is fun. Plus, Connery and Nick Cage actually made a pretty fun pairing.
Skyfall will always be one of my favorite bond movies simply because Daniel Craig's moodiness and disassociative attitude fits the theme of the movie wonderfully.
Maybe it's because I'm American, but I get the feeling that Craig's Bond is a very American Bond, which is why he is so popular in the role (America representing a very large audience). Like you said, he's only very loosely a Bond and more of a Bourne-type character, which sells in the land of trucks and guns much better than a Roger Moore-type Bond. Also, I never realized that was Benicio Del Toro in Licence to Kill.
What makes Connery doubly cool is the fact that as he got older, his charisma never faded. Every single role he's in, he makes it look like he's the perfect actor for it.
Fun fact: One of Brosnan's reason for being Bond was that his wife, Cassandra Harris (Lisl in "For Your Eyes Only"), always wanted to see him play the role, but she died of cancer before "GoldenEye." Craig's reason for being Bond was that his drinking buddies would never let him live it down if he turned down the role. (Not a bad reason, really...) Still, suddenly it's not surprising which of those two seems more invested, huh?
@@anthonylopez5 if a Brocolli came to me and asked me to play Bond for millions of dollars, I wouldn't accept it. I've never trusted stalks of broccoli. Not even with cheese on them.
Pierce Brosnon was the first Bond I ever saw. I used to sit in my Papa's office room in my grandparents house and watch James Bond movies with him. The first thing he'd say when I came over was, "The names bond," and we'd both say, "James Bond." at the same time. Good memories.
The Living Daylights with Dalton is probably my most favorite Bond film. A complex plot with realistic villains and the backdrop of the Cold War. Hard to beat. I appreciated that Dalton actually read the Fleming books and strived to play the character as he was written. He also did a lot of his own stunts for TLD too.
and personally I like that it still manages to include many (if not most) of the classic Bond tropes; that's what I dislike about "Licence". unlike "Daylights"; it doesn't feel like a Bond film to me.
That's also one of my favorites- and one of my favorite 80s action movies in general. I love the clever opening of "Guess which one is the new Bond", and from there it's just a lot of fun. "I know a great restaurant in Karachi...we can just make dinner," is one of my top Bond lines.
For me, Roger Moore in Spy Who Loved Me is probably my favorite Bond, tonally. Joking and quick witted, but also serious. Cold blooded but also vulnerable. Slick as ever. Just a joy to watch.
What!? Well, I respect your opinion, but, Lazenby was one of the worst James Bonds of all time imo. His acting and portrayal of Bond was so dull, boring, robotic and bland that it made vanilla look like jalapeno! I believe that ONHMSS would have been way better and successful if Connery replaced Lazenby as Bond
@@alanteare1603 To my mind. Lazenby was the most plausible Bond. The story for OHMSS was the most plausible as well. All other Bond films had a fantasy element to them (From Russia with Love comes a close 2nd to OHMSS). I've tried to imagine Connery in OHMSS. It wouldn't have worked. Connery couldn't do romance.
Pierce Brosnan once joked in an interview that when he heard about the new Bond movie coming out he was surprised because he thought they would've checked with him first to see if he was still interested in the role before announcing it. Even if it was just a joke, it really made me feel bad for him.
I like Brosnan's Bond quite a lot. I recorded his movies on VHS tapes and re-watched them hundreds of times as a kid :) And yes, I even like Die Another Day because I'd gladly take Bond surfing on a giant wave with a parachute away from a falling ice berg and orbital laser, over No Time To Die.
Just rewatched The Living Daylights. Fantastic Bond movie and far better than the last two Daniel Craig movies. Dalton was ahead of his time and should have done at least another film. He’s the closest we have ever got to the Book version. Pity about that Lawsuit because it done us out of another Dalton film. Very underrated!
My wife had never seen all the Bond films. So we sat down over the course of a few weeks and binged the entire series in chronological order. With that fresh in my mind, this list is 100% accurate. I was actually surprised by the time we got to Brosnan. Maybe it had been so long since I saw him, or maybe back then I was still remembering the Bond I grew up with in the '70s. But Brosnan was definitely better than I had remembered. Dalton as well. And Craig? Yeah. Maybe we can consider him the first trans Bond. Have you ever seen "Remington Steele"? Brosnan had been playing the role for years.
First trans bond😂. Retrospectively Craig is the worst because of the writing, not his acting. He was decent throughout the first three, then specter and plenty of time to die went off the rails
@@marvinthemartian6788 As dreadful as I thought Craig was I actually thought the first half of Spectre was by far his best Bond performance and really enjoyed it up until that point
Ian Fleming eventually admitted he was wrong about Connery and enjoyed his performances so much, he started adding backstory to the character that matched Connery - he made Bond part Scottish in a later book for example.
no. James Bond was described from the start of the first book. and is scottish, not part. i know every line from every book in original, not in my native language.
@@UmbraFulgur Nope...the first time a scottish father was mentioned was in YOLT which Fleming wrote in 1963...at least a couple of years after he met Connery. The OP is 100% right.
One of the best moments in cinema history is when Connery introduces himself to a woman across the baccarat table. "Bond." Pause while he lights a cigarette. "James Bond." As smooth as Cary Grant at his best. And that is high praise.
Bond's introduction in Dr No is magnificent. The timing of the cut and Bond's line is something to show to film students. THIS is how you introduce a protagonist.
@@natebowman7593 Cary Grant was suave but didn't have the rawness. Bond as written is not a particularly handsome guy, he can just be very smooth when the situation requires it. But he's always cold inside, at least after Vesper. Grant was a true gentleman. Of course, he got his own spy thriller with North by Northwest. if you want to see what Grant might have looked like as bond, watch Dean Martin's Matt Helm films.
Brosnan has risen in my estimation during the Craig era. He embodies what I envision James Bond to be--smooth, good with the ladies, and tough enough to kick ass when necessary. His first three movies are fun to watch. So unlike the Craig era.
When it comes to the iconic role of James Bond, my personal favorite has always been Pierce Brosnan. In my opinion, the pinnacle of Bond movies is "Goldeneye." It stands head and shoulders above the rest because it possessed the perfect blend of a compelling script, just the right touch of realism, and the technical quality I had always hoped for. It was a testament to the control of quality and a director who truly understood the essence of the character. For me, Pierce Brosnan is James Bond, just as Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark/Iron Man. Brosnan embodies everything that Bond represents - a suave and skilled secret agent who can handle almost any situation with finesse. He is the epitome of good taste, refinement, a true gentleman, and a warrior with style. When I think of James Bond, I picture Pierce Brosnan in his tailored tuxedo, effortlessly mixing sophistication with action. It's worth noting that the films following "Goldeneye," although they may not have reached the same heights in terms of script quality, technical prowess, and direction, Pierce Brosnan continued to shine as the best James Bond. He brought consistency to the role, maintaining the charm, wit, and elegance that define the character. Unfortunately, the Bond franchise took a turn in a different direction after Brosnan's era. He was succeeded by a blond, brutish, and downright rude replacement who bore little resemblance to the character we had come to love. In my view, Daniel Craig was the worst James Bond of them all. It was during his tenure that the 007 identity seemed to lose its way. Gone were the elements that made Bond the iconic character he is - the charm, the wit, and the elegance. Instead, we got a more rugged and less refined version. The movies that followed "Goldeneye" lacked the magic that Brosnan had brought to the role. The character seemed to have undergone a transformation into something unrecognizable. In conclusion, while opinions about the various actors who have portrayed James Bond may differ, there's no doubt in my mind that Pierce Brosnan will always be the quintessential Bond. "Goldeneye" remains the high watermark of the franchise, and Brosnan's portrayal of the legendary spy will forever hold a special place in the hearts of Bond enthusiasts like myself. Pierce Brosnan's dedication to the role and his ability to maintain Bond's essence made him an unforgettable James Bond despite any shortcomings in subsequent films.
You say "Pierce Brosnan is James Bond, just as Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark/Iron Man" yet unlike Bond, Tony Stark has never been played by anyone else. The comparison just doesn't work. I totally agree with you about Daniel Craig. I'd have sooner watched Lazenby struggle woodenly to play Bond any day because he, at least, was tall, dark, and handsome. I once saw a poll of the Bonds in terms of their looks as rated by women and while Craig surprised me by how highly they rated him, he was still the worst of them all.
@@KeldorDAntrell I still believe that both actors are exceptionally well-suited for their respective roles. While the circumstances surrounding the characters may differ, Brosnan and Downey Jr. have both brought unique qualities and charisma to their portrayals, making them iconic in their own right. So, while the comparison may not be exact, it's worth acknowledging the talent and impact of both actors in their respective roles.
@@playtech7165 Agreed on Brosnan, I was brought up on Connery and Moore and though I love both of their Bonds I thought Brosnan was absolutely Fantastic despite poor directors
ArkhamWarden120 Brosman could pull off the coolest man in the room without trying and I always loved his range of emotions. Also tomorrow never dies is a personal favorite of mine. Especially Wai Lin. My favorite Bond girl.
@@Avarn388 Hell, Tomorrow Never Dies has aged a lot better than people think. A thriller with a deranged media mogul elite trying to start WW3 with fake news and cutting edge technology sounds more and more relevant today.
My favourite James Bond is Timothy Dalton. Not only did the guy read the books, but he knew what he wanted after finally being chosen to become 007. His Bond returns to being cold, dark and hardened while being self-loathing, wanting to quit his job, but always determined to do what must be done no matter what.
1. Best actor to ever play the role, and 2. did a lot of his own stunts, which was refreshing after years of watching Moore's stunt doubles do most of the work (I think they get more screen time than Moore himself in View to a Kill.)
I found him very disappointing as the no-sex Bond, not to mention his crying over Felix Lighter. I was in college at the time. His films have not grown on me.
@@kerrylawson7515 Time has been kind to Dalton’s movies though. Back in the late 80’s, he got vilified for daring to take Bond back to his roots via reading all the Fleming novels, while an egomaniac like Daniel Craig can get praised for doing the same thing. Dalton did the dark Bond first.
Most people overlook the actor who played James Bond in the 1967 spoof film “Casino Royale.” David Niven played a middle aged (retired) Bond, and he was very convincing while doing it, even though it wasn’t a serious role. And Niven had the personal and acting credentials to pull it off. He was an accomplished actor who had served in the British army during WWII, and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel during that conflict. I think that a younger David Niven would have made a great Bond.
@@Cadence733 It's certainly possible. Both were about the same age during their service in WWII. Niven was actually Fleming's first choice for the role, but passed because he was a bit too old (53 vs. Connery's 33), especially given the physical nature of the Bond character. Fleming wasn't too impressed at first with Sean Connery, but later became a Connery fan in view of his portrayals in "Dr. No" and "From Russia With Love."
I've always admired David Niven, as an actor and as a classy individual. He was trained as an officer at Royal Military College Sandhurst, and although he had no particular love for army life, gave up a promising Hollywood career to go back to England to serve in WW2. Read his excellent and charming autobiography "The Moon's A Balloon", a compendium of wonderful anecdotes of an early Hollywood sadly gone the way of the dodo.
Piece Brosnan is the best bond, he has all the characteristics of bond and looks like bond. It’s only a shame the movies got a bit wacky toward the end, but I still loved them either way. Goldeneye till this day is my Favorite Bond movie and game, then Casino Royale 😊
I've met two of the actors who portrayed Bond - George Lazenby and Roger Moore. Both were fantastic people. I was living in Thailand when they filmed Man With the Golden Gun and got to meet Roger Moore there. I met George a few years ago and he was very friendly. My wife loved George. Go figure. As a Bond fan, I have the autographs in binders highlighting each Bond, the Villain (s), and of course the Bond girls. My favorite Bond, though? Roger Moore. He was very kind to me when I met him as a lad in Bangkok. That goes along way with me.
I heard they offered Lazenby 4 more Bond Films but he turned it down because he thought it might hurt his acting career being typed cast as James Bond.
Interesting. I went on a nearly two-week trip across Portugal and Switzerland in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and Lazenby was along for the entire trip. What started as excitement about him being there quickly melted into disappointment and disgust at him repeatedly revealing himself as an arrogant, crass, perpetually hammered drunk, and generally mean-spirited and unappreciative person. There are certainly other people I've had more misfortune in meeting, but he's pretty high on the list.
@@derekhanson1688did you know he was going to be there or did he just tag along? I went on a tour of the mosquito coast recently and Harrison Ford just would not leave us alone. Ugh, I was all like,"okay yeah I get it." Wouldn't even sign my temple of doom underpants. Fucking diva
In Thunderball, he casually and cheerfully tells a SPECTRE assassin "Now don't you worry...I'll tell the chef" after he locks him into a steamer to get scalded to death.
This ranking and analysis of the Bond franchise is so spot on I watched it twice - kudos Critical D! I live in hope that the future for Bond will be better then it's recent past.
Someone’s favorite Bond will usually be the first Bond they see. Then much much later, they’ll usually come around to Sean Connery. Thanks for being one of the only people to say that Ian Fleming’s vision for the character should always be respected.
I was introduced to the character with the Roger Moore movies, Moonraker and For Your Eyes Only. I still love those two. Since those younger days, I've come to appreciate the Brosnan and Dalton Bonds especially. I could never get into the Connery movies - they're just too cheesy for me. He's a great Bond, but the movies bring down the character in my opinion.
Not necessarily, i grew up in the Roger Moore era and love Roger as bond. But when i saw Golden eye at cinema in my late teens Brosnan stood out more ruthless and I enjoyed those films more. Brosnan was my bond the Moore.
@@andysteele5707 Sure but your favorite bond is still the one who you first grew up with during your formative years. I honestly agree; you always will come back to Sean Connery. Bros an was incredible, and I absolutely adored his first film. But I thought Sean Connery gave Bond a swagger that no one else has been able to touch.
No, my favourite bond is Pierce Brosnan. Those films stood out more to me. Tomorrow never dies especially and Golden eye. Ive seen every bond film. I do love the originals Sean Connery too. Yes Sean is legendary and set the standard and tone for others. I cant get into the Daniel Craig films, they've lost the suave ness, essence and fun of what a Bond film is meant to be.
I think each actor brought something unique to the role - though I always had a soft spot for Dalton in License to Kill. A darker Bond that would foreshadow the Craig era, I love Dalton’s 007 as a haunted, older agent on the verge of PTSD. Wanting revenge, not so much for the attack on his friend, but for the memory of his wife being killed in the line of fire (nice call back to OHMSS). Telling his boss off in the most debonair of ways, “It’s a farewell to arms”. Then going rogue and playing Sanchez’s cartel against one another until it went up in flames. A shame Dalton never got to do more.
License to Kill really stands out as unique in the franchise, and holds up insanely well. Drinker rightly points out how dark and violent it is, but that's what makes it great - the stakes for Bond are not large-scale like so many of the over-the-top "save the world" gambits, but very, very personal - so much so that he's willing to sacrifice everything to get justice for a friend. At the same time, the villain Sanchez is not only more realistic, but also more all about the personal stakes of "loyalty" rather than money or power.
I feel the same way TBH, to me Brosnan was overrated as Bond he had Goldeneye, everything else was beyond ridiculousness and I could never take him seriously as a tough guy. While I liked Moore he treated the Bond role like a clown..wait he was 1 in Octapussy so there is that, don't get me wrong I like some of the ridiculousness it made for a fun film, but, the more serious Bonds were the better ones, the suave gentleman was overplayed and unconvincing in most movies, Connery was playful, but he did play a brutal bond that used women as a shield if he had to, and he didn't play fair.
@@Don-ol8ze I completely agree. As I said above, License to Kill remains my favorite Bond and I wholeheartedly agree with your analysis. It might reflect on me and my choices in film that of all the Craig movies, Skyfall is my favorite.
@@Don-ol8ze Definitely agree. Plus young Benicio del Doro as a Sanchez's henchman. Plus beautiful ladies. Plus three ultra gruesome deaths. And the final truck chase scene is absolutely awesome. Licence to kill is my favorite Bond. The 1980s introduced the druglord as a villain figure and I really like how Bond the Bond franchise recognized that Bond needs to confront him.
Good list. The top three are particularly hard to separate. Roger Moore had the best Bond films. “The Spy Who loved Me”. “For Your Eyes Only.” “Live and Let Die.” and even “View to a Kill” had spectacular scenes and a good plot. The cable car scene with Jaws in Moonraker was my favorite of all time, and his line delivery was better than Connery’s. That’s why he’s my favorite, but a solid third is fine too. Pierce Brosnan is indeed worthy of the praise.
I do like that kinda "Bad boy" vibe he as in it, not as depressing and gloomy as Craig, if he could have a bit more of this Bri'ish sarcasm, he would have been perfect for it Pretty much like Brosnan, he was pretty much how Dalton was, but with that touch of Sarcastic wittyness and charm.
I wonder how many "It must've scared the living daylights out of her" takes they shot that they went with the one they did. Good Prince of Arboria though
@@jenniferbangs And since when the hell is the sexiest Bond automatically the best? There are certain other things like character, writing, action, story, etc.
Interesting to watch, and quite a few things I hadn't considered. Now, for all two of you who might be interested, here's my list: 6) Pierce Brosnan: He just does not "click" for me as Bond, and the awful Die Another Day is what narrowly earns him the lowest spot on my list. 5) Timothy Dalton: Just like Brosnan, he just doesn't work for me as Bond. It's a completely subjective thing. It's a close race between him and Brosnan for the last place, but as I said, Die Another Day is the deciding factor here. 4) George Lazenby: What can I say? Not great, not terrible. 3) Daniel Craig: I'm not too fond of the reboot thing either, but for me he works well as Bond, and I enjoyed his movies more than those featuring Dalton and Brosnan. 2) Roger Moore: My first encounter with Bond as a kid, so I might be a bit biased here, but I've always liked his style. 1) Sean Connery: I have nothing to add to what the Drinker says, really. No contest here for my top spot. Well, that's it from me.
I've always liked Timothy Dalton's portrayal of James Bond, he had good balance between Dapper British gentleman, and badass hero, and I think License to Kill was the best James Bond movie.
License to Kill is phukkin great! Love Dalton Bond, think he is the most true to the books. The action sequence in License to Kill, after he sees them kill Sharkey, is top 3 in all of Bond IMO.
Idk why but dalton just has this style as bond y'know? Book accurate, and most importantly acting like an actual person in The films instead of brooding jason bourne.
My Bond was always Brosnan and to me, he's always embodied what I love most about character. He's a capable and believable agent whilst remaining suave and charming and his movies were just FUN. They didn't try to be a look into the gritty realism of espionage, they just took the inherently campy idea of a 'super spy' and made it work. Others were great no doubt, but when I picture Bond, I picture Brosnan.
The Brosnan films get FUCK ALL airplay, unless its Goldeneye because that's the one film he made. Goldeneye - Take Sean Bean outta that film and its ain't all that, he is the one who makes the film. Tomorrow never dies was crap and world is not enough was the last straw for me, total joke, Brosnan made 1 good bond film, professional assassins don't drive around in invisible BMW's taking on Robert Carlyle... simple as. Please don't talk to me about ''Mr. Invisible cars'' Pierce Brosnan, because his films were laughable in my opinion and pretty far from being realistic.
@@andrewjames7438 I liked it too. Not as much as Golden Eye, the bit driving the Jag through the melting hotel seemed to go on toooooooo long but it was a fun movie. I really don't get the hate or why they would boot Brosnan because of it. He wasn't the problem! And while, like most, I think Connery is king of the Bonds if only for creating the role, Brosnan embodied what I always imagined Bond to be from the first moment he appeared on the screen!
I grew up watching Connery and Moore. When Dalton came onto the scene, I was in the middle of reading the Fleming novels, and I immediately gravitated to the closer portrayal of Fleming’s iconic character. Wish we’d gotten to see more of him in the role.
I grew up with Connery and Moore also. I think which ones someone grew up with have a lot of do with which ones people prefer. Dalton, just seemed like an awkward fit. But my 'fan-ness' is only moderate. I have never read the books, and I have lost interest in anything out of Hollywood for the past 15 years. The last movie I saw in a theater was S.W. ep7, which I walked out of halfway through. So, my opinion may be biased. Still, Connery deserves respect because he was the first one.
When you hear these words in your head, “Bond. James Bond,” I would wager the overwhelming majority of you hear those words spoken in Connery’s voice...
Roger Moore for me. Was the one I was exposed too first, which I've found seems to be a common theme with people's favourite Bond. Got the best slippery one liners - "keeping the British end up" lmao I think the best one looking at the performances objectively is Pierce Brosnan. The most holistically good Bond that takes a bit of everything & moulds it together very effectively, only suffers (imo) from having average films post Goldeneye. Craig's a tough one. I like his portrayal but his films range all over the scale - Casino Royale & Skyfall among the top 5, Spectre & No Time To Die among the bottom 5, and Quantum of Solace probably the most forgettable Bond film ever.
Totally agree! Coincidentally, me and my wife watched that movie recently, and we both commented on how John Mason (Sean Connery) could have been agent - code name - James Bond who had discovered too much for his own good! It's a great movie!
Aww man. From Highlander forward, Sean Connery is in his Prime, all the way through to his final film, "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen". Extraordinary cinematic presence. Michael Bay is someone the Broccolis should have hired years ago.
I'd argue for Timothy Dalton. May have been the only one to thoroughly delve into the source material, and played Bond as both suave and gritty, even borderline psychotic at times, such as during his personal vendetta during "License to Kill." Both of his films hold up very well with great action and a minimum of campy humor, and it's a shame we didn't get more from him.
Dalton was Craig before Craig and honestly does not get the recognition he deserves. Both his films are two of my favourites and if he were to do Goldeneye as he was originally cast would have played for an epic trilogy.
Dalton is a much better attempt at what they were going for with Craig. Dalton could at least be a suave bastard, where as Craig came off as a thuggish domestic violence abuser...
For me it will always be Pierce, he had everything charm, physicality, charisma, everything even the original Q (Desmond Llewelyn) said Pierce was the best and he would know since he worked with every Bond except Craig. Connery and Moore were also great, but Pierce is definitely how Bond should look like and act.
Agreed 100%. Brosnan seemed to employ the qualities of the all the other Bonds before and after him. It also helps, that I grew up on his films and I think Golden Eye was the first Bond-film I saw.
Brosnan is definitely my favorite Bond, followed by Connery. He could pass as a man of action while still being smooth as a devil. Pity his last movie had one of the worst scripts in the whole franchise.
I think a reason for that is because he always seems confident in his claims he never acts or sounds hesitant when hes bringing up an opinion that would potentially be unpopular or controversial to other people
Excellent presentation. I agree with your rankings and the reasonings behind them. You are especially right about Dalton’s portrayal. He the the closest to the Bond of Fleming’s books. I was gratified to hear that he actually read the books to refine his character. I saw several of Connery's Bond films before I began reading the books, and eventually read all of the Fleming originals. A true fictional icon, 007 should remain what he was created to be and not be morphed into a woman or even a marginal male, as some contemporary studio types might be predisposed to do, given filmdom's propensities to change the historical landscape. I heard Connery once described as having “bland good looks.” Perfect! I do not want a pretty Boy Bond anymore than I yearn for a black Bond or a female Bond. Immortal characters, fictional or otherwise, need to be untouched. We don’t need a Swedish Martin Luther King, a Rastafarian St. John the Evangelist, or a “Honeysuckle” Finn whitewashing a fence in a flowered party frock.
Goldeneye is the definitive Bond film for me. It's the movie that made me a lifelong fan of the franchise. Pierce Brosnan at his best, Sean Bean at his best; what's not to love? "For England, James?" "No... for me."
Brosnan was awesome in Goldeneye and its my personal number 1. Its odd as I use to skip Brosnan when doing Bond marathons. And I dont actually know why after giving them a proper chance,
Brilliant !!! Thank you for this video, once again great stuff! Nevertheless, I would have put Pierce Brosnan as Number 1. He IS Bond and I agree with every word you say about his performance. No other Bond has made the flirting with Moneypenny as intense as he did as a character! Thanks Drinker, you hallmark of a luminous moviegoer!
Pierce Brosnan, he had the suaveness, the ability to be witty and quipped that felt very natural and he could also be very hard edged and cold when he had to be, he's the best Bond imo
I think Pierce Brosnan was the perfect James Bond. He had the look, charm, class, wit, humor, and seriousness of what i imagine James Bond should be. His movies werent the best Bond movies but he was the best Bond as the character
I call him the hybrid bond. He kicked ass in action sequences and could be ice cold ala connery/dalton, but still had fun and could be cheeky like roger moore
I hated his era as it started the shift in bond Films IMO. When the female “M” insulted bond in the first film I immediately hated his era. I only rewatch up until the Bronson era then that’s it.
I agree and I'm sure that Brosnan hates the writers of Die Another Day for ending his Bond career. Because in my opinion, if Die Another Day wasn't such a crap movie then Brosnan would have been invited to make more Bond films
I am a Dalton guy. I totally dug the serious, more dramatic take on 007. Dalton was initially chosen by Broccoli to become Bond way back for Live And Let Die, but he felt he was too young at the time and had too much respect for the character to take the part; they came back to him in 1986 when Roger Moore retired and he took it. I think he was always the one who was supposed to take the mantle from Connery because they wanted him to be more like the Bond from the books. Dark, gritty, fully capable of carrying that License to Kill with passion and style. It's too bad he wasn't able to make more Bond films.
@@wheelblack35 literally about to say this the character of Bond in the books would make him late 20's/early 30's at most. Dalton was about 21 at the time add that with taking the mantle from Connery was gonna be a career killer if they were going the route of "another Sean Connery" like director Peter Hunt said.
I have a massive nostalgia for Roger Moore's Bond, it was the Bond on TV in my childhood, and even in his worst, he is fun and charismatic. But Timothy Dalton's Bond stands even taller because it was such a departure and contrast to the Moore's take on the character. He just got so little time to prepare and was cut short after only 2 movies, so he never had a chance to fully grow into the Bond role like Connery or Moore before. And writing-wise, his 2 movies aren't the best, they are interesting but kinda middling. I would prefer his instead of Brosnan but for a more casual fan, he just cannot do funny very much, so maybe he would be as popular.
One of the best parts of james bond for me were all the scenes with desmond llewelyn as Q. I still cry in his final scene with Pierce and in the retrospective they made after his death
I think it's purely because of Goldeneye (the first Bond film I ever saw, and, I think, easily one of the best) that Brosnan will be the definitive Bond for me. But otherwise I mostly agree - certainly the top three are Moore, Connery, and Brosnan
This is a non-question, because there is only one answer, the man that made 007 what he was and a success, Sean Connery. I might even like other actor's movies more, but he IS James Bond.
I think a lot of people are gonna say this. And I just don't agree with it. Maybe it's the writing or his accent or something like that but I've never been interested enough to even finish one of his Bond films.
So the true Deadpool is the one with sword arms and laser eyes? Is Reb Brown the true Captain America? Is that weird Asian spider man with the car, jet, and giant mech the true Peter Parker?
That had me rolling. 🤣 Then this comment: 15:22 "Although it did give us Halle Berry in that bikini. Damn man if ever there was a woman made for a shot like that it was her." 😁
1. Brosnan 2. Moore 3. Connery 4. Dalton 5. Craig 6. Lazenby Moore really is the one who turned Bond into a global must-see franchise and established the Bond tropes we all know and love - larger than life and the epitome of Britishness - including our humour. But Brosnan was born to play Bond. Shame they didn’t get him earlier.
I became a fan of Ian Fleming’s novels before starting the movies and Timothy Dalton was easily the closest portrayal to the literary character (he was a fan of the novels). He’s my favorite as the most authentic Ian Fleming’s James Bond. However the books are completely different from the films (more realistic spy thriller with comparatively little action), so it’s absolutely fair for people that started with the movies to prefer Brosnan, Connery, etc.. Unfortunately I think audiences at that time weren’t ready for a darker James Bond, and it made too stark a contrast coming after the goofiness of the late Roger Moore era. I wish we’d gotten at least a third Dalton movie. From what I’ve heard, Goldeneye’s more interesting take on the character (where a former friend challenges him to confront his blind loyalty to a government that commits its own atrocities) is a leftover from what was originally going to be Dalton’s third movie. Edit to add that I think Brosnan was very good for the role and would have been brilliant if the writers had taken him and the franchise more seriously. This is true for Moore as well. A great actor can only do so much with campy, cheesy material. Dalton could not have redeemed Die Another Day. Really, a good or bad Bond film comes down to the writers more than anything.
I was never a big fan of the Roger Moore version of Bond, but I later came to realize that it wasn't the fault of the actor but the scripts. This realization hit me when I watched Ffolkes, where Roger Moore is truly a bad ass.
It makes me happy hearing how much you like Brosnan. He seems to get a bit of grief from some corners. He was the Bond I grew up with and he'll forever be number one imo, unless somebody really impressive takes the role in future.... With the writers to back him up, which seems unlikely currently.
The Solaris would sooner implode then the Hollywood hacks allow a white suave gentleman be cast again. Bond is dead. If you believe otherwise then I applaud your misplaced faith in humanity.
I think that's the thing with Brosnan. For people who came of age at that time they love him but I grew up around Moore's Bond and I found Brosnan sterile who never carved out anything unique or different about the character. He seemed uncomfortable in the role. Connery is my favorite just for reference.
That was a fun watch. I've often muddled between full rocks glasses of Maker's about which Bond I would say is my favorite. Yours was an enjoyable survey of them all. While I think I would switch your #2 and #3, because For Your Eyes Only (and Carol Bouquet) made me really fall for the franchise, I appreciate the overview. No argument about #1.
Personally, I grew up with Pierce Brosnan. I think he had it all, he was suave, cool, good sense of humor and did action very well. A bona fide badass who looked good doing it all.
The Brosnan films get FUCK ALL airplay, unless its Goldeneye because that's the one film he made. Goldeneye - Take Sean Bean outta that film and its ain't all that, he is the one who makes the film. Tomorrow never dies was crap and world is not enough was the last straw for me, total joke, Brosnan made 1 good bond film, professional assassins don't drive around in invisible BMW's taking on Robert Carlyle... simple as. Please don't talk to me about ''Mr. Invisible cars'' Pierce Brosnan, because his films were laughable in my opinion and pretty far from being realistic.
Sadly Cavill at this point is just too expensive. But from what we know about his nerdy personality (in a good way) there is possibility that he can agree on smaller paycheck just to play another iconic character. Will see.
I am not quite sure about that. Apparently his paycheck for Witcher s2 might have reached 8mil (1m per ep), but for season 1 it was 3-4mil (400k per ep) and Craig's debut (as the most recent Bond film beginning appearance) was 3-4mil. So I suppose if he agrees on just a slightly lower paycheck everything falls into place.
Nah, we all know Jodi Whittaker is the new James Bond. On a serious note, there's folks rooting for Benedict Cumberbatch. I don't question his acting chops. But man, I'd hate to see him get stuck here, and he'll be too old for the role within two movies.
I think he would treat the character with the respect it deserves and having read some of the comments about how he was able to influence the writer about the roach death scene to keep it somber and meaningful he might be a good choice.
Thank-you Drinker! I agree 100% about Daniel Craig and the new bond movies, nice to hear someone say the same things I have, I've only got as far as that so far but I'm saying, before I watch the rest, Pierce Brosnan was my number 1
You nailed it with Pierce's bond discription, Pierce himself mentioned in an interview that in his preformance he was aiming at a middle ground between Connery's and Moor's bond.
Bond is the man all men want to be and all women want to be with. Pierce Brosnan embodied that perfectly, and I cannot forget how buzzing I was all throughout and after seeing Goldeneye.
My favourite was Timothy Dalton. It's a shame he only got to play Bond for only two movies, but I feel like he nailed the dry wit yet steel calmness of the character that is bond. Other actors push it too much one way or another, but I feel Dalton got the perfect balance of the comedic side of bond coupled with the fact he is an agent trained to kill and complete the mission.
Although Brosnan played my favorite Bond, I have always thought that Timothy Dalton played Bond as the most believable MI6 agent. Plus, it didn't hurt that I first saw, 'The Living Daylights' on my 24th birthday while I was studying political science at Oxford University and on a date with a stunningly beautiful English major from the University of Georgia.
I feel the same way and Daniel Craig is my personal favorite for Bond. Of all the Bond films I’ve seen, those two films he’s been in remain the ones I have the fondest memories of.
Dalton to me had that intensity and you could feel that the guy could kill you at any time, there was an animal looking to come out like the character in the book. But I don't think his movies did him justice cause they were not "there yet" as far doing a proper killer Bond. Imagine him in his prime doing Casino Royale, that would have been special.
Brosnan is perfect as Bond to me but I like all of them in their own ways. Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale was amazing - I loved everything about it including Daniel Craig - particularly ‘I’ve got a little itch you know… down there’ fecking hilarious and eye watering at the same time
My youth was the Roger Moore years. I looked forward to every summer that one of his films came out. And yes, The Spy Who Loved Me is one of my all time favorites too. As much as I loved Roger, I was more ecstatic when Pierce got the role. He fit perfectly. And yet I too think Sean Connery defines the role better than all of them. Couldn’t agree more with your list and your explanations and reasons. Well done.
I loved when Connery accepted a lifetime achievement award and said the biggest break of his life came at the age of 5, because that’s when he learned to read.
Ah, just like how the most vocal anti-smoking advocates are ex-smokers themselves. They know the mess, and don't want anyone else to have to go through it.
Y'know, there's been endless piles of psychoanalyzing of Bond, most of it negative. But, Drinker, when you said he was an archetype, I agree completely. I also wonder if he was a 20th century interpretation of a MUCH older archetype, one that has now almost been eradicated by 21st Century Soy-Culture- “The knight is a man of blood and iron, a man familiar with the sight of smashed faces and the ragged stumps of lopped-off limbs; he is also a demure, almost a maidenlike, guest in hall, a gentle, modest, unobtrusive man. He is not a compromise or happy mean between ferocity and meekness; he is fierce to the nth and meek to the nth.” - C.S. Lewis
Im 28, so brosnan was the bond i grew up with. He is thenbest to me and i wish they let him keep going. Once they replaced him i was upset and went back and watched old ones. He still is the best bond to me especially since his run wasnt as long as connery. If he had as much time to make the role his own he would have been able to surpass him, because a lot of the old connery movies dont hold up that well to me anymore. But my parents always say connery is the best and i cant argue because he was the original, had a long run, and made the role his own. Really with the technology of the day the action scenes and effects are still impressive. Gotta respect both, and what you grew up with will always have a special place in your heart if it was good
