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Bill Marcus -> Skyfall will be Craig's 'Goldfinger' (17/9/2012 12:36:58 PM)
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Let's get this straight - I love watching all of these Bond actors. It's the only series that offers a variation on a long running and successful formula. But if you want me to be objective, I will ... Connery was exemplary. He had the brutal looks, physicality and wit that made him credible. His performance and charisma peaked with 'Goldfinger' and then he grew disenchanted and bored with the role ( it clearly shows in 'You Only Live Twice'). He redeemed himself with 'Diamonds' and then seemed to forget how he should play the role in 'Never Say Never Again'. He still remains the King.
The unfairly derided Lazenby never got that chance to redeem himself. He is unfairly lambasted and sniggered at, when he had the guts or foolishness to succeed Connery. Moore was perfect for the Seventies. He was the court jester, dapper gentleman and Casanova rolled into one. Even though he might have overstayed his welcome with 'A View to a Kill', I was sorry to see him go. I didn't want to see anyone else taking over his mantle ( and that included Sam Neil, Lewis Collins or James Brolin ).
Dalton made an impressive debut with 'The Living Daylights' but was let down by his 2nd feature. I would have loved to have seen him in another Bond film, but by 1989 the series had grown lacklustre and tired, in comparison to other action pictures at that time ( i.e. Die Hard, Lethal Weapon ). Dalton unfortunateley but wisely left the role, considering the future direction of the franchise ( Bond 17 was reputed to have Sci-Fi elements in the script ).
The six-year hiatus that followed was too long for fans and Brosnan was hailed as a triumph - the best thing since Connery. Personally, I think his mixture of humour and handsome features reminded me of Moore. He was Bond from the neck up - perhaps the most hiandsome actor to portray the role - and he was quite the metrosexual mannequin to show off those well-tailored Brioni suits. Off-screen, he seemed smug and complacent that no one could succeed him. He was ignominiously dumped and treated unfairly. Whilst I would like to see another Bond film from Dalton, I think Brosnan could justifiably return in a rogue Bond ( just like Connery did in 1983 ). Older, greyer and wiser, I would like to see him get some satisfaction playing Bond at his own current age.
And as for Craig ... If Connery is still 'Top Dog', then he faces stiff competition from this young pretender. Perhaps the most controversial of Bonds, if only for his blonde hair and ruggid features ( he does look like a villainous hench man - maybe, Red Grant ), he impresses with his pulchritude and moodiness. He is a bad-ass and he is served well with scripts which try to to deliver characterisation and well-written lines. It's not just a physically demanding role but a proper acting job. SkyFall will be his 'Goldfinger' / 'Spy Who Loved Me'.
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