And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Saturday, December 17, 2022
I didn’t intend for Bond to be likeable. He’s a blunt instrument in the hands of the government. He’s got vices and few perceptible virtues. - Ian Fleming on James Bond
I read the books to tatters back in the day . I don't remember anything about whether the book Bond was likeable but I like Sean Connery whatever he was doing.
Agree that Craig was the best Bond. He played it without the kampiness of Moore and Brosnan and with even more grittiness than Connery. I even like the fact that with Craig they let Bond die.
I think that Connery was the more authentic Bond, in the sense that his real-life persona was naturally a better fit. But Craig is a pretty terrific actor, and has been talented enough to make the role his own. His Bond is perhaps better-scripted than Connery's, to be more true to the character that Fleming created - more ruthless, perhaps a bit more determined, and the plots more sinister. It would have been interesting if Connery had been provided a similar script, instead of the girls / cars / humorous glamour of the early movies in the series when he starred. He got bored of those roles and bowed out. I think he could have out-done Craig in that kind of contest.
I enjoyed the bravado of Connery, but the action scenes were atrocious, even for mid century films. Craig had proper “tactical” mechanisms. Also in some films his cockiness was used against him.
So he was supposed to be like our FBI. Unlikeable.
ReplyDeleteI read the books to tatters back in the day . I don't remember anything about whether the book Bond was likeable but I like Sean Connery whatever he was doing.
ReplyDeleteExactly the reason I thought Craig was the best Bond. The snark wasn't too bad with Connery but with later Bonds, it was unwatchable.
ReplyDeleteAgree that Craig was the best Bond. He played it without the kampiness of Moore and Brosnan and with even more grittiness than Connery. I even like the fact that with Craig they let Bond die.
DeleteWell, you didn't actually "see" him die, so there's always the chance that he'll be back.
Deletewhen craig played bond i was done with the series. it started taking itself too seriously.
DeleteI think that Connery was the more authentic Bond, in the sense that his real-life persona was naturally a better fit. But Craig is a pretty terrific actor, and has been talented enough to make the role his own. His Bond is perhaps better-scripted than Connery's, to be more true to the character that Fleming created - more ruthless, perhaps a bit more determined, and the plots more sinister. It would have been interesting if Connery had been provided a similar script, instead of the girls / cars / humorous glamour of the early movies in the series when he starred. He got bored of those roles and bowed out. I think he could have out-done Craig in that kind of contest.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the bravado of Connery, but the action scenes were atrocious, even for mid century films. Craig had proper “tactical” mechanisms. Also in some films his cockiness was used against him.
ReplyDelete