"What
makes you think this is my first time?" --James Bond from the movie Skyfall.
Skyfall & Daniel Craig Commentary: To celebrate my birthday, I enjoyed watching the latest Bond film on DVD,
Skyfall. Playing Bond since 2006, Daniel Craig continues to do a great job of playing the quintessential spy. The third of his bond films, he also starred in
Casino Royale (2006) and
Quantum Solace (2008). Of the three, I would rank Skyfall first. The information technology side story kept my interest as did all the twist and turns regarding the relationship of M to her agents. The action and special effects were also top-notch.
Casino Royale is a close second and
Quantum Solace ranks third.
Commentary on Past Bonds: My only exposure to Bond is through the movies. Any facts I present were obtained from a site that provides a more comprehensive look into the individuals that played
Bond. In my lifetime, the following actors played Bond before Daniel Craig:
Pierce Brosnan (1995-2002) -- After two politically correct and least favorite Bond movies, I was thrilled at the return of the womanizing, fast driving and cool as ice Bond in
Goldeneye (1995). With the Bond theme appropriately placed, you knew that Bond was back! I enjoyed the new M, Dame Judi Dench, but could have done without Joe Don Baker (a B=movie actor who played a Bond villain in
The Living Daylights) in
Goldeneye. Michelle Yeoh made
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) a fun movie. Denise Richards was not enough to take
The World is Not Enough (1999) from ok to great. I rank
Die Another Day (2002) higher thanks to the Halle Berry character and a cameo from Madonna.
Timothy Dalton (1987-1989) -- Although the fans of the Bond novels may have loved Timothy Dalton, I rank
The Living Daylights (1987) and
Licence to Kill (1989) as my least favorite Bond movies and not entirely due to the actor. I confess I was a fan of Remington Steele and disappointed that Dalton was selected for the task. I realize people were tired of the goofy portrayal by Roger Moore but Dalton too himself way too serious. The production quality was TV quality (not worthy of the big screen) and the villains and supporting cast were all B-movie quality. Sorry but a politically correct and monogamous Bond was just plain boring. Speaking of boring, the soundtracks were lackluster and (if you listen carefully) you never heard the Bond theme during the action scenes (sacrilege to a movie only fan).
Roger Moore (1983-1985) -- With
Octopussy (1983) and
A View to a Kill (1985) the Roger Moore inconsistencies continued.
Octopussy was not a bad movie (probably to compete with
Never Say Never Again). Maud Adams returned to play the title character (she was also seen in
The Man with the Golden Gun playing Andrea). However,
A View to a Kill ranks for me among the worst Bond movies. Not even Christopher Walken, Grace Kelly and a title song by Duran Duran could save this movie. Tanya Roberts was pretty but seemed to sleep walk through her scenes.
Sean Connery (1983) -- Even though not considered official (due to a different production company)
Never Say Never Again (1983) reminded us that the first Bond was still the best. Kim Bassinger and Barbara Carrera also made the movie memorable. This was Connery's final return to the Bond character.
Roger Moore (1973-1981) -- Roger Moore was the most prolific and also most inconsistent Bond in my opinion.
Live and Let Die (1973) and
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) were still decent movies with villains like Yaphet Koto and Christopher Lee. Jane Seymour and Maud Adams also made the two movies worthwhile. Barbara Bach helped to make
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) passable but
Moonraker (1979) and
For Your Eyes Only (1981) were way too campy for my taste.
Sean Connery (1971) -- Sean Connery in his last official Bond film. With SPECTRE's Blofeld, Jill St. John, Connery and Vegas,
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) was a fun movie. Bond gets revenge for the death of his only wife.
George Lazenby (1969) --
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) is probably one of the most underrated Bond films. Criticized most because he was not Connery, Lazenby did a decent job of playing Bond. Famous for her role as Emma Peel on the TV series
The Avengers, Diana Rigg was the perfect wife for Bond (she was a great combination of classy, adventurous and brainy). Telly Savalas as SPECTRE leader Blofeld was also cool.
David Niven (1967) --
Casino Royale (1967) was fun as a spoof of the Bond series. Woody Allen and Peter Sellers make this a fun 60's comedy.
Sean Connery (1962-1967) -- The original Bond Sean Connery creates a spy/assassin who works risky and plays risky (smoking Turkish cigarettes, womanizing, driving fast and high stakes gambler). A former military pilot, he is cool under pressure, well-dressed and able to get the job done. The golden age of Bond includes:
- You Only Live Twice (1967) - Bond in Japan was lots of fun. Ninjas, geisha's, Blofeld and Connery as Bond.
- Thunderball (1965) = The least memorable of the Connery Bond films but has some interesting underwater scenes and Bond using a jet pack..
- Goldfinger (1964) - The audacity of attacking Fort Knox. Awesome villain quote: "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!". Honor Blackman (another femme fatal from The Avengers TV series) as Pussy Galore.
- From Russia with Love (1963) - Robert Shaw as the assassin Donald "Red" Grant was awesome.
- Dr. No (1962) - Ursula Andress as Honey Rider and first Bond movie. 'Nuff said.
