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[crashdrive]

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I never could see Bale as Bond. Untill I really thought about it. He has the right resume (experience with action, romance, drama and comedy), the right profile (British, 6'2, dark hair), the right age (born in 1974, so young enough to play Bond for more than enough films) and he's just great. I've seen his new film 'The Machinist' at the Berlin Film Festival last week and he blew me away. He's an amazing actor. Gifted, charismatic and hard working. He lost 40 pounds for the part and even then you just couldn't look past him whenever he was on screen. I think he has what it takes to play Bond.


At the 'Reign of Fire' premiere

He himself said in an interview that he could imagine playing both Bond and Batman: "James Bond is every British actor's Holy Grail in many ways -- the most recognised British character on the big screen. I've also been a big fan of Tim Burton's Batman movies. His almost gothic approach brought a wonderful cinematic feel to an American hero. I'd love to do either part but I'd also worry about being typecast. James Bond in the new Millennium has so much potential - in the new movie xXx, the Bond character is skewered as being out of step for our times - Bond is in dire need of updating..." And he's right. Bond needs an update. And Bale is the man for the job.

[Johnboy007]

If only he didn't sign up to play Batman!

I like him in "Reign of Fire" and if it wasn't for his signing on to Batman 5, he'd be my number one choice for Bond.

[Tarl_Cabot]

No way! He is not anything like James Bond! It's a bad choice! He doesn't remind me of Bond, at all. Wrong look, age, everything. He's very bland looking too, I might add.

[Icephoenix]

He isn't built like Bond, and I'm not fond of his acting. Although I think he's the perfect choice to play Batman.

[Qwerty]

I'll be very interested to see if Batman 5 continues or stops the slump in that movie series.

[Agent 76]

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

[Loomis]

I don't think Bale is Bond material. He may sound enthusiastic about playing 007, but, heck, even Ewan McGregor occasionally seems to express interest in the role.

It's Brosnan or Jackman, or no one (not for a good few years, anyway). If neither is available in the near future, don't hold your breath for BOND 21.

[Agent 76]

I don't think Bale is Bond material. He may sound enthusiastic about playing 007, but, heck, even Ewan McGregor occasionally seems to express interest in the role.

It's Brosnan or Jackman, or no one (not for a good few years, anyway). If neither is available in the near future, don't hold your breath for BOND 21.

I don't think Bale is Bond material.

yes , true!

[crashdrive]

I don't think Bale is Bond material. He may sound enthusiastic about playing 007, but, heck, even Ewan McGregor occasionally seems to express interest in the role.

I'm curious as to why you don't think Bale is Bond material. Granted, he still looks young, but not younger than one of your favorites Jack Davenport. There's a big difference between Ewan and Bale. Bale, unlike Ewan, has the right height and perfect look to play Her Majesty's Loyal Assassin. Bale looks different from previous Bond actors, but still brings everything to the table an audience expects from Bond. He's sexy, menacing, engaging, funny, charismatic and super cool. Quite frankly, I don't understand why Bale isn't more popular. Perhaps it's because people forget the fact that he's British after seeing him in films like 'Shaft', 'American Psycho', 'Equilibrium' & 'Reign of Fire'. Check this interview with his natural accent: E! Online Interview. That's why I think Bale can play both Bruce Wayne (a very American character) and James Bond (pure Brit). If he changes his accent, he's almost an entirely different actor.

[BONDFINESSE 007]

I'll be very interested to see if Batman 5 continues or stops the slump in that movie series.

qwerty i to will be glad to see if batman 5 stops the slump and i am glad bale has the part because batman is my other fav. hero

but i would not mind him as bond...at least i dont think i would, i can see a little of bond in him...i would give him a chance

[Qwerty]

Quite so Finesse. The first two films in the Batman series I adore to no end. Such menace to both of them, then after Burton and Keaton left, they both started to go downhill, Batman & Robin (1997) was atrocious to watch. :mad:

I don't know about him playing Bond, he has certain good looks for it.

[Tarl_Cabot]

LOL agent76!

Bale is not Bond material. I'd rather have Pierce for another 10 years than have this guy. He's like piece of furniture in a hotel lobby. You just don't notice him...I think he looks like any random guy in any bar anywhere...no presence...nothing special...and too young too. Jackman has charisma, talent,charm and star power. What's the problem here?

[crashdrive]

You just don't notice him...Jackman has charisma, talent,charm and star power. What's the problem here?

You don't notice him?? Bale is one of the most respected and admired young actors working in Hollywood today. His debut in Steven Spielberg' 'Empire of the Sun' was hailed by critics as one of the best acting perfomances by a child actor, his performance in 'American Psycho' made him a cult icon and his new role in 'The Machinist' showed audiences that he's one of the best and most dedicated actors of his generation. I'm really curious if you've even seen him act in anything, because whenever Bale's in a scene, audience members take notice.

As for Jackman, sure, he could play Bond, but so far he has yet to show any proof that he's got range in his acting. Characters like 'Wolverine', Stanley Jobson ('Swordfish') and 'Van Helsing' are all very much in the same vain. Bale has played a wide range of characters; from Jesus to Patrick Bateman. And now he's going to take on Bruce Wayne. Now that's what I call range. Just wait and see. Let Bale age a couple of years and you'll see why I think Bale is just the actor we need to take on the character of James Bond.

[Killmaster]

I didn't think that much of him in American Psycho, but after I saw him in Reign of Fire, Shaft, and Equilibrium... I was sold. Bale definitely has the style and brooding charisma capable of carrying the Bond series. Just give him a few more years. When Brosnan finally steps down (Bond 22?), Bale may be just right.

And to keep a semblance of peace and not raise the bile levels of Jackman advocates, I like him. too.

I see Bale as being more Connery-ish, while Jackman strikes me as being more like Brosnan. But, either would be terrific!

[doublenoughtspy]

Bale is a punk.

[Roebuck]

It was

[crashdrive]

Bale is a punk.

Now there is an intelligent, well-thought out response. *ahum*

[Loomis]

Bale looks more like Brosnan's son than his successor. Granted, Davenport is also young, but I've never claimed he'd be a good Bond now - he won't be ready for number of years.

crash, you say that "Bale is one of the most respected and admired young actors working in Hollywood today", but wouldn't that make him somewhat overqualified for Bond? Does a Bond actor really need "range"?

Besides which, Bale just doesn't fit my image of 007. Too young-looking, not menacing, a bland appearance, too intelligent-looking, etc.

[crashdrive]

Bale looks more like Brosnan's son than his successor.

You could say the same thing about the transition from Roger Moore to Timothy Dalton (or Sean Connery to George Lazenby). Bale does look a little young, but I thought the same thing about Brosnan when I first saw him in 'GoldenEye' (let alone the audition for 'The Living Daylights'). These transitions aren't always smooth, but if you're right, we won't see another Bond film for at least three years. I have faith Bale will look old enough by then.

I'm worried that he's a bit overqualified, but Bale seems enthusiastic enough, so what's the problem? Range is always a good thing to have. It made Bond so much more interesting in the Connery and the Dalton days. I think it would be a great advantage. Also, there would be a bigger chance that the actor will make the character his own, instead of playing the same character the previous actor has played, or, even worse, playing a character the actor in question has already played (something I fear will happen if Jackman replaces Brosnan).

So apart from youth (give him three years) and menace (I think menace will grow when Bale matures, eventhough I thought Bateman was intimidating enough), how can you call him bland? Check out 'Metroland', 'American Psycho', 'The Machinist' & 'Laurel Canyon'. The guy oozes charisma. And too intelligent?? Isn't Bond supposed to be intelligent??

[Loomis]

Isn't Bond supposed to be intelligent?? 

Obviously, he's not supposed to be a moron, but what I'm getting at is that Bond shouldn't be too clever. Smart and resourceful, yes, but not a superbrain - as Blofeld puts it in ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, 007 has a "conventional mind". Bale looks too much like an intellectual to me, and I feel Bond ought to be more of a "blunt instrument" type, someone who tends to solve problems using brawn, not brains.

[crashdrive]

Loomis, it's called acting. Even if Bale is an intellectual (I don't believe he is though), he can still play a 'blunt instrument'.

[Loomis]

Loomis, it's called acting.

Ha! Precisely my argument for Hugh Grant as Bond.

Sorry, Bale just doesn't make the grade, IMO.

[Agent 76]

No Bale! please!

Edited by Agent76, 20 February 2004 - 08:25 PM.

[crashdrive]

Ha! Precisely my argument for Hugh Grant as Bond.

There's a difference. Bale has experience playing characters who aren't intellectuals (see 'The Machinist' for example). Hugh Grant on the other hand doesn't have experience playing cool, sadistic, tough, sexy characters. Nine times out of ten, he plays bumbling Englishmen. Even in 'Bridget Jones' he fell out of a boat making a fool out of himself. Bale has the right experience. Grant doesn't (not to mention the fact that Grant is too old, too short and too expensive). If anyone doesn't make the grade; it's Grant. As for Bale, I have yet to hear one valid argument why he wouldn't be a terrific James Bond. Something I would love to hear from Agent76 who prefers Jude Law, who looks younger, is even more high profile, is a lot shorter and doesn't even have the right build. Why prefer Law over Bale?

[Brix Bond]

ARGH! I hate to be so common on the boards, but I'm going to say it because I'm just too frustrated! ! [Like Duck only with an F]. !

I am done. My frustration lies in the fact that nobody, apart from George Lazenby, has ever portrayed James Bond correctly.

Sean Connery just looked bored all the time. His face is always painted on and there are only rare moments where he moves his facial muscles. Roger Moore...without ranting, he was far too comical for his own good and that's where he fell apart. Tim. Oh Tim. With all the emotional range of a teenager hitting puberty. Pierce is just too PC and that goes against everything James Bond is. Nuff said. However, having said all that, the actors have all managed to get moments where the true character of Bond lies. For Sean it would be the part in Thunderball where he swings Fiona into the line of fire. For Roger it would be the look he gives...one of the Knife Throwing Twins where he kills him in revenge. Fot Tim, it has to be "Watch the birdie, you basss-tard!" and for Pierce, the part where he shoots Kaufman in the head. Ok, there are more examples, but I'm being brief.

To further this frustration, I have board members rallying for silly Billy actors who could not possibly convey the character of Bond in any way shape or form. Jackman - no, just 'no'. Law - too spaced out and airy. Hugh Grant - shut up. I don't understand how you can possibly want any of these people to play James Bond, a killer, a sexist bastard and more importantly, in his mid-to-late-thirties. No, James Bond is not 40+, Pierce Brosnan is. And Pierce Brosnan is very much NOT James Bond.

So to be honest, I don't see what the problems are over having an actor with such an emotional range as Christian Bale and I would be very happy for him to be the next James Bond. It's just that everyone is so pre-occupied with the cinematic Bond that they've forgotten WHO James Bond is. You know, this guy wrote some books a while back. Yeh books, you know about them. They're like...words...but on paper bound together to form a sort of...bunch of pages with writing on. So I challenge you to go and read the novels and report back to me and to then TRY and plead your case for the specific 'crap' actor you've chosen. Go on, try and apply their acting traits to the novels, they won't fit. I don't think you'll manage but it'll make me feel right. Ha! As if I needed any confirmation anyway.

[Tarl_Cabot]

"You don't notice him?? Bale is one of the most respected and admired young actors working in Hollywood today."

So is Leo Dicaprio and he aint Bond material either. So he's Batman. That doesn't make him James Bond.

[crashdrive]

So is Leo Dicaprio and he aint Bond material either. So he's Batman. That doesn't make him James Bond.

In case you hadn't noticed, Bale looks years older, is a lot taller, a lot more versatile and (small detail) is British. So what does DiCaprio has to do with anything??? My point was that Bale is definately an actor who has presence. So what's not to like about Bale?

[Tarl_Cabot]

I just don't identify him as being potentially James bond at all. Bond is a very difficult part to nail down. I think all the actors who have played him were perfect for the role, some better than others. I don't find Bale remotely interesting. He's a good lookin' Limey but that's not enough for me.

Damn, in '86 we were spoiled: Sam Neil, Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton were all solid choices(Dalton being the best) but right now I only see Jackman as having the goods to play 007 and he could sell tickets too.

[Brix Bond]

I don't think it is a particularly difficult part to play if you read the novels. Bond is not a particularly complex character. Interesting most certainly and, to me, a very likeable one but not complex. It's just the public has been conditioned by years and years of straying from what Bond is and then putting forward all these innappropriate names

I really am starting to prefer the books to the films, and having read only 4 of the Fleming novels so far, I'm worried about how I will feel towards the franchise by the time I finish the other 10...

[Agent 76]

Bale looks more like Brosnan's son than his successor.

ditto!