30 replies to this topic

[Felix_Leiter]

I can't remember who I heard it from but it goes like this: The third bond movie that any bond actor makes will invariably be the best bond movie he makes. Ofcourse there are only three bond actors that have made more than two movies, but let's check the theory out.

Sean Connery - Goldfinger
Roger Moore - The Spy Who Loved Me
Pierce Brosnan - The World is Not Enough

The first two I think are dead on, but I personally think that Goldeneye is the better film. But then after many, many hours of contemplation I realized that TWINE has Pierce's better perfomance, so the theory holds true, sort of.

Imagine if George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton had done there third film.

[Xenobia]

These things come in threes....

I agree that Goldfinger was Connery's best, but I think Moore was better in "For Your Eyes Only." Top to bottom, it's a better film.

Of the three he has done, TWINE is Brosnan's best. But it is unfair to think about what is Brosnan's best and what is his worst when he is not done yet.

Ask me that question in five years, when he retires after his sixth Bond movie.

-- Xenobia

[Mr Trump]

I would agree that the third movie as been the actors best bond film but I have to agree with Hardyboy that it just comes down to personal opinion.

[General Koskov]

As for what the actors think, Connery says From Russia With Love was his favourite film. Moore says The Spy Who Loved Me (followed by Octopussy, though he did quip that 'all the rest' were his least favourite[s]'). I'm not sure of what Brosnan thinks, but I suspect The World is not Enough would be because he tailored it to suit what he thought Bond films should be--thankfully what most fans think they should be.

The other 'third film theory' I heard (and thought of when I saw this thread), was that Goldfinger had to be the third because the whole SPECTRE thing was in the courts, Diamonds Are Forever was 'too boring', You Only Live Twice, The Man with the Golden Gun, and Octopussy & The Living Daylights weren't written, The Spy Who Loved Me was denied permission (and I suppose no one could come up with a novel plot until 13 years later), and Casino Royale was not in Eon's hands. However Live and Let Die, Moonraker, and For Your Eyes Only were there, and if Richard Maibaum couldn't exite Diamonds Are Forever, then--to use Blacking's words--'I'm Arnold Palmer'. Well, Goldfinger was a good choice, though that gansters scene is awful...

[Hardyboy]

Yep, I've heard of this; but, let's face it, it's all subjective. While I think that "Goldfinger" is Connery's best Bond film--and the best Bond film overall--I know plenty of people who would give the nod to "From Russia with Love"; and while it's true "The Spy Who Loved Me" really cemented Roger Moore in the part of Bond, a lot of people consider "For Your Eyes Only" a much better film. And I agree with you about "TWINE"--this is easily Brosnan's best performance as Bond, but I think "GoldenEye" is the more satisfying film overall.

[rafterman]

personally I think the third isn't necessarily the best one, but the most comfortable, natural one, the one that cements the actor as the character or brings the phenomenon to a height of popularity...

[Kingdom Come]

You could turn it around and say the first Bond film can be their best:

Dr No.
Live & Let Die.
The Living Daylights.
Goldeneye.

[Triton]

POST CENSORED BY ITS AUTHOR

[Xenobia]

Excuse me Triton?

What was that about?

[Triton]

I was going to give my opinion concerning the third Bond movie theory and then thought better of it.

[Xenobia]

Well, without the swear words, what would you say?

-- Me

[Triton]

Originally posted by Xenobia
Well, without the swear words, what would you say?

-- Me

I wasn't going to swear. I was going to refute the third Bond movie theory, but I didn't like the quality of my writing supporting my position. I also thought better of my comments because they would most certainly inflame the Timothy Dalton fans out there who think that he would be better loved had he done a third Bond film. I decided that I just didn't want to kick that hornet's nest again.

I don't seem to be able to delete posts once I submit them. I check the box, click Delete, and then the server gives me a message saying something to the effect that I cannot do it.

[Genrewriter]

I agree with the theory in part, though I think Die Another Day is better than TWINE.

[Qwerty]

To get back to topic, I agree with the memebers that say they are more comfortable in the role, but not necessarily the best. With Goldfinger and The Spy Who Loved Me, sure. The World Is Not Enough, I'm still not sure, it's a fine film, but I don't know about it being his absolute best.

[Xenobia]

Originally posted by Triton


I wasn't going to swear. I was going to refute the third Bond movie theory, but I didn't like the quality of my writing supporting my position. I also thought better of my comments because they would most certainly inflame the Timothy Dalton fans out there who think that he would be better loved had he done a third Bond film.  I decided that I just didn't want to kick that hornet's nest again.

I don't seem to be able to delete posts once I submit them. I check the box, click Delete, and then the server gives me a message saying something to the effect that I cannot do it.

As a matter of safety, only staff can delete posts and entire threads. Next time, if you want something deleted, as a staffer to do it, if they are online at the same time.

-- Barbara

[Moore Not Less]

I agree that Connery's best film is Goldfinger, but I would say his best performance is in From Russia With Love.

I agree that Moore's best film is The Spy Who Loved Me, but I would say his best performance is in For Your Eyes Only.

I don't agree that The World Is Not Enough is Brosnan's best film. GoldenEye is Brosnan's best Bond film. And I would say his best performance is in GoldenEye.

[CommanderBond]

I disagree that Connery's best film was Goldfinger I think its From Russia With Love.

I agree that Moore's Best film was The Spy Who Loved Me

I disagree with Brosnan's best film being TWINE i definatly say its Goldeneye.

[Kingdom Come]

Dr No is Connery's best; Live And Let Die is Moore's best; The Living Daylights is Daltons; Goldeneye is Brosnan's - so my theory is the first Bond film is that actors best.

[Bondian]

Originally posted by Kingdom Come
Dr No is Connery's best; Live And Let Die is Moore's best; The Living Daylights is Daltons; Goldeneye is Brosnan's - so my theory is the first Bond film is that actors best.

Agreed, agreed, agreed. Well said Kingdon Come.

Although the Actors in their 3rd Bond Move may of 'relaxed' for it. I think that Kingdon Come sums it up rather nicely!.

[Bond111]

While randomly pondering the world of James Bond (as I usually do) I realized something about the 4th movies. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it would seem to me that every actors' 4th movie (Thunderball, Moonraker, Die Another Day) has had a major advertising campaign. Thunderball certainly had a very large campaign as Bondmania was sweeping the nation. Moonraker had a very large campaign, and was one of the most successful Bond films to date. Lastly, Die Another Day had a pretty big advertising campaign. It pretty much revitalized the franchise and brought a whole new audience to the world of Bond.

[[dark]]

Each Bond actor's fourth Bond film was also their highest grossing. Will this hold true for when it comes time for the Billion Dollar Bond to do his fifth?

[DLibrasnow]

Originally posted by General Koskov
As I'm not sure of what Brosnan thinks, but I suspect The World Is Not Enough would be because he tailored it to suit what he thought Bond films should be--thankfully what most fans think they should be.

Brosnan has gone on record as saying that he feels GoldenEye is his best Bond outing!

[DLibrasnow]

I do agree with Pierce Brosnan on this - GoldenEye is by far the best outing he has had yet as James Bond.

[Righty007]

I very much agree with this theory.

[DLibrasnow]

I did agree with it until The World is not Enough came along!!

[Jimmy Bond 83]

I think I disagree on the theory - simply because it is true, for another reason!

I think the 3rd movie theory demonstrates how relaxed and comfortable the actor is with the role... Moore admitted he wasn't as good as Bond until TSWLM, which nailed his characterization. The onward films proved that. LALD and TMWTGG were Connery-what-ifs, with Moore struggling to play the role in a different twist, and not quite succeeding (I am very fond of LALD, however). In result, not Bond enough.

Connery was at his most comfortable, and fun time, at GF, simply because he enjoyed being Bond by now. Nowhere else in the films did he enjoy doing a Bond film than GF. We knew how he felt during the making of the others, especially NSNA...

And Brosnan, I think, played it relaxed and cool in GE, like an Agent who returns at the thing he's best at and realizing how much he needs being 007 ("its what keeps me alive" comes to mind). But, by TWINE, he IS Bond, because he knows where to send the character with his portrayal, as he knows where to move. He admitted it, also, during the making of the film, that this was the film where he felt he was comfortable in the role, and could add to the character's dimension more than previously.

However, I think each of these actor's best is not necesseraly their third. In my, humble opinion, Connery's best Bond portrayal is in DR. NO, whereas his best film (and also second best, or third, or fourth, he was equally perfect in all his first four) is FRWL. Moore's best portrayal is in TSWLM and FYEO, followed by OP, and his best film is FYEO. And Brosnan's best film is GE, as his portrayal in his first three is equally great.

Though I do think Brosnan might've been better, overall, in his third, actually, now that I think about it...

[Byron]

You could turn it around and say the first Bond film can be their best:

Dr No.
Live & Let Die.
The Living Daylights.
Goldeneye.

I could go with your theory. Only possible weak link is Moore but LALD is up there as one of the better Moore films.

[Double-Oh Agent]

You could turn it around and say the first Bond film can be their best:

Dr No.
Live & Let Die.
The Living Daylights.
Goldeneye.

I could go with your theory. Only possible weak link is Moore but LALD is up there as one of the better Moore films.

Don't forget On Her Majesty's Secret Service either.

There certainly hasn't been a bad first film for any of the new 007s. Hopefully, that trend continues with Daniel Craig's Casino Royale.

[David Schofield]

Its an old theory - which was pretty well supported when the situation was two actors with third films - Sean GF, Rog TSWLM - who were well-appreciated as Bond and two who dropped out early and were disregarded, given additional credence by Tim having dropped out after two so the theory goes that with a lighter touch in, say, The Property of a Lady, and with audiences more used to and accepting him in the role, hsi third might also have been his best.

Sadly, TWINE torpedoed the idea, and showed it up for what it was: a nice idea but unsubstantiated with sufficient evidence, from distant Bond days.

[MarcAngeDraco]

Dr No is Connery's best; Live And Let Die is Moore's best; The Living Daylights is Daltons; Goldeneye is Brosnan's - so my theory is the first Bond film is that actors best.

Interesting theory KC. If each actor's first is their best, would you then advocate each new actor doing only one film?...