56 replies to this topic

[Loomis]

Strange question, I know, but:

Does anyone here fear that Craig's Bond will be too similar to Dalton's, Brosnan's, or both?

In other words, that Craig will be, for want of a better word, wasted. Due to a requirement to play a reasonably audience-friendly, "middle-of-the-road" 007 (taking him into Broz territory), instead of being encouraged to really put his own spin on the character; or wasted due to his own style and interpretation of the role being naturally very close to Dalton's.

Way too early to tell any of this, of course, but, still, does anyone reckon Craig may be too much of a Timmy D or Pierce B?

[Carver]

To be honest, I think it'll be hard for Craig to make his own unique style for Bond, as there have been 5 actors before him to play the character. My reckoning is that he'll be more like Dalton, as EOn have already stated how the film will be grittier than recent films, and from Craig's acting I can imagine his style to be similar to Dalton's. I don't think this will hinder his performance, and if any it'll please hard core Bond fans, although what affect it will have on the general audience I can't say. I wasn't old enough to take note of how audiences reacted to Dalton, so I couldn't say how they'd react to Craig. Good point you've made though Loomis.

[Mister Asterix]

[mra]Don

[Tarl_Cabot]

Not 'tall. Craig will be Daniel Craig's 007. The look he has already strays from the formula...I don't see him playing a Bond we've seen before. After Munich I'm very enthused. And he didn't look 'small' to me...not as tall as Eric Bana but he looked like he had some meat on his bones,ie like he could hurt someone if need be.He'll be more threatening than Brosnan and that's a good thing. And he'll look like a guy who could be a secret agent. Casino can't get here sooner.

[Tarl_Cabot]

I've changed my avatar to show my support.

[Loomis]

To be honest, I think it'll be hard for Craig to make his own unique style for Bond, as there have been 5 actors before him to play the character.

Yes, there's that, too. Will Craig have room to manoeuvre? And did this put a lot of actors off the part during the long hunt for Bond 6?

My reckoning is that he'll be more like Dalton, as EOn have already stated how the film will be  grittier than recent films, and from Craig's acting I can imagine his style to be similar to Dalton's.

Yeah. Watching a bit of SYLVIA the other night, I thought I was watching Dalton. Well, almost. Same goes for the first time I saw LAYER CAKE.

Still, for some odd reason (and I freely admit that I may be way, way off on this one), I also suspect that Craig's Bond may be a little too reminiscent of Brosnan's. I mean, granted, there are bound to be some similarities between Craig and other Bond actors, since they're - duh! - all playing the same character. And I couldn't be happier with the choice of Craig as Bond. That said, I hope he won't be wasted.

[Loomis]

Not 'tall. Craig will be Daniel Craig's 007. The look he has already strays from the formula...I don't see him playing a Bond we've seen before. After Munich I'm very enthused. And he didn't look 'small' to me...not as tall as Eric Bana but he looked like he had some meat on his bones,ie like he could hurt someone if need be.He'll be more threatening than Brosnan and that's a good thing. And he'll look like a guy who could be a secret agent. Casino can't get here sooner.

I saw a very brief interview clip of Craig on TV last night, talking about MUNICH (if Bond was discussed, I missed it), and I'm afraid he did strike me, and not for the first time, as not exactly the tallest guy on the block. Not that that matters. But I'll have to be careful lest I start thinking of him as Dennis Waterman from "Little Britain"! (Apologies to non-Brits, who may well not "get" that joke, but then again it's not that good.)

[spynovelfan]

Craig may be like Dalton - though I think they may have learned a few lessons from that experience - but I can't see him being like Brosnan. Apart from anything else, he *looks* completely different. Clear blue water between the way these two guys look and carry themselves and are perceived. I think that's good news for a series that once again had slipped into complacency and needs a good kick up the .

I think casting Daniel Craig was absolutely inspired. I still can't quite believe they did it, and half-fear I'm in some odd parallel universe, and in the real world CBNers are all discussing Julian McMahon's eyebrows.

[Tarl_Cabot]

If he's 'wasted' it won't be his fault-a Bond film is a business venture and the company wants the film to be entertaining, accessable to 'civilians' and of course, make tons of money. If Craig is wasted than it will be the fault of the writers and producers...but they seem willing to take chances finally.

[Loomis]

Craig may be like Dalton - though I think they may have learned a few lessons from that experience - but I can't see him being like Brosnan. Apart from anything else, he *looks* completely different. Clear blue water between the way these two guys look and carry themselves and are perceived.

Well, I see (or rather suspect that I'll see) some similarities between the way Brosnan and Craig carry themselves onscreen, a similar swagger, similar delivery of lines, similar way with "comic relief".... Mind you, I admit that I've nothing really to base that on. Just a feeling. And, of course, they're both playing Bond, so....

I think casting Daniel Craig was absolutely inspired. I still can't quite believe they did it, and half-fear I'm in some odd parallel universe, and in the real world CBNers are all discussing Julian McMahon's eyebrows.

LOL! I feel the same way.

It'll be quite strange to watch the forthcoming start-of-shooting press conference (I assume there'll be one before this month is out) and not hear Brosnan saying something like "So here we are again.... it's like slipping into a pair of comfortable old shoes".

[Hitchcock Bond]

I haven't seen Munich yet. From what I've read and heard Craig plays a charismatic killer very well. In this respect Craig could be more like Connery than any other actor. I would suggest that Craig is a naturalistic actor, in a similar manner to Connery. I haven't seen Craig do light comedy, which was the forte of Brosnan and Moore, or Shakespearean roles like Dalton. I can imagine Craig playing Connery-type scenes very well, such as the cold-blooded killing of Professer Dent in DN. I don't think that he will be exactly like Connery; I think there is room to portray a more complex Bond persona and still fit within the perameters of popular cinema.

Edited by Hitchcock Bond, 17 January 2006 - 04:45 PM.

[Harmsway]

Not 'tall. Craig will be Daniel Craig's 007. The look he has already strays from the formula...I don't see him playing a Bond we've seen before. After Munich I'm very enthused. And he didn't look 'small' to me...not as tall as Eric Bana but he looked like he had some meat on his bones,ie like he could hurt someone if need be.He'll be more threatening than Brosnan and that's a good thing. And he'll look like a guy who could be a secret agent. Casino can't get here sooner.

MUNICH was the film that made me the most happy with his casting. He was deadly, brutal, cool, and funny in that film all at different moments, and I hope his performance as Bond has many echoes of that.

That said, I agree with what some others may be saying. Craig may have some Brosnan-like things in his portrayal, but this will likely be from the script if anything. Though I have no doubt how he handles the role will be different from Brosnan.

We'll see. I just don't want the self-awareness Brosnan often brought in performance (or the hamminess he showed off in moments of GE and a great deal of TWINE). I want to see Craig treat it just like another job, as he says he will.

[Seannery]

Frankly I see Timothy Dalton actually being the modern influence on Bond--or you can call it the swerve away from the Roger Moore era. Since the stunts and fun Roger era the series led by Timothy and the Producers went for the more psychological and literary Bond. The mantra has been going back to the roots and making Bond more real psychologically. They didn't always achieve this but they surely at least had a pretense towards it.

Brosnan followed Dalton in emphasizing making Bond "real". So despite their differences Tim and Pierce tackled the role in a similiar way. Daniel Craig along with the producers, director and writers all have voiced tackling Bond in the "Tim Dalton Way". The very modern psychological angsty take which is very different than Roger and even Sean.

So you can have different takes within this broad psychological back to the literary approach--so Craig could have room to be his own Bond BUT generally acting-wise we will see the same approach with much interiority.

I for one could use less of this approach and more of the unpretentious fun(sometimes serious) of especially Connery.

[Loomis]

Frankly I see Timothy Dalton actually being the modern influence on Bond--or you can call it the swerve away from the Roger Moore era.  Since the stunts and fun Roger era the series led by Timothy and the Producers went for the more psychological and literary Bond.  The mantra has been going back to the roots and making Bond more real pyschologically.  They didn't always achieve this but they surely at least had a pretense towards it.

Brosnan followed Dalton in emphasizing making Bond "real".  So despite their differences Tim and Pierce tackled the role in a similiar way.  Daniel Craig along with the producers, director and writers all have voiced tackling Bond in the "Tim Dalton Way".  The very modern psychological angsty take which is very different than Roger and even Sean.

So you can have different takes within this broad pyschological back to the literary approach--so Craig could have room to be his own Bond BUT generally acting-wise we will see the same approach with much interiority.

I for one could use less of this approach and more of the unpretentious fun(sometimes serious) of especially Connery.

Some great points there, Seannery. I agree on "Timothy Dalton actually being the modern influence on Bond", and that "despite their differences Tim and Pierce tackled the role in a similiar way".

[Royal Dalton]

My feeling is Craig will play Bond as a bit of a cocky character to begin with. Becoming more angst-ridden and embittered as the film progresses.

Whether he ultimately ends up being similar to Dalton, or whoever, it's too early to know, of course.

[Seannery]

[quote name='Loomis' date='17 January 2006 - 17:46'][quote name='Seannery' date='17 January 2006 - 16:44']Frankly I see Timothy Dalton actually being the modern influence on Bond--or you can call it the swerve away from the Roger Moore era.

[Qwerty]

I don't think so as of this moment (but as you say, way too early to tell). I hope the interpretation and possible changes that Craig brings to role work well for the overall film. I hope he is allowed to have important inputs into the role, thereby strengthening his confidence and making him comfortable in it.

[Tarl_Cabot]

My only 'fear' about Casino Royale is the inclusion of Judi Dench as M. It's ilogical, inappropriate and totally unnecessary. Bernard Hill would be the perfect M for an early Bond outing.

[TheREAL008]

I don't think Craig will be anything similiar to Dalton's performance.

To compare Craig to any of the previous five would be foolish speculation so we all have to wait until the film does come out to see where he fits.

If I had to make a wager? I'd say no.

[Double-Oh Agent]

Will Craig be too similar to any of the previous Bond actors? I'd say no. However, I see him being closer in style to Connery, Lazenby, and Dalton--especially the former and latter 007s. I suspect he'll play the role closer to Dalton's way but with the coolness and machismo that Connery had.

[David Schofield]

I think the most exciting thing about CR - and crucial in its anticipation - is that we don't know at all what Craig's Bond will be like. As Spy and Loomis point out, Craig is so different that its still hard to believe he's been cast. I may be wrong - and if I am someone please point it out - but in his body of work, I do not notice any film wherein Craig was "auditioning" for the role of Bond, or seems remotely Bond-like. Has he appeared as a conventional lead in an action-thriller before? Does Archangel count? Despite all his rave reviews for Layer Cake, there is nothing Bondish about it: when did James Bond get so bashed about by events and physically beaten up? Hell, XXX even needs his own bodyguards! To me, Craig career seems to have been one different part after the other.

Conversely, with both Roger and Pierce, we have seen examples of them playing a variation on Bond before they took the role. While this might lead to a lack of confidence in Craig with one hand, for the rest of us it leads to a tingling excitement.

What will Craig's Bond be like? Haven't a clue, I'm pleased to say.

[Seannery]

I think the most exciting thing about CR - and crucial in its anticipation - is that we don't know at all what Craig's Bond will be like. As Spy and Loomis point out, Craig is so different that its still hard to believe he's been cast. I may be wrong - and if I am someone please point it out - but in his body of work, I do not notice any film wherein Craig was "auditioning" for the role of Bond, or seems remotely Bond-like. Has he appeared as a conventional lead in an action-thriller before? Does Archangel count? Despite all his rave reviews for Layer Cake, there is nothing Bondish about it: when did James Bond get so bashed about by events and physically beaten up? Hell, XXX even needs his own bodyguards! To me, Craig career seems to have been one different part after the other.

Conversely, with both Roger and Pierce, we have seen examples of them playing a variation on Bond before they took the role. While this might lead to a lack of confidence in Craig with one hand, for the rest of us it leads to a tingling excitement.

What will Craig's Bond be like? Haven't a clue, I'm pleased to say.

From what Craig and those working on the film have already said Craig will tackle the role like those since Dalton--making Bond psychologically real and touched by the rigors of spying. Of course he'll put his own flavor on it but he should be in line with the modern takes of Bond. And I will also say I DO see a Bondian flavor to his persona to a degree--especially noticed it in Munich even though the character wasn't overly Bondian.

[Blue07]

I see a return to the Dalton style with Craig (he won't come anywhere near as good as the Broz) and I don't think thats a bad thing. I would think Craig has kind of signed up with that as a priority - a serious (humourless) dark Bond which would be interesting. No way Craig would be comfortable with the excess of gadgets, CGI and Roger one-liners. He's far too respectable an actor for that the day they start with the overblown CGI circus again he's gonna run a mile. So I think we're looking at Dalton II - The revenge.

Edited by Lappaman, 18 January 2006 - 06:57 PM.

[Harmsway]

I see a return to the Dalton style with Craig (he won't come anywhere near as good as the Broz) and I don't think thats a bad thing. I would think Craig has kind of signed up with that as a priority - a serious (humourless) dark Bond which would be interesting. No way Craig would be comfortable with the excess of gadgets, CGI and Roger one-liners. He's far too respectable actor for that the day they start with the overblown CGI circus again he's gonna run a mile. So I think we're looking at Dalton II - The revenge.

Well Campbell noted that they were trying to get back to the real "wit" with Bond. So I doubt it'll be humorless altogether. I don't know what to make of that, since I cringe at the idea of P&W "wit", but then again, Campbell seems to have a distaste for those one-liners anyway if you listen to the GOLDENEYE commentary (he tried to delete "She always did enjoy a good squeeze" because he thought it was too cheesy, and makes various remarks about the dialogue throughout). So maybe Paul Haggis has really give us something great in terms of dialogue - Craig certainly claimed he had in that interview.

[Blue07]

Hope your right about the script - P&W don't instill a huge amount of confidence so hopefully Haggis has really gone to town on it. I certainly hope there is a lot of humour there but the difference is where Broz, Rog and Sean could deliver it perfectly I would think Craig might be like Dalton and always look uncomfortable with the one-liners. If thats the case I would rather they didn't try.

[J.B.]

[quote name='Loomis' date='17 January 2006 - 09:55']Strange question, I know, but:

Does anyone here fear that Craig's Bond will be too similar to Dalton's, Brosnan's, or both?

In other words, that Craig will be, for want of a better word, wasted. Due to a requirement to play a reasonably audience-friendly, "middle-of-the-road" 007 (taking him into Broz territory), instead of being encouraged to really put his own spin on the character; or wasted due to his own style and interpretation of the role being naturally very close to Dalton's.

Way too early to tell any of this, of course, but, still, does anyone reckon Craig may be too much of a Timmy D or Pierce B?

[/quote]

IMO, I dont see what was wrong with the molds of the bond's you mention. I hear alot about how it would be best if bond were written closer to the book's writing of bond. How do we know it would be best? I for one wonder just how good it would be. It definitely would be darker and I am really not for that. I think the writing should get back to some realism (ie, no invisible cars, wind surfing iceberg avalanches etc.) but the "formula" overall was very enjoyable for me.

[quote name='Carver' date='17 January 2006 - 10:04']To be honest, I think it'll be hard for Craig to make his own unique style for Bond, as there have been 5 actors before him to play the character. My reckoning is that he'll be more like Dalton, as EOn have already stated how the film will be

Edited by J.B., 18 January 2006 - 07:28 PM.

[Harmsway]

Hope your right about the script - P&W don't instill a huge amount of confidence so hopefully Haggis has really gone to town on it. I certainly hope there is a lot of humour there but the difference is where Broz, Rog and Sean could deliver it perfectly I would think Craig might be like Dalton and always look uncomfortable with the one-liners. If thats the case I would rather they didn't try.

He had a lot of humor in MUNICH, and I could definitely see him pulling off some Connery-esque wit. He's not as dead-pan as a lot of people make him out to be, IMO.

[Bon-san]

[quote name='Mister Asterix' date='17 January 2006 - 11:16'][mra]Don

[Royal Dalton]

Dalton II?

[stamper]

Here's the Bond that could've been...

http://www.bmwworld....e/8959_1024.jpg