50 replies to this topic

[spynovelfan]

I think it would be interesting to see how many people here have found today's photos and footage of Daniel Craig changing their opinion for the better about him being Bond.

Are you one? If so, were you mildly sceptical of Craig, not sure at all - or completely anti-him? There's no shame! Confess your Craig love here!

Is there anyone who was pro-Craig, but is now anti-him?

[Bondian]

Great idea Spy.

I have to admit, I wasn't that struck on him when members were posting pic's of him last year. It's only until the first 'official' pic of him did I start to think that maybe EON had made the right choice.

Then we had the latest onset pic's, and now this video. It's these that have made my mind 100% sure he will be a great Bond.

Ciao.


Ian

[Tarl_Cabot]

I have been happy about the Craig hire since October but I had reservations about him being blond...the press conference in Prague gave me the impression he died it dark brown/blk...so when the bahamas pics debuted I was alittle dissapointed that he was indeed staying blond. Anyway, I'm over it.I think he'll be a very cool James Bond blond or not.I can't wait.This footage actually has me fired up for the film rather than just giving me a "Craig is ok afterall" vibe.

[spynovelfan]

I have to admit, I wasn't that struck on him when members were posting pic's of him last year.

But I posted this one almost a year ago today:



Admittedly, I later posted this one:

[Bondian]

I must have missed that first one, and the second looks like MooMoo.

[JB007YH]

I thought I was nearing the point of conversion but after seeing the pics and video I just cant see him as James Bond(especially when he is walking away from the helicopter. give me a break does craig think hes the fonz?). True, the franchise needed to go back to its roots and get dirtier and grittier, but if they were going that dirty and gritty why didnt eon hire my garbageman. I'm sorry but craig just isnt bond. Dont get me wrong, the movie is going to be amazing, because the plot will be what the franchise needed, however, I dont think craig has the right look, he is an amazing actor, but he doesnt look like james bond. Tom Hanks is a great actor does that mean he'd be an amazing James Bond? If eon wanted a more realistic and grittier bond than they should have hired a dirtier and more realistic writer(Haggis). Actors portray what is written for them. If Hugh Jackman played Bond with a dirtier and more realistic script everyone would say he was the best bond of our time(80s-00s).

[K1Bond007]

I was good with Craig back in August or September when it was looking increasingly likely he's get the role (even before that I saw Layer Cake and thought he would be good after he was mentioned even earlier - like April?). I haven't wavered. Just from what I've seen, I pick up that whole Connery vibe and I totally dig that. That's where I want CR to be. Admittingly the blond thing kind of bothered me, but I don't really care anymore. Maybe Bond 22 they can dye his hair and shake it up. Just because he's blond in this film doesn't necessarily mean Bond is blond (dye). That's kind of how I feel about that.

This is an interesting thread though. Maybe needs a poll.

[ACE]

Forgive me father, for I have sinned.

My name is CraigNotBond and I am a recovering xXx-olic. I'm a sad, miserable, glass-half-empty , who has to rain on other people's enthusiasm. I realize the error of my ways. I recant, I repent, I relent in the face of this "Shock And Awe" media blitz.

Please forgive me....

[Moore Not Less]

Although I have warmed to Daniel Craig since he was announced as Bond #6 the latest pictures and video have not changed my opinion. I tend to imagine Craig as one of the great Bond villains rather than Bond himself, so viewing images of him looking and acting tough won't convert me. I need to see if he can portray the necessary charisma, charm, suaveness, etc. And can he do the humour? If he can do all these things convincingly then (and only then) will I be converted.

[spynovelfan]

I'm sorry but craig just isnt bond. Dont get me wrong, the movie is going to be amazing, because the plot will be what the franchise needed, however, I dont think craig has the right look, he is an amazing actor, but he doesnt look like james bond.

Well, I'm surprised. I really thought the footage of him today would have convinced *anyone* that he had what it took. Guess not.

If Hugh Jackman played Bond with a dirtier and more realistic script everyone would say he was the best bond of our time(80s-00s).

As pleased as I am about Craig, I'll admit that you probably have a point there. I do wonder, though, if the people who went to see the first two Bourne films and were reminded of what it was like going to a Bond film that wasn't completely silly (and missed that) would have been that convinced by Jackman. I think Jackman's a pretty good actor. But I think Daniel Craig's one of the best actors of his generation, and he really has the potential to kick this character into another gear.

And yes, I think he looks like James Bond.

[fatima]

Well it looks like Daniel Craig in an action movie.

Casino Royale looks like it's going to be a really exciting film and I'm sure that Craig is going to be nothing less than excellent in it. But when I look at Daniel Craig I just don't see James Bond.

Sorry, I'd love to be able to say otherwise, but that's just the way I feel.

[Loomis]

I have been happy about the Craig hire since October but I had reservations about him being blond...the press conference in Prague gave me the impression he died it dark brown/blk...so when the bahamas pics debuted I was alittle dissapointed that he was indeed staying blond.

Call me daft, but I'm darned if I can tell whether he's staying blonde or not. In some pics, his hair seems pretty dark to me (see the pics of him staring at a computer screen

http://img220.images...0/5602/45gi.jpg

and that pic in today's Sun of him and Dench).

Now, could it be that Bond will actually have his hair dyed as part of the plot? I've suggested it as a cool idea for this "origin story" to show the beginning of "the traditional Bond look" (he dyes his hair to go undercover). Might it actually be happening? Well, probably not, but I can't understand why Craig's Bond seems so blonde in some shots and so not blonde in others.

[mkkbb]

I'm converted. Was hoping it wasn't him. When it was annouced I lived with it. Now I've seen pitures and video I'm all for it. Preferred if he had darker hair though.

[shady ginzo]

I have believed all along that the Daniel Craig route was the best choice, but reluctantly i must say that these pictures don't prove anything, only the Film will.
I can see where fatima is coming from, you don't quite see James Bond when you look at Craig, and strangely I have found it Difficult despite faith in the casting, i think it is down to just that, faith, that he will come good on the night.
now, back to the newspaper article, for me, and i think for many, this has possibly been one of the most exciting points of the pre-production period, combined with the BBC report this-afternoon we have been given an overdose of the teasers we have craved for so long, and I for one, am left metaphorically trembling for more!
I am truely and honestly excited about this film and that stretches beyond "Bond"
I feel today that a compelling and emotional rollercoaster story will become the true "star" of Casino Royale which would work who-ever the main character is (this was a huge part of Batman Begin's success) and I get predict a VERY dark, humanistic story which i think only gets better when you know what's coming to bond at the end. I am almost tempted to avoid spoilers from now on, I already know too much!

Edited by shady ginzo, 09 March 2006 - 11:26 PM.

[SeanValen00V]

I've only seen clips of him doing action. But for talking and interacting, to be judged.

Even though it's not his fault, I still think the way he was appointed was the worst way to introduce a new bond, you don't let a popular Bond go out when people still see him as Bond, Brosnan, if they gave Brosnan a gritty script, and allowed him to go out on that in 2005, it would of been perfect.


I dunno, the bond producers have tarnished his appointment, and that's beyond repair, it shouldn't of been this way. No doubt some don't care, but alot of people do, EON could of easily fixed things by closing off the brosnan era with some class. I just think they hurt their audience who would of followed Brosnan into gritty land, which was North Korea in DAD, could of done more of that.

This restart feels forced, feels iltimed.

I know it's a new bond film, and that's cool, but after it's out, it won't be a new bond film, history can't be erased, the bond producers have left a dark patch in the bond actor transition.

[SecretAgent007]

My opinion has not changed, if anything I am even less enthusiastic. I can't put my finger on anything specific. Well, at least nothing that hasn't been hashed out on here in about 300 other threads. This is the first time I haven't been excited when a new Bond has been announced. I wasn't crazy about Moore, but he still had a Bond vibe. I jsut don't get the vibe with Craig.

Edited by SecretAgent007, 10 March 2006 - 02:15 AM.

[Bondfan007]

Ive been pretty happy with Craig all along. After seeing the video today I am officially pumped for the movie.

[Dmitri Mishkin]

I've been excited, but converted? No. I was on board all along.

Now to turn on the Bond theme again...

[kneelbeforezod]

I can't understand why Craig's Bond seems so blonde in some shots and so not blonde in others.

I think its just the lighting. There won't be any hair dyeing in Casino Royale. That would be bizarre.

[MattofSteel]

Brown, black, light brown. I couldn't give a care of what Bond's hair colour is as long as it's one of these three. And it is, light brown.

In Daniel's own words, "Roger Moore was blonde."

There is no difference to me between Daniel and Sir Roger's hair...except for the fact that I thought Moore's hair styles were always a bit retarded and old-manish.

What? Converted? Oh, well, I was always willing to give him a chance. Now I'm a bit more excited though.

[JimmyBond]

I've only seen clips of him doing action. But for talking and interacting, to be judged.

you don't let a popular Bond go out when people still see him as Bond, Brosnan, if they gave Brosnan a gritty script, and allowed him to go out on that in 2005, it would of been perfect.

Except the Producers didnt want to make another Bond film with Brosnan, they were burnt out on making Bond films in that vein, even with a grittier script Brosnan's portrayal still demands a certain style. They wanted to change that style, so they started with the actor playing Bond.

And how do we know it was really as bad as the papers made it out to be? We don't really, all we have to go on is Brosnan saying the producers were stuck in paralysis with nowhere to go (which was true, they didnt know what to do after Brosnan).

[Blue07]

I think it would be interesting to see how many people here have found today's photos and footage of Daniel Craig changing their opinion for the better about him being Bond.

Are you one? If so, were you mildly sceptical of Craig, not sure at all - or completely anti-him? There's no shame! Confess your Craig love here!

Is there anyone who was pro-Craig, but is now anti-him?

I have never had a real problem with his look. But have had a lot of reservations about him in other respects. Seeing the pictures merely gets me excited because a new Bond film is happening nothing more.

However reading the interview and hearing Craig talk Bond with a little more enthusiasm puts a few problems I had with him away (plus talk of the next Bond suggesting he isn't gonna run away after one) so in that respect the man has gone up in my estimation.

Converted? No.

Willing to be converted? Yes.

Safe to say I am in the wait and see camp.

And he still could never hold a candle to Brosnan

[luciusgore]

He actually looks like Clive Owen in some shots

[Bon-san]

He wasn't my first choice by any means, but I have never felt devastated, betrayed, etc. I started with an open mind, and it's been a slow warming ever since I watched Layer Cake.

But this latest blitz of clips, images, interviews has turned the burner up several notches.

[Gabriel]

It's interesting for me reading all these reactions. In a way I can understand the negativity. I was a Dalton fan and I had absolutely no enthusiasm for Pierce from the start. He looked like a plastic action figure version of Bond. And there was something a little too . . . obvious about his casting. He conformed to all the basic stereotypse of Bond.

It wasn't until somewhere after the tank chase in GoldenEye that I began to see him as Bond. Towards the end of GE when he's kitted out in military gear and duking it out with Sean Bean he became Bond for me. Unfortunately, most of the (low-budget)FX surrounding them looked like they were imported from an old episode of Thunderbirds!

Funnily enough, I found Pierce immediately convincing in Tomorrow Never Dies. He'd put on a little weight and looked more rugged. Unfortunately, none of his films really captured what I saw as 'Bond', even though he desperately wanted to do something with the character.

Until they officially cast Daniel Craig, I wasn't sure about his casting: I favoured the idea of an actor who was thirty of a little under. DC looked quite good at the press conference, although I felt it was a badly handled affair (not helped by the stupid woman from The Mirror!)

I was always basically enthusiastic about his casting, though. He wasn't an obvious choice. He's not a Hugh Jackman or a Clive Owen, who would have been another case of James Bond ™. Since DC's worked out and been shown on location, I'm getting a Dalton vibe from him. This time, I'm the most excited about the casting of a new Bond since the late-80s.

My enthusiasm has merely been justified. And, frankly who gives a flying f#ck what colour his hair is? Grow up and grow some balls!!!!

[Pal]

When he was first announced, and in the time from his first mention in the news as a possible Bond, I really hated that he could have been the next Bond. The very 1st picture I saw of him was extremely unflattering and 1st impressions make a big difference. Anyway, prior to the press conference, I got to see Layer Cake and while it made me think that Craig could act Bond, I still was not keen on his looks whatsoever. After the conference, I very, very slowly starting warming to him until I saw Layer Cake again and that's when it really started to sink in that this guy was going to be great. However, Munic is what won me over. His performance was really great and I saw a ton of potential for him as Bond. I then watched Layer Cake again with a friend after seeing the 1st set of Bahama's pictures and I can confess that I am totally converted now. It was a long road, but the conversion happened and even my friend said Craig would be like Dalton, only not quite as serious (humor wise). But things are looking good and I can't wait for November.

[stamper]

I had many doubts, and was 50/50 on this as my posts archives will attest. Now, I'm 100/100. As long as they keep the BW opening credits, and if you don't like black and white : go yourself !

[enigma662]

I had many doubts, and was 50/50 on this as my posts archives will attest. Now, I'm 100/100. As long as they keep the BW opening credits, and if you don't like black and white : go yourself !

Don't you mean 100/0?

[Rolex]

I remember as a kid seeing OHMSS not knowing that Sean had left and it was a real shock to see george . But as a kid it took a couple of minutes to adjust and loved the movie. Since then with the arrival and departures of actors its never really made a difference to me , i get excited because its a bond film.

The things that i get dissapointed now and then are the film storylines, too much or too less action scenes, i am a sucker for big sets so when they are not included i feel a bit let down.

The only time i have ever thought about the Bond actor being wrong was AVTAK , Roger was far too old . I enjoyed DAD but thought another Pierce Bond film 2 years later he would look too old to represent Bond

So i guess the only critera for me is any actor is age

[Donovan]

The problems that I have with "Casino Royale" go beyond the main casting change, but the hiring of Craig has definitely been a part of it. I guess the problem I have is I can't get worked up over a few quick clips because in the past after seeing the film I realized that :20 seconds of rapid-paced action shots doesn't necessarily transcend to a good 2 hour movie. If I get my hands on the script, I'll read it. If not, I'll have to wait for the film before I can possibly say I'm converted.

I love smart action films. I loved John Woo's "The Killer", which has some phenomenal gun fight scenes which were freshly conceived and choreographed. I liked the resourcefulness of Bond, which we haven't seen in a while (I always gave MGW credit for the Bond that could, say, breathe air from a submerged car's tire or orchestrate events by playing with the villain's mind). I love little touches like in the new film "Running Scared" when the guy needs to grab a bullet without the police noticing, and how he manages to do it. This new film should have that quality...more brains than squibs. I'd feel better if P&W weren't involved, because "Die Another Day" had no brains whatsoever. I'm not sure how to blame Brosnan for that. I'm still not happy with the "Bond Begins" situation. It seems to be the hook for this film...a gimmick that can only be used once. I'm not sure how receptive people are going to be with that. I'll try to keep an open mind in the theater, but I don't like starting from scratch. As a Bond fan, I've "been with" Bond through some amazing adventures. This film will build on none of that, yet it is too happy to exploit some of the successful elements, like the DB5, and "change history" to suit this desperate approach. To be honest, I felt that Brosnan was the best thing going for the Bond series these days. I felt he was a better actor than Arnold is at composing, Wilson and Broccoli are at producing, P&W are at writing, and Campbell is at directing.

Brosnan's gone, but the other people are staying. Just how excited am I supposed to be?