280 replies to this topic

[HH007]

I love Dalton as Bond and have since I got past 13. I wouldn't say anything apart from maturity has changed my opinion on Dalton since I used to rate Moore highest in my very young years.

It actually annoys me today how Craig is so highly praised for a dark performace and how his Bond seems to have broken new ground, when 20 years prior Dalton had the same kind of portrayal criticised. I don't know why a lot of people act like Bond has never been a darker character before when he has.

I haven't heard anyone say there wasn't a dark Bond before. Most people seem to agree that Dalton's Bond was ahead of his time... too far ahead of his time.

[tdalton]

It actually annoys me today how Craig is so highly praised for a dark performace and how his Bond seems to have broken new ground, when 20 years prior Dalton had the same kind of portrayal criticised. I don't know why a lot of people act like Bond has never been a darker character before when he has.

I can agree with this sentiment. I know a few people who have said how new and refreshing Craig's Bond is, but don't acknowledge that Dalton's Bond was really trying to do very much the same thing, but didn't get anywhere near the recognition that Craig and CR get, although his efforts and his performances deserve much more praise than they actually get from casual movie watchers and critics.

[Daddy Bond]

It actually annoys me today how Craig is so highly praised for a dark performace and how his Bond seems to have broken new ground, when 20 years prior Dalton had the same kind of portrayal criticised. I don't know why a lot of people act like Bond has never been a darker character before when he has.

I can agree with this sentiment. I know a few people who have said how new and refreshing Craig's Bond is, but don't acknowledge that Dalton's Bond was really trying to do very much the same thing, but didn't get anywhere near the recognition that Craig and CR get, although his efforts and his performances deserve much more praise than they actually get from casual movie watchers and critics.

Agreed. My view of Dalton's performance remains the same, however, it would have been nice to see him in one or two more. Alas, it is not to be.

[sharpshooter]

I entirely agree. Dalton was great for what we he succeeded at, but he was hardly successful at everything. Craig managed to capture everything great about Dalton's performance, but also managed to succeed where he failed.

I agree with that.

[HH007]

I entirely agree. Dalton was great for what we he succeeded at, but he was hardly successful at everything. Craig managed to capture everything great about Dalton's performance, but also managed to succeed where he failed.

I agree with that.

Exactly the point a lot of us were making earlier.

[Mr. Blofeld]

I entirely agree. Dalton was great for what we he succeeded at, but he was hardly successful at everything. Craig managed to capture everything great about Dalton's performance, but also managed to succeed where he failed.

I agree with that.

Exactly the point a lot of us were making earlier.

Wouldn't you agree?

[MarcAngeDraco]

No, Craig hasn't changed my view of Dalton (but perhaps has reinforced it a bit) as I've always liked Tim's portrayal of Bond.

[00Twelve]

I will say that Craig's performance caused me to take another, even closer, look at Dalton, and I loved what I saw when I looked back. I had known that he was always underrated, but it's been since Craig that I've begun to see just HOW underrated he was. (Um...a lot.)

[jaguar007]

It actually annoys me today how Craig is so highly praised for a dark performace and how his Bond seems to have broken new ground, when 20 years prior Dalton had the same kind of portrayal criticised. I don't know why a lot of people act like Bond has never been a darker character before when he has.

I can agree with this sentiment. I know a few people who have said how new and refreshing Craig's Bond is, but don't acknowledge that Dalton's Bond was really trying to do very much the same thing, but didn't get anywhere near the recognition that Craig and CR get, although his efforts and his performances deserve much more praise than they actually get from casual movie watchers and critics.

I am a huge Dalton fan and have been since TLD was released. Until CR came out, Dalton was my 2nd favorite 007 (after the EARLY Connery)but now he has moved down to 3rd. I don't think much of the praise has only been about how Craig is portraying 007 as a darker character, I think Craig's charisma as a human being plays just as big of a role. Dalton certainly played it darker and more human than Moore (like Craig did to Brosnan) but Craig also has a macho physical presence (much like a young Connery) that Dalton did not have. As I also mentioned earlier, Craig has a sexiness to the character that Dalton was lacking. WIth that said, TLD still ranks in my top 5 favorite Bond films.

[5 BONDS]

Dalton will always be one of the best Bonds and my opinion of Dalton will always be one of admiration.

One thing Dalton has that Craig hasn't is a presence of danger because with his Bond you cannot predict what he is capable off. Craigs Bond comes across more like a "macho" hard man Bond. Unfortunately you can see that Casino Royale is trying the same style as Bourne in the fight scenes and that is the problem..because the audience is already aware of the Bourne movies the fans of the series are saying look Bond is trying to compete.

When Dalton is first introduced as Bond in the pre-title sequence of the TLD, definately the best introduction of Bond in the whole series..I can remember uttering wow...because you really believed this Bond meant business. The scene in the bar in LTK..the confrontation at the table...you look at Dalton and immediately say ..don't wanna mess with this guy. Dalton took the series to a whole new level but as we have pointed out already the general public were not ready for this change then.

Dalton is the only Bond that gave headbutts a meaning...you feel the pain in Darios face ...he was the only Bond that ever sweared...uttering all three..the B word, the P word and even the F word...clearly can be heard in LTK just has the swordfish rips through the chair...you see Dalton's shocked face and then the camera pans away and you can hear it just then.

Dalton did portray sexiness to the role..the scenes in Vienna in the cable car...even his publicity pictures as Bond oozes sexuality..maybe his films didn't want you to see it...

I also believe he had the best walk as Bond ...the scenes in Gibralter as he is led to kill the sniper is cat like and vigile...the way he turns just as he goes up the stairs and looks around is cool...the scene when he says "turn of the light" and then pulls up his suit ..is smart and clever.

His height also helped where Craig just looks to stocky and slight...the scene in the lift in LTK with Pam Bouvier..is sort of repeated in Casino Royale ...both scenes Bond cocks a gun but as I watch Craig you are reminded of Dalton..I love both scenes as it shows Bond in control..but I do like the look Dalton gives when Pam exposes her gun in her stockings..shows that he could play the charming Bond.

Dalton did in his films what the others didn't. First Bond also to do most of his own stunts.He took Bond to a whole new level..

[tdalton]

Agreed 100% with the post above. Well said.

[Pete]

I don't think my view of Dalton has changed because of Craigs performance I just get a touch sad that they took a step backwards with Brosnan's Bond. People talk of the lack of humour in Daltons Bond, but I see a private humour in his performance. He laughs at situations when he's on his own, like in the plane when he takes off with the money. This reminds me of Flemmings Bond. Craig does it as well when Vesper leaves him alone on the train, he smirks to himself.

I loved Dalton's Bond and I hope Craig goes on to better it and not take us back into flights of fantasy.

[plankattack]

People talk of the lack of humour in Daltons Bond, but I see a private humour in his performance. He laughs at situations when he's on his own, like in the plane when he takes off with the money. This reminds me of Flemmings Bond. Craig does it as well when Vesper leaves him alone on the train, he smirks to himself.

That's a good point. TD and DC's Bond, any the literary Bond found humour in what made them laugh. For the most part, the cinematic Bond has looked for what makes us laugh.

[00Twelve]

That's one of my favorite things about both Dalton and Craig. They both laugh to themselves. It's not Stanislavsky loftiness, but it's at least a realistic human behavior. Those moments stuck out to me and made those Bonds connect with me.

Some of Broz' best moments were the same...laughing when the tires re-inflated in TND, or flipping the car with the ejection seat in DAD, or even laughing at Xenia's tenacity on the road. He seemed the most real in those moments.

And if you watch carefully, you can even see Connery laughing with a big teeth smile at the belly dancer in FRWL, after she rolls just the lowest part of her abs below the navel. Very natural behavior.

[jaguar007]

When Dalton is first introduced as Bond in the pre-title sequence of the TLD, definately the best introduction of Bond in the whole series..

Personally I think Connery had the best introduction to the series followed by Laz. Dalton certainly had a better introduction than Moore, Brosnan or Craig.

[dodge]

That's one of my favorite things about both Dalton and Craig. They both laugh to themselves. It's not Stanislavsky loftiness, but it's at least a realistic human behavior. Those moments stuck out to me and made those Bonds connect with me.

Some of Broz' best moments were the same...laughing when the tires re-inflated in TND, or flipping the car with the ejection seat in DAD, or even laughing at Xenia's tenacity on the road. He seemed the most real in those moments.And if you watch carefully, you can even see Connery laughing with a big teeth smile at the belly dancer in FRWL, after she rolls just the lowest part of her abs below the navel. Very natural behavior.

The race with Xenia, and BrozBond's delighted laughter, was one of the leading reasons why I intially took to his Bond. And--was it TND?--the chase in the parking lot garage, where he's working the car by remote...once again he laughs and simply lights up the screen. There isn't much that Craig can learn from Brozza, but he might want to give a great laugh mo' a go.

[Judo chop]

And--was it TND?--the chase in the parking lot garage, where he's working the car by remote...once again he laughs and simply lights up the screen. There isn't much that Craig can learn from Brozza, but he might want to give a great laugh mo' a go.

It was. There isn't. I agree.

Though Craig's bewildered chuckle at the snorting accountant who didn't bring chocolates comes pretty close.

[Harmsway]

When Dalton is first introduced as Bond in the pre-title sequence of the TLD, definately the best introduction of Bond in the whole series..

Personally I think Connery had the best introduction to the series followed by Laz. Dalton certainly had a better introduction than Moore, Brosnan or Craig.

I don't agree. Craig's stylish, tense, black-and-white introduction is better than Dalton's, which wasn't anything special.

Unfortunately you can see that Casino Royale is trying the same style as Bourne in the fight scenes and that is the problem..because the audience is already aware of the Bourne movies the fans of the series are saying look Bond is trying to compete.

While Bond's action certainly got a kick in the pants from Bourne, I think the action of CASINO ROYALE is very far removed from Bourne.

Dalton did portray sexiness to the role..the scenes in Vienna in the cable car...even his publicity pictures as Bond oozes sexuality..maybe his films didn't want you to see it...

The Vienna scenes are romantic, not sexy. There is a difference. He does romantic quite well, but I don't see a scene in any of the Bond films where he particularly exudes sexual charisma.

And show me a publicity picture where he oozes raw sex appeal, because I've never seen one.

I also believe he had the best walk as Bond ...the scenes in Gibralter as he is led to kill the sniper is cat like and vigile...the way he turns just as he goes up the stairs and looks around is cool...the scene when he says "turn of the light" and then pulls up his suit ..is smart and clever.

I'll take Connery's predatory walk and Craig's panther-like strut over Dalton's walk. Dalton's walk always struck me as a bit ungainly, for whatever reason.

[00Twelve]

When Dalton is first introduced as Bond in the pre-title sequence of the TLD, definately the best introduction of Bond in the whole series..

Personally I think Connery had the best introduction to the series followed by Laz. Dalton certainly had a better introduction than Moore, Brosnan or Craig.

I don't agree. Craig's stylish, tense, black-and-white introduction is better than Dalton's, which wasn't anything special.

I'll go with Harms here. I didn't see anything all that groundbreaking in Tim's intro. It was certainly dignified, and a fun sequence, but strictly as a Bond intro, it was "fine". Connery's iconic intro in Dr. No, as well as Craig's awesome b&w double-0 kills top the "intro" list for me. I'd put Dalton's and Brosnan's pretty close together. They were very similar in style, IMO.

[Judo chop]

TND's intro should have been Broz's first. Much more triumphant.

[tdalton]

When Dalton is first introduced as Bond in the pre-title sequence of the TLD, definately the best introduction of Bond in the whole series..

Personally I think Connery had the best introduction to the series followed by Laz. Dalton certainly had a better introduction than Moore, Brosnan or Craig.

I don't agree. Craig's stylish, tense, black-and-white introduction is better than Dalton's, which wasn't anything special.

I'll go with Harms here. I didn't see anything all that groundbreaking in Tim's intro. It was certainly dignified, and a fun sequence, but strictly as a Bond intro, it was "fine". Connery's iconic intro in Dr. No, as well as Craig's awesome b&w double-0 kills top the "intro" list for me.

Agreed. Dalton's unveiling as 007 wasn't as spectacular as Connery's or Craig's, but it was far superior to that of any of the others. This isn't to say, though, that Craig or Connery are better Bonds than Dalton, which I don't believe them to be.

[Harmsway]

Agreed. Dalton's unveiling as 007 wasn't as spectacular as Connery's or Craig's, but it was far superior to that of any of the others.

Well, I might even give Lazenby's intro the edge, if only for featuring that wonderful shot of Bond's shadowy figure lighting the cigarette. Quite stylish. It's interesting to note that Lazenby/Dalton/Brosnan all got the "don't reveal the face until later in the scene" introduction.

[HH007]

When Dalton is first introduced as Bond in the pre-title sequence of the TLD, definately the best introduction of Bond in the whole series..

Personally I think Connery had the best introduction to the series followed by Laz. Dalton certainly had a better introduction than Moore, Brosnan or Craig.

I don't agree. Craig's stylish, tense, black-and-white introduction is better than Dalton's, which wasn't anything special.

I'll go with Harms here. I didn't see anything all that groundbreaking in Tim's intro. It was certainly dignified, and a fun sequence, but strictly as a Bond intro, it was "fine". Connery's iconic intro in Dr. No, as well as Craig's awesome b&w double-0 kills top the "intro" list for me. I'd put Dalton's and Brosnan's pretty close together. They were very similar in style, IMO.

I'm with Harms and 00Twelve, Connery and Craig had the best intros by far, though Lazenby's was pretty cool as well. I like the pts of TLD, but I didn't think Dalton's actual introduction was anything special.

[jaguar007]

[

Dalton did portray sexiness to the role..the scenes in Vienna in the cable car...even his publicity pictures as Bond oozes sexuality..maybe his films didn't want you to see it...

The Vienna scenes are romantic, not sexy. There is a difference. He does romantic quite well, but I don't see a scene in any of the Bond films where he particularly exudes sexual charisma.

And show me a publicity picture where he oozes raw sex appeal, because I've never seen one.

Agreed. I know there are some women out there who do find Dalton sexy, but as far as the majority of women out there, he did nothing for them. While I am a great fan of Dalton and love his 2 Bond films, most women I know would much rather watch Connery or Craig (or even Moore or Brosnan). Dalton never did top any sexy men polls.

[Emma]

No change. Frankly one of the reasons I had such misgivings towards Craig was that I thought that he would be like Dalton. In fact he was just the opposite. Craig did not take himself too seriously, cracked a smile and had a sense of humour. Dalton didn't.

If I had known that Martin Campbell didn't think that Dalton made a good Bond, and Casino Royale was not to be a repeat of TLD or LTK. I would have shut up sooner.

No change. I already love Dalton's portrayl.

Here's how I see Craig:

Sean Connery + Timothy Dalton = Daniel Craig

Here's another one:

Sean Connery + Roger Moore = Pierce Brosnan

I would say that Brosnan tried to be Roger Moore + Timothy Dalton and resulted in a terrible product.

I guess that's a matter of personal opinion. But Pierce stated that he wanted his films to be like Connery's.

[Harmsway]

I guess that's a matter of personal opinion. But Pierce stated that he wanted his films to be like Connery's.

Despite his personal intent, they did come across as more of an awkward mish-mash of Moore and Dalton. I don't see much Conneryesque about Brosnan's Bond, or his films.

[tdalton]

I guess that's a matter of personal opinion. But Pierce stated that he wanted his films to be like Connery's.

Despite his personal intent, they did come across as more of an awkward mish-mash of Moore and Dalton. I don't see much Conneryesque about Brosnan's Bond, or his films.

Agreed, although I would say that Brosnan's films leaned a lot more towards the Moore era style of films than the Dalton films (except for GoldenEye).

[Harmsway]

I guess that's a matter of personal opinion. But Pierce stated that he wanted his films to be like Connery's.

Despite his personal intent, they did come across as more of an awkward mish-mash of Moore and Dalton. I don't see much Conneryesque about Brosnan's Bond, or his films.

Agreed, although I would say that Brosnan's films leaned a lot more towards the Moore era style of films than the Dalton films (except for GoldenEye).

I'd also agree with that.

[Royal Dalton]

Craig did not take himself too seriously, cracked a smile and had a sense of humour. Dalton didn't.

Yes he did.

Martin Campbell didn't think that Dalton made a good Bond

He's also managed to take digs at Connery, Moore and even Brosnan in his time. Not that the opinions of a second-rate hack like him should count for anything, anyway.

[tdalton]

Craig did not take himself too seriously, cracked a smile and had a sense of humour. Dalton didn't.

Yes he did.

Agreed. Having just finished watching both of Dalton's films in the past couple of days, I was actually surprised at how much Dalton smiles considering how his two films are generally described at being the most serious films in the franchise. Dalton did quite a bit of smiling in his two films, and I thought that he was a lot better with the humor than he's often given credit for.