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Why Timothy Dalton Is Actually The Greatest James Bond


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#1 quantumofsolace

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 01:16 AM

http://whatculture.c...-james-bond.php



#2 Professor Pi

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 04:06 AM

It's nice to see the love for Dalton.  You could go right into watching The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill after Skyfall without missing much of a beat. 



#3 archer1949

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 04:47 AM

Whoa........did this guy read my mind? I've been saying this for years.



#4 SecretAgentFan

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 06:20 AM

I love his love for Dalton. But his analysis of the other Bonds is just rehashing things from websites like ours, including stuff that is just wrong. For example, saying Roger Moore´s portrayal of Bond was wrong because he wore a clown´s costume in OCTOPUSSY (as if that was Moore´s decision; and, frankly, it was a great idea to have a secret agent trying to warn the military that a nuclear bomb is about to explode - but nobody takes him seriously because he is dressed like a clown).



#5 Thevan7F

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Posted 31 January 2013 - 07:36 AM

Well I was glad he go in 1987 instead of Pierce Brosnan. If he did his Third in 1991 0r 92 he would had couple more or few more till his last outing in 1997. 



#6 Iceskater101

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Posted 01 February 2013 - 07:32 PM

I also think very highly of Timothy Dalton. He was a good James Bond. He is definitely number one or number two for me.



#7 archer1949

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Posted 02 February 2013 - 02:28 AM

I love his love for Dalton. But his analysis of the other Bonds is just rehashing things from websites like ours, including stuff that is just wrong. For example, saying Roger Moore´s portrayal of Bond was wrong because he wore a clown´s costume in OCTOPUSSY (as if that was Moore´s decision; and, frankly, it was a great idea to have a secret agent trying to warn the military that a nuclear bomb is about to explode - but nobody takes him seriously because he is dressed like a clown).

 

 

The clown bit in Octopussy didn't bug me. The Tarzan yell did and really brought me out of the movie.



#8 mrevans

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Posted 02 February 2013 - 04:27 AM

I have a great amount of respect for Dalton.  He's easily in the top half of the Bond actors for me.  Although, I like both of his movies (TLD is one of my most watched) as I do all bond movies, I think he was better quality actor than they were films.  Still lots of fun though.  I don't think they ever quite got the humor right.  Makes me wonder what a third film would have looked like since Bond actors often nail down the character with the third film.   Really wish he would have started with FYEO.   Although TLD gave him a great introduction, FYEO would have been a great one as well.  Dalton finally taking revenge after putting flowers on Tracy's grave.



#9 The*SPY*

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Posted 02 February 2013 - 05:30 AM

I remember walking out of Casino Royale thinking that Dalton had been ahead of his time.   Actually, I think he may have been doomed for two reasons:  Moore had established his interpretation of Bond and Dalton's (truer) interpretation was too much change and too quickly.  Plus, I think the general public had long thought Brosnan (Remington Steele) to be the quenticential heir to the throne.  When he had to step away, in comes Dalton, an actor not too many people had heard of.  

 

Unfortunate as it seems, all Bonds seemed to find their groove (with the audience) in their third movie.


Edited by The*SPY*, 02 February 2013 - 05:32 AM.


#10 Lucky

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Posted 23 February 2013 - 06:39 PM

I loved Dalton's take as Bond. While Brosnan is my favorite, I think a strong case can be made for Dalton being the best. His performance in Licence to Kill was very intense and one of my favorites.



#11 billy007

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Posted 25 February 2013 - 09:48 AM

I may have said this on another post(or another site). i agree TD was ahead of his time. The average 007 fan is a movie fan not a literary fan. TD made a good try in going back to Fleming's concept of the character. He has stated in interviews that he read Fleming to prepare for the role. The average fan simply couldn't/wouldn't appreciate his attempts at the time. he would have aced a third movie. SKYFALL proves my theory that the 3rd movie is normally the actor's best effort.
Sean/GOLDFINGER
Roger/TSWLM
Pierce/TWINE

#12 Walecs

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Posted 25 February 2013 - 01:38 PM

I may have said this on another post(or another site). i agree TD was ahead of his time. The average 007 fan is a movie fan not a literary fan. TD made a good try in going back to Fleming's concept of the character. He has stated in interviews that he read Fleming to prepare for the role. The average fan simply couldn't/wouldn't appreciate his attempts at the time. he would have aced a third movie. SKYFALL proves my theory that the 3rd movie is normally the actor's best effort.
Sean/GOLDFINGER
Roger/TSWLM
Pierce/TWINE

 

Probably because the actor finally's got in the role, and yet doesn't feel tired for it.



#13 Iceskater101

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Posted 25 February 2013 - 04:18 PM

I am glad that this forum really admires him, he usually is left forgotten but not on these forums.



#14 Mallory

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Posted 25 February 2013 - 05:16 PM

He seemed nearly forgotton at that God awful Oscar tribute last night



#15 Hockey Mask

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Posted 25 February 2013 - 06:48 PM

Dalton had the right attitude. Bronson had the right look. Craig put them together.

#16 00 Brosnan

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Posted 25 February 2013 - 08:10 PM

Dalton's great, especially in TLD (it's one of my favorite Bonds), but I definitely prefer Craig, Brosnan, Moore, and Connery over him. As another user stated, they never really quite got the humor right with him. I wouldn't have minded seeing him in more films. (Then again, I wouldn't mind seeing Brosnan in TLD either, or Dalton in FYEO..)

 

Maybe if he had done more films he'd be higher on my list, but I find LTK to be very mediocre 80s. Not that other actors didn't have mediocre films...DAF, AVTAK, DAD, QoS...., but they also had more than one really good one.

 

I will say though that Dalton does get unfairly judged by mainstream fans and movie-goers mostly b/c he only did two films and wasn't Brosnan.


Edited by 00 Brosnan, 25 February 2013 - 08:12 PM.


#17 AgenttiNollaNollaSeitsemän

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Posted 26 February 2013 - 11:57 AM

As much as I am a fan of Flemings Bond Dalton still belongs to the bottom half of Bond actors. Still, the guy is a phenomenal actor and I find his non-Bond performances in Rocketeer and Hot Fuzz superior to his take on the Flemings character - he might've taken the role too seriously. TLD definetely belongs to the Top5 Bond films though. 



#18 iBond

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Posted 26 February 2013 - 05:15 PM

I seriously wish he held on just a wee bit longer to be in The Property of a Lady which turned into GoldenEye. It would have been nice to see him do a third film. However...I guess you could say it was partially his fault for leaving the role. I mean, he did do other films in between 1989 and 1994/5. Oh well...at least his two films hold strong.

#19 tdalton

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Posted 26 February 2013 - 05:30 PM

I seriously wish he held on just a wee bit longer to be in The Property of a Lady which turned into GoldenEye. It would have been nice to see him do a third film. However...I guess you could say it was partially his fault for leaving the role. I mean, he did do other films in between 1989 and 1994/5. Oh well...at least his two films hold strong.

 

Dalton didn't exactly have much of a choice in the matter.  Despite his "resignation", he was more or less fired from the role.



#20 trevanian

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Posted 27 February 2013 - 04:38 PM

Dalton had the right attitude. Bronson had the right look. Craig put them together.

Dalton had the right look; Brosnan had the broad crossover appeal; Craig subtracted the one from the other (which is why after 48 years of Bondwatching, I honestly think I'm through with seeing new Bondstuff.) 



#21 FOX MULDER

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Posted 27 February 2013 - 09:42 PM

As far as the Bond films go, it's very much a matter of horses for courses. The tone of Connery's films (at least the earlier ones) was very different to that of Moore's, but both suited each actor perfectly.

 

Unfortunately for Dalton his films were inconsistent in that they fluctuated in tone between seriousness and silliness. Now, yes, we may say that all Bond films fluctuate like this to some extent. But Connery, Moore, and Brosnan, were able to move between the two extremities of tone effortlessly. Dalton could not. He was too intense and too serious of an actor to do so. The humour in Dalton's films came off very awkwardly indeed. It was forced, as if the producers felt compelled to provide it after years of comic Moore films.

 

IMO, they should have played Dalton's films 100% straight deadly serious. He is a fine actor and, visually at least was a perfect Bond.

 

So, no, he isn't the greatest Bond. Not close, really. But it wasn't his fault.



#22 Grard Bond

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Posted 27 February 2013 - 11:49 PM

I have a very great sympathy for Dalton.

I understand what he tried to do, but..... I never realy believed in him as Bond.

My problem always was that I was looking to an actor who played Bond and not was Bond.

Connery and Moore realy were Bond in their movies, they owned the stage.

Dalton was just too much of a nice guy. He also looks sometimes a little clumsy especialy in the action- and fightscenes.

In the man to man fight scene's he looks not very secure and real. Somehow it looks too much staged.

Lazenby and Craig, I think, realy can beat somebody up, Dalton can't.

What I understand from Dalton is that his favorite is TLD and that he not realy liked LTK, because it was to much a one (revenge) idea movie and he wanted more humor in it.

I liked Dalton more in his other movies, like in Hawks, he realy is briliant in that one!



#23 Iceskater101

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Posted 01 March 2013 - 03:31 PM

Too much of a nice guy? Definitely disagree with that.. I mean I personally think Moore is my least favorite Bond of all time. I think Dalton definitely could beat someone up, I felt his performance in License to Kill really proves that, I mean he goes on a rampage.



#24 Mallory

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Posted 01 March 2013 - 07:11 PM

I have a very great sympathy for Dalton.

I understand what he tried to do, but..... I never realy believed in him as Bond.

My problem always was that I was looking to an actor who played Bond and not was Bond.

Connery and Moore realy were Bond in their movies, they owned the stage.

Dalton was just too much of a nice guy. He also looks sometimes a little clumsy especialy in the action- and fightscenes.

In the man to man fight scene's he looks not very secure and real. Somehow it looks too much staged.

Lazenby and Craig, I think, realy can beat somebody up, Dalton can't.

What I understand from Dalton is that his favorite is TLD and that he not realy liked LTK, because it was to much a one (revenge) idea movie and he wanted more humor in it.

I liked Dalton more in his other movies, like in Hawks, he realy is briliant in that one!

 

No offence but have you even watched The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill? Dalton was convincing as a cold blooded assasin. He even scared me in parts. Moore for the most part seems harmless but can be deadly too but I think Dalton is a rival for Lazenby and Craig as Bonds who look like they can actually kill someone.

 

We'll just leave Connery alone here. But if there was a battle royal with all six Bonds, Dalton could be a contender for second place.I just think no one could beat Lazenby.



#25 Grard Bond

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Posted 01 March 2013 - 09:55 PM

Iceskater101: With nice guy I meant ofcourse as a person. All the other actors are in their own typical way a little (or more) arrogant, Dalton isn't. He has the right looks to be Bond, but I don't think he was the right guy to play the part. For me he always was acting the part, not realy was Bond.

 

Mallory: Ofcourse I've watched his Bondfilms. Strange question asking a Bondfan.

I understand what he was trying to do, but I don't buy it.

For me he just is not believable as a tough guy, he just acts that he is tough, that is a huge difference.

Connery, Lazenby and Craig realy are guys who you're better not make mad.

Roger Moore's Bond is maybe also not that tough, but I have always the feeling he is in complete control and he is just very coole. I don't have this with Dalton at all.

If I'm watching Dalton fight, he looks to me very clumsy and even afraid. Think about the bar fight in LtK for example.

Even the fight in the prison in TLD is for me very boring to watch, it looks too much staged.

 

Hee, it's just my opinion, don't get mad about it. ;)



#26 Iceskater101

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Posted 02 March 2013 - 03:57 PM

He isn't getting mad he is just telling you that he personally disagrees with you.. :)

 

and I guess I just disagree with you because License to Kill was really gritty and I thought he made a really good tough bond.



#27 Grard Bond

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Posted 02 March 2013 - 04:26 PM

If in LtK during the barfight scene the Bondgirl Pam Bouvier looks tougher and fights better as Bond himself, you know you have a big problem!



#28 Georgi Koskov

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Posted 03 March 2013 - 08:50 PM

Timothy had all the attributes for a 'Great' Bond. The only aspect for me where he slightly came up short was the humour, I don't know if that was down to himself or the scripts didn't help him out in that department. I think it's the latter because when he does deliver a funny line, I actually get a laugh out of it unlike Daniel Craig.

Also, I admire Timothy because at the time he wasn't universally loved like others and looking back he was wayyyy ahead of his time with so much praise going to Daniel these days. He is my third favourite behind Sean and Roge. He was a very, very good Bond and I think still to this day a very, very underrated Bond...



#29 thecasinoroyale

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Posted 04 March 2013 - 11:17 AM

One of the biggest dissapointments for me during the 50 year run of Bond is that Timothy Dalton wasn't able to be given his 3rd Bond. God know what the Bond series would be like now, it's an exciting dream to imagine, but he's the first Bond I ever saw in 'Licence To Kill' and knew he'd be onto a winner if he got the 3rd film.

 

Such a shame the red tape stopped him from doing something so passionate about. EONs loss if you ask my opinion. Yes, Pierce Brosnan saved the franchise after the 6 year gap, but who knows what fire Dalton could have injected on his run.



#30 SecretAgentFan

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Posted 04 March 2013 - 02:07 PM

Dalton could deliver comedy very well. He only was not asked to do it in LTK. I remember watching TLD in the cinema back then and people responded extremely well to Dalton´s delivery.

 

It is indeed interesting to speculate what would have happened with the series if Dalton had been allowed to do a third film AND winning over the audiences completely, just like Sir Roger did after his much-applauded LALD and his rather-tepidly-welcomed TMWTGG (basically the same pattern: an actor taking over after a legendary predecessor).

 

I do believe that Dalton could have made the leap to extremely popular with that third film (in 1991?). After that he could have been Bond two more times (1993 and 1995), and then Brosnan could have taken over.

 

Either way, the idiots battling Bond in the courts during the long hiatus robbed us of at least two if not three Dalton-Bonds.

 

Of course, one might argue, that the hiatus was the best thing that could happen to the series, making world wide audiences hungry for Bond again...