Deathmatch 2022: The Bonds - Group A

Performance as Bond, then. Now, obviously, the comparison is phoney given that they haven’t had the same script and direction nor been in the same film, but that’s never stopped anyone being “Best Actor” at the Oscars or the like and being lauded for it. Common perception may hold that Bond is a flat character and doesn’t change film-to-film but is the genial old cove on screen for 20 minutes of A View to a Kill really the same as the MooreBond of Live and Let Die? The Craigs may show breadth of character; the Connerys breadth of waistband, etc.

Criteria for choice is up to you; it could be which performance you prefer, it could be which you think would win in a “real” (cough) fight against the other, it could be which had the better nose. Who knows what criteria the voting public base their choices on, anyway? Recent elections and referendums, it could be absolutely anything, some of it considered unnatural.

Voting ends 26 June.

  • Connery - Dr No
  • Connery - From Russia with Love

0 voters

  • Connery - Dr No
  • Moore - A View to a Kill

0 voters

  • Connery - Dr No
  • Craig - Casino Royale

0 voters

  • Connery - Dr No
  • Craig - Spectre

0 voters

  • Connery - From Russia with Love
  • Moore - A View to a Kill

0 voters

  • Connery - From Russia with Love
  • Craig - Casino Royale

0 voters

  • Connery - From Russia with Love
  • Craig - Spectre

0 voters

  • Moore - A View to a Kill
  • Craig - Casino Royale

0 voters

  • Moore - A View to a Kill
  • Craig - Spectre

0 voters

  • Craig - Casino Royale
  • Craig - Spectre

0 voters

3 Likes

I needed two films to really like Craig. Now I do think he was the perfect choice for this era.
But Connery is the guy on whose shoulders Craig stood. With Moore looking on smiling.

Hence my choices preferring the obvious.

2 Likes

Connery’s portrayal in the first two Bond Films are still the best, more in line with the books, that’s why I’ve voted his performance in From Russia With Love (yes, even his performance in Dr. No) over Craig’s in Casino Royale.

Like A Spy Fleming Bond (Connery in FRWL/DN) vs An Action Bourne Like character (Craig in CR)? :sweat_smile:

I don’t know of how anyone could pick Craig in CR more than Connery in Dr. No and FRWL.

Voting still open, things can change. Notionally a secret ballot though.

Because it’s better?

1 Like

Apart from the obvious subjective preferences one might at least argue that even Craig could not have done what he did without Connery setting the tone for movie Bond in the first place.

I actually think Connery and the whole Dr.No movie are noticeably looking for what they need to be, and what else could they do?

Craig in CR is visibly doing his own thing, not trying to be like anybody else, and that was the breath of fresh air. But in a film in which he is only becoming „the Bond we all know and love“ what else could he have done?

For me, the best first performances as Bond are Moore, Dalton and Brosnan. They all know they have to deliver something that was expected and give their own spin.

2 Likes

I know, I was being glib.

Would agree with you on Moore, Dalton and Brosnan. Having to be exactly the same yet different.

2 Likes