Who Is Your Favorite
Bond?
This is the
fiftieth anniversary of the first James Bond movie. There’s been a lot written
about which Bond actor is the best one and which film is the best. I thought
I’d weigh in with my own favorite Bond. Before I reveal him, let’s talk the
Bond franchise.
The
twenty-third Bond film, “Skyfall,” has just been released and it’s already the
best-reviewed of all the Bond movies. Some critics believe Daniel Craig is the
best Bond ever. I tend to disagree. Maybe that’s because I hated, hated,
“Quantum of Solace” so much that it soured me on Craig as Bond.
However, I’ve
recently seen “Skyfall,” and liked it. It’s entertaining, bloody, violent, with
touches of humor. I didn’t love it, but I enjoyed it and look forward to the
next one. I like Craig better in this one than in the two other Bond films he
did. But he’s not my favorite.
I’ve seen all
the movies. When the first one, “Doctor No,” was released in 1962, it was
amazing. We were still a sexually repressed society, so seeing Ursula Andress
emerging from the ocean in that bikini was shocking and naughty. So was her
name, Honey Ryder. The coolest moment in that film was when Bond was asked his
name for the first time and he said, “Bond. James Bond.”
Who could
forget the gold-plated body in “Goldfinger?” Or Oddjob’s hat?
We all know
Sean Connery was the original Bond. He made five films before George Lazenby
played Bond in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” That didn’t work out too
well, and Connery was back in 1971’s “Diamonds Are Forever.”
Roger Moore
took over in 1973 with “Live and Let Die.” Paul McCartney’s theme song for that
film is, in the opinion of many, the best theme song ever. I agree. But Adele’s
title song in “Skyfall” is a close second.
Timothy Dalton
starred in two movies and that was the end of him. Pierce Brosnan became Bond
with 1995’s “Goldeneye.” He starred in four movies before Craig took over in
2006’s “Casino Royale.”
There you have
it: a short Bond history. Just as each of our romance heroes puts his own stamp
on our books, each one of these actors brought his own brand to the Bond part.
Connery was sexy and suave and very sure of himself. Moore played it tongue-in-cheek, winking at
the audience and letting us in on the joke. Apparently Lazenby and Dalton didn’t bring much because they’re just
blips on the Bond screen. Brosnan was more modern and likeable, not quite as
suave as Connery or as amused by it all as Moore . Craig is very dark and serious.
So, who’s my
favorite? It’s Roger Moore. I love the humor he brings to the franchise. Who
doesn’t love a guy with a sense of humor? I think Moore as Bond is sexy, daring, and lots of
fun. He’s a hero I’d like to spend time with.
Who is your
favorite Bond and why?
