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i get a lot of shit for liking this movie, but i think dalton was the perfect bond. handsome and suave enough, but he seemed far more ruthless than anybody else that has played the part. bond was a killer with ice in his veins, despite his weakness for women. connery and brosnan did fairly well most of the time at portraying that, but by god dalton did that particular thing better than any of them.
and although connery is by far the most popular bond, i have always somewhat disliked his bond's treatment of women which at times seemed at odds with his love of them.
Weretable, I couldn't agree with you more about Dalton. Everyone always poops on his Bond films, but I really liked them. I thought Dalton pulled off exactly what you said, re the ice in the veins.
I think you are the first person I have ever found who agreed! Mind you, it's not like I've been looking that hard, but you get my point.
I thought Dalton was just fine as Bond. Unfortunately, he had the role during the awkward post-Cold War period, when the Enemy was less defined and technology moved so fast that Q's gadgets seemed a bit hokey most of the time.
Brosnan was a lot better looking and maybe fit the debonair Bond aura better, but Dalton got better storylines to work with.
Dalton also had his movies come out during the time period when there were tons of Bond-related lawsuits flying around and his two movies were VERY poorly promoted. Everything was straightened out by the time Goldeneye came around and there were all sorts of tie-ins and promotions which made everybody on earth aware of that movie well before it hit theaters.
Dalton was the best bond. There, I said it. I'm also rather partial to Lazenby; who I think got a bum script as far as "fans" are concerned. Bond, getting MARRIED? Combine that with the longest of the movies (too long for constant replay on TBS) means that it's not the most popular of the Bond films. But folks, give Laz a second chance!
So what's the deal with this new Bond movie? Are they acknowledging that "James Bond" is a title, a fictional role filled by a variety of men? They've played with this before, but in the trailer, M says something about "I knew it was too soon to promote you."
Actually, if that was the case, I'd love to see Laz come back, maybe as an evil 'renegade' Bond (or some kind of supervillain). Maybe replace M (not liking Dench's tone in the latest trailer, sorry) or have him appear in some other supporting role.
Ok, first scene, villans pursue Diana Rigg across the beach. Bond arrives, kicks villans' asses. Rigg jumps in Bond's car and drives away, leaving him standing alone on the beach. Bond turns to camera and laments, "this never would have happened to the other fellow."
I've read that the new movie is kind of like Batman Begins; it's more of a reboot than a prequel or continuation of the series.
Dalton's portrayal of Bond is probably the closest to the character in the books, but Sean Connery murders Dr. Dent after Dent tries to kill him in Dr. No.
Are they acknowledging that "James Bond" is a title, a fictional role filled by a variety of men?
So James Bond is like the Dread Pirate Roberts? The movie-to-movie continuity's always been a little spotty, but it's the same person. For example, George Lazenby's wife was killed in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, but Roger Moore goes to her grave in For Your Eyes Only.
The James Bond newsgroup used to have quite a few hardcore Bond fans who favored Dalton. Almost anyone who likes the books even slightly prefers his darker portrayal.
These people also like when Bond murders Dent, and when Moore's Bond kicks Locque over the side of the cliff (a scene Moore hated doing).
The Living Daylights has two major problems. The first is that it was written for Moore or Brosnan (who was famously snatched back by NBC just before filming), and only slightly adapted for Dalton. The second is that sorting out the villains' plot is very confusing, and there is no real evil villain. Jeroen Krabbe's bad guy is too much of a hugging teddy bear for you to really hate him. Maryam d'Abo is a wonderful Bond girl, though, and one of the few who has to carry an entire film.
The second Dalton outing was thrown into turmoil by a Hollywood strike, which forced production to Mexico, and it's burdened by a warmed-over-Miami Vice plot. The movie looks like crap and it's dull.
It was after that that MGM, which had been on the ropes for years, began to fall apart and the movies were halted by lawsuits. I used to post "The New James Bond Movie FAQ" on USENET.
Goldeneye was consciously underwritten with a blockbuster budget, so it looked fantastic, and of course Brosnan was terrific -- becoming my third favorite 007. (Connery, Dalton, Brosnan, Lazenby, Moore)
Are they acknowledging that "James Bond" is a title, a fictional role filled by a variety of men?
The series has comic-book style continuity. The time period is the present; the gentleman's career is assumed to have happened in his lifetime. Nothing complicated. Most films do not refer to any other films directly. Yes, each of the Bonds is assumed to have been married to the wondrous Diana Rigg.
Leiter ended up being different actors because they didn't want the movies to be Bond and Leiter.
Lazenby, now, I think did an underrated job considering his male-model background, but mainly he suffered just for not being Connery, who is practically a force of nature. The movie, though -- OHMSS is the true Bond fan's favorite. The score is absolutely fantastic, the plot is crackling, except for a bit of a slow spot in the middle, and you have one of the best extended chase scenes in the movies -- it goes on and on, down the mountain, into the town, through the snowstorm ... Wow. Even Savalas is up to the task of world-threatening villain. The movie is magic, though, because of Rigg. Watch it again, you'll see.
007 - the alternate "heroic" theme from the early movies, not used anymore due to enmity between the Broccolis and John Barry. It's a shame, because I love it -- I always hope they'll change their mind and slip it into an action sequence.
Goldfinger, sung by the composer, Anthony Newley. A bit more subtle than Shirley Bassey's belting version.
Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, from YOLT, almost used as the main title song. It's such a great name for Bond.
Surrender (k.d. lang) - missed out being the main title, used over the end credits instead.
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