Just saw this earlier this morning.
MI6 report on recent magazine interview



I'm definitly disappointed about it, but at the same time he was starting to show his age in the last film. I think a fifth film with him would have made that easily apparent. One more, and I think he would have had that 'creepy old' look to him, when he's bagging bond girls left and right.

At least he's out with a bang.

pierce brosnan was the best bond and anyone who thinks different can suck my P99...

I'm glad mummies boy has stopped trying to follow in Connery's footsteps. I always thought he was useless and feminised the role.

I think my views are clear enough that I dont need to vote.

[ QUOTE ]
pierce brosnan was the best bond and anyone who thinks different can suck my P99...

[/ QUOTE ]

(1) Connery
(2) Moore
(3) Dalton
(4) Brosnan
(5) Lazenby
[img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

No way, Brosnan did WAY better than Dalton...

Oh, and I couldn't decide between Connery and Moore, so I voted Moore because he needs the support!! xD
+ Yeah baby, I'ma vertex! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

can't remember where i saw it but dougray scott, the badguy in mi:2, is up for bond.
and connery is bond.

that was in the sunday mirror a few weeks back, but could be complete tripe.

I'm the one with the Dalton vote. I liked that his character was the most serious of the lot, and thus he felt the most real to me. The tongue-in-cheek and cliched aspects of the Moore and Brosnan Bonds really turned me off to them - too smarmy or something. Connery was good, but... dunno, something about his performance didn't do it as much for me. I think his macho thing seems a bit too much like an act (though Connery probably really is that way [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img])

Speaking of this, whom they replace Brosnan with is less important to me than where they take the sereis from here. Things have become so vanilla and generic in the series that even the recent titles fail to be compelling; "Die Another Day" and "Tomorrow Never Dies" are so dull, and I'm still irked that they wasted the title "The World Is Not Enough" on a film that was not explictly about Bond, his history and/or family. The days of legitimately interesting plots and memorable foes have been thoroughly replaced by gratuitous explosions, overwrought guest appearances (rememebr when Bond girls were relative unknowns?) and inexcusably whored product placements. Here's hoping (hah!) that the next generation of Bond films can find greatness instead of regurgitating the current tired and uninspired formula.

I am a big fan of Dalton also, but I can't rate him above Connery or early Moore.
I agree too, that it's about time for a "non gimmicky" more spy oriented Bond film, like "For Your Eyes Only", "The Living Daylights" or even "From Russia With Love"

Nice speech Verm. Not often I can say that about your opinions but having been a large bond fan in the past and having been totally soured on it since he's been turned into another american action hero it's pleasing to hear others ranting about the direction Bond has been taken.

The last film was more about Mrs.Bond and her incompetant husband... plus, when Bond has americans looking superior to brits... you know its not bond anymore.

I've read that Connery WAS that way, he used to punch the stunt doubles for real even. It's interesting reading finding out about how bond all came about from book to film to selecting Connery and so on.

Glad we can find some common ground, ror [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] I absolutely feel that the loss of what made Bond so interesting coincided with the overall dilution of 'Britishness' with the series, for lack of a better word. Things like replacing the Aston Martin with a BMW were frankly disgusting. I can tolerate product placement to a degree, but that was fucking with a part of Bond's identity just to make a few bucks. Does he stop drinking martinis for a couple flicks if Budweiser makes a big enough offer? Things haven't been the same since Broccoli died - he was an American, but he understood the character.

I figure you're right about Connery; he likely wasn't doing much acting in his films, and that's why he seems so over the top sometimes.

Connery of course. I just dont see how anyone else is even in the running. Brosnan was a pretty boy and not much more, Dalton was a nancy boy who showed far too much emotion, Moore was a clown, and Lazenby was, well, Lazenby [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

As for whos next, yeah fellow Scot Dougray Scott has been in the running, but then again so have quite a few others. Most of it has been heresay and rumour. Personally I think Clive Owen might be worth a shot, but would probably need to toughen up a bit. He was convincing in the BMW films stuff, but then the acting was hardly challenging stuff. Still, the same could be said for the Bond role. Im not the least bit dissapointed Kman. Ive looked at that mans face far too much [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Anyway, cant say much more on the subject. Loose lips sink ships ;-)

Oh and btw Verm, totally agreed that important though the lead role is, the direction of the movies seems far more important after the appalling travesty that was 'Die Another Day'. Now a Tarantino directed Bond. That would be interesting.

I am guessing Im in the minority here, but I always really liked Brosnan as Bond. He was 2nd only to Connery for me. Conner was the original and he holds #1 for sentimental/nostalgic reasons more than anything else.

What made his movies slightly poorer was the direction and writing. The villans just haven't been as interesting lately it seems, nor have the bond girls. I also agree about the Aston Martin, although in the last one didn't he drive an Aston Martin Vanquish?

[ QUOTE ]
Speaking of this, whom they replace Brosnan with is less important to me than where they take the sereis from here. Things have become so vanilla and generic in the series that even the recent titles fail to be compelling; "Die Another Day" and "Tomorrow Never Dies" are so dull, and I'm still irked that they wasted the title "The World Is Not Enough" on a film that was not explictly about Bond, his history and/or family. The days of legitimately interesting plots and memorable foes have been thoroughly replaced by gratuitous explosions, overwrought guest appearances (rememebr when Bond girls were relative unknowns?) and inexcusably whored product placements. Here's hoping (hah!) that the next generation of Bond films can find greatness instead of regurgitating the current tired and uninspired formula.

[/ QUOTE ]
Thank god somebody agrees with me on this. It seems like recent James Bond films have focused only on dousing the movie with special effects, James Bond cliches, and "omg flashy gadjits lolleroo."

Imo, Goldeneye was the best James Bond movie. It was a perfect mix of action, dreariness, and crime.

Yeah it was an Aston Martin allright Scoob. But not just any Aston. It was bloody invisible! WTF?!

Looking back, its clear why Connery suited the role. The same logic worked with casting Vinnie Jones as a bit of a hard nut in Lock Stock. Bond was a bit of an uncultured rogue, out to get whatever he could with a smattering of sophistication and charm that seemed not so much tacked on but slipped in now and then to fool people.

I liked that, it rings true to me and I'll always have a giggle knowing that the most dynamic onscreen portrayal of english charm and sophistication has a Scotland Forever tattoo under that white shirt.

Ahaha I was waiting for that to crop up from you Ror. It was only a matter of time ;-)
It is kinda funny though. ( particularly for me in the middle of a half English, half Scottish family! ) Theres many a time in his movies where he gets to say, or Moneypenny gets to say 'For England....' and I always wondered what he felt about saying that. It always struck me as weird that they at least didnt use the term 'Britain'. But anyway, I suspect what your thoughts are on the concept of Britain as a united nation anyway Ror ;-)

I was watching one of his movies the other day. I forget which one, but its just before he kills a guy by throwing him in a bathtub and an electric fire in after him. Anyway, moments before, Bond is mid snogging a Bond chick, and he catches an assailant in the reflection of her eye. As the guy lunges at him with blunt weapon, Bond spins around and uses the girl as a shield and she gets whacked on the head out cold!

Pure Connery! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

To be honest I'm glad and I hope next time they choose a fucking an English person. I for one don't want another fake english person, I want a REAL english person, as the role is meant to be.

Sundance, no you can suck my p99. No way in hell is the best bond, nor will he ever.

Beside what Ian Fleming originally envisaged, why should he be specifically English? Hes a spy working for Mi6. Thats the British government. ( That'll be England, Scotland and Wales in case youre unsure ). I dont think Connery ever tried to disguise his accent in the role. Which is why it sounds even more weird when he says 'For England'.

thnom, I hate to disillusion you, but the character as Ian Fleming wrote him was born the son of a Scot, Andrew Bond. In all likelihood, the modern conception of Bond as English comes from decades of American viewership that doesn't really differentiate England from Britain.

On the subject of new Bonds, I really do like Clive Owen, but I don't know that he'd be right in the role. He comes across as a bit too blue collar to me, without that sort of polished upper-class air that Bond has (you can be a working class guy sipping martinis and gambling on roulette spins, I guess, but it's a bit of a stretch in this role). Also, Owen is already 40. While he's still a decade younger than Brosnan, I wonder if MGM might not want someone they can get more mileage out of. On the other hand, I've also heard Jason Statham's name linked to the role as well, so perhaps older is better... *shudder*. As an interesting geek sidenote, Clive Owen did the voice work for the main character in Privateer 2, way back in 1995 and will play Dwight in the upcoming Sin City movie - pretty cool.

Daz, if you should ever happen to have confirmed insider info on who the next Bond actor will be, I hearby authorize you to email me. Top Secret, of course [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Personally, I think Brosnan was a great choice for Bond. He plays the role with a certain panache and style. Granted, some of the more recent movies' villains and "gadgets" have been lame to the point of butchery (newspaper tycoon!? invisible car!?), but I reckon Goldeneye is a really good Bond film. The intro to Tomorrow Never Dies is very good too...

In my opinion, I rank Connery, Moore and Brosnan all at equal levels of Bond-ness, just for different reasons. They all fit the role, I don't think any of them are "definitive" though.
Dalton was good, but not quite right for some reason ... possibly TOO serious and poker-faced.
Lazenby was just god-awful ("There are... people out there!").

I'll be interested to see who they pick next. Dougray Scott might turn out to be a pretty good Bond.

You know we're in trouble if they pick Hugh Grant... hahahah!

MoP

Daz: When I was a kid I just thought Connery was the coolest and Moore was the funniest and didnt look any further than that. Age and living in other countries / reading up on our history has taught me to appreciate Connery as bond for a whole host of other reasons heh.

I always laughed when he said ' The things I do for England'

I think he was happy to play bond as due to his upbringing he had to be taught how to talk and act like a gentleman before he could assume the role properly and his obsession about not feeling safe until he was a millionaire probably made it easy to utter whatever was required of him ...'The things I do for Connery' and so on.

I like Connery a lot, he has always tried to be himself, never allowed them to hide who he is, has proudly represented himself as a scotsman wherever he has gone and I respect that.

Verm: as you say, good to have common ground. I agree about Owen, hes got his moments but he's no bond.I really enjoyed him in The Croupier.

I think Connery is always good. Connery in a bad movie is still the one good thing about the movie. He was perfect as an "IRISH" cop in The Untouchables.

As far as Dalton as Bond goes, I think he was a perfect choice, but he got screwed because of the legal battles over the Bond franchise that were going on. Only two movies in I don't know how many years. He finally had to just leave and move on.

I really have always like Moore. His Bond movies to me have either been quintessential or total dogs. I took exception that in some movies he had way too much fun with the character. Still Roger had some of the best cold blooded, license to kill, kills. (LTKK)

The best LTKK for me was Connery in "Dr. No" the Smith and Wesson you've had your six shots line, but Moore would solidly remind you that he would kill too. In "For Your Eyes Only" when he kicked that assholes car off the cliff and in "The Spy Who Loved Me" when the fat cuy was hanging onto his tie on the side of the building. But the absolute best Moore-Bond killing was in what I consider one of the absolute worst Bond movies. "Moonraker" When they went out bird hunting and they had the sniper up in the tree to kill Bond. He took his shot at the bird and the bad guy said "You missed" and Bond said something like "Really?" and the sniper fell out of the tree! I love that seen, but detest (somewhat, it is Bond after all) the movie.

Incidentally, I have not seen "Die Another Day" yet. I don't know why, I just have not seen it yet which seems strange to me.

I wouldnt waste your time Dukester! Honestly I thought it was shockingly bad.