Worst Bond

There are definitely eras of Bond films, and I like that each actor reflected an era and a style all their own. And sure, the "fun" Bond films (particularly the Roger Moore era) were great. But something started to happen....where Bond films went from relatively straightforward spy/espionage films.....to something more and more silly and over the top. There will always be a special place for films like Moonraker...Octopussy.....TSWLM, etc. I enjoy them every time they're on.

However, once each Bond film tried to out do the previous (like the Fast/Furious films do).....it was a slippery slope into absurdity, and a change was needed. Dalton was an interesting experiment (and ironically, the people who liked his 2 movies loved the return of Bond as a less silly, more badass spy). I just think he came acorss as a bit stuffy...and his 2 films (especially LTK) looked very cheap.

I REALLY wanted to like Brosnan as Bond....and he was ok. He just seemed too prissy and polished, prancing around in his little tuxedos, not a hair out of place, worrying about whether his little martinis were shaken or stirred. None of his movies were great....and the last one (Die Another Day) was ridiculous. Invisible cars.....a giant ray beam from space....Bond windsurfing a tidal wave using a car door and a parachute?? Right then and there, Bond jumped the shark, and most probably felt it was time for a reboot.

With Craig, all you need to know about the brilliance of his era can be summed-up in the masterpiece that is Casino Royale. Not since Connery have we had a Bond that looked like he could kill someone with his bare...hands. And when he does just that (choking out the henchman in the stairwell), what does he do? He goes back to his room, slugs down a double scotch, changes his shirt...and returns to the game. Another great Daniel craig scene...in Quantum, when he's attacked by an assassin in the apartment he's searching. He stabs the guy in the neck with his own knife, gets him into a choke hold out on the balcony, and then calmly waits as the guy bleeds out. This is the Bond and reboot we needed. Not bland....just cool and focused. This is the guy I picture when I read the Flemming novels. As described, a man with cold, steely eyes and a scar running down his cheeck. A man not to be taken lightly.

It will be fun to see what the next era brings...