Which of the Bond Actors Looks Best in Fight Scenes?

[TravelinMan]

Greetings,

Fight scenes are, or should be, integral to a James Bond film. Over the years each actor has had his own style in these sequences, some good some not so much. Which actor do you think was most convincing in the fight scenes? Here is my list from best to worst:

1) Daniel Craig - Without doubt, the most realistic fight sequences. I have no problem believing DC's Bond is a trained killer/fighter.

2) Sean Connery - Up to Thunderball, some of the best filmed fight sequences. Connery's Bond was always convincing as a man who could kill with his hands.

3) George Lazenby - Does well in the OHMSS fights but, and I guess this is the editor's fault, the fights seem speeded up and therefore sort of fake.

4) Timothy Dalton - Brought a realistic intensity to his combat but I really don't recall his one-on-one fights (with the exception of the fight with Necros in TLD) being much more than a few punches and a quick knock-out.

5) Pierce Brosnan - Pierce generally seemed outclassed in his man-to-man fights and while I enjoyed his portrayal of 007 I always had to suspend my disbelief during most of his fight sequences.

6) Roger Moore - Please... I never once believed that RM could handle himself in a fight...well with the possible exception of his deadly battle with Nick Nack...but even that might have been a draw if he hadn't found the suitcase...

Thanks for reading.

T

[The Sweeney]

Greetings,

Fight scenes are, or should be, integral to a James Bond film. Over the years each actor has had his own style in these sequences, some good some not so much. Which actor do you think was most convincing in the fight scenes? Here is my list from best to worst:

1) Daniel Craig - Without doubt, the most realistic fight sequences. I have no problem believing DC's Bond is a trained killer/fighter.

2) Sean Connery - Up to Thunderball, some of the best filmed fight sequences. Connery's Bond was always convincing as a man who could kill with his hands.

3) George Lazenby - Does well in the OHMSS fights but, and I guess this is the editor's fault, the fights seem speeded up and therefore sort of fake.

4) Timothy Dalton - Brought a realistic intensity to his combat but I really don't recall his one-on-one fights (with the exception of the fight with Necros in TLD) being much more than a few punches and a quick knock-out.

5) Pierce Brosnan - Pierce generally seemed outclassed in his man-to-man fights and while I enjoyed his portrayal of 007 I always had to suspend my disbelief during most of his fight sequences.

6) Roger Moore - Please... I never once believed that RM could handle himself in a fight...well with the possible exception of his deadly battle with Nick Nack...but even that might have been a draw if he hadn't found the suitcase...

Thanks for reading.

T

Good post. I pretty much agree with all of this. Sean Connery's fight with Shaw was probably his best scene, Lazenby's in the hotel room (but badly edited, as you say), Moore's best fight was probably in TMWTGG, and Dalton's fight in TLD when in prison. Brosnan's was probably in TND when tackling Carver's men on their opening night.

[BondFan007]

Agreed with the OP. Lazenby, who actually trained soldiers in unarmed combat, should have been given enough respect by the editor to have his fight scenes left as they were.

[Skywalker]

Roger Moore - Please... I never once believed that RM could handle himself in a fight...well with the possible exception of his deadly battle with Nick Nack...but even that might have been a draw if he hadn't found the suitcase...

I always enjoyed RM's fight scenes. They were well choreographed and RM through a good punch.

[carl stromberg]

I feel that Roger Moore's fight scenes are underrated due to the "camp" stereotype which surrounds his films. It's obvious that Sir Roger was a karate expert in real life....

[Jedi007]

That's my avatar!!!

Daniel Craig's fight scenes is realistic because his physical aspect is full of energy. Besides, much of his fight scenes were close combat.

PB's action scenes were good on GE and his close combat with multiple guys on TND, as well as one on one with Stamper and the bullet-lodged man on TWINE.

[Harvey Wallbanger]

Agreed with the OP. Lazenby, who actually trained soldiers in unarmed combat, should have been given enough respect by the editor to have his fight scenes left as they were.

The yearly films had the misfortune to be speed edited. Chases & fights were sped up. Not uncommon at the time.