Is Craig like Connery?

[Skywalker]

Some people claim that Craig is the best Bond since Connery. Others claim he is better than Connery.

My questions to you all is. How are these assumptions made? What attributes does Craig bring to the table that Connery had? and more interstingly what attributes does Craig have that Connery didn't ?

[ID]

I've never understood the Connery/Craig connection. To me Craig breaks the mould for Bond and that is either a good thing or a bad thing. There isn't much middle-ground.

[Skywalker]

I've never understood the Connery/Craig connection. To me Craig breaks the mould for Bond and that is either a good thing or a bad thing. There isn't much middle-ground.

With Connery I always felt he was comfortable with his humour and it came natural. Craig had some good lines, but I felt he did not feel at ease with the delivery. Connery, like Moore could deliver his one-liners superbly. These moments are what makes a Bond film.

[bjmdds]

Connery defined and formulated the role of Bond. The next 4 actors tried to either copy or augment Connery's style. Craig is off on his own tangent, more Bauer/Bourne in style, than Connery in style. To me, there is absolutely no comparison between the two.

[Skywalker]

Connery defined and formulated the role of Bond. The next 4 actors tried to either copy or augment Connery's style. Craig is off on his own tangent, more Bauer/Bourne in style, than Connery in style. To me, there is absolutely no comparison between the two.

Why do you think people see a comparison BJ?

[carl stromberg]

Connery played himself as Bond, in almost the same way that Moore and Brosnan did.

I think some people argue that Craig portrays some of the toughness that Connery had as Bond; but Connery's Bond was more than a musclebound thug.

[stockslivevan]

I think he is more compared to Connery because he brought back that smart ass tough guy persona that has been missing. In the beginning of CR he acts more like a thug, a blunt instrument which was the intention of this film to show how the evolution of the character. Infact Craig's Bond is loosely based on Connery's life style. A tough scotsman who used to be a boxer in the navy and hardly ever wore a suit until he played Bond. Craig's humor is also part of Connery's if you notice. Instead of simply saying "I will never tell you the password" he just talks tough by saying "I've got an itch, right down there. Would you mind?".

Before CR was released it has been already said by the makers that Bond 22 will bring back the traditional gunbarrel, the girls in the main titles, Bond theme and of course Craig's Bond will be more polished much like displayed at the end of CR. If condifence is a style, it would look like this.

[007]

Infact Craig's Bond is loosely based on Connery's life style.

You've lost me there I'm afraid.

Before CR was released it has been already said by the makers that Bond 22 will bring back the traditional gunbarrel, the girls in the main titles, Bond theme

Maybe they could go the whole hog and bring James Bond back too.


The picture of Craig you keep putting up illustrates the great divide. You keep citing it but all I see is an odd looking nondescript man who looks a bit on the short side.

[Captain Nash]

He is too short in the picture, surely you can see that stockslivevan?
What a pathetic argument the height issue is.
See : Clutching at straws!

[Skywalker]

He is too short in the picture, surely you can see that stockslivevan?
What a pathetic argument the height issue is.
See : Clutching at straws!

That is one of many issues.

007 was pointing out a clear difference between the two actors (Quite a few inches) and made a remark about that picture.

I must abmit the picture does not do him any favours. Although it's hard to believe there are better ones.

[Captain Nash]

And you call yourself a Jedi.
I sense the darkside in you, young Skywalker.

[Skywalker]

I think he is more compared to Connery because he brought back that smart ass tough guy persona that has been missing.

I don't personally agree, but I see your POV.

In the beginning of CR he acts more like a thug, a blunt instrument which was the intention of this film to show how the evolution of the character.

To me he acted like that throughout the film apart from the Dryden kill and the ending with Mr White. Do you actually believe that I guy who has risen through the Navy ranks to become an Officer, would be as you put it 'A blunt instrument'?

Connery was never like that.

Craig's humor is also part of Connery's if you notice. Instead of simply saying "I will never tell you the password" he just talks tough by saying "I've got an itch, right down there. Would you mind?".

I did enjoy some of the humour in CR. Craig at times did make me laugh (I'm not on about the prospect of him being Bond. ). Although at other times he appeared uncomfortable and wasn't as consistent with his delivery as Connery.

Bond will be more polished much like displayed at the end of CR.

So are you saying he was only polished in the three minutes at the end of the film?

If confidence is a style, it would look like this.

.

Can't agree with you on that Stock.

[stockslivevan]

So are you saying he was only polished in the three minutes at the end of the film?

Pretty much, he grew an affinity for suits eversince he tried that tuxedo. Kinda reminds me of young Indiana Jones getting the whip, scar, snakephobia, fedora, ect all in 10 minutes. Rediculous but entertaining.

If confidence is a style, it would look like this.

.

["Skywalker"]Can't agree with you on that Stock.

Cheap shot there Skywalker. You need to stop learning those techniques from this guy...

[sundog]

Hi, this is my first post. Let me say immediately, so as not to mislead, that I don't agree with the premise of this page; that being said, I'm not here to troll. I'm just curious where all this energy comes from. After all, we're not talking about The Avengers movie or something equally hideous.

Let me first state my bona fides. I have been a Fleming fan since the early sixties, and am far more of a fan of the books than the movies. Just to let you know where I'm coming from, I pretty much reject ALL the Bonds except Connery and Brosnan. I thought Roger Moore was a clown (it tickled me no end that they dressed him as one), and the others are better not remembered at all.

At first I thought the same of Craig, mostly from admittedly froglike photos I had seen. I wondered how this ugly blonde guy could possibly be Bond.

So as not to be offensive, I will not go on and on about how my mind changed after seeing the movie. I have since re-read Casino Royale (I recommend this to all of you) and was struck by how exactly Craig nailed the tough, emotionless, not-yet-sophisticated Bond of the book.

(As an aside, I could never again accept anyone BUT Judi Dench as M. What a performance! I didn't like her until now.)

No feeling? No charm? Come now. "Skewered. One sympathizes." After the ice-cool delivery of that line, he had me hook, line and sinker.

CR is now my FAVORITE bond movie and, I know it's sacrilege, but Craig is now my favorite Bond, topping even Connery. I've seen the movie at least ten times now and can't wait for the next one.

As to the point that, in any way, Craig's Bond is incompatible with the books, I just don't see it, and I have them practically memorized.

Despite the highly aggressive tone of this site, I hope I've said all this in a non-combative way. I really came here to see if this was a stealth Pierce Brosnan site or something, it doesn't appear so. But what an amazing amount of energy has been put into disrespecting a fine actor who took on a hideous challenge, and, in the opinion of the vast majority, nailed it better than anyone yet.

[Skywalker]

Hi, this is my first post. Let me say immediately, so as not to mislead, that I don't agree with the premise of this page; that being said, I'm not here to troll. I'm just curious where all this energy comes from. After all, we're not talking about The Avengers movie or something equally hideous.

Let me first state my bona fides. I have been a Fleming fan since the early sixties, and am far more of a fan of the books than the movies. Just to let you know where I'm coming from, I pretty much reject ALL the Bonds except Connery and Brosnan. I thought Roger Moore was a clown (it tickled me no end that they dressed him as one), and the others are better not remembered at all.

At first I thought the same of Craig, mostly from admittedly froglike photos I had seen. I wondered how this ugly blonde guy could possibly be Bond.

So as not to be offensive, I will not go on and on about how my mind changed after seeing the movie. I have since re-read Casino Royale (I recommend this to all of you) and was struck by how exactly Craig nailed the tough, emotionless, not-yet-sophisticated Bond of the book.

(As an aside, I could never again accept anyone BUT Judi Dench as M. What a performance! I didn't like her until now.)

No feeling? No charm? Come now. "Skewered. One sympathizes." After the ice-cool delivery of that line, he had me hook, line and sinker.

CR is now my FAVORITE bond movie and, I know it's sacrilege, but Craig is now my favorite Bond, topping even Connery. I've seen the movie at least ten times now and can't wait for the next one.

As to the point that, in any way, Craig's Bond is incompatible with the books, I just don't see it, and I have them practically memorized.

Despite the highly aggressive tone of this site, I hope I've said all this in a non-combative way. I really came here to see if this was a stealth Pierce Brosnan site or something, it doesn't appear so. But what an amazing amount of energy has been put into disrespecting a fine actor who took on a hideous challenge, and, in the opinion of the vast majority, nailed it better than anyone yet.

First and foremost, welcome to the site Sundog.

I like many other Anti-Craigers have read the book several times. My interpretation of the book and what I perceive to be Bond from the novel differs from your opinion.

Please read the reviews and debate the points. I don't believe anyone doubts Craig's acting ability, but their are many on this forum that doubt his credentials as Bond.

[Dr. No]

hi sundog

But what an amazing amount of energy has been put into disrespecting a fine actor who took on a hideous challenge, and, in the opinion of the vast majority, nailed it better than anyone yet

Why is Bond a hideous challenge? It should be considered a honor. But hideous challenge seems to be how Craig approached it.
Plenty of people do not like Craig, the US has more than its fair share but minority or majority, vocal or not, I wouldn’t try to keep people from talking about it.

I have since re-read Casino Royale (I recommend this to all of you) and was struck by how exactly Craig nailed the tough, emotionless, not-yet-sophisticated Bond of the book.

Didn't take long, already talking down to us. The alphabet is just so d**n hard, never thought of combining the letters to make words
Look around the forum you'll find plenty of opinions back up by quoting the bible, I mean Fleming's books.
I havn't read all the books but I did read CR and was struck by how unbondlike Craig was compared to the book. Bond was very emotional meeting Mathis and already sophisticated set in his ways.
I could go on but I be repeating myself, could retype some of my post instead I'll cut n past quotes from a review posted here, its on my mind since I just read it so Id end up repeating it anyhow
We don't agree on all topics but when someone say something absolute, it can't be, nothing is. Even (some) people on this forum are holding back judgment on Craig until after Bond22 to see if he can pull off Bond because in some opinions ( a lot even among people who loved CR) Craig did not pull off Bond in CR.

Fleming's 007 was a man of very personal tastes in food and wine. ``I take a ridiculous pleasure in what I eat and drink,'' he says in Fleming's first Bond novel, ``Casino Royale'' (1953). ``It comes partly from being a bachelor, but mostly from a habit of taking a lot of trouble over details. It's very persnickety and old-maidish...''

Fleming larded his novels with Bond's gourmandise (although Noel Coward considered Fleming's own cooking at his Jamaican residence, Goldeneye, to be inedible). Bond buys his coffee beans at De Bry on New Oxford Street, insists his eggs be from brown, speckled French Marans hens and boiled exactly 3 1/3 minutes. Being Scottish, he favors smoked Scottish salmon. He buys his Norwegian honey, Cooper's Vintage Oxford marmalade and Tiptree Little Scarlet strawberry jam at Fortnum's. In the new ``Casino Royale,'' you'll find no such references, requests or demands, which is the very stuff that Bond is made of.

Of course, no drink is more closely linked with Bond than the vodka martini, which he dubbed the ``Vesper'' after the femme fatale Vesper Lynd in ``Casino Royale.'' In the new movie, the screenwriters toy with a classic Bond-ism: While playing poker, Bond first orders a martini ``shaken over ice,'' then 10 minutes later when the bartender asks if he wants his vodka martini ``shaken or stirred,'' 007 snaps, ``Do I look like I care?''

That one line seems symptomatic of much that is wrong with the new Bond. Craig is too rough around the edges. He wears his Brioni tuxedo like a teenager off to a prom, crashes his brand- new Aston-Martin because of poor driving skills and drinks too much. At the very moment when he is supposed to be totally lucid and focused on playing a high-stakes poker game against a vicious antagonist, he sloshes down the martinis -- one of which sends him into cardiac arrest. Yet in Ian Fleming's original novel, ``Casino Royale'' (1953), 007 tells a CIA agent, ``I never have more than one drink before dinner.''

[Skywalker]

Even (some) people on this forum are holding back judgment on Craig until after Bond22 to see if he can pull off Bond because in some opinions ( a lot even among people who loved CR) Craig did not pull off Bond in CR.

I guess it all depends on whether you want Craig to succeed as Bond, as to whether you'll enjoy Bond 22. If you don't like Craig (Which is perfectly understandable) you'll probably not like Bond 22, regardless of Craig's performance.

Ever the optimist, I hope Craig delivers in Bond 22.

[Captain Nash]

See I don't get that. How you can judge something before it's happened. It makes your opinion void as far as I'm concerned. It's just pointless.

[Dr. No]

See I don't get that. How you can judge something before it's happened. It makes your opinion void as far as I'm concerned. It's just pointless.

Loan Gruffudd's Bond Ambition

Let's not even joke about him being James Bond.
If you don't like Craig then this guy would be ripped apart.
He's the same height as Craig...and he's not very good looking...and well he's Welsh.

[Captain Nash]

You know what I was getting at. Ioan Gruffudd is not James Bond and has not been cast as Bond. If he were I would be thinking he may not be suitable in the role. But I would give him a go. Maybe some of you should start doing that.
Oh but you're not willing to be fair hey? Cut a guy down before he's even shot a scene. Nice.