[kevin]

Originally Posted by Enterprise Captain

[color=black][color=silver]Each actor has defiantly put their own stamp on the character but the scripts had a lot to do with it as well. Bond has always been good at cashing in on trends and reinventing itself. "Moonraker" is pretty ridiculous but it came out two years after "Star Wars" so people loved it. It was the highest grossing Bond film (minus inflation) until "Goldeneye." "For Your Eyes Only" which came out after maybe my favorite Bond film of the Moore era. The Bond movies always seem to takes things just a little too far and then ground themselves again in the next film. For example "Diamonds Are Forever" was pretty campy and then we got "Live and Let Die" which is great. I already mentioned "For Your Eyes Only" coming after "Moonraker." "Die Another Day" got pretty ridiculous even though again it was financially successful and then we got "Casino Royale." It seems to be a bit of a cycle.

The Bond series has definitely gone through that cycle numerous times in it's lifetime.

'Moonraker' was an obvious ploy to cash in on the 'Star Wars' success just as 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' was. Although in fairness for all it's silliness I also quite enjoy 'Moonraker' as well.

But even the Connery films were getting lavish by the time Lazenby came in and muted things a little. 'OHMSS' is probably the first film in the series that in a way rebooted things a little bit, though in general the Moore and Brosnan films are probably still the most outlandishly stunt, gadget and gimmick obsessed of the films.

[Roysten]

Die Another Day was definitely outlandishly stunt, gadget and gimmick oriented over anything else, I was disappointing in that film and even though I liked Brosnan I felt it was time for things to move on.

Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace have taken it a bit too far the other way though IMO, a lot darker and heavier with all the fun gone, I enjoyed Q and the one-liners. This new film seems to be straddling a kind of middle ground which has me optimistic and hopefully will work out well.

[martok2112]

Yeah, there does seem to be a sort of adjustment phase going on with the Craig "Bond" movies. Although I like the more serious take, it does seem to have gone a wee bit far in that area.

It's like the producers and writers turned the tone adjustment knob a little to far to the left.....oops...too serious, too serious...turn that knob back a little right. Annnnnnd.......there!

[USS_Essex]

Don't forget to add David Niven to that list of actors that have portrayed Sir James Bond.

[martok2112]

Originally Posted by USS_Essex

Don't forget to add David Niven to that list of actors that have portrayed Sir James Bond.

Yeah, I have that version of "Casino Royale" also. Funny movie. Sadly, despite the fact that it is based on the novel of "Casino Royale", I don't think it was added into the Bond canon. But yes, Niven played a hilarious James Bond with his stammering and stuttering.

[horatio]

Originally Posted by Roysten

Die Another Day was definitely outlandishly stunt, gadget and gimmick oriented over anything else, I was disappointing in that film and even though I liked Brosnan I felt it was time for things to move on.

Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace have taken it a bit too far the other way though IMO, a lot darker and heavier with all the fun gone, I enjoyed Q and the one-liners. This new film seems to be straddling a kind of middle ground which has me optimistic and hopefully will work out well.

Indeed. Sure, in the last decade many movies have serious and dark tones and we had to see Bond's love trauma which explains why he is a player who never falls in love again in later life but one does not have to go to such extremes.
It certainly won't hurt if this new movie gets some of the typical Bondish playfulness back.

[martok2112]

I think there's a Heineken commercial that features Craig as Bond, and it sorta suggests perhaps a light hearted side to him...hopefully will be evident in Skyfall.

[horatio]

Nothing against vermouth but it's about time the man starts to drink something decent.

[starbase63]

Originally Posted by USS_Essex

Don't forget to add David Niven to that list of actors that have portrayed Sir James Bond.

Not to mention American actor Barry Nelson...who played US Agent James Bond in a tv adaptation of "Casino Royale"...

[starbase63]

Originally Posted by martok2112

Yeah, I have that version of "Casino Royale" also. Funny movie. Sadly, despite the fact that it is based on the novel of "Casino Royale", I don't think it was added into the Bond canon. But yes, Niven played a hilarious James Bond with his stammering and stuttering.

Don't forget Peter Sellers was also "James Bond" in that movie as well...