Daniel Craig is the best Bond

I’m old enough to remember ALL of the Bonds, and have been a SAG actor since 1966, having worked with Pierce Brosnan on “Remington Steele.” At first, I thought that Connery owned the role, until I saw Craig in, “Casino Royale.” He singlehandedly brought Bond into the 21st century. Although Connery must be given the credit for originating the role, he was a product of his time, and today would certainly be considered a misogynistic dinosaur. That said, it all comes down to two things: Understanding the character that Ian Fleming created, and ACTING ABILITY. Taken all in all, Craig was “The Best of the Best,” and this can be both confirmed by Roger Moore’s own comments, and mirrored by Sean Connery himself in a live interview. Although all these fine actors brought their own distinctive qualities to the role, alas, in the final analysis, 007 was a HIRED KILLER, first and foremost. Pierce was pretty, and Roger was self-effacing and humorous. But of all the characteristics that such a man would need to have in abundance, Craig is the ONLY James Bond that truly scared me. As Moore commented: Daniel Craig IS Bond.”






Craig is the most authentic bond of the lot. Flemings bond was a self destructive, borderline suicidal alcoholic with a knack for killing people. Even Connery's bond is just a bit too slick (although superb in its own right). This is what people just don't get - bond is ex military and a hardened maverick. Some similarities to Riggs out of lethal weapon. Read the original books. As much as Connery has sort of taken ownership of the 'classic Bond' probably for historical reasons, Craig fits with the novels (original novels) much better. Skyfall captures this very well - and in my humble opinion the best Bond film. Goldfinger or Thunderball being the next. Some will disagree of course.

It's an intriguing question and one that is inevitably asked, but probably not a fair one. Film acting, and filmmaking in general, seems to have changed quite a bit since 1962, not to mention all the other factors that make the comparisons difficult if not impossible. But here goes.

My first exposure to James Bond was Roger Moore. Any Bond that wasn't Moore just wasn't right to me. As I got older, I learned to appreciate the presence and charisma of Sean Connery. I was a teen-ager, and at the apex of my Bond appreciation, when Timothy Dalton took on the roll. I checked out after Pierce Brosnan's "Goldeneye" and am now checked back in with Daniel Craig. I've only recently seen George Lazenby's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." I don't really consider the first "Casino Royale" as appropriate to this discussion.




I think that Daniel Craig is probably the best actor of the six to have taken the role. I've enjoyed all three of his films as Bond. I think he's probably the "best" Bond, but I can't say he's my favorite Bond. That would be Connery. Of course, he's an immensely charismatic screen presence, but he's also had the benefit of starring in the absolute best films in the franchise. Dalton had the distinction of starring in one of the worst, which hurt his ranking. Moore only beats Brosnan, for me, out of sheer nostalgia. Moore was my first Bond, and everyone has a soft spot for their first Bond.

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