A Reflection by Victor Lana
In an article in the August 19th issue of Entertainment Weekly, Pierce Brosnan says, "One phone call, that's all it took." Thus, the Irish actor was told his services as James Bond, Agent 007, were no longer required. Brosnan can be credited for reinvigorating the Bond movies after a time in the 1980s where they seemed redundant and rather lame.
Of course, the question will always be asked: who was the best James Bond? Many people hold that Sean Connery set the standard and that Brosnan picked up where he left off; however, I grew up with Roger Moore as the James Bond I knew. He did, after all, play 007 from 1971-1985. As a kid I knew of Sean Connery, but it was Moore who was in the first Bond film I saw in the movie theater, and I was a fan after Live and Let Die.
Roger Moore's portrayal, while somewhat stiff at times, was still enjoyable and more comical than any of the other Bonds. Being a big man, he seemed to be able to hold his own against rather large villains, most particularly Richard Kiel's Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me, as well as the smallest (and in my opinion the funniest of all Bond villains) Herve Villechaize in The Man with the Golden Gun.
While Moore was my favorite, I recognize Sean Connery's hold on the character now as I have seen the first Bond films, thanks to AMC's Bond marathon. Connery had a smoldering sexuality that is evident in his love scenes, but he also had a sort of dashing good looks that were just made for a casino as he rolled dice in a white tuxedo. My all time favorite Bond moment comes during the film Goldfinger when Connery is strapped to a table with a laser beam coming slowly toward his groin. Bond asks if this tactic is expected to get him to talk. That is when Goldfinger, played by Gert Frobe, responds, "No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die." Just a classic moment with a classic villain that is pure magic.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
You missed Barry Nelson in Casino Royale(1954), and of course Peter Sellers as Jimmy Bond in the Niven film.
2 - Victor Lana
Thanks, Aaman, I didn't know about that 1954 film, and yes there is Jimmy. Also, my own nephew told me about James Bond Jr. that I didn't know about either.
3 - chris franklin
Frankly, I thought -Goldeneye- rocked pretty well in '95 and I actually thought the franchise was trending upwards. But subsequent Bond releases have been hard to get in to (let's see, how about "surfing" to reach a mission destination...yeah, great, low-risk, real, perfect!?)
Lazenby's -On Her Majesty's...- was actually ok, bringing a different angle, marriage (Bond...Marriage...Get the F**k outta here!?:) to the Bond character.
I know I am going to get roasted on this, but my favorite Bond film is Connery's 1983, -Never Say Never Again Oww...the flames!! It burns!!!
Moore's -For Your Eye's Only- ties with Brosnan's -Goldeneye- for Second, at least in my book. Lazenby's -On Her Majesty's...- gets third.
I was born in the 70's, so Connery's 60's films that are the bedrock of the franchise just seemed a little dated when I was growing up vs. Moore's Disco-style, throw-down ventures.