Best Bond
 

Like the title says, who played the best 007? For the purpose of this poll, we'll stick to the Ian Fleming version, so no David Niven or Woody Allen.

Sean Connery
http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Page...james-bond.jpg

Roger Moore
http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liv...020697_300.jpg

George Lazenby
http://www.klast.net/bond/images/laz_london.jpg

Timothy Dalton
http://primetime.unrealitytv.co.uk/w...thy-dalton.jpg

Pierce Brosnan
http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/br..._300x418,2.jpg

Daniel Craig
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZZ-CqtHjAn...ARE_GOSSIP.jpg

Very difficult question. I'll have to consider it some more before I vote. I can think of pros and cons for all of them (except pros for Lazenby and Craig). How it is in my head:

Connery - the first Bond. Would win most polls. Everyone's favourite Bond, via nostalgia. But definately a bastard, couldn't pull of the humour, overly belligerant and, with hindsight, less at ease with the ladies than we've since come to expect Bond to be.

Moore - the comedy Bond; the soft, grinning, dandified Bond and the Bond that starred in the worst films during the franchise's choppiest patch. Certainly the funnest and perhaps the funniest Bond ,and did well with the girls, but never seemed comfortable with violence.

Lazenby - the odd Bond out. The grinning fool of a Bond that didn't look right and didn't seem to understand what was going on (he fell in love and got married!). But probably the most agreeable Bond, the one you'd get on best with if you happened to get caught up in an adventure with him.

Dalton - first of the new school. Very brave, very action-loving, very ruthless Bond, very much the other end of the scale to Moore's camp antics. Perhaps slightly less screen presence than the others, which made the violence committed by this Bond sometimes seem callous.

Brosnan - my Bond. I probably will vote for him even though he completely disgraced himself and almost out-Moored Moore in Die Another Day. He's the first Bond I was old enough to see in the cinema, where Bond's meant to be seen. A lazy, effortless Bond with the right attitude, charm and who brought a welcome smattering of irony to the role.

Craig - No thanks. Bond doesn't look like Daniel Craig. Daniel Craig looks like a Bond villain. I presume this superBond was dreamed up after the Bond people saw the first two Bourne films, saw how that character effectively rendered theirs irrelevant. Bond's not supposed to do really SECRET spying! He's supposed to do ostentatious spying and the guards are stupid so they don't see him and that's what makes it good to watch. Bond had nowhere to go after Bourne - I might still be interested if it had directed itself away from that, and gotten sillier. Anyway, because he doesn't look like or really act or sound like Bond, Craig's the worst one.

I just watched Goldfinger and Dr. No this weekend, purely by chance. They really are somewhat primative now however at the time when they came out, it was cutting edge stuff. Spawned several years of spy related entertainment. I Spy, The Man From Uncle, Get Smart and a host of movies. Even some popular songs, Secret Agent Man.

oliver, good summation on the differences between each of the actor's approach to the role.

For me it was Connery first, then Brosnan.

I don't think it will surprise anyone that I chose Connery. Don't get me wrong, each actor brought something to the role, but for my money the Bond film to end all Bond films has to be From Russia with Love. It wasn't too silly, but it really gave us a likable, relatable, but still capable Bond. It's that rare combination, the kind you find in all the great action heroes from John McClain to Indiana Jones to Capt. Hilts , a.k.a.The Cooler King.

All that said, Craig has the potential, more than any other, to match Connery. Casino Royale was a wonderful reboot and Quantum of Solace, imho, was an all-around classic revenge movie. The only thing they were really missing was the refinement and the likability. The way Quantum of Solace ended, it seems both of those ingredients are about to find their way into the writing, finally giving Craig all the tools he needs to be the James Bond.

Connery. And if not Connery, then either Brosnan (despite Die Another Day, he was great in the others) or Dalton (I know some people hated him. I thought he rocked).

Lazenby isn't even worth considering. I f'ing HATE Roger Moore as Bond. He was good on TV as The Saint! WTF happened there?!

I voted Connery because his were the Bond films I enjoyed as a kid, more than Moore's. (though, Moore's have grown on me over the years)

Lazenby was ok as Bond but with his one shot movie, he really didn't get to establish himself too well.

Dalton's Bond seemed kinda sly and weasel-y, but more than capable of getting the job done.
I could've watched more of him.

Brosnan as Bond was a good choice, but too bad he had that little role of Remington Steele first. I find it hard to separate the two. I like Brosnan as an actor, though, so I'll always enjoy his Bond.

Daniel Craig's Bond, from what I've read online, is more in keeping with the books than the other actor's Bonds.
I enjoyed both films and look forward to more from Craig.

My list of Bonds in order:
1) Connery
2) Brosnan
3) Craig
4) Moore
5) Lazenby
6) Dalton

Connery.
End of schtorey.

What time did Sean Connery get to Wimbledon?

Tennish.

Also, too, he's the best. Maybe, maybe Craig can top him eventually, but Quantam of Solace just sucked.

You think so? I liked it quite a bit.

I didn't think much of Quantum of Solace either. The Connery bond films look very dated now and the attitude to women would not be tolerated in a modern film, but you can't think "Bond" without thinking of Connery.

Craig here. I've seen every Bond movie and I still think Craig is best simply because of Casino Royale (which is the best Bond movie IMO). Casino Royale transcended Bond movies, it moved to something way more powerful than most action movies hope to accomplish.

It's not like Bond thought highly of women in the books by todays standards either. Hell in Casino Royale he's outright pissed that M sent Vesper (a woman) as one of his assistants.

Connery is the best, of course. I like Craig, and we'll see what he can bring to the table now that they can let him loose on the role, and not tie him down with the personal baggage he carried in his first two movies. That is if Craig's still young enough to play the part when the studio mess is cleaned up and they start production again.

Connery then Craig.....