James Bond is an icon that transcends time itself. Even if you live under a rock, you’ve heard the name Bond and the reputation that precedes it. Hence, every decade or so, we find ourselves with a new version of the character.
Only taking the films into account, Bond has been played by six actors so far. While all the actors are commendable in their own ways, there have been two camps set up contesting the first Bond against the last Bond.
I’m, of course, talking about Sean Connery and Daniel Craig.
Which one of them is better? Let’s try to settle this Battle of the Bonds!
Sean Connery Is the Textbook Bond
Sean Connery helmed the role of James Bond in 1962, becoming the first actor to play him in a film. He would go on to star in six Bond movies in total. The way he eased into the role (just like he did in his three-piece suit) is one of the reasons why he’s a beloved Bond.
With Dr. No, he created the mold of what one should expect from such a suave, world-class spy, one that the actors following him (George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig) would embody in their own versions of the character.
Now, we all know that the tenets that make Bond, well, Bond are his intelligence, combat skills, attire, fast cars, and ladies. As the first Bond to grace the silver screen, Connery highlighted each of these facets in equal measures—not just becoming every woman’s fantasy, but every man’s ultimate role model. The character of Bond reached its epitome during Connery’s era.
One of the best parts about seeing Connery as Bond was his dialogue deliveries. After all, he’s the one who immortalized, “The name’s Bond. James Bond.” In a time when films could not entirely rely on bombastic car chases and heavy CGI, Connery had to bank on pure charm and wit to sell Bond’s action, and he did it with class!
The only complaint most fans have in retrospect is how sexist the Bond movies could be (extending into some of the other actors’ versions too).
Bond was a man who killed who he needed to and slept with whom he wanted to—both these circumstances warrant moral debates today that were never touched upon back then. The question remains, does this knock off enough points to keep him from being the better Bond?
Daniel Craig Humanizes Bond
Initially, Daniel Craig was no one’s first, second, or even last choice as Bond. But by the success he currently enjoys, you wouldn’t even remember the amount of backlash he received when he was announced for the role.
Despite all the boycotting campaigns, his first film as Bond, Casino Royale, become the highest-grossing movie of the franchise at the time. He only bettered his numbers with each movie that came by, with Skyfall earning the highest.
But besides bringing in the big bucks, Craig’s Bond is lauded for how he humanizes the character. Bond is no longer a one-dimensional, women-wooing, killing machine. His actions have consequences, and he feels the repercussions deeply. It’s as if the audience, for the first time, gets to go behind the curtains and see him for what he truly is.
Craig had to make Bond work for an audience that has changed with the dawn of the new century—slick suits and Cold War set-ups simply wouldn’t cut it. Bond has to be futuristic, yet tap into stories that allowed the audience to introspect and connect with him emotionally.
As such, Craig’s version corrected the misdoings of the previous Bonds and became the face of a welcomed change. Don’t forget, he’s the one who resurrected the entire franchise in the 2000s!
Conclusion
I personally think that Craig’s version makes for a better Bond. He builds on the charm and wit associated with Bond and takes it to the next level.
It is true that had Connery been Bond in the 21st century, perhaps he, too, would’ve been written with the same emotional depth as Craig; his Bond was just a product of his times. But him coming second to Craig is not supposed to be a disparagement, as there is no denying that he is the one who made the character of Bond iconic.
However, the reason why Craig emerges first is that his Bond is simply more interesting.
You have to remember that even in the novels, Bond’s past or personal life is seldom explored, to keep him ever elusive and mysterious—the same approach that Connery’s Bond takes. Such a narrative would fail and lose impact on the screen, as we now see that Craig’s Bond stories are better cherished than Connery’s.
In the end, there is never one correct answer. Thankfully, we have a range of Bonds, whether you like it shaken, not stirred, or the old-fashioned way.
About James Bond Franchise
James Bond films are the longest continually running film series of all time and have grossed over US$7.04 billion in total, making it the sixth-highest-grossing film series to date, which started in 1962 with Dr. No, starring Sean Connery as Bond. As of 2021, there have been twenty-five films in the Eon Productions series. The most recent Bond film, No Time to Die (2021), stars Daniel Craig in his fifth portrayal of Bond; he is the sixth actor to play Bond in the Eon series.
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