Archive for October, 2008

Joel Owens asked:


James Bond is machismo personified. After decades of spying, he still hasn’t been out of the top fictional characters the hit the big screen. This phenomenon can be attributed to the movie’s storyline that sends us to the edge of our seats. But then again, we cannot deny that we love the franchise so much because of the hunk and kick ass portrayal of the chosen ones—the James Bond actors.

To date, 6 actors have already donned the 007 cap and formed a culture of BONDage in the process. Read this roundup of James Bond actors and take your pick as the perfect James Bond.

1. Sean Connery

Almost everyone never thought that Connery can pull off as James Bond, but under the tutelage of Terence Young, the British actor did not only bag the role as a gentleman spy, but is considered as the best James Bond actor to date. His portrayal definitely set the bar for succeeding actors to wear the suit. He starred in the first 7 James Bond movies and most of which are considered to be representative installments of the franchise.

2. George Lazenby

Rising up to the iconic portrayal of Connery proved to be a difficult task for George Lazenby. Without much acting experience and the maturity to face up to the studio setting, the former model was plagued with intrigues for his performance as Bond. Fans have already warmed up to Connery’s Bond portrayal, and this presented as another disadvantage for the Lazenby. His awkward performance in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service caused him to make his career as a James Bond actor go kaput in just one film.

3. Roger Moore

The 70’s marked a changed in Bond’s persona. This time, the job as a James Bond actor was taken on by Roger Moore, who apparently made a complete physical transformation to fit the role. The producers of the franchise only agreed to cast him if he shed some pounds and cut his hair short. The director’s constant reminder for him to lose more weight caused the actor to muse, “Why didn’t they get a thin actor who was bald to do the part?”

Roger Moore made a brave attempt to separate himself from the shadows of the first and iconic James Bond actor, Sean Connery by having a more lighthearted approach to his character. In his term as Bond, we saw a more playful and womanizing Bond in films like Live and Let Die, The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only among others. Unlike his predecessor, Lazenby, Moore starred in 7 James Bond movies.

4. Timothy Dalton

Dalton’s approach to James Bond is very different from Roger Moore’s. In two James Bond movies he starred in, he depicted Bond as a more serious, dark and reserved secret agent, a far cry from the flamboyant persona that Roger Moore created. His extreme masculine appeal made fans root for his version of Bond.

5. Pierce Brosnan

Another Englishman took over and this time, we’ve seen an actor who was never stereotyped as Bond for his acting flexibility. He was able to strike a balance between a tough and flamboyant portrayal of Bond and he just proved himself as a legitimate James Bond actor in 4 films.

6. Daniel Craig

The newest James Bond actor has been criticized for being the first Blonde and blue-eyed Bond. As evident in his portrayal in Casino Royale, Craig plans on having a different take on our favorite secret agent. With a more kick ass and real tough guy depiction of Bond, he finally managed to get the respect of his detractors. Sean Connery even agreed that Craig did a good job in his first James Bond movie. Fans all over the world are already anticipating his comeback as James Bond in Quantum of Solace.



Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • TwitThis
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • Pownce
  • MySpace

Leave your Comment

Charles Harper asked:


First, Rocky came back from the dead, from poverty, from old age to remind us of what really matters in life. We didn’t bother engaging each other about the implausibility of a fifty year old getting in the ring with a twenty something. We didn’t want to. We wanted to believe in Rocky because he (even though is just a fictional character) represents more to us. He is inspiration; he is our comeback kid. He is hard work, determination and most of all humility. When we go to see him in the movie, we are not interested in reality; and I dare say we are not all that interested in being entertained. Additionally, it is probably true that we are not all that interested in ‘feeling good’. We want to be inspired. We need to be inspired.

It stands to reason that not too long after that Rambo came back to let us know that the world belongs to the American with the tough exterior but heart of gold: velvet and steel. We dismiss the rampant violence in the movie; because again, we want inspiration. We are able to leave the news about mortgage crises, jobs going overseas and rising racial tension. We are able to see a good guy win. Even if he is misunderstood, as all of us think we are at some level. Rambo is everyman. He is, unlike us at many points, clear on his mission. He walks with the certainty that we need to walk during difficult times.

Finally, have you noticed that Indiana Jones is coming back too? He rescued us from the wrath of God, from evil men who threatened the divine balance and even from poverty in India.

He reminds of the lines between good and evil. We never really leave his side and we are with him in spirit in his adventures and we want him to win. We expect him to win. He has come back just in time. Heck, if we can’t have Jack Bauer for a whole calendar year; who to save us but Indiana Jones. Indiana Jones is back, and he is welcome.



Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • TwitThis
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • Pownce
  • MySpace

Leave your Comment