Just wanted to add, like some others, Roger Moore was my first and favorite James Bond. Not despite some of the campiness, but often *because* of it! Movies and music are to me, sometimes, an escape from serious and sometimes harsh reality, I don't always need those realistic attributes in my entertainment.
I have the 007 collection and pretty much enjoy them all (even the two Timothy Dalton films), but Roger Moore *is* the epitome of James Bond to me. And yeah, I loved his 007 satire in Cannonball Run!
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
I'll leave this here, think it sums up the man. Swoon.
Wow! Now that is a wonderfully touching story. Marc was certainly one lucky fan.
Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 05/24/1706:12 PM.
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Originally Posted by MarkG
Just wanted to add, like some others, Roger Moore was my first and favorite James Bond. Not despite some of the campiness, but often *because* of it! Movies and music are to me, sometimes, an escape from serious and sometimes harsh reality, I don't always need those realistic attributes in my entertainment.
I have the 007 collection and pretty much enjoy them all (even the two Timothy Dalton films), but Roger Moore *is* the epitome of James Bond to me. And yeah, I loved his 007 satire in Cannonball Run!
We also need to keep in mind his portrayal was successful for so long because it was a sign of the times. That's what the 70's and 80's audience wanted. Ridiculous gadgets, underwater cars, glamorous locations (that's never changed), and a wise cracking spy getting the girl. He fit. They tried to get more serious with Dalton but it was too soon, so they went to Brosnan, who was still close to Moore's Bond's humor...just less so.
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Originally Posted by Raw Kryptonite
We also need to keep in mind his portrayal was successful for so long because it was a sign of the times. That's what the 70's and 80's audience wanted. Ridiculous gadgets, underwater cars, glamorous locations (that's never changed), and a wise cracking spy getting the girl. He fit. They tried to get more serious with Dalton but it was too soon, so they went to Brosnan, who was still close to Moore's Bond's humor...just less so.
You are absolutely right in your assessment RK. Moore fit Bond perfectly for what the audience at the time wanted. That portrayal now just simply wouldn't work because the times and the audience has changed. Daniel Craig now perfectly fits the role for what audiences want. It was simply bad luck and bad timing for Dalton. His acting ability was just fine. Like you said, the audience at the time did not want a dark, brooding and killer Bond.
Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 05/24/1706:57 PM.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
He definitely wasn't my first Bond, but I agree with the premise that his Bond was a very popular portrayal for the times. Having read many of the books (much more serious and edgy than the films that Moore was in), I found that I truly enjoyed the way he brought a lighter, more humorous, yet classy Bond to the screen. He always pulled it off with Panache.
That said, oddly enough, I also think I'm one of about a dozen (?) people who actually enjoyed the movie "Ffolkes" - I still watch it from time to time, so I guess I'm due for another viewing.
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Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. C.S. Lewis, 1898 - 1963.