The James Bond series is one of the longest-running and most financially successful film franchises of all time. Since 1962, James Bond has enthralled audiences with its exotic locales, high octane action, and complex political plots. One element that has made the franchise so long-lasting is its success in replacing the actor portraying Bond. Since the release of his first movie in 1962, James Bond has been portrayed by six different actors, with each playing James Bond in a unique and memorable manner. While most fans are divided on whether or not Sean Connery or Daniel Craig delivered the best interpretation of the character, Timothy Dalton's portrayal is often overlooked.
This article will list 10 reasons why Timothy Dalton is a better Bond than Daniel Craig.
He Looks More Like Bond
While it was unfair of the British tabloids to dismiss Craig's Bond before he'd even been seen in the role, calling him "James Blonde," there is no denying that Daniel Craig doesn't fit the classical look of what James Bond was originally described, and seen on the screen, to look like.
On the other hand, Timothy Dalton fits the bill perfectly. His dark hair and not overly muscular build makes him look almost exactly like Ian Fleming described the secret agent in the books.
Darker, More Serious Tone
While it is true that the Daniel Craig movies have adopted a darker and more serious tone than many of those that came before it, we ought to remember that it was Dalton's era that instigated a return to a grittier and more grounded Bond after the craziness of the Moore years.
It was partly for this sudden shift to a grittier Bond that caused some fans to be less than enthusiastic about the Dalton era. Dalton's Bond was a darker, far less comedic Bond, and this certainly led to the Craig era.
Better Gadgets
One of the main criticisms of the Craig era is that there has been a distinct lack of unique and imaginative gadgets. While originally we had invisible cars, laser watches, and exploding pens, the Craig era has simply given us a Signature Gun and a radio.
On the other hand, the Dalton era had a number of exciting gadgets including explosive toothpaste, a deadly key fob, and a Signature Camera Gun. It is clear that the Dalton era had far better gadgets.
Craig's Treatment of Sévérine
While Skyfall is undoubtedly a fantastic and beautiful movie, one element of the film is incredibly problematic. In order to get close to Raoul Silva, Bond takes advantage of a troubled and clearly terrified Sévérine. For those who are unaware, Sévérine was a woman who had spent most of her life in the Macau sex trade. After being abused for most of her life, Raoul Silva freed her yet ruled over her with fear.
During the movie, not only does Bond walk into her shower unannounced, but he also doesn't even try to save her life nor does he mourn her after she is gone.
Interactions With Q
While Ben Whishaw's Q is a fantastic iteration of the character, there can be no denying that Desmond Llewelyn's Q is simply irreplaceable in the role. Unfortunately for Bond fans, the actor passed away after the World is not Enough, so we can have no more of his iconic interactions with 007.
While this may appear to be unfair as Craig didn't get the chance to work with the legendary actor, there is no denying that Llewelyn brought something unique and great to the Bond movies that is no longer there.
More Book Accurate Bond
While at first this entry may appear to bear a close resemblance to the entry describing Bond's appearance, it is far more different. The book Bond is a far darker character than many of the Bond actors have chosen to portray. While there are some humorous elements in the novels, the Bond character is not quippy person.
Taking the book iteration of James Bond into account, no other actor has done as well than Timothy Dalton in bringing the secret agent to life on the big screen.
Return To Sean Connery-Style Bond
While Roger Moore is a popular Bond, his version of the character is notably different from the Connery version. Connery played it more seriously, whereas Moore brought far more humor to the character. As a result, Moore's Bond isn't taken too seriously.
Timothy Dalton, however, helped bring back that gritty reputation to the Bond franchise, showing the world that Bond can offer far more than a cliche spy story.
Better Car Chases
While the Craig movies haven't shied away from high octane thrills, there hasn't been an out and out "Bond-esque" car chase with gadgets in the Craig movies. While this doesn't make the Daniel Craig movies worse per se, it does make them feel far less like a classic Bond movie.
The Dalton era, however, had one of the best car chases in Bond movie history. In The Living Daylights, Dalton makes use of the gadgets and weapons installed in his Aston Martin V8 Vantage to escape the police.
No Bourne Influence
It's almost impossible to overstate the influence of the Bourne movies on modern action films. It goes without saying that, if the Bourne movies weren't released, there would be no Taken, The Equalizer, and the Craig era of James Bond would be incredibly different.
That being said, while the Bourne influence on James Bond undoubtedly helped bring the franchise into the 21st Century, it also helped strip away certain elements of classic Bond stories.
Classic Cold War Storylines
James Bond is a product of his time. The character was written during a time in which the world was in the grip of a Cold War, and nuclear annihilation always threatened to be a matter of moments away. This important setting in the Bond story slowly started to ebb away after the Brosnan era started with Goldeneye.
Modern Bond has gone very technological, with cyber-terrorism being one of the most used plot points in recent years. While this isn't necessarily bad, it does deviate notably from the early themes of the Cold War Bond.