Daniel Craig is like Marmite. Not because he’s mostly made of yeast and lives in a jar – although who knows? – but because the choice of Craig to play James Bond has divided film fans into two groups.
There’s one group of James Bond fans who really don’t seem to like Daniel Craig – possibly because of his hair colour – and who plan to boycott Casino Royale when it comes out because of him. Then there’s the other group of fans, primarily comprised of a handful of elderly film actors, who want everyone to shut the hell up and go back to liking James Bond again.
Daniel Craig (DVDs) must be wondering what the hell he’s gotten himself
into at the moment. In the past he was known as one of the country’s
finest actors – as anyone who has seen Munich or Our Friends In The
North will testify. Then he decided that he’d quite like to be James
Bond in Casino Royale, and had a shitstorm unleashed on him as a
consequence.
First Daniel Craig said that he hated guns
– a reasonable enough statement, really, but one that had him labelled
as a "crazy liberal" with no right to step into the James Bond tuxedo
and say sleazy things to women with ridiculous names. Then, at the
weekend, Daniel Craig got his teeth punched out
by a happy-slapping henchman while filming a Casino Royale action
scene. And that was just too much for a group of James Bond fans.
They’ve set up CraigNotBond.com, a website that calls for James Bond
fans everywhere to boycott Casino Royale on its release, because:
How can a short, blond actor with the rough face of a professional
boxer and a penchant for playing villains, killers, cranks and cads
pull off the role of a tall, dark, handsome and suave secret agent?
All
of this anti-Daniel Craig hoo-haa doesn’t wash with some folks, though.
And they should know: they’ve all been in James Bond films themselves.
First, Christopher Lee – Scaramanga – defended Daniel Craig by saying:
"There’s
been a lot of nonsense written about him being James Blonde… He’s
already been condemned. People should not pass judgement until they have
seen the film."
And now other James Bond actors have stepped up to say lovely things about Daniel. Pierce Brosnan – who we’d always assumed was a bit bitter about being shown the door to make way for Craig – has gone on-record as saying:
“I think Daniel is a very fine actor. These are rocky waters and they’re going to get him one way or
another, but I think he will have the last laugh at the end of it.”
Last
word, though, should go to Roger Moore, who was James Bond longer than
anyone else, and has shown his dismay at all this James Bond boycott malarkey
with usual confusing panache:
“He’s a helluva good actor, so why attack him?”
Read more:
Former Bond actors come to Craig’s defence – Star E-central
[story by Stuart Heritage]
Wayne says
>>…Roger Moore…has shown his dismay at all this James Bond boycott malarkey with usual confusing panache:
“He’s a helluva good actor, so why attack him?”
Chuck Myntti says
I like Daniel Craig. I can’t think of a better actor to fill Bond’s shoes. If you have any question about him filling similar roles, watch L4yerCake. It’s a very good action adventure flick. He was also in Lara Croft Tomb Raider. You can’t compare him to the other Bonds. My favorite Bond was George Lazenby. He was much better than any of the other Bonds. Timothy Dalton sucked. He was way too stiff. When Pierce Brosnan did his first Bond, he was so young, he looked and appeared to be a school boy playing dress up. It wasn’t until his 3rd or 4th Bond film that he actully relaxed into the role. So let’s give Daniel Craig a chance. I think he’ll please us all as the new Bond. Go watch L4yerCake. See for yourselves.
Rob says
A small bunch of morons pretending to be James Bond fans don’t like the look of Daniel Craig, so they say they’re not going to watch the film. Idiots. Craig’s a brilliant actor and an excellent casting choice for Bond – hopefully the film will be great. I’ll have to actually watch it to make an informed judgement though, something that these cretins don’t seem to understand is fundamental to having a credible opinion.
But then again, I thought Timothy Dalton was pretty good, so what do I know?
Oh, and I agree with Wayne: what is confusing about Sir Rog’s comment?
JH says
The movie was great. A different kind of Bond film than what’s been done recently, but I loved it. Craig is a new kind of Bond, one unlike the more recent ones, and he filled the role perfectly. See it. After that you have earned your right to complain.