DANIEL CRAIG

The Post-Bourne Bond

Enter Daniel Craig, a possible contender for my equal favourite Bond.

Firstly, I'd like to give a shout out to director Martin Campbell, responsible for both GoldenEye and Casino Royale, the debut films for Brosnan and Craig respectively. What's the common factor there? Give a brilliant director a pair of brilliant actors and you end up with two of the best films in the series and both saviours of the franchise given the uncertain position Licence to Kill and Die Another Dayrespectively left it in.

Let's get the obvious out of the way. Daniel Craig is a Bond for the post-Jason Bourne world. You can see that in his first film's prologue. The fighting is now more visceral, efficient and realistic, and the narrative places a much greater emphasis on Bond's emotional state and character development.

And I believe this was for the best. Looking at the plots of Craig's five films as a collective, they are much more contemporary and realistic - and, yes, mundane, if you prefer the cheesy camp of the Connery and Moore eras. But really, would moviegoing audiences positively receive something as fantastical as Moonraker nowadays? Contrast against the Craig stories, which include a coup in Bolivia to control a natural resource (inspired by a real life event no less), and the ever-relevant issue of mass surveillance.

Does Craig have any weaknesses? Well, like Dalton, he doesn't lean too heavily on comedy. Not that he doesn't have his moments, but Roger Moore this ain't. He also doesn't land a Bond girl with each movie - in fact, his first one dies, the second he doesn't romantically connect with at all, and the third winds up being his next true love only for them to separate. Given all that, you can't blame the guy for being quiet and moody.

And that is where he excels, much like Matt Damon as Jason Bourne. Daniel Craig is physically intimidating and yet can turn around and sell some of the best emotional moments in the series. Especially over the death of Vesper in the first film and the realization of his imminent death in the fifth.

Casino Royale (2006)

Coming soon!

Quantum of Solace (2008)

Coming soon!

Skyfall (2012)

Coming soon!

Specter (2015)

Coming soon!

No Time To Die (2021)

Coming soon!