From Connery and Craig to Michael Scott and Cookie Monster: Who’s the best 007?

We know the title: Bond. James Bond. But in 2021, now we have to ask ourselves: What does the "007" moniker even imply lately?

With the lavish No Time To Die sending off Daniel Craig's tackle the legendary MI6 agent this weekend, it may be overwhelming to think about not simply Craig's affect on the position however the impressions left by so many Bonds earlier than him. Yes, there's the age-old debate of which good-looking actor performed the tremendous spy finest: Craig, Connery, Lazenby, Dalton, Brosnan, Niven, or Moore?

But the extra attention-grabbing angle, it appears, will be discovered within the query of "best Bond" itself. More than 68 years in, how we outline what makes a Bond higher than different Bonds speaks to not simply the character's literal narrative however to the influence the franchise is having with movie-goers throughout generations. How is 007 shaping our world — and, extra importantly, is it for good or evil?

Staring down the promise of a brand new Bond casting someday quickly, we determined to swap intelligence on our favourite Bonds, going past the identical ol' suspects to toss in a couple of wild playing cards.

George Lazenby as James Bond (On Her Majesty's Secret Service)

Any case for George Lazenby as one of the best Bond is known as a case for On Her Majesty's Secret Service as one of the best Bond film, since that was Lazenby's solely Bond film. 

Let's evaluate: It's obtained a primary theme that slaps mightily and likewise maybe one of the best decades-later remix of mentioned theme. It's wall-to-wall '60s mod tradition style sense and trippy visuals. Telly Savalas — Kojak himself! — is the villainous Bond nemesis Blofeld, and his look on this film was the inspiration for Austin Powers' nemesis, Dr. Evil. There are additionally a number of gunfights that unfold on skis, with one the place Lazenby's Bond by accident invents snowboarding after considered one of his skis will get shot and he ditches it. 

It needs to be mentioned that the misogyny issue is sort of excessive on this Bond. At one level, Lazenby repeatedly slaps a girl (who admittedly has a gun pointed at him) as a part of an interrogation that shortly transforms into foreplay. Later, he sleeps with two ladies in a single evening, each underneath false pretenses. Not nice! But he additionally, considerably not directly, pays for these transgressions with one of many largest gut-punch Bond endings within the sequence historical past. He falls in love with the lady he slapped earlier and goes off to dwell his completely happy ending in a post-MI6 life. But a vengeful Blofeld finds them and phases a shock drive-by that leaves Bond a grieving widower. Still problematic in a couple of methods, clearly — however narratively talking it stays one of many wildest Bond endings to this point. — Adam Rosenberg, Senior Entertainment Reporter

Timothy Dalton as James Bond (Living Daylights via Licence to Kill)

"In my business, you prepare for the unexpected."
Credit: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis through Getty Image

Taking on the position of Bond after 12 years of Roger Moore nearly winking straight down the digital camera was a major process. But Dalton’s contemporary depth paved the way in which for the likes of Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig to maneuver the character again right into a (barely) darker mindset, affected by years of service to MI6, the fact of that license to kill changing into a bit of heavier.

Only taking part in Bond for 2 movies, The Living Daylights and License to Kill, Dalton is at his finest when he’s doing cool spy shit — whether or not yelling “We’ve nothing to declare” to a border guard whereas tobogganing via the Austrian border on a cello case, or getting his license to kill revoked and going utterly rogue agent. Parachuting into Felix Leiter’s wedding ceremony in License to Kill is a supremely nice BFF second, however kissing his spouse on the reception isn’t one of the best. 

Unfortunately, Dalton is fairly romantically tacky as Bond and appears genuinely uncomfortable when he’s attempting to be clean — the carnival sequence in The Living Daylights is so painful. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Pierce Brosnan as James Bond (Goldeneye via Die Another Day)

"One rises to meet a challenge."
Credit: Keith Hamshere / Getty Images

Pierce Brosnan is the Bond most millennials (and probably Xennials) image after they consider this iconic little bit of IP, and never simply due to the thousands and thousands of hours misplaced to GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo 64. Brosnan is classically good-looking, even fairly, in a means that none of his older counterparts ever achieved (with apologies to my fellow Australian, George Lazenby, and his chin dimple); when folks underneath 50 muse concerning the qualities required to step into Bond's costume brogues, I assure you that they are picturing Idris Elba or Regé-Jean Page in Brosnan's arch, glossy pose, not Daniel Craig's lumbering gruffness.

His four-film run, from 1995's Goldeneye to 2002's Die Another Day, crystallises the franchise's MO in a scrumptious stew of high-octane cheese, glossy set items, unattainable devices, and gorgeous, succesful ladies with names that hark again to the best-worst of the classic period — from Famke Janssen's killer-quads queen Xenia Onatopp to Denise Richards' Dr. Christmas Jones.

Brosnan single-handedly, if belatedly, carried the Bond model out of the stale Cold War conflicts that had powered it for the reason that 60s, and did so with a self-effacing magnificence that by no means cramped his smirking, environment friendly shoot-em-up model. The man fenced with Madonna and did a handbrake flip in a tank, for God's sake. The final Bond earlier than the Dark And Gritty Reboot was the proper stability of basic and (comparatively) fashionable, and his shadow nonetheless lingers over no matter comes subsequent. — Caitlin Welsh, Australia Editor

Daniel Craig as James Bond (Casino Royale via No Time To Die)

“A gun and a radio. Not exactly Christmas, is it?”
Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Eon Productions

I've by no means recognized a lot with, or aspired a lot to be like, any James Bond. Daniel Craig alternatively, bought us a extra relatable, gritty, visceral, action-oriented Bond. One that I feel I might be nearer to, realistically. Less snobby and polished and refined; somebody I may possibly cross paths with.

The Craig motion pictures additionally, in my view, like Casino Royale, Spectre, and many others. are noticeably darker — visually and thematically. Daniel Craig brings to James Bond what Heath Ledger delivered to the Joker. When I first noticed Craig within the position, I used to be hooked. Like, double-O my goodness, this man is cool.

When it involves aggressive, lifelike motion sequences, Daniel Craig additionally comes off as essentially the most badass, however we owe main props to the film magicians behind the digital camera for making him look so good. But yeah, he is far more badass than the earlier tacky, snobby, outdated Bonds. — Matt Orsini, PR Manager

Lashana Lynch as "The New 007" aka Nomi (No Time To Die)

"It's only a number."
Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Eon Productions

Historically talking, James Bond is a person of extra. Too many fits, too many martinis, too many bullets, and many others. So it is no surprise that when the going will get robust, like actually robust, he tends to be in dire straits for assets. Namely, 007 is all the time out of time.

Start up any ultimate act of any Bond movie, and you will find that the window for successful is closing. And what's worse? Bond has obtained only one ultimate shot to set issues proper. It's underneath these excessive circumstances — no padding, no do-over — that Lashana Lynch brings "the new 007" Nomi to life in No Time To Die. She's an exquisitely efficient character who, even with out sharing the Bond title, exudes the icon's suave endurance. With a restricted quantity of display time and no promise of a sequel to proceed constructing her character, Lynch leaves all of it out the sector — delivering tight fight and a charismatic persona that scream spin-off franchise. She guidelines, full-stop.

But that is greater than a fantastic efficiency: Nomi paves the way in which for different actors who aren't good-looking white cis dudes to take a shot on the 007 title. As the primary Black girl named 007, Lynch has damaged progressive floor in a franchise riddled with problematic old-world views. Here's hoping MGM provides her the starring 007 position she deserves, someday quickly. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

Cookie Monster as Sesame Street's "Double-Stuffed 7"

Did Sean Connery fend off airborne chickens? No. Would Pierce Brosnan’s eyeballs spin chaotically throughout motion sequences? No. Was Daniel Craig’s theatrical motivation fueled by a soul-level love of cookies? Honestly I don’t know. Only a single James Bond can say sure to the entire above. And that Bond is Monster. Cookie Monster.

It feels journalistically vital to confess that I've seen precisely one James Bond film. I rented Quantum of Solace from a Redbox in Pittsburgh and fell asleep for the ultimate half-hour. But I do know Muppets. So when an opportunity comes to assert a Muppet as one of the best something, I'm THERE.

And whereas The Spy Who Loved Cookies just isn't technically Bond canon, Cookie Monster as Double Stuffed Seven definitely deserved consideration as one of the best suave undercover agent. His blue fur pops in a tux, he learns vital classes about listening to instructions, and he doesn’t shrink back from a pun. If I discovered one factor from the 74 minutes of Quantum of Solace I watched, it’s that extra puns would’ve helped. 

(Please don’t yell at me on the web for this take. All Muppets deserve their very own function movies. Give me Oscar the Grouch as an Avenger already, you cowards.) — Annie Colbert, Executive Editor

Daniel Craig as Saturday Night Live's "Party Bond"

While Daniel Craig brings numerous suave depth to the position of James Bond, this Saturday Night Live sketch is the place he actually shines. In a pleasant flip of occasions, his usually hardened exterior provides option to giddy pleasure when he retains successful at a Las Vegas craps desk. Soon, everybody within the room, from outdated women to bachelor celebration members, is rooting for 007, a lot to the consternation of the agent making an attempt to talk to him.

Sure, it’s solely a 3 minute sketch, however there’s one thing so thrilling about Bond letting unfastened and having enjoyable for as soon as. Craig absolutely commits to the bit, showboating for the on line casino crowds earlier than declaring himself “Simba, King of the Jungle!” and singing a little bit of "Circle of Life." Heck, he even forgoes his conventional martini (shaken, not stirred, clearly), for a pint glass of vodka and Red Bull.

It’s a ridiculous subversion of Bond tropes, however Craig by no means loses sight of the character. It’s an ideal parody of Bond, and Craig will get main props for not being afraid to ship up considered one of his largest roles and knocking it out of the park. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Writer

The Office's Michael Scott as Threat Level Midnight's "Michael Scarn"

Have I seen a single James Bond film in my 28 years of life? I don’t assume so. And to be sincere, I don’t actually really feel the necessity to. Why? Because I’m positive I've already seen the best Bond of all of them: Steve Carell as Michael Scott as Agent Michael Scarn in his unique movie, Threat Level Midnight. I've little doubt that Sean Connery's unique Bond and Daniel Craig’s latest revival had been nice, however The Office's tackle James Bond merely have to be superior, as a result of Michael Scott has Bond in his blood. Remember that point he effortlessly joked, “I am Bond-fire! James Bond-fire!” This man was born to play Bond.

Not solely did Scott bless us with the distinctive motion film, Threat Level Midnight — a cinematic labor of affection that took over a decade to jot down, forged, movie, and edit — however his efficiency because the Bond-like Agent Scarn was filled with coronary heart and persona. It's additionally value noting that Scarn has his personal track and dance (very cool!) and he was crucially sampled on a Billie Eilish observe BEFORE the teenager wrote and recorded the No Time To Die theme. His affect. A legendary agent. — Nicole Gallucci, Senior Editor

Darrell Hammond's Sean Connery impression for Saturday Night Live

Technically, he is not taking part in James Bond, however bear with me for a minute. In this recurring Saturday Night Live sketch, Darrell Hammond performs Sean Connery as a contestant on Celebrity Jeopardy. Connery will all the time be thought of the quintessential Bond. So Hammond as Connery is actually Hammond as Bond.

And that’s kinda the purpose of the parody. Hammond’s impression imagines Connery with the identical traits that made Bond so iconic, but additionally exaggerated as a crude potty-mouth who peaked when he left the franchise. Instead of in his consolation zone on the blackjack desk, seducing (learn: coercing, however we'll go away that for one more time) a femme fatale, he's on a recreation present within the current day (ish) that has seen a number of waves of feminism, and a complete bunch of different stuff that Hammond's Connery would have discovered about if he had gone to sensitivity coaching.

Hammond’s Connery acts as if he is had a couple of too many martinis shaken-not-stirred. He jokes inappropriately about sleeping with Alex Trebek’s (performed by Will Ferrell) mom. He misreads Jeopardy classes, as sexual references (saying “anal bum cover” as a substitute of “an album cowl.") The result's a drunk uncle vibe who's attempting to relive the glory days. And possibly that is what Bond could be at this time. Arguably, that is the truest imagining of 007. Bond is, in some ways, a personality from a bygone period. And it may be asking an excessive amount of of him to get with the instances. — Cecily Mauran, Tech Writer