Broccoli is right

Rating: 8/10 (20 November 2006)

I would not call myself a Bond aficionado, but I have seen all the films, many of them woefully more than once thanks to American television. I'm guilty of the worst of all foibles of Bond fans: I grew up with Sean Connery's Bond, and believed no one could replace him. That is until he replaced himself in Never Say Never Again. Lazenby appeared, for lack of a better word, "uncomfortable." Moore was dramatically two dimensional at best. Dalton had moments in Living Daylights. Brosnan alternately refreshing and annoying. I did not hold much hope for Daniel Craig. I was wrong. While brilliantly cold and merciless, as one has come to expect from the Bond mythology as it has been lifted from Fleming's pages and transposed to the screen, Craig's Bond demonstrates a believable sincerity and vulnerability. Frankly, I was taken completely by surprise. His reading may not be true to all of Fleming's character, but his is more appealing than any Bond I've seen. Period. To the "Craignotbond" clique, I must say I couldn't disagree with you more. As I left the theatre, I was unable to suppress a shiver as I admitted to my companion that the franchise had definitely scored with this Bond. Barbara Broccoli is right. Craig is Bond.