Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Who was the best James Bond?
Position‹2 of 6›
Daniel Craig was the best James Bond
Argument1 of 3›

Daniel Craig resurrected Bond

Before Craig, the future of the franchise looked shaky.

The argument

Craig rejuvenated the franchise. He took the character away from Pierce Brosnan’s unbelievable, glossy spy, (with shoddy CGI) and gave it a vulnerable, gritty side for the modern viewer. He gave the character more realism because let’s face it, if you had spent your career having empty sex and killing people, you might be a little jaded and vulnerable. Roger Moore famously told Time magazine that he believes Craig’s portrayal of 007 has ensured another 50 years of Bond movies.

Context

After Pierce Brosnan’s poor showing in Die Another Day, Bond was on shaky ground. The character didn't appeal to modern viewers. The wildly fantastic element was too unbelievable for modern viewers to relate to.

Premises

[P1]Before Craig, the Bond franchise had become glossy and unbelievable, losing relevance for modern audiences. [P2] Craig reinvented Bond with vulnerability, grit, and psychological realism suited to a character hardened by violence and empty intimacy. [P3] This reinvention revitalized the franchise, with even Roger Moore crediting Craig for securing Bond's future for another 50 years. [C] Therefore, Daniel Craig was the best James Bond because he resurrected and future-proofed the character.

Counter-arguments

But Craig's modern Bond goes against the spirit of James Bond. He is not supposed to be dark, vulnerable, and broody. He is supposed to be witty, humorous, and refined. The producers and writers even seemed to detect this. In Craig’s most recent outing as Bond, in Spectre, writers try to return to the original spirit of Bond. There is a villainous henchman, new innovative gadgets, gags, humour, one-liners, and a car chase.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] Bond is not meant to be believable or modern.