Your Favorite Bond Is.....

Your Favorite Bond Is.....

The votes have been cast and tabulated in The World of Bond's Which Bond Is Your Favorite contest.  For some this may be one of the most significant elections of the 21st Century (For James Bond Fans that is).  Our readers were asked to choose their favorite actor, who played James Bond, from among the Eon Productions' film Bonds; from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig.  Our readers have, overwhelmingly, selected Daniel Craig as their favorite Bond Actor.

What does Craig's selection tell us about the modern Bond audience?  It may reveal that the modern Bond fan appreciates the dramatic, gritty, course that the series has embarked upon since Craig's elevation to the role with 2006's Casino Royale.  It may be evidence that the current crop of Bond fans are traditionalists that harken for the three dimensional, flawed character of the Ian Fleming novels and short stories founded on a bedrock of strong spy stories, rather than the the two dimensional Roger Moorish character films that degenerated into formula films relying too heavily on one liners, gadgets, and gimmickry.  Craig, in only three film installments, delivers this traditional Bond for the new age.

This selection of Daniel Craig is not a huge surprise when one looks at the financial and critical success garnered by Skyfall, the 23rd installment in the James Bond movie series, and the most successful by any standards used to measure success.   It is also not a surprise when one looks at the current actor and winner who, to some, not only plays Bond but is Bond.   Despite the early skepticism over the selection of Craig as Pierce Brosnan's replacement, he quickly won the attention of fans, film critics and the broader movie audience by playing the role with believable grit, intelligence, and masculine sex appeal.  Perhaps it was Craig's training on the British stage, television, and films that prepared him to fill the role so adeptly.  Regardless, as we approach the 24th installment of the franchise and rumors of the return of Sam Mendes as the film's Director and the casting of the beautiful, Penelope Cruz as the latest "Bond Girl" circulate, one thing is for certain, Daniel Craig will return as James Bond.

On an additional note, the beloved and iconic Sean Connery was the runner up in our reader poll.  There is no doubt, had he not made such a indelible contribution towards launching the film franchise and molding our impression of Bond, there would have been no place for any of the other five actors who filled his very large shoes.  Thank you, Sir!