The James Bond: Daniel Craig

October 8, 2021 

I personally do not know what I could possibly add to the fact that the British actor Daniel Craig is unquestionably the best James Bond to date. Starting from Casino Royale (2006), Daniel Craig presented a different Bond from what we previously saw in the older instalments; and the interesting thing is that he didn't have to depend solely on his talent and solid screen presence because unlike the previous Bond movies, the Daniel Craig movies have thankfully benefitted from modern technology which made these Bond instalments much more realistic, raw, affective, and humanely genuine.

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The shockingly right formula of storylines, actors, directors, action sequences and dialogues – amongst others – has helped Craig shine better than others in the role of James Bond. One of the main and most striking factors in these movies of the famous British spy – with a license to kill – is the factor of humanity. He is portrayed as a human before all; he is not mainly a killing machine, and that's why he disobeys and deviates from the norms so much more than his colleagues. And because of his resilience and because he gets the job done no matter what, he has been a favourite in the field for too long. From when we first meet Bond – Daniel Craig – in Casino Royale (2006) to the upcoming – and final instalment – No Time To Die (2021), we simply move through time with both the notorious character and the well-established actor to witness them not only getting older, but also getting more wise, more real, more human and more challenged than ever!

The humanistic aspect that Daniel Craig painted the character with is mainly why he is the favourite Bond for millions of fans. There is this raw but subtle attitude that he hasn’t forced onto the character, but instead it is emanating from the actor himself and has been casting its shadow over the character of Bond for more than ten years now. It is as if both of them are actually the same character but divided into two human entities! That astounding merge between the two characters - Bond and Craig - is only a valid evidence that the British actor is almost impossible to replace after he created such a legacy by presenting a James Bond that's more relatable and authentic than what we could’ve ever asked for!

No Time To Die (2021)

The focus on his intimate relations, his equations with others, flexible reactions and past traumas comes hand in hand with the reality that he's already well-known to be this brilliant and unmatched agent who gets the job done. But his life and psychology has never been genuinely explored before in a way that'll intrigue the spectator. His relationship with Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale for instance was one of the most iconic storylines ending with her death. So his conflicted psychology and inner struggles don’t only stem from his major childhood trauma – the death of his parents; but over the course of four storylines, we get to see that there is much more to Bond than the interesting spy facade he's most famous for.

Mr. White tells Bond in Spectre (2015) that ''the word of an assassin'' won't simply suffice; but quite the opposite actually, Bond is not a mere, random assassination machine; M says that ''a license to kill is also a license not to kill'' and Daniel Craig's Bond is the perfect personification of this statement. His skills and field experience are indeed there and subtly present in every scene, but they're not extravagantly displayed or highlighted with no reason. He is an overall authentic human being with loads of - unusual - life experiences and uncommon skills!

Daniel Craig as The Famous Agent

No Time To Die (2021)

The word assassin could've been perfectly over deployed in the movies but the famous spy is not just an assassin with no aim or purpose; he doesn't follow the orders blindly when he doubts the results or consequences. Instead, he mainly follows his instincts – and the people he trusts as well - especially when the situation is highly dubious and not very straightforward. And most importantly he kills only when necessary or when his life is in danger.

Bond's relation with Vesper Lynd – her death and prior to that her betraying him - was the first step towards shaping his whole future; after her death, his trust levels dropped rapidly; he doesn’t trust anyone anymore – apart from M I guess - and it takes him literally years and years to find the one: Dr. Madeleine Swan.

Bond & Dr. Madeleine Swan

Dr. Swan is nothing like his first love, Vesper – but there are still some similarities! Both of them have their own secrets for instance, and the big secret of Dr. Swan is awaiting to be revealed in No Time To Die. Franz Oberhauser tells Bond that ''when her secret finds its way out, it'll be the death of you''. Madeleine however is highly unlikely to betray Bond – not deliberately anyway.

No Time To Die (2021)

The connection between James and Madeleine in Spectre happened through her dying father who led Bond to find and save her. She has seen fragments of the dangerous espionage world through her years growing up as her father's daughter. Consequently, when Bond appears her way, it seems as though she has been waiting for him. She helps him – a lot – and he protects her. And during this mutually beneficial relation, they fall in love.

And even though it's nearly impossible for them to have a normal life – because of their pasts and concealed secrets – they must try to find a way out! I think an ending like The Dark Knight Rises (2012) would be most fit for their love story. Bond cannot possibly continue to serve his country forever; and after he found Madeleine, she is his perfect way out of this world – smoothly and for good.

 

Spectre (2015)

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