Since "Dr. No" was released in 1962, the James Bond film series has brought in a total box office sum of more than $4 billion dollars. When you adjust those numbers for inflation, we're talking more than $11 billion. When "Quantum of Solace," the 22nd film in the series, is re
leased Friday, that sum will likely go much higher.
What is it about these films inspired by a series of novels by British writer Ian Fleming that keep audiences coming back? The likely answer is Bond himself.
Fleming created Sir James Bond, agent of MI6, the British Secret Intelligence Service, in 1952 while on vacation at his Jamaican estate, aptly named Goldeneye. The char
acter's name came from another James Bond, this one an expert in Caribbean birds and author of "Birds of the West Indies."
Mr. Bond's popularity grew even more once the books were translated to film. Since 1962, six different men have played the super cool chick magnet that is 007. (We won't count the 1967 spoof "Casino Royale," in which four actors played James Bond.) Everyone has a personal favorite, but here's MY take on ranking the Bonds:
leased Friday, that sum will likely go much higher.
What is it about these films inspired by a series of novels by British writer Ian Fleming that keep audiences coming back? The likely answer is Bond himself.
Fleming created Sir James Bond, agent of MI6, the British Secret Intelligence Service, in 1952 while on vacation at his Jamaican estate, aptly named Goldeneye. The char
acter's name came from another James Bond, this one an expert in Caribbean birds and author of "Birds of the West Indies."
Mr. Bond's popularity grew even more once the books were translated to film. Since 1962, six different men have played the super cool chick magnet that is 007. (We won't count the 1967 spoof "Casino Royale," in which four actors played James Bond.) Everyone has a personal favorite, but here's MY take on ranking the Bonds:
6. George Lazenby
BOND RESUME: 1969: "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"
BEST FILM: Lazenby's best film is his only film. In this one, Bond takes on Blofeld, who plans toon unleashing a plague on the world through his "angels of death."
WHAT MAKES HIM COOL: Hmmm, nothing.
5. Timothy Dalton
BOND RESUME: 1987-89: "The Living Daylights" and "Licence to Kill"
BEST FILM: 1989's "Licence to Kill" featured Dalton going after Robert Davi's Franz Sanchez, the most powerful drug kingpin in all of Latin America. Because of legal issues following screenwriter Richard Maibaum's death, this would be the last Bond film for six years.
WHAT MAKES HIM COOL: Well, this is a tough one. Replacing a longtime Bond is a hard job. Dalton's predecessor was Roger Moore. For Lazenby, it was Sean Connery. And, much like Lazenby, Dalton's run as Bond was largely uneventful.
4. Roger Moore
BOND RESUME: 1973-85: "Live and Let Die," "The Man with the Golden Gun," "The Spy Who Loved Me," "Moonraker," "For Your Eyes Only," "Octopussy" and "A View To Kill"
BEST FILM: Roger Moore had plenty of good Bond films under his belt, but 1977's "The Spy Who Loved Me" could top the list. Bond takes on recluse Stromberg, who plans to destroy the world and create a new one under water. "Spy" featured one of Bond's best villains, the ginormous metal-toothed Jaws played by Richard Kiel.
WHAT MAKES HIM COOL: Moore took over as Bond just as the films started taking a turn for the cartoonish. But Moore played the role to the fullest and starred in some of the most memorable films in the series.
3. Pierce Brosnan
BOND RESUME: 1995-2002: "GoldenEye," "Tomorrow Never Dies," "The World is Not Enough" and "Die Another Day"
BEST FILM: Brosnan peaked in his first film, 1995's "GoldenEye." Bond must stop the Janus crime syndicate, which it turns out is led by another double-0 agent played brilliantly by Sean Bean.
WHAT MAKES HIM COOL: OK, his films might not have been the greatest, but Brosnan can be credited with breathing life back into the Bond franchise. Brosnan was an absolute natural and wore the 007 tag like a broken-in suit. When you throw in the advancements in special effects that Brosnan's films were able to use, you have yourself box-office gold.
2. Sean Connery
BOND RESUME: 1962-67, 1971, 1983: "Dr. No," "From Russia With Love," "Goldfinger," "Thunderball," "You Only Live Twice," and "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Never Say Never Again"
BEST FILM: Connery's best film could also be the best overall Bond film, as well. The 1964 movie "Goldfinger" pits Bond against gold smuggler Auric Goldfinger as he attempts to go
nuclear on Fort Knox. "Goldfinger" has a special place in my heart for introducing one of the coolest bad guys ever put on film, Harold Sakata's Oddjob.
WHAT MAKES HIM COOL: What didn't make Connery cool as Bond? If the slick, smooth-talking, martini-drinking Bond is your bag, it doesn't get any better than Connery.
1. Daniel CraigBOND RESUME: 2006-present: "Casino Royale" and "Quantum of Solace"
BEST FILM: "Solace" will be officially released Friday, but 2006's "Royale" rebooted the entire
Bond franchise, and I think the series has never been better.
WHAT MAKES HIM COOL: I'm sure I'll read about this in my inbox, but I'm going to go on
record and label Daniel Craig as the best Bond ever. Craig is the baddest Bond for sure. After a slew of Bonds in middle-aged-dad shape, we finally have a 007 to be feared.
PHOTO: Originalprop.com and Sony Pictures
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