Best Bond: Roger Moore in Live and Let Die

Roger Moore became the third man to portray James Bond in Live and Let Die.

Live and Let Die is not a particularly good Bond film. Although Yaphet Kotto is a little bit of fun, and there are some cool moments, like the murderous funeral procession, on a whole the film is rather lackluster. Its attempts in genre bending in almost blacksploitation, and broad comedy involving a hillbilly sheriff just seem odd. The worst part though in Bond terms is that the film just sort of peters out at the end.

Where On Her Majesty's Secret Service took precautions in revealing the change of actor as Bond even having George Lazenby break the fourth wall at the end of his first scene, Roger Moore just shows up as Bond there is not any pomp or circumstance involving this. He just is Bond and so the film goes off with that. Where George Lazenby never really gripped Bond in any sort of way as a character, Roger Moore on the other hand does go about taking on a specific approach as James Bond. His take on Bond is to avoid really any of that darker side that suggests the killer side of the spy game instead focuses on being Bond as just the suave spy.

Moore goes for being as light weight a Bond as possible which just goes for pretty much staying a the tone of the charming Bond who likes to say his quips. Well this approach lies a big problem which is Moore particular attempt at being charismatic. Although Moore does have screen presence, way more than Lazenby, he never has the type of charm that Connery brought to the role so naturally. Where Connery avoided being alienating in his portrayal Moore at times seems to trying for it through his smug approach to Bond. When he shows Bond enjoying himself over his defeat of a baddie or saying a quip he seems laughing entirely to himself without really letting the audience in as Connery did so well.

Moore stays so firm in his portrayal of taking everything in such a light fashion that comes off quite odd whenever he is required to do anything else really. For example when Bond is told he is going to be killed he barely reacts at all, and not in a way like he is too cool to be phased by it either, therefore really making seem like there is no threat in the situation. His Bond never seems like he could die because his performance is so excessively self assured that of course he will get out of every situation alive. This really does not work at all for Bond. Of course Bond is going to live, its James Bond after all, but a key to films like this is to at least create an illusion that he could die something Connery did do, but Moore doesn't even try.

Another moment I found almost hilarious due to Moore's way of portraying it is when he interrogates a false agent by saying basically "Well I'll just have to kill you" he is so nonchalant about the thing it comes of as unintentionally funny. There is no emphasis in his performance he just goes about every scene in that same manner, and the problem is he does not even do the lighter moments that well. He again must make the quips and in this regard he is no match for Connery. He is better at it than Lazenby to a certain degree as at least it seems like he knows why he is saying it, but he is a far cry from Connery which is serious problem as this aspect of Bond is where Moore seems the most at home.

The one aspect where I did feel George Lazenby was decent as Bond was the physical nature of the role. This is actually the worst part of Moore's portrayal of Bond. For a lack of a better way to describe it Moore just never seems particularly into the action. He just kind of fights, and is there but he never seems to really become part of it as Bond really should. He always seems stiff even in the fights, and he just never seems to be fighting for his life in any way. This really makes it so many of the action scenes do not come to life because the man in the center seems frankly disinterested at times. Honestly his inability in these scenes really leave me to question why he continued to go on as Bond since he is not even a good action hero.

Moore continued to be Bond for a record six more films portraying Bond the most times out of any actor (Connery does tie though if you count the non EON Never Say Never Again). I suppose maybe it was easy to make films around him since he plays basically every scene the same way whether it is romantic, espionage, or action related. Maybe the fact that he just stays the same is what allowed the filmmakers to say you know what Bond needs to do, go into space, fight an invincible man with giant metal teeth, and warn everyone about a nuclear bomb with clown make up on. His Bond certainly was consistent, but the problem was he only tried for that light comedic touch in his performances. The problem for is he doesn't even do this particularly well. Yes Moore did take a stand with the character, unlike his predecessor Lazenby, but it was the wrong stand to take.