Iconic Characters Part 4 - page 2

7 months ago 15th Apr 14:25

2. James Bond
Played by Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig.

Our hunt for the best cinema icons would not be complete without the inclusion of James Bond who has become one of the most enduring action stars.

And an icon he is with his appeal lasting almost sixty years. Created by Ian Fleming 007 has been portrayed in a series of novels, films, comics and video games. But it's perhaps his box office pilling power that has cemented his status as an all British action hero.

Over the years the character of Bond has been portrayed by six different actors Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and most recently Daniel Craig.

Sean Connery's James Bond was introduced in 1962 with Doctor No where Bond is sent to Jamaica to investigate the death of a British Agent.

As well as an action hero Bond was suave and sophisticated with a keen interest in women and over the years a string of beautiful women have played the love interest for 007.

Bond was a huge hit, popularising the genre of the action movie, as audiences were taken in by elaborate car chases, guns, gadgets and girls.

With every film the stunts and action sequences became more daring as technology advanced and each actor brought different aspects of Bond's character to the screen as Ian Fleming's novels, which included Live and Let Die,

Moonraker, From Russia With Love and Goldfinger were turned into a highly successful franchise.

But it's the recent incarnation of Bond, played by Daniel Craig, that has had the most success. released in 2006 Casino Royale went on to become the highest grossing Bond film of all time.

The film goes back to the very first Ian Fleming novel with Bond just receiving 00 status.

It's perhaps Casino Royale that confirms Bond as the action her gone are the elaborate gadgets and in it's place it Bond's raw power and physical prowess, a side we have never seen before. And with Quantum of Solace at the end of last year, which was another box office hit, Bond still has some serious legs.

1. Darth Vader
Played by David Prowse
Voiced by James Earl Jones

Darth Vader is one of cinema's most iconic and enduring villains and, in the original trilogy, is the Dark Lord of the Sith and the head enforcer of the Galactic Empire's rule.

In A New Hope the Empire's power is strong and they are fighting a longstanding war with the Rebel Alliance, who want to free the galaxy.

Vader capture Princess Leia and destroys her home planet of Aldaaran before duelling with Obi-Wan Kenobi killing him.

In The Empire Strikes Back Vader reveals himself to be Luke's father and offer Luke the chance of ruling the galaxy together by overthrowing Palpatine.

By Return of the Jedi both Vader and Palpatine try to turn Luke to the Dark Side. Palpatine unleashes a force of lightening on Luke and after begging his father for help Vader turns on his master throwing him into the Death Star's reactor core.

But in the process he is fatally wounded.

In the most recent trilogy Darth Vader's origins are explored as Anakin Skywalker falls to the Dark Side.

After a battle with Obi-Wan, which he loses limbs, he fall into lava and is almost burned to death before being rescued by Palpatine. To save his life he is placed in a black armoured suit and mask.

Anakin was married to the heavily pregnant Padme, who he chokes unconscious, she dies after giving birth to Luke and Leia.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw