Base Breaker: Fans are divided. Some loved his hard-edged portrayal of Bond; others agreed with Roger Moore's assessment that the role was too preposterous to be taken seriously.
Vindicated by History: His taciturn, violent portrayal of Bond is now considered to be almost prophetic, as it heralded Daniel Craig's rendition of the character by nearly twenty years. At the time, most viewers had grown comfortable with Roger Moore's lighthearted Bond.