As a lot of experts say, Timothy Dalton is the most "Fleming Like" James Bond, ever on the silver screen. Though Dalton was a last minute pick over Pierce Brosnan, who couldn't get out of his contract with NBC, he did the job with flying colors. He read about Bond through the Ian Fleming books, finding out exactly what James Bond did best.
Dalton gave the look of an overworked assassin, which Fleming painted in words. Dalton's look gave a crueler look then any of the other Bonds. This was a change from the over humored Roger Moore, and the sci-fi plastic stuff that Moore did. Dalton brought back believablitly.
Timothy Dalton was origianlly considered for the part way back in 1971. He would have been rather young, but didn't want to sidetrack his emerging career on stage and on the silver screen.