James Bond Headliners of 2008
Mathieu Amalric will play the sinister villain Dominic Greene.
Olga Kurylenko will play the main Bond girl part of Camille. She will nurse Bond's damaged heart after the death of Vesper.
Gemma Arterton will be assisting Bond. She plays the part of Agent Fields. This most likely will lead to a double entendre when Bond mentions to 'M' that he has been 'working in the field'.
A set of stamps to mark the centenary of James Bond creator Ian Fleming's birth have been launched.
They feature cover designs from six of Fleming's famous 007 novels. These are Casino Royale, Dr No, Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, For Your Eyes Only and From Russia With Love.
Actress Samantha Bond, who played Miss Moneypenny in several Bond films alongside Pierce Brosnan, posed beside an Aston Martin DB6 to publicise the new collection.
Royal Mail head of special stamps Julietta Edgar said: "It is estimated that over half the world's population have heard of James Bond which is an incredible testament to the imagination of his creator, Ian Fleming.
"I'm delighted to see that the most famous super-spy is once again in the service of Queen and country and will be appearing on millions of items of post."
The Ian Fleming collection of James Bond stamps has gone on sale in Post Office branches and online.
In 1990, before he passed on the reins of the James Bond franchise to his daughter Barbara and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson, the legendary movie honcho Albert “Cubby” Broccoli offered this piece of advice: “This is the golden goose, and don’t let them screw it up. It’s fine for you guys to screw it up, because it’s your baby, but don’t give in to someone else.”
Barbara, now 47, says that she found this advice, this emphasis on family and on daring to change, ultimately liberating.
The proof of this creative freedom can be found in a reinvented action brand that has ridden the waves of rumour and speculation to produce a 21st-century movie series – one that began with Daniel Craig’s tougher introspective Bond in Casino Royaleand will continue on November 8 with the release of the follow-up, currently titled Bond 22. Bond-watching is, of course, a mildly hysterical media pursuit and every snippet of news reported with gusto: Bond girls revealed! Bond shoots in Barbican Centre! Bond stamps exposed! This puts the intensely private Barbara in that contradictory position of being both in and outside the spotlight.
Born in 1960, two years before the release of Dr No, she spent much of her life growing up on far-flung film sets. Here was a childhood, it seems, permeated by a man who does not exist. “I thought James Bond was a real person until I was 6 or 7,” she has said. “He was like this mysterious relative who people talked about. You were always waiting for him to arrive at Christmas.” She eventually succumbed to the dream and, after a stint at LA’s Loyola University, devoted her professional life to the task of bringing the childhood phantasm to life.
This emphasis on family, on lineage and continuity is crucial to the Bond franchise and the weight of the Broccoli name. In fact, at times the name seems unduly heavy for her, and she insists on doing all interviews with Wilson – her senior both in age and in production experience. She is reluctant, it seems, to let the name alone do the talking. Which is ironic, considering her brand. “You know the name. You know the number,” ran the tagline for Goldeneye.
Her choices, and those of Wilson, for the rebooted Bond franchise have been impeccable. The hiring of Oscar-winning screenwriter Paul Haggis ( Crash) was a masterstroke. Casting a simmering actor such as Craig was a smart move in a film industry enamoured of a high-kicking hustler called Jason Bourne. But torturing Bond on camera, in particular thwacking his exposed gonads with a rope, showed that the franchise had emerged in our geopolitical reality. “The world has become a more dangerous place,” said Barbara, who’s married to the producer Frederick Zollo and has a 15-year-old daughter. It is, it seems, the job of the Bond franchise to reflect that, to entertain us and to prove that nobody does it better.
Olga Kurylenko attending a red carpet event.
Vic Flick working in his studio (Courtesy of www.flicks.com).
The title is taken from one of a collection of short stories in the book FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, published by 007 creator Ian Fleming in 1960.
The new film, which will see Daniel Craig reprise his role as the iconic British agent, will also feature Ukrainian actress Olga Kurylenko. The next outing is the 22nd in the Bond franchise, and is partly being shot at Pinewood Studios.
At
a press conference at the facility, reporters were shown a minute of footage
from the new film, including Bond swinging on a rope after an explosion at an
art gallery in Siena, Italy. Another scene showed him meeting M - played
by Dame Judi Dench - outside in the snow. Daniel Craig is back as James Bond in Quantum of Solace
Co-producer Michael G Wilson said "We thought it was an intriguing title
and referenced what is happening to Bond and what happens in the film," he
told reporters.
According to the synopsis, Bond girl Camille, played by Ukrainian-born Olga
Kurylenko, leads the secret agent to Dominic Greene, member of a mysterious
organisation called "Greene Planet" and a ruthless businessman,
seeking to control huge natural resources.
The plot follows on directly from "Casino Royale", as Bond aims to
uncover the truth about Vesper, the beauty who betrayed him. He discovers that
she was blackmailed by Greene's organisation.
"James Bond is after revenge, and Camille is after revenge. They have
slightly different goals, but in the end they are going to have to
collaborate," Kurylenko told reporters. Kurylenko is currently still in
training for her role, but has yet to shoot any scenes. "I'm doing weapons
training and body flight training for aerial scenes and stunt work for
fighting," she continued. "My days are so long, and it's very
physical. She's a fighter. This girl is going to kick ass. She's on her own
mission and she's driven by revenge.
Wilson said "Quantum" contains about twice as many action sequences as
"Casino Royale" which was praised for relying less on gadgets and
special effects and making Bond more realistic and vulnerable.
The villain Greene is played by Frenchman Mathieu Amalric, who starred in the
Oscar-nominated "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly". He said he drew
inspiration from several European political leaders.
"I was trying to see the smile of Tony Blair, maybe Nicolas Sarkozy -- it's
the worst villain we ever had," he said.
British actress Judi Dench is back as Bond's boss M. "The thing about James
Bond, isn't it that it appeals to an incredible cross section of people?"
she said. "The appeal for my grandson's is fantastic and ... for their
fathers too."
On a tour of the main Bond set at Pinewood, journalists were shown 3 stages, all
of them set in the Italian city of Siena. In the largest, two actors including
Craig's stunt double, swung from ropes and fought in an old art gallery.
The title most likely will get fans to look up the definition of "Quantum" which means "a large quantity and "Solace" which means "comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or trouble; alleviation of distress or discomfort".
The original story by Fleming actually has OO7 attending a dinner party and listening to a story about a married couple and the sorrows they brought on to each other. It is the only Fleming short story where Bond is literally a third person and does not partake in any form of the adventure.
For nearly 25 years, Bond fans wondered if other short stories by Fleming would ever be used in the film series. Short story titles such as The Hildebrand Rarity, Risico, and Quantum of Solace seemed too ignoble to pass for a Bond movie. However, with the popularity of Casino Royale, the centennial of Fleming's birth, and perhaps the brilliance of Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, Quantum of Solace is more acceptable today than droll titles such as Tomorrow Never Dies.
James Bond could be set for a dressing down if new 007 star Daniel Craig has anything to do with it.
The
hunky actor, 39, who is current filming the new James Bond film "Quantum Of
Solace", is apparently a huge fan of baseball boots - and thinks they would
give the action hero an edge when escaping the baddies. Daniel
is quoted in the Daily Express as saying: "Put me in a pair of Converse All
Star baseball boots and I'm happy. They're great for working out in; they make
you run better."
And it seems his obsession knows no bounds, as he
admitted his collection was quite extensive: "I have them in every colour
and pattern imaginable. But just plain and simple cream ones will always be my
favourite."
Fans should maybe keep an eye out for a new look 'casual' Bond in the
forthcoming installment, currently codenamed Bond 22.
Sony released the first of perhaps many promotional posters for the OO7 film "QUANTUM OF SOLACE". The poster is getting some mixed reviews around the Internet but overall has been received favorably.
The shadow effect is supposed to tell us that Bond is still not completely the man we have come to know and love. That there is some unfinished business left to be done.
I personally love the shadow effect since that is what you see at the end of Casino Royale before he says his famous line, "My name is Bond, James Bond."
Daniel
Craig hates camera phones - because he can never go to the toilet in peace.
The
James Bond star is happy to meet fans and sign autographs but draws the line at
being photographed when he is trying to relieve himself.
Daniel
said: "People try to take pictures of me when I'm having a p**s and it's
not welcome and never will be.
"I
have to keep hold of my sense of humour, because you can lose it very quickly
and start retreating into yourself - then you can't go anywhere unless you're
with armed guards."
Daniel
has a history of griping about his fans.
The
'Quantum of Solace' star recently revealed he wears a false beard to the pub to
stop people recognising him.
He said: "I wish, sometimes, I could just go sit and spend the afternoon in the pub. Well, you know, if I'm quiet and I wear a hat, a pair of sunglasses and a false beard, I could probably get away with it.
Connery had problems with the press during the making of You Only Live Twice. One photojournalist snapped his picture while he was sitting on the toilet. This prompted the producers to get more security.
He'll be driving around town in his Aston Martin but when it comes to jetting off to different countries, James Bond will be catching Virgin Atlantic
Sir Richard Branson confirmed that his airline carrier will be featured once again in the new 007 movie Quantum of Solace
“Virgin
Atlantic and James Bond make a great partnership - slick, smooth and renowned
the world over. Casino Royale propelled Bond to greater success and we’re
certain that Quantum of Solace will set an even higher standard,” the Daily
Snack quoted him, as saying.
Branson
himself appeared in the last 007 movie in a cameo role.
Virgin will also be a global partner for the new flick and will be supporting its release with a series of promotional and marketing initiatives.
The spy who flied with me.
Actress
Gemma Arterton may have bagged a lucrative deal to play Bond girl, but she is
still struggling to repay the loan she took as a student.
The
actress is set to play Agent Fields in the 22nd James Bond flick 'Quantum of
Solace'.
She,
however, insists that she will not change her spending habits, despite the fact
that she may make a lot of money on the back of the fame her latest role will
earn her.
"I
still have student debts to pay off. And I think I've used most of my earnings
buying bits from (budget clothing store) Primark," Contactmusic quoted her
as saying.
Ah, the world of the rich and famous.
Amy
Winehouse will get to write the new James Bond theme as well as croon it - but
ONLY if she stays off drugs for two months.
The
Rehab singer - back to her best and appearing neither shaken nor stirred by her
spell in an addiction clinic - has been told she must still be clean in April to
make the record.
A
source confirmed last night: “That’s when the Bond people make a final
decision on who sings the theme. If Amy is clean then, it’s hers.”
Amy
yesterday took a trip out of the London clinic where she is being treated, and
has been given the boost by film bosses despite some people around her doubting
she would be fit to even sing the song let alone write it.
The
insider said of Daniel Craig’s new 007 film Quantum Of Solace: “It will have
a dark and moody feel so Amy would be absolutely perfect.
“It’s
another fantastic carrot being dangled to encourage her to give up drugs.”
Last
night shamed Amy, 24, was still waiting to learn if she will be allowed a US
visa to attend Sunday’s Grammy awards in Los Angeles - where she is up for six
gongs.
The
Sun revealed yesterday how police quizzed her at North London’s Capio
Nightingale clinic over our pictures of her smoking crack cocaine.
During
a few hours out yesterday, Amy visited husband Blake Fielder-Civil in prison,
where the 25-year-old is awaiting a court appearance over assault and
trial-fixing allegations.
She
also went to a restaurant with her cab driver dad Mitch, 57, and pals.
At one point she headed for the bar, telling staff: “I’ve just got out of rehab - I’m dying for a tequila.”
Why
do I have this suspicion that Amy is not going to make it to the recording
studio?
It has been a month since I updated this news forum and yet there does not seem to be too much news. I mean nothing that demands the flashing BREAKING NEWS that has become so common in our media outlets. So far the production of Quantum of Solace has moved to Panama with barely a leak or spoiler. However, a few days ago MGM and Sony Pictures released the plot with this presser:
Pursuing
his determination to uncover the truth, Bond and M (Judi Dench) interrogate Mr.
White (Jesper Christensen), who reveals the organization which blackmailed
Vesper is far more complex and dangerous than anyone had imagined. Forensic
intelligence links an MI6 traitor to a bank account in Haiti where a case of
mistaken identity introduces Bond to the beautiful but feisty Camille (Olga
Kurylenko), a woman who has her own vendetta.
Camille leads Bond straight to Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), a ruthless
business man and major force within the mysterious organization. On a mission
that leads him to Austria, Italy and South America, Bond discovers that Greene,
conspiring to take total control of one of the world’s most important natural
resources, is forging a deal with the exiled General Medrano (Joaquin Cosio).
Using his associates in the organization, and manipulating his powerful contacts
within the CIA and the British government, Greene promises to overthrow the
existing regime in a Latin American country giving the General control of the
country in exchange for a seemingly barren piece of land.
In a minefield of treachery, murder and deceit, Bond allies with old friends in
a battle to uncover the truth. As he gets closer to finding the man responsible
for the betrayal of Vesper, 007 must keep one step ahead of the CIA, the
terrorists and even M, to unravel Greene’s sinister plan and stop his
organization.”
If you are like me this is old news. James Bond websites like commanderbond.net and MI6 have been reporting on the plot for over a month. One wishes that some of these news media outlets would at least check into the fan sites and get their info. They might even scoop the competition by weeks.
Still, I am impressed with Eon for keeping a tight lid on the production and behind-the-scenes. Entertainment Tonight was on the set with Daniel Craig offering exclusive interviews that were absolutely mind-blowing. You have to tip your Oddjob bowler to the pure genius who came up with clever questions such as "Will James Bond be having any sex in this film?" One wonders if Daniel Craig should ask Entertainment Tonight "Is there any intelligent people still working at ET?"
On a positive note, the new James Bond book DEVIL MAY CARE has revealed the U.S. artwork. Not exactly revolutionary but it is better drawn than the old John Gardner covers from the 1980s.
As an added bonus the website for devil may care has been conducting a contest for anyone who can come up with a James Bond song for the audio book of DEVIL MAY CARE. The judges have been hard at work in the last few weeks and they have narrowed it down to five songs. Now it is up to the fan to help decide the winning song. You can link to the website and pick your favorite. However, be warned, the last five songs are all good and deciding will make it very difficult.
My personal favorite is by Chantel & Dry Martinis.
The
British get an early fright when the new OO7 thriller "Quantum of
Solace" opens on Halloween, October 31st. That is one week earlier than the
unfortunate American movie going public.
Meanwhile, Eon Productions continues to film worldwide and several videos have
made their way onto the Internet. Reelzchannel.com
has a nice behind-the-scenes of an aerial dogfight preparation in Baja
California with a DC3. The location is difficult to get film equipment, crews,
and actors transported to, and second unit director, Dan Bradley, says
"It's an arduous task." Cameras are mounted on various aircrafts and
on the ground with crews who also have to be in great shape to move the DC3 into
place since the landing field is not flat like most tarmacs.
Back in Panama City, and the infamous Panama Union Club that is now just a shell
of a building is given a face lift for a pivotal nightclub scene. One shot has
actor Anatole Taubman playing the sinister henchman, Elvis, falling down a large
stone stairway. Another quick shot has Bond and Felix Leiter, played by Jeffrey
Wright, standing at a bar with Bond jumping over the bar top while Felix looks
on and gun shots are blazing all around.
Quantum of Solace is looking better and better with each new video highlight.
''It's
just not very Bond-like,'' he said. ''Bond should be able to do ten press-ups,
then smoke 60 cigarettes, and then drink a bottle of something and pop a pill, I
think.''
Kurylenko, a 28-year-old Ukranian-born model-actress with few films to her
credit, said her character also has ''a masculine spirit.''
''When she meets Bond, it clashes,'' she said. ''She's careful and she doesn't
trust that easily. So basically with men, she either uses them, or if they're no
use, and she sees that they can't serve her, then she throws them away.''
There have been several noteworthy confrontations around on the Bond production
so far. In Panama, riots near the set forced a shift in schedule. And in
Chile, a local mayor interrupted production claiming producers didn't get his
permission.
National media has reported on Chileans' disappointment in not seeing more of
Craig during his stay in their country. And in a separate controversy,
Chile-as-Bolivia has not been a popular choice, either: Hurt feelings remain
between the South American neighbors over an 1879-84 war in which Chile took
Bolivia's Pacific coastline. The two have not had diplomatic relations since
1978.
''We knew there was a war 100 years ago, but we didn't know it was still an
issue,'' Wilson said.
Next, the eternal question: What's next for Bond?
Wilson said he expected Bond production to pause for at least a year following
''Quantum of Solace.''
''I need a break for a little while,'' he said.
Forster said he won't be back for Bond 23.
''If I would ever do a big movie again in that size,'' he said, ''it has to be
my own franchise, which I would create from scratch, which I would cast, create
the look and really create the franchise on my own.''
And Craig, who turned 40 while filming in Panama, said he'd keep playing Bond --
so long as the quality remains high.
''I want them to stand alone and be good films,'' he said. ''As long as that
continues, then we'll keep making them. And if it doesn't, then we'll stop.''
After a week of mysterious mishaps, including the destruction of 007’s Aston Martin, the rumours are starting to fly that the latest Bond film has been hit by a jinx.
Shooting by Lake Garda, in northern Italy, of Quantum of Solace was suspended yesterday after a series of near-fatal accidents to a driver and two stuntmen.
The first occurred early on Saturday when Jonathan Dunn Fraser, an employee of Aston Martin, was delivering the DBS sports car to the film set. As he was driving along the gently winding lakeside road he inexplicably lost control of the car, which smashed through a guardrail and into the lake.
In a second accident, on Monday, during shooting of a car chase, a stuntman was injured.
On Wednesday, in the third and most serious accident, two stuntmen were badly injured during filming of a chase scene involving a lorry and a car. The driver of the car is in a critical condition at a hospital in Verona.
The scene was being filmed by the production’s second crew, and neither Marc Foster, the director, nor Daniel Craig was present.
Shooting was immediately suspended and it was decided to stop filming yesterday as well, to allow police to investigate the accident.
A week ago there was another calamity when a man on a bicycle who had stopped by the set to watch filming suffered a heart attack and died.
Dunn Fraser said that he did not know why the Aston Martin had skidded off the road. “I was at the wheel and I remember the road was wet,” he said. “I wasn’t going fast. Suddenly the car went off the road. Then I sank into very cold water.” In that spot the lake is 52m (170ft) deep.
Dunn Fraser said that he must have lost consciousness because the next thing he knew he was upside down, in the car, at the bottom of the lake. “I was shaken but not stirred,” he wryly told the media, and said that he had been able to kick one of the doors open and swim to the surface. He was then taken to hospital.
Drowning was not the only concern for Dunn Fraser. He needed to exhale all his air in his lungs as he ascended to the surface otherwise he would suffer from the bends which can be fatal.
“I’m very lucky to be alive,” he said. “I thought my lungs would burst before I reached the surface, and my chest still hurts. Apart from that I just have a few bruises.”
The Aston Martin, which sells for £134,000, was one of six being used for the film and was to have been used the next day for a press conference to promote the new 007 film.
Accidents on the OO7 productions through the last 46 years is nothing new. In 1967, cameraman Freddie Young had his leg cut off by a helicopter blade while shooting the aerial scenes. In 1980, a member of a bobsled team was killed during the ski chase in the film For Your Eyes Only. 1983's Octopussy had a stuntman injured during the climatic train chase. 1989's Licence To Kill had some spooky moments during the climatic truck chase. A man was injured by the rocket-propelled Stinger missile prop that is seen launched by villain Sanchez. The rocket hit a man who was working on a telephone pole miles away. Many who worked on that set felt the area was haunted.
Bond stars have suffered from one form of injury or another. Connery received a karate chop from Oddjob actor Harold Sakata in 1964's Goldfinger. Connery has claimed he still feels the affects to this day. On Her Majesty's Secret Service star George Lazenby injured his ankle while jumping from rooftop to rooftop, only to have the scene cut from the final film. Roger Moore was severely burned from Stromberg's table rocket in 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me. Pierce Brosnan had his lip cut opened while performing a fight scene in 1997's Tomorrow Never Dies and Daniel Craig had his capped tooth knocked out while performing a fight scene for 2006's Casino Royale.
Please keep the stuntmen in your prayers since one is suffering from a severe head injury.
Well, not quite. But the city across from Washington, DC known as Crystal City, Virginia is sponsoring a 'free' outdoor movie series every Monday night from May 5th thru Sept 22nd. Every Eon produced OO7 film will be shown from 1962's Dr. No to 2006's Casino Royale.
For more information, click on 21 Weeks of James Bond OO7.
This film festival is across the river from my place of work, so I will be showing up for some of these films.
"But the stakes are a lot higher on this movie especially as there are a lot more action sequences," the source added. But for Craig, it all seems to be a walk in the park, and he admits that he loves every minute of it. "I love having that adrenaline rush. It makes you realise that you are mortal and that life must be enjoyed," Craig said.
And to think that $10 million dollars was the budget on the first Star Wars film.
Well, not quite. But the city across from Washington, DC known as Crystal City, Virginia is sponsoring a 'free' outdoor movie series every Monday night from May 5th thru Sept 22nd. Every Eon produced OO7 film will be shown from 1962's Dr. No to 2006's Casino Royale.
For more information, click on 21 Weeks of James Bond OO7.
This film festival is across the river from my place of work, so I will be showing up for some of these films.
"But the stakes are a lot higher on this movie especially as there are a lot more action sequences," the source added. But for Craig, it all seems to be a walk in the park, and he admits that he loves every minute of it. "I love having that adrenaline rush. It makes you realise that you are mortal and that life must be enjoyed," Craig said.
And to think that $10 million dollars was the budget on the first Star Wars film.
Sources say that Beyonce has been offered the job to record the theme song for for the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. This is of course after Amy Winehouse dropped out for whatever the reason. Beyonce is currently hammering out some sort of deal before official announcement. "Quantum of Solace" continues the high octane adventures of James Bond (Daniel Craig) in "Casino Royale."
Interesting, Beyonce at least can sing in the tradition of Shirley Bassey.
Any writer who has struggled to "do the words" would take heart from the self-effacing assessment written for himself by Ian Fleming, the raffish Englishman born 100 years ago this month who became one of the most successful authors of his time through the creation of the world's best-loved spy, James Bond.
Fleming died in 1964, at 56, of complications from pleurisy after playing a round of golf in Oxfordshire though he had a heavy cold. But the real culprits were years of smoking up to 80 cigarettes a day, and a fondness for drink. Perhaps because of the difficulty he found in resisting life's indulgences, he adopted a strict writing routine in his last 12 years, the period in which he wrote more than a dozen Bond novels that spawned the multibillion-dollar film franchise.
Rising early for a swim in the aquamarine waters in the cove below his idyllic Jamaican retreat, Goldeneye, Fleming tapped away at his Remington portable typewriter with six fingers for three hours in the morning and an hour in the afternoon — 2,000 words a day, a completed novel in two months, all the while keeping up the sybaritic lifestyle that led Noël Coward, a frequent guest at Goldeneye and no puritan himself, to describe the Fleming household as "golden ear, nose and throat."
Fleming, who saw 40 million copies of his books sold in his lifetime but died before the Bond franchise went stratospheric, had no literary pretensions. He described his first Bond book, "Casino Royale," as "an oafish opus," and offered further disparagement in a 1963 BBC radio interview. "If I wait for the genius to come, it just doesn't arrive," he said. Asked if Bond had kept him from more serious writing, of the kind achieved by his older brother, Peter, a renowned explorer and travel writer, he replied: "I'm not in the Shakespeare stakes. I have no ambition."
Fleming's workaday approach to writing is among the revelations drawing crowds of Bond lovers to "For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond," an exhibition that opened at the Imperial War Museum in London last month and runs through March 2009. For the museum, founded in 1917 and guarded by two 18-inch guns from a World War I dreadnought, there is something — well, raffish — in the staging of an exhibition about the glamorous, gadget-wielding, womanizing, devil-may-care Bond and his creator, for whom the superspy was in many respects an alter-ego.
The museum's former curator, Alan Borg, whose 13-year tenure as director ended in 1995, encouraged innovative approaches by reminding his staff that "the three most off-putting words in the English language" were encompassed by the museum's name.
"And we have to fight against that," said Terry Charman, the museum's senior historian and curator of the Bond exhibition. But judging by the enthusiasm of the visitors, concerns about the frivolousness some of Britain's more sniffy critics have discerned in the Bond show seem misplaced.
The display explores the relationship between Fleming and Bond, examining how much of the fictional spy is built on the author's character — the degree to which Bond was his "fantasy version of himself," as Charman put it. As well, it shows how the debonair Fleming drew on his experiences as a man about town and as a prewar foreign correspondent, in the world of banking and investment, in his postwar sojourns in Jamaica, and as a World War II aide to the head of Britain's directorate of naval intelligence, to give what he described as "verisimilitude" to Bond's world of spies and villains and romance.
Of his Bond plots, Fleming, ever prosaic about his talent, said, "I extracted them from my wartime memories, dolled them up, attached a hero and a villain, and there was the book." For M, Bond's irascible, domineering secret service overseer, he had as a model Rear Admiral John Godfrey, his wartime intelligence chief; old school friends, golfing partners, and girlfriends also metamorphosed into Bond characters. Even his villains had real-life antecedents.
Auric Goldfinger, "a misshapen short man with red hair and a bizarre face" in Fleming's description, had the author's "flat golf swing" and the surname of a prominent Hungarian-born British architect, Erno Goldfinger, whose penchant for concrete tower blocks Fleming abhorred. Rosa Klebb of Smersh, "a dreadful chunk of a woman" and "a toadlike figure" to Fleming, had her likeness in Major Tamara Nikolayeva Ivanova, a notoriously sadistic KGB agent. Ernst Stavro Blofeld, "with lips that suggest contempt, tyranny and cruelty," got his name from a Fleming schoolmate at Eton. Odd Job, Goldfinger's enforcer and "a uniquely dreadful person," drew his deadly missile of a bowler hat from Fleming's knowledge of the nefarious uses to which British intelligence services made of everyday headgear.
The disciplines Fleming absorbed as a correspondent for Reuters in the 1930s made him a stickler for accuracy, and the exhibition shows how this fed into Bond's guns. A luxuriantly mustached British gun expert, Geoffrey Boothroyd, reproved Fleming in a 1950s letter for Bond's "rather deplorable taste in firearms" — in particular the penchant of the early Bond for a Beretta pistol, which Boothroyd, later the model for Major Boothroyd, Bond's secret service armorer, described as "a ladies' gun." At Boothroyd's urging, the Bond of "Dr. No" and later novels progressed to a Walther PPK and what Boothroyd described as "a real man-stopper," a Smith & Wesson 0.357 Magnum.
Bond himself, Fleming said, was "a compound of all the secret agents and commandos I met during the war," but his tastes — in blondes, martinis "shaken, not stirred," expensively tailored suits, scrambled eggs, short-sleeved shirts and Rolex watches — were Fleming's own. But not all the comparisons were ones the author liked to encourage. Bond, he said, had "more guts than I have" as well as being "more handsome." And he was eager to discourage the idea that he had been as much of a Lothario as Bond before his marriage to Ann Rothermere, whom he wed in 1952, the year he wrote "Casino Royale."
But the exhibition suggests otherwise. A section of the show titled "Friends and Lovers" has one of a stable of prewar girlfriends, Mary Pakenham, saying of Fleming, "No one I know had sex so much on the brain as Ian." And another entry records the disdain of Fleming's mother, Evelyn St. Croix Fleming, widowed when Fleming's father, Valentine, was killed at the front in World War I, after she found black boa feathers littered across the back seat of her chauffeur-driven Daimler on the morning after Fleming borrowed the car for a night out — and a backseat romp — with a nightclub dancer called Storm.
Now that would have been a good Bond title, THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM.
Irish actor Pierce Brosnan almost rejected his role in movie-musical MAMMA MIA! - because he feared looking silly in front of his James Bond replacement Daniel Craig.
Brosnan, 55, played 007 in four of the action series' films before turning over his role to Craig for 2006's Casino Royale. And although Brosnan doesn't regret his decision to retire as James Bond, he admits he was scared his all-singing and dancing role as Sam Carmichael in the 1970s ABBA-inspired film would be too far a departure from his days as the British spy.
He says, "I drew the drapes in my dressing room, looked in the mirror, and there was 007 - only he was getting ready to expose himself to possible ridicule by starring in a movie musical called Mamma Mia!
"One of my daydreams was that I'd be strutting across the parking lot in sequined tights and a cape, and I would bump into Mr. Daniel Craig, looking very Bond-like. It never happened, I'm pleased to say."
I would have thought after doing "The Matador", anything else would be easy.
Moviemaker ROGER SPOTTISWOODE has offered his condolences to the crew of the new JAMES BOND film, insisting the current run of stunt disasters could have taken place on any 007 film set. Spottiswoode, who directed Pierce Brosnan in 1997's Tomorrow Never Dies, admits he feels sorry for fellow filmmaker Marc Forster, who is in charge of new movie Quantum of Solace.
The production is currently filming in Europe and South American and has been hit with a string of on-set accidents - including a car crash which left one crewmember critically injured.
Spottiswoode says, "I'm sure they're being very careful. We were being incredibly careful. It's very bad luck. You're always trying to work on the edge doing things (stunts) that have never been seen... but things happen."
"They've been hugely unlucky but I'm sure they're as careful as they've ever been. I'm sure they're in pain because of it (the stuntman's accident) but they're doing everything they can to be careful."
Let's just hope that the next Bond film is not as silly in plot detail as your film ended up being.
Award-winning actress Judi Dench will be honoured by the University of St Andrews next month, it was announced Wednesday. The Scottish university said Dench, 73, will be made a Doctor of Letters during summer graduations on June 24.
Known for her roles both on stage and on screen, Dench is probably most famous for her portrayal of 'M' in the James Bond films. She also appeared in the long-running television series 'As Time Goes By' and more recently in the popular BBC drama 'Cranford'. In 1999, Dench won a Best Supporting Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in 'Shakespeare in Love'.
She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1988 and a Companion of Honour in 2005. Commenting on her forthcoming degree, Dench said: "I am thrilled to be coming to St Andrews and I am looking forward to it enormously."
Congratulations from this website.
Avon has teamed up with the James Bond Franchise to launch a signature fragrance: Bond Girl 007. British actress Gemma Arterton, who plays the role of Agent Fields in the upcoming Bond film, will be the face of the new fragrance.
"I'm thrilled to be working with two such iconic and established brands," said Gemma Arterton. "The Bond Girl 007 fragrance embodies everything a Bond Girl represents -- intelligence, sexiness and confidence."
The fragrance, created by Firmenich, contains floral notes, warm woods, white peach, orange blossom,jasmine, calypso orchid and freesia. The drydown consists of amber, cashmere wood and patchouli.
The fragrance is set for launch in October 2008 in conjunction with the worldwide release of "Quantum of Solace," the 22nd film in the Bond franchise, which is the largest and longest running movie franchise in history.
Following in the footsteps of Halle Berry when she became the Revlon spokesperson for Die Another Day.
He has battled a man with a golden gun and gone head to head with villains whose deadly weapons include metal jaws and lethal top hats. But James Bond’s latest enemy has perhaps the strangest trademark yet - he is half human, half ape.
In Devil May Care, the new Bond book by Sebastian Faulks, 007 is briefed about his new nemesis, Dr Julius Gorner, who M describes as suffering from "An extremely rare congenital deformity...known as main de singe, or monkey’s hand".
The new book, which is published on May 28 to mark the centenary of the birth of Ian Fleming, Bond’s creator, has been shrouded in secrecy, but is said to place 007 at the centre of the heroin trade during the Cold War.
The theory appears to be borne out by the cover of the novel, which features a blood-spattered opium poppy with the outline of a naked woman forming the stem. A female character called Poppy is also said to feature prominently.
Dr Julius Gorner is described as a pharmaceutical entrepreneur from the Baltic region, who is believed to be undermining the West by illegally smuggling vast quantities of opium into Britain and America, whom M believes to be "potentially the most dangerous man the Service has yet encountered".
Briefing Bond on how to recognise the enemy, M describes his affliction: "The whole hand is completely that of an ape. With hair up to the wrist and beyond."
Bond baddies are renowned for their bizarre physical traits. In the 2006 film adaptation of Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig, the villain, Le Chiffre, suffers from Haemolacria, a medical condition which causes him to weep blood.
In an extract published today, Bond has returned from a sabbatical in Rome in 1967, to find London in full hippy swing. The capital is awash with "the bonfire whiff of marijuana" and the laid-back Sixties vibe has even permeated the Secret Service.
Much to Bond’s alarm, M has taken up yoga and 00 agents have been engaged in a programme of "deep breathing and relaxation techniques".
Despatched to Paris to confront the enemy, Bond, who drives a Bentley Continental in Devil May Care and not the Aston Martin he is usually associated with, is chased en route to the airport by two sinister men on motorbikes, who he soon sees off with effortless 007 ease.
Faulks’s book is the 22nd authorised Bond novel since Fleming’s death in 1964. The first was penned under a pseudonym by Kingsley Amis. The last was written by Raymond Benson six years ago but only sold 5,000 copies in the Britain.
Filming is already under way on Quantum of Solace, the second Bond film to feature Craig as 007, which is due to be released in November. Devil May Care may well follow Quantum of Solace as the next 007 film instalment as a 23rd Bond film is scheduled for 2010.
Faulks, who wrote the book in just six weeks, has said that he wrote it 80 per cent in Fleming’s style. "My Bond is Fleming’s Bond - not Connery, or Moore or Craig, for all their charms," he said. "And yes, my Bond drinks and smokes as much as ever. My female lead - the "Bond" girl - has a little more depth than Fleming’s women, but not at the expense of glamour."
Faulks has described his Bond, who has been widowed, as "more vulnerable" than his previous incarnations, but "both gallant and highly sexed".
"Bond is damaged and ageing and, in a sense, it is the return of the gunfighter for one last, heroic mission".
I only have one minor complaint about the villain's name, Julius. Fleming's villain Doctor No had a first name of Julius. I just wish Faulks had chosen a different first name. Still, I am looking forward to reading this long awaited novel.
Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson are set to resume work on the new Bond theme tune after the pair buried the hatchet. The music making pair, who earlier this month came to blows while trying to record their 007 tune, kissed and made up at the Ivor Novello Awards Thursday. And contrary to some reports, Amy, 24, has already penned the lyrics.
She says,: “I’ve written the song. If they like it they like it, if they don’t they don’t.”
Mark added, “If I talk about it Daniel Craig will whack me in the eyes.
“Amy wrote the song on an acoustic guitar. It was my job to help with the arrangement and realize the sound that we were going for. So that was my role.”
Can someone please tell us who really is doing the title song! This is getting so ridiculous it's beginning to resemble the US Democratic Primaries.
A warship moored in the Thames River, and Royal Marines mounted guard on Tuesday to mark the return to action of the world's most famous spy, James Bond, in a new novel.
"Devil May Care," published on Wednesday, is the latest adventure for the hard-drinking, womanizing action hero created by Ian Fleming and adored by millions worldwide through 14 books and a series of blockbuster films.
Seven copies of DEVIL MAY CARE are being carried by model Tuuli Shipster, who is also the image of the 'poppy girl' on the British released hardcover.
Penned by British novelist Sebastian Faulks at the request of Fleming's estate, the latest novel is set in 1967 and portrays the aging secret agent as vulnerable and damaged but with an undiminished sex drive.
Publication marks the centenary of Fleming's birth.
To honor Bond's code name 007, Faulks signed seven copies of the book, which were then taken under guard from HMS Exeter to a book store in central London ahead of publication.
Faulks is better known for his wartime novels such as "Charlotte Gray" and "Birdsong." He admits he was somewhat daunted when asked to write as Fleming, describing it as counter-casting.
But the idea grew on him and he warmed to the task, emulating Fleming's rigid work schedule and studying his plot lines and prose for inspiration.
"In his house in Jamaica, Ian Fleming used to write a thousand words in the morning, then go snorkeling, have a cocktail, lunch on the terrace, more diving, another thousand words in late afternoon, then more Martinis and glamorous women," Faulks said.
"In my house in London, I followed this routine exactly, apart from the cocktails, the lunch and the snorkeling."
He took up where Fleming left off in 1966 with "Octopussy and the Living Daylights," the last of 14 Bond books that have sold 100 million copies since.
Having chosen 1967 as the year the new adventure would unfold, the subject followed quickly -- drugs, a subject Fleming largely ignored.
The US cover edition
The result is the eagerly awaited "Devil May Care," whose plot was kept secret but, Faulks stresses, still contains enough exotic settings and culinary indulgence to please devotees of the devil-may-care secret agent.
"I found writing this light-hearted book more thrilling than I had expected. I hope people will enjoy reading it and that Ian Fleming would consider it to be in the cavalier spirit of his own novels and therefore an acceptable addition to the line," Faulks said.
Welcome back Mr. Bond. I hope we're going to see some gratuitous sex and violence.
IT IS 1967, and Britain is going to pot. The Stones have been arrested for using it, and as James Bond drives down the King's Road from his Chelsea flat, he notices it is "packed with long-haired young people" and smells "the bonfire whiff of marijuana he'd previously associated only with souks in the grubbier Moroccan towns".
There is a war on drugs, but it's not going on here – yet. Whether we will need one is down to whether 007 can shut down the operation of Dr Julius Gorner, who is about to flood the West with harder drugs, like heroin.
Naturally, the two will soon meet, and once Gorner has Bond in his clutches he will, of course, spell out his evil plans. ("One day, Bond, I will make as many heroin addicts in Britain as Britain made in China.") In case we haven't gathered the full extent of his villainy, Faulks gives Gorner the requisite disability – in this case, a hairy ape-like hand with a non-opposable thumb.
And so it goes. The Bond books franchise – which, unlike the films, had been in severe danger of stalling (the last one, The Man With the Red Tattoo, written by Raymond Benson, sold only 5,000 copies) – is up and running again. The publicity machine has given Devil May Care the kind of hoopla we've previously seen only with Harry Potter – but is it worth the fuss?
I think not. If you forget the hype, there's not the slightest thing special about this book.
The British hardcover pictures a poppy flowered naked woman.
Here, after all, is a world where simplicity and superlatives reign. Bond, we are repeatedly told, is "unique"; similarly, Gorner is "the most dangerous man the Service has yet encountered". Everything is signposted. If that apelike hand isn't a giveaway, how about the tennis match Gorner has with Bond in which he is revealed as a cheat?
That chapter's title is "Not Cricket". Not life, either.
As for motivation, there's always the love of high-class tottie – in this relatively chaste Bond book, one Scarlett Papava. But there's also a deeper chivalry involved. Scarlett urges Bond to rescue her twin sister, Poppy, who is Gorner's drug slave.
She may not be much more than a cipher, but Poppy Papava (Papaver somniferum is the Latin for the opium poppy) does, at least, have a witty name to live up to.
By now we're in the Shah's Iran. The drugs plot has spiralled into a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. The world (or at least Britain, soon to be targeted by retaliatory missiles) has only one man to save it, and…
Well, you can guess the rest, right up to the closing lines, which are sure to hint at a goodly amount of heroic sex. Because that's the template Faulks is working to, for all its preposterousness. As anyone who has heard him on Radio 4's The Write Stuff will know, he is an accomplished parodist, but here he sticks assiduously to his brief.
He hasn't messed with the formula, that old Bond brew of macho play, cruel villains (with pliers to remove tongues and chopsticks to bang out eardrums) and cosmopolitan sophistication (stuffed quails with rose petals washed down with a nice Château Batailley '45, anyone?) is all present and correct.
But 36 novels into the Bond story, the formula is stale. Perhaps it's time to retire Bond. If he doesn't go willingly, try the carotid takedown: "Only 11lb of pressure to the carotid artery stops bloodflow to the brain, and once the flow has stopped, consciousness is lost in ten seconds."
Well, it always works when 007 does it anyway…
Whew, for a moment I thought he was going to say he liked it.
The next 'Bond' girl on the block, Zahra Adams is all set to make her debut in the latest 007 movie quantum of solace alongside Daniel Craig. Excited about soon to be a part of this mammoth venture Zara expressed joy and said, "It feel great to be offered the role of a Bond girl and I am really excited about the same. It is quiet and honour to be called Bond girl."
Zahra Adams poses for a modeling shoot (Courtesy Reuters).
However, what comes as a surprising fact is that Adams, who is also model, hails from an orthodox Pakistani family. But inspite of a strict upbringing and conservative parents, Zara managed to chart her own path. She said, "I am thankful to my parents for the person I am. Initially they did have issues with my choice of career but now they are happy about how I am doing."
But don't be fooled by the good looks, this girl is also an editor of the popular UK magazine 'Talent'. Talking about her journalism career she said, "I did not have this ambition to become a journalist or something. But I took this so that I could encourage new talent in the field of acting, fashion and art."
Even before her first movie has hit the screen, talks of a second one has already begun. Zara said, "Yes I have spoken to the director. However, things have not been finalised yet. I am yet to sign the film." It is only a matter of time before this beauty gets lured by the world of Bollywood as well.
Welcome to the party.
JAMES BOND star DANIEL CRAIG is set to become a real-life 007 - he's to be made an honorary member of the British Royal Marines. The movie hunk made his debut as Bond - an MI6 agent with a distinguished career in the Royal Navy - in 2006's Casino Royale. And now Craig, 40, is being lined up to receive the prestigious Green Beret - if only he can find the time to complete and pass an endurance test.
A source at the Royal Marines training centre in Lympstone near Devon, England, says, "We were the ones who took Daniel to the press conference when he was revealed as the new James Bond.
"He was great - a really god guy - and he was very appreciative of our work. He supports the RNLI (Royal Navy Lifeboat Institution) and is very interested in the Royal Marine Commandos too.
"We're trying to get him down here to do one of the Commando tests so he can get his honorary Green Beret. It's just about trying to find the time. He's so busy."
Daniel is obviously keeping the British end up.
Hornby, the toy-maker and hobby specialist, hopes to drive sales with the introduction of a James Bond themed Scalextric set to coincide with the release of the next 007 film, Quantum of Solace.
Hornby, which in May announced the £7.5m acquisition of classic model car maker Corgi, said the new product would be in stores in time for the all important Christmas sales period.
Chief executive Frank Martin said: "It is the first time we have had a Bond licence for 10 years and we are very pleased. We hope to have a range of products on the shelves, including half a dozen cars in the digital, analogue and micro format."
Scalextric prepares to Bond with fans this Christmas.
Included amongst the miniature models will be iconic Bond cars, the Aston Martin DBS and the Alfa Romeo, echoing a chase scene from the forthcoming Bond film, set for UK release on November 8 and starring Daniel Craig as the British secret agent.
Sales in Hornby's Scalextric slotcars and Formula 1 racing car sets are enjoying something of a boon on the back of Lewis Hamilton's prodigious rise in the world of motor sport.
The British 23-year-old is back in the driving seat of this year's F1 championships after victory in the Monaco grand prix.
"The Hamilton effect is really very big and is largely responsible for a 23pc rise in slotcar sales last year," said Mr Martin.
"His return to form has generated a lot of interest. If he wins the title this year, it will be good for sales.
"We are now hoping that the new Bond range will be the icing on the cake."
Mr Martin was speaking as Hornby published its results for the year ending March 2008 which revealed a 19pc rise in total sales to £55.7m and a 17pc rise in pre-tax profits to £9m.
The figures included a first full-year contribution from model maker Airfix - bought in November 2006 - and Humbrol, the model paints business.
Mr Martin said both Airfix and Humbrol were now fully integrated into the company's business model and had produced sales ahead of expectations.
Despite the current retail climate, Mr Martin said the outlook was rosy for Hornby. "At the moment, the general economic downturn is not having any impact on sales. We've had another year of outstanding growth and our listings with major retailers are stronger than ever."
"History shows that the hobby market is the last area to suffer in tough times," he added.
The company's principal aims for the forthcoming year remain the re-invigoration of its famous hobby brands and the expansion of the company's geographical presence through its European subsidiaries.
Hornby said its plans for re-launching Corgi were well advanced and that it was confident it could quickly restore sales to their historically high levels.
More toy for boys.
Actor Daniel Craig received hospital treatment for a hand injury sustained while shooting the latest James Bond film, a spokeswoman has confirmed. The star cut his finger shooting an action sequence at Pinewood Studios on Tuesday and received medical attention "as a precautionary measure".
The 40-year-old returned to the set later in the day to resume filming. A publicist for production company Eon also confirmed the actor was treated for a facial injury last week. But she denied reports a fire broke out at Pinewood over the weekend, saying any damage was the result of controlled pyrotechnics.
Perhaps this is a good time to start the John Gardner series of Bond novels beginning with Daniel Craig in "BROKENCLAW".
As report by this website back in October 2007, British pop sensation Leona Lewis is set to beat troubled Amy Winehouse and a host of other big names to bag one of the most prestigious deals in pop recording the theme tune for the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace.
Film chiefs are talking to Leona's camp and now think the 23-year-old is the perfect choice to sing the title track for the blockbuster. "It looks like Leona has finally won the race. She is seen as one of the few candidates who has the right profile both sides of the pond to do it," The Sun quoted a source, as saying.
"Amy was their original choice but she just can't get her act together and hasn't got the right image. "The Bond guys now look set on Leona. She is reliable and has a great voice for it. Hopefully something could be announced soon."
Only time will tell.
Sony's international distribution president Mark Zucker began his presentation with the usual claim that the studio's upcoming releases represented one of its best slates ever. Expectations were whetted even more when exhibs were asked to cough up all cell phones and BlackBerrys before the first peek at Sony's "Quantum of Solace," the 22nd James Bond film.
Michael Wilson, the film's producer along with Barbara Broccoli, and latest Bond girl Olga Kurylenko were on hand to introduce 10 minutes of footage from the recently wrapped Daniel Craig starrer. With director Marc Forster ("The Kite Runner") now overseeing postproduction, the segment featured a temporary soundtrack, but the audience responded well to scenes from London, Italy and Bolivia. "Quantum" unspools in the U.K. in late October and the rest of the world the first weekend of November.
Rumor has it that the official trailer will be out in early July.
James Bond historian Graham Rye has revealed that some of the Bond girls' names were inspired by the names of farms in southeast England.
Rye spent years studying maps of the county of Kent, where Bond author Ian Fleming lived, and discovered that Fleming used the countryside, pubs and buildings as settings for story segments.
Once when Fleming was asked how he created his heroines, he said, "I go out into Romney Marsh and hope to find one there."
Ian Fleming seen here typing one of his classic novels.
"While this may sound rather fanciful, it was something that lingered in my memory from that day forward. Ian Fleming loved the Kent countryside. He purchased White Cliffs Cottage in Dover from his good friend Noel Coward," says Rye.
Rye found out that Fleming's travels around Kent inspired him for characters like Moneypenny and Honeychile Rider.
"Scrutinising the maps of Kent, I was amazed to discover that on Romney Marsh there was in fact a Moneypenny Farm and a Honeychild Manor Farm. A few miles away, was The Hammonds Country Hotel. The Hammonds were the married couple who acted as housekeepers for M, the head of British intelligence and 007's chief," he added.
"Suddenly, I could picture Ian Fleming running an eyeglass over the maps of the area with a wry smile while looking for another input for his James Bond novels. Coincidentally, there's even a small village near Staple called Flemings," he exclaimed.
If you look further south you would find Pussygalore cove.
Top designer Tom Ford has been confirmed as James Bond's new tailor. Daniel Craig has been trying on Ford's suits for months and now the designer has confirmed he's the man behind 007's new look at Milan Fashion Week in Italy.
He says, "A lot of people think if you wear conservative clothing your life is dull and interesting.
"But James Bond is this character who is sophisticated yet he sleeps with three girls at once. ... His life is very interesting, so I thought it was a good fit."
The Ford deal ends Bond's links to the Brioni fashion house, which has styled the superspy character in the in his past five films.
Craig recently let slip about the Ford deal, revealing he ruined 40 designer suits created for him by the style guru during stunts on the set of new film, "Quantum of Solace."
He said, "It's really a crime. It makes me weep. ... They are great suits."
But Ford loves dressing Craig and tells the Los Angeles Times newspaper, "He's the best Bond since Sean Connery. He's a terrific guy to dress."
Obviously dressed to kill.
Columbia Pictures said a trailer for the latest 007 film "Quantum of Solace" will be seen in theaters, on television and on the Internet starting June 30th.
The movie studio said the preview for the 22nd James Bond adventure, starring Daniel Craig as the suave British secret agent, will appear on television and on the Internet Monday, and in theaters when it is attached to Columbia Pictures' action-comedy "Hancock."
The trailer is to make its debut on AOL.com domestically and MSN.com internationally in an exclusive two-hour window Monday morning. The studio said the trailer will be dubbed or subtitled in 13 languages.
Following the exclusive online debut, the preview is expected to be sent via satellite to media outlets worldwide.
"Quantum of Solace" is to be released in U.K. theaters Oct. 31, in the United States Nov. 7, and around the world in November.
It's about time!
Film footage of the upcoming Bond flick, however, has been kept top secret. Not anymore. The promotional trailer, which is essentially a long commercial, began playing on Monday in the U.S. and Canada on Web site AOL.com and internationally on MSN.com.
The trailer begins with a flashback to the drowning of Bond’s love, Vesper Lynd, in 2006’s “Casino Royale,” and it continues with scenes of plane and car chases, a speedboat crashing into a larger boat and plenty of acrobatic fighting.
Bond appears to be bent on revenge over Lynd’s death, and his boss M (Judi Dench) seems angry at her top agent for allowing his emotions to get the better of him. “I think you’re so blinded by uncontrollable rage that you don’t care who you hurt,” M says.
Perhaps borrowing from the “Bourne” action movies starring Matt Damon, the “Quantum of Solace” trailer also hints at Bond becoming an outsider at his own spy agency. “Restrict Bond’s movements, put a stop on his passports — find Bond,” Dench’s character says in another voice-over.
“Quantum of Solace” opens in the United Kingdom on Oct. 31, in the United States on Nov. 7, and in various countries around the world throughout November.
November cannot come fast enough. Daniel Craig IS James Bond.
Two years ago this website critiqued the new boardgame MONOPOLY: The James Bond Collector's Edition from USAOPOLY. The game was one of the worse I have ever seen since it basically used the film titles as property rather than using the locations from the 21 Bond films from Dr No to Casino Royale. Many other fans agreed with the critique and even offered up suggestions to one blogger who was a representative from USAOPOLY. After several days of griping over the game, the hype died down and nothing more was said about the new Bond boardgame. The game is now out-of-print.
Now exclusive news from the Bond site MI:6 has a report that USAOPOLY is about to release a new James Bond collector's edition. This time it is called 'the ultimate'.
The best thing about this news is that the people at USAOPOLY have listened to the fans and delivered 'BIG TIME'. The game will have 51 different locations from the films right up to "Quantum of Solace" (not including Never Say Never Again), giving players a multitude of different ways to set up the board. It comes complete with removable and reusable labels, so you can give the game a new spin anytime by selecting which 22 property squares to feature.
The Complete Locations List:
Le Cercle, London - Dr. No
Crab Key Dr. No’s Island - Dr. No
SPECTRE Island - From Russia With Love
Gypsy Camp - From Russia With Love
Royal St. Marks Golf Course - Goldfinger
Kentucky Stud Ranch - Goldfinger
Fort Knox - Goldfinger
Palmyra (Largo’s Estate) - Thunderball
Disco Volante - Thunderball
Ninja Training Facility - You Only Live Twice
SPECTRE Volcano Base - You Only Live Twice
Mark Ange Draco’s Estate - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Piz Gloria - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
The Whyte House - Diamonds Are Forever
Fillet of Soul - Live and Let Die
Kananga’s Lair - Live and Let Die
Scaramanga’s Island - The Man With the Golden Gun
Hai Fat’s Kung Fu Academy - The Man With the Golden Gun
Stromberg’s Sardinia Base - The Spy Who Loved Me
Liparus Tanker - The Spy Who Loved Me
Atlantis - The Spy Who Loved Me
Drax’s Chateau - Moonraker
Amazon Temple HQ - Moonraker
Drax Space Station - Moonraker
Gonzales’ Estate - For Your Eyes Only
St. Cyril’s Monastery - For Your Eyes Only
Octopussy’s Palace - Octopussy
Khan’s Palace - Octopussy
Ascot Racecourse - A View To A Kill
Zorin’s Mine - A View To A Kill
Zorin’s French Estate - A View To A Kill
Kamran Shah’s Desert Fortress - The Living Daylights
Rock of Gibraltar Base - The Living Daylights
Whitaker’s HQ - The Living Daylights
Republic of Isthmus Villa - Licence To Kill
Olimpatec Meditation Institute - Licence to Kill
Severnaya Bunker - GoldenEye
GoldenEye Control Station - GoldenEye
Wai Lin’s Secret Warehouse - Tomorrow Never Dies
Sea Shadow (Stealth Ship)- Tomorrow Never Dies
Carver Media Group Network - Tomorrow Never Dies
Maiden’s Tower - The World Is Not Enough
King Industries Nuclear Facility - The World Is Not Enough
Los Organos Gene Therapy Clinic - Die Another Day
Graves’ Plane - Die Another Day
Ice Palace- Die Another Day
Dimitrios’ Villa - Casino Royale
Casino Royale, Montenegro- Casino Royale
Mr White’s Estate - Casino Royale
Bolivian Desert- Quantum of Solace
Perla De Las Dunas - Quantum of Solace
There will not be the tradional houses or hotels, instead the properties will be equipped with Guards and Security Systems which will incrementally increase their value. The four trains spaces such as B&O and Reading are replaced with the Orient Express (From Russia With Love), Janus’ Armored Train, Octopussy’s Train (Octopussy), and the Pendolino Train (Casino Royale). The 'Chance' and Community Chest cards have been renamed to Bond Allies and Bond Enemies, and players use a decoder to decipher the directives. Even the board design has the iconic gun barrel with images from the films. There are six new collectible pewter tokens: Moonraker Shuttle, Octopus, Casino Royale Poker Chip, Zorin’s Airship, Q-Boat, and the Moon Buggy.
Monopoly "Ultimate James Bond" Edition is expected to hit stores in September 2008.
I cannot believe that a major company actually listened to the fans. I am really looking forward to this version
Garrett Young of Treyarch, the company behind the making of the Quantum of Solace video game, was sent to England to show off their latest incarnation of James Bond to the actors and producers. Here is what he said, "
"It’s all about having a great relationship with the movie people and the fact that we’ve been on the set three or four times and they’ve given us thousands of photos and we got scripts and updates to the scripts and sometimes that causes problems for us because they keep updating the scripts and so we have to make changes. But when we did get to show Daniel Craig the game, the production assistant said “he’s shooting a scene right now and I can let you come out and see the scene, but I don’t know if he can come look at the game yet and have you show it to him.” So we watch them film the scene and then the assistant came back and said “ok, I got a hold of him in his trailer between scenes but he was playing some game with a plastic guitar.” He was playing Guitar Hero! He’s between scenes in his trailer playing Guitar Hero? That’s crazy!"
We certainly have come along way from the days with Sean Connery, who would practice his golf swing, to Craig playing video games.
“A Spy Movie Without Pictures: Inside the Musical Soundscape of Black Tie Spy”. In this interview, guitarist Tom Pervanje provides the inside story behind a great new CD—Black Tie Spy. In many ways, it’s a great soundtrack for a spy movie—for a film that doesn’t exist! It’s a unique and fresh blend of original instrumentals interspersed with the cover tracks that made Tom’s band—Spy-Fi—such a hit with their previous two albums. It includes moods ranging from the romantic to the dramatic, from the exotic to classic. Tom says of this project:
“At face value, a Black Tie Spy might suggest a male James Bond type character in the usual tuxedo and black tie. But as one can see on the CD cover, all is not what it seems. This Black Tie Spy is a woman, and she means business – and says so in Russian throughout the CD.”
Adding interest for James Bond fans—007 guitarist Vic Flick co-wrote and performed on the title track. A real must-have! For more details, check out the conversation in the “Spies on Film” section of Spywise.net.
“Inside the World Espionage Bureau: Q&A with WEB Creator Bill Raetz”. In 2005, novelist Bill Raetz introduced his World Espionage Bureau (WEB) in his first novel, Berlin Files. His savvy with self-publishing and online marketing then led to a series of highly successful WEB novels including Romanian Skylark (2006) and his most recent entry, Surveillance (2007).
For those who haven’t experienced Bill’s brand of fast-paced action-adventure—taking us all back to the days when spy novels were exciting and fun—this interview will give you some flavor as to what WEB is all about. And if you’re already a fan—Bill has some announcements about a new direction in the WEB universe. You can check out our talk in the “Spies in History and Literature” section—again at—
Check out these feature stories at www.spywise.net
Duran Duran have thrown their collective hats into the ring regarding the new Bond theme, saying they'd love to collaborate with super-producer Mark Ronson on the film.
The band previously recorded the title track for A View to a Kill in 1985, and Nick Rhodes told The Daily Mirror that they'd be keen to repeat the experience on Quantum of Solace.
"We'd love to collaborate with Mark on a single for the film," he explained. "With him we may even be able to surpass A View to a Kill."
I think everyone in the music industry has tossed their hat into the Bond song ring. Someone quickly check and see if Lulu is available as well.
Break out your wallets and cash in your stimulus checks here comes the latest of the James Bond video games and this time, if the preview lives up to the product, it's personal.
I like the way Activision has captured the stone cold killer instinct of Daniel Craig. This game may end up being the best since 1995's GoldenEye.
With Amy Winehouse long out of commission, Alicia Keys has signed on to lend her sultry, soulful pipes to the new theme song being readied for the upcoming James Bond installment, Quantum of Solace, by alt-rocker Jack White.
The male half of the White Stripes, who wrote and produced the tune, called "Another Way to Die," will also play drums. The film's soundtrack is due out Oct. 28, while the movie itself, the second 007 flick featuring hunky blond Bond Daniel Craig, hits theaters Nov. 7.
Jack White and Alicia Keys will be adding their talents to the long list of singers who have performed a Bond song.
Keys' involvement in the production was first reported by E! Online's own Marc Malkin.
White and Keys' collaboration marks the first time a duo have tackled the Bond song, which hopefully will be more "Thunderball" (Tom Jones = suave and sophisticated) than "Die Another Day" (Madonna = Pierce Brosnan getting his ass kicked in a Korean prison).
The tradition of having a specialized theme harkens back to English cabaret star Matt Monro's treatment of the title song from 1963's From Russia With Love.
Hitmakers who have lent their vocals for the use of her majesty's secret service over the years include Paul McCartney and Wings ("Live and Let Die"), Carly Simon ("Nobody Does It Better" originated on The Spy Who Loved Me soundtrack), Sheena Easton ("For Your Eyes Only"), a-ha (the purveyors of "The Living Daylights" as well as '80s favorite "Take on Me"), Duran Duran ("A View to a Kill"), Gladys Knight ("License to Kill"), Tina Turner ("GoldenEye"), Garbage ("The World Is Not Enough") and, most recently, Chris Cornell, who crooned "You Know My Name" for Casino Royale.
U.K. pop stars Leona Lewis and Duffy were also rumored to be in contention for Quantum of Solace honors before the job was handed over to White and Keys, who are sure to add a certain "that sounds like a marimba!" je ne sais quoi to the 22nd Bond adventure.
This is exciting news. I'm not too sure how the song will turn out but it has to be a hundred times better than Madonna's Die Another Day.
LOS ANGELES: Former tennis star Pam Shriver has filed for divorce from one-time James Bond actor George Lazenby.
Documents filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court cite "irreconcilable differences" for the end of the couple's six-year marriage. The pair have three children together, including twins born in 2005.
Shriver is seeking custody of the children, with supervised visits for Lazenby. The 46-year-old Shriver, who won 22 Grand Slam doubles titles, has served as a tennis commentator since retiring. Lazenby, 68, is perhaps best known for his one-movie stint as James Bond in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service."
I am deeply sadden by this news, I was hoping that George was settling down.
Heineken is launching a global marketing campaign on the back of its tie-up with the new James Bond film Quantum of Solace. It will star new Bond girl Olga Kurylenko in her role as Camille in TV and print ads and print ads.
The campaign has been created by TBWA, Freud, Naked and G2 and will launch in 40 countries, including the UK.
The ads will feature actual film sets and scenes from Quantum of Solace. There is a possibility the brand will feature in a party scene in the film although this has yet to be confirmed. The campaign will also include on and off-premise promotions, interactive and digital activity, radio promotions, competitions and packaging initiatives.
Chris Carroll, Heineken global brand manger, says: "The brand fit is that the world of James Bond reflects Heineken's brand - it's a global brand that is intelligent, witty, clever and interesting."
The first activity will debut in Australia in September and be rolled out territory by territory. Quantum of Solace is scheduled for a November release.
Heineken has partnered with EON Productions' four previous Bond films although it did not undertake any activity in the UK for Casino Royale, the first to feature Daniel Craig as Bond.
Speculation that Heineken may be about to realign its global advertising business out of The Red Brick Road has been dismissed by the brewer.
Bottoms up!
Broccoli co-produces the Bond films with her brother Michael G Wilson James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has been appointed to the board of the UK Film Council.
Broccoli, who is currently producing the forthcoming 007 adventure Quantum of Solace, is one of the UK film industry's most successful producers.
Her appointment was made by Culture Minister Margaret Hodge, and will run for four years.
Stewart Till, chairman of the UK Film Council, said he was "absolutely delighted" at Broccoli's appointment.
"She's produced some of the most successful films in the world," he said.
"Her understanding of how big budget British films get financed out of Hollywood is extensive and unique.
"Barbara will be an enormous asset for the UK Film Council in our efforts to attract inward investment into the UK film production sector."
Broccoli's first credited job on the Bond films was as assistant director on Octopussy followed by A View To A Kill.
Later, she became associate producer on The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill, a post she shared with the long-established Bond associate producer Tom Pevsner.
Broccoli was then made producer alongside her brother Michael G Wilson on GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, Die Another Day and the most successful Bond to date, Casino Royale.
Since 2004, Broccoli has also been chair of First Light Movies, an organisation which provides funding and expertise to enable five to 19-year-olds throughout the UK to create digital short films.
It receives £1.1m of National Lottery funding every year from the UK Film Council.
Congratulations from this website.
LOS ANGELES — It's getting ugly between former James Bond actor George Lazenby and his soon-to-be ex-wife, former pro tennis ace Pamela Shriver.
Last week, Shriver filed for divorce and on Thursday afternoon she filed for a restraining order against Lazenby, requesting that he remain 100 yards away from her, her work and her vehicle at all times.
In the whopping 95-page document, Shriver claims that her hubby threatened to kill her if she attempted to gain full custody of their three children and believes that his "severe anger management issues, alcoholism and poor parenting skills" place 4-year-old George Lazenby Jr. and their 2-year-old twins, Caitlin and Samuel, at risk.
A rep for Lazenby had not yet responded for comment at press time.
Shriver states that in the past, Lazenby has offered their youngsters beer from beer bottles and ice from scotch glasses, and has objected to such things as the children brushing their teeth, wearing sunblock, going to the doctor and sitting in secure car seats.
Shriver also claims she's a victim of domestic violence and recalls times when Lazenby "twisted her ear" and caused bruising to both arms. She also states that he would often get violent with their children, on one occasion throwing their then 2-and-a-half-year-old son George in his bed with extreme force.
Shriver also claims that just last week, Lazenby slapped 2-year-old Sammy with his universal remote control because he was crying while he was trying to watch golf in "peace and quiet."
But that’s not all — Pamela also ordered that she retain possession of their three kids’ passports over fear that the Australian-born "Bond" man might smuggle their little ones Down Under.
This is getting worse by the day.
New photos of Quantum of Solace are making their way across the Internet. One such photo caught the eye of this website where Daniel Craig as James Bond is fighting for his life in a fiery inferno. Quantum of Solace opens in the U.S on November 14th.
Quantum comes to a fiery doom.
Bond and Camille at a desert airstrip.
The opening car chase.
This film is looking very good. I hope it lives up to all the hype.
Ukrainian model and actress Olga Kurylenko is reportedly enjoying a passionate affair with 'James Bond Quantum of Solace' director, Marc Forster. Kurylenko, 28, who plays the role of Camille - a Russian-Bolivian agent in the 007 movie - has been very affectionate towards Forster.
Olga Kurylenko who plays Camille in Quantum of Solace takes aim at her target.
"Marc is, as we say in the film business, an actors' director," Daily
Telegraph quoted Anne Bennett, of Eon, which has produced the film, as saying.
"All the actors on the set really got on with him. As far as Olga and Marc
are concerned, it's their private lives and I don't want to comment on their
personal relationship. They, are, however, both single people," she said.
The actress, who had divorced her second husband, Damien Gabrielle, a mobile
phone entrepreneur, at the end of last year, had stated that she would never
have a lasting relationship. "I will never belong to anyone," she had
declared recently. Forster, 39, who lived with a girlfriend in 2002, was of the
same opinion where relationships were concerned. When you work so much and
travel so much, it's hard to keep them," he said.
Meanwhile, Gemma Arterton, 007’s other Quantum love interest, has become shaken and stirred by a tall, dark, handsome action man in real life.
The 22-year-old actress has begun a relationship with Spanish stuntman Eduardo Munoz, 19, on the set of her latest film, Prince Of Persia, in Morocco. He was hired to teach her to ride a horse.
Gemma Arterton waits for OO7 to return to bed in Quantum of Solace.
A source said: ‘Gemma has made no secret of her romance on the set. She and Eduardo are always kissing and cuddling. They are inseparable.’
You might say she fell for the stuntman (Ouch!).
It was one of the stars of James Bond movie The Spy who Loved Me with its
sleek lines and dual role as a high tech sports car and submarine.
Now, 30 years later, the famous series one Lotus Esprit is back home in Norfolk
for a complete restoration carried out by the expert who customised the interior
of the car for the movie, and worked on the special effects at the Pinewood
Studios.
Nick Fulcher was running the engineering trim design and development department
for Lotus when the firm was asked to supply two identical white Series 1 Lotus
Esprits for the blockbuster film starring Roger Moore and Barbara Bach.
He knows the car inside out and still has the original templates for the seat
covers, as well as batches of material from the 1970s when they were rolling off
the production line at Hethel. And when an enthusiast discovered - during an
on-air discussion with BBC DJ Chris Evans - that Mr Fulcher had one of the Bond
cars in his possession, he rang up and offered him £250,000 for the vehicle.
But it is not his to sell!
“I was commissioned by an agent and I have never met the client. The owner
could be Prince Charles for all I know, as we have done work for royalty,” he
quipped.
“It was 30 years ago when I went down to Pinewood Studios. This is one of two
road-going cars that were used in the film and the engine number is 007. All the
rest were spoofs. We used about nine different bodies in different guises, and
when the car went under the sea and the wheels tucked in it didn't really
happen.
Diving camera crews film the special Lotus for the 1977 hit film THE SPY WHO LOVED ME.
“There was no-one inside when it came out of the water, it was pulled by a
cable hidden under the sand. The editors are very clever and they join the film
so in your mind you think it's the same car.”
Mr Fulcher started his working career as a bespoke tailor with Norwich firm
Harry Derby, learning how to trim cars with leather when he joined Lotus -then
launching his own business, N Fulcher Coachtrimmer of Hethersett, in 1977.
He has a photograph of his son Stephen, who is carrying out much of the
restoration, pictured beside one of the Bond cars at the factory as a young boy.
But its colourful red and green tartan headrests had to go on arrival at
Pinewood.
“The headrest glowed when they tried to photograph Barbara Bach and Roger
Moore's faces, so it had to be changed to plain green,” he explained. “For
the film, we had to make a clock that flipped over into a screen for the
periscope. It was the only Series 1 to have a periscope screen between the
visors, and that was in the spoof cars as well.”
Restoring the Esprit to its James Bond livery is costing thousands of pounds and
involves meticulous attention to detail. And Mr Fulcher said it is a shame the
project will not be finished this week when Roger Moore is expected to attend a
book signing in
Norwich.
“It would have been really good if we could have got him sitting in the car at
the book signing,” he said.
Other prestigious projects during his career include re-upholstering the cockpit
seats of the British Airways 747s and Tristars, working on private jets and
second world war aircraft, trimming a set of treasure chests for Disneyland
Paris, and creating an Elizabethan-style wedding dress dripping with pearls for
a young bride who had “no joy with top London designers”.
“With this job you never know what's going to land on your lap,” added Mr
Fulcher, who recently made special rigid covers to keep the new Lotus Evora safe
from prying eyes when it was being developed.
His passion for motor racing stems from working at Lotus cars. He used to trim
all the seats, some of the steering wheels, and alter racing overalls and
helmets to suit the Grand Prix drivers' requirements, and in his workshop is an
array of signed gifts and mementoes from the glory days of Graham Hill and
Jochen Rindt through to Mika Hakkinen and Alessandro Zanardi.
Welcome
home old friend.
James Bond actor George Lazenby has denied accusations
that he assaulted his first wife. Christina Master, Lazenby's wife from
1971 to 1995, has claimed that her ex-husband was an abusive alcoholic who hit
her and their daughter Melanie.
The actor said in a statement: "I wish Christina would show me a medical
report, X-rays and pictures that show I broke her nose. I never punched her in
my life."
He also apologised to Melanie for failing to pay attention to her when his son
Zack, who died of cancer in 1994, was ill.
The 68-year-old's current wife, former tennis star Pam Shriver, filed for divorce
last week, citing "irreconcilable differences" in legal documents.
This is getting worse by the month now.
White Stripes frontman Jack White has reportedly spoken out against the use of his Bond theme duet with Alicia Keys on a Coca Cola television advert.
An instrumental version of Another Way To Die, from new Bond film Quantum of Solace, is featured in a 007-themed advert for the Coke Zero drink.
He reportedly says in a statement he is "disappointed" the song is being heard for the first time on an advert.
He wrote the song for the film, "not for Coca Cola", the statement adds.
"Any other use of the song is based on decisions made by others, not by Jack White," NME.com quoted the statement as saying.
Last month, White said he had wanted to collaborate with R&B star Keys for "a couple of years".
White, who also performs with The Raconteurs, said: "Alicia put some electric energy into her breath that cemented itself into the magnetic tape - very inspiring to watch."
He said the the collaboration "gave me a new voice and I wasn't myself any more".
A victim of corporate control. Perhaps the best thing about the Coke Ad is that it does not play the entire song but a portion that is repetitive. Still it has a catchy beat.
An Australian woman from Perth who is the long-lost love child of George Lazenby is at the centre of his bitter custody fight with his estranged wife, US tennis great Pam Shriver.
Jennifer Lazenby, 46, says she hopes her testimony depicting the James Bond star Lazenby -- who she did not meet until her late 20s -- as a ``loving, caring parent'' will help him get custody of his three young children.The real victims here are the three children and I can only hope that this custody trial goes well for them.
This past week the new James Bond song "Another Way To Die" for the upcoming film "Quantum of Solace" was released onto British airwaves. The reaction has been relatively 80% of the public hating it.
For this long time Bond fan and soundtrack lover, I have decided to bring earmuffs to the theater while this bombastic song plays over the credit sequence.
This song is worse than Madonna's "Die Another Day," a song I never thought could be beaten for the most pathetic Bond song ever performed. However, Jack White and Alicia Keys have proven me wrong.
The song begins with a long instrumental open similar to Dionne Warwick's "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," a song that was originally produced for Thunderball. But than Jack White and Alicia Keys begin to sing and the song takes a nose dive faster than Goldfinger's ill-fated jet. Both singers sound as if they are fighting each other vocally. It literally becomes a mesh of noise that is hard to understand.
Bottomline - the song is to my ears like sandpaper to sunburn.
It is so awful that I am hoping the producers dump the song before opening day and replace it similar to the time they dropped Ms. Warwick's song in favor of a song that has the title Thunderball in it. The results was the classic Tom Jones hit and they were able to turn that out within weeks of the film's opening.
Amy Winehouse has claimed she wrote and performed a song for Quantum months ago and plans to release her version within the next few weeks. Is it possible that her song will be better than Jack White's version? If it is than the producers will not only have egg on their face but a face without Teflon.
Another Way To Die will be released as a limited edition of 6000 7" vinyl in America on September 30 and on October 6 in the UK. This makes sense because many people today do not have a record player since LPs were phased out in favor of the CD. This way you can buy the song and not have to listen to it. It works for me.
The pair will sing at the premiere of the film, which is released in the UK on October 31.
This gives the audience plenty of time to buy earmuffs.
This past week the new James Bond song "Another Way To Die" for the upcoming film "Quantum of Solace" was released onto British airwaves. The reaction has been relatively 80% of the public hating it.
For this long time Bond fan and soundtrack lover, I have decided to bring earmuffs to the theater while this bombastic song plays over the credit sequence.
This song is worse than Madonna's "Die Another Day," a song I never thought could be beaten for the most pathetic Bond song ever performed. However, Jack White and Alicia Keys have proven me wrong.
The song begins with a long instrumental open similar to Dionne Warwick's "Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," a song that was originally produced for Thunderball. But than Jack White and Alicia Keys begin to sing and the song takes a nose dive faster than Goldfinger's ill-fated jet. Both singers sound as if they are fighting each other vocally. It literally becomes a mesh of noise that is hard to understand.
Bottomline - the song is to my ears like sandpaper to sunburn.
It is so awful that I am hoping the producers dump the song before opening day and replace it similar to the time they dropped Ms. Warwick's song in favor of a song that has the title Thunderball in it. The results was the classic Tom Jones hit and they were able to turn that out within weeks of the film's opening.
Amy Winehouse has claimed she wrote and performed a song for Quantum months ago and plans to release her version within the next few weeks. Is it possible that her song will be better than Jack White's version? If it is than the producers will not only have egg on their face but a face without Teflon.
Another Way To Die will be released as a limited edition of 6000 7" vinyl in America on September 30 and on October 6 in the UK. This makes sense because many people today do not have a record player since LPs were phased out in favor of the CD. This way you can buy the song and not have to listen to it. It works for me.
The pair will sing at the premiere of the film, which is released in the UK on October 31.
This gives the audience plenty of time to buy earmuffs.
James Bond jolted the international boxoffice during the weekend as Sony/MGM's "Quantum of Solace," the 22nd installment in the 007 franchise launching in only three overseas markets, drew a spectacular $38.6 million from 2,123 screens and claimed the No. 1 spot easily.
Another fresh entry, DreamWorks Animation/Paramount's "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," a sequel to 2005's "Madagascar," added voltage with an estimated $17.8 million from 635 screens in Russia and Ukraine, the biggest opening weekend of any title to play only those two markets. It ranked as the weekend's No. 3 attraction overseas.
The official poster to Quantum of Solace.
In its No.1 five-day premiere in France, "Quantum" pulled $10.6 million from 824 sites (a per-screen average of $12,864), which Zucker said is a market boxoffice record for the series. In Sweden, "Quantum's" opening figure was $2.7 million from 149 situations (a per-screen average of $18,121), 31% bigger than "Casino's" bow in that market.
Referring to the $38.6 million weekend figure accumulated in "Quantum's" three markets, Zucker said, "No other international release in 2008 has grossed more (playing in) fewer than 27 territories."
Weekend action for the Bond title propelled Sony's international boxoffice for 2008 past the $1 billion mark.
"Quantum" will play in 57 new markets this coming weekend and will not open domestically until Nov. 14. Sony opened "Casino" overseas Nov. 15, 2006, and the film drew $338.3 million before Jan. 1, 2007. Its full offshore run grossed $432.1 million.
"High School Musical 3: Senior Year," Disney's comparatively low-budget, made-for-cable-TV franchise entry, placed second on the weekend overseas with an estimated $25.9 million from 3,805 situations, drawing a $6,807 per-screen average in 32 markets. The film's overseas cume is $85 million, and it has grossed $146.8 million worldwide.
"HSM3," produced for a reported $13 million, finished No. 1 in each of the nine new territories it played and in 24 markets overall. Italy led the pack with $4.9 million from 250 sites, a per-screen average of nearly $20,000.
Fourth on the weekend overseas was the Coen brothers' espionage spoof "Burn After Reading," which garnered $6.7 million from 1,705 screens in 20 markets and upped its international cume to $58 million. At No. 5 was "Saw V," the latest chapter in Lionsgate/Mandate International's grisly horror franchise, which tallied $5.8 million from 26 markets, raising its overseas cume to $14.3 million and its worldwide total to $60.1 million.
In France, "W.," Oliver Stone's version of the rise of President Bush, premiered at No. 8 in Paris and its suburbs, taking $750,000 from 200 screens in the market overall. Universal's "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" opened at No. 4 in Paris and its suburbs, grossing $2.4 million from 410 sites in France and $3.8 million on the weekend from 1,428 dates in 26 territories. The film's overseas cume is $76.5 million.
In its fourth weekend in France, Warner Bros.' release of Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" ranked No. 5 in Paris and its environs, winding up with $1.4 million from 430 sites on the weekend and upping its overseas cume to $12.1 million. The top local-language title in France remains "Mesrine: L'instinct de mort," a violent biopic of gangster Jacques Mesrine starring Vincent Cassel, who won a best actor nod at the recent Tokyo International Film Festival for his performance.
"Mesrine," a Pathe release, finished No. 2 in Paris and its suburbs and made off with $3.3 million from 489 dates during its second weekend -- down 25% from its opening frame -- raising its market cume to $8 million.
Other weekend tallies, plus international cumes, include: Fox's "Max Payne, $2.9 million from 2,400 screens, $23.4 million; DreamWorks/Paramount's "Eagle Eye," $4.5 million from 2,267 screens, $65.5 million; Universal's "Mamma Mia!" $3.4 million from 2,700 sites, $414.8 million (third-highest foreign grosser this year); DreamWorks/Paramount's "Tropic Thunder," $3.3 million from 1,306 situations, $71.2 million; Pixar/Disney's "WALL-E," $3 million from 2,005 screens, $258.8 million; Warners' "Nights in Rodanthe," $2.7 million from 1,274 dates, $22 million; Warners' "Body of Lies," $1.1 million from 594 screens, $10.8 million; and Universal's "Death Race," $1.7 million from 2,309 dates, $27.9 million.
Other international cumes include: Disney's "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," $16.6 million; New Line's "Appaloosa," $3.6 million; Paramount's "Ghost Town," $4.6 million (U.K. only); Fox's "The Admiral," $36.6 million (Russia and Ukraine only); Sony's "Step Brothers," $25.9 million; Miramax/Disney's "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas," $20 million (U.K. and Spain only); New Line's "Journey to the Center of the Earth," $97 million; Warners' Get Smart," $100.2 million; Sony's "The House Bunny," $19.1 million; and Fox's "Mirrors," $34.5 million.
Looking forward to the US opening of this film.
After the successful and critically acclaimed Casino Royale, the film makers of the James Bond series were in a difficult position. How to make the next OO7 epic better than the last? Well I can tell you from the opening car chase to the fiery inferno ending, Quantum of Solace is Bond at his best.
James Bond protects Camile from the fiery inferno in the closing scenes of QUANTUM OF SOLACE.
Daniel Craig reprises his
version of super spy James Bond with even greater depth than he did in “Royale”.
He literally makes the audience watch his every move because you never
know what he is thinking or doing next.
From flipping cell phones and hotel keys into the corners of scenery, to
his panache for acquiring motor vehicles, Craig keeps you guessing.
His Bond continues to evolve with every scene, from the fast cutting
conflicts with assassins to his cold, callous way of disposing a corpse.
This Bond is not to be messed with.
Barbara Broccoli and Michael
Wilson, the producers, deserve high praises for taking the series into a more
artistic direction. Where
director Martin Campbell painted his canvas in “Casino Royale”; leaving a
bare section that is uniquely painted in by Marc Forster, the director of
“Quantum”. Both
have different styles and pacing, with some nice juxtaposition touches by
Forster with scenes at a horse race and an Opera, but like a Monet painting you
really cannot see the entire picture unless you step back and take it all in.
After the unveiling, one can see the arc that Bond’s character takes in
“Royale” and completes at the end of “Quantum”.
His relationship with Vesper, the girl in Casino Royale, and why she
betrayed him comes full circle and how he turns his chaotic world into a
controlled force that makes him the cool agent under fire we all love.
Quantum begins with a beautiful aerial shot of mountains off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the scene quickly changes to Bond driving the Aston Martin DBS while being chased and attacked by unknown assassins in Alfa Romero cars. The editing is so brisk one can be forgiven for wondering if they are watching a Jason Bourne film. But that is where the similarity ends. The quick cutting is supposed to be chaotic and dizzy because it represents the current and confused world of James Bond. The countless kills he has done in the last few months and his mental attitude as to how he fits in this corrupt world. Who does he trust, who deserves to die? The body count continues to rise throughout the film until Bond changes from a destructive force into an agent who controls his aggressive behavior. In fact, he comes very close to shooting the Bond girl and himself when he realizes there is no other option. Fortunately for him, and the audience, he sees an escape and saves the day. A very unique scene in the 46 year old series.
Judi Dench gives yet another
superb performance as Bond’s chief “M” and she alone contributes the key
quote that sums up “Quantum”, “When
you can't tell your friends from your enemies, it's time to go.”
That line will echo throughout this film, for many who claim to be on
Bond’s good side will indeed show their true deceptive colors.
The
biggest surprise in this film is Olga Kurylenko, who plays Camille.
A woman Fleming would have written, “A bird with a wing down”.
Her back story is tragic and her motivation mirrors Bond’s in the
revenge department. Olga,
who is originally from the Ukraine, is terrific in this role and it is hard to
believe that she is not Hispanic.
She is completely believable and perhaps one of the best Bond girls in
recent memory.
Gemma
Arterton is the other female interest and is also excellent in her role as Agent
‘Strawberry’ Fields.
She falls for Bond’s seductive charm and ends up in an iconic position
that is both sexy and eerie.
Jeffrey
Wright returns in the role of Felix Leiter, the second actor to play the part in
two Bond films and the first time consecutively.
His presence is always welcomed and both he and Craig seem to be enjoying
their scenes together.
Giancarlo
Giannini also returns as Rene Mathis, the MI-6 agent who was last tassered in
“Royale”. He
is the father-figure to Bond and the healing link between his violent world and
civilization. A
vital character in Fleming’s novels Casino Royale and From Russia with Love,
he is the pivotal key to Bond’s sanity.
Other
members of the cast include Jesper Christensen as the elusive Mr. White.
David Harbour as arrogant CIA agent Gregg Beam, Anatole Taubman as bad
hair day Elvis, and Joaquin Cosio as power hungry General Medrano.
Every major character in the film is well developed.
My only complaint is with the henchman ‘Elvis’.
Somehow he got lost in translation.
I was never too sure what he was doing there and even his demise is over
too quickly. He
is certainly an interesting henchman, but so under developed that he simply
comes across as table dressing.
Lastly,
kudos goes to the villain Dominic Greene, played exceptionally well by Mathieu
Amalric. His
first appearance looks benevolent but he is as deadly as they come.
His character is more like Vladek Sheybal’s Kronsteen in “From Russia
with Love”. A
planner and a schemer who allows his men to do the dirty work but is not
reserved to fighting dirty himself if necessary.
He is the front man to Quantum’s latest conquest, the possession of 60%
of Bolivia’s water supply and the control of its new President Medrano.
It may not be the hijacking of NATO atomic bombs or the radiating of
America’s gold supply, but when water is a scarce commodity in a desert
region, owning it can lead to billions of revenue.
“Quantum
of Solace” is the shortest of all the Bond films clocking in at nearly 105
minutes. It may
be short in length but it is filled with superb film making that deflates the
current competition of super spies with the initials of JB.
Rated PG-13 for violence, language and subtle nudity.
Daniel Craig is by far the best actor to play the iconic British secret agent.
Aston Martin, maker of James
Bond's luxury sports car, said Monday that it is laying off as much as a third
of its work force because of falling sales during the economic slump.
The cuts involve a mix of full-time and temporary jobs at its plant in Gaydon
in western England.
"It is hoped to do this by minimizing the impact on employees as far as
possible, but the possibility of up to 300 permanent and a similar number of
temporary job losses cannot be ruled out," the company said in a statement.
It now employs 1,700 people in Britain.
Aston Martin sold 110 cars in Britain in October compared with 164 in the
same month last year. Total annual sales are expected to drop to 6,500 this year
compared to 7,300 this year.
The company's sticker price for its cheapest Vantage model is 83,000 pounds
($128,000) and prices run as high as 162,500 pounds ($250,000) for the DBS, the
car featured in the latest James Bond film, "Quantum of Solace."
"Like other premium car brands, Aston Martin has been forced to take
action to respond to the unprecedented downturn in the global economy. These are
regrettable but necessary measures in the extraordinary market conditions we all
now face," said chief executive Ulrich Bez.
"Overall, we remain confident that the Aston Martin brand is the
strongest it has ever been: with dedicated design, engineering and manufacturing
facilities and an award-winning product range, we remain well positioned for the
upturn in the economy."
The Unite union said it would oppose compulsory layoffs but would work with
the company to achieve voluntary departures.
"In the current climate, this is not surprising but we are extremely
disappointed" said Dave Osborne, a national officer for the union.
With
the world in economic chaos perhaps it is time for Bond to trade in the Aston
Martin for a Tata Nano - price tagged at only USD $2500.
On Tuesday, Dec. 23, the “Dave White Presents” broadcast on online radio station, KSAV will present an interview with “Spy-Fi” author and collector extraordinaire, Danny Beiderman. Making this a true “spy fest,” White will also broadcast Part One of Wes Britton's exclusive 45 minute interview with George Lazenby! There will be insights never heard before about his youth in Australia, becoming Bond, his work on the set of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and his time with Bruce Lee.
The premiere broadcast will take place at 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time, 10:30 EST at KSAV and the day after, Wed. Dec. 24, the show will be archived at Audio Entertainment.
Part Two of the Lazenby interview will air on our first show in January—news about that in the New Year.
Merry Christmas OO7!
