Cast or Miscast? With so many 007 fans still puzzled over how Daniel Craig was ever in the running for Bond, Why don't you try your hand at casting the next Bond with cast or miscast. Would this actor be miscast as Bond?
James Bond didn't need a reboot, but this website did. Its origins were as a site arguing that Pierce Brosnan should be kept on as Bond and calling for a boycott of Casino Royale. However, the consensus on our forum was that this no longer reflected our aims as an online community. This site has acquired a new function. Casino Royale created a sort of herd mentality on other Bond fansites. Those critical of the current orthodoxy on Craig have been made to feel unwelcome on the traditional James Bond forums and most have either left, had their account deleted, or stopped posting altogether. The Daniel Craig is not Bond forum provides a haven where people are free to debate the current direction of the Bond franchise in a democratic fashion.
THIS IS NOT A DANIEL CRAIG HATE SITE. Daniel Craig is not the devil, merely a talented actor who we feel was miscast as James Bond. For some of us, the issue is the fact that he looks so unlike any of the previous actors to play the role or any general conception of James Bond. Others feel that he appears too uncouth compared to the suave Bond we know and love. This was a widespread view when his name was first linked to the part, even from those who mysteriously fell into line when he was cast in November 2005.
Many of us are also unhappy at the decision to "reboot" the series, ignoring the previous 20 Bond films and starting the series again from scratch. We feel this was an unnecessary and cynical move, aimed at expanding the fanbase by disparaging a series of films that we love. Whilst few of us would object to the series changing to reflect audience tastes, Casino Royale and its attendant publicity seemed to send out the message to long term Bond fans that the previous films were all rubbish and you were idiots for enjoying them. Casino Royale set out to be a Bond film for people who don't like Bond films. Well, that ain't us! If this is Bond 2.1, then we preferred Bond 1.0.
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Veteran Hollywood actress Dame Judi Dench is all set to tell her life story as she's penning an autobiography.
The actress, who plays James Bond boss M in the super spy series, has teamed up with publisher Weidenfeld & Nicolson to write the memoir that is titled 'And Furthermore', reports imdb.com.
The memoir will document her lengthy career, as well as her 30-year marriage to actor Michael Williams, who died in 2001 after losing his battle with lung cancer.
The book is expected to hit shelves in October this year
MGM Said to Be Considering a Prepackaged Bankruptcy
MGM Said to Be Considering a Prepackaged Bankruptcy By MICHAEL J. de la MERCED NY Times Published: March 9, 2010
With about 10 days to go before the next round of bids are due, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is still considering other options to help reorganize its almost $4 billion debt load. The options include a potential stand-alone bankruptcy plan, people with direct knowledge of the matter said Tuesday.
MGM put itself up for sale last fall as part of an effort to pay off the debt it took on in a $5 billion leveraged buyout in 2004. Its 4,000-title film library and rights to the James Bond series and "The Hobbit" have attracted the eye of rival studios and private equity firms. But potential buyers have signaled that they were willing to pay only about $1.5 billion or so.
That may lead to MGM considering filing for a prearranged bankruptcy that would involve its creditors taking over the studio in exchange for forgiving their debt, these people said.
MGM has been working on potential alternatives to a sale for some time, having hired advisers like the boutique investment bank Moelis & Company and the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. In August, it hired the restructuring expert Stephen F. Cooper to help lead the company.
While a forbearance agreement MGM has struck with its lenders will expire on March 31, the company is likely to seek yet another extension of that agreement, one of these people said. But the studio must also contend with a $250 million revolving credit facility that matures early next month, this person added.
Any final decision is likely to come after March 31, this person said. An MGM spokeswoman, Susan Arons, declined to comment.
MGM has faced several complications in its efforts to reorganize its debt. Its lender group has about 140 members, led by JPMorgan Chase.
Jetpacks have been the object of desire for gadget aficionados ever since Sean Connery took to the skies with a Bell Rocket Belt in the 1965 James Bond movie, Thunderball.
Since then, a Hollywood obsession with personal flight has seen the likes of Robocop, Iron Man and even R2-D2 take flight with some form of propulsion technology.
It still seems like science fiction, but Martin Aircraft - a New Zealand company founded in 1988 - has turned it into reality with the world's first commercially available solution; the Martin Jetpack.
The device, pictured above, measures a significant 5ft in height, 5ft in length and 5.5ft in width, and weighs nearly 250kg. Designed to strap onto the back of a single person, it can provide an individual with up to 30 minutes of flight time.
14 Feb 2010 There is a new BBC Radio 4 adaption of Goldfinger. It follows the recent Dr. No adaption.
Ian Mckellen is Goldfinger Rosamund Pike (Die Anther Day) is Pussy Galore Toby Stephens returns as James Bond 007
Here's a bit of fun: Radio 4's James Bond adaptations are back at Easter with another instalment complete with a top cast:
"A brand-new radio recording of Ian Fleming's Goldfinger has been produced by Jarvis & Ayres, featuring an all-star cast and scheduled to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 over Easter weekend 2010.
Pierce Brosnan has revealed that he wouldn't mind his old job as James Bond back --and he doesn't know why he was was fired from the role in the first place.
In a recent ABC interview Brosnan stated:
"I was wondering why the door closed on me!,"I thought everything was going so well! You know 'Come back,' they say, 'Come back' and there you go! We won't talk about that."
He says he still enjoys being recognized and called James Bond "They call me out, 'Hey James, hey Bond,' and I wear it with pride," Brosnan said of his fans. "I had the greatest time in my life, making that character, being part of that franchise."
It's the first time Brosnan has revealed his true feelings about no longer being Bond having previously praised his successor Daniel Craig . Back in '04, he told Entertainment Weekly, "Bond is another lifetime .... behind me."
However he has never watched Craig fully in the role "I tried to watch it on a plane once," I thought, OK 37,000 feet, this is a good distance to watch it from. And I watched it and it broke down, and then they fixed it and it broke down again."
Sounds like he wouldn't mind another 007 role himself.
Brosnan's star power on rise with flurry of new films
BERLIN - It's shaping up to be a good year for Pierce Brosnan fans. The 56-year-old actor is in no less than four movies this season - the recent "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," in which he plays a centaur; "The Ghost Writer"; next month's "The Greatest," which teams him with Susan Sarandon; and "Remember Me," with "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson.
He refers to the last two as "bookends."
"In both I'm a grieving father. One is from Brooklyn, a very high-powered businessman and distant from the grief and the death. The other is a mathematician with a wife and a middle-class life, who is desperately coping with the loss of his son," he said.
First up, though, is "The Ghost Writer," in which he plays Adam Lang, a former British prime minister who hires a writer to complete his memoirs, an act which uncovers secrets and a web of deceit.
The thriller won Roman Polanski a Best Director award at the recent Berlin Film Festival.
Aussie Sam Worthington tipped to be next James Bond
* From: The Daily Telegraph * February 15, 2010 6:22PM
FRESH from his success as an intergalactic Avatar, betting agencies are tipping Sam Worthington to slide into James Bond's Aston Martin as the next 007.
The Australian hunk has become favourite, ahead of Will Smith to replace Daniel Craig as the famed British spy on the big screen.
Bill Gordon Designer of Arecibo Radio Telescope Dies
Bill Gordon Designer of Arecibo Radio Telescope Dies Friday, February 19, 2010 8:21 AM
February 18, 2010|By Thomas H. Maugh II LA TIMES
Bill Gordon, who designed a massive radio telescope in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, arranged funding, shepherded it through construction and was its first director, died Tuesday of natural causes in Ithaca, N.Y. He was 92.
Non-astronomers might not be familiar with the name of the Arecibo Observatory, but film buffs will recognize the massive dish, sunk in a limestone sinkhole in the picturesque hills of the island country and was featured in the 1997 film "Contact" and the 1995 James Bond film "GoldenEye."
We are not a publication that covers sports. I’m aware. But every once in a while the world of movies intersects with the world of sports, creating an awesome experience for everyone involved. Such is the case with South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-Na, who earlier this evening brought the house down at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver with a short program set to a medley of James Bond theme songs. With her exciting, James Bond-cool program, she has propelled herself into 1st place in the women’s competition after the first of two programs. Her 78.5 point score shattered he own world record, leaving the rest of the field in the dust.
Mr White actor Jesper Christensen says Craig Bonds are s**t!
Danish actor Jesper Christensen has dismissed the two rebooted "James Bond" films with Daniel Craig as s**t. Christensen, who played Mr. White in Casino Royale and it's sequel Quantum of Solace attacked the "predictability and quality of the two films he appeared in opposite Daniel Craig".
At the press conference for his new film "The Family" at the Berlin film festival, Christensen said that he is "happy that his interlude as a villain in the James Bond series is over."
"Today, I admit that I regard [Casino Royale] and [Quantum of Solace] as really ****. All the people die in them, so two movies are enough for me."
Barbie has been a childhood favorite for over 50 years, but next month, she will finally come in bikini form, as Mattel plans on releasing three James Bond Girls Barbie Dolls based on the classic film series.
Appropriately, Honey Ryder, the femme fatale played by Ursula Andress in the original 1962 Bond movie 'Dr. No,' is the first up to be released, clad in the white bikini that made Andress the target of every guys' crush. Subsequent Bond girls include Halle Berry's Jinx from 'Die Another Day' and, arguably the least subtle-name ever for a Bond girl, Pussy Galore, as played by Honor Blackman in 'Goldfinger' (in other words: these ladies may not be suitable for kids).
According to the doll's sellers, "What better way to celebrate the long-running film franchise than with this series of dolls depicting the legendary "Bond Girls"!"
Brosnan also revealed that he has never watched Daniel Craig as 007.
"I haven't seen Daniel in the role. I tried watching it on an airplane," he says. "I thought 37,000 feet was a good distance to watch it from and it broke down right at the beginning. The attendant came and changed it and it broke down a second time, so I figured 'OK. The Gods must be saying something . . .' ]
"So I never went near it! I just thought, 'let sleeping dogs lie.' I got the Academy screener for the last one and I turned it on for my boys and I left them to it. I didn't go near it."
The first round of bids for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer turned out a shade better than expected, but the offers aren't close to covering the $3.7 billion that is owed to lenders.
Bids ranged between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion, according to people with knowledge of the situation, and MGM has begun to explore how it could stage a streamlined "prepackaged" bankruptcy as part of the auction.
In all, MGM received interest from more than 10 suitors. Some made actual bids while others expressed interest but haven't submitted offers.
London, Jan 17 (ANI): Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the studio behind the James Bond franchise, could end up getting a Bollywood makeover if a billion-dollar movie deal goes through.
MGM is in a financial crunch right now, and is set to be bailed out by Indian movie giants Reliance Big Pictures, which is owned by tycoon Anil Ambani, 60.
Ambani wants to snap up MGM for a knockdown price of about 1.5 billion dollars, and a source close to him has revealed he wants buy the studio to help his bid to become the world's most powerful movie mogul.
If the deal goes through, Ambani will gain the rights to the Bond movies.
Ambani already owns a stake in Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks studio and has struck deals with Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Jim Carrey and Julia Roberts to develop their films.
"Anil is desperate to become the biggest mover and shaker in world movies and buying MGM is central to that plan," the Daily Star quoted a source as saying.
"Archer": The spy who shoved me FX's animated James Bond parody injects cheap sex and hand-to-hand combat into the workplace comedy Sterling Archer is a square-jawed international spy who's also a bit of a tool. He hates his bossy mother (who is also his boss). He hates his bossy ex-girlfriend (who is also his co-worker and a fellow spy). He wants his mom to listen to him, and he wants his ex to dump her wimpy boyfriend and take him back. Occasionally, he kills people by accident. ("I'll fetch the rug," offers his butler, Woodhouse [George Coe], in a matter-of-fact tone, as if he's merely fetching the morning paper.)
In other words, Archer is just like James Bond, only he's self-centered, ineffectual, hopelessly arrogant and prone to firing his weapons in the middle of a crowded office. In turn, FX's animated comedy "Archer" (premieres 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14) is just like a James Bond movie, only it's faster-paced, less realistic, more depraved, more mean-spirited, more violent, and it includes lots of potty humor, dirty jokes and cheap shots at Dane Cook.
Matt Damon has starred as Jason Bourne in two movies but was among the actors considered to be the next 007.
Matt Damon as Bond? First choices for roles intriguing
Matt Damon as James Bond? Will Smith as Captain America? Sean Connery as Obi-Wan Kenobi? Or Gandalf? Nicolas Cage as Superman? Leonardo DiCaprio as Spider-Man? Or Heath Ledger?
They all could have happened if things had gone as originally planned.
For example, Damon was among the actors under consideration to be the next 007 when producers and the studio were unsure whether they were going to radically re-imagine the concept.
Some thought went into an American Bond, and Damon's performance in "The Bourne Identity" (2002) was enough to garner him some consideration for the role.
This was, of course, before Universal Pictures decided to turn the Bourne character and concepts into a franchise.
Mr. Kate Winslet MIGHT Be The Next 007 Director or "CONSULTANT" on James Bond 23
With MGM currently having financial problems and facing a possible sale, all of the studio's projects are in a state of flux, and are proceeding either very carefully or in some cases, not at all. The biggest of them all is definitely James Bond 23, which is controlled by EON Productions and the Broccoli family estate. Because of the situation with MGM, EON is making a cautious move; they're not hiring a director yet (which would move the project into the next stage of finances), but are instead in talks with Sam Mendes (Away We Go, I) to come aboard as a "consultant." That's a sort of wink-wink-nudge-nudge way of saying they want him to be the director, but can't call him that just yet. Sam Mendes is one of the most critically acclaimed directors working today, and he's already worked with Daniel Craig before, on 2002's Road to Perdition. If Mendes does eventually sign on to direct James Bond 23, he will be one of the most high-profile directors to ever direct a Bond movie.
Pre-production has been halted and filming postponed while the future of the Bond franchise hangs in the balance.
The 23rd Bond film was to have been bankrolled by MGM but the Hollywood studio is up for sale in a bid to clear mounting debts.
The 007 blockbusters are a lucrative franchise and could be sold off. "In the words of another great British hero, Antarctic explorer Captain Oates, the next James Bond movie may be some time," said Terence Doyle, editor of British Film Magazine.
Michael G Wilson, who produces the Bond films with Barbara Broccoli, admitted: "We just don't know enough about the situation to comment but we know it's uncertain."
The earliest a new film is likely to go into production is at the end of this year...
by Clint Morris (Moviehole.net Monday, December 21st, 2009 at 7:18 am )
If you're expecting, what after the dark antics of "Casino Royale" and "Quantum of Solace", for the Bond series to now return a lighter, campier, more Roger Moore-ish tone, you're going to be sadly disappointed or, much more likely, as pleased as a hooker at a winning poker machine. Bond 23 scribe Peter Morgan ("The King of Scotland") says the next film will be darker than Darth Vader's doona cover.
Morgan said he and co-writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (who wrote the previous two films in the series) have come up with "a shocking story" for the new film.
He didn't elaborate, in fact, he didn't really say anything else about the story other than that - that it'll be "shocking" - but I think we can all agree that after the dissapointing "Quantum of Solace" it's reassuring to know the uber-talented Morgan is onboard, and, if his words are anything to go by, planning on offering up a story a little more stimulating than the lukewarm yarn told in "Solace".
Pre-production on Bond 23 begins in February, at which time the financially-fucked MGM should have a new buyer. It's believed the Lion's new owner will immediately greenlight Bond 23 to help recoup some of the coin they've just shelled out on buying the company. Expect the film sometime late 2011
David Tennant said he and former James Bond actor Timothy Dalton showed their mutual respect by breaking into a singsong of each other's theme tunes.
Dashing Dalton, who starred as 007 in films The Living Daylights and Licence To Kill, will play The Narrator in Doctor Who over Christmas, as David makes his final journey.
Full details of Dalton's character are being kept under wraps, but there has been speculation that he will be a "baddie".
Praising Dalton's down-to-earth attitude to the Radio Times, David said: "He was lovely."
He continued: "He had the panache and the skill of a movie star, without any of the alarming eccentricities or peculiar demands.
"At one point, he was singing the Doctor Who theme tune to me as I sang the James Bond theme tune to him!"
The grand finale, titled The End Of Time, will be shown in two parts and see David bow out as the 10th Doctor, before regenerating into actor Matt Smith.
The episodes will see the Doctor's psychotic nemesis the Master, played by Life On Mars actor John Simm, re-born.
Bernard Cribbins, Catherine Tate and June Whitfield will also make appearances.
:: The full interview appears in the latest issue of the Radio Times.
This sale price is part of Amazon.com's Lightning Deals, their Black Friday Week Sale and is only available for a limited time starting at 4:45 A.M. PST Nov 27th. and ending at 8 A.M., good while supplies last.
The James Bond Blu-ray 10 pack consist of * Dr. No * From Russia with Love * Goldfinger * Thunderball * Live and Let Die * Moonraker * For Your Eyes Only * The World is Enough * Die Another Day * Quantum of Solace
Syfy -- the network formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel -- will be running a marathon of James Bond movies, beginning with "Dr. No" at 8 a.m. Thursday and continuing until 4 a.m. Saturday.
Roger Moore wins award for anti-foie gras campaign
LONDON (Reuters) - Former James Bond actor Roger Moore has been named 2009 Person of the Year by the UK branch of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) pressure group for his campaign against foie gras.
The 82-year-old star joined the campaign three years ago when he narrated a PETA documentary depicting the treatment of birds used in the production of foie gras, which PETA said was banned in the United Kingdom although selling it was not.
PETA said the video had been viewed more than 300,000 times on its websites.
Moore also wrote to members of parliament to enlist their support in getting foie gras off the shelves, penned columns in national newspapers and magazines on the issue and coined the phrase "torture in a tin."
Foie gras, a popular product of French cuisine, is made from the liver of a duck or goose which has typically been force-fed corn mash.
PETA said the animals lived in "constant fear and stress" because of the practice and many were unable to move because of their diseased livers.
"I am deeply touched and thrilled to be awarded the PETA UK Person of the Year," Moore said in a statement. "When I first saw their video footage on foie gras production three years ago, I felt compelled to do something to help put a stop to this cruel delicacy."
Hilarious Exaggeration: The James Bond Franchise Worth $1.5
Hilarious Exaggeration of the Day: The James Bond Franchise is Worth $1.5 Billion Written by S.T. VanAirsdale | 12 Nov 2009, 3:40 PM |
Things were going so well for Ron Grover in his piece about MGM's slow plunge toward insolvency. There was the news that the studio's creditors declined an equity stake in the company as part of its restructuring, and then, once again, there were those mind-blowing figures we’re so used to reading in any discussion of MGM's flagging fortunes: $3.7 billion in debt, with the creditors balking at another $1.2 billion in new debt to help get the studio’s production slate going. Instead, they want a buyer — and they're not above selling the Lion for parts, including The Hobbit, the vast film library and the James Bond franchise. Which is where it gets a little tricky.
According to Grover's report, recently installed studio CEO Stephen Cooper expressed doubt that he could "get more than $1.5 billion for the studio, which is roughly what MGM's rights to the James Bond franchise alone might be worth." That stat isn't attributed to any specific valuation data or comparables, but let's just say the number, like its source, is probably high.
Not that you can't appreciate a little modest inflation in the press to help get the bidding started behind the scenes. Still: $1.5 billion? The last five Bond films grossed a combined $2.3 billion globally, which sounds great until you realize it took 11 years to generate it and MGM only keeps roughly half of it. Add on maybe another $50-$80 million annually going forward based on when a new DVD is released (and whatever other reissues you've got), and you’re still waiting almost a generation to turn a actual profit — by which time you've recast the role at least twice, and who knows if a 60-year-old franchise can even work. Nothing's come close. Of course, this all would also imply that the studio — which was valued at $5 billion in 2004 — has lost all of its value outside the Bond franchise, which seems like more than a stretch for an institution with more than 4,000 movies sitting in its vault.
So what’s Bond really worth? Who knows? $500 million? $600 million? As suggested last week with another high-gloss Hollywood franchise on the block, throw it on eBay and find out. Anything that preserves MGM's magnificent Hot Tub Time Machine for a timely January release is worth it.
On a list of cool things to find in a scrapyard, this has to be near the top. It has seen better days but the battered contraption in front of me is one of the coolest vehicles of all time.
Anyone with a passing interest in James Bond will recognise the car as the Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me, the one that turns into a submarine as Roger Moore drives it into the sea.
This slice of petrolhead cinema history was found a few years ago on a scrapyard in the Bahamas and bought by car-crazy former dentist Peter Nelson.
It sits next to a rather more-spruced up version of the same car. The shinier car was also used in the film but wasn't adapted for underwater manoeuvres. Together they are among the star exhibits on display in one of the world's most unlikely museums.
The Bond Museum, which opened in April, is in an unexpected location, the cutesy town of Keswick in the English Lake District.
Activision Announce New James Bond To Replace Daniel Craig
In a very surprising move, Activision have made a very interesting change to their current line up of James Bond titles. Namely in the fact that the current actor playing James Bond, Daniel Craig, will not be reprising his role for the company's latest Bond title.
The actor scheduled to replace Craig is Adam Croasdell. You might not know him by name, but some of you may know him for his work on UK soap EastEnders, playing the role of Dr Al Jenkins.
Mel Gibson missed Bond role because he was 'too short'
Mel Gibson wanted to play the coveted role of James Bond but was turned down by legendary 007 producer Cubby Broccoli, scriptwriter Tom Mankiewicz has revealed.
Speaking at a Bond convention in Los Angeles, Mankiewicz, who scripted Live And Let Die and The Man With The Golden Gun, said Gibson's 5ft 9in frame took him out of the race for the spy's role.
"At one point Mel Gibson wanted to play Bond," the Daily Express quoted Mankiewicz, as saying.
He added: "And Cubby was against it. Cubby first of all had a thing about tall people. Bond had to be tall. And so Mel Gibson was too short. But he was a big star. Somebody at United Artists said to me, 'Call him and tell him Mel Gibson would be great.' And Cubby said, 'I don't want to make a Mel Gibson movie, I want to make a James Bond movie.'"
Quentin Tarantino: 'Daniel Craig Shouldn't Be James Bond'
Quentin Tarantino: 'Daniel Craig Shouldn't Be James Bond'
Jul 27 2009
Daniel Craig wouldn't be playing James Bond -- if director Quentin Tarantino had his way.
The eccentric movie maker said he would like to have directed Casino Royale -- but with Pierce Brosnan as the suave British spy.
"The reason they did Casino Royale all comes down to me," Quentin said.
"I made it a point, I said I wanted to do Casino Royale. They were already on record as saying the movie was unfilmable but then after I said it and talked about it for a little bit -- then the big thing on all the internets was that that was what all the fans wanted to see and so that's when they said, 'Oh, maybe it's not so un-filmable.'
"Actually if I had done the film, I wouldn't have done it with Daniel Craig, I would have done it with Pierce Brosnan."
Joseph Wisman, the actor who portrayed Doctor No in the film of the same name, the first screen outing of James Bond has died aged 91.
Wiseman died on Monday 19th October 2009 at his home in Manhattan. He was 91, and the last surviving main villain of the James Bond films that Sean Connery made for EON Productions. His daughter, Martha Graham Wiseman, confirmed the death, saying her father had recently been in declining health. His first marriage, to Nell Kinard, ended in divorce; his second wife, the choreographer Pearl Lang, died in February. In addition to his daughter, Martha, from his marriage to Ms. Kinard, Mr. Wiseman is survived by a sister, Ruth Wiseman
