Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang; the official James Bond Thread

[Hardknock]

I agree that Goldeneye was Brosnan's best work as Bond. It hink it had the swagger of the Bond mentality. It had the charm, action and it actually had a plot that we were all eager to follow.

[pan6467]

Personally, i have always thought a great (maybe the best) Bond movie idea would be to take the actor leaving (in this case Brosnan) and show him as 007 training the next "James Bond" then as the "kid" is about to take over the original gets killed off by SPECTRE and goes from there or the original feeling betrayed turns into a SPECTRE agent and the new Bond has to kill him.

I know it sounds corny, but, no more so than what Star Trek did in "Generations".

Just think if they had had Connery or Moore training Brosnan to be Bond and then killed off Connery/Moore or worse yet turned them into SPECTRE agents. The script would have to be really good but I think it could be doable and make one hell of a Bond movie.

Course They have been predicting the end to Bond movies since Connery left and the pitiful movies of Tim Dalton, Bond always seems to come back better and stronger.

[Paradise Lost]

Originally Posted by ICER

Kind of brave to name it 'Casino Royale' which was a name of a movie in the 60's the spoofed Bond in a very indignant way.

I would think its great news, once I know who gets to play Bond. Are there in any names floating around? any ideas?

Dude, Casino Royale was the original Bond movie to be released. (Although
I think it was shown on TV, rather than the theaters.) It was also a
James Bond book, I believe written by Ian Fleming.

[pan6467]

Originally Posted by Paradise Lost

Dude, Casino Royale was the original Bond movie to be released. (Although
I think it was shown on TV, rather than the theaters.) It was also a
James Bond book, I believe written by Ian Fleming.

It was written by Ian Fleming and the original movie was a very funny (if odd Brit humor is what you like) parody. It was very close to the book, with only comedy added.

It was David Niven as Bond, Woody Allen as his son, and had a pretty good cast.

It'll be interesting to see what they do with this movie.

[Val_1]

Dude, Casino Royale was the original Bond movie to be released

Technically ,yes. Casino Royale was the first James Bond book. It was also adapted as a CBS made for TV movie (making it the first James Bond movie, yes).

But, the Casino Royale that most people are aware of is the 1967 comedy with Davin Niven and Peter Sellers. That movie did not follow the book at all. The movie studio had the rights to the title and the character name "James Bond". That is the only simularity between the (1967) movie and the book. The first official theatrical movie is still Dr No (1962).

Using Casino Royale as a basis for the new Bond movie is a bit daring, considering most Bond purists despise the '67 movie. I love it, but I'm a fan of really cheesy movies and only a casual Bond fan.

[Willravel]

Casino Royale - James Bond Begins?
24th February 2005


"Casino Royale", the 21st James Bond film due out in 2006, will be taking 007 back to his roots according to an interview with director Martin Campbell. "Casino Royale" was Ian Fleming's first Bond novel, and it seems the film series will be rewinding back to 007's early career when he first started out in the Double-O section.


If you are unfamiliar with Ian Fleming's 1953 novel, click here for a literary primer.


Bond Begins
Speaking to the New York Daily News, Martin Campbell (who also directed the 1995 Bond film "GoldenEye) revealed the concept behind "Casino Royale" and how the character will be unlike anything we have seen before...


"There are things that will have to be changed from the original novel. The Cold War elements will have to be reconfigured, for example, but 'Casino Royale' will be a grittier, tougher and more realistic Bond movie. We'll be getting away from the huge visual effects kind of films."


"In the new film, Bond is essentially starting out in his career, and has just recently become part of the double-0 section. The idea is to put a bit of the dash back in Bond. By the end of the movie, the character will have been forged into the wiser, harder Bond we know."


"The door is open for Bond, emotionally. "He's in love with Vesper [Lynd] and he sees there's another side to all of this, that life might be far more pleasurable, more gratifying, than being a secret agent. And ultimately that door is slammed in his face, which makes him the tempered steel kind of guy that we know."


On the subject of the graphic torture that Bond suffers at the hands of Le Chiffre, Campbell said "I don't know what we're going to do about that. It ranks up there with the teeth-drilling scene in 'Marathon Man.' I'm looking forward to humanizing Bond a bit. In the novel, Bond smokes 70 cigarettes a day - unbelievable. And he gets a little drunk."


Official Announcement
MGM and Eon Productions officially announced the film earlier this month in a statement that also confirmed Martin Campbell as director and that no casting decisions on the role of James Bond had been made.

The idea of telling Bond's first adventure goes back to 1985/6 when MG Wilson suggested the idea. According to THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS dvd, Wilson had tentative plans to have Dalton or Brosnan's first film depict Bond's very first mission but Broccoli vetoed that idea. This is official, as Martin Campbell has announced it and it was backed by MGM and Eon Productions.

We will see Bond on his first adventure. We will see a younger Bond who is still a bit green. This will give the Bond team a great opporunity to have some real character development, as opposed to having a movie heavy in fluff, effects, and generic formula. This is the first real opportunity in over 12 years to fix some of the things Dalton and Moore messed up.

[Willravel]

PM me if you want to know the final three contenders for the part of James Bond, as I now know for sure their identities.

[Willravel]

GUESS WHAT?! I KNOW WHO THE NEXT JAMES BOND IS!!!!!! James Bond fans rejoice, for we have Bond #6. Ladies and gentelmen, I give you the Clive Owen interview at the premier of Sin City.
Interviewer: "Yes to Bond or no to Bond?"
Owen: nodding his head"I'm pretty busy for a while." nodding more and smiling, after a glance from his publicist
Other interviewer: "Is ther any truth to the James Bond rumors, then?"
Owen: nodding and grinning like he's about to explode"I'm pretty busy for a while."

[Gilda]

Originally Posted by guthmund

I'm glad that Bond is safe for a while longer. I've always liked Brosnan, but I think he came into the Bond game a bit too late. It's a shame he was stuck with mediocre writing, bad directing and came on right after the Timothy Dalton fiasco/crap.

It's worse than that. Brosnan had been signed to be the successor to Moore in the role, but the producers of his tv show, Remington Steele took adavantage of the publicity to renew his contract (the series had been cancelled) and made a small number of bad, low rated tv movies with the character.

Meanwhile Dalton was cast as Brosnan's replacement, and basicallly stepped into production of The Living Daylights at the last second. It hadn't been written with his style--darker, harder-edged--in mind, so it was a bit off for some people. His second movie was much better, written to take advantage of his portrayal, which is easily the closest to the book Bond, and the least dependant upon gadgets of any of the later Bonds.

Kevin McClory had been suing EON in an increasingly irrational claim to ownership of the Bond character, and production had to be shut down for four years while things were worked out in court. Wilson and Broccoli stood by Dalton, but he decided his time had passed, and when the courts had finally dealt with McClory, EON resigned Brosnan, this time free and clear.

Had it not been for the Remington Steele producers, we could have had at least two earlier Brosnan Bonds, and had it not been for McClory, we'd have had at least two more Dalton Bonds in the mid 90's, and possibly more.

I, for one, would love to have seen two more Dalton Bond's, to see what would have been done with scritps deliberately tailored to his style and his finally having grown into the role. Two just wasn't enough.

Now, of course the real question here is who will be the new Bond babes? It goes without question that the hottest Bond babe of all time is Daniela Bianchi (FRWL, the best Bond of all time), and it would be fruitless to try to top her.

On Lazenby: On Her Majesty's Secret Service is one of the best Bond movies, but Lazenby was a dud. The script was clever, a good adaptation of the book, and some of the best use of Bond surviving on wits, guts, and intelligence rather than pulling a gadget out of his pocket. It works despite Lazenby's wooden performance.

[Willravel]

Clive Owen is James Bond in Casion Royal, due November 17th 2006.

[Fremen]

Originally Posted by willravel

Clive Owen is James Bond in Casion Royal, due November 17th 2006.

I thought they were trying for a younger, greener James Bond in Casino Royale?
Clive Owen looks old enough to nicely walk in to the Bond role as we know and love him, right now.
Does this mean he won't continue to play him, afterwards?

I know you don't know, I'm just putting it out there for consideration.

[Willravel]

In Ian Flamming's Casino Royal, Bond is out on his first mission as a 00. He was in British intelligence from his mid 20s to early 30s. In his mid 30s, he was serving in a world war in the Royal Navy. Bond joined MI6 at maybe 34-35, and became a 00 at 37. Claive owen, at 40, can probably play a 37 year old pretty well. According to rumors, Owen is signed for 3 pictures.

[Gilda]

In the novel Casino Royale Bond is 32 (explicitly stated in the book). It's frequently been remarked as an interesting coincidence that Connery was the same age when he first played Bond.

However, we're talking about the movie Bond, who has been frozen in his mid-forties or so since they abandoned continuity and Roger Moore took over the role in the mid-70's. He's like a comic book character or pulp detective; he stays the same age over a period of decades.

[Willravel]

Originally Posted by Gilda

In the novel Casino Royale Bond is 32 (explicitly stated in the book). It's frequently been remarked as an interesting coincidence that Connery was the same age when he first played Bond.

I hope you can show me in the book (chapter, paragraph, sentence) where it says Bond is 32 (as a favor, I would never demand such a thing). According to everything I know of Bond, he was in the war at 32. Thanks for your interest.

[Gilda]

Ok, I've looked, and it appears to have been a phantom memory. I must have been confusing Connery's age with Bond's. According to this, Bond is stated as 37 in Moonraker, and his birthdate is established as being 1924 in You Only Live Twice which would make him six years younger than indicated in Moonraker. Backdating to Casino Royale would make him either 29 or 35, depending upon which reference you believe.

This chronology has Bond being born in 1920 and Casion Royale occurring in 1951 (backdated from Goldfinger) which would make Bond 1931.

I think at best, we can never be sure of Bond's age, except that he must be somewhere in his 30's or early 40's for all of his adventures (he can't be 45 or older).

In the movies, however, it's a different Bond. He's roughly in his late 30's/early 40's and his age is frozen in that nebulous area. I agree that Clive Owen is a good age for Bond, but I could have accepted Brosnan also. He can play a few years younger than his 51, and I'd have no problem with a 45 year old Bond. He's probably good for three or four, like Brosnan, and I seriously doubt we'll ever see an actor go seven like Connery and Moore did.

[Bossnass]

From Fark:

Daniel Craig 'the next James Bond'

http://icseftonandwestlancs.icnetwor...name_page.html

Granted this is from a source I've never heard of using the Sun as a source.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2...53055,,00.html

He doesn't look like a Bond to me, but it is a week late for April fools. Is there a produced named Barbarra Brocolli?


Also, from a day or two ago;

http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlf...ck%20as%20bond

Saying that Brosan isn't 100% out.

Shrug.

[archer2371]

I hope this is just a rumor or a really bad dream....

[guthmund]

Fark to the rescue...

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.new...ess=1&id=73378

Daniel Craig denies James Bond role


LONDON, April 6. — British actor Daniel Craig has said he was not going to be the next James Bond, following a flurry of stories today claiming he had won the part. A spokeswoman for the star of the hit gangster movie Layer Cake denied the reports but wouldn’t comment further. Eon Productions, which makes the Bond movies, also refused to comment. This means that fellow British actor Clive Owen may still be in the running to take over from Pierce Brosnan. Other names mentioned to play the 007 role have included Eric Bana, Jude Law, Heath Ledger, Ewan McGregor, Dougray Scott and Australian Hugh Jackman. The next James Bond movie, Casino Royale, is being directed by Martin Campbell, who first took the helm on Goldeneye in 1995. The Sun today claimed that Craig had been offered a three-film deal by producer Barbara Broccoli. — PTI

I really, really hope that Owen is the next Bond. I don't really like him all that much (especially after that horrible, horrible movie about King Arthur), but he's really the lesser of all the other evils. I can't think of any other actor whose name has been attached that could do it other than Owen.

[archer2371]

*phew* Thanks guthmund (I no longer visit Fark) I could kiss you right now for bringing me that news.

[Willravel]

The final decision of James Bond #6 are scheduled to occour this week.

Casino Royale - April Report
6th April 2005

MI6 can confirm that final decisions on the future of the James Bond role are being made this week in Los Angeles, USA. All of the movers and shakers in the franchise are in LA to iron out the final creases in the plan that will usher in 007 for "Casino Royale". Big decisions are being finalized and news is sure to break soon.

Traditionally, the announcement of a new James Bond would take place in a top London Hotel, with invitations sent out to the press the day before. With the final moves being made in LA, this could change with Bond #6.

From this MI6 article.

[guthmund]

Originally Posted by archer2371

*phew* Thanks guthmund (I no longer visit Fark) I could kiss you right now for bringing me that news.

Bring beer and tacos. I likes to be wined and dined first.

[Willravel]

Apologies for the tardiness. Daniel Craig is James Bond #6. The announcment came on Friday, October 14, from producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Born in 1968, DANIEL CRAIG was raised on the Wirral nr. Liverpool. He moved to London to join the National Youth Theatre at the age 17 and continued his training at the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama. CRAIG has since become regarded as one of Britain's finest actors securing a variety of roles in television, theatre and film.

He is currently filming a thriller alongside Nicole Kidman, "The Visiting", and has two films in post-production; Steven Spielberg's "Munich" and Douglas McGrath's "Every Word Is True", co-starring Sandra Bullock and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Recent film credits include Sam Mendes' "The Road to Perdition", "The Mother", "Sylvia", and last year he received much critical acclaim for Matthew Vaughn's "Layer Cake" as well as Roger Michell's "Enduring Love".

Currently, the script is being polished by Academy Award®-nominated writer, Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby).

[djflish]

I'm a fan of Daniel Craig and I think he's a really good choice and I'm looking forward to seeing him take on Bond. But no one else I've spoken to does!
My friend Matt said it's because he doesn't look like the underdog. He looks like he would win a scrap, whereas all the other Bond's looked they should probably lose the fight.....

[Willravel]

I'm totally stoaked about Daniel Craig as the new Bond. Layer Cake showed that he has the magnatism to pull a sstory like Casino Royale to me. I suggest to watch Layer Cake if you haven't, it's quite good. Check out highlights from the official announcement (9.80MB, Windows Media).

[Willravel]

I'm starting to think that most people don't really care anymore. Hopefully Martin Campbell and Daniel Craig can fix that. If I get over to Prague in time for shooting, I'll try to send back pics of the sets or maybe even the stars.

[Cynthetiq]

Originally Posted by willravel

I'm starting to think that most people don't really care anymore. Hopefully Martin Campbell and Daniel Craig can fix that. If I get over to Prague in time for shooting, I'll try to send back pics of the sets or maybe even the stars.

I don't give a crap about James Bond anymore in the same manner that I don't give a crap about Saturday Night Live. I used to love both franchises...

They are franchises that are past their prime, hackneyed and played out.

[Willravel]

Have you ever seen a franchise that was brought back from the dead? What about Batman Begins? Damn good, IMHO. Do you think it's possible that, because they are abandoning the sci-fi, cliche-filled, hollywood crap version of Bond, it might be worth seeing? This Bond is going to be more to the tune of From Russia with Love (real spy story, in the clasic style of Ian Flemming, good acting/direvcting/etc., not reliant on gadgets and hollywood cliches), not Die Another Day (a plane on fire for a half an hour and an invisible Aston).

[Cynthetiq]

Originally Posted by willravel

Have you ever seen a franchise that was brought back from the dead? What about Batman Begins? Damn good, IMHO. Do you think it's possible that, because they are abandoning the sci-fi, cliche-filled, hollywood crap version of Bond, it might be worth seeing? This Bond is going to be more to the tune of From Russia with Love (real spy story, in the clasic style of Ian Flemming, good acting/direvcting/etc., not reliant on gadgets and hollywood cliches), not Die Another Day (a plane on fire for a half an hour and an invisible Aston).

Yes, I did see Batman Begins, I thought it was just above marginal at best, especially when it's asking $10.50 of my hard earned dollars.

Again, rehashing the same brand that's been beaten to a pulp. (Personally I liked the Tim Burton as that captured the Dark Knight in it's darkest moments for me)

I did love the older parts of the Bond series, and if they can renergize it I guess that's great, but with other franchises that are now taking the torch from Alias to XXX the Bond series doesn't have much to distinguish itself anylonger in the playfield.

[Willravel]

Bond is nothing like xXx. Let's not be mean.

Perhaps a better example is in order. Did you see the oroginal adaptation of the Bourne Identity? In 1988 a mimiseries based on the Ludlum classic starring Richard Chamberlin aired. Despite what IMDB writers will tell you (yes, sometimes they're wrong), it was of poor quality. I remember watching it with my dad after having the book read to me as a child. It was extremly dissapointing. Fast forward to 2002, and we see Matt Damon actually do the character justice. I mean any fan of the Bourne series knows that the movie adaptations take creative license with the storyline, but for once the creative direction is really good. It goes along with the style of Ludlum in Identity, Supremacy, and Ultimadum quite well. It was really popular and didn't have to rely on old spy cliches and stupid, unbelievable stunts. This is why I think the new Bond will have a different audience than Die Another Day.

[Willravel]

Recent News Update...

According to movie website JoBlo, the teaser trailer for the forthcoming James Bond film Casino Royale may not be far away.

The site reports that Sony Pictures' "The Da Vinci Code", which opens on May 19th in the USA and UK, will carry the Casino Royale teaser trailer in theatres. The 21st Bond film opens on November 17th.

MI6 Note: "Die Another Day" had its first teaser trailer unveiled on May 17th 2002 ahead of a November 20th 2002 release, so the rumoured timescale seems appropriate.

http://www.mi6.co.uk/news/index.php?itemid=3267

This gives me a reason to go see The Divinci Code. I hope they are able to put together a convincing teaser, so as to prove to peple that this movie is truely and entirely different than Die Anoter Day.

Casting...
Confirmed-
James Bond: Daniel Craig
M:Judi Dench
Unconfirmed-
Vesper Lynd: Rose Byrne
Demetrius: Simon Abkarian
Solonge, Demetrius's girlfriend: Caterina Murino
Henchman: Seydina Baldi
Le Chifffre: Unknown, the character is rumored to have been changed or removed.

[Willravel]

Well, it's time!!! Shooting has begun and we've gotten our first papparazi pics. Warning: these pics could contain spoilers Spoiler: becuase they show Daniel Criag with a fake wound on his tempel, from a fight scene they are filming this week.
Picture 1
Picture 2

[snowy]

Daniel Craig is going to be a great Bond...

He's just so hunky.

[Willravel]

Casting...
Now Confirmed-
James Bond: Daniel Craig
M: Judi Dench
Vesper Lynd: Eva Green
Felix Leiter: Jeffry Wright
Demetrius: Simon Abkarian
Solonge, Demetrius's girlfriend: Caterina Murino
Villiers: Tobias Menzies
Valenka: Ivana Millicevic
Kratt: Clemens Schik
Mendel: Ludger Pistor
Carlos: Claudio Santamaria
Le Chifffre: Mads Mikkelsen

[sailor]

I think Eva Green will do a good job, and be a bit different than the standard Bond girl. She's very beautiful, but not quite in the swimsuit-model way that so many of them are. I think it'll work out well.

Can't wait to see what they do with this...

[Willravel]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/u...wm_4791276.stm

First ever video of Casino Royale.

[guthmund]

Originally Posted by onesnowyowl

Daniel Craig is going to be a great Bond...

He's just so hunky.

Really?!?

I think he's going to be pretty good, but the majority of the opinions I get all seem to center around the fact that he's an incredibly unattractive guy.

He's too short.
He's too ugly.
Look at that face..
et cetera, et cetera.

I thought he was fantastic in Layer Cake and I think he'll make a pretty good Bond as long as the is a fairly good story there to work with. He's 'gritty' and I think James Bond is overdue for some 'grit.'

btw: thanks for the vid, willravel

[Willravel]

Originally Posted by guthmund

Really?!?

I think he's going to be pretty good, but the majority of the opinions I get all seem to center around the fact that he's an incredibly unattractive guy.

He's too short.
He's too ugly.
Look at that face..
et cetera, et cetera.

According to my wife, a connoisseur of good looking guys, Daniel Craig is gorgeous.

Now I can't really say if he's gorgeous, but I can see that he's ripped and he has no acne. Besides that, he can act.

Originally Posted by guthmund

I thought he was fantastic in Layer Cake and I think he'll make a pretty good Bond as long as the is a fairly good story there to work with. He's 'gritty' and I think James Bond is overdue for some 'grit.'

btw: thanks for the vid, willravel

No problemo. I've been struggling to keep this thread updated. Layer Cake has been one of my favorite movies for years, and it really does speak in volumes for Daniel Craig's skill as an actor. Pierce Brosnan was a victim of bad writing. I've already read the script for CR. It's magnificant. Die Another Day was a fun movie, but it lacked in the serious nature that Bond was given by Ian Fleming in the best selling novels. That is the Bond of CR. This movie is more in line with Bourne than xXx, which makes me happy. I also think that Craig can beat Matt Damon in a fight, so I'm happy.


Edit: Daniel Craig stole Sienna Miller from Jude Law, that's gotta count for something.

[snowy]

Originally Posted by willravel

According to my wife, a connoisseur of good looking guys, Daniel Craig is gorgeous.

I think I like your wife. I think she and I would get along just fine.

[Willravel]

Did some searching, and I think this is the best of the recent video interviews to come from the CR set in the Bahamas:
BBC Interviews

[Vizzini]

503 days since you opened this thread willtravel, good job keeping the interest alive.

I for one am thinking CR is shaping up to be a pretty decent looking flick. Daniel Craig was a good pick, the director is proven, and I like how it the movie seems to be going back to its roots.

They better bring back Q though...