Posts Tagged ‘James Bond’

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Sam Mendes Will Not Direct Bond 24

6, Mar 2013

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It’s no doubt disheartening news for the producers, but Skyfall director Sam Mendes has confirmed that he will not return to direct the next installment of the James Bond franchise.

“It has been a very difficult decision not to accept Michael [Wilson] and Barbara [Broccoli]’s very generous offer to direct the next Bond movie,” Mendes has said. “Directing Skyfall was one of the best experiences of my professional life, but I have theatre and other commitments, including productions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and King Lear, that need my complete focus over the next year and beyond.”

Regarding the split, producers Wilson and Broccoli have commented, “We thoroughly enjoyed working with Sam, he directed our most successful Bond movie ever, Skyfall. We would have loved to have made the next film with him but completely respect his decision to focus on other projects and hope to have the opportunity to collaborate with him again.”

So, evidently, the door is open for Mendes to return to 007 some time in the future, much as director Martin Campbell did, having directed 1995‘s GoldenEye and 2006‘s Casino Royale. In the meantime, given the venerable status that Skyfall‘s success has afforded the franchise, and the talented cast in place – including Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw – there should be no shortage of talented and high-profile directors for Wilson and Broccoli to choose from.

Skyfall has grossed more than $1.1 billion worldwide and is currently ranked the #5 film of 2012 on Flickchart.

The ball is rolling on Bond 24, and so begins the period of speculation. Who do you think would make a good replacement for Mendes? Let us know in the comments below.

via Empire

Adele to Record Theme for Bond 24

4, Mar 2013

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There’s no director attached yet, but sources are reporting that superstar Adele will return to record the theme song for the upcoming 24th film in EON Productions’ James Bond franchise.

Merely a week after scoring the Oscar for Best Original Song for Skyfall (a first for the franchise), a source is telling Britain’s The Sun newspaper that “producers are thrilled by how well the song has been received and hope Adele’s presence on the next film will replicate that success. They want her to become as synonymous with Bond as Dame Shirley [Bassey].” (Bassey recorded the themes for Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker.)

Adele’s second studio album, “21″, was released to universal acclaim in early 2011, and went on to become the highest-selling album globally for both 2011 and 2012. It scored six Grammy awards, including Album of the Year. Given Adele’s immense popularity (and the success of her “Skyfall” single), having her return for another Bond theme is pretty much a no-brainer.

The script for the as-yet-untitled Bond 24 is currently being written by John Logan, who worked on Skyfall with Neal Purvis and Robert Wade.

via MSN

Flickcharting with James Bond

10, Nov 2012

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Flickchart continues to attract new members and it occurs to me that perhaps a nice catch-up introduction is in order. Since this is the 50th year of James Bond and Skyfall is now in theaters, we’ll use 007 to illustrate the different ways you can Flickchart. 

It’s a safe assumption that if you’re here, you already understand that Flickchart presents two movies from which you choose and that you can request a replacement for either movie if you haven’t seen the movie(s) at hand. Did you know you can filter your pool of movies, though?

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“Skyfall” – A Flickcharter’s Review

9, Nov 2012

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“Sometimes the old ways are still the best ways.”

This is the thesis of Skyfall, the 23rd James Bond film released in this 50th Anniversary year of the franchise. The point is articulated by different characters in the context of shaving and in planning for an assault, but it’s all over the film even when it goes unspoken. If Casino Royale was a deconstruction of 007, then Skyfall is the reconstruction. It’s not about reinstating the classic Bond Formula, though, nearly as much as it is finding a place in the modern era for the elements that helped to make Bond, Bond.

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Reel Rumbles: “Diamonds Are Forever” vs. “A View to a Kill”

7, Nov 2012

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Though Michael G. Wilson wants Daniel Craig to set the record for most appearances as James Bond, as of right now the two most prolific actors to inhabit the role are Sean Connery and Roger Moore. Connery starred in the first five Bond movies for Eon from 1962 through 1967, then returning in 1971 for Diamonds Are Forever. Twelve years later, he starred in and co-produced the non-canonical remake of Thunderball, Never Say Never Again, in 1983. He also later reprised the role for EA Games’ video game version of From Russia with Love in 2004, but for all intents and purposes, Diamonds Are Forever was his official farewell. Moore starred in seven official movies for Eon, taking over from Connery in 1973’s Live and Let Die through 1985’s A View to a Kill. In this Reel Rumbles, we take a look at their respective official Eon swan songs.

What makes Diamonds Are Forever an interesting film is that it’s removed from the storytelling aesthetics of the Connery era. Many fans tease that, despite starring Connery, it was really the first of the Moore era, with its emphasis on stunt pieces and Bond as more of a superhero than a spy. At one point, Bond passes off his own Playboy Diner’s Club card to a felled adversary in order to maintain his cover. Tiffany Case freaks out, clearly knowing who James Bond is. That kind of global reputation would not be appropriate for a real spy, but that’s part of the Moore era conceits. In this manner, then, this Reel Rumbles is as much about the beginning and ending of an era as it is about contrasting the final bows from Connery and Moore.  Read the rest of this entry »


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