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  1. Casino Royale's Sebastien Foucan: A 60-Second Interview

    By Devin Zydel on 2007-03-22

    In a new 60-second interview with Metro, Sebastien Foucan, who plays Mollaka in Casino Royale, discussed what it was like preparing for the James Bond film, what free-running actually involves, working with Madonna on her world tour, and much more…

    Metro: Were you surprised by the success of the new Bond film?

    Foucan: It was a surprise. But all through the filming, I always felt we were working on something good.

    Metro: Were you a fan of Bond before you got involved?

    Foucan: I was definitely a fan. My favourite was Octopussy.

    Metro: How does it feel to be part of the Bond villain lineage?

    Foucan: There have been some great villains–my favourite was Jaws–and it’s odd to be a part of that. I’m just starting to realise that I’ll always be part of it.

    Metro: Did the crane-jumping sequence take long to film?

    Foucan: We spent two months working in the Bahamas.

    Metro:Sounds like hell.

    Foucan: It was actually very difficult. We worked very hard but it’s a great place to spend time. It’s a paradise. The hardest thing was to have only one day off a week. The schedule was very tough.

    …..

    Metro: Do you think there’ll ever be a black James Bond?

    Foucan: It would be great–especially if they pick me. I’d like that role but I don’t know. They’d have to make a really good movie because I think choosing a black Bond would be criticised a lot.

    …..

    Metro: What’s the idea behind free running?

    Foucan: It’s about combating negative energy. It’s hard to talk about the philosophy–it’s easier just to start doing it. Just by participating, you’ll feel it. It’s about trying to be in connection with your body, your spirit and your environment. It fits with a lot of Asian philosophies.

    …..

    Metro: Is it dangerous?

    Foucan: I can’t say my discipline isn’t dangerous. Like every physical exercise at a high level, there’s a risk. But I always emphasise safety to young people starting. It’s difficult with some children because they don’t always listen.

    …..

    Metro: What’s Madonna like to work with?

    Foucan: She’s very disciplined, too. She’s a perfectionist. We understand each other well. She’s an inspirational person. She shows you that you can reach what you try to reach.

    …..

    To read the interview in full, click here to visit the Metro’s website.

    Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale coverage.

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  2. David Arnold Discusses 007 Casting

    By Matt Weston on 2007-03-22

    In an interview in today’s thelondonpaper, James Bond composer David Arnold has spoken about the unique casting process for the latest 007 film, Casino Royale.

    The search for the sixth actor to play the world’s famous spy was a notoriously public affair, in which the media rampantly speculated on every aspect of the worldwide hunt, which ultimately saw Daniel Craig land the role.

    “I was there for the casting,” Arnold told thelondonpaper. “We screentested three people and we did music for all of them. It wasn’t a reading – they were shot on set, properly lit, in costume, with cast, and Martin Campbell directed them. Daniel was the one who really made you sit up.”

    “[The other two] were terrific, but very different. Henry Cavill was more traditional and Sam Worthington was very young. But I think Barbara [Broccoli] had her eye on Daniel for a long time.”

    While composing is, according to Arnold, a particularly lonely task (“You’re locked in a room and you have to write so much in a day, or else you don’t get to the end. And you do it to the exclusion of all else until it’s over.”), the work has been very steady. “In the last nine months I’ve had five days off. Amazing Grace went into Casino Royale, which went into Venus, which went into Hot Fuzz.”

    But the rewards are gratifying. “I’m thrilled when I hear my music coming out of a shop doorway – I feel like ringing someone up. That’s the beauty of it, when it goes out into the world. It stops being about me in a little room and finds a life.”

    Arnold also offered some sordid trivia for fans of Little Britain‘s David Walliams, a friend of the composer’s: “It was his birthday party, and I’d just finished the mix. So I played [the Casino Royale theme] to him and he decided to choreograph his own opening title sequence to it. It didn’t involve full nudity – we got down to the underpants – but it probably wouldn’t have taken much.”

    You Know More Than My Name?

    Arnold also contributed to last Sunday’s Observer‘s 50 Greatest Film Soundtracks feature, including his evaluation of John Barry’s classic score to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, which clocked in at number 20.

    Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale coverage.

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  3. Casino Royale DVD Soars To The Top Spot

    By Devin Zydel on 2007-03-22

    After a phenomenal run at the worldwide box office, Casino Royale‘s success has now moved from movie tickets to DVD sales.

    Reuters reports that Daniel Craig’s debut James Bond 007 film quickly soared to the #1 spot for DVD sales in the US after being released on 13 March. The film pushed Borat to the #3 position on the Nielsen VideoScan’s First Alert sales chart, while The Holiday opened in the #2 position.

    For rentals, Casino Royale was again in the top spot; generating an estimated $9.2 million in revenue. The Holiday opened in the #3 position with $8 million.

    Additionally, the Casino Royale Blu-ray disc outsold its nearest competition, The Departed, by 9-to-1. The Bond film is now the #2 Blu-ray seller since the format’s inception in June.

    Click here for CBn’s Casino Royale DVD overview: release dates, special features, cover artwork, menu caps, instore exclusives, reviews, product tie-ins, and much more…

    Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale DVD coverage.

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  4. Casino Royale DVD Signing With Sebastien Foucan Photos Online

    By Devin Zydel on 2007-03-20

    As CBn previously reported, Sebastien Foucan, who plays the villainous Mollaka in Casino Royale‘s early scenes, made an appearance at an HMV store in London this past Monday as part of the promotion for the region 2 DVD launch of the film.

    Foucan signed copies of the 21st official James Bond film for fans at the HMV store on Oxford Street, in London’s West End–pictures and further details from the event can now be viewed at 007Magazine.co.uk.

    On the same day, several worldclass free runners who had assisted Daniel Craig with his stunts for the 007 role, were on hand at the Virgin Megastore, also on Oxford Street.

    Click here for CBn’s Casino Royale DVD overview: release dates, special features, cover artwork, menu caps, instore exclusives, reviews, product tie-ins, and much more…

    Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale DVD coverage.

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  5. Casino Royale DVD Specials In UK Stores

    By Devin Zydel on 2007-03-19

    With the region 2 DVD release of Casino Royale, Daniel Craig’s debut James Bond film several stores in the UK are offering limited time specials to accompany the film…

    For those who pre-ordered from WHSmith, the Casino Royale DVD comes with a movie tie-in edition of Ian Fleming’s original 007 novel of the same name. Virgin Stores are offering a series of art cards for those who purchase the DVD as well.

    As previously reported by CBn, HMV offered a 40-page mini-book version of Bond on Set: Filming Casino Royale by Greg Williams, which features many photographs from the film. Click here to order the Casino Royale DVD from HMV.

    Lastly, for those just looking for a good price, the Casino Royale DVD is available at Asda for £7.00 (limited time only).

    Click here for CBn’s Casino Royale DVD overview: release dates, special features, cover artwork, menu caps, instore exclusives, reviews, product tie-ins, and much more…

    Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale DVD coverage.

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  6. Casino Royale Region 2 DVD Released Today

    By Devin Zydel on 2007-03-19

    The region 2 DVD of Casino Royale has been released today.

    Amazon.com is currently selling the 21st official James Bond film at a discounted price as are several other retailers. With the region 1, 2, and 3 DVDs of Casino Royale now available, the next release scheduled is the region 4 edition–due in mid-April.

    Region 2:

    Click here for CBn’s Casino Royale DVD overview: release dates, special features, cover artwork, menu caps, instore exclusives, reviews, product tie-ins, and much more…

    Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale DVD coverage.

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  7. Stuntman Adam Kirley On Crashing An Aston Martin In Casino Royale

    By Devin Zydel on 2007-03-17

    In a recent interview posted at Last Broadcast, stuntman Adam Kirley, who has worked on such films as Die Another Day, Batman Begins, The Da Vinci Code, and recently in Casino Royale where he crashed an Aston Martin, discussed what it was like working on the 21st official James Bond film.

    When asked what was the stunt he was most proud of, Kirley answered: ‘I’ve got a Top Three which changes all the time, but the main one has to be crashing the Aston Martin at 80mph in Casino Royale. To get the Guinness World Record, and then to be nominated for the World Stunt Awards too… we’re going to LA in May, representing the UK! We’re up for Best High Work, for the crane jump at the start, and Best Work With A Vehicle. To be a stuntman for a Bond movie was just beyond my dreams. When Pierce (Brosnan) was Bond I was always too short as I’m 5ft 10, but I’ve been doubling for Daniel (Craig) for a few years now, so when there were rumours about him getting the part I knew maybe there was the potential, and then to get the call… I could just retire now as a happy man! I’ve been so fortunate even getting into the industry, but to double for James Bond is just the ultimate accolade really.’

    ‘We crashed three or four [Aston Martins] I think. And there were two BMWs that we tested on. The Aston Martin is such a work of art … you can’t help but have a little smile, thinking you’ve got permission to crash a £200,000 car! I was only the second or third person to drive that new model, and I got to be the first to crash one!’

    ‘We rehearsed for the crane jump for three months, in a stage jumping 20ft from a platform, practising landing on such a tight mark on the floor,’ he says when asked about Casino Royale‘s early action sequence between 007 and Mollaka. ‘Then we rehearsed for a few weeks in the Bahamas. Self-preservation would still kick in though when it came to actually doing the jump, it didn’t get any easier each time!’

    Most recently, Kirley worked on The Golden Compass, which also features Craig and Eva Green, and the third Jason Bourne thriller, The Bourne Ultimatum.

    When asked if he’d be back for Bond 22, Kirley said: ‘It’s never definite with these things, but they seemed very happy with the work we did, so I think we start rehearsing in November, and then start shooting early next year. The Bond movies are infamously secretive though, so I’ve no idea what we’ll be doing, but I know it’s a brand new script. Hopefully we’ll be filming somewhere hot though!’

    Click here to read the full interview.

    Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale and Bond 22 coverage.

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  8. Barbara Broccoli Reflects On Casino Royale

    By Devin Zydel on 2007-03-16

    In a new interview with FilmStew, producer Barbara Broccoli discussed the process of finally making an official adaption of the first Ian Fleming novel, Casino Royale and choosing Daniel Craig for the role of James Bond.

    ‘It’s always a challenge because you sit down and you say, “What journey are we going to take Bond on?”‘ she begins. ‘We were very lucky this time because we had the book and we basically just sat down, analyzed the book and thought, “How are we going to adapt this for today?”‘

    ‘I think [the funding of terrorist activities by Le Chiffre in Casino Royale is] very relevant today, because as we are all concerned about terrorists we’’re also concerned about how they are funded. So, strangely, it fit very well into a story that had been written in 1953. I think that the plots are complex, but it’s supposed to be a mystery. You’re supposed to be intrigued and try to figure out what Bond is up to as he’s trying to unravel the mystery as well. And hopefully by the end of it you feel as if you sort of understand everything.’

    With that in mind, it was apparent that Broccoli was not planning on ‘dumbing-down’ Casino Royale for the audience. ‘I think when you make films you have to assume that people are intelligent,’ she explains. ‘I think, often, people do dumb down films too much. Audiences, I dont think, really like that.’

    On the topic of choosing Craig as the newest 007, she says, ‘The reality was that Michael and I always wanted Daniel. He was our first choice from the get-go. The fact was we approached him and he said, “Look, I’ll consider it, but I’m not going to make a decision until I read a script.” So the time between giving him the script and announcing him was about three or four weeks. All of that other stuff was a lot of speculation.’

    Bringing the interview to an end, Broccoli briefly discussed how her father–Albert R. ‘Cubby’ Broccoli–would have reacted to Craig as the new Bond. ‘I think he would love Daniel,’ she suggests. ‘When Daniel did that scene where he shoots the gun, I burst into tears because that’s all I could think of, that “I just wish my father was here to see him in this role.” Because I think he would have loved him.’

    Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale coverage.

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  9. Win A Casino Royale Special Edition DVD

    By Devin Zydel on 2007-03-15

    A lucky CBn member now has the chance to win a brand new copy of the recently released two-disc special edition DVD of Casino Royale. This DVD edition of Daniel Craig’s debut James Bond film is the widescreen version and is region 1 encoded (USA & Canada). Click here for CBn’s Casino Royale DVD overview.

    This competition is open CBn members located in the USA and Canada. You must be a registered member of the CBn Forums and answer the following question correctly to be eligible to win. Not yet a member of CBn? Register here now – it is free and only takes a minute!

    To enter, fill out the following questionnaire and send a Communique/Private Message on the CBn Forums to Qwerty. (Subject: CBn Royale) by Midnight EST on 31 March 2007 (simply click on the link in this paragraph and scroll down on the page that appears until you come across “Send Communique”).

    1. True or False: The canon roll of the Aston Martin DBS in the film set a world record.
    2. What is your CBn Forum Screen Name?
    3. What country/state do you live in?

    All those who answer correctly will be put into a drawing and the winner will be sent a Communique/Private Message via the CBn Forums to the Screen Name they provided to inform them of their winning. The winner must respond to this PM within three (3) days with the requested information (name, mailing address, etc) or another drawing will be held. The winner will be announced once shipping information has been received. The item will be shipped from the USA. In the event that a prize has been stolen or mishandled during shipment, CBn will not be able to replace the specific item–this has yet to be a problem.

  10. Casino Royale DVD Reviews Online

    By Devin Zydel on 2007-03-14

    After months of waiting for James Bond fans, the region 1 DVD and Blu-ray release of Casino Royale finally took place this past Tuesday and the region 2 release is only a few more days away. Several entertainment and DVD websites have published new reviews f the 21st official 007 film…

    The Casino Royale DVD earned an overall score of A- at UGO, with the extras being the only major drawback. ‘As a DVD, Casino Royale doesn’t kick as much ass as the movie, but it does offer a great dose of action to tide fans over until the inevitable ultimate and extended editions.’

    ZAP2it was somewhat more pleased with the bonus features–they ‘complement but don’t overwhelm’ according to the reviewer. ‘It’s appropriate then that the 2-disc DVD is similarly restrained, classy and informative. The bonus features generally celebrate Bond as an iconic figure with only one extra, “James Bond: For Real,” geared towards behind-the-scenes action on the film itself…’

    The Blu-ray edition also scored well in the DVD Talk review. This edition earned four or more stars (out of a possible five) in every category, with the exception of–yes, big surprise–the special features, where it earned three. The final thought: ‘Casino Royale is a terrific revitalization of the James Bond franchise, and this Blu-ray edition has excellent picture and sound, as well as a couple of interesting supplements. How could it not come highly recommended?’

    Click here for CBn’s Casino Royale DVD overview: release dates, special features, cover artwork, menu caps, instore exclusives, reviews, product tie-ins, and much more…

    Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale DVD coverage.

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