CommanderBond.net
  1. 'Another Way To Die' Enters UK Singles Chart At #26

    By Devin Zydel on 2008-10-15
    Jack White

    Jack White

    The title theme for Quantum of Solace ‘Another Way To Die’ by Jack White and Alicia Keys, recently entered the UK Singles Chart at #26.

    The latest James Bond theme also made an entry on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart (which comprises of the top 25 songs that are just missing out on the main Hot 100 chart) in the #7 position (or, in turn, #107 overall).

    The official CD single is scheduled to be released on 20 October.

    In comparison, Casino Royale‘s ‘You Know My Name’ by Chris Cornell entered the UK charts at #12 two years ago and eventually peaked at #7.

    In the US, ‘You Know My Name’ managed to climb to #79 overall on the Hot 100 chart.

    Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

  2. 'Quantum of Solace' Yarmouth Regional Screening Announced

    By Devin Zydel on 2008-10-15

    A regional screening for Quantum of Solace is scheduled to take place at Yarmouth’s Hollywood Cinema on Thursday, 30 October at 7:30pm.

    The screening will take place one day before the latest James Bond film goes on general release in the UK, reports EDP24. The event is being organized in aid of Palliative Care East, an appeal to build a palliative care centre at Gorleston’s James Paget University Hospital.

    Distributor Sony has imposed strict measures on the event, including the hiring of security guards, to prevent any chance of pirating.

    ‘We’re so pleased to be allowed to have this screening for the appeal,’ said Tony Mallion of BBC Radio Norfolk, who is a patron of the JPH appeal and organiser of the event.

    He continued: ‘Naturally we have to comply with the strict conditions they set down. But it does seem a bit over the top. People are coming to enjoy a great night out for a good cause, not to sit with video cameras or mobile phones trying to make bootleg copies.’

    ‘We want to make money for the appeal and sadly this condition means that £300 has to go to pay for the two guards and the hire of their special night goggles.’

    ‘It will add to the glamour and excitement though, to think we’re all being treated as potential spies and pirates.’

    Tickets to this Quantum of Solace screening are still available, priced at £15 and £10. Phone 01493 852600 for additional details.

    As always, stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of the announced Quantum of Solace regional charity screenings.

  3. 'Quantum of Solace' Set For 5 November China Premiere

    By Devin Zydel on 2008-10-14

    James Bond is returning to Chinese theatres once again.

    China Daily reports that Quantum of Solace is scheduled to premiere in the country on Wednesday, 5 November 2008.

    7 November was the date originally pegged for release, but 007 will now arrive two days earlier to avoid competition during the ‘New Year Session’, when several new films make their theatrical debuts.

    As many Bond fans will recall, Daniel Craig’s first film in the series, Casino Royale, became the very first Bond film ever to play on Chinese theatres after being approved by the country’s censors with no cuts made. It became a box office success following on from a strong $1.5 million opening day on 30 January 2007.

    Industry insiders are expecting similar strong business for Quantum of Solace.

    Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

  4. All-New 'Quantum of Solace' Footage Hits The Net

    By Devin Zydel on 2008-10-14

    WARNING: Possible Spoilers

    Three new video reports have appeared on Swedish websites today featuring never-before-seen footage from Quantum of Solace and new interviews with the star of the show, Daniel Craig.

    New footage (although bits and pieces have shown up in the two trailers) includes, James Bond with Felix Leiter, a brief dialogue scene with Agent Fields, Bond and Camille in the Ford Ka chase, plus an extended look at the truly action-packed finale which features Bond against villains Dominic Greene and Elvis.

    Daniel Craig is James Bond

    Daniel Craig is James Bond

    ‘Last time, it was a huge success, so now we have to try and repeat that success. So one problem gets replaced with another,’ said Craig with a laugh.

    When asked how he was handling being a much more public figure resulting from his debut appearance as Bond in Casino Royale, Craig said: ‘I knew that would happen so I accepted a certain degree of it. The only thing that I dislike intensely is when it bothers my family and my friends, that’s what really gets me.’

    ‘I get a kick out of it,’ Craig said on the topic of the dangerous stunts that have become a hallmark of the Bond films. ‘It’s important that when we pull back to a wide shot, the audience sees that it’s me. I’m not up there taking risks. I’m up there having rehearsed the stunts for a long time before to I do them.’

    As was the case with Casino Royale though, Craig wouldn’t make any bets on the predicted box office business and public reaction to the film.

    ‘I can’t [predict] what the public will say. All I can say is that I’ve seen the film now, I’m very proud of it, I think it works brilliantly next to Casino Royale, it looks beautiful and Marc Forster’s done a wonderful job. Beyond that, who knows? It’s in the hands of somebody else now.’

    ‘We took on [Quantum of Solace] and a lot of things changed. We got a new production designer, a new director, a new costumer designer… We shot on location more on this film than any other Bond film–we were in Panama, we were in Chile, we were in Italy, we were in Austria. It looks extraordinary, this film. I don’t think it looks like any other Bond movie.’

    Visit Aftonbladet TV, TV4 Anytime (1) and TV4 Anytime (2) to check out all the videos.

    Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest James Bond news and Quantum of Solace coverage.

  5. 'Quantum of Solace' – Official Blog Report #30

    By Devin Zydel on 2008-10-14

    The official Quantum of Solace blog has been updated today with another crew member from the 22nd James Bond 007 film: visual effects designer Kevin Tod Haug.

    ‘I’m the visual effects designer on Quantum of Solace‘, says Haug, who has worked on several of director Marc Forster’s previous films. ‘Visual effects are kind of the glue department. Everything that becomes impossible becomes our problem.’

    He continues: ‘The goal I think is to do as much of it in camera as you can and yet get the most exciting shots. We had to falls that are supposed to be 50-foot falls and yet their’s only 25 feet to fall,’ referring to the shot between Bond and Henry Mitchell from the film’s trailer.

    ‘It’s still a monster shot. It’s falling from the top of the set. You see Siena in the background, and then they fall through the glass, but the glass is all real. The hit and everything else about it is CG. Then they fall onto a real set with the CG set behind it and all these hand-offs as you go “they really did that stunt, it just didn’t happen there”.’

    Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

  6. 'Quantum of Solace' 12A Certificate And Runtime Confirmed

    By Devin Zydel on 2008-10-14

    As previously reported on CommanderBond.net, Quantum of Solace was set to become the shortest James Bond film ever with a runtime of 106 minutes.

    The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has today confirmed that run time, with the latest 007 adventure clocking in at exactly 105 minutes and 58 seconds.

    The website also officially announced a 12A certificate for the film, which should come as little surprise to Bond fans. The BBFC statement specifies that Quantum of Solace ‘contains frequent moderate action violence’ and made the following general remark:

    This film was originally seen by the BBFC in an unfinished version, for advice as to the film’s suitability at ’12A’. The BBFC advised the company that the film would most likely receive a ’12A’ as it was, but that care should be taken when finishing the film not to increase the intensity of certain scenes. When the completed version of the film was submitted for classification, reductions to one of those scenes had been made and the film was passed ’12A’ without cuts.

    Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

  7. Bond Girls Hold Their Own, Says Daniel Craig

    By Devin Zydel on 2008-10-13

    Bond girls Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton

    Bond girls Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton

    Keeping in line with the recent string of leading, independent Bond girls such as Wai Lin from Tomorrow Never Dies and Die Another Day‘s Jinx, Daniel Craig said the Bond girls in Quantum of Solace hold their own.

    The 007 star made the comments in the new issue of Radio Times, which will be available on 14 October.

    ‘I think Bond is as misogynistic as he always was. But the difference is that we try to cast great actresses playing strong women who, if he misbehaves, will tell him to f–k off,’ said Craig.

    ‘Instead of it being a giggling girl in a bikini–and there’s nothing wrong with giggling girls in bikinis, sometimes it’s quite nice–there are women who challenge him. And there were strong women in earlier films–Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg. We have to maintain that.’

    Craig went on to stress the importance of the new era of Bond films being ‘part of the times we live in.’

    ‘And that’s not to say that we can’t honour that Bond tradition–with the locations, the big sets, wide camera angles and big shots–but that’s all incorporated into a contemporary, fast-moving story.’

    Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

  8. 'Quantum of Solace' Worldwide Promotional Tour Kicks Off In Moscow

    By Devin Zydel on 2008-10-13
    Daniel Craig

    Daniel Craig attends the Quantum of Solace campaign launch in Moscow

    As earlier reported by CommanderBond.net, today marked the beginning of the worldwide tour to promote the upcoming release of Quantum of Solace.

    Variety reports that the far-reaching marketing campaign was launched earlier today at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Moscow, Russia with key cast and crew members from the 22nd James Bond film present for the event.

    Producer Barbara Broccoli said the selection of Russia as the beginning of the Quantum campaign (the film goes on general release there on 6 November) was based on the country’s emerging film market.

    ‘This is a key, emerging market for us and it is very exciting to be here,’ she said. ‘We shot in St Petersburg and had a wonderful experience. Russia is a country with a very strong film tradition and we are very much looking forward to the Russian reaction to the film.’

    She continued: ‘At the end of Casino Royale Bond is devastated when the woman he loves is killed by an evil organization. The title of the new film reflects his journey to put things right and find a quantum of solace.’

    Broccoli was joined at the event by stars Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko and Anatole Taubman and director Marc Forster.

    When asked what was the most challenging sequence in his second Bond film, Craig cited the freefall sequence which involves Bond and Camille. ‘We did this in a wind tunnel with winds of 200 mph ripping around us and 20 cameras shooting from all around. That was one of the toughest days.’

    Quantum of Solace goes on general release in Russia on 6 November on 800+ prints. Michael Schlicht, the film’s Russian distributor, stated that he anticipated a box office gross ‘around $20 million’.

    Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

  9. 'Another Way To Die' CD Single Available For Pre-order

    By Devin Zydel on 2008-10-13

    Following up the news that a promo ‘Another Way To Die’ CD had started to show up on eBay, CommanderBond.net can now report that the official CD single of the Jack White-Alicia Keys James Bond theme is now available for pre-order.

    Bond fans in both the UK and US can currently pre-order online from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com as the single is scheduled for release on 20 October by J Records. It is expected to contain the original version of the song as well as the instrumental.

    Retail price is £3.99 and $8.99, respectively.

    Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

  10. James Bond Puts The Pressure On Marc Forster

    By Devin Zydel on 2008-10-12

    James Bond will be back on the big screen in just matter of days (as if you didn’t know). And director Marc Forster is really feeling the pressure.

    In a recent interview which has just been published by The Times, the Quantum of Solace director spoke about his current predicament: how to top Daniel Craig’s debut 007 film while still leaving his own mark on the 22nd instalment to the Bond series?

    Director Marc Forster

    Director Marc Forster

    ‘There’s really no upside,’ says Forster, referring to the task of following up the commercially successful and critically adored Casino Royale, helmed by Martin Campbell. ‘If I make a film that isn’t as good as Casino Royale, it’s going to be a failure. If it doesn’t make as much money, it’s going to be a failure. Casino Royale was so beloved, people now expect more. The film has to be better.’

    Thankfully, Forster seems up to the job (the Swiss director was busily editing away the film while this interview took place).

    Quantum of Solace Directed By… Marc Forster?

    If one judge solely by Forster’s previous films, which include the brooding Monster’s Ball, the magical Finding Neverland and the zany Stranger Than Fiction, then the announcement of him helming James Bond #22 may have come as a bit of a surprise to some movie fans.

    According to Forster, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson were taking a slightly different approach to this Bond entry. They wanted ‘an art-house movie’, he said.

    'Quantum of Solace'

    Quantum of Solace

    ‘My agent called me and said, “They want to offer you Bond. Are you interested?”,’ Forster recalls. ‘I said, “Not really.” He said, “They’d like to meet you.” And I said, ‘Look, I’m not going to do it, there’s no point.”‘

    Forster’s outlook on Bond changed after meeting with the producers and discussing how they wanted him to continue the serious journey for 007 which began in Casino Royale. He said: ‘It was a pleasant meeting, and I liked them. They were much more open than I ever would have thought, because you hear these stories of them being protective of the franchise–there’s a sort of machine in place, and you become a manager, and I wasn’t interested in doing that.’ After being assurred of creative control within the Bond framework as well as the option to choose his own crew, Forster ‘still wasn’t convinced.’

    Enter Daniel Craig.

    ‘So I met with him,’ Forster said. ‘I thought, “He’s really real. There’s no bullshit. I felt like I wanted to work with this guy.” The next thing I knew, I was on a plane.’

    After that, the Bond machine kicked into full gear. The film’s key cast, including Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Gemma Arterton and Dame Judi Dench were announced in January of this year (as was the film’s Ian Fleming-inspired title) and shooting began around the world. Speaking specifically about the exhaustive effort in locating Kurylenko as the right actress for the role of Camille, Forster commented: ‘It was an amazing thing to find a beautiful woman who could act and speak English.’

    Quantum of Solace

    As for the title song, Forster wouldn’t comment much on Amy Winehouse as the favourite for the job until it went to Jack White and Alicia Keys. ‘I thought with Amy it was going to work out, then it didn’t.’

    Forster could now apply his understanding of the 007 character in creating his take on a Bond film: ‘That’s why he always sleeps with women, but can’t find a relationship, because he doesn’t love himself. And you can’t love yourself, because otherwise you wouldn’t be able to kill without a conscience.’

    ‘In Casino Royale, Bond lost someone he loves, but at the same time he kills people,’ Forster continues. ‘That’s very interesting psychologically, because someone like that can’t be at ease with themselves. They must constantly be haunted.’

    J.B.

    'Quantum of Solace'

    Quantum of Solace

    Just don’t mention that other action film icon with the same initials to Forster or the Bond crew.

    ‘It always comes up, this comparison [between James Bond and Jason Bourne],’ he says. ‘I feel there’s a huge difference–it’s like apples and oranges. Stylistically alone, Bond should never be in the Bourne vein. Bond has a different kind of quality. He can still transport you.’

    So get ready to be transported. Quantum of Solace will be here before you know it.

    Keep your browsers pointed to the CommanderBond.net main page for most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace on the web.