Dame Judi Dench Given Honorary Degree At St. Andrews University

Dame Judi Dench

Dame Judi Dench, or ‘M’ to the James Bond fans, has been given an honorary degree at a university in Scotland–reports the BBC News.

Dame Judi was honoured at St. Andrews University, Scotland’s oldest university, for her work on the stage and screen.

The actress stated she was surprised, but delighted to be made a doctor of letters.

‘I had never been to St. Andrews before, so I’m very pleased and I’m going to boast about it a lot,’ she said after the ceremony.

‘It was very embarrassing, you know. You see a photograph of yourself and that’s embarrassing and then you have to stand up in front of a lot of people while someone says the whole of your life to you.’

‘But it is a huge day of celebration and I’m frightfully pleased to have been asked.’

Dame Judi was honoured alongside Dr. Simon Fraser Campbell, a chemist credited with leading a team to discover the drug Viagra along with several other medicines.

Graduates in the audience laughed as Professor Lorna Hutson of the University’s School of English reeled off a lengthy list of Dame Judi’s many accolades, which include her Oscar-winning performance in 1998’s Shakespeare in Love.

The upcoming Quantum of Solace will mark her sixth James Bond film.

Keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.

'Quantum of Solace' – Official Blog Report #14

The official Quantum of Solace blog has been updated today with another crew member from the 22nd James Bond 007 film: additional unit director Simon Crane.

‘I’m a second unit director for the boat sequence here in Panama,’ says Crane.

‘We’re doing a great sequence where James Bond leaps onto a motorbike and then onto a boat; chases after another boat, smashes into it, gets the girl, is in a shootout … it’s going to be very, very exciting.’

‘The complications are trying to make something new,’ Crane says of the sequence. ‘I mean, we did a fantastic boat sequence in The World is not Enough, so it’s trying to better that. What we’re trying to do is make it much more aggressive, much more natural. Just hard-hitting, real action. No CG.’

‘Daniel [Craig] is very active and very agile. He wants to get involved in everything and can drive this boat really well. And so, the more we can do with him, the better it’s going to be.’

Be sure to click on the video link above for footage of Craig and Olga Kurylenko in the action-packed sequence.

Simon Crane has been involved with the James Bond series going back to 1985’s A View to a Kill.

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

Tom Ford Dresses James Bond In 'Quantum of Solace'

Daniel Craig

As previously reported on CommanderBond.net, Tom Ford International will be taking up the mantle of dressing Daniel Craig for the actor’s return as James Bond in Quantum of Solace.

Ford confirmed the news yesterday in Italy, reports the LA Times, where the fashion designer was opening a new menswear store in Milan’s ‘Golden Triangle’ shopping district.

‘It’s a terrific representation for us,’ said Ford. ‘A lot of people think if you wear conservative clothing your life is dull and uninteresting. But James Bond is this character who is sophisticated yet he sleeps with three girls at once and [has a car] with parachutes coming out of it. His life is very interesting, so I thought it was a good fit.’

The designer had previously dressed Craig in his namesake men’s line launched last year, which ‘has a traditional, English bespoke feel’. Since then, he opened his first menswear store on Madison Avenue, where his Italian-made suits start at $3,800 off the rack and $5,000 made-to-measure.

Not differentiating the way he dresses Craig on screen as Bond or on screen, Ford said: ‘Their tastes are very similar. Daniel knows himself really well and he likes to keep it very, very, very, very simple. For example, it’s hard to get him to wear diamond studs with a tuxedo. He prefers buttons.’

Quantum of Solace

Ford worked alongside Quantum of Solace costume designer Louise Frogley to create made-to-measure suits, shirts, knitwear, ties and his own take on 007’s signature tuxedo, in navy blue.

‘We made about 420 pieces for 11 costume changes,’ Ford said. ‘For each scene we made three suits that were perfect, three suits that were bloodied and blown up, three suits that were bloodied, blown up and had been in a pool–and then we had to make most of those different permutations for the stunt men as well.’

He’s the best Bond since Sean Connery. He’s a terrific guy to dress and he’s pretty powerful with what he wears.’

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

Daniel Craig May Attend 'Quantum of Solace' Sydney Premiere

Daniel Craig is James Bond in Quantum of Solace

While it isn’t even due in theatres for another five months, details are already starting to come in on the premiere dates of Quantum of Solace.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that negotiations are currently taking place to get Daniel Craig to attend the film’s Australian premiere in late November (where Quantum of Solace opens on the 27th of that month).

A source from Australian distributor Sony Pictures, said: ‘We’re in negotiations about that at the moment–we’re certainly trying.’ When asked if fans could expect the James Bond star to attend, she added: ‘We hope so.’

A worldwide premiere date for Quantum of Solace has yet to be announced, but is expected to be around the film’s UK debut on 31 October.

Keep watching the CBn main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

'Quantum of Solace' Wrap Party Held Tonight

David Arnold

James Bond composer David Arnold appeared on the Jonathan Ross show broadcast on BBC Radio 2 earlier today to perform live with Bluetones frontman Mark Morriss.

Inevitably, the subject of Arnold’s work on Quantum of Solace came up. Discussing the 22nd Bond film and following up the news reported earlier this month that principal photography was expected to be completed very soon, Arnold revealed that the wrap party was being held tonight.

Arnold also mentioned that he had already begun work on the score: Yeah, I’ve been on [Quantum of Solace] for a while and Marc Forster’s directing and it’s different to the last one obviously, but it’s an extension of the last one so it carries on where the last one finishes. So it’s very exciting.’

To listen to the interview, visit Jonathan Ross on Radio 2 and select ‘Listen again to the full show’. The portion with David Arnold begins at roughly the 21:10 mark.

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

'Quantum of Solace' Teaser Due Online 30 June

German 007 website JamesBond.de have the answer to the question so many James Bond fans have been asking: when will we see the Quantum of Solace teaser trailer?

Sony Pictures have confirmed to the site that the film’s first trailer will go live on Monday, 30 June at 5:00pm, British Summer Time.

Yahoo! will exclusively host the trailer for the first twenty-four hours.

Two days later, the trailer will premiere in theatres with Sony’s Hancock.

As previously reported by CommanderBond.net, the teaser trailer clocks in at one minute, fifty-one seconds in length.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for the most up-to-date James Bond news on the web.

Barbara Broccoli's $38,000 Kiss With Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig

A kiss with 007? That’ll be £19,000 ($38,000).

That’s how much James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli shelled out for a kiss with Daniel Craig at the Great British Movie Event last night.

The Bond producer also got a kiss with actors Hugh Grant and Robbie Coltrane for her money at the event–an auction to raise money for the National Film and Television School.

As previously reported on CommanderBond.net, a tuxedo worn by Craig in 2006’s Casino Royale was to go up for bid at the event along with several other collectibles and memorabilia. According to a press release, it eventually sold for £9,500 ($19,000).

Craig also bid on Harry Potter memorabilia at the auction, winning the lot for £18,000 ($36,000).

The Great British Movie Event took place at the Old Billingsgate in London.

Photos of Craig, girlfriend Satsuki Mitchell and Broccoli at the event can be viewed online here at Getty Pictures.

Keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.

'Quantum of Solace' Coming To Japan In 2009

The worldwide release date information for Quantum of Solace has been updated and now Japan is included on the list.

While a specific date is yet to be announced, the 22nd James Bond film is slated to be released in the country in 2009.

This latest addition almost fills out the entire set of release dates for Quantum of Solace, although there is currently no word whether this 007 film will follow the precedent started by 2006’s Casino Royale and open in China as well.

CommanderBond.net will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

Keep watching the CBn main page for the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Quantum of Solace.

'Quantum of Solace' Title Theme Rumours Keep Coming

As principal photography on Daniel Craig’s second James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, approaches the end, many fans are anticipating more than ever the release of the trailers, posters and the announcement of the title song performer.

Following up the seemingly neverending “is she isn’t she” question marks surrounding Amy Winehouse, the past few weeks have brought several other contenders to the forefront.

Beyonce’s name was first brought up at the end of May when Just Jared reported that the singer was reported to be in talks with the 007 producers regarding a track written by Amanda Ghost and collaborating with legendary Bond composer John Barry–someone who hasn’t been associated with the series since 1987’s The Living Daylights.

A few days ago, British X Factor winner Leona Lewis was also mentioned as a contender. Showbiz Spy reported that her manager Simon Cowell was said to have suggested to the producers of Quantum of Solace that she would be great given that she has had huge success in both the UK and US lately.

Today, BBC 6 Music adds two more names to the list: Duffy and Jack White.

The website reports that when Duffy was quizzed about a Bond theme at the MOJO awards, the 23-year old Welsh singer refused to deny she had submitted a song. ‘Well, a lady never exposes her secrets.’

Furthermore, Alex Turner spoke to 6 Music and revealed: ‘I’ve heard that Jack White were doing it’–which was immediately followed by his fellow Last Shadow Puppets member Miles Kane adding, ‘I’ve heard other things, I thought it were’ over, that race. We should just say we’re doing it.’

The two then (jokingly?) stated: ‘Yeah, we are doing it.’

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

'Quantum of Solace' – Official Blog Report #13

The official Quantum of Solace blog has been updated today with another crew member from the 22nd James Bond 007 film: go-camera operator/rigger Pat Daily.

‘I’m the chief camera operator and rigger for go-camera systems,’ Daily says on location in Italy.

‘Go-cam is a wire-controlled camera system. This one is in the 3D phase. We hang the camera from four points and we can basically move that camera from any of those points; up, down, left, right, back and forth.

‘It took us a week just to place the cranes in Siena. It’s an ancient city. And then it took us another week to string out all the lines since we have 7,000 feet of line to link through this system. The widest part of it, from one end to the other is 800 feet and they’re about 150 feet above. Our playing area.’

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