Ian Flemings Choice Actor for James Bond

With Sir John Morgan, Ian Fleming’s step son-in-law, acting as an exclusive source readers can expect a lot from the soon to be published Martinis, Girls & Guns: Fifty Years of 007.

One factoid from the book has appeared in the Eastern Daily Press Magazine this weekend in an article written by one of Martinis, Girls & Guns co-authors, Martin Sterling. In the article, entitled ‘The Man With The Golden Pen’ Sterling reveals Ian Fleming’s first choice for an actor to play James Bond on screen.

Fleming’s choice, according to Sir John, was was little-known actor Edward Underdown, who actually played the Air Vice Marshall in 1965’s Thunderball. “Born in London in 1908 – the same year as Ian Fleming himself – Underdown was tall and thin and enjoyed a career as a jockey and steeplechase rider as well as an actor. He made his film debut in ‘The Warren Case’ in 1934; his last film was ‘Tarka The Otter’ in 1978; and he died in 1989. Fleming obviously saw parallels in Underdown’s somewhat diffident, dour acting style with his idealized “blunt instrument of the British government” persona for Bond but the author’s enthusiasm was clearly not shared by Broccoli and Saltzman since there is no record of Edward Underdown ever having been considered for the role.”

An interesting factoid, and one of many set to appear in Martinis, Girls & Guns: Fifty Years of 007. The book can be ordered from Amazon UK.

UK DVD Release Month Announced

Die Another Day is yet to premier in cinemas world-wide, but that hasn’t stopped Fox International from beginning plans for the DVD release of the film.

In the United Kingdom display stands, advertising the recent DVD Box Set release, have revealed that the scheduled release date for the Die Another Day DVD in the UK is scheduled for May 2003.

It has been previously confirmed that the Australian DVD release month is June 2003.

Thanks to DJL for the tip-off.

BBC Review Gives DAD 5 Stars

Nev Pierce has reviewed Die Another Day for the BBC giving it a 5 star rating.

In his review, which isn’t particularily indepty, Pierce describes Die Another Day as a Bond film in which “her majesty’s finest regains his killer touch“. The film is described as “one of the best of the series” but with its faults with the film coming across as too much of “a set-piece”.

Pierce seems mostly pleased with Lee Tamahori’s direction and with the films actors, though he makes no real mention of the latter.

For the full review visit the BBC.

If you’d like to discuss this review please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums. Thanks to RE007HQ1 for the tip-off.

TV Spots Online At Official Site

The official James Bond site has today updated with four TV Spots for Die Another Day.

The TV Spots are entitled Live For The Moment, Upside Down, His Match and One Threat. The official collection is, however, incomplete, as 7 different TV Spots have already been shown on US television.

The TV Spots are available in Apple Quicktime and Windows Media Player format, and are available in three different qualities.

Thanks to JFM007 for the alert.

First DAD Review Online

The press previews of Die Another Day began last night in London, and CommanderBond.Net can bring the worlds first review of Die Another Day.

BOND 20: DIE ANOTHER DAY
Empire, Leicester Square, London, England.
2hrs 15mins
8 November 2002
Rating: 8.5/10 or 4/5 or A-

 

Fast paced and action packed DAD has one of the best beginnings and endings of any Bond movie ever, with special effects truly worthy of the Bond franchise. Unfortunately the movie is let down by contrived links between elements of the story in order to fit in so much. Brosnan recently said that the movie is one and half Bonds packed into one, and that is the problem. But the movie has many strengths. Following the changed gun barrel sequence, with faster paced music and a CGI bullet that flies at the audience through the gun barrel, its opening teaser sequence is perhaps the best ever with amazing explosions and huge amount of destruction. The credit sequence has Bond going through a terrible ordeal viewed through the dancing bodies of women made of fire and ice, with the radio edit of Madonna’s Die Another Day played over it. But what follows that is a film with more humour, that actually works, than normal and as the publicity has already said, a Bond who is no longer a 00. He is an outcast who must reclaim his identity. Using his contacts and knowledge of MI6’s global network he is able to avoid the people who once employed him and on the way meet Halle Berry who is definitley one of the more tougher, capable and credible Bond babes, Jinx. Bond also discovers more about the bizarre nature of the villains he is facing. Culminating in a return to London, with Bond landing to the tune of the Clash’s ‘London Calling’, he gains MI6s help to chase who he thinks is his arch nemesis. But not before a rather flat cameo from Madonnna that proves once again she just can’t act. At this point Toby Stephen’s portrayal of Gustav Graves also becomes worrying. A mixture of Hugh Grant and Tim Curry, Stephen’s villain is the weakest of all the Brosnan era bad guys. Robert Carlisle’s Renard is still number one in my book. With Bond back on the road to reclaiming his old job he witnesses Graves demonstration of how the great industrialist will ‘save’, or is that fool, the world and gets to make ‘proper’ contact with Miranda Frost, played ably by the absolutely stunning Rosamund Pike. Investigating Graves lair for the truth behind the apparent philanthropy he finds himself having to help a friend and then escapes, performing perhaps the most extraordinary, or is that ridiculous, stunt of the entire franchise. You have to see it to believe it. But this does begin the final chapter of this eye candy extravanganza and fortunatly for the viewer, the end of the weaker moments that undermine what could have been Brosnan’s Spy Who Loved Me.

Chasing after the men who want to bring total war to the Korean peninsula Bond and his ally face a weapon of mass destruction that is out of control. Ultimately of course Bond’s girl falls to his charms and we leave 007 in her arms to return another day. Judi Dench is fine as M and Mike Madsen is a good tough as nails NSA chief. The end credits music is a remix of Madonnna’s theme tune but I couldn’t say which one. Its not ‘very’ mixed so take your pick. So where does DAD come in the all time top 20. Slightly higher than TWINE but certainly not better than Goldinger, OHMSS, YOLT, Moonraker, or Goldeneye. But I’m sure Bond fans view’s on that list will be different.

Tamahori’s direction is largely good but what detracts from it is his apparent need to use slow mo where it isn’t needed and some sort of ‘time shift’-esque scene switching. In interviews he claimed that he has created a film that is half thriller and half action. Utterely wrong. Its a straight action film and for my money Martin Campbell is still the best Brosnan era director so far.

Overall an enjoyable but flawed Bond 20. Here’s to another 40 years!

If you’d like to discuss this review please do so in this thread of the Die Another Day Forums. Thanks to Brad Tripitz for the review.

Three US Cut-Times from MGM

Debate continues over the US running time of Die Another Day with 132 minutes considered the final cut.

To date various sources within MGM have released three times for the film, 122 minutes and 129 minutes coming from press screening invites and 132 minutes coming from a staff member of MGM’s print center.

The run-times of most international prints for Die Another Day are yet to be confirmed.

If you’d like to discuss the Die Another Day run-times please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums. Thanks to AMVANQUISH007 and DLibrasnow for supplying information.

More Details on US Run-Time

Debate continues as to the lenght of the run-time of the United States version of Die Another Day with CommanderBond.Net learning of another possible run-time.

Evidence has come to hand indicating that the US run-time could also be 129 minutes, the run time coming from an screening invitation sent to MGM Employees. The MGM screening will take place on November 12.

However, the 122 minute run time, which was taken from a press screening invite, still seems a possibility. One source has told CommanderBond.Net that “run times published on the screening invites tend to be accurate since they are intended to be included in the published review”.

Meanwhile, Fox France has confirmed the running time for French cut of Die Another Day is 134 minutes.

If you’d like to discuss time cuts to Die Another Day please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums.

International Run-Times May Differ

Amidst talk of raunchier sex scenes CommanderBond.Net has learnt that film censors world wide may enforce cuts on Die Another Day in order for the film to garner ratings sought by distributors MGM and Fox International.

The first evidence of cuts to the film has surfaced in the United States with those invited to press screenings being told Die Another Day has a run-time of 122 minutes, and is rated PG-13. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic in the United Kingdom, those intived to press screenings are being told to expect a film with a run-time of 135 minutse.

Despite the differences, the possibility has arisen of further cuts to the United Kingdom version. The British Board of Film Classifcation is yet to hand down a rating for Die Another Day, though press screening invites do note a 12A rating but also confirm the rating is yet to be confirmed. The inclusion highlights Fox International’s desire for a 12A rated film.

World-wide ratings are yet to be confirmed, however, it has been rumoured that the German version of Die Another Day will be cut down from 135 minutes to achieve a lower classification.

If you’d like to discuss time cuts to Die Another Day please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums.

Car Modification Footage Online

It’s one of the most anticipated parts of Die Another Day, the car chase termed the ‘Ice Ballet’ by Vic Armstrong. Bond’s Aston Martin Vanquish required some heavy modification for filming purposes and T3 have some exclusive footage online.

If you’re hoping for some glimpses of Iceland, you’ll be disappointed. However, the two videos do give an exclusive glimpse inside the workshops at Pinewood Studio’s outside London, and also to footage from a secret testing location. Also included are interviews with crew members such as Andy Smith responsiible for the car modifications.

Head over to T3 to see the two videos.

Thanks to BaldGuy007 for the tip-off.

What The Box Office Prophets Say

The crystal ball gazers at Box Office Prophets have made their predictions for November and the general consensus of opinion is that James Bond will come in second to Harry Potter, which is no real surprise to most pundits.

Of the six “prophets” who actually quantified their predictions only one suggested that Die Another Day will top the box office, four ranked it as coming in at No. 2, while one predicted the No. 3 spot for Bond.

One “prophet” has boldly predicted that Die Another Day will gross USD$130,000,000 against Harry Potter’s USD$320,000,000 and that Halle Berry’s presence will be a major factor.

Stay tuned for further reports on the box office results of Die Another Day as they come to hand.

If you’d like to discuss these predictions please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums.