Yesterday we reported news on a homage to Honey Ryder's bikini that featured in Dr No. Craig Stewart has been nice enough to send in these pictures in to us.
It's interesting to note that in the last pictures Brosnan has a cigar in hand.
A big thanks to Craig for the images, which you can discuss inthis thread of the Die Another Day Forums.
While not major news Craig Stewart has managed to secure details for CommanderBond.Net on Bond's shoes in Die Another Day. As usual the shoes have been provided by Church's shoes. They confirmed that Bond "will be seen wearing Cartmel, Cambridge and Carlisle styles in the movie."
We're trying to find pictures of the mentioned shoes.
Thanks to Craig for sending in the details which you can discuss in this thread of the Die Another Day Forums.
Halle Berry has thrown more light on the role of her character in Die Another Day, and confused fans even more undoubtedly. It's long been debated which side of evil Jinx falls on and Berry has told Variety Spoiler Warning (Highlight To Read) that Jinx is “not the classic villain.”
So is Jinx good or bad in Die Another Day? When Berry first announced she had signed to the film she said her character was a villain, however, during the January press conference she claimed her character wasn’t villainous at all. It now seems we’re back to square one.
Source: Ananova.
Pictures of Halle Berry's character in a bikini have surfaced on Wireimage. And yes, before you ask, Jinx's bikini is a homage to the bikini worn by Honey Ryder in the first Bond adventure, Dr No.
The Mirror has published a report about the scene saying Jinx "even copies the moment where Andress seductively swept her wet hair back into a ponytail".
Thanks to 'Jaime Bond', Rob and 'John007' for the information! You can discuss the bikini in this thread of the Die Another Day Forums.
Good films have subtext. What do I mean by subtext? On the surface Raiders of the Lost Ark is about an archeologist seeking to find the fabled Lost Ark before the Nazis do. That's its TEXT. But is that all it's about? Is this basic "plot" enough to tap into the worldwide public consciousness and produce a phenomenon? No way. What makes Raiders resonate, the reason we find ourselves saying, "That was a really good movie," is we are having an unconscious reaction to the SUBTEXT. What Raiders is REALLY about is an atheist's search for God. Now, you're not necessarily supposed to know this is what Raiders is about, but you ARE supposed to feel it. It's one of the ways movies manipulate you emotionally. And despite what some people will argue, good filmmakers use subtext the way they use lighting. It's all very specific and intentional but designed to be invisible.
As a rule, subtext is communicated with metaphors. To continue with the Raiders example: In the beginning, when confronted with any mention of spirituality, Indy flatly says he doesn't believe in "all that hocus-pocus" and even calls the lightning coming from the Ark "the power of God OR SOMETHING." He communicates skepticism without ever using the word atheist. But the Ark can prove the existence of God; therefore, metaphorically, the Ark IS God. By the end of the film, Indy has been "converted" by his experiences and commits the ultimate act of faith by closing his eyes when the Ark is opened. "Don't look at it!" he screams to Marion. Indy demonstrates that he does not seek proof. HE BELIEVES, and therefore, God spares his life. Now, if this movie were about its text, the ending would be a letdown. After all, Indy loses the Ark. But that's not the feeling we have at the end of Raiders because the REAL story has been resolved. Indy got what he needed and a girlfriend to boot! Raiders uses subtext masterfully as do most good films.
So for my Bond brethren here at CommanderBond.net, I've jotted down what I see as the subtext in three James Bond films: You Only Live Twice, From Russia with Love, and GoldenEye. What follows may forever change the way you look at these three films. Like Indy, you don't have to believe in all this "hocus-pocus," but I'm going to open the Ark of the filmmaker anyway. It's up to you whether to look or close your eyes.
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967) — James Bond in the Afterworld
You Only Live Twice is a perfect title for this Bond adventure. Having been "killed" in the beginning of the movie, it's as if Bond is having an out-of -body experience. After the megapic Thunderball, where else could Bond go but to the afterworld? Never has a world seemed so out of Bond's control; yet never has Bond seemed so utterly resigned to his fate. "I just might retire to here," he tells Tiger. If one thinks I'm reading too much into YOLT, one only has to be reminded that the author of the screenplay is Roald Dahl, who wrote such psychedelic journeys as “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory” and “James & the Giant Peach.”
Bond starts the movie in familiar 007 surroundings — in bed with a woman — except this conquest is Asian, a fact unusual enough for Bond to comment on it: "Why do Chinese girls taste different from all other girls?" His instincts prove correct when this woman turns out to be his Angel of Death. Bond is "killed" before our eyes, and we drift into the title sequence. But are we seeing puffy clouds and harps? No. We're in a world of volcanoes and lava. James Bond has gone to Hell. Or, at least, Purgatory. The movie opens with Bond being buried at sea. The movie, as a metaphor, really begins here as Bond's corpse is retrieved by two divers (flying angels) who bring it not back to the surface but aboard a submarine (the first of many phallic symbols in this film). "Permission to come abroad?" asks Bond.
After a briefing (where M and all are dressed in white uniforms and Bond is in black) 007 is ejected from the sub's torpedo tube. 007 as sperm? You bet. Appropriately, Bond surfaces in a world that's entirely unfamiliar to him, a world in which he is constantly trapped and fooled usually by women. In this strange new upside-down world, Bond is called "Zero Zero" instead of 007, and even his martini order is mysteriously reversed, "stirred, not shaken," which Bond confirms as "perfect." Bond admits to Tiger that he's never been to Japan, which is odd for a man as worldly as James Bond, and didn't he mention an affair with "Ann in Tokyo" in From Russia with Love? Also revealing is the fact that YOLT is the only single location Bond film. Even Dr. No has scenes set in London. There's no globetrotting here. He's stuck.
Things get even more surreal when Bond must "become Japanese." Die a little deeper? He's operated on in a womblike room, married, and given a home in a pearl diving village where, strangely enough, he seems perfectly content! But a violent reminder of his own death (again in a bed) snaps Bond out of his passivity, and it's off to the volcanic lair of the villain. Here, for reasons not fully explained, Bond thinks the answer to the crisis at hand is to go into outer space (ascend into the heavens). But just as Bond is about to finally leave this world, the master of the volcano recognizes him and shouts, "Stop that astronaut!"
It's appropriate that Blofeld is seen for the first time in YOLT. Up to this point in the series, Blofeld has only been an unseen, omniscient presence, who motivates other men to commit his evil deeds. The clearest metaphor of the film is that Blofeld is the Devil. Who else would live in a volcano? The obviousness of this prompts Bond to pretty much admit to the subtext of the film when he tells Blofeld, "This is my second life."
Of course, it all ends in a fiery destructive explosion caused not by Bond but by Blofeld, and Bond finds himself back where he was at the end of Thunderball: in a raft with a bikini-clad woman. Back to the familiar world of 007. Back to the surface. Resurrection.
This is the first article in a three part series. Coming soon: Below The Surface: The Subtext Of From Russia With Love
JamesBond.com has updated with one news article and a video newswrap.
Before the articles and video, a pop-up press release is on the site detailing Halle Berry's recent incident which caused her to seek medical attention. The press release is as follows:
DIE ANOTHER DAY PRESS RELEASE
Following recent reports in the media that Halle Berry had sustained an injury whilst filming the 20th James Bond 007 adventure, "DIE ANOTHER DAY", in Spain; MGM and the Producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, have issued the following statement:
"Ms Berry experienced some discomfort when a gust of wind blew some dust into her eye during filming of an action sequence on Saturday. Contrary to media speculation it was not as a result of debris from a smoke grenade. As a precautionary measure the production sought medical attention for what was a slight inflammation. We are happy to report that Ms Berry suffered no lasting ill effects and returned to work immediately.
Safety considerations are of primary importance to the 007 Production and all necessary precautions are taken for the benefit of both the cast and crew to ensure their personal welfare."
The article, "Questions for Michael Wilson" firstly discusses the producers Cameo appearences in the Bond films. Michael Wilson also reveals that he will be making an appearence in Die Another Day, but won't continue to tell us anymore details – we have to keep a sharp eye out for November!
Another topic that comes up in the article is about Eon productions. CommanderBond.net has discussed this topic previously in our forums. People have speculated that Eon stands for "Everything Or Nothing", however, Michael Wilson concludes that it stands for nothing.
One last question that is in the article, is to who is the "real boss". Yarborough replies with "they [Michael Wilson & Barbara Brocoli] both are".
We also get in the site update, a short video clip of a fly over of where the DAD scenes in Iceland have been filmed.
'Mourning Becomes Electra' has managed to find pictures from Cadiz online. The photos come from WireImage and as a result and copyright, can't be displayed here, and can only be viewed online as thumbnails.
But there still worth a look here and here.
Please discuss them in this thread of the Die Another Day Forums. See you there!
The book written by the real James Bond, 'The Birds Of The West Indies', has appeared on set again, this time in
Footage appeared on the official James Bond site recently showing Bond picking up the book. Now 'Jaime Bond' tells us that filming today saw Minor Spoiler Warning (Highlight To Read) Bond arrive at his hotel carrying in one hand the book and in his other hands binoculars. While the reason is unknown, forum members are speculating that Bond may be using Ornathology as his cover in Cuba.
Thanks to 'Jaime Bond' for sending that in to us. You can discuss the scene in this thread of the Die Another Day Forums.
Variety has reported that a deal may be reached between New Line Cinema and MGM that will see the trailer of Die Another Day air before viewings of Austin Powers III and the next installment of Lord Of The Rings. The price for such a privledge? Letting New Line name the third Austin Powers movie 'Austin Powers in Goldmember'.
Should the deal be reached it will be great publicity for Die Another Day. The first teaser trailer is not expected to be seen until MGM releases 'Windtalker' starring Nicholas Cage.
Should the deal fall through Dark Horizons has reported that Austin Powers III will be called one of the following titles; "Live and Let Shag," "You Only Shag Thrice" "Never Say Member Again" and "License to Shag". All of these titles have apparently been approved due to the parody law.
Thanks to 'Ry' for sending in the news article which you can discuss here.
'Jaime Bond' has updated everyone in the Die Another Day Forums on the filming taking place in Cádiz at the moment. Of course the First Unit, with Pierce Brosnan and other main actors, are currently filming scenes in Cádiz for Die Another Day.
Yesterday scenes were filmed with Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry at the 'Bath of the Palm', which will reportedly appear as Bond's hotel in Die Another Day. The scene involved Spoiler Warning (Highlight To Read) Bond pushing a man in a wheelchair towards a boat. This man reportedly looked ill/dead as he had his head slumped on his shoulder. There is no word on who it actually is. The 'Bath of the Palm' faces out to sea. Later in the evening scenes were also filmed at the Central Market where a tobacco factory will be located. The internal scenes required in the tobacco factory have already been filmed somewhere in London.
Today filming took place again outside the 'Bath of the Palm' and also at the 'Torre del Sagrario', which we reported on earlier here. From 'Jaime Bond' we've learnt that Spoiler Warning (Highlight To Read) the mysterious person Bond talks to in this scene is Raul, the Cuban detective played by Emilio Echevarria. On that note, the local media in Cádiz has reported that Raul is the owner of the previously mentioned Tobacco Warehouse.
Tomorrow film crews will head to San Fernando, which is 11 kilometers outside of Cádiz, to film an external shot of a car travelling to the beach. There is no word on who is involved in this scene.
A big thanks to 'Jaime Bond' for sending those details in! Please discuss them in this thread of the Die Another Day Forums, see you there!