Goldmember Pays Homage To Live And Let Die

Rich has sent us in this information on a scene in the forthcoming Austin Powers Goldmember that spoofs Live And Let Die. I've seen the scene myself, I'm sure most of us have, and I agree with Rich on this one!

GOLDMEMBER spoofs Bond in many ways I’m sure, but the one scene I saw recently parodied a scene from LIVE AND LET DIE. Only true diehard 007 fans would probably even notice the comparison. In the scene set inside a Japanese sauna, Austin Powers runs to escape Fat Bastard. To get to the other side of the room he is in the fastest way possible, Powers notices 4 men floating in a large Jacuzzi, then climbs the steps and leaps from one person’s chest to the next! Each person spits water out of their mouth as he steps on their chest. This scene parodies the one in which Moore escapes from an alligator pool by stepping on the backs of gators to reach land.

Goldmember is released next week and will have a trailer for Die Another Day attached to it! More on that soon!

Big thanks to Rich for spotting the homage/spoof and sending it in to us!

XXX Rips Off You Only Live Twice and Thunderball

'Rich' sends in this funny story about a screening of the trailer for the new-spy-Bond-ripoff XXX;

A funny incident occurred today as I viewing the trailer for XXX in a theatre. XXX stars Vin Diesel as a secret agent into extreme sports. Needless to say there are comparisons to Bond with the most obvious one below.

The last bit of dialogue in the trailer is a line taken almost word-for-word from THUNDERBALL. As Diesel takes off his shirt before bedding a girl, he lisps, “The things I do for my country!” Immediately after that line, some
guy in the theatre yells, “RIP-OFF!” to which most everyone laughs.

I was glad I wasn’t the only one to notice this ripped-off line from THUNDERBALL. In that film, Connery says, “The things I do for England” before bedding a Bond babe.

After finding out XXX was ripping off Bond and claiming to be better than, I personally swore not to see the film on the big screen. Not the most interesting piece of trivia but there you go!

Thanks to Rich for sending that story in!

Update:

I have to thank everyone who wrote in with this correction to the article. Bond's like "The things I do for England" came from the film You Only Live Twice, and not Thunderball.

However, the line was to appear in Thunderball and can be seen in the films trailer. The line can also be seen in Octopussy's trailer when Bond is in bed with Magda.

Thanks to these people for writing in to let me know; 'Donovan', 'Dip' and Ryan!

Two Bond Actors to play in the West End

According to Ananova, Miss Moneypenny actress Samantha Bond is to play as Lady MacBeth opposite Sean Bean, who played Alec Trevellyan in "GoldenEye", in the West End in November.

Macbeth will open in Milton Keynes on October 16, then moves to Richmond Theatre for a week.

It runs at London's Albery Theatre from November 14 until February 1.

Roger Moore In South Korea To Promote World Cup

Actor Roger Moore has arrived in South Korea to promote the World Cup. Seventy-four year old Moore will attend the Opening Ceremony of the World Cup as UNICEF’s goodwill ambassador.

As a goodwill ambassador for the UN Children’s Fund, Moore will go on a boat ride on the Han River with children from 50 countries on Thursday to celebrate the soccer tournament that kicks off Friday. The reason behind the special visit is that FIFA, the soccer’s world governing body, has dedicated this years World Cup to children world-wide.

Happy Birthday To Pierce Brosnan

Birthday wishes are today extended to actor Pierce Brosnan. News has yet to get through how the actor celebrated his birthday. Celebrating on set for The World Is Not Enough Pierce was presented with a cake in the shape of a hot-air balloon (as he was filming the opening sequence with the hot-air balloon at the time).

To celebrate, CommanderBond.net has released its first biography of a James Bond actor here.

Star Wars Episode II Receives PG Rating In UK

Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones has received a PG rating in the United Kingdom from the British Board of Film Classification. The classification has noted that to achieve the rating Fox International chose to edit out one second of the film, featuring a head-butt. However, they did have the option of not editing the film and giving it a 12 rating.

But what does this mean for James Bond? Well it means that the Die Another Day trailer can feature with Star Wars Episode II as Bond trailers are generally rated PG.

Either way, it's good news for Die Another Day.

Dame Judi and Eunice Gayson Share A Role

'MoonThunder' has been kind enough to send in this report about a forthcoming production of the musical Into the Woods and it's relation to an older production of the same musical.

Dame Judi Dench has scored a role in the 2002 Broadway Revival of Stephen Sondheim’s best, and damn funniest, musical Into the Woods. It is a musical-comedy about childrens fairy-tale characters (Little Red, Jack, 3 little pigs, Cinderella, etc…) who all want their wishes granted, as it revolves around the Baker and the Baker’s Wife trying to lift a spell preventing them from having a child. The Baker must travel into the woods to lift the spell that the witch who, ironically, lives next door had placed on his lost, mischievous father. The first act has the cast getting their wishes granted, while the second act takes a much darker turn for the worse. It shows the side effects of their wishes, as a female giant has reeked havoc on their village and forced them all back into the woods so that she can seek revenge on Jack for killing her Husband. The lady giant, of course, is played by the voice of Judi Dench.

But what really caught my eye was that Eunice Gayson, AKA Sylvia Trench, played the same role in the 1990’s London production! This makes me wonder if Stephen Sondheim is a fan of James Bond, just like us…

Thanks for sending that report in MoonThunder!

Sequel To The Thomas Crown Affair?

Movie news outlet Dark Horizons has reported that screenwriter Leslie Dixon has been hired by MGM to pen a second installment to 1999's "The Thomas Crown Affair".

No other news about the project has been revealed, but the news will most likely be welcomed by Bond fans.

In the past Dixon has penned The Thomas Crown Affair, Mrs. Doubtfire and Pay It Forward.

Christian Bale Would Consider Playing James Bond

Dark Horizons has reported that English actor Christian Bale, perhaps most famous for his role in American Psycho, has told fans at a Starfest convention that he's open to playing James Bond once actor Pierce Brosnan steps down from the role.

While his named has been mentioned as possible actors Bale did confirm that he hadn't been approached about the role.

With Pierce Brosnan saying he wants to do Bond 21 and would consider Bond 22 it seems that Christian Bale has quite a wait in front of him.

Scientists Research Into Bond's Martini

Ananova have reported that scientists are trying to find out how to make the perfect martini as enjoyed by James Bond. Specifically, they are researching why martinis which are shaken not stirred are colder and have a different taste.

Dr Francis Scanlan from Quest Internatioanal has said about the experiment, "The version that Mr Bond particularly appreciates is where the ice is shaken in the mixer, then poured. Our experiments show that it is colder. The surface area of the ice in contact with the alcohol is much greater.

"Chemically it is the same drink as one that has been stirred. But it gives an entirely different sensation in the mouth."

Sounds to me that scientists are just looking for an excuse to savour the finer things in life!