Hornby Eyes James Bond For Revival

Model maker company Hornby, who took over the James Bond licence after buying die-cast model company Corgi International in May of this year, is now looking to 007 to boost profits.

According to the Telegraph, the company reported a 33% decline in profits for the six months ending on 30 September. Increasing overheads following their purchase of Corgi and wholesale price rises were the two main culprits.

The company is hoping that Christmas sales of the forthcoming launch of James Bond Scalextric cars from Quantum of Solace, including the Aston Martin DBS and Alfa Romeo 159, will boost profits.

‘The strength of the Bond franchise and the Scalextric brand name should override difficult economic conditions,’ said Paul Chandler, Scalextric marketing manager.

The new Scalextric Bond racing set, which goes on sale on 10 November, has already registered pre order-sales of around 20,000, with the model price starting at £40.

Frank Martin, chief executive of Hornby, said the ‘distinctive defensive characteristics’ of the hobby industry would allow the company to prevail in the current difficult retail conditions.

‘In the shorter term run up to Christmas, we expect sales of Scalextric to be boosted by our McLaren and James Bond Quantum of Solace licensed products and the proposed launch of an Airfix kit featuring McLaren and Lewis Hamilton,’ he said.

Keep watching CommanderBond.net for all the latest James Bond collecting news.

Four New 'Quantum of Solace' Clips Released

As James Bond fans in the United States and elsewhere around the world await the arrival of Quantum of Solace in theatres, take comfort in this new batch of preview clips from the film.

Each running under a minute in length, the four clips are:

1. It’s Time To Go: 007 encounters ‘M’
2. Damaged Goods: Not-so-friendly introductions between Bond, Dominic Greene and Camille
3. Have You Ever Killed Someone?: Bond and Camille
4. Plane Chase: Bond and Camille

It’s Time To Go:

Damaged Goods:

Have You Ever Killed Someone?:

Plane Chase:

Keep watching the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest Quantum of Solace news and information.

Bond, James Bond Week On ReelzChannel TV

Following up several Quantum of Solace-themed interviews and reports throughout the past few weeks online at ReelzChannel, 007 fans will want to take note of a special week-long line of James Bond specials they have just announced.

Full press release follows:

IT’S BOND, JAMES BOND, WEEK ON REELZCHANNEL TV AS MOVIE FANS EAGERLY ANTICIPATE THE PREMIERE OF QUANTUM OF SOLACE

Network Salutes Secret Agent’s Enduring Mystique with Special Week-Long Lineup of Original Programming, November 10-16

What is the real-life price tag on the extravagant James Bond lifestyle? Who has played the greatest James Bond and what is the most successful Bond movie in the history of the famed franchise? What about those amazing tricked-out Bond cars and the secret agent’s stunning bevy of females? And what are the reviews of the upcoming new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace?

As generations of fans of the world’s most famous secret agent, the debonair and dangerous James Bond, eagerly anticipate the November 14 premiere of Quantum of Solace, the newest movie in the iconic spy thriller franchise, ReelzChannel – “TV About Movies,” salutes “all things Bond” with a week-long “Bond Week” tribute in original programming across the network’s schedule, November 10-16.

Throughout “Bond Week,” ReelzChannel TV will offer programming that will go behind-the-scenes and delve into all aspects of the famed franchise and the array of characters who have played the master of espionage. The extensive coverage will include one-on-one interviews with the stars of the new movie; great trailers from the Bond movies presented throughout all the programs; retrospective looks at the films and actors who have paved the way for the newest incarnation; interstitial Quantum of Solace “Production Notes” airing throughout the week-long event; Leonard Maltin’s revelation of hidden movie gems featuring the cast of Quantum of Solace; and lively debates about the best Bond movies and actors who have played the role.

In addition, www.reelzchannel.com will join the celebration with original Bond-themed online content and pop-culture elements including “The Worst-Laid Plans of Bond Villains” and “Ten Bond Girls We’d Like to See,” as well as star interviews, clips and features from the network’s programming event.

The ReelzChannel TV original programming lineup for this special event includes (in chronological order):

“Secret’s Out” (Monday, November 10, 10 p.m. ET/PT, encore on Friday, November 14, 9 p.m. ET/PT). Hosted by renowned movie critic Leonard Maltin, the series spotlights those movie gems that, while they didn’t make box-office history, deserve the attention of movie fans. For “Bond Week,” Maltin will interview James Bond movie expert Collin Stutz, co-author of the James Bond Encyclopedia. He also will review hidden gem movies featuring the cast of Quantum of Solace, including Daniel Craig (Sylvia); Mathieu Amalric (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), Jeffrey Wright (Syriana), Giancarlo Giannini (Swept Away) and Judi Dench (The Shipping News).

“Dailies” (weekdays beginning Monday, November 10, 8 p.m. ET/PT) ReelzChannel’s signature daily movie news and information show. Throughout “Bond Week” the “Dailies” team will present fascinating segments and breaking news about the latest in the storied James Bond franchise. Interviews include the movie’s stars Daniel Craig and Olga Kurylenko and director Marc Forster. Also included are features on the history of James Bond’s cars; a review of the success of past Bond movies; the ultimate James Bond fan, whose collection is so compelling that the CIA requested it for display at their headquarters in Langley, VA; and reviews of Quantum of Solace from Variety’s noted movie critics. The show’s “First Fans” feature will get immediate reactions from Bond loyalists who score tickets to the very first screenings.

“Movie Mob” (Monday, November 10, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT) Criticism and passions are sure to run high during this opinionated half-hour hosted by former mob member Sara Fletcher. The series is the first show to feature an all-online cast who vie each week to keep their coveted spots as movie critics. During “Bond Week,” Mob members weigh in on Quantum of Solace as well as debating who has been the best James Bond and what has been the best Bond movie. Mob members will also re-enact their favorite James Bond movie moments.

“The Big Tease” (Wednesday, November 12, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT) Jill Simonian and Jeremy Parsons host this lively half-hour original series dedicated to the beloved movie trailer. This special edition of the show pays homage to six Bond movies – one for each of the six actors who have portrayed the legendary spy. Featured: Daniel Craig (Quantum of Solace); Pierce Brosnan (GoldenEye); Roger Moore (The Spy Who Loved Me); Timothy Dalton (The Living Daylights); George Lazenby (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service); and Sean Connery (Goldfinger).

“ReelzChannel Spotlight: The Legacy of Bond” (Thursday, November 13, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT) “Dailies” correspondent Gerrad Hall hosts this special episode from London and talks one-on-one with stars of Quantum of Solace including Daniel Craig and Olga Kurylenko. Special segments include a look at Bond creator Ian Fleming and his inspiration for the character; an interview with Monty Norman, one of the men credited with creating the famous Bond theme music; a timeline review of the Bond movie franchise; a report on the Bond Girls over the years; and an eye-popping look at what it REALLY costs to live the extravagant Bond lifestyle.

“Movie Up” (Friday, November 14, 9:30 p.m., ET/PT) Hosted by Tory Shulman, this series is the definitive home-entertainment guide to what’s new and hot on DVD, VOD/PPV and premium channels. In a special salute to “Bond Week,” the series will feature the Blu-Ray releases of the classic 007 adventures Dr. No, Live and Let Die, and For Your Eyes Only, and a special edition DVD of the 2006 Bond re-boot, Casino Royale.

ReelzChannel – “TV About Movies,” is the only cable/satellite network and website dedicated to everything about movies. The network features entertaining original programs that offer a fresh perspective on the movies, from behind-the-scenes to what to see tonight. ReelzChannel covers movies wherever they are playing – in theaters, on DVD, VOD, and premium channels. In addition to cable and telco carriage in markets across the country, ReelzChannel is carried via satellite on DIRECTV (Channel 238) and DISH Network (Channel 299), and is currently reaching more than 40 million homes nationwide. ReelzChannel also operates the website www.reelzchannel.com, which offers deeper coverage of the movies, and information on all the latest movies available at home and in theaters. Owned by Hubbard Media Group, headquartered in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, ReelzChannel TV operates out of studios in Los Angeles with offices in Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York, and Chicago.

Keep your browsers pointed to CommanderBond.net for all the latest Quantum of Solace coverage.

'Quantum of Solace' Lucerne And Amsterdam Premieres

The worldwide premieres for Quantum of Solace continue!

Following up stops in Oslo, Norway and Berlin, Germany over this past weekend, the next two locations scheduled were Lucerne, Switzerland and Amsterdam, The Netherlands, both taking place this past Tuesday 4 November.

Actors Anatole Taubman (Elvis), Carl von Malaisé (Dominic Greene’s Driver), director Marc Forster and producer Barbara Broccoli attended the James Bond film’s Lucerne premiere, which took place at Maxx Kino.

Quantum of Solace – Lucerne Premiere Photographs
1 | 2 | 3 | 4
5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Taking place the same evening was the premiere in at the Palace Tuschinski in Amsterdam featuring Olga Kurylenko (Camille) in attendance. Bond film veterans Jeroen Krabbé, who starred as the villainous Georgi Koskov in The Living Daylights and Daphne Deckers (Elliot Carver’s PR assistant in Tomorrow Never Dies) also showed up for the Quantum premiere.

More than 40 photographs from the event have been added online courtesy of Getty Images:

Quantum of Solace – Amsterdam Premiere Photographs

Stay tuned to CommanderBond.net for all the latest Quantum of Solace news and information.

'Sean Connery: Neither Shaken Nor Stirred' Released In UK

A newly reprinted edition of the biography Sean Connery: Neither Shaken Nor Stirred by Andrew Yule is released today in the UK.

Published by Sphere, this 416-page paperback retails for £7.99, but fans can currently purchase it at a discounted price at Amazon.co.uk.

This is a biography of the actor, Sean Connery, who was born and brought up in an Edinburgh tenement, the son of a van driver and a charlady. Having left school at 13 and had a variety of jobs, including brickie and milkman, he spent three years in the Navy until invalided out with ulcers, and took up body-building and won a bronze medal in a Mr Universe contest. Deciding on an acting career, he made his film debut in 1956 and the major break came with his appearance in the first James Bond film, Dr No. The book traces Connery’s career and also examines the contradictions of the man himself – one who is renowned for watching the pennies but gives generously to charities; a dedicated Scottish Nationalist who lives as an unrepentant tax exile; a star who sues film companies whilst being admired throughout the industry for professionalism, hard work and commitment; a sex symbol barely touched by scandal.

• Order the UK paperback edition of Sean Connery: Neither Shaken Nor Stirred from Amazon.co.uk

Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest literary James Bond news.

'Quantum of Solace' Expanding To 58 New Territories

Daniel Craig is James Bond in Quantum of Solace

Following the relatively limited (but nonetheless record-breaking) opening of Quantum of Solace in UK, French and Swiss theatres on 31 October, this upcoming weekend will see a major international expansion of the James Bond film.

Throughout today and tomorrow, Daniel Craig’s second 007 film will open in 58 new territories worldwide, including numerous countries in Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

Quantum of Solace went on general release in a number of countries yesterday, including China, Belgium, Egypt and Jordan. Premieres attended by the film’s cast and crew have also been taking place (click here for photographs).

Stay tuned to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest details as Quantum of Solace continues to open around the world. We’ll have all the latest fan and critic reactions, box office news and much more.

Have you seen Quantum of Solace in theatres yet? Post your review and join in the discussion in the Member Reviews section on the CBn Forums.

'I wanted to make the Bond movie I always wanted to see…'

Quantum of Solace

With Quantum of Solace released in UK theatres last week and the film rolling out in an additional 50+ countries today and tomorrow, James Bond fans around the world are finally getting a look at director Marc Forster’s interpretation of 007.

Expressing his admiration for the early Bond films, like Dr. No and Goldfinger, Forster said in a Canada.com [Warning: Spoilers] interview: ‘I wanted to make the Bond movie I always wanted to see.’

‘I always felt the design and look of those early films were ahead of their time, so I wanted to make this a little retro but at the same time sort of futuristic.’

The Swiss director also stressed the importance of examining Bond’s character throughout the story. He said: ‘I deal with emotionally repressed characters throughout every film. In Monster’s Ball, they’re repressed. Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland, Will Ferrell in Stranger Than Fiction, The Kite Runner–they’re all repressed.’

‘And Bond is the ultimate. He definitely has a strong shell around him which he is emotionally unable to open.’

With Quantum of Solace acting as a sequel to the events involving Vesper Lynd and Bond in Casino Royale, Forster found he had the perfect opportunity to apply a serious approach

‘They wanted to make it as a sequel, from where Casino Royale left off. In the last five minutes of that film, his emotional state was very interesting, so I felt there was a lot of opportunity to continue that journey.’

However, as many viewers have noticed, Quantum of Solace features an overwhelming abundance of action as well. Describing his take on these sequences, Forster commented: ‘I wanted to do four action sequences set in the four elements–water, fire, air and earth. And I felt we should try to tell a story with each of them. The second unit guy was there–we worked all of them through, even the ones he didn’t direct. I thought he had done so much of this that it would be good for me to collaborate with someone who understands them.’

On his working relationship with producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, he said: ‘They seemed to really love my work, and they felt in the last movie they had taken a chance with Daniel, and obviously Daniel worked and was accepted as Bond, even though at the beginning he was criticized. And they probably felt they were ready to take a chance on the director this time and throw it in a different direction.’

‘They really let me make my film and sort of left me alone. There was a lot of pressure because Casino Royale was such a critical and commercial success, so I felt the expectations were enormous and the budget was enormous. So if the movie fails commercially, it would affect my career with my smaller movies.’

Stay tuned to CommanderBond.net for all the latest Quantum of Solace news and information.

Michael G. Wilson On Reinventing James Bond

Michael G. Wilson, producer of the James Bond films along with Barbara Broccoli, has spoken to the Times Colonist about reinventing the 007 series with Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.

Michael G. Wilson

Wilson, whose association with the series goes back as far as Goldfinger (he began receiving regular production credits from The Spy Who Loved Me onwards), said there are plenty of risky gambles that come along with each new Bond film.

‘There are plenty of exhilarating moments,’ he said. ‘In a creative enterprise, you get to work with a lot of great people, and hopefully it’s something that other people want to see and are pleased by when they see it. So those are the exhilarating parts.’

‘That last Pierce film did better than any of his previous three, but I thought that creatively we were stuck…’ – Michael G. Wilson on Die Another Day

‘But there are plenty of stressful moments, keeping that big engine on track, keeping everything moving, trying to adjust to all the things that come up during the filmmaking process that throw you off track. Trying to keep it on track is tough.’

Where Wilson felt the series had started to derail a bit was with Pierce Brosnan’s fourth film, Die Another Day. ‘I thought it was ailing,’ he said. ‘That last Pierce film did better than any of his previous three, but I thought that creatively we were stuck. Barbara and I and the writers were in a rut.’

Casino Royale

A faithul adaptation of Casino Royale for the big screen ended up giving the series a jolt of new energy while simultaneously thrilling fans and critics alike.

Speaking about Daniel Craig’s debut 007 film, Wilson said: ‘I think for me, it was going back to where we started with Dr. No and From Russia With Love. That’s the way I visualized it, but of course it was now contemporary times. And Casino Royale was an “origin” story so we could go back and really tell the beginnings of Bond.’

‘He’s probably the best actor of his generation in Britain, if not the world.’ – Michael G. Wilson on Daniel Craig

Acting as the first direct sequel in the series’ history, Quantum of Solace continues the story of an ’emotionally wounded’ Bond. Played to perfection by Craig, Wilson adds that ‘he’s probably the best actor of his generation in Britain, if not the world’.

Quantum of Solace

If Die Another Day acted as the most recent fantasy highpoint for Bond, then Casino Royale as well as Quantum of Solace definitely bring him back to Earth again.

‘When you think in terms of what happened after Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever were fairly fantastical things. Then we went down to earth more or less with the first Roger ones–they were jokey but not fantastical. Then we got sort of carried away with Moonraker which again was a big success–but where do you go from there? So we brought it down to earth with For Your Eyes Only, and then kind of kept it there for a while, and then with Pierce it started to get more fantastical again. There’s a tendency to sort of drift, I think.’

Stay tuned to CommanderBond.net for all the latest Quantum of Solace news and information.

Young Bond Signing With Charlie Higson At Wessex Book Festival

The Young Bond Dossier informs us that Charlie Higson is scheduled to make an appearance at the 12th annual Wessex Children’s Book Festival at the end of the month.

The Young James Bond author will be taking part in a talk and book signing on both Friday, 28 November and the following Saturday (29th).

The Friday event will take place from 6:30 to 9:00pm at Winchester Guildhall. Tickets will cost £3 per person and can be purchased by phoning 01962 826660 or emailing [email protected].

The Saturday event will take place from 10:45 to 11.30am with a book signing scheduled from 11:30am to 12:30pm. There is no cost to attend this Saturday event.

For further details about Wessex Children’s Book Festival, visit their official website.

Keep up with all the latest literary 007 and Young Bond news on the CommanderBond.net main page.

Christopher Lennertz Scores 'Quantum of Solace' Game

Quantum of Solace

As many 007 gamers may already have discovered while playing the newly released Activision James Bond game Quantum of Solace, composer Christopher Lennertz has returned to compose the music.

Lennertz, who also composed the music for the 2005 Electronic Arts (EA) Bond game From Russia with Love said: ‘It was an honor and a pleasure to continue my association with the Bond franchise.’

ScoringSessions.com have posted a unique report of the scoring process for Quantum of Solace, which took place this past summer.

With different elements recorded overseas, the Capitol Records Building in Los Angeles and at Lennertz’s own Sonic Fuel studios, it was key to making sure everything mixed together perfectly. View the entire report online:

Scoring Quantum of Solace

Lennertz concluded: ‘After scoring for the legendary Sean Connery, to be able to continue with the modern 007 and lend my music to the exploits of Daniel Craig is another thrill for me. The music turned out amazing, and the game is fantastic, so pour yourself a shaken martini and play it again and again…and turn it up!’

Quantum of Solace is currently available on all platforms in the UK and US.

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