'John Barry – The Man With The Midas Touch' Now Available

It’s taken more than a full year of waiting, but John Barry – The Man with the Midas Touch, a book celebrating the work of the famed James Bond film composer is finally available.

Delayed from its original 2007 release date, John Barry – The Man with the Midas Touch was released on 31 October in the UK.

Written by Geoff Leonard, Pete Walker and Gareth Bramley, this illustrated hardback is published by Redcliffe Press Ltd and retails for £19.99. The original announcement from JohnBarry.org.uk follows:

Whether or not you purchased John Barry – A life in Music, ten years ago, you can look forward to a book that has been thoroughly re-written and completely updated. We have spent a lot of time on the picture content and this too has been extensively updated and includes a good selection of rare photos, both colour and black and white.

There are approximately 300 pages including two photo sections of 16 pages each of colour and b & w. In addition to this, a photo introduces each of the thirty chapters, and, of course, the discography has been updated to include everything that’s happened since 1998. It’s a book that does full justice to a glittering career.

We want to emphasise that this project is basically a self-publication in that we have commissioned a publisher to act on our behalf. All the work has been done by a team of dedicated Barry fans, much of it voluntarily.

Therefore, we want to encourage as many as possible to order (and therefore pay for) the book now, even though it won’t be available until October/November. Of course, there will be a discount if you do this–we don’t expect anybody to pay in advance purely for our benefit!

The book will retail at £19.99 ($39.99) but for those wishing to pay in advance, the cost will be £14.99 ($29.99)–a saving of 25%!

• Order John Barry – The Man with the Midas Touch at Amazon.co.uk
• Order John Barry – The Man with the Midas Touch at JohnBarry.org.uk

007 fans best know Barry for his work as composer on the scores for 11 James Bond films, starting with 1963’s From Russia With Love and finally ending with 1987’s The Living Daylights.

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

'Quantum of Solace' – Official Blog Report #33

The official Quantum of Solace blog has been updated today with another crew member from the 22nd James Bond 007 film: ‘Another Way To Die’ music video director Paul Brown.

Seen in the studio along with Jack White and Alicia Keys, Brown explains that he directed the music video for the 007 title song.

‘We are currently filming in Toronto in probably the busiest weekend of the year. There’s both the Toronto Film Fest and I think a Virgin festival going on all at the same time, so it doesn’t get much busier.’

He continues: ‘We’re in a backlot studio in our lovely green world where you can click your fingers and turn into anything. [For the music video], we’re kind of evoking the Bond look in everything for the the two worlds that Jack and Alicia are going to exist in for the track.’

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

Australian Opening Night 'Quantum of Solace' Charity Screening Announced

Anglicare WA, an Western Australian service organisation that assists community members in crisis will be hosting an opening night screening of Quantum of Solace on Wednesday, 19 November.

The charity event for the 22nd James Bond film will be held at the Reading Cinema Belmont at 7:00pm, with proceeds from ticket sales going towards Anglicare WA’s continued work in communities.

PerthNow reports that tickets cost $20 each and include refreshments and door prizes. Guests are invited to come dressed in their best 007 attire for the chance to win best dressed prizes.

Tickets can be purchased through the Anglicare WA office by phoning 9319 6401 or emailing [email protected].

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

Craig: Creativity And Talent Must Fuel Bond Franchise Future

ReelzChannel has posted a lengthy interview with James Bond star Daniel Craig, in which the actor discusses the path the character is taking during his era.

Eva Green

“Eva Green played this great part, a wonderful performance, and when it came around to shooting this movie it was like, we can’t just push that aside.” – Daniel Craig

“We started off something in Casino Royale,” Craig said. “We had a great storyline, we had a great book, we had a novel by Ian Fleming that was solid and had a love story in it – a really strong love story. And Eva Green played this great part, a wonderful performance, and when it came around to shooting this movie it was like, we can’t just push that aside. We have to develop that; we have to tie up the loose ends here. And that’s what Quantum of Solace is about – it’s him finding his quantum of solace. He’s not on a vendetta. He’s not after revenge. He’s after finding his place. And his relationships with M and Felix and obviously with Mathis – and subsequently with Camille – in the movie are about solidifying his place in the world and who his allies are. And I think by the end of the movie we’re sure, and he’s Bond, and now we can do whatever we want.”

“We want people with creativity and talent to come in and go, ‘I’ve got a good idea.'” – Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig as James Bond

When asked whether there’s a “road map” for the character’s development in future instalments, Craig replied, “No. We’ve got so much on our plate just trying to get one movie out. We’ve had discussions, but there’s never anything nailed down. Whether Paul Haggis does the next one or we get another writer involved, we want their ideas. We want their creative input. And to just say, ‘This is what we want.’ – it puts up barriers. It puts up walls. We want people with creativity and talent to come in and go, ‘I’ve got a good idea.'”.

A couple of weeks ago, 007 producer Barbara Broccoli hinted that the mysterious Quantum organisation, which features prominantly in both Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, would return in future James Bond pictures. “I think that there’s definitely room to get involved with that,” Craig told ReelzChannel. “We know [Quantum] kind of reaches up into governments now, so we could take it anywhere.”

“You can’t write gags for a movie like this; they either come or they don’t.” – Daniel Craig

Quantum of Solace

One of the criticisms being levelled at the latest James Bond movie is its lack of humour. When asked whether future entries into the series will contain more laughs, Craig replied, “Ah, no. [laughs] I mean, of course we can do anything. But writing gags for a movie like this is wrong. You can’t write gags for a movie like this; they either come or they don’t. We dealt with this in a way and that is the way the story went, but honestly, the lines and all the – not the Bond clichés, but the Bond clichés – we can put in as long as we earn them. This is not what this has been about. But there’s a few gags in there. There’s some belly laughs in there. Somewhere.”

Craig also spoke about the difficulty of topping each previous film: “It’s a high-class problem, to be honest. I think that as long as we’re keeping the product good – it feels horrible to say that word, but let’s be honest, that’s what it is – keeping the quality up, keeping the money on the screen, keeping audiences interested. I can’t predict what’s going to happen. If we’re fighting an uphill battle then it’s time to rethink, but if that’s a challenge, then I think it’s a good challenge.”

The actor also confirmed he is under contract for four James Bond films, of which Quantum of Solace is the second.

Be sure to check out the complete interview, in which Craig discusses working with Judi Dench and Olga Kurylenko, coping with fame, and filming the famous gunbarrel sequence, at ReelzChannel.

Work on the 23rd James Bond film is planned to commence in January.

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

Sir Roger Moore's 'My Word Is My Bond' Released In US

Sir Roger Moore’s autobiography, My Word Is My Bond, is released today in the US.

Following up the UK release of the book at the end of September, the US edition of My Word Is My Bond is published in hardback by Collins and is currently shipping from Amazon.com at a discounted price.

The quintessential suave hero, Roger Moore has had an extraordinary career that has spanned seven decades, from early television to the golden age of Hollywood and on to international superstardom.

Dashing, handsome and every inch the archetypal English gentleman, he is unforgettable as The Saint, as Lord Brett Sinclair in The Persuaders! and, of course, as James Bond, making seven blockbusting films as arguably the most debonair of the 007s.

For the first time, Roger shares his recollections of playing some of the world’s most famous roles alongside a host of legendary stars. With myriad stories from his personal life–from his childhood in London and experiences during the Second World War, to the happy and turbulent times in his later life. Along with anecdotes about his encounters with the stars and his wonderful memories from the heyday of Hollywood, My Word is My Bond is as frank, funny and disarmingly charming as the legend himself.

Order My Word is My Bond online:

• Order the UK hardback edition of My Word is My Bond from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK signed hardback edition of My Word is My Bond from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the UK audiobook edition of My Word is My Bond from Amazon.co.uk
• Order the US hardback edition of My Word is My Bond from Amazon.com

'Quantum of Solace' Game Debuts In The US

Following up the UK release from just a few days ago, Activision’s highly anticipated debut James Bond game, Quantum of Solace, makes its retail debut in the US today.

Quantum of Solace

Developed under license from EON Productions Ltd and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), the Quantum of Solace video game equips players with the weapons, espionage and hand-to-hand combat skills and overall charm needed to survive the covert lifestyle of legendary 007 secret agent James Bond.

“Activision’s Quantum of Solace video game marks the first time players can become the newly re-imagined, dangerous and cunningly efficient James Bond as portrayed by Daniel Craig,” said Rob Kostich, Head of Marketing for Licensed Properties, Activision Publishing. “We’re extremely pleased to release the game day and date with the new movie, so for those of us waiting for the new era in Bond gaming, Quantum of Solace has arrived.”

The Quantum of Solace video game balances a unique variety of gameplay elements, blending intense first-person action with a new third-person cover combat system, enabling players to strategically choose the best combat tactics for each situation. As James Bond, gamers must intelligently maneuver each challenge, identifying the best course of action while incapacitating enemies through silent, sneaky covert operations or full force, guns-blazing confrontations. Further, the Quantum of Solacevideo game features the return of fan favorite Bond multiplayer action, allowing gamers to experience a multitude of maps based on authentic locations from the Quantum of Solace and Casino Royale films and beyond. Based on the renowned Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare game engine with systems specifically engineered to immerse players in the Bond universe, the Quantum of Solace video game delivers superior high-definition graphics, reactive AI and visually stunning locations inspired by locales portrayed in the latest films.

To celebrate the releases of the Quantum of Solace and Guitar Hero World Tour video games, Bond aficionados and rock stars alike will be able to download and play “Another Way to Die,” the new Quantum of Solace movie theme song performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys, in Guitar Hero World Tour. The track will be available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 160 Microsoft Points and on the PLAYSTATION Store for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system for $1.99 on November 7th, 2008.

The Quantum of Solace video game was created by Treyarch for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system. The Games for Windows and Wii video game console and versions were developed by Beenox Studios. The Nintendo DS version was developed by Vicarious Visions and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system version by Eurocom. The Quantum of Solace video game is rated “T” (Teen – content that may be suitable for persons ages 13 and older) by the ESRB.

For more information about the game, visit http://007thevideogame.com/.

Quantum of Solace is released on the following formats: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Playstation 2, Nintendo DS and Windows PC. Click here to order the game online.

As always, CommanderBond.net will continue to keep you updated with the most up-to-date and complete coverage of Activision’s Quantum of Solace.

Bond With Richard Kiel And David Hedison At Super MegaFest

Two stars from the James Bond films are scheduled to attend the 2008 Boston SUPER Megafest show later this month.

Richard Kiel, known for playing the steel-toothed henchman Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker and David Hedison, who starred as Felix Leiter in Live and Let Die and Licence to Kill are on the current guest list.

Spend the day with all your favorite celebrities from comics, TV, movies, and rock & roll. The Super Megafest also features an incredible dealer room with one of the largest selections of DVDs, posters, autographs, comics, toys, videos, non-sports cards and memorabilia from TV, movies,
and rock & roll that you will ever find on the east coast.

The event is scheduled to take place on 22-23 November (Saturday/Sunday), beginning at 10:30am on both days.

Discount advance tickets are available by phoning 1-800-505-8697.

The venue is the Sheraton Framingham Hotel in Framingham, Massachusetts, located at 1657 Worcester Road. For further information, visit the official website.

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

'Quantum of Solace' Oslo And Berlin Premieres

Following up the grand world premiere of Quantum of Solace on the 29th of October in London’s Leicester Square and the Paris premiere one day after, the cast and crew of the 22nd James Bond film have now visited Oslo, Norway and Berlin, Germany.

Taking place on 1 and 3 November, respectively, numerous cast and crew members from the 007 film attended both events. The Oslo premiere saw Olga Kurylenko attend along with director Marc Forster and producer Barbara Broccoli.

The Paris premiere featured Daniel Craig along with Kurylenko, Anatole Taubman, Jesper Christensen, Forster and Broccoli.

007 Magazine OnLine has photographs currently online from the Oslo premiere at the Colosseum cinema and Getty Images has more than 250 photos from the Sony Center CineStar Cinema Berlin premiere. Click to view:

• Quantum of Solace – Oslo Premiere
• Quantum of Solace – Berlin Premiere

Upcoming premieres for the Bond film include Switzerland, The Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Australia and Japan.

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

Marc Forster Reveals Rejected 'Quantum' Idea

With Quantum of Solace‘s tumultuous script history in mind, it’s not surprising that numerous ideas never made the final cut of the latest James Bond film. New York Magazine today reveals a particularly major twist that was ultimately rejected by 007 producers.

Director Marc Forster

Quantum director Marc Forster told the magazine, “[Writer Paul] Haggis had an idea [the producers] weren’t fond of, and I didn’t know if it would work or not. The idea was that Vesper in the last movie, maybe she had a kid, and there would be an orphan out there.”

Forster continued, “It wasn’t anything to insult the franchise. But they felt it wasn’t particularly Bond – him looking for the kid. I think Paul thought he just leaves the kid, he doesn’t deal with it. But [the producers] thought that would be really nasty, too, because Bond was an orphan himself. If he would find a kid, would he just leave it? They were so vehemently against it.”

“That was the only time I saw, really, ‘No, we can’t do that.’ They said, ‘Once he finds the kid, Bond can’t just leave the kid. It’s not right.'”

The report comes after Quantum of Solace‘s original cliffhanger ending was revealed (spoilers abound in our full report).

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

New 'Quantum of Solace' TV Spots Air

James Bond fans in the US waiting for Quantum of Solace to arrive in theatres will have to make do with some brand new TV spots for the film.

Just recently posted online, these two new previews (running for about 30 seconds each) include previously unseen footage from the film.

Click below to check them out at YouTube: TV Spot #1 | TV Spot #2.

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