A second nuke turned up…

Cover image ‘The Making of The Living Daylights’ by Charles Helfenstein, used with kind permission

In 2009 author Charles Helfenstein dropped the book equivalent of a nuclear bomb on James Bond fans:
The Making of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

The Bond experts took notice: Bond author, historian, and DVD producer John Cork was “Stunned” by what Helfenstein had uncovered.  Bond author Raymond Benson described the research as “Jaw dropping.” 007 magazine‘s Graham Rye described the book as “Breathtaking, matching the movie in its scope and detail.”

The cast and crew took notice.  OHMSS Cinematographer Michael Reed described the book as “Wonderfully well written and illustrated.” OHMSS cameraman Alec Mills was also impressed, summing up the book in a single word: “Wonderful.” 2nd unit director and OHMSS editor John Glen, the most prolific of all Bond directors, praised the book as “Beautifully produced.”

The entertainment industry took notice:  The Motion Picture Editor’s Guild described the book as “A fitting tribute to Peter Hunt”, the man who so radically altered their industry.  The book’s influence extended in a highly unlikely direction: The BBC’s Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch.  Producer Mark Gatiss is a huge OHMSS fan, and he praised the “Exhaustive” book and described how the unused OHMSS scenes influence “A Scandal in Belgravia” in the audio commentary of that episode.

But we as Bond fans are always wanting more.

Did this Vulcan have just a single nuke on board?  No.

The phrase, I believe, is “Better make that two.”

To mark the 50th anniversary of the James Bond series, Helfenstein turned his sights on the half way point of the franchise, the 25th anniversary film, The Living Daylights.  In an exclusive excerpt from The Making of The Living Daylights, Helfenstein describes the first day of filming for the first unit, and its fascinating tie-in to On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and For Your Eyes Only:

The very first scene shot by the first unit on the first day of filming on The Living Daylights was a close-up of a parrot once owned by Diana Rigg. The actress had bought the blue, green, and gold macaw, named Chrome, in the late 60s, and the bird caused her some distress during the filming of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Rigg would rehearse her lines of dialog at home, and the parrot would repeat them, which wasn’t a problem when they were alone, but Rigg realized that the words the bird was repeating gave away plot details when she had guests over to her house.

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London Critics´ Circle loves SKYFALL

In the annual award circus the London Critics´ Circle showed lots of love for SKYFALL by nominating it as Best British Picture and giving acting nominations to Daniel Craig, Judi Dench and Javier Bardem.

Has there ever been a 007 picture that has gotten so much award attention?

See the whole list of nominations here: http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/london-critics-circle-nominations

Javier Bardem wins Satellite Award for SKYFALL

Congrats to Javier Bardem whose memorable portrayal of Bond villain Raoul Silva earned him a Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor.

See the list of winners here: http://www.thewrap.com/awards/column-post/silver-linings-playbook-sweeps-satellite-awards-69546

Inflation Adjusted, Skyfall Passes Goldfinger

Adjusting for inflation is tricky, but using the US rate of inflation (consumer price index) Skyfall has managed to surpass Goldfinger ($931,983,650) to become the #2 James Bond film. Thunderball still sits at #1 with $1.036 billion by the same method, but its record could be threatened depending on how well Skyfall performs next month when it opens in China. This week Skyfall added another $12 million outside the United States to bring its overseas total to $678.7 million. That ranks 11th all-time or 3rd all-time among 2D-only films with only Titanic and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ahead of it. Combined with its US cume, Skyfall sits at $951 million worldwide and should reach at least $980 million before China adds to its total.

Despite The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opening in the United States this weekend, Skyfall still managed to add $7 million to its US total. That brings Skyfall’s total to $272 million. Skyfall should end its run in the States somewhere over $290 million.

If you want to do a little saber rattling, The Hobbit’s record setting December opening of $84 million is less than Skyfall’s November opening of $88 million. Numbers are fun.

Pierce Brosnan – The fans speak.

About a month ago I published an article on this site praising Pierce Brosnan, and detailing my thoughts and feelings about his films. I then asked you the readers to share your thoughts, the intention being that I’d release an article gathering those thoughts. Well, real life got in the way, my quarter was winding down and I had tests to be thinking about. Now with that out of the way (I passed my classes, btw), I can bring you the article (better late than never ;)).

I posed this question, first, in the CommanderBond.net forums, and then on the main page itself. So first off, let’s hear from the forum members:

DamnCoffee:

As much as I think Roger is my favourite and Connery was the best, for me, Pierce Brosnan, will always be MY Bond. However cringe worthy the dialogue, or how unrealistic the action was, Brosnan will always hold a very special place in my heart. The Brosnan era was my childhood. He was the Bond I grew up with, and no matter how many people bash the guy, and accuse him of being the worst Bond of them all, I will defend him because, as strange as it sounds, I love the guy.

Of course his era was plagued with problems. Acting, Scriptwriting, and at some times, total stupidity. The thing is though, no matter how bad that is, and how much I realise now that is NOT what makes a good film, at the time, I loved it. As a small child, seeing this brilliant hero, reinvented for the 90’s was just a total joy. ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ might have been my first Bond film, but Brosnan was my first true Bond. He will always hold a special place in my heart.

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SKYFALL earns 3 nominations from Chicago Critics

Judi Dench, Roger Deakins and Stuart Baird were nominated by the Chicago Critics this year for their contributions to SKYFALL. Together with their Boston and their L.A. peers the Chicago Critics are the most influential local critics´ organization in the USA.

See the whole list of nominations here: http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/the-master-leads-with-10-chicago-critics-nods

James Bond Walking Tour of London

While we’re talking about events and endings and how to keep in shape – what, we weren’t? well, we should have! – there is now something for the Bond fan with a mind to move more than just his trigger finger: The James Bond Walking Tour of London by britmovietours. Taking about two hours this tour is going to visit over ten locations featuring prominently in Bond films ranging from ‘For Your Eyes Only’, over ‘Die Another Day’ to the most recent entry ‘Skyfall’.

Thanks to ‘quantumofsolace’ for pointing to this.

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

Bond fans in the Washington DC area – or those willing to take upon them the trouble to travel there – do have an alternative to spending 2012’s last evening in front of the telly. Where better to say goodbye to 2012 than at an event aptly named ‘Thunderball Gala’?

Here are the details:

Now the Wrens can take bloody shots, too…

No sooner was our goal for 50 t-shirts in Navy blue reached (and you can still order one of those here) when the Admiralty decided to offer equal rights to female Bond fans. This is it, ladies; your chance to take the bloody shot in Navy blue with a formfitting cut. Open-minded in all the right places, figure-flattering everywhere else. Guaranteed to catch the attention of your significant other or potential applicants for the position – a.k.a. targets.

So stay calm, exhale until there is no more pressure on your lungs, hold your breath and squeeze the trigger…

Edit: Oh, I forgot to mention the terms for this campaign. This time it’s ten orders within the next seven days for this to take off. Each shirt sells for $ 20,- as the other designs did.

Golden Globe nomination for Adele

The Golden Globes did not love SKYFALL as much as other critics´ organizations. Only Adele´s title song was nominated this year. Well, Judi Dench still got one for “The Best Marigold Hotel”.

See the whole list of nominations here: http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/