Win '007' Magazine #33 – Covering 'Tomorrow Never Dies'

A lucky CBn member now has the chance to win a copy of ‘007’ Magazine issue #33, which takes an indepth look at the making of the second Pierce Brosnan James Bond film, Tomorrow Never Dies. CBn recently gave away a copy of ‘007’ Magazine issue #32, which also focuses on Tomorrow Never Dies.

Contents include:

• Letter from the President, Graham Rye
• Bond Babe (1989) Carey Lowell
• News: Tomorrow Never Dies shatters home video records; MGM/UA wins award for Tomorrow Never Dies promotion; September 17 Bond Day in London
• From The Archive (1963) Screen Tests for Bond girl Tatiana in From Russia With Love
• Around the World with Tomorrow Never Dies: Q&A interview clips with Pierce Brosnan, Roger Spottiswoode, Vic Armstrong.)
• Tomorrow Never Dies promotional material, magazines, and merchandise
• Tomorrow Never Dies premiere photos
• Book Reviews (including Raymond Benson’s The Facts Of Death)
• Letters
• Classic Scene (From Russia With Love – the face off on board the Orient Express)
• Villains gallery
• Bond Classifieds

Visit the official ‘OO7’ Magazine website to subscribe to ‘007’ Magazine OnLine.

This competition is open to all members of CBn. You must be a registered member of the CBn Forums and answer the following question correctly to be eligible to win. Not yet a member of CBn? Register here now – it is free and only takes a minute!

To enter, fill out the following questionnaire and send a Private/Personal Message (PM) on the CBn Forums to Qwerty. (Subject: CBn Magazine) by Midnight EST on 24 January 2007.

1. True Or False: The remix of the James Bond theme by Moby appears within the film.
2. What is your CBn Forum Screen Name?
3. What country do you live in?

To discuss this CBn competition or if you have any questions visit this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond 007 forum on the internet.

All those who answer correctly will be put into a drawing and the winner will be sent a Private/Personal Message (PM) via the CBn Forums to the Screen Name they provided to inform them of their winning. The winner must respond to this PM within 3 days with the requested information (name, mailing address, etc) or another drawing will be held. The winner will be announced once shipping information has been received. The item will be shipped from the USA. In the event that a prize has been stolen or mishandled during shipment, CBn will not be able to replace the specific item — this has yet to be a problem.

The Laurent Bouzereau CBn Interview

An interview by Michael F. Bishop

It is altogether fitting that a new and brilliant Bond film should herald the publication of new books about Her Majesty’s most famous secret agent. The past few months have seen a remarkable number of new works devoted to various aspects of the Bond legacy. But the best and most enjoyable is The Art of Bond, by Laurent Bouzereau, a sumptuous pictorial study of all that makes Bond films such a pleasure to watch.

A great sense of style has always been central to the world of James Bond. His creator, Ian Fleming, had a taste for the finer things, and shared this with his hero. Fleming was also deeply involved in what his books actually looked like, and worked closely with the artist Richard Chopping on the design of the book jackets. To collectors of Fleming, these jackets are more valuable than the books themselves, and give the reader a powerful sense of the danger, excitement, and seduction to be found within.

The Broccoli family, and the brilliant team of filmmakers, designers, and artists they assembled to bring Bond to the screen, seemed instinctively to understand the aesthetic qualities of their subject matter, and for the last four decades have left filmgoers with indelible images printed on their collective psyche. From Ursula Andress emerging from the blue Jamaican sea, to the breathtaking sets of Ken Adams, to the exquisite lines of the new Aston Martin DBS, the Bond films have contained an extraordinary array of sensual imagery.

Author Laurent Bouzereau has worked with the Bond producers to create a memorable record of these and many other images. Longtime fans will appreciate the generous attention paid to films throughout the series; newcomers to the Bond universe will appreciate the extensive coverage of Casino Royale. Only the films of Timothy Dalton receive short shrift; that most underrated of Bond actors is mostly ignored in this otherwise expansive work.

The lavish photography is accompanied by the observations of the Bond filmmakers and other prominent artists, including Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, and Ridley Scott. Spielberg, who once approached Cubby Broccoli about directing a Bond film and was dismissed for being too inexperienced, is pictured leaning against his Aston Martin DB9, in a pose reminiscent of Sean Connery’s with the DB5.

Devotees of various aspects of the Bond universe will find their own interests amply represented; the books, the sets, the cars, the women, the music, and the locations are all featured. The book concludes with a fascinating but all-too-brief examination of the marketing of the Bond phenomenon.

The Art of Bond is an important and enjoyable book that belongs in the collection of every Bond fan.

The author’s enthusiasm for his subject is evident in the following interview:

The Bond books and movies developed in such different directions, and yet they are connected by an artistic sense, with all the many visual aspects of the films and the famous Richard Chopping covers of the books. Why is Bond an artistic phenomenon?

Because I think that with the first movie, there was extreme attention to detail, including the sets, even though they were destroyed! This was unusual for action movies. The costumes, the look of Bond himself, all of that is detail never seen in that genre before. With the passage of time and success of the franchise, you then had lavish opening credits, with songs, long before music videos. All of that just did not exist before. The artistic values are beyond just the fact that they are very well acted and directed, but you have many artists behind the scenes, especially the visionary Ken Adam.

The book includes an extraordinary number and variety of images, but choices obviously still had to be made. How did you make them?

My involvement was limited to the text itself. EON selected the images. They approached me with the idea and asked how to go about it, but I told them that people would be more interested in their perspectives than in mine. I was doing the interviews at the same time as EON was doing the text. Then I had to organize them in some sort of a narrative, hopefully giving the reader some idea of what it takes to make a movie, using all the Bond films as examples.

You have been involved in the film world for a long time, and have developed expertise in the subject. Is it difficult to step back and allow others to do the talking, as they do in this book?

No, I very rarely have a voiceover narration in my film documentaries, and I love to let whoever was directly involved tell the story. I think I get great answers because I engage people in a discussion, rather than an interview. When you speak to someone for hours and hours about the same subject, it better be a discussion! The comments I got from people were really engaging. There was a specific book that inspired me, the interview book with Truffaut and Hitchcock.

Women, cars, clothes, exotic locations: which is most central to the Bond mystique?

It’s an interesting question, but I think it’s the combination of all of those that makes it Bond. It wouldn’t be complete without all of them. You expect all of those elements in every single film, or else you’re just not in the Bond world. The challenge for the filmmakers is to do all those things over and over again in new ways!

Do you have a favorite Bond film?

Most of my subjects said that their favorite Bond was the first one they saw. So for me, whose first film was Live and Let Die, Roger Moore was my favorite. But I think my favorite film is The Spy Who Loved Me.

Which films or eras seem dated to you, and which seem timeless?

I think the ones from the 80s, Moore’s latest and Dalton’s, are the most dated. You start seeing a whole new trend of action heroes, like Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and so Bond films had to struggle to distinguish themselves. They were inspiring other films but had to work hard to keep up. But I think that with Pierce Brosnan’s arrival the timeless feel returned to the series.

Steven Spielberg wanted to direct a Bond film. What would he bring to the endeavor?

I think he’s already done it, in a way, with the Raiders of the Lost Ark films, giving the characters a real sense of being, so that you want to embrace them. Even when the characters are completely made up, you believe that they are real.

What do you think of the new James Bond, Daniel Craig?

I think he is an amazing choice. On my first day on the set for Munich, he was holding a gun with a silencer, and I thought, “he could be James Bond!” I got to know him, and though we didn’t speak about Bond, I thought he would be a great choice. He is a great actor and is rooting Bond in reality for a new century. He continues what Pierce started, the expansion of the Bond audience to include women and younger people. The producers are real geniuses, who are unafraid to take chances, and who knew that they had made the right choice even in the face of criticism.

Purchase The Art of Bond:

• Amazon.co.uk
• Amazon.com

'The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant' Paperback Coming In July

While James Bond fans in the UK have had the chance to purchase the hardback of Samantha Weinberg’s (writing as Kate Westbrook) The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant since November, CBn today reports that the paperback edition is on the way.

Set to be released on 12 July 2007, the paperback will retail for £7.99 and can be pre-ordered from amazon.co.uk. There is still no news of a US release.

The official blurb runs:

From saving spies to private passions, this book covers the secret adventures of James Bond’s right-hand woman. Jane Moneypenny may project a cool, calm and collected image but her secret diaries reveal a rather different story. In the grip of an uncertain love affair and haunted by a dark family secret, the last thing she needs is a crisis at work.

But the Secret Intelligence Service is in chaos. One senior officer is on trial for treason, another has defected to Moscow and her beloved James Bond has been brainwashed by the KGB. Only a woman’s touch can save them.

Moneypenny soon finds herself embroiled in a highly-charged adventure infused with the glamour of the Cold War espionage game. Alone on a dangerous Russian mission she turns, with breathless intimacy, to writing a truly explosive private diary.

The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest news on the literary James Bond releases.

Read the The Samantha Weinberg CBn Interview.

Order the UK hardback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant

Pre-order the UK paperback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Secret Servant

Order the UK hardback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel

Order the UK paperback edition of The Moneypenny Diaries: Guardian Angel

Discuss this ‘Moneypenny Diaries’ news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond 007 forum on the internet.

Casino Royale On Blu-ray DVD Confirmed By Sony

Although it was widely speculated that Casino Royale would be released on the Sony Blu-ray DVD format, there was no confirmation–until today.

According to a press release, Daniel Craig’s first James Bond film will ‘will debut on a 50GB dual-layer disc encoded in MPEG-4 AVC’ on 13 March, along with the regular DVD release.

CASINO ROYALE – March 13
Casino Royale introduces James Bond to the world as he is earning his “00” status and is sent on a dangerous mission to trump a high stakes poker game that could take down one of the world’s largest terrorists organizations. Added-value features in high-definition on the Casino Royale 50GB MPEG-4 AVC encoded Blu-ray Disc include:

• Becoming Bond — An intimate look at how Daniel Craig stepped into the role of the 6th James Bond
• Bond Girls Are Forever — A closer look at Bond’s Leading Ladies (standard-def)
• Chris Cornell Music Video, “You Know My Name”
• Uncompressed Audio

Click here for CBn’s round up of all the latest details on the DVD release of Casino Royale: Release dates, special features, and more.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale DVD coverage.

Related Casino Royale Articles

Eva Green Secures A BAFTA Rising Star Nomination

CBn recently reported on the staggering 14 nominations that Casino Royale had received on the BAFTA longlist. Today, BAFTA.org reports that Bond girl Eva Green has been nominated for the Orange Rising Star Award, which allows the public to vote for an actor or actress they believe is set for great things.

‘Set up in honour of the late Mary Selway, the highly respected BAFTA-winning casting director, this award recognises the cream of international acting talent. Five nominees have been selected by a panel of industry experts. Now all you’ve got to do is decide who walks off with the award.’

Visit the Orange website to watch their videos and vote for your favourite and you could be in with a chance to win VIP tickets to this year’s Orange British Academy Awards.

Eva Green was born and brought up in France by a French mother and Swedish father. She studied acting in Paris, then at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. She made her big screen debut in Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Dreamers, alongside Michael Pitt and Louis Garrel, before playing Countess Clarisse de Dreux-Sobise in the French film Arsene Lupin, and Sibylla of Jerusalem in Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven. Most recently she starred alongside Daniel Craig in Casino Royale. She has recently joined the cast of His Dark Materials: Northern Lights, based on Philip Pullman’s novel.

To read more about Eva and to vote online, click here or text ORSA EVA to 81800

Green goes up against Emily Blunt, Naomie Harris, Cillian Murphy, and Ben Whishaw for the award.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale coverage.

Related Casino Royale Articles

Visual Effects Society Nomination For Casino Royale

Casino Royale has been nominated for a Visual Effects Society (VES) award, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The 21st official James Bond film will be going up against Superman Returns for the ‘Outstanding Special Effects in a Motion Picture’ award.

‘A panel of more than 80 visual effects professionals met Saturday at FotoKem in Burbank to choose nominees for the fifth annual VES Awards, which will be held Feb. 11 at the Kodak Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland, where Dennis Muren will be honored with the VES Lifetime Achievement Award.’

• Outstanding Special Effects in a Motion Picture:
• Casino Royale: Chris Corbould, Peter Notley, Ian Lowe, Roy Quinn
• Superman Returns: Neil Corbould, David Brighton, David Young, Robert Higgie

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale coverage.

Related Casino Royale Articles

Casino Royale Remains Solid; Worldwide Box Office Exceeds $530 Million

2007 is a good year for James Bond already. Variety reports that Casino Royale continues its international box office success for the eighth straight frame.

Taking in $19.2 million at 5,045 in 60 markets, Casino Royale came in second overall to Night at the Museum. The newest Bond film currently stands at $531 million worldwide, the 24th highest of all time.

Highlights included the UK, where the film took in $2.3 million–bringing the grand total up to $99.1 million.

Casino Royale also opened #1 in Italy with $4.6 million at 425, making it #1 within the Bond series.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale coverage.

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Casino Royale Breaks Bond Opening Record In Italy

Casino Royale surpassed the box office records in the James Bond series once again with its opening In Italy this weekend.

In one of the last markets for the film, 007 opened #1 and took in $4.6 million at 425 playdates over the weekend–a new opening record for the Bond series.

Casino Royale will next open in China on 30 January.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale coverage.

Related Casino Royale Articles

Charlie Higson Discusses Young Bond; Plus A 'Double Or Die' Excerpt

The Young Bond Dossier reports that a brand new interview with Charlie Higson has appeared online at Storynory. Additionally, an excerpt from Double or Die is also included.

Focusing on his Young Bond series, Higson discusses the differences between the original Ian Fleming adventures and the current Young Bond series. He mentions the challenges in finding a right balance between what has always been apart of the novels before (the violence, drinking, and “kissing many girls”) and what is appropriate for the targeting age range for these novels.

Higson reveals that one of the reasons he wanted to write the novels was to get boys to read. ‘There has been a problem. People say ‘why do boys not read as much as girls?’ I think the reason is that there haven’t been the books there for boys to read.’

‘When I was first given the job to write the Young Bond books, I thought, I better go out and see who my competition is; who else is writing these types of action-adventure stories. And there really wasn’t anyone. Obviously, there was the Alex Rider books, but that was it. I’ve had fantastic feedback…’

Click here to listen to the entire interview.

Order the UK paperback edition of Double or Die from Amazon.co.uk

Pre-order the UK audiobook edition of Double or Die from Amazon.co.uk

Keep watching CBn for all the latest Double or Die and Young Bond news.

Discuss this Young James Bond news in this thread on the CBn Forums, the largest James Bond 007 forum on the internet. With many thanks to CBn Forum member ‘zencat.’

'A Whisper Of Love. A Whisper Of Hate.'

From ‘007’ Magazine comes ‘A Whisper Of Love. A Whisper Of Hate.’ Music inspired by Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale.

‘If you enjoy lazy late night jazz then you’ll love this new CD album from the decidedly cool sounding Miss Jane Parker and her quartet. And while the rhythm swings, what lovely things you’ll be saying, for what is dancing but making love set to music, playing! Perfect mood music to woo the Bond girl in your life!’

The track listing includes:

• Don’t Let It Go To Your Head
• Bewitched
• The Female of the Species
• Sister Moon
• The Lady’s In Love With You
• La Vie En Rose
• Pink Lights And Champagne
• Forbidden Fruit
• The Best Is Yet To Come

Also featured is the single from Jane Parker & The Giant Killers. According to Graham Rye, editor and publisher of ‘007’ Magazine: ‘Driving along in the car back in March 2006, Fleming’s chapter heading from Casino Royale popped into my head along with some lyrics I thought just might work in a song as though sung from the standpoint of the heroine in the novel, Vesper Lynd. After knocking those lyrics around a little with jazz singer Jane Parker, and then tweaking the music created for the song by The Giant Killers, I think we came up with a result. We hope you like it!’

Click here to listen to samples from the album and single and ordering details.

Stay tuned to CBn for all the latest Casino Royale coverage.

Related Casino Royale Articles