CommanderBond.net
  1. Bitter Brosnan: "Negotiations have now ceased."

    By johncox on 2004-04-25

    Pierce Brosnan is being much less “opaque” these days about his standoff with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson over his future as James Bond. Back in February, CBn and MKKBB reported that negotiations between producers and the star had ceased. When questioned, Brosnan has been evasive as to his status, choosing to use the word “opaque” and hinting that the series itself was in a state of “paralysis.”

    But in an interview published today in the Boston Herald (Law’-breaker: Pierce Brosnan shakes up perfect image with new romantic comedy), the clearly bitter Brosnan confirmed that negotiations have indeed ceased, and while not offering much new in the way of specific details, he did speak more candidly about the situation than he has before.

    The following excerpt is from the Boston Herald:

    If “Laws of Attraction” does its work, Brosnan won’t have to worry about his status as 007. He had expected to be preparing for nine months of filming for his fifth turn as the world’s most famous secret agent. Instead, he’s heading to Mexico City to work with Greg Kinnear and Hope Davis (“American Splendor'”) on an edgy, low-budget comedy for DreamTime.

    “All I know is before I went on the last promotion for the Bond: Die Another Day, I’d done my contract, my four movies,” he said. “They said they wanted to do a fifth, and we started negotiations, and those negotiations have now ceased. Where does that leave me? How do I answer this question?”

    If this looks like some kind of a publicity ploy, Brosnan makes it clear that’s hardly the case. He is clearly upset.

    “It would be nice to have the respect for the people you have worked hard for to give an honest answer,” he said. “It would be nice to have it on level ground. But nobody knows. I wish I could be more specific and say, ‘No, they’re going to look for somebody else. My time is up; they’ve found somebody else.’ I can’t say that, and at the same time I can’t say, ‘Well, we’re going ahead,’ because they said, ‘We don’t have the script. We don’t know what to do.'”

    Rumors always have been part and parcel of the 007 franchise. As Brosnan notes, a spinoff film with Halle Berry’s Jinx was going to be made.

    “That went pfft! To look for the truth, you have to go to MGM. Good luck! You have to go to the Broccolis. Even greater luck,” he said.

    As to the present impasse, Brosnan said, “You try to answer as specifically and as honestly as possible because I don’t have anything to hide. But I don’t know what’s going on, except they don’t know how to deal with it.”

    Last night Fox New Channel, in a report on Brosnan’s future as 007, also stated that negotiations have “ended.”


    Thanks to [dark] for the Boston Hearld alert, and “johnboy007” for the Fox News alert..
    You can discuss this topic in the Bond 21 forums.

    Related articles:

  2. MGM Vice Chairman Talks Bond 21

  3. Brosnan ‘On The Record with Bob Costas’
  4. Pierce Keeps Pressure on Bond Producers

  5. ‘…I don’t know what’s going to happen. I have no idea.’
  6. Brosnan Speaks Out in Detail on His Future as Bond

  7. Pierce Brosnan A Little Frazzled?

  8. Brosnan: “My Future As 007 Is Opaque”

  9. Eon Says That Brosnan is Bond ‘For Now’
  10. LICENCE REVOKED
  11. Brosnan’s Head is on the Block?
  • The Codename Theory

    By Luke Freeman on 2004-04-23

    You know they say that you can find anything and everything on the Internet, but yesterday, despite hours of searching, I couldn’t find one decent picture of Carrie Fisher in the gold bikini from Return of the Jedi. Sure, there were a few blurry images and the odd poorly scanned photo, but they were nothing special, nothing to e-mail home about. I thought they’d be entire websites and message boards dedicated to it, after all, there are websites for “Traffic Cone Worshipping”, “Kermit the Frog: The Vegas Years”, and “Hitler’s Favourite Recipes”. But no, as completely and utterly baffling as it may sound, there are next to none on Princess Leia. Personally, I think that the lack of quality images on this subject is a disgrace. An absolute disgrace. When are they going to do something about it?

    What you can find plenty of on the Internet though, is rumours and theories and speculation on all matter of subjects, including James Bond. Some of these are quite ridiculous, such as “Were Roger Moore and Maud Adams sleeping together during the making of The Man With the Golden Gun?”. I mean, come on, obviously they weren’t. Just look at the facts: Roger had a wife and a mistress at the time of that film. Does he really strike you as a three-timer? Ofcourse not. Get your minds out of the gutter people. Roger Moore is a gentleman, and would certainly have never cheated on his wife and mistress. Any suggestions otherwise border on slander quite frankly, and I for one won’t sit idly by while Roger’s good name is tarnished. It’s time that these baseless rumours and theories were squashed, once and for all.

    Well, the rumours are pretty harmless I suppose, they’re usually dismissed by readers pretty quickly. Most people don’t believe that the costumes for Octopussy were made cheaply thanks to sweat-shop labour, or that Daniel Kleinman was using recreational drugs while designing the title sequence for The World is Not Enough, and they generally don’t believe the false rumours either. No, the rumours don’t concern me so much (except that nasty one suggesting that they didn’t really go into outer space when filming Moonraker. Blasphemy!), not as much as the theories anyway. There are many fan-created theories running around, concerning various aspects of the Bond series, the worst of all no doubt being “The Codename Theory”.

    The Codename Theory proposes that “James Bond” is not a real person but a codename given by MI6, and that every actor to play James Bond has been playing a different agent using the “James Bond” codename. The intention of this theory is to explain why James Bond never ages, and why he changes his appearance every, well, every time there is a change in actors. I suppose it’s also open the door for a black or female or black female James Bond to be cast sometime in the future. This idea has generated a little bit of support among fans, but I personally have always despised it because it totally ruins the mystique of James Bond. “There’s only one man” after all. This Codename theory is gimmicky and pointless. Now everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and like I said, the theory does have some supporters, but I don’t buy it. It’s sort of like saying that Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney were playing different Batmans (or should that be Batmen?), or that Alan Reed and Henry Cordon were voicing different Fred Flintstones. But what the hey, we’ll play along.

    So, every Bond actor played a different character who was assuming the codename “James Bond”? This would mean that there have been five James Bonds: Connery/Bond, Lazenby/Bond, Moore/Bond, Dalton/Bond and Brosnan/Bond. With Connery/Bond being the first, right? A bit odd then that Connery/Bond is replaced by Lazenby/Bond only to later on return. Perhaps Lazenby/Bond got compassionate leave after his wife died (his wife died, remember that for later)?. But Lazenby recognises gadgets from Connery missions (recognises, he’s not just clearing out his predecessors desk, hey, what’s that there in the bottom draw? Oooh, very kinky), so that’s not going to quite work. Perhaps Connery and Lazenby were playing the same character, while Moore, Dalton and Brosnan were playing different ones. This would mean that there have been four James Bond – ConneryLazenby/Bond, Moore/Bond, Dalton/Bond and Brosnan/Bond.

    But in The Spy Who Loved Me Sheikh Hosein remembers Moore/Bond from Cambridge, which would mean Moore/Bond was using the Bond Codename during his University years, before ConneryLazenby/Bond. Did Moore/Bond possibly have a brief stint using the Codename before passing it on to ConneryLazenby/Bond, only to get it back 11 years later? Not likely. Maybe Moore was playing the same character as Connery and Lazenby, while Dalton and Brosnan were playing different ones. This would mean that there have been three James Bond – ConneryLazenbyMoore/Bond, Dalton/Bond and Brosnan/Bond.

    The Dalton Era is the one that’s the most damaging for supporters of The Codename Theory, primarily because Dalton/Bond resigns from the Secret Service in Licence to Kill. Why did he get to keep the codename? According to the theory, shouldn’t he have relinquished the codename and gone back to whatever his name was before he replaced ConneryLazenbyMoore/Bond as James Bond. We’ll ignore this fact and assume that MI6 are slow with paperwork (M’s still waiting on that mini refrigerator she ordered for the office last September), but he was lucky that they didn’t give the James Bond codename to someone else while he was off hunting down Sanchez. The other thing about Licence to Kill is that Felix Lieter acknowledges Dalton/Bond as the one who “was married, a long time ago”. Perhaps Dalton/Bond was also married, perhaps to a hairy-knuckled Scotswoman named Gladys. Or Perhaps Dalton was playing the same character as Connery, Lazenby and Moore, while Brosnan was playing a different one. This would mean that there has been two James Bonds – ConneryLazenbyMooreDalton/Bond and Brosnan/Bond.

    As we move along to Brosnan, I think you can see where I’m heading. There’s no dead wife references to save me this time though, but there is something else; Doesn’t the pre-title scene of the first Brosnan/Bond film, GoldenEye take place nine years earlier? Before The Living Daylights? Before Brosnan/Bond took over the codename. Is Brosnan playing ConneryLazenbyMooreDalton/Bond for this one scene ? Does Brosnan join the ranks of Charles Grey and Joe Don Baker with the honour of playing two different characters in the Bond series ? Probably not, since later on Brosnan/Bond clearly remembers the events of the pre-title scene. It’s also unlikely that Trevelyn (shouldn’t that be a codename as well?) would want to take revenge on “some else who just happens to be assuming the code name once used by the person who betrayed me”. Unlikely but not impossible I suppose, but it definitely seems that Brosnan was playing the same character as Connery, Lazenby, Moore and Dalton. This would mean that there has been one James Bond – ConneryLazenbyMooreDaltonBrosnan/Bond, James Bond, the one and only. Nobody does it better.

    I think that’s sufficient evidence showing that they are all most probably playing the same James Bond, but I can’t prove it beyond all doubt I suppose. What I can prove beyond all doubt though, is that Robert Brown and Judi Dench were playing the same M. But that will have to wait for another day.

    Until next time,

    Freemo

  • The Gloria Hendry CBn Interview

    By The CBn Team on 2004-04-22

    I first met Gloria Hendry in New Oreans in the fall of 2000 and was immediately taken by her beauty. She’s more beautiful now at the age of 55 than she was when she appeared as James Bond’s first African-American love interest in “Live and Let Die” more than 30 years ago. But there is more to Gloria Hendry than just a pretty face. She’s smart, funny, and warm to all that she mets. And she’s a damn good singer, too! She may have never achieved superstardom, but in the eyes of this fan she certainly is a superstar who shines very brightly indeed.

    I conducted this interview with Gloria nearly two years after we first met. Some of you may have read it elsewhere before and some of you may be discovering it for the first time. Regardless, I hope you enjoy reading more about this wonderful woman and her experiences working with the world’s greatest secret agent.


    Tell us a little about yourself.

    I am the eldest of two girls. We were born in Florida. My family members are from Georgia, Alabama and Florida. My people are Seminole Indian, African, Creek Indian, Irish, Chinese and something else and range in color from deep chocolate to café ‘ole. Since America symbolizes the melting pot of the world, my family members are true Americans.

    My mother left Florida to join my grandmother and grandfather in Jersey City, New Jersey, when I was about 2 years old and my sister around a year old. We lived with them until I was about 7 years old. From the age of 7 until 18, my sister and I lived with my mother and her companion in Newark, New Jersey until I graduated from high school. Throughout elementary school, I maintained excellent grades and played the violin in the All-City Orchestra and performed for radio, and various academic events.

    During my high school years, my grades were average and my educational training consisted of Gregg shorthand, typing and various clerical skills to prepare me for my occupation as a Secretary. After graduation, I attended Essex College of Business for Law for a Legal Secretary position. All through school, I excelled in sports of all kinds: basketball, touch football, baseball, volley ball, sprinting, fence climbing, bicycling, swimming, gymnastics, Latin dancing, jumping rope, roller skating which continued into my adulthood, tennis, snow and water skiing, distant running, weight lifting, ballet, roller blading, ice skating and Karate.

    You were the first African-American Bond girl (Unless you count Thumper from Diamonds Are Forever) and at the time it wasn’t socially acceptable for a white man to be with a black woman. Do you think that your role in the film helped make the interracial situation more acceptable to audiences?

    I remember Harry Saltzman talking seriously to me about racism. He expressed that it was a shame that we still had racism. He said that everyone should marry another race so no one could say they were one race or the other and this would stamp out racism. He suggested to me that I should marry a Caucasian. Then, he introduced me to a very special gentleman whom he considered would be a good choice for me to marry. I went out with him a couple of times, and he told me how to dress and act. I became disinterested in an arranged marriage.

    As an African-American woman with a white co-star in the 1970’s did you ever receive any negative feedback from the audiences?

    A fan told me that in certain sections of Live and Let Die, where Roger and I were kissing by the lake was cut out. My photograph and name were splattered throughout the world in various newspapers, magazines and billboards with positive comments associating me with Live and Let Die. For a number of years thereafter, people called upon me to make special appearances and/or to give my endorsement for various causes.

    If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought that I had starred in Live and Let Die. After being associated in advertising all over the world and going from one publicity event to another for Live and Let Die, I found after time had passed my name was no longer associated with the film. Nor was I named or called upon when there was mention or request of the 007 James Bond Ladies. I never knew what to think of that.

    How did you get the role of Rosie Carver?

    I received a phone call from my manager, Lloyd Kolmar, in New York City, who said, “I need you back in New York to audition for “Live and Let Die,” the James Bond movie. I said I don’t have a chance in the world. They want large breasted women, not me. Besides, I’m not White. My manager said, “They want to see you. Don’t you understand? You have to fly back on your own dime.” I had to think about that. After a couple of days in numbers crunching, I called him back and said exasperated, OKAY! Where is the audition? Lloyd gave me Harry Saltzman’s office address in New York City and the time and date for me to appear. I caught the next flight out. I still had my New York apartment. So, I said to myself, I’m going to put on my best clothes. It was November 1972.

    When I walked into Harry Saltzman’s office, I saw this regal, strong, sophisticated, deep, dark set eyes, white-haired man, quietly sitting there. As I entered, he stood up. He said nothing, just gestured for me to sit down and so did he. And in the next moment, he asked me how was my flight here from Los Angeles. I told him. Then, he said, How soon can you fly out to New Orleans to meet the director, Guy Hamilton, and Roger Moore? We can book you on the next flight. If you would like. I said, without thinking, Okay! So before I knew it, Mr. Saltzman made arrangements with his secretary. He had a car waiting for me.

    So, off I went to the airport on the next flight out. At the airport in Louisiana, a driver met me with a sign holding up my name and picked me up in a large Mercedes limousine and took me to the French Quarter where someone from the “Live and Let Die” production greeted me. I met with the director, Guy Hamilton, and Roger Moore, The Saint. I was very nervous. We talked, laughed and ate. It was like a dream come true. But, I knew not to take any of this seriously. Then, they took me to the movie set to watch them continue to film “Live and Let Die.” They were most gracious and asked if I wanted to stay for the weekend. I said, No, no thank you. I would like to return to New York on the next available flight. That evening they said, We will call me later to let me know. I returned to New York City and stopped at my apartment again and got a few things, then, hopped the next available flight to Los Angeles, California. About a week had passed, I received a telephone call from my manager, Lloyd, “YOU GOT IT!

    Tell us about you relationship with Roger Moore. In his James Bond Diary he refers to you as “Gloriass” which has lead some people to believe that you two didn’t have a “sparkling” relationship.

    Throughout the filming of Live and Let Die, Roger Moore and Harry Saltzman were most gracious and kind to me. By the way, during our stay in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, at the Sans Souci Hotel, my room was located in between Roger and his family and Harry and his family which I had the great pleasure of meeting and often having dinner with them. In my mind, I thought they wanted to keep an eye on me and keep me safe. However, I snuck out as often as I could to hang out with the people of Jamaica. I had the fortune to fall in love with a wonderful Jamaican gentleman.

    It’s been said that Roger Moore didn’t like or get along with many of his female co-stars. How would you respond to that?

    During the filming and stay in Jamaica, Roger shared his chauffeured driven limousine with me each workday. Whenever Roger was asked and he signed his autograph, he gave me the pen and said sign yours too (this was a first-time experience to sign my name for any fan). Each morning, around 6:00am, Roger and I shared the hotel swimming pool, half asleep, pushing dead bumblebees aside, as we swam from one end of the pool to the other, in opposite directions. I liked Roger very much. He was a true gentleman.

    Tell us about locations shooting.

    We filmed from November through December 1972 in Jamaica. Sometime in December, Harry asked me whom would I love to share the holiday spirit? Without any hesitation, I told him, my Mother. He said, so be it. I called my Mother at her factory job, American Aluminum, in New Jersey, requesting her to take off and join me. My Mother was thrilled. She had never been to Jamaica or for that matter ever flown first-class. Harry had my Mother flown first-class and stay with me until New Year’s Day.

    How many days total were you on location shooting?

    After my Mother left Jamaica, I was called in for a meeting with Harry and Guy, who said in essence, we don’t want to kill you off Madam because so many people like you. So, standby there might be a script change. A couple of days after that, Harry apologized that they had to kill me. So, we shot the scene that day. Then, I was flown ahead of everyone, as a tourist, to London, England, where someone met me at the airport. My hotel room took up the entire floor of the hotel. I had the opportunity to work at the legendary Pinewood Studios, dubbing and completing interiors.

    It was always very dark and cold in London – there was never any sunshine. During my stay, I received a telephone call from a producer and was sent a script and offered a starring role in a film opposite Jim Brown, “Slaughter’s Big Rip-Off,” which I accepted.

    The producers often are said to have given the best of the best to their stars. Would you agree?

    Yes. They had treated me like I had starred in Live and Let Die and so much more. The only time I saw the film with the public was in New York City at the 1973 United States’ premiere with my mother and her companion, sister and I were chauffeured in a large black limousine Cadillac, a huge affair that I had never ever experienced in my whole life. I remember not knowing how to act because people were shouting my name, asking for my autograph (remembering Roger giving me the pen to sign), cameras were flashing all around me and at that moment in my life, I felt I was somebody really, really special.

    My photograph and name were splattered throughout the world in various newspapers and magazines with positive comments. For a number of years thereafter, people called upon me to make special appearances and/or to give my endorsement for various causes. If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought that I had starred in Live and Let Die.

    Everyone on the set treated me like I was starring in Live and Let Die. I had my own chair, dressing area, Roger shared his limousine with me, and personal publicity shots. The photographer followed me throughout filming both in and out of the States. One day, someone on the set came up to me and told the story that the role of Solitaire was initially written for and a Black actress was hired to play the part. While filming somewhere in New York City or New Orleans, they decided that it was too risky to have a Black Woman end up with James Bond. Therefore, the role of Rosie Carver was switched to Black and the role of Solitaire was switched to White. That is where I came in. I am known as MRS. JAMES BOND.

    Tell us about working with Guy Hamilton and the others on the crew. I’ve talked with Guy Hamilton and he seems like he’d be a pleasure to work with.

    Guy Hamilton was a joy to work with. He took his time. Never got upset. If the scene was not working, he would take me aside and have a conversation about the weather, then mention a thing or two about the scene. Then we would return to filming. Roger disliked retakes, so Guy handled Roger with great care and consideration, as he did all of us.


    To discuss this interview please visit this thread on the CBn Forums.

  • Reuters: Sony And Partners Go After MGM

    By johncox on 2004-04-22

    Reuters news is reporting today that Japan’s Sony Corp. and two U.S. buyout firms are in advanced talks to buy U.S. film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. for about $5 billion.

    Sony initiated the talks because it wanted access to MGM’s 4,000-plus film library that includes the James Bond and Pink Panther films and numerous Oscar winners. Libraries provide steady revenues from sales of DVDs, videos and TV licensing.

    According to other published reports, under the proposed deal, only the studio’s best-known film series, like James Bond, would continue to be produced under the MGM brand.

    Some analysts saw the news as an opening round in a new bidding war for MGM and most noted that talk of an MGM sale has surfaced often. The studio is 74 percent-owned by 86-year-old billionaire Kirk Kerkorian and his Tracinda Corp investment firm. He bought MGM for $1.3 billion in 1996 for a third time.

    The buyout firms joining Sony are Texas Pacific Group and Providence Equity Partners, sources said. The three are expected to split a cash investment of $1.5 billion and borrow the balance. MGM has hired investment bank Goldman Sachs to represent it, said sources who knew of the deal.

    “I wouldn’t take (talk of a deal) as gospel,” said David Miller, an analyst with Sanders Morris Harris. “This is kind of an opening round in a long, protracted negotiation.” He put MGM’s share value at close to $22.

    In 1997 Sony made a disastrous attempt to start a rival James Bond series with rights acquired through Thunderball/Never Say Never Again producer Kevin McClory. MGM sued and the case was settled out of court with MGM retaining all original rights to the cinematic James Bond, as well as acquiring the disputed rights and Sony/Columbia’s long held rights to Casino Royale. Sony then attempted to launch its own super-spy franchise with 2002’s xXx starring Vin Diesel.

    If this sale succeeds, Sony will at last own a part of the James Bond franchise.

    Read the complete Reuters news article here: EXCLUSIVE – Sony, others eye $5 bln bid for MGM – sources

    To dicsuss this news visit this thread in the CBn forums.
    Thanks to “Dmitri Mishkin” for the news alert and to “[dark]” for the updates.

  • "Everything or Nothing" Mission Walkthroughs

    By Athena Stamos on 2004-04-21

    In an addition to CBn’s EON Overview… this guild will help you find all the cool extras in James Bond: Everything or Nothing and give you tips for clearing every mission with… class.


    Bond Moments: Hidden in each stage are “Bond moments” (optional actions you can take that are exemplary of Bond’s style). When you perform a Bond moment you’ll see “007” appear briefly onscreen, and sometimes trigger a flashy mini-movie of Bond doing his thing. Finding and activating these Bond moments are the key to gaining Gold and Platinum ranking for each mission.

  • Bronze Ranking: means you successfully completed the mission and unlocked the next mission.
  • Gold Ranking: is awarded if you bear the target score for the mission (these are listed below after the mission title). You will receive rewards for gold rankings, including concept art, new outfits, bonus stages and more.
  • Platinum Ranking: on any given mission you must first earn Gold Ranking and then reply that mission at “00 Agent” difficulty. Beating the target score (listed below after the mission title) will get you this rating. Earning platinum will unlock in-game cheat codes (you can’t use the cheat codes until you’ve earned them).

  • Mission 1: Ground Zero (3rd Person)
    gold target- 75,000
    platinum challenge- take 500 damage or less

  • Objective: Retrieve a Soviet PU239 bomb w/ 12 kilo Nuclear yield during a weapons deal.
    Use the pillar as a cover. Take out as many enemies as possible. Run for the briefcase in the center of the courtyard.

  • Objective: Obtain a rocket launcher and destroy the hover jet.
    Head through the open door in the wall and head upstairs to the rocket launcher cache. Using the wall as cover, three direct hits will destroy the harrier jet.

  • Objective: Escape through the wall.
    Return downstairs. [Bond moment — rappel to the ground by jumping off the balcony.] Destroy the armored cars and guard turrets on the way to the escape point through the blown out hole in the wall.
  • Mission 2: MI6 Training (3rd Person)
    there is no ranking for this level

    Learn all the essential spy skills and go through weapons training. Being brought up to speed with hand to hand combat, rappelling, crouching, Bond sense, wall cover, marksman ship, & the q-spider will prove invaluable in the missions to come.

    Mission 3: A Long Way Down (3rd Person)
    gold target- 90,000
    platinum challenge- complete the mission in 3:30 or less

  • Objective: Drop explosives into vent.
    Rappel down the burning building to the first landing. [Bond moment — on the left there’s a valve, turn it on to activate steam vents which incapacitate the guards.] Drop the explosives into the vent near the steam pipes.

  • Objective: Rappel of the building and shut off the flame vents.
    Rappel down the outer walls of the exploding building. Enter a room half way down, pick up a rocket launcher [Bond moment — flip over a table to use for cover.]. Continue to rappel. On the next landing [Bond moment — active the second steam valve.]. Flip a switch to deactivate the flames. Continue to rappel.
  • Mission 4: Train Chase (Porsche Cayenne, Chimera)
    gold target- 150,000
    platinum challenge- board the train in less than 2:15

  • Objective: Catch up to the train.
    Choose between the ultra fast Chimera motorcycle (to the right) or the slower but studier Porsche Cayenne (to the left). Use your weapons to destroy enemy vehicles. [Bond moment — take out the helicopter before you reach the temple.]. [Bond moment — at the temple (Cayanne) jump the pillar on the left or (Chimera) power slide under the pillar on the right.]. [Bond moment — right before you catch the train look for the remains of a statue to the right and hit the jump near it.]. which also puts you on the tracks behind the train.
  • Objective: Get underneath the train to board it.
    Quickly destroy the missile launchers and enemies, then get as close as possible to the back of the train. The ground between the tracks will slops down, allowing you to drive underneath – do this before the bridge.
  • Mission 5: An Old Friend (3rd Person)
    gold target- 125,000
    platinum challenge- take no damage

  • Objective: Destroy six missile launch computers.
    There are six computers in the first car, destroy them before moving on to the next car. [Bond moment — stealthily take out the guards in each car.].

  • Objective: Defeat Jaws.
    Wait for Jaws to attack (he’ll either pull out of the of pillars and throw it at you or bull-rush you). After he’s pulled our at least one pillar, he’ll expose a stream of electricity. When his attack is finished, push Jaws toward the electricity. After three hits he’ll stagger backward, if you got him close enough to the electrical current he’ll take damage. Also id you stand so that the path of his bull-rush attack aims towards the electricity, he’ll run right into it. Two jolts of electricity will subdue Jaws.
  • Mission 6: Sand Storm (Helicopter)
    gold target- 160,000
    platinum challenge- destroy the base in less than 0:45

  • Objective: Rescue Dr Nadanova and catch up to the General’s helicopter.
    Chase the General’s helicopter through the winding canyons. [Bond Moment — take out the bridge with the enemy jeeps on it.]. [Bond moment — bomb the three enemy missile boats on the river.]. Use flares to avoid enemy missiles. [Bond moment — in the temple avoid the flames.].

  • Objective: Eliminate the General.
    The platform with the General’s helicopter is protected by a shield, which is powered by three generators. Take them out with missiles, while sending out flares to avoid the missiles fired from the platform. When the shield goes down, unload your missile in the platform to destroy it.
  • Mission 7: Serena St. Germane (Porsche Cayenne)
    gold target- 150,000
    platinum challenge- get to Diavalo’s fortress in less than 1:50

  • Objective: Intercept patrol Jeep before it reaches the village.
    The tight winding roar makes hitting the Jeep with your missiles difficult, but there are a couple of places along the route where you can line up a hit. A few missile hits and then Jeep is out of commission.

  • Objective: Locate and enter 003’s hideout. Then avoid enemy patrols.
    Use the map to find the location of 003’s hideout. A ramp will appear, allowing your across to the building.

  • Objective: Get to the Hotel Americano.
    Open up the full-screen map to find the safe route into the village. There’s a roadblock keeping your from reaching the area of the city where the hotel is. Find the fireworks shop and park/hide across the street. Deploy the remote control car and drive it up the ramp on the fireworks shop. Use the RC car’s laser to open the grating on the wall to enter the shop. Fire the laser at the crate of explosives that will cause a distraction that will break-up the road block. [Bond moment — will be earned for this.]. If you are spotted by enemy patrols, use the cloaking device to lose them. Drive up the road to rendezvous with Serena at the hotel.

  • Objective: Reach the base of the mountain fortress.
    Follow Serena’s verbal directions (or use the full screen map) to reach the fortress. [Bond moment — hit the staircase on the lest to avoid the roadblock.]. When the talk appears, veer left and drop off the road onto the pathway. Follow this to the fortress and park the car to the left of the entrance.
  • Mission 8: Vertigo (3rd Person)
    gold target- 150,000
    platinum challenge- complete the mission in 4:00

  • Objective: Get to the top of the cliff.
    On the first floor [Bond moment — use the sleeper dart gun or stealth takedowns on all the guards.]. Rappel up the elevator shaft at the end of the tunnel. On the second floor, make a note of the location of the working elevator (you can’t use it yet). Continue up through the mine floor using the rappel at the end of each tunnel.

  • Objective: Destroy the signal jamming antenna.
    On the fourth floor destroy the antenna [Bond moment — target the barrels next to the jamming antenna.]. Use Bond sense to select the barrels rather then the antenna as your target. [Bond moment — find the opening in the wall and send a Q-spider though it to unlock a supply room above.].

  • Objective: Retrieve 003’s uplink device.
    You’ll find the uplink device in a heavily guarded room at the top of the mine shaft. Use some of the heavier weaponry, AK-47.

  • Objective: Install the uplink device on a junction box.
    Make your way back to the floor above the antenna and use the uplink device on the junction box on the wall in the control room. Along the way an enemy will kill the lights, so you’ll need to turn on your thermo vision. With the uplink device in place head back to the elevator.
  • Mission 9: The Ruined Tower (3rd Person)
    gold target- 175,000
    platinum challenge- Fire 10 rounds or less

  • Objective: Infiltrate the ruin.
    At the beginning [Bond moment — use the sleeper dart to take out the two guards.]. [Bond moment — use stealth moves to take down the guards outside the starting room.]. When you enter the temple ground head to the right to find a ledge and use the grappling hook [Bond moment — reach the top.]. There’s a hidden room with an armor vest and sniper rifle. Take out the guards with the rifle (note the guard with the rocket launcher hidden in the alcove). Head to the back of the grounds. There’s a mine cart lift on the wall, rappel up to the top. Follow the path through the ruins to the mine construction with a crate suspended above it. Use the sniper rifle (note the guard with the rocket launcher) and deal with the guards. Press the button on the mine shaft to drop the crate and break open the barrier leading into the tunnel. Drop into the mine shaft. Hit the button on the wall to start the mine cat rolling along the tracks. Follow the cart. Watch out for enemies! When the cart tips over at the end of the line, shoot the dynamite it was carrying to blast an opening in the wall. Run through the opening.
  • Mission 10-A: Death of an Agent (3rd Person)
    gold target- 200,000
    platinum challenge- take 100 damage or less

  • Objective: Reach 003 before he dies.
    Follow the tunnel into the interrogation room with 003. [Bond moment — send a Q-spider into the small opening in the wall near the start of the level and drop it onto the three guards, taking them out.].

  • Objective: Locate the exit to the catacombs.
    After finding 003, continue along the path until you see and opening in the ground to the right. Drop into tit and activate tour thermal vision. Stay crouched and move slowly; watch out for enemies! Look for armor vests in alcoves off the main tunnel. When you reach the staircase, you’ll be back in the main mine tunnel. Hit the switch to open the exit doors. Fight your way through the tunnel. [Bond moment — destroy the fuel tank to take out multiple guards.]. Run into the tunnel exit.
  • Mission 10-B: Leap of Faith (3rd Person)

  • Objective: Catch Serena.
    After the cut scene, run off the cliff to chase after the falling Serena. Avoid ledges, walkways and other obstacles as you fall. Hitting some will kill you; others will just slow your descent but will likely end you mission as you’ll have lost too much time to speed up to successfully catch Serena. [Bond moment — shoot the gas tanks to take out the guards.]. [Bond moment — looks for the shortcut between a ledge and wooden walkway and fall through it.]. Catching up to Serena completes the level.
  • Mission 11: A Show of Force (Tank, Triumph Daytona)
    gold target- 200,000
    platinum challenge- catch the plane in less than 0:45

  • Objective: Get Serena safely to 003’s hideout.
    Serena drives the stolen tank while Bond mans the weapons. [Bond moment — use the talk’s main cannon on the Jeep guarding the fortress gate.]. Use the tanks big gun on enemy Jeeps and talks, and then switch to the machine gun for infantry and helicopter. [Bond moments — aim for gas tanks near clusters of enemies.]. When you reach the gas station, switch to the main gun and [Bond moment — target the gas pumps to take out all the enemy vehicles in the area.].

  • Objective: Get to the extraction point.
    Hop onto the motorcycle and hit the road because you’ve for a very short window of time to catch the plane at the airfield and make the extraction. Along the route, [Bond moment — take the short cut on the right side of the road, a path into the forest.]. [Bond moment — right before the airstrip hit the ramp on the back of the parked truck to jump the fence onto the runway.]. Once on the runway catch up to the plane and ride up the ramp into it’s cargo area.
  • Mission 12: Mardi Gras Mayhem (3rd Person, Aston Martin Vanquish, Moving Truck)
    gold target- 200,000
    platinum challenge- get to the diner in less than 0:40

  • Objective: Rendezvous with the NSA agent and steal a transport truck.
    Follow the beacon on the map to a payphone and answer the call. Then beat the timer across town [Bond moment — hit the alleyway shortcut in the middle of town.]. to reach the truck. Park, get out of the car, open the truck bay, get back in th3e car and drive it into the truck.

  • Objective: Infiltrate the compound and place the tracking device on the truck.
    There’s no time limit, so take it slow and avoid hitting anything. Drive the truck to the compound and park inside. Run to the nearby truck and plant the tracking device near the back wheel.

  • Objective: Stop the henchman and get to the club.
    Open the truck bay boors to release your car and chance after the escaping limousine. [Bond Moment — exit the compound via the giant concrete pip near the gate.]. [Bond moment — stop the limo by getting in front of it and using the acid slick weapon.]. After stopping the limo, get to the club within the time limit. When leaving the compound at the beginning you can leave it using the truck (this will cause the limo to drive slower) and stop the limo by crashing into it continually.
  • Mission 13: The Kiss Kiss Club (3rd Person)
    gold target- 255,000
    platinum challenge- use no amo

  • Objective: Enter the Kiss Kiss Club and find Mya before her song ends.
    The front door is locked and Bond isn’t on the guest list. Look for the open second story window and rappel up into the club. [Bond moment — take a moment to give the lady in the room a massage.]. Use sleeper darts to take out the guards on the second floor without sounding the alarm. In the control room press the button on the panel to open a door on the first floor.

  • Objective: Retrieve the security access card.
    The first floor door leads into the main room of the club and a heated firefight. From behind the bar you can head to the left to find the controls for the overhead lighting [Bond moment — use the controls to drop the light fixture on the enemies.]. Use the shotgun on the guards on the balcony [Bond moment — one of then guards will fall onto a table below.]. Take the elevator to the second floor and you’ll find the security card on a desk in the office.

  • Objective: Rescue Mya.
    Back on the first floor, you’ll be attacked by several crowbar wielding thugs. Use your hand-to-hand combat skills (remember to counter attack) against them to take the out quickly. Find the hallway just past the stage and use the security card to open the door leading to the dressing room. In the dressing room, search the corner wall to reveal a hidden door, then follow the tunnel to the end.
  • Mission 14: Underworld (3rd Person)
    there is no ranking for this level

    This level is simple. You’ll need to grab a skeleton key from the wall near the door in the first room then run and shoot through a series of rooms under the club.

    Mission 15: Death’s Door (3rd Person)
    gold target- 275,000
    platinum challenge – complete the mission in 3:15

  • Objective: Retrieve the skeleton key from the tower and enter the rundown building.
    Near the start of this level watch for some enemy’s to break though a boarded-up doorway. Inside you’ll find a small opening in the wall [Bond moment — send a Q-spider through to find an armor vest.]. The door leading into the building is locked, so make your way to the tower. Use your Dragunov rifle to take out the enemy snipers [Bond moment — stop the guards from reaching the gate near the tower.]. and then rappel up to the town window to find the skeleton key. Return to the rundown building and unlock the door.

  • Objective: Destroy the security box to open the gate and find a way to enter the crematorium.
    The inside of the building dark, use thermal vision. Find the stairs and go up to the balcony. Pick up the sniper rifle and use it to take out the enemy sniper on the far rooftop, if you haven’t already gotten rid of him. Directly across the balcony you’ll see the security box (look for the red glow or use Bond sense) [Bond moment — destroy the box using the sniper rifle.]. Leave the building and head to the newly opened gate to enter the crematorium.

  • Objective: Defeat Jean Le Rouge.
    Before engaging La Rouge run to the conveyor controls in the middle of the room and stop Mya’s advance towards the furnace. La Rouge’s crossbow fires explosive arrows; whenever he pops out to fire at you dive to one side to avoid the damages. [Bond moment — target the gas tanks behind La Rouge to damage him.]. La Rouge may run to the controls to restart the conveyor, whenever he does this you’ll need to stop it again quickly before continuing to fight him.
  • Mission 16: Battle in the Big Easy (Limousine, Aston Martin Vanquish)
    gold target- 250,000
    platinum challenge – Get to Diavalo’s compound in less than 0:55

  • Objective: Allow Mya to defuse the bomb while taking her to Bond’s lair.
    Before you can head for the hideout you’ll need to race around town while Mya defused the bomb. The only weapon the limo has is the smoke screen [Bond moment — use it on the enemy vehicles.]. In a nod to the movie ‘Speed’, don’t let the limo slow down before Mya’s defused the bomb or it will explode. Use the long stretch of road leading to Diavolo’s compound for an easy drive. When Mya defuses the bomb, head to the hideout marked on the map.

  • Objective: Destroy the compound, locate the access pint for the RC car, and use the laser on the fuel access point.
    Return to Diavolo’s compound and park. Deploy an RC car and head inside the compound via the metal tube in the side of the building. On the upper catwalk, use the laser on the stream valve to clear out the guards below. Drop to the lower catwalk and follow it to the fuel talk. [Bond moment –hit the targeted area with the laser to destroy the compound.].

  • Objective: Deliver Mya to her apartment.
    Finally, head to Mya’s apartment ASAP. Get her home quickly enough and you’ll earn a [Bond Moment].
  • Mission 17: Faded Splendor (3rd Person)
    gold target- 300,000
    platinum challenge- take 100 damage or less

  • Objective: Disable the door switches.
    In the room to the right of the entrance hall [Bond moment — deploy a Q-spider into the vent shaft to find an armored vest.]. Detonate the spider near the sniper guarding the entrance hall. Use the rappel to reach the attic (look up at the ceiling). [Bond Moment — avoid detention and take out all of the enemies on the ground floor without stealth.]. Find the hold in the attic floor to drop down into another area of the mansion. You’ll enter the ballroom, a large room with a chandelier. [Bond moment — use Bond sense to target the chandelier. Shoot it to drop down onto the guards below.]. At the base of the grand staircase, you’ll find two rooms, each with a switch. Activate both switched to open a security door on the second floor. On the first landing of the staircase you can rappel back into the attic. Drop into the next area though the hole in the floor and follow it to enter Yayakov’s lair.
  • Mission 18: The Machinery of Evil (3rd Person)
    gold target- 300,000
    platinum challenge- fire 10 rounds or less

  • Objectives: Destroy all four processing chambers and transformer cores.
    The processing chambers are located in the four corners of the main room. Each has a control panel that will detonate the machinery there. One of the doors is jammed – take the stairs to the lower section below the main floor and find the vent shaft. Send the Q-spider through and follow the path to the processing chamber. Detonate the spider near the exposed door controls, opposite the jammed door to open the door. When all four processing chamber are destroyed, return to the main area and shoot the two transformer cores to destroy them.
  • Mission 19: The Pontchartrain Bridge (Triumph Daytona)
    gold target- 300,000
    platinum challenge- disable Jaws’ tanker in less than 3:20

  • Objective: Disable Jaws’ tanker.
    This stage is a straightforward race to catch Jaws in his tanker truck before he reaches the city. While in the bayou area before reaching the highway [Bond moment — jump the gate, as opposed to blasting though it.]. [Bond moment — blow up the shanty house.]. Once on the highway, keep and eye out for the construction vehicle [Bond moment — use its flatbed as a jump.]. There will be a short clip of a gas truck crashing and then [Bond moment — use the motorcycle’s power slide maneuver to go under the truck instead of around it.]. When you catch up to Jaws’ tanker, get along side it and use the flame thrower on all four tires to blow them out, the tanker will crash.
  • Mission 20: A Simple Exchange (3rd Person)
    gold target- 325,000
    platinum challenge- complete the mission in 0:40

  • Objective: Ensure there are no causalities, don’t raise the alarm, and disable the security lasers.
    You have to use stealth to complete the objectives. Sneak up on the guards or use the sleeper darts. Security cameras make a distinctive buzzing noise, throw EMP grenades at them and set them off when they’re close to the camera. ON the patio aria you’ll find the controls for the security lasers on the second floor. Return to the main lobby area and head upstairs.

  • Objective: Fine the race car driver’s room.
    On the second floor, use EMP grenades to take out the cameras [Bond moment — disable all the cameras in the building.]. The driver’s room is in the back. Take the race suit from the door in the corner.
  • Mission 21: Red Line (Rally Car)
    gold target- 350,000
    platinum challenge- complete the race in less than 4:50

  • Objective: Place first in the race.
    The goal is to win the race. It’s not very hard; just avoid the explosive red barrels and keep the hammer down. Look for the jumps on the right side of the road just before entering the village for the first time. [Bond moment — take the shortcut just before you backtrack through the village.].
  • Mission 22: Ambushed (3rd Person)
    gold target- 350,000
    platinum challenge- use no ammo

  • Objective: Disable security shutters and find Serena.
    You’re back in the mansion from ‘Mission 20: A Simple Exchange’, but this time deadly force is authorized and you’ll need it. The place is swarming with heavily armed baddies. Fight your way back to the room where you found the driver’s closes. On the balcony over looking the patio use Bond senses to target the control box on the wall and destroy it to disable the shutters. Head downstairs to the patio and check the cabinet to find a hidden doorway.
  • Mission 23: The High Road (Rally Car & Triumph Daytona)
    gold target- 300,000
    platinum challenge- get to the mine in less than 1:20

  • Objective: Deliver Serina to the hotel and acquire the Q-bike.
    Begin on route in the race car, which has no weapons (ram into your enemies to take them out). Watch out for the roadblocks on the way [Bond moment — hit the stairs next to them to get past safely.]. Reach the hotel and pick up the Q-bike.

  • Objective: Arrive at mine entrance.
    On the Q-bike retrace your path back through the village and onto the road leading to the mine. When you reach the mine you’ll find that the entrance has been blocked. An alternate route will be marked on your map.

  • Objective: Find the secret access to the mine route.
    Enter the nearby building to find the secret access point, which leads to the village rooftops. On the Q-bike hit all of the ramps along the path until you reach the road leading to the mine entrance. At the end of the path, power slide under the closing door.
  • Mission 24: Diavolo’s Plan (3rd Person)
    gold target- 375,000
    platinum challenge- complete the mission in 3:00

  • Objective: Escape and retrieve your equipment.
    No Bond adventure is complete without 007 being captured and place into some sort of nefarious, slow acting deathtrap. So here, Bond is held in place while a drilling machine slowly advances on him. To escape, activate the EMP grenade and use it to disable the drill and free Bond from the cuffs. Bond’s equipment in on a nearby table.

  • Objective: Destroy both exhaust gear systems.
    Find the elevator controls and take the elevator to the next level. Run across the conveyor belt, shooting the valves to the right of each crusher to disable them. The exhaust gear systems are located just past the conveyor. Look for the machinery in the walls and target both of them to destroy them.

  • Objective: Escape the platinum mine.
    Rappel up the wall near the exhaust gear system. Find the staircase and take not of the door guarded by security lasers (you’ll return here). Head downstairs to the control on the console to deactivate the lasers and open the door upstairs. Head back to the door and find the elevator in the next area and board it.
  • Mission 25: The Platinum War (Tank)
    gold target- 400,000
    platinum challenge- neutralize the bomb in less than 2:15

  • Objective: Neutralize the bomb under the Kremlin
    Drive your tank through the streets toward the Kremlin, using the main cannon and Nano shells take out the obstacles in your way. [Bond moment —Target the arches above the enemy tanks in the street to destroy them.]. When you reach the Kremlin, drive into the tunnel system. Watch for the branching tunnel to the left and follow it to find the bomb. Target the platform underneath the bomb with Nano Shells to destroy it.

  • Objective: Use Nano Shells on the underground pillars and prevent the tanks from penetrating the Kremlin wall.
    Return to the main tunnel and continue to the large open area beneath Red Square. Hit the pillars with Nano shells to weaken them. Return to the surface and enter Red Square. Use Nano Shells on the helicopter carrying the stature. The ground will collapse, burying the enemy tanks.
  • Mission 26: Dangerous Descent (3rd Person)
    gold target- 300,000
    platinum challenge- take 100 damage or less

  • Objective: Reactivate the lift
    Before rappelling down the lift shaft find the rocket launcher near the stack of crates. On the way down the shaft destroy the automated sentry guns in the walls. At the bottom, when the lift platform stops, find the two lift controls in the adjacent room and use them to reactivate the lift. [Bond moment — detonate a Q-Spider near a group of guards.].

  • Objective: Shoot out the break controls
    Take out the enemy solders and use Bond sense to destroy the break control panels at the corner lift.

  • Objective: Disable Jaws’ flamethrower
    Stay behind cover (crouch) to avoid the flamethrower’s long reach. When Jaws turns around to fiddle with the flamethrower, target the fuel tanks on his back to damage him. After a couple of hits he’ll begin firing explosive rounds (keep moving! to avoid them) After defeating Jaws run to the planes cockpit to survive the falling lift.
  • Mission 27: Red Underground (3rd Person)
    gold target- 425,000
    platinum challenge- fire 10 rounds or less

  • Objective: Find a way out of the shaft.
    Escape the lift shaft by using the the rappel gun to reach the opening in the wall and enter the tank hanger. Use the network tap to take control of the tank [Bond moment] on the ground level, then use it to cause as much destruction as possible before the rocket launcher guards destroy it.

  • Objective: Locate the tank hanger exit.
    The staircase leading to the exit is in the far left of the hanger. Watch out for the rocket launcher and sniper guards in the bunkers on the far wall. Use the tanks to take them out or find the sniper rifle. There will be enemies wearing Nano suits – use cover and wait for them to fire (which disables their cloaking) then fire back at them. Activating your thermal vision will allow you too see the cloaked enemies. Find the lift and take it up to the catwalks over the hanger.

  • Objective: Lower the bridge.
    Enter the control booth in the canter of the hanger to find the controls to lower the bridge. [Bond moment — shoot an enemy so he falls over the side of the catwalk.]. Exit the hanger by running across the bridge and using the control panel to open the bay doors.
  • Mission 28: The Final Card (3rd Person)
    gold target- 325,000
    platinum challenge- take 100 damage or less

  • Objective: Use the network tap on the turret.
    When the defense turrets drop down from the ceiling, get behind one (make sure you can see the red light) and hit it with a network tap to take control. Fire a missile at Diavolo’s control booth. [Bond moment — take out the other defense turret using the turret you have control over.].

  • Objective: Disable four missile silo exhaust vents.
    The first two vent control panels are on the platform at the back of the room (you should already be near them). Go down the stairs to the lower section of the room and head right to find the third control. The last vent control is located straight across the lower section and through the doors.

  • Objective: Clear obstruction from an override module and escape through the main entrance.
    The last exhaust vent is blocked. In the room with the control panel find the vent shaft in the wall and send a Q-Spider into it. At the end of the shaft you’ll see a wrench lodged against the mechanism. Return through the main room and exit through the doors near where Mission 28 started. You’ll run into more cloaked enemies (use thermo vision).

  • Objective: Destroy Diavolo’s hover jet.
    Use the rocket launcher to target both sets of missiles under the hover jet’s wings. Then deploy the Nano bomb under the main fuselage. Use the crates for cover against the jet’s machine guns and keep movie to avoid it’s missiles.
  • Mission 29: Everything or Nothing (3rd Person)
    gold target- 450,000
    platinum challenge- complete the mission in 3:00

  • Objective: Find the launch area and defeat the rocket launcher guard.
    Fight through the tunnels and rooms until you reach the main supply area. The rocket launcher guard is standing on top of some creates as you enter the room – take him out quickly. Make your way through the warehouse which is full of enemies. Go slowly and search the area thoroughly for the multiple armored vests. Just past the warehouse you’ll find a large red door that leads to the launch area.

  • Objective: Defeat Diavolo once and for all!!! Then reach the turret and avoid the exhaust… and to end it all, destroy the missile.
    Use your rocket launcher to destroy Diavolo’s control room. Keep moving to avoid the missiles that he fires at you. Run past the missile launch site (watch out for the flame jets!) and into the tunnel leading to the turret and take control. Use the turret to shoot down the missile before it launches!
  • 'The Man With The Red Tattoo' Published in Finnish

    By johncox on 2004-04-21

    Author Raymond Benson’s sixth original James Bond adventure The Man With The Red Tattoo has been published in Finland as “Punainen Tatuointi.” The interesting cover art uses the “007” logo as seen on the recent Ian Fleming reissues. Red Tattoo sees James Bond traveling to Japan to do battle with terrorist Goro Yoshida who threatens to use chemical warfare against world leaders at a G8 summit.

    The Man With The Red Tattoo was first published by Hodder & Stoughton in May 2002. It was Benson’s last original James Bond novel. He announced his retirement from the series in early 2003.

    This marks the sixth Benson title to appear in Finnish. The other books are: Zero Minus Ten, The Facts of Death, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World is Not Enough, and Die Another Day. The only non-English speaking country to have published all the Benson books is Italy.

    ISBN: 951-887-295-3
    Kirjastoluokka: 84.2
    Sidosasu: sidottu
    Sivuja: 261
    Ilmestymisvuosi: 2003

  • "No Laughing Matter"

    By Jim on 2004-04-21

    Jacques StewartOn April 5, 2004, Ian Fleming Publications announced a new series of ‘Young James Bond” novels featuring the super spy as a 13-year-old solving mysteries aside his fellow classmates at Eton. Now CBn’s own Jacques Stewart gives fans this exclusive look at what we may expect from a pint-sized 007.

    With apologies to Ian Fleming. But then I’m not the only one who should be apologising, am I?

    Original material from Casino Royale copyright Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.


    As they deciphered the maze of purple crayon which covered the double holepunched menu, Bond beckoned to the dinner lady. He turned to his companion.

    “Have you decided?”

    “I would love a glass of Nesquik,” she said simply, and went back to her study of the menu.

    “A small carafe of Nesquik, banana, very cold,” ordered Bond. He said to her abruptly: “I can’t drink the health of your new frock without knowing your Christian name.”

    “Mistral,” she said. “Mistral Fotheringham-Tush.”

    Bond gave her a look of inquiry.

    “It’s rather a bore always having to explain, but I was born in the evening, on a very stormy evening according to mumsy and dadsy. Apparently they wanted to remember it.” She smiled. “Some people like it, others don’t. I’m just used to it.”

    “I think it’s a corking name,” said Bond, feeling a little funny. An idea struck him. “Can I borrow it?” He explained about the special fizzy pop he had invented and his search for a name for it. “The Fotheringham-Tush,” he said. “It sounds perfect and it’s very appropriate to the violet hour when my super-duper fizzy pop will now be drunk all over the world. Can I have it?”

    “So long as I can try one first,” she promised. “It sounds a drink to be proud of.”
    “We’ll have one together when all this is finished,” said Bond, his voice going haywire. “Win or lose. Two straws, mind; girls have germs and are rotten. And now have you decided what you would like to have for tuck? Please be expensive,” he added as he sensed her hesitation, ” ’cause I’ve been saving up my meal coupons something rotten.”

    “I’d made two choices,” she laughed, “and either would have been delicious, but behaving like a real proper adult with forks and everything occasionally is a wonderful treat and if you’re sure … well, I’d like to start with alphabetty spaghetti and then have a plain grilled fishfinger with pommes McCain. And then I’d like to have tangerine jelly with a lot of condensed milk. Is it very shameless to be so certain and so expensive?” She smiled at him and his willy went odd.

    “It’s a virtue, and anyway it’s only a good plain wholesome meal.” He turned to the dinner lady, “…and bring plenty of ketchup.”

    “The trouble always is,” he explained to Mistral, “not how to get enough alphabetty spaghetti, but how to get enough ketchup with it.”

    “Now,” he turned back to the menu, “I myself will accompany Miss…er..Tral…er… with the alphabetty spaghetti, but then I would like a very small barbeque meat-like grill patty, underdone, with sauce brown and no frickin’ broccoli, hate it hate it hate it. While Miss … er… is enjoying the jelly, I will have a big bowl of chocolate ice-cream. Not strawberry, because that’s what strange uncles eat. Do you approve?”

    The dinner lady bowed.

    “My compliments young Master James and young missy. Mr Benjamin,” she turned to the large silly golliwog man who operated the tea urn and repeated the two dinners for his benefit. Because he was stupid.

    “Parfait,” said Benjamin in an odd and, to Bond’s mind, suspicious way.

    “If you agree,” said Bond, “I would prefer to drink blackcurrant cordial with you tonight. It is a cheerful toothrot and suits the occasion – I hope,” he added, a strange fishy liquid leaking down his inner thigh.

    “Yes I would like blackcurrant,” she said.

    With his finger up his nose, Bond turned to Benjamin. “The C-Vit?”

    “A fine cordial, mass’er,” said the funny fellow with the sooty head. “But if mass’er will permit,” he pointed with his pencil – the nerve of these people – “the Ribena Light toothkind is without equal.”

    Bond smiled. “So be it,” he said.

    “That is not a well known brand,” Bond explained to his companion, “but it is probably the finest blackcurrant in Surrey.” He grinned suddenly at the touch of pretension in his remark. He stopped grinning when he thought she was looking at his braces.

    “You must forgive me,” he said. “I take a ridiculous pleasure in what I eat and drink. It comes partly from the other swines in the dorm having pinched all my tuck, the stinkers.”

    Mistral smiled at him.

    “I like it,” she said. “I like doing everything fully, getting the most out of everything one does. I think that’s the way to live. But it does sound rather schoolgirlish when one says it,” she added, apologetically.

    The little carafe of Nesquik had arrived in its bowl of crushed ice and Bond filled their glasses.

    “Show us yer tits.”

    “For a shilling.”

    Lawks! thought Bond. He shouldn’t have bought that copy of Biggles Kills the Nignogs from Small-Fawcett jnr. But it was such a good story… “Sixpence to touch your gym knickers?”

    “Done.”

    Wahey!

  • MGM Vice Chairman Talks Bond 21

    By Guest writer on 2004-04-20

    Rumours have been swirling wildly regarding as-yet-untitled Bond 21, ever since that Daily Mail article earlier this year. Brosnan’s in, Brosnan’s out, Brosnan wants to do it, Brosnan’s sick of doing it, Britney’s in, Britney’s out. The more astute people can pick the serious stuff from the serious fluff.

    But the Brosnan debacle is the word on everybody’s lips. Until now, Eon and MGM have declined to speak on the matter, aside from a brief snippet from an Eon spokesperson claiming that Brosnan was still "their Bond", and that they had not said anything to convince otherwise. Almost all of what Bond fans have been reading has come from the mouth of James Bond himself, Pierce Brosnan (or his friend and neighbour, "Die Another Day" co-star, Michael Madsen).

    Until now.

    MGM vice chairman and COO Chris McGurk has spoken to Variety about the current state of Bond 21.

    According to McGurk – and contrary to recent rumours – Bond 21 is still scheduled to begin production "early next year", with a view to a probable November 2005 release. With Neal Purvis and Robert Wade hard at work on a script, McGurk commented on the rumoured creative differences between Eon and MGM (rumours that were only fuelled by MGM’s axing of the Halle Berry-led Jinx spin-off).

    "Like any good production relationship between top-tier producers and a studio, you’re always going to have disagreements," he said. "We had a lot of disagreements on the last Bond, and they all got sorted out to everybody’s satisfaction."

    McGurk said that aside from the fact that no 007 is currently linked to the picture, it’s business as usual for the Bond franchise.

    "All creative decisions are mutual between the studio and the producers. They make recommendations and both sides can say yea or nay. We’re going to go through the same process on this one."

    According to McGurk, decisions about a director, and the actor who will play James Bond, will be made "in the next few months."

    This news item has been written by CBn forum regular Matt Weston, known as “[dark]” – Many thanks!
    Feel free to discuss this topic in this thread in CBn’s Bond 21 forums!

  • NY Times Article Confirms MGM's New Bond DVD Project

    By johncox on 2004-04-18

    If your haven’t yet bought your James Bond DVD set…don’t! An article by Fred Kaplan in today’s New York Times (“600 Macs, 4,000 Lines, One Giant Leap for DVD’s”) has revealed that MGM has hired Lowry Digital — a DVD mastering and restoration company based in Burbank, California — to make 4K digital masters of nine James Bond films, including all of those starring Sean Connery. 4K is a new digital mastering process which, according to the article, “makes DVD look nearly as sharp and detailed as a 35-millimeter film print, and will produce images with six times the resolution of today’s high-definition television sets.”

    The Times article points out that “a standard television displays broadcast signals as 480 lines. High-definition televisions have up to 1,080 lines. (The greater number of lines, the more detailed the image — the more closely it resembles a seamless, lifelike picture.) Impressive as HDTV looks, 35-millimeter film has far more color and detail. Engineers calculate that 4,000 lines of data would be needed to reproduce all the visual information in a frame of film. Most DVD’s — good as many look — begin with a compromise: they’re scanned at just 1,080 lines, at most 2,000 (sometimes as few as 480), and the source is almost always not the original negative but a copy.” At Lowry Digital, an ultra-sophisticated digital film-scanner called an Imager XE-Advanced, made by the Imagica Corp. can deliver 4,000 lines exactly. At this moment, according to the article, Lowry’s two Imager machines “are loaded with reels from the original negative of the 1967 James Bond movie You Only Live Twice.

    Says Kaplan (who is also a columnist for Slate.com and a film critic for The Perfect Vision), “I have watched scenes from a high-definition transfer of these masters on monitors at Lowry Digital. I’ve also seen a DVD, which Mr. Lowry gave me, on my TV set at home. The scenes look as brilliant as anything I’ve seen on a video disc — and better than any video of a color movie that was shot 35 to 40 years ago. Colors are saturated and natural. Gardens have dozens of shades of green. Flesh tones are uncannily lifelike. Shadows look like shadows, not gray blots. Motions are smooth, not jumpy.”

    The Times article goes on to note that “MGM executives decline to say when they’ll be releasing these Bond DVD’s — or anything else about the project, except to confirm that it exists. The new discs won’t be out until next year at least, perhaps in part to avoid angering consumers who bought the 20 Bond films in three boxed sets that MGM put out just last year.”

    MGM recently sent a camera crew to interview John Lowry, head of Lowry Digital, about his restoration techniques for a “special feature” to be included on the Bond DVD’s.


    To discuss this news visit this thread in the CBn forums.
    Thank you to [dark] for delivering this news alert.

  • Brosnan ‘On The Record with Bob Costas’

    By Evan Willnow on 2004-04-17

    Appearing in an interview on HBO’s ‘On The Record with Bob Costas’, to plug his new movie Laws Of Attraction Pierce Brosnan speaks of playing the role of James Bond, and gives Costas a hint of the future.

    Unfortunately, the questions on the top of everyone’s mind were asked off camera, but Costas shared some of the answers with the audience. Costas: ‘I asked about doing a fifth Bond movie and his answer was non-commital though he did say with an enticing script he’d be willing to suit up again.’ Costas also gave us this bit, ‘ [Brosnan told me] that he thought Jackman would make an excellent choice.’

    On camera Brosnan could not avoid Costas’ questions about Bond. On his predessors Brosnan says ‘Connery, he’s the one who casts the big shadow. Roger Moore was fantastic but for me as an actor there was only one man to take the belt from—to get in the ring with—was to face Connery. He was a huge hero of mine.’

    And on Dalton, ‘When you read the books [Bond’s] a very kind of dark character and Tim Dalton really did a darn good job, but the public didn’t want that. They didn’t want that sombre Bond.’

    A humourous moment came when Brosnan tells Costas of his first meeting with Sean Connery, ‘I saw him there about four years ago breifly one morning as I was closing the trunk of the car, there he was. (In Connery voice) “Pierce, good morning. Are they paying you enough money?” (back in his own voice) “Ah… Sean hey how you doing?” and then he was gone. He’d just come down to the studio for a haircut.’

    Costas also asked, ‘Do you ever wish you could play Bond back in the From Russia With Love or Dr. No days? Before the special effect became such a big part of it.’ Pierce answered, ‘Oh yeah. I mean I think that’s what’s lacking is the character—more of the character—the stillness of the character. I’ve spoken to them about it, but I think they want to keep the big opening sequences, and they want to keep the pyrotechnics going. I would like to have much more of a thriller aspect to it. … You could still have the big bang for the buck, I think. I think you can have your cake and eat it with this.’

    Pierce’s entire interview on ‘On The Record with Bob Costas’ will be replayed through out this week on HBO and HBO2 Check your local listings.

    Discuss this story in this thread of CBn’s forums.