DAD breaks opening day box office record in the UK

Forum member mattbowyer has reported the news from Ananova that Die Another Day has recorded the highest ever opening for a Bond movie in the UK.

This early news indicates that Die Another Day should break records set by the last Bond movie, The World Is Not Enough, but the real test will be how well the movie survives the second week of release when word of mouth and media reactions start to influence the public at large.

Hopefully by Monday we should have a breakdown of the weekend takes in both the UK and US so we can clearly see how Die Another day fairs against its competition for the box office dollar.

Thanks to mattbowyer for posting the news and please feel free to make your comments on the matter in his thread in the Die Another Day forum.

 

THE BEST JAMES BOND MOVIE EVER?

Halfway through DIE ANOTHER DAY, I turned to my companion sitting beside me in the Director’s Hall of The Bridge Theater and asked him, in all seriousness, “Is it possible we are watching the BEST James Bond movie EVER?”

Better than FRWL? Better than Goldfinger? Better than OHMSS? Better than TSWLM?

Is it possible for #20 to be #1?

I held my breath for the rest of the movie as scene after scene worked a Bond magic I haven’t felt in years. I got a little nervous when I felt the narrative getting overwhelmed by the action in Iceland, and yes, it went a bit OTT with the much maligned CGI stunt (but it wasn’t that bad, relax). Then that amazing climax kicked in and I’m breathless again. Then the Moneypenny beat at the end hits like an unexpected grand slam home run and when DIE ANOTHER DAY is over I’m sitting in my seat absolutely stunned. I decide then and there it was, indeed, the BEST James Bond movie I had ever seen!!

After the movie as I, and 55 other formally attired Bond fans, recovered from the experience over pints of Guinness and fish and chips at an English pub, I decided maybe DAD wasn’t the “best” Bond film of them all—but it was damn close! And it’s very possible when I see it again (which I MUST do ASAP) I’ll come out saying it is indeed #1.

Yes, I liked this movie that much!

Okay, breathe, breathe… For those of you interested, I’m going to briefly bullet point my thoughts and reactions to the major sections and elements of the movie. Here we go.

Pre-titles: A surprise here. Despite was what others have been saying, I thought the pre-titles was nothing special. I feared a re-hash of the TND pre-titles, and it was. I also didn’t care for that washed-out overly saturated look the DP gave the whole sequence. Bond movies are not supposed to look that way. Stop trying so hard, I thought. But then there was something about Bond hanging on the bell after the hovercraft goes over the waterfall that made me sit up and say, hmmm, nice Bond moment there. Then…

Titles: Amazing, breathtaking, inventive, interesting, incredible! Even the Madonna song with that annoying audio drop out couldn’t ruin it. Here I realized DAD was boldly experimenting with the formula without betraying it. This was Bond, but not the same old Bond and it worked beautifully. Oh, Scorpion Girl…I love you, you little savage cutie-pie.

Bearded Bond/Hong Kong stuff: This was so bold, so unexpected, so unBond, and so overtly dramatic, I should have hated it. But I didn’t. I loved it. Loved it! Bond goes into cardiac arrest and dies on the table? I was stunned. The audience was stunned. The movie had us all by the throats. We’re not just watching a great Bond movie here—we’re watching a great movie, period. Amazing. And then Bond walks into the Hong Kong hotel in his ragged condition but still with full Bond aplomb and, hey, this movie is working!

Cuba: Okay, for everyone who says Dalton was the book Bond…no, you’re wrong. Pierce is the book Bond here, Pierce is Connery’s Bond here, Pierce IS James Bond here! This is the best part of the film, in my opinion. Classic Bond. I love, LOVE, that Bond and Jinx hit the sheets right off the bat. Of course this is how it should be. I realized I’ve gotten very tired with the Bond-has-sex-with-the-main-girl only-at-the-end formula. I think it works much better that Bond and the main girl START their relationship with pure, animal lust, then arc to respect one another. It’s Bond and Tracy. Sex first…love later. Nice.

London calling: All the London stuff is fabulous. I loved the Blades swordfight, classic Bond and villain duel turned up to the maximum. (Re Madonna’s cameo–can someone say, “Vaseline on the lens.” How vain. Madonna has become Barbara Walters.) I wish I didn’t know about the VR training sequence because that would have blown me out of my socks (curse the internet!). John Cleese IS Q. ‘Nuff said. And the invisible Vanquish…yes, yes! It’s about time we got more than rockets behind headlights. (Shame we didn’t see Bond’s flat in all this.)

Iceland: Don’t get me wrong, I love the location, the ice palace, the Icarus demonstration, the dragster, Miranda, etc…but I did feel the wall-to-wall action in this part of the film started overwhelming what up until then had been a very clean narrative. Jinx is captured and saved twice in the same location? Overkill. Seemed like a hard choice should have been made here and a major set-piece should have been sacrificed to lighten the load on the storyline (and the audience). In my opinion, the big glacier surfing stunt could have been lost, cool as it was. My objection to this scene wasn’t with the cheesy CGI, it’s with the fact that it was SO big it played like a sequence ending climax and took away from the ice ballet car chase that followed. The audience was exhausted. But the ice ballet was so well done that it still worked beautifully and Bond saving Jinx brought the narrative back to emotional clarity. Still, I got a bit lost amid all the action in Iceland, but this is my ONLY complaint.

Climactic battle: Awesome, incredible, one of the most exciting Bond climaxes ever filmed! I love the Icarus satellite burning it’s way through Korea as the plane disintegrates. Loved that Miranda took the time during all this chaos to change into that sexy fencing outfit for her battle with Jinx. Miranda’s death was a bit shocking, but effective. And Graves died the way a Bond villain should die—big! The audience cheered.

Then there was the final Moneypenny scene that had the audience almost on their feet with cheers and laughs and, yes, DAD in my mind at that moment was the BEST JAMES BOND MOVIE EVER!

Now to address a few of the elements of controversy I had heard before going in.

DAD goes OTT with the sci-fi element: What? How? I think DAD did what all the “spectacular” Bond films do and that’s bring it right to the line without crossing it. Nothing in DAD is impossible—it’s improbable, yes, but it’s not impossible and that’s the Cubby Broccoli edict. No probs. I welcome the return the BIG fun Bond film, and DAD is certainly that.

Halle Berry/Jinx: Great body…bad haircut. Despite the hype, I found Jinx to be just another Bond Girl. I preferred Rosamund Pike.

Too much CGI: Nah, it was fine. Even the much-maligned glacier surfing stunt didn’t bother me. Hey, I didn’t let the Tarzan yell ruin Octopussy, I’m not going to let one bad special effect ruin DAD. I’m there to have fun, and I did. So should you.

Congrats Eon, MGM, and everyone involved with DIE ANOTHER DAY. Even if—when I come down from my high—I decide it’s not the best James Bond movie of them all, it’s still the best Bond movie in over a decade and one that reinvigorates the series and that’s an amazing accomplishment.

Rachel Grant Becomes TV Cop

Rachel Grant is to set to take on the role of Detective Constable Jenny Chen in the series; “Blue Murder“. The series will focus on her work in Machester’s police force, and is set to begin filming next month.

The 25 year old actress recentley appeared in “Die Another Day” in which she played a Chinease secret service agent, using the alias; Peaceful Mountains Of Desire. It is thought that this was the role which won-over the series’ producer, Jane Mcnaught. She describes the series as “a fresh take on modern day policing set in contemporary Manchester.”

Two 90-minute shows are currentley in pre-poduction with high-hopes of continuing with a full television series. Grant will star alongside Caroline Quentin, who is to play a Detective Inspector trying to run her career, and maintain a homelife.

This is yet another step-up for Grant whom in the past has appeared as a regular dancer on the BBC-run show; “Top Of The Pops“, aswell as presenting the Sci-Fi Channel on British television.

Bond 21 To Take Place in Germany?

The Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, confirmed talks with MGM about a shooting of Bond 21 in the German capital. Berlin located newspaper “Tagesspiegel” reports that Wowereit talked to different studios during an US journey last week. According to the paper also negotiations with MGM about a shooting in Berlin and near Berlin located film studios Babelsberg took place. While Babelsberg studios don’t know anything about the mayor’s plan, Wowereit seems to be very optimistic.

Babelsberg Studios are Germany’s biggest film studios. Parts of the Berlin scenes for 1983’s “Octopussy” were also shot there.

Feel free to discuss the subject in this thread of CBn’s Bond 21 Forums!
 

Box Office Bondage

While we all can talk about how Die Another Day will stack up against the likes of the already released Harry Potter 2 and the soon to be released The Twin Towers in the current box office season battle, these two do not yet have the sustained history and longevity that super spy James Bond has enviously achieved.

 

With that in mind let’s focus on the franchise itself and consider where Die Another Day could fair against the other nineteen movies that make up the forty year history of the Bond legacy.

 

With the imminent commercial release of Die Another Day in the next few hours in the United States, inarguably the most influential movie market in the world, here are a few major Bond milestones that the twentieth instalment aspires to and, for the fans and producers alike, hopefully surpass:

 

Best US opening weekend – US$35,520,000 (The World Is Not Enough – 1999)

 

Best US Total Gross – US$126,932,000 (The World Is Not Enough – 1999)

 

Best worldwide Total Gross – US$353,100,000 (The World Is Not Enough – 1999)

 

Best inflation adjusted Gross – US$427,108,000 (Thunderball – 1965)

 

As recent cinematic history goes, TWINE is definitely the Bond movie to beat, but most fans would agree that if Die Another Day could eclipse Thunderball’s inflation adjusted gross it would rightfully be crowned as the most successful Bond movie ever.

 

According to Box Office Mojo, where these figures come from, Die Another Day is due to open in over 3,300 theatres, which is the most ever by a Bond movie (TWINE opened in 3,163 theatres), so MGM are giving a huge boost in attempting to make Die Another Day, if not the overall box office winner, the most successful Bond movie to cap off the forty year franchise.

 

Commanderbond.net will keep a close eye on the box office returns of Die Another Day and report the figures as they come to hand.

Feel free to discuss the anticipation in this thread in Commanderbond.net’s Die Another Day forum.

Halle Berry To Return For Bond 21?

20th Century Fox were holding a press conference this afternoon in Berlin to celebrate the premiere of “Stirb an einem anderen Tag”, the German version of “Die Another Day”. Berry was asked whether the rumours about a Jinx movie series were true, and she answered “These are only rumours, but let me say this: My character Jinx may possibly return in Bond 21. No contract yet, but there are a lot of opportunities.”

Be sure to discuss the news in this thread in CBn’s Bond 21 Forums!

Inside The Celebrations

Forty years and twenty films later and it all came together at the Royal Premier of Die Another Day and the subsequent After Party.

Even those ignorant of the films premier knew something special was happening with part of Kensington Gore blocked to traffic and a good portion of it lined with a red carpet, it is was said that there was more red carpet at the Royal Premier then is present at the Academy Awards. Of course, this was by no means all that by-stands were to expect. The Royal Albert Hall had been decked out in hanging icicles, with a blue light and moving floating 007 logos beamed from Hyde Park completing the effect. The night’s air was undoubtedly charged with the excitement of what was about to occur.

Maud Adams, Lois Chiles, Timothy Dalton, Richard Keil, Roger Moore, Shirley Eaton, John Barry, Monty Norman, Dana Broccoli, Madonna, Pierce Brosnan, Rosamund Pike, Halle Berry; the list of guests continued on. Those lucky enough to have tickets to the premier were allowed beyond the barricades closer to where the celebrity guests gathered near the entrance. Others were able to watch the arrivals, and subsequent interviews, on three large screens; the same footage was shown on the screen on the Royal Albert Hall for the attendees’ guests who had already taken their seats.

Outside the Royal Albert Hall

Inside the Hall there was a chance for Bond fans to catch up with each other in the various function rooms. Depending on ones ticket the available food and beverages ranged from caviar and champagne to white or red wine.

Yet, despite previous opportunities, it wasn’t, perhaps, till after the majority of attendees were seated shortly after 7:00pm that the realisation of the event first became apparent for those present. Those seated scanned the theatre attempting to spot those people whom they knew, or at least recognised.

The screen dimmed, Her Majesty entered the Hall to the sound of fanfare from the Yeoman of the Guard and the audience rose to their feet.

Soon after Producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli took their positions and welcome to the stage Die Another Day’s main cast members. Toby Stephens was asked to present the Royal Address, not forgetting to mention that James Bond had been in service for Her Majesty for 40 years.

Some several applauses later and the 20th Century Fox logo appeared, followed by the MGM logo and finally the ever familiar James Bond gun-barrel. Die Another Day had begun.

The audiences’ response was brilliant. Numerous applauses could be heard and all of the films ‘one liners’ were greeted with laughter.

The end credits rolled and once again the auditorium was filled with applause. As the audience was reminded that James Bond Will Return two people in the Balcony Circle started one final applause.

Outside some guests were lucky enough to use the same exit as some of the cast and crew members, and even some of the other celebrities associated with the James Bond films overtime. Rosamund Pike, Colin Salmon, Timothy Dalton, Vic Armstrong and Monty Norman were just a few who were gracious enough to sign autographs. All, especially Tamahori, were eager to listen to feedback on the film. Tamahori was more than pleased when one fan declared they’d like to see him to return to helm Bond 21.

From there, it was across to Hyde Park for those lucky enough to be able to attend the Premiers After Party.

The large white marquee was specially decked out with themes from the film. Tables and chairs that had been featured in the Ice Palace could be found around the room, and in reference to the films ‘diamond’ sub-plot tables were scattered with fake diamonds and other such stones.

The ice feature at one of the two bars

The two bars, both with prominent ‘ice’ features, were serving Tynant Water and Dom Perignon. The centre water feature with ‘spray’ upon which the 007 and Die Another Day logos were projected.

The laser light water feature

Some of the cast and crew left the event early, no doubt with subsequent world wide premiers in mind. Others seemed more than happy to stay until the early hours of the morning.

And at 3:00am on Tuesday the 19th of November, the official celebrations for Die Another Day in Great Britain concluded, and those still in Hyde Park headed home, but not before collecting an indiscreet black bag filled with gifts from just a few of the films sponsors.

Photos © 2002 Daniel Dykes

Be sure to discuss CBn’s inside report in this thread in CBn’s Die Another Day Forums!

German Premiere Is On!

For all those German Bond fans out in the world, the German Premiere attended by Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Rick Yune and Lee Tamahori is live on N24. Freenet.de is broadcasting it live on the web. Be sure to check it out!

Believe the hype!

Believe the hype – DAD is the tops!!!

By Rory Couper. 

As the gun barrel rolled to launch me into James Bond’s 20th cinematic adventure Die Another Day I felt that immense adrenalin rush that we all, as Bond fans get, when we see a new picture for the first time. It was heaven.

As we kick of with the surfing sequence, which brought about the first ever shot of Die Another Day back in December 2001, we see from the outset this film is different. The sombre mood tattersall creates with the scene is superb and the effect of a transformation from Maui Hawaii to the Korean coastline is pulled off with consummate ease. This sombre tone is consistent throughout the opening sequence and adds a certain grittiness to the following scenes which involve a brief but humorous identity swapping moment with Mr.Van Beere and the meeting with Colonel. Moon whose role, however small, was brilliantly executed by Will Yun Lee. Cue the much talked about torture scene, and what a scene, never have we seen a Bond so vulnerable, a Bond so beaten tortured and degraded. Anyone who’s complained in the past about Bond’s invulnerability can eat his or her words, the scene is fantastic and beautifully leads into what must be in my opinion Danny Kleinmann’s best title sequence thus far. It is simpler in terms of CGI possibly second to GoldenEye but still remaining completely ‘Bond’ and providing a perfect accompaniment to the narrative.

When we launch back into the film, and see Bond’s return in exchange for Zao there is a brilliant little moment where Bond acknowledges Robinson only to be knocked out and wheeled away. The interchange that follows between M and Bond was fantastically necessary, Bond is made to feel small, very small, when M claims ‘your freedom came at too high a price, Bond can only agree but we see that he is hurting, and this is what drives his escape. I believe this is quite a defining scene in the film, compared with the scene in Licence To Kill where Bond has his 00 status revoked Brosnan shows Dalton how such a scene should be played.

The brief scene at the Peninsula is classic Bond, where Rachel Grant provides great eye candy if only for a short time. The scene is not massively necessary and I can imagine why the ‘animal scene’ was not kept in, Hong Kong only acts as a go-between and so I am happy they kept Bond’s stay short and sweet.

Onto Cuba (or Cadiz if you want to be picky) and Bond’s arrival is met by those wonderful Cuban rhythms that add such an alternative to the bleak feel of the opening sequence. I particularly enjoyed the scenes in Cuba; again Tatersall displays his unique talent creating such an exotic yet realistic feel to the location. Raul is a great character, if only they had kept the bulk of his scenes he may have rivalled Kerim Bey as one of Bond’s most legendary allies. It’s also great to see the steamy sex scene thrown in for good measure, and the fact Jinx leaves him alone in the morning in search of Zao leaves you feeling she may just be one step ahead on the game, and Bond. This brings me to the Clinic, and art direction. Superb, is the word. The shot where Bond walks along the corridor of mirrors that contains the model DNA strand is just so brilliant, its little touches like this that can make or break a scene. The clinic itself was also brilliantly designed and shot, the orange light above the ceiling gave it an eccentric feel that I particularly loved. All in all at this point in the film – this wall to wall action I’d been hearing about was not so apparent as one may be lead to believe, the film I felt was perfectly controlled and I felt at this point, knowing of Bond’s imminent journey to Iceland that all was well balanced.

On Bond’s return to London we hear what was initially quoted as being the end credits song, ‘London Calling’ by The Clash. This works surprisingly well and I really felt it added an uplifiting feel as if Bond was onto something, and he meant business. The magazine shot of Graves was another fine touch that made me smile.

Back in London we have the customary meeting between Bond and M, followed by the standard meeting with Q. Again the scene between Bond and M is well scripted and performed, Brosnan’s Bond shows a stubbornness and a slight selfishness but at the same time you know inside he knows M trusts his instincts, and that his will to be less forthcoming is a direct result of the Korean incident. The new Q’s inaugural scene seems to be going down a treat with audiences, I think it is hard for cleese to put a foot wrong as Bond’s quartermaster and I can see we’ll grow to love him as we did, and still do the late Desmond Llewelyn.

Cue my star of the show, bad boy Gustav Graves played intoxicatingly by Toby Stephens. This is a villain. From the moment we first see Graves at Blades and experience the ensuing swordfight it is clear Graves is a player, he’s a fantastically written character considering his alter ego and he provides a brilliantly suave, psychotic, adrenaline junkie, a villain you truly believe could kill Bond. Matched with Alec Trevelyan, Graves has the edge, he is truly more hateful, he is villainous, he epitomises the evil we expect from a classic villain, he’s is intellectually more profound than elliot carver and as a psychotic opponent for Renard he has that youthful edge, and the quirkiness of his character, coupled with a jack Nicholson-esque smile that oozes evil.

REVIEW CONTINUES TOMORROW…

Television Coverage Of Royal Premiere

ITV1 will tonight air the coverage of the Royal Premiere of last night.

Coverage of last night`s royal premiere at the Royal Albert Hall of the new James Bond movie, Die Another Day, which stars Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry. Presenter Julia Bradbury talks to the stars of the movie, and interviews actors from previous Bond films including Roger Moore, George Lazenby and a host of Bond girls and villains.

You’ll be able to catch it at 11:30pm in the UK by viewing ITV1.