Official Site Updates With Coverage From Royal Premiere

The official James Bond Website has updated with some great pictures from the Royal Premiere of Die Another Day in London yesterday. Additionally there are four videos from the Premiere available, but only in poor quality and in Windows Media. Let’s hope we will get higher quality videos soon!

The website has also updated with four of the 15 clips which were out earlier this week and some new TV spots for Die Another Day!

Please discuss the updates in this thread of CBn’s Die Another Day Forums!

Bond Will Die Another Day

Reviewer: Daniel Dykes
Rating: 8/10

Forty years, twenty films and Die Another Day is the James Bond film that proves James Bond has a place in the 21st Century.

There are so many things that one can really say about the film. The first that comes to mind is David Tattersall, the Director of Photography on Die Another Day. If only one person is asked to return for Bond 21 it deserves to be David Tattersall. It may seem strange to mention the Director of Photography before the Director or the actors, but that’s just how striking his work on the film is. The last Bond outing, The World Is Not Enough, sadly tended to lack fantastic cinematography and Tattersall has easily made up for it in this film. The pre-title sequence best highlights the success of his work; the surfing sequence is filmed across two countries and three locations and yet the final product if flawlessly seamed together.

It’s hard to critique Lee Tamahori’s work as it’s not always apparent what he’s directly responsible for, however, his enthusiasm for the film, and the James Bond series in general, really shows in the film. It is obvious that he’s cut down the complexities of dialogue but the final film does deliver plot, action and one hell of an adventure.

The films editing does move away from past films in several ways. Christian Wagner makes good use of either speeding up or slowing down the film for effect, and the only time it seems contrived is during Jinx’s emergence from the sea, a slow effect is used to create a romantic moment however it comes across as almost cliché. Danny Kleinman’s titles are extremely unique for any film. He successfully tells the story of Bond’s torture at the hands of the North Koreans, however, like his last title sequence, Die Another Day’s digitised women simply lack any ‘sexiness’, but in such a surrounding it is, perhaps, appropriate. His minor reworking of the gun-barrel has brought about some criticism; however, the change is minor and was appreciated by those in the audience and is definitely a minor change that should be kept for subsequent films.

A lot of criticism was directed to particular CGI sequences in the film. While films such as Moonraker provided poor back projection, Die Another Day does not. Some scenes clearly employ CGI, but such sequences can be found in any modern film. The controversial CGI use in Iceland is definitely not as disappointing as we have been led to believe. Personally expecting something horrible, I was pleasantly surprised. While what actually happens in the scene is not possible, nor are hollowed out volcanoes.

David Arnold’s score is really top rate in the film and overtones of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and You Only Live Twice are obviously apparent. Earlier comments that he wouldn’t be using the James Bond Theme are obviously false and there is definitely no perceptible use of the 007 Theme. With such a top rate score from Arnold it is disappointing that more of his score can’t be found on the films soundtrack.

The acting in Die Another Day is a marvel and it really seems that Samantha Bond ‘steals the show’ thanks to clever scripting by Neil Purvis and Robert Wade. In context, Moneypenny’s role in Die Another Day is extremely different to that of past films as Moneypenny has no direct contact with James Bond. Did the audience mind at all? Needless to say her short scene received the largest applause.

Pierce Brosnan definitely portrays Bond with the finesse of a professional and gives a performance that surpasses those of the previous three films. In particular fans should look out for his rescuing of a character from the Ice Palace.

Halle Berry and Rosamund Pike both give brilliant performances. Perhaps the only problem is the lack of use of Pike in the film. The character definitely had more potential which should have been explored.

Emilio Echevarría dialogue was seemingly hard to understand, however, this could be put down poor sound quality at the Royal Albert Hall. Madonna’s cameo in the film is hard to judge either way. She delivers some dialogue well, and some poorly, however, her role is far too short to make anything of. It is, perhaps, her black costume outfit on the equestrian floor that seems more out of place than Madonna herself.

Die Another Day successfully manages to push the envelope of Bond films. It’s fast and it’s gutsy. It’s raunchier and manages to be grittier at times. Understandably, it is not without faults but will definitely be appreciated by fans with an open-mind and a willing to accept that Bond movies before now are in the past, and always will be. Bond has to modernise and move with the times.

Welcome to the 21st Century Mr Bond.

First Pictures From The Royal Premiere!

Bond Is Back! The Royal Premier is being shown in St. Albert’s Hall in London which has been turned into an ice palace over the last few days while I am writing and CBn’s very own Daniel Dykes is attending the premiere! However, reports are still to come, Reuters has published first pictures from the event, which is being broadcasted by TV stations around the world by now.

 

Queen Elisabeth II with Pierce Brosnan!

Queen Elisabeth II and Madonna! Michael G. Wilson in the background

Halle Berry – what a robe!

“Jaws” Richard Kiel is arriving!

“Former Bond Girl Lois Chilles at the Premiere!

Timothy Dalton Arrives For The World Premiere

 
Roger Moore is there, too!

 
Even George Lazenby is attending!

 
Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely!

 
Pierce and Madonna kissing outside!

 

More to follow soon!

Be sure to discuss in this thread of CBn’s Die Another Day Forums about the Premiere!

German Society Girl Wants To Become Bond Girl

Verona Feldbusch, best known in Germany for her affair with “Modern Talking” singer Dieter Bohlen and her show on TV Station RTL, wants to become the new Bond girl in Bond 21. That’s what she told the German Edition of FHM Magazine. Now FHM made some kind of promotion out of that and now you’re able to vote for or against Verona on www.veronaforbond.de. They promise to send the results of the vote to the producers, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

However, chances for her to become a Bond girl are relatively low as we all know EON doesn’t like the idea of someone promoting himself by using the name of James Bond.

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

Pierce Brosnan To Arrive At Premiere With A Bang!

Ananova reports;

Pierce Brosnan to arrive at Bond premiere with a bang

Pierce Brosnan is emerge from a huge wall of fire at the UK premiere of new Bond movie Die Another Day.

It takes place at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday before opening at cinemas at the end of the week.

One hundred columns of flames will fire 35ft in the air as the star, who plays James Bond, arrives.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are also expected to attend the screening.

Commanderbond.Net will keep you informed!

Meanwhile, stay tuned in this thread of CBn’s Die Another Day Forums!

Berry Talks About Jinx Movie

Halle Berry appeared on Parkinson yesterday with Pierce Brosnan in the UK. Michael Parkinson, spoke about Halle’s Oscar win – and how she things it has changed the movie industry.

She also cleared up the rumour of her being in a Jinx spin off movie series. She wasn’t sure how the rumour came about, but all she knew was that if the oppurtunity of making a series was there – she’d go for it straight away.

With that, it doesn’t therefore seem as though she will be making one…but she did say she had quite a few upcoming projects.

Hollywood Reporter reviews Die Another Day

The Hollywood Reporter has reviewed Die Another Day and rated it positive, but they found minor faults. Like a lot of DAD reviews which are out these days, the Hollywood Reporter doesn’t like the idea of too much CGI, less developed characters and loads of action sequences.

Careful, the review is spoiler intensive! So be sure not to read it if you don’t want to get to know information about Die Another Day’s action!

Die Another Day
Nov. 18, 2002

By Kirk Honeycutt

James Bond turns 20 this month, but that doesn’t mean the lad is growing up. He still goes ga-ga over girls, gadgets and guns. So “Die Another Day,” the 20th installment in the 40-year-old franchise, does the expected, but with the ante raised in every area — stunts, visual effects, exotic locales and expense. This is a sharper, edgier Bond, in which first-time Bond director Lee Tamahori allows a smidgen of character work to creep in, and Pierce Brosnan, in his fourth outing as Agent 007, suggests the playboy spy is really a serious, hard-working guy.

Realizing the franchise is challenged by youth movies like “XXX,” the Bond producers raise the ante so James stays reasonably hip. Madonna sings the title song and even appears in one of the film’s brighter sequences. This also is the first Bond film to rely heavily on digital effects. But the best addition is Halle Berry, who instead of being a Bond Girl du jour, joins forces with 007 as a full-fledged fighting companion, matching him in ruthlessness and technology. All these pluses should drive “Die” past the $361 million worldwide boxoffice benchmark established by 1999’s “The World Is Not Enough.”

The first third of the movie, and its most interesting section, pushes 007 into unfamiliar territory as a prisoner and outcast. The opening titles, the usual kaleidoscopic melange of color and images with alluring women in silhouette, takes place over scenes of Bond being tortured by North Korean captors. When he is released in a prisoner exchange after 18 months in captivity, Bond is shunned by British Secret Service head M (Judi Dench) in the belief he cracked under torture and gave up a British spy.

Labeled useless as a spy and held incommunicado aboard a Yankee ship in Hong Kong Harbor, Bond escapes, making his way first to a hotel luxury suite, then to Cuba in pursuit of an evil Korean killer, Zao (Rick Yune). At a Cuban beach bar, the tone and focus shift to more familiar territory. It is here Bond encounters Berry’s Jinx, a goddess rising from the sea in a tangerine bikini, an homage to Ursula Andress’ Venus-like appearance in “Dr. No,” the film that launched the series in 1962. Romantic sparks fly instantly, so much so that it’s hard to say who picks up whom.

The two break into and destroy a health clinic operating on an offshore island, where DNA transplants can change the identity of bad guys like the agile Zao. Then it’s off to the races with stopovers in London (for state-of-the-art rearmament), Iceland and back to North Korea. The film bifurcates its madman villain: A Col. Moon (Will Yun Lee) harasses Bond in Asia before the spy is confronted by mysterious businessman Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens) and a secret doomsday weapon called Icarus. Only later do we realize the two men are connected.

The film’s liveliest sequence, which combines physical comedy with nimble athleticism, has Graves challenge Bond to a duel, a gentlemanly sword fight that escalates into all-out war. That warfare continues in Iceland, where Graves unveils Icarus before guests staying at his gigantic ice hotel on a frozen lake.

At this point, the stunts take over: There is hand-to-hand combat between Bond and a Maori henchman in a lab where laser cutters run amok; a deadly sunbeam sends Bond’s jet-powered ice yacht off a cliff into the sea below, where a falling glacier creates a mega-tsunami; and Zao’s Jaguar chases Bond’s Aston Martin on the frozen lake; then the Jag tails the Aston Martin up the ramps of the hotel through curtains of melting ice water as Bond races to rescue Jinx from drowning.

The problem with Bond at 20 is knowing when to climax. After the ice palace collapses, the movie feels over. Yet everyone heads back to North Korea for Icarus’ demolition of the DMZ and fierce combat between heroes and villains aboard a disintegrating Russian cargo plane. Unfortunately, audiences may be too fatigued to enjoy much of this. Competition among Bond directors and writers to top one another has provoked stupefying overkill.

Even more problematic is the series’ inability to create new heavies. These super-rich dudes with nice-guy facades masking an evil intent are getting old. Stephens struggles to make the new edition work, but Bond villains are beginning to look like the Boys From Brazil. Film newcomer Rosamund Pike as the ice princess in the ice palace displays athleticism and chilly sexuality, but the trite role hampers her.

As with all recent Bond movies, the real superheroes here are the legions of stunt performers and technicians who — along with Peter Lamont’s glittery sets, David Tattersall’s crisp cinematography and Lindy Hemming’s exuberant costumes — put together the thrill ride. That Brosnan and Berry have so little opportunity to develop their characters and relationship with each other is a shame. But the international market probably doesn’t understand the double-entendres anyway.

Thanks to forum user “Dene” for pointing the review out! And be sure to discuss it in this thread in CBn’s DAD: Mission Debriefing (Spoiler) Forums!

Parkinson Interviews PB and HB

Michael Parkinson will tonight interview both Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry. You’ll be able to catch it at 10:20pm on BBC1 in the UK:

Michael Parkinson is joined by the actor who sets hearts racing as James Bond, Pierce Brosnan; Oscar-winning actress, Halle Berry; and best-selling soul and jazz singer, Natalie Cole.

Die Another Day – Paris Press Screening

DIE ANOTHER DAY
THE PARIS FRENCH PRESS SCREENING

IT’S THE BIGGEST,
IT’S THE BEST,
IT’S BOND… AND B-E-Y-O-N-D!

Writer’s note : I have purposefully OMITTED to delve about ‘surprises’ happening during the length of Die Another Day arc story – not to spoil anything for fans (of which I am…Still!)

Friday, November the 15th.
9h45 AM at the Normandie Cinema, up on the Champs Elysées in the luxurious 8th arrondissement of Paris…

Word-of-mouth must have travelled faster than usual, for a huge queue of journalists (mixed with friends & fans hopelessly trying to get in) is already in front of the Cinema more than an hour in advance.The French’s love story with Mr Bond dated back from the 60’s, and is still hot these days.Pierce Brosnan, Lee Tamahori, Halle Berry, Barbara Broccoli & Michael G.Wilson are to attend a Gala screening by Tuesday, nov the 19th, following a huge Press conference.

After careful checking on the P.R listings, we lucky members of the Press are let in – precious French Press-kit tucked firmly under the arm (Press kit being a true beauty in itself! A glossy hard bound 80 pages colour ‘Corporate’ magazine with a stunning cover). The Normandie being one of the best Cinema of Paris , it can house more than 800 persons , most of the Prestige Press Screenings happen here , from LORD OF THE RINGS : THE TWO TOWERS (which I’ll be seeing in two weeks) to AUSTIN POWERS IN GOLDMEMBER

A buzz of excitement can be clearly heard in the vast area. Most of my colleagues wink at me (well, I’ve got a reputation), and after a 15 minutes wait, the room darkened…

Heeeeere we go, I said to myself.

Although I do know ‘practically’ everything about this film ( from rejected scripts sequences to Film Posters scrapped ideas), I still feel quite excited by this Bond movie. Almost as excited in fact as I was feeling back in Autumn ’77 when I discovered THE SPY WHO LOVED ME at the Paris Saint Germain Drugstore Cinema – skipping an entire day at school for the occasion!

Being a sentimentalist , I cannot help thinking that both Mr Bond & I are reaching our forties this year …Surely a coincidence?
Nah, ‘best of a Man’s years’, no doubt.

Anyway… Onto business.

From the innovative (and still affectionate) 21st Century version of the gun-barrel sequence to the (almost bearable) final rendition of Madge’s Die Another Day sure hit-and-miss song, D.A.D. is a great celebration of 40 years of 007’s onscreen adventures.

It is a welcome return to a larger-than-life Bond, a Fantasy Bond – from the past times of DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER or YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. A Super Hero Bond film, where our beloved secret agent can dive in an icy lake without instantly freezing, has an invisible car – which he didn’t totalled for a change (Q section will be happy!), manage in the nick of time to avoid a giant blazing laser beam coming from a deadly Satellite in the sky, makes love to Moneypenny …And, of course, gets the girl at the end!

The audience roared with laughers, applauded many time (a behaviour usually not typical of Press & Media representatives), and yours truly had to be put on (heavy) sedative watching the Cuba scene of Jinx coming out of the sea.

Speaking of which, the ‘Cuban arrangement’ of The James Bond Theme is a joy to hear, and , again throws the audience back forty year earlier – with reminiscences of Dr No’s Monty Norman Calypso score.

The Villains are truly in the ‘over-the-top’ Fleming mould (think Sir Hugo Drax for Gustav Graves), the henchmen are sinister enough (One-armed function of a deceased Mr Kil is quite Bondian indeed!), and everybody in the cast seems to have done his homework and try – often succeeding – to deliver their lines in the most outrageous , yet utterly threatening Bond-style.And for those of you who read my interview with Will Yun Lee done back at the last Cannes Film Festival, well, let’s just say that this guy is the main villain indeed.

Example: the Blade’s scene, truly one of the very best fight ever staged in the whole Bond series (second best to FRWL train fight , according to your humble writer) is a joy to watch. Madonna looks indeed twenty years older than she is, thanks to an awful make-up, but she’s okay as a Fencing addict (and deliver her lines with conviction). But the ensuing duel will bring back memories of classic movie swordbuckling fights (I even appear to think of Tim Dalton’s own in …The Rocketeer!)

Surprise: despite an over-the-top Internet coverage by fan websites around the World, there are STILL some surprises in store for all of you (an homage to AVTAK pre credits stunt surf scene, for instance). Honestly speaking, despite being spoilt by Licensees from over the World, I stand by this: definitely the BEST Brosnan entry so far, and one of the BEST Fantasy Bond.

GO & SEE IT (I will again, and again, and again!)

– Kevin Collette

MGM Register Jinx Domain

MGM has moved ahead with plans to produce a spin-off Jinx movie today with the revelation that they have secured an important marketing tool for such a film.

MGM have registered the domain www.jinxmovie.com.

While the purchasing of the domain name by movie studio MGM doesn’t cement the films production it does serve to confirm recent rumours of a spin-off film going in to production.