Garage Sale Bonding

Young married couples, yokels, kiddies who were dragged away from the cartoons by their parents, 60-year-old men who fancy themselves as bargin hunters, and cheapskates in general. These people together make the the unique group that visit Garage sales on sunny Saturday Mornings. Oh how I secretly long to be part of the select group of Garage sale Junkies, grabbing the local paper, driving around town to all the sales, and inspecting the tables and tables of junk on peoples front lawns, hoping to spot that elusive bargin worth bragging to friends about. Old board games, tables and chairs that now clash with the owners decour, tennis raquets without any string, Atari game cartriges, videos that you couldn’t give away (The Fifth Element anyone?) and merchendise for now defunct sporting teams are amoung the many treasures on offer. Stuff you can’t live without but never knew it until then, its a gold mine for those who are running short on worthless nick nacks.

One morning, I found an ad in the gararge sale section that looked to contain reasonable product, with the added bonus of being with convenient proximety to my home and thought I might as well check it out. I got to the sale around 10 am, about 4 hours after the Garage Sale junkies have come and gone, leaving me with the regular crowd of normal people to fight over the remains. Damn It!!! I wanted to see some genuine Garage sale freaks, Oh, well, maybe next time.

It wasn’t long before I began thinking about James Bond, as one tends to do when they are at a gararge sale. I thought I had spotted Rose Kleebs specs from From Russia With Love, but it turned out they were just novelty glasses. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen any 007 collectables at a garage sale, but thats probably because no-one would ever part with there beloved Bond merchendise. It then suddenly occured to me that James Bond, in neither his literery nor cinematic form, would ever find himself at a garage sale, nor associate with anyone who did (unless Blofelds next scheme involves a garage sale, but thats another story). With the most interesting item on sale being a thong (the footwear, not the other type of thong, you people sicken me!) I began to ponder this a little more.

Bond is fantasy, Bond goes to exotic locations like Jamaica, Paris, the Bahamas, India. And when he is in these spots he doesn’t go to garage sales, he goes to casinos, villains lairs, girl’s bedrooms and such and such. I’m not say there’s anything wrong with that, that’s why I like Bond. Its just that its interesting to thing about the places that you would never find our favorite British spy. Is it interesting enough to have an article dedicated soley to it? Probably not, but there I was, reflecting on the places where Goldfinger or Stromberg could have hidden without worrying about bumping into 007, and it seemed like a good idea at the time.

McDonalds – First off, the number one Scottish Clown restaraunt in the world, McDonalds. It’s hard to imagine that a man like Bond, who regularly consumes caviar, the most expense foods and the finest wines (and scrambled eggs apparently) would steer his Aston Martin into the Drive-Thru at the famous golden arches. Although Batman did it once I think, so maybe it’s not completely impossible. But since the best beverage on offer is a thick shake, Bond doesn’t get to request that his drink be “shaken, not stirred”, which would probably take all the fun out of it for old Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Tattoo Parlour – Okay, so Mickey D’s is an easy one, but how about something along the lines of “Big Al’s Tattoo and Piercing Palour”?. A dusty, seedy dump on the lower end of town. Can’t picture Broz wandering in, pointing to a poster of a skull and saying “One of those, on the bum”? Well how about a Roger Moore scenerio? An old Roger Moore strolls in, “a tattoo if you don’t mind”. Big Al, big by both name and nature grunts, spits, looks down to old Rog and snarls “We don’t serve limey’s here”. Two huge punk guards, one with a nose ring and the other with huge snake tattoos on both arms, pick up Roger and drag him away. Everyone’s second favorite Bond raises his eyebrows and calls out “another time perhaps” as he is escorted outside where waiting for him is the beating of a life time.

Alcoholics Anonomouys – “Hello, My name is James, and I have a drinking problem” would be the cry, “Well duh!” would probably be the reply. Most people would walk of of the theatre if this scene showed up in the newest Bond adventure, personally I think it would make a very hansome pretitle scene. Bond telling his support group of how he’s made 50 days without a vodka martini, then suddenly Colonel Moon and his army come crashing in though the wall, with tanks, helicopters, the works. Bond draws his Walther PP9 ready to take them all on, but it turns out that Moon and his troops are only there because they made a wrong turn on the way to their Microwave Cooking class.

And the rest – What about a Senior citizens coach tour? “And now if you look to your left” the tour guide would say, its just a shame that Bond has already seen and jumped off all the worthwhile monuments in the world. Maybe a soccer game, a kindergarden, an insurance agency? Okay, so maybe in hindsight it’s not all that difficult to think of places where you would never see James Bond. I clearly needed a seond opinion.

I sorted the opinion of the nearest person, a man who wanted to buy a golf club and a beer coaster, but only had enough money for one. “Name one place James Bond would never go” I challenged the man.
His answer wasn’t a bad one. “A Kevin McClory Fan Club meeting” he said.
“Not a bad effort” I replied, but then remined him of the fact that its pretty unlikely you’ll find anyone there, apart a couple of lost tourists and a handful of mentally disturbed, pot smoking, hippies. Since the gentleman had tried to answer my question, it was only fair that I should attempt to solve his delemmia.
He asked me “Which should I buy, the golf club or the beer coaster?”. I told him that he should buy the golf club, that way he could knock the owner unconsious with it, and then take the beer coaster too. And he did just that, smashing the club into the back of the garage sale owners head and scampering off with the club and the coaster before anyone could get a good description. I was glad to be of help.

Until next time,

Freemo

Live And Let Die; Voodoo Charm

VOODOO CHARM

Not Just An Artistic Appendage?

If Goldfinger stands as Sean Connery’s stylistically unique entry to the Bond series, and GoldenEye, Pierce Brosnan’s, Live And Let Die is most definitely Roger Moore’s. This is a film that almost stands alone, as an aesthetically exclusive admission to the Bond canon. Primarly the product of an intriguing and captivating religious practice, voodoo.

Although critics are inevitably cautious to grant Live And Let Die anywhere near the praise it deserves they are hardly proving their point to film audiences worldwide. Tom Mankiewicz’s screenplay may play on the notion of humour overtly relied on in Diamonds Are Forever, and for some critics the convoluted plot can prove tiresome. Many condemn the inclusion of Clifton James’s irritably over the top Sheriff J.W. Pepper, but the pace of the movie means you hardly notice the idiosyncrasies, unless you are a looking. If you are looking, you’re not watching the movie as intended.

It is the voodoo essence that stamps an over sized hallmark on Live And Let Die, and no one’s complaining. It seems strange that a Bond film could almost be driven by essentially religious overtones, however, with most of the western world unaccustomed to such a religion we find ourselves intrigued by its macabre connotations and cultural vivacity. From the death of MI6 agent Baines in the opening scenes it is clear there is something ‘a little different’ about this Bond movie. It is also interesting to note a feature so blatant it is amazing many find its inference subconsciously. It is the use of colour that combines the world of Bond with the world of voodoo religion, and allows the two to emphasise the ambience Broccoli, Saltzman and Hamilton are attempting to create. The colours red, black and white, so stark, yet so evocative, they are ‘the’ Bond colours, all you need do is look at the gun barrel sequence to know that if Bond was a nation, it would be signified by a black, white and red tricolour. It is possibly these quintessential Bondian colours that make the film an archetypal Bond picture.

With regards to voodoo religion and its presence in the movie I find many people residing to the fact it is simply an artistic appendage. It is in fact more than relevant to the turbulent political climate of 1970’s America. From the outset it is clear to the 21st century viewer the period in which Live And Let Die was shot, was a time of racial tension and the need for Black Americans to share pride of place with the US natives was as poignant as ever. The rise of the Black Panthers did nothing to help matters, and when actor Yaphet Kotto used the Black Power salute in a promotional photograph it was clear that the action unit were not the only department taking risks.

It seems ironic then that the voodoo religion is one practiced by those enslaved in southern America, the very place the majority of the film unwinds. Is Baines’ death in San Monique a strike for Black power? It is a moment in the movie overlooked by many as just another death. Is it the undoing of white dominance? Inevitably Bond is the victor, and any equality issues viewers might have been looking for have been dispelled in the final moments of the movie. That is until the final shot of the movie, where we see voodoo guardian Baron Samedi alive and well having been killed by Bond a short time before. You may suggest I am looking too far into this, but could this be the filmmakers suggesting, the ‘white’ man hasn’t won or simply the use of voodoo magic as a means to an end.

George Aguilar, Stunt Coordinator

The official MGM James Bond Website has updated again – this time with Production Newsflash #23 and a lot of information on Stunt Coordinator George Aguilar.

Unfortunately there isn't any new information, but we are promised a report about the Hovercraft Sequene "in a week or so".

The article contains also an Interview with George Aguilar himself and has some very nice pictures in it.

Pierce Brosnan with his Stunt Double Mark Mottram

Aguilar talks about the Hovercraft Sequence and also about the Ice Chase which was shot in Iceland earlier this year. "Bond’s are always very stunt intensive. The tricky part is while you’re working on one scene you have coming up something equally big so its staying on top and being prepared", he says.

In another picture you can discover a Korean Temple in the background. Rumours are saying that Spoiler Warning (Highlight To Read) Bond and Zao will fight against each other around this temple.

Be sure to visit the Official James Bond Website!

CBn Update

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Pierce Didn't Enjoy Filming Love Scenes

It seems like every mans fantasy, in bed with a scantily clad Halle Berry or Rosamund Pike. However, just as he felt about the love scenes in The World Is Not Enough, Pierce Brosnan has explained that filming the love scenes for Die Another Day weren't really that good.

The IMDb reports that Pierce has said the idea of stripping down with Halle was highly appealing – until it was put to practice. "They're in both of your knickers, you're trying not to show breasts and nipples and stuff – all the loveliness of life. It's mad, absolutely mad! These love scenes always sound so seductive and lovely and here you are with this beautiful woman, rolling around in the sack, so to speak, and then you have this director under sheets with you, trying to get the shot. If that's not enough, there's also cameras on either side of you."

Fans won't share the same sentiments come November I'm sure.

A James Bond Mini Biography

A James Bond Mini-Biography

Born in Scotland an only child James Bond lost his parents, Andrew Bond and Monique Bond nee. Delacroix, to a climbing accident when he was twelve. His parents, who had been mountain climbing in Chamonix, France, left him to the care of his aunt Charmaine Bond.

While with his aunt Bond lived in Canterbury and at the age of thirteen moved to Eton College. However, his educational career at Eton was short-lived, at the age of fifteen Bond was expelled after an ‘incident’ with a maid. Continuing his education Bond was sent to Fettes in Edinburgh, where his father had also studied.

After completing his primary education Bond joined the Ministry of Defence where he rose to the rank of Commander. Eventually becoming a Civil Servant when he joined the OO Division of the Ministry of Defence, now referred to as MI6 and SIS, Bond retains the rank of Commander in the Royal Navy. As a part of the 00 Division Bond was assigned the code number OO7.

Having served on countless missions, all of which remain classified to this day, Bond was recently sent to North Korea to assinate Colonel Moon, a North Korean Colonel intent on the North retaking South Korea. It was known that Colonel Moon was trading next generation weapons for African Conflict Diamond’s. Bond’s initial mission was believed to be a success, as the world was duped in to believing that Colonel Moon was indeed dead. However, he resurfaced over a year later under a different guise and it was time for James Bond to once again save the world.

Last Updated: December 31, 2002

Biographic and listing material is © Copyright CommanderBond.Net and Respective Authors.

Reproduction is not allowed without prior permission.

Bond DVD's to be republished from October!

As Video Businnes reports, MGM will republish all James Bond DVD's from October:

MGM Home Entertainment this fall will rerelease seven James Bond special edition DVDs in an effort to capitalize on the growing market for the format and the theatrical release of the 20th Bond film, Die Another Day.

The studio will issue Dr. No, GoldenEye, Goldfinger, License to Kill, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me and Tomorrow Never Dies on Oct. 22 (prebook Sept. 22), a month before 007's next theatrical adventure hits theaters on Nov. 22. The titles will be priced individually at $19.98–almost half the $34.98 price they carried when they were last available. All seven will also be in a gift set for $124.96.

The collection is "being priced and positioned commensurate with the mass market DVD has become," said Robert Wittenberg, executive VP of sales and marketing for the studio.

Since the installed base of DVD players will have doubled, to 40 million this fall, and the Bond catalog was put on moratorium in early 2001, "for all intents and purposes very few people have them," Wittenberg said.

The special editions are the same versions released during the last promotion. "They were pretty special editions," crafted to appeal to collectors, Wittenberg said. Each of the titles carries one or more audio commentaries, multiple documentaries and featurettes as well as stills galleries, TV spots and theatrical trailers.

MGM has finely honed its management of the Bond titles, pulling them off the market every few years to reinvigorate demand.

This time it plans to issue about a third of the catalog each fall until 2004. The last time the catalog was released, it was in three collections over the course of one year.

"We are trying to maximize the franchise and make sure retail will give [each title] its due," said Wittenberg, explaining the studio's decision to stretch out the release pattern. Each group of titles will go on moratorium when the next one becomes available.

Best Buy will support the collection as part of a broad promotional deal with MGM under which the retailer will position itself as "the James Bond store." It's expected to merchandise the DVDs with related soundtracks, electronics and other licensed products (VB, 2-4).

The last Bond campaign sold about 7 million units across the catalog, Wittenberg said.

He declined to project sales for the new promotion, but industry sources estimated that with the growth of the DVD market, the studio should be able to sell 7 million units of just the first wave.

The studio has a lot riding on the Bond franchise. It said last week that it expects to lose 46 cents per share or roughly $114 million, more than triple what analysts expected, in the second quarter because of the disappointing theatrical performance of its World War II drama Windtalkers.

Brosnan Interview On Rove Live

Rove Live was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview Mr Pierce Brosnan, via satellite direct from the UK.

Before the add break they played a snippet from the Die Another Day trailer, then the interview began… Pierce was wearing a normal white shirt and he appeared to be at the Omega conference set. Rove started off by asking how he was offered the role of Bond. Pierce explained that after Remington Steele was axed, he was rung and simply asked to play. He agreed, but because of the recent hype around Brosnan, NBC furthered the series with only 6 more shows, and that he was ‘pissed off’ and that he got ‘The short shift’ by greedy men in suits.

Using the ‘Ice Cube’ scene in The World Is Not Enough as an example, Rove asked if it was difficult to film the Bed scenes. Pierce slowly went on saying (with comedic interruptions from Rove, where Pierce jokingly yelled out ‘Shut up Rove let me finish answering the question!’) that it does get uncomfortable, but despite that, not even a woman’s nipple is allowed to be shown in a Bond movie.

They moved on to how the Bond movies have become more Family Orientated, rather then the ‘dark’ and ‘perverted’ books by Ian Fleming, and that Pierce thought the change was good, in some respects.

Also a few nights ago former Bond Girl Britt Ekland (Mary Goodnight, The Man With The Golden Gun) was on the show and commented on the current women in the series, she picked out one Girl in particular… Teri Hatcher, saying that she was a terrible choice, an opinion not shared with Brosnan.

Then they had to quickly rap it up, so Rove quickly asked if he will be do any more films and if he is being replaced. Yes. Brosnan said nodding. He will be replaced, but he would like to round off his total to five.

Short and not shedding light on anything new. Wasn’t pleased with the questions asked but still good enough to keep me pumped. Hopefully there will be a better interview sometime soon.

Hot New Official Pictures From Die Another Day

Fox International has released a new series of promotional pictures from Die Another Day, and they're all looking good.

First off is James Bond at the controls of a hovercraft in North Korea;

Next is an absolutely georgeous image of people inside the Ice Palace. Due to the low lighting and the small crowds it seems this shot may be inbetween takes.

Next is a shot of Bond and Jinx in Cuba. While Pierce is known to enjoy the odd cigar in his private life, this picture does allow for speculation that Bond will be seen smoking again in Die Another Day.

And finally, a shot of the Aston Martin Vanquish being pursued by the Jaguar XKR in Iceland. Note the existing tyre tracks and the holes in the ice?

There are some very promising images there, giving us a glimpse not only of the film but also what the Making-Of book has in store for us.

Pierce Brosnan On Rove Live Tonight

I've just received word that Pierce Brosnan will be interviewed in Rove Live tonight!

No word yet on what Rove and Pierce will be discussing, but you can be sure that we'll let you know later on.

Rove Live shows on the Ten Network around Australia.