What You'll Find At The Penguin 007-Mini Site

The Penguin 007 Mini-Site is our featured website at the moment so it only seems appropriate that we take a look at the content it is offering now that the site is online.

To begin with, there is the all important information on the James Bond novels written by Ian Fleming. You'll find all the information on the novels and the relevant links on the main page. As well as a little dossier on James Bond. Lucky fellow has blue eyes (I knew we had something in common!).

There's also a short biography on author Ian Fleming. There's also an interview with actor Rufus Sewell who was hired as the 'voice' for the audiobook versions of the Fleming novels. You may note that in the first question it mentions that Rufus recorded thirteen of the audiobooks, however, there are fourteen available. This is no mistake. The Spy Who Loved Me was actually recorded by actress Samantha Bond who plays Miss Moneypenny in the current Bond films. Those who know the history behind Fleming’s The Spy Who Loved Me will know that the story follows the main female character rather than James Bond, and having the novel recorded by Samantha was indeed clever!

If you're looking for kicks you can send Bond related e-cards and also participate in an online quiz and find out which James Bond villain you're most like! Moreover, there's an online competition to win a set of the new Bond novels.

And when you're finished you can check out the links to other James Bond websites. In the link section you'll find a link to CommanderBond.net! Just goes to show that the staff at Penguin have taste!

More Details On Emilio Echevarría's Character

'Diario de Cadiz' have published details on Emilio Echevarría's character in Die Another Day.

Emilio Echevarría will play a Cuban Detective in Die Another Day whose name is Raul. It seems that Raul will play a pivotal role in the film as he’s a contact for Bond in Cuba. To aid Bond’s mission Raul gives him some vital information.

Though earlier suggested, it seems that Echevarría’s role in Die Another Day won’t be a small one. The actor has reportedly spent the past month at Pinewood Studio’s in Britain filming scenes.

Thanks to Tim and 'Jaime Bond' for that information, if you'd like to discuss it please visit this thread of the Die Another Day Forums.

Forthcoming Raymond Benson Appearances and Signings

The official Raymond Benson site has listed some of Raymond's forthcoming appearances and signings. I thought we'd make a mention of them so that fans can pen them into their diaries.

JUNE 12, 2002
12:30pm
Borders
150 North State St.
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 606-0750
Book signing, discussion

JUNE 15, 2002
1:00pm
Barnes & Noble
728 Waukegan Road
Deerfield, IL 60015
(847) 914-9293
Book signing, discussion

AUGUST 3-4, 2002
Flashback Weekend Horror & Sci Fi Convention
See http://www.flashbackweekend.com for more info.

Pierce And Halle Fly To Iceland

Movie news site Dark Horizons has reported that Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry have flown out to Iceland to film a scene from Die Another Day at a place known as the Blue Lagoon. The area will reportedly feature in a Spoiler Warning (Highlight To Read) love scene between Jinx and Bond.

However, the news comes at a strange time as Pierce and Halle are both required in Cadiz for filming and a press conference.

Sean Connery To Lead New York Parade…

On April 6th, former 007-actor; Sean Connery will be leading a parade of bag-pipers through New York City. The event should really "hit-home" with the actors Scottish roots. He hopes to break a world-record, by having 10,000 pipers in attendance at the event.

The parade of Scots-men (and women) will begin on West 42nd Street, and up Sixth Avenue, where it will go on to Central Park. Alan Cumming who played Boris Grishenko, in "GoldenEye" will also be in attendance, along with Roger Moore's favourite "potential Bond"; Ewan McGregor

007-Fans from New York, can be sure to catch a glimpse Sean himself, although, I would suggest arriving early to attain "front row status", to avoid crowds, which could prove to be very large. As Tim007 has announced on the CBn Forums, a start-time has yet to be announced, however New Yorker's will no doubt be informed nearer the event.

"That's My Little Octopussy."

“James Bond Will Return in Octopussy” read the tag at the end of For Your Eyes Only. Not knowing my Fleming at the time, I remember saying, "Is that a joke?" But by the time Octopussy was released in the summer of 1983, I was a big Bond fan with high expectations for the 13th James Bond film. I'll never forget that, after the movie on the way out of the theater, a young girl spontaneously shouted to anyone within earshot, "Great flick!" Had I been as inebriated as she was, I might have yelled the same thing because I just love Octopussy. In fact, I think it’s one of the most underrated Bond films. Maybe it was the threat of Sean Connery's return in Never Say Never Again that made EON rise to the occasion? Or maybe it was that fact that novelist George MacDonald Fraser had a hand in crafting the story? Whatever it is, Octopussy rates as my second favorite Moore/Bond film (the first being The Spy Who Loved Me) and consistently places somewhere in my top ten favorite James Bond films.

James Bond Goes to India. And why shouldn't he? It's not often pointed out that Octopussy was as much a reaction to the success of Raiders of the Lost Ark as Moonraker was to Star Wars. For me, genre mixing in the James Bond films is not a sin. Okay, I too cringe at the Tarzan yell and the "Sit-taaa!," but how about that killer pre-titles sequence? It's certainly one of the best of the series. And what about the action on the circus train? the Sotheby's auction? the helicopter gliding past the Taj Mahal to a very evocative John Barry score? Bond's backgammon game with Kamal Kahn is definitely one of the better casino face-offs. Magda spiraling off Bond's balcony by her slowly unraveling silk dress is, to quote a recently deceased news baron, "Delicious." And how about that no-nonsense, no-quip, high-speed, balls-to-the walls car chase on the autobahn? Great flick!

Then there are the moments of wonderful detail. The hitchhiking Bond getting snubbed by a carload of obnoxious teenagers, Kamal's car not turning over on the first try as he and Globina try to escape their own ticking nuke, Magda's hairdryer interfering with Bond's earpiece gadget, and the woman beating Bond to the pay phone as he rushes to prevent Armageddon. Yes, Connery's Bond would just yank that chatty woman from the phone booth and call in the marines. But Moore's Bond is not powered by his masculinity. He's powered by his Englishness. He could never do something so rude! So instead, he steals her car. I remember people clapping in the theater at that one. I don't think they were clapping at grand theft. I think they were clapping at clever storytelling.

And that's the real strength of Octopussy — VERY solid storytelling. Octopussy has one of the best crafted plots of all the Bond films. It's complex with many characters and conflicting agendas; yet it's never confusing. (The Living Daylights, anyone?) And like the best Bonds, Octopussy has at its core a terrific mystery. For me, a Bond film should always open with a provocative mystery. A girl is killed by gold paint? Two nuclear submarines vanish without a trace? In Octopussy, a priceless Faberge Egg rolls from the hands of a dead 009, who, for some yet unknown reason, is dressed as a clown. That's an opening worthy of Sherlock Holmes — or Ian Fleming. Then by the end of the film, we have 007 dressed as a clown, hurtling toward what could be his own death, along with the destruction of most of West Germany. Maybe that's why the rather risky move of putting 007 into floppy shoes and clown makeup works. By its finale, Octopussy has achieved a level of genuine suspense which, let's face it, only a handful of Bond films ever achieve. Was anyone biting their nails at the end of Tomorrow Never Dies?

As for Roger Moore? Hey, I don't dismiss Roger Moore the way some old thinkers do. I even like Moonraker — a lot! For me, Octopussy is one of Moore's best performances as Bond. He has that old pro's grace about him that Connery had in Diamonds Are Forever and NSNA. (It's interesting that Moore didn't have this quality in his next film, A View to a Kill. Maybe it's hard to relax around Grace Jones?)

So there you go. It was true in the summer of 1983, and it's still true today: Octopussy is a great flick!

Exclusive: Pictures From The James Bond Exhibition

Over the next few days we'll have some articles on the James Bond Exhibition which is currently being held in the UK. To start off we have some pictures from the exhibition thanks to John. We have plenty more pictures to come so keep an eye on CommanderBond.net!

There are all the pictures for now, but we'll have more soon!

An interesting thing to note. The plaque for the Aston Martin DB5 says that it was the car used in GoldenEye. However, the registration plate is clearly BMT 214A. Correct me if I'm wrong but that's Bond's registration plate in Goldfinger. In GoldenEye it's BMT 216A!

A big thanks to John for providing the images!

Details Of Spanish Press Conference

'Jaime Bond' has just sent us in these details of the press conference scheduled for this Wednesday in Cádiz, Spain.

The press conference will be held at 'Baluarte de los Martires', which is an old scenic fortress located near where scenes of Die Another Day will be filmed. The conference will start at 18:00 and Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry and Lee Tamahori will be in attendance.

The Spanish wing of Fox 2000, who are distributing the film internationally, have estimated that around 150 media organisations will be represented at the event, which will see about 200 journalists in attendance.

It seems that we'll be able to get plenty of information on the event. When we do, you can be sure you'll read it here first!

Penguin 007 Mini-Site Opens To Celebrate Book Relaunch

The Penguin 007 mini-site will open today (April 1) to celebrate the relaunch of the James Bond books penned by Ian Fleming. All fourteen novels will be relaunched this month with all new covers.

When the site goes 'live' later today visitors will be able to:

• Dip into extracts from Ian Fleming's classic James Bonds, from Goldfinger to Diamonds are Forever.
• Discover your inner arch villain in our Bond quiz.
• Send Bond ecards.
• Buy the paperbacks, limited edition hardbacks and audiobooks online.
• Meet the voice of Bond on audiobook … and much more.

Of course, you'll also be able to find out a lot more about the new books and also purchase them!

And to celebrate we've made the Penguin 007 mini-site our current 'featured site'! If you're interested in reading the Introduction by Christopher Hitchens that is featured in Penguin Modern Classics edition of From Russia With Love, Dr No and Goldfinger visit The Gaurdian.

Title Song May Not Have Films Title

Liz Rosenberg, who is Madonna's spokeswoman, has told Jaffa that Madonna's title song for Die Another Day may not be titled Die Another Day, indicating that the title of the track may be up in the air. A different title for the song wouldn't be a complete break from tradition, 1977's The Spy Who Loved Me had a title track called "Nobody Does It Better".

You can discuss this news in this thread of the Die Another Day Forums. Thanks to Tim for the alert!