Win Titan's The Girl Machine James Bond collection

CommanderBond.net is giving away a free copy of the recently released James Bond 007 collection from publisher Titan Books: The Girl Machine.

The legend continues! Stand by for more adventures with the world’s greatest and most famous secret agent, James Bond, as some of his most thrilling missions are collected for the first time ever in a deluxe collectors’ library edition! This bumper action-packed volume collects ultra rare Bond stories that have not been seen since their original syndication between 1973-74: The Girl Machine, Beware of Butterflies and The Nevsky Nude. Plus a brand new celebrity introduction and an exclusive selection of recently unearthed James Bond comic strip artwork that has never before seen print, this latest essential volume is not to be missed!

This competition is open to all members of CommanderBond.net (CBn). You must be a registered member of the CBn Forums and answer the following question correctly to be eligible to win. Not yet a member of CBn? Register here now—it is free and only takes a minute!

How To Enter:

To enter, fill out the following questionnaire and send a Communiqué/Private Message on the CBn Forums to ‘CBn Competition’ (Subject: CBn Feb10 Titan) by Midnight EST on 19 February 2010 (simply click on the link in this paragraph).

1. What is the title of the forthcoming James Bond collection from Titan Books, due out this March?

1. The Paradise Plot
2. Nightbird
3. Polestar
4. Ape of Diamonds

2. What is your CBn Forum Screen Name?
3. What country/state do you live in?

Pierce Brosnan to attend the 60th Berlin Film Festival

Pierce Brosnan is scheduled to attend the Berlin International Film Festival (also known as the Berlinale), which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

Variety reports that the former James Bond actor is among the top names for the event, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Jackie Chan.

A total of 26 films from 18 countries will be shown in this year’s main section, 20 of them in competition for the Golden and Silver Bears. Overall, more than 400 films will play in the festivals various sections.

One of the high-profile films this year is the premiere of Roman Polanski’s The Ghost Writer (which stars Brosnan alongside Ewan McGregor). This mystery thriller is Polanski’s first film since 2005’s Oliver Twist.

SYNOPSIS

When a successful British ghostwriter, ‘The Ghost,’ agrees to complete the memoirs of former British Prime Minister Adam Lang, his agent assures him it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. But the project seems doomed from the start—not least because his predecessor on the project, Lang’s long-term aide, died in an unfortunate accident.

The Ghost flies out to work on the project, in the middle of winter, to an oceanfront house on an island off the U.S. Eastern seaboard. But the day after he arrives, a former British cabinet minister accuses Lang of authorizing the illegal seizure of suspected terrorists and handing them over for torture by the CIA—a war crime. The controversy brings reporters and protesters swarming to the island mansion where Lang is staying with his wife, Ruth, and his personal assistant (and mistress), Amelia. As The Ghost works, he begins to uncover clues suggesting his predecessor may have stumbled on a dark secret linking Lang to the CIA—and that somehow this information is hidden in the manuscript he left behind. Was Lang in the service of the American intelligence agency while he was prime minister? And was The Ghost’s predecessor murdered because of the appalling truth he uncovered?

Resonating with topical themes, this atmospheric and suspenseful political thriller is a story of deceit and betrayal on every level—sexual, political and literary. In a world in which nothing, and no one, is as it seems, The Ghost quickly discovers that the past can be deadly—and that history is decided by whoever stays alive to write it.

The 60th Berlin International Film Festival runs from 12 to 21 February 2010. For full details, visit the official website.

Stay up-to-date with all the latest James Bond news by visiting CommanderBond.net’s main page and our Discussion Forums.

Four Tet on the Quantum of Solace closing theme: Crawl, End Crawl

As first reported on CommanderBond.net way back in late 2008, Quantum of Solace became the first James Bond film since Tomorrow Never Dies to feature an original end-title theme.

Composed by David Arnold and Four Tet (also known as UK electronic musician Kieran Hebden), the track, entitled ‘Crawl, End Crawl, was described by Hebden as ‘kind of remix of stuff from the score of the film’.

In a just released interview with New York Magazine, Hebden goes into the origins of this original 007 track a little further. He states: ‘They contacted me and I went and met David Arnold, and he played me the all the multitracks from the sessions, and I just took away whatever sounds I wanted. I think I had, like, a day to make this piece of music—the deadline was really tight.’

‘A week later it was on at the premiere,’ he continues. ‘It was a little bit weird for me because the kind of melodies and riffs they use in the James Bond music is so different from what I’d normally use. You just couldn’t get away from the James Bond–ness of it. It was just, like, there, in every little string sound I was given. But I guess that’s the point in some ways.’

Click here for the complete interview.

While not included on the official Quantum of Solace soundtrack, Bond fans can purchase ‘Crawl, End Crawl’ from the Apple iTunes store.

Keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.

All My Flashbacks: The Autobiography of Lewis Gilbert

The autobiography of three-time James Bond director Lewis Gilbert is due for release this month and it is sure to be a must-buy for 007 fans.

Entitled All My Flashbacks: The Autobiography of Lewis Gilbert, the book examines Gilbert’s 50+ years in the film business, from directing classics such as Alfie and Sink the Bismarck! to three of the biggest Bond films ever: You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker

All My Flashbacks: The Autobiography of Lewis Gilbert will be published in hardback by Reynolds & Hearn Ltd and will retail for £19.99.

For an exclusive look at the cover artwork, head over to From Sweden with Love.

The official blurb follows:

Lewis Gilbert shot to prominence in 1950s British cinema by directing such successful films as Reach for the Sky, Carve Her Name with Pride and Sink the Bismarck! In the sixties, he notably directed Alfie. Gilbert has helmed three lavish James Bond movies: You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker.

In the 1980s he turned to small-scale dramas, directing Willy Russell’s Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. This is Lewis Gilbert’s own story—fifty years at the top of the movie business.

Order All My Flashbacks: The Autobiography of Lewis Gilbert online at a discounted price:

• Order the UK hardback edition of All My Flashbacks: The Autobiography of Lewis Gilbert from Amazonc.co.uk

Keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page and our Twitter feed for all the latest literary 007 coverage and news.

Upcoming talk show appearances for Pierce Brosnan

Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan will be making two upcoming appearances on US television early this month.

First up is an appearance on the Live with Regis and Kelly talk show on Friday, 5 February. While details are still to be announced, it is expected that Brosnan will be promoting his appearances in the soon-to-be-released films Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (a fantasy adventure also featuring fellow GoldenEye actor Sean Bean) and The Ghost Writer (with Ewan McGregor).

The Live with Regis and Kellyofficial website.

Brosnan is also slated to be a guest on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson the following Monday, 8 February. The show airs at 12:35 am (EST) on weeknights.

As always, keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.

Charle Higson's By Royal Command large print edition released

Charlie Higson’s fifth Young James Bond adventure, By Royal Command, is now available in large print.

Published as a trade size paperback by Galaxy Plus, this large print edition of By Royal Command retails for £12.99 and can currently be ordered online from Amazon.co.uk. Cover artwork is similar to the regular UK hardback.

Typically released in very limited quantites and with the majority going to libraries makes large print James Bond novels sometimes very difficult to track down.

Galaxy Plus has also released large print editions of Higson’s first four Young Bond novels.

• Order the UK large print edition of By Royal Command from Amazon.co.uk

Keep your browsers pinpointed on the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of Young Bond.

News Corp. said to offer cash, debt help to keep MGM running

Business Week – News Corp. has expressed interest in providing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. with cash and assistance in restructuring debt to keep the studio independent, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The non-binding offer from News Corp., owner of the Twentieth Century Fox film studio, was outlined in a letter this week, said the person, who declined to be identified because the talks are private. The person wouldn’t disclose other terms.

MGM, maker of the James Bond movies, is evaluating preliminary bids from possible buyers as it struggles with $3.7 billion in debt. News Corp.’s Fox studio distributes DVDs for Los Angeles-based MGM. Chris Petrikin, a Fox spokesman, declined to comment.

The media investment firm Qualia Capital LLC is separately offering MGM $500 million to fund operations as part of a plan that also seeks to convert some debt to equity, another person with knowledge of the situation said yesterday. In return, Qualia would receive an equity stake in MGM, said the person, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.

Susie Arons, an MGM spokeswoman, declined to comment.

News Corp., the owner of Fox television, signed a non- disclosure agreement with MGM on Jan. 15, overcoming a monthlong impasse and allowing it to proceed with an offer, according to a person familiar with the decision.

News Corp., based in New York, gained 9 cents to $12.61 yesterday in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. Class A shares of the company, controlled by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rupert Murdoch, gained 51 percent last year.

Interest Respite

MGM said yesterday its lenders extended a respite on interest payments covering the debt until March 31 to give the movie studio time to restructure or find a buyer. MGM will spend “several weeks” evaluating preliminary bids.

Lenders agreed in October to let MGM skip interest payments. The studio has since put itself up for sale.

Fame was MGM’s sole theatrical release in 2009, collecting $69.8 million in worldwide ticket sales, according to Box Office Mojo. The movie, a remake of a 1980 film, cost $18 million to produce, according to the Sherman Oaks, California- based researcher. MGM plans three theatrical releases this year, starting with Hot Tub Time Machine on March 26.

MGM, created in 1924, made films including The Wizard of Oz and Ben Hur. The company, owner of a 4,100-film library with titles including Rocky, sold many of its early movies prior to its 2005 buyout by a group led by private equity firms Providence Equity Partners and TPG. It has a co-production deal with Warner Bros. on the planned film The Hobbit.

Time Warner Inc., owner of the Warner Bros. film studio, was among the first-round bidders, a person familiar with the offers said last week.

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., the independent film studio run from Santa Monica, California, is also involved in the auction.

Time Warner, based in New York, rose 64 cents to $27.45 today in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares gained 40 percent in 2009. Lions Gate fell 2 cents to $5.20 after rising 5.6 percent last year.

Stay up-to-date with all the latest James Bond news by visiting the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums.

Martin Campbell backs Sam Mendes for Bond 23

Sam Mendes is yet to be officially attached to Bond 23—whether as a director or consultant—but the Oscar-winner is be backed for the job by two-time James Bond helmer Martin Campbell.

In a recent interview with Time Out, the Casino Royale and GoldenEye director briefly discussed 007 and gave his approval of Mendes.

‘Sam will do a splendid job,’ Campbell stated. ‘I felt Quantum of Solace completely lost its way. We were lucky on Casino Royale, it was the origin story of Bond. Bond had the one and only affair that meant anything to him, and affected him throughout the rest of the series. I had sympathy for the writers after that because clearly the guy can’t have another meaningful relationship, he’s been fucked over by the last one. But you’ve got to do something with the character, he’s got to go somewhere.’

He continued: ‘I’m sure Sam and Peter Morgan will come up with something. The secret to Bond is to remember it’s Bond. It’s been successful for 22 incarnations. There are a lot of elements that work, so don’t f–k with them.’

As always, stay up-to-date with all the latest James Bond coverage by visiting the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums.

Daniel Craig confirmed for Cowboys and Aliens

Daniel Craig is now confirmed to be starring in Cowboys and Aliens.

According to Deadline, the James Bond star finalized the deal to appear in the new DreamWorks project. He will play the lead role of Zeke Johnson after fellow actor Robert Downey Jr. recenty dropped out in order to concentrate on the Sherlock Holmes sequel.

The project, which is based off of a 2006 graphic novel, focuses on a group of Apache Indians and Western settlers who set aside their differences when an alien spaceship crash-lands in their city.

As earlier reported on CommanderBond.net, Cowboys and Aliens is directed by Iron Man‘s Jon Favreau and is scripted by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof.

The film is reportedly aiming for a summer 2011 release date, which may interfere with Craig’s schedule for his third go as James Bond in Bond 23, depending on how the MGM situation plays out.

Stay tuned.

As always, keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.

MGM studio gets extension on interest payments

Business Week – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., the struggling Hollywood studio with the roaring lion as its logo, said Friday it can go two months longer without having to pay interest on its debt as it sells itself to the highest bidder.

MGM, wallowing in about $4 billion in debt, said its lenders agreed to forego interest payments through March 31. The current agreement was to expire Sunday.

The studio is in the process of being sold, and several companies submitted nonbinding bids earlier this month.

Interested parties include Time Warner Inc., News Corp., Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Relativity Media, Elliott Management and Summit Entertainment.

The studio said it has begun the second phase of its bidding process and “is conducting due diligence with select parties who have submitted bids.”

It said the second phase of the process is expected to run for several weeks.

The eventual winner would gain the right to make new James Bond movies, win half of the rights to the next two “Lord of the Rings” movies based on “The Hobbit” and possibly avert bankruptcy for a studio with some 4,000 movie and TV show titles in its library.

In 2005, a consortium of private equity groups including Providence Equity Partners and Texas Pacific Group joined with Sony Corp. and Comcast Corp. to buy MGM for $5 billion, but its value is estimated to be less than half that now.

Keep turning to CommanderBond.net’s main page and our Discussion Forums for all the latest news from the world of James Bond.