Bond 23 pre-production put on hold

As already reported, MGM, the studio behind the James Bond films, is facing immense financial problems, resulting in a sale of the studio. Screenwriter Peter Morgan already hinted at the delay of pre-production due to these difficulties. Until today, no official confirmation has been given for a halt.

Today, the Sunday Express reports that not only pre-production of Bond 23 has been halted, but that the “future of the Bond franchise hangs in the balance.” The paper indicates that if the MGM situation remains unclear, the film rights of the franchise could be sold off to another studio.

Producer Michael G Wilson, who produces the Bond films with Barbara Broccoli, admitted to the paper: “We just don’t know enough about the situation to comment but we know it’s uncertain.”

Dame Judi Dench and Daniel Craig already confirmed that Bond 23 was only due in 2011, making the gap between Quantum of Solace and the next film the longest one between two films in Daniel Craig’s term as James Bond, but with a possible sale of either the studio or the filming rights, even a longer gap does not seem to be unlikely at all.

Keep your browsers pointed to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest Bond 23 news.

George Lazenby returns to Dave White Presents radio show

Dave White Presents opens the New Year with a look back, reprising two of the most popular interviews we’ve featured so far—with a difference.

When DWP debuted in Aug. 2008, many of our interviews were broken up into parts and broadcast over several shows. Without question, the most popular was Wes Britton’s lengthy conversation with former 007 George Lazenby, which first aired on our Dec. 24, 2008 and Jan. 7, 2009 broadcasts. As a New Year’s gift to all our fans, and Bond lovers in particular, our Jan. 5, 2010 show will include that interview in its hour plus entirety from beginning to end. If you missed it the first time around, or would like to hear the conversation without interruption, here’s your chance to hear George’s memories in one go—and listening to George telling his story adds dimensions to the saga not always quite so poignant in printed versions of how On Her Majesty’s Secret Service came to be.

But that’s not all—Dave picked out one of his very favorite interviews, that with film producer Mark Cushman that was first heard on our 15 October and 29 October 2008 shows. In it, Mark discussed his ‘mock-umentary,’ Desperately Seeking Paul McCartney, in which a Beatle fan is followed around chronicling her quest to follow up on a ’60s comic offer by Sir Paul to marry her. The behind-the-scenes story of how this parody of reality television came to be is as entertaining as the cult classic DVD itself! And now, for the first time, the full story is brought together in one broadcast for your post-holiday enjoyment.

This special edition of ‘Dave White Presents’ will debut Tuesday, 5 January at 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time, 10:30 EST, over www.KSAV.org.

On Wednesday, 6 January, the show will be available for 24/7 download at www.audioentertainment.org/dwp.

Keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page and our Twitter feed for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring around the world.

Tomorrow Never Dies Game Walkthrough – Pressing Engagement (4)

Tomorrow Never Dies (1999)

Mission 4: Pressing Engagement

As a general note before starting the mission, be aware that there are several cilivians throughout this mission.

Now, start by heading around the corner and taking out the guard near the doorway. Once he is out of the way, head into the room, grab the armor and Med Kits and then exit back out. Move down the hallway until you reach the lobby. Before heading right in, try to eliminate as many of the enemies posted there as possible. Once they are all removed, collect the two Med Kits from a room to your left and then head back into the lobby and then make your way downstairs.

Before entering the printing room, aim towards the upper left to take out a sniper posted there (there are three others in this area—one further back on the same upper ledge and two others on the one by the back wall). Once you have taken out all of the enemies here, search the back corners for a gold 007 logo.

Exit via the doorway near the one you entered and then eliminate the guard standing by the paper rolls ahead. Move ahead and grab the access card from Gupta’s briefcase lying on the floor by a forklift. Objective 1 complete.

Head back to the lobby and use your fingerprint scanner on the electronically locked door to proceed forward. In the hallway ahead, take the second door on the right to enter one of Gupta’s offices. Press the CIRCLE button while facing the file cabinet pushed against the wall to reveal a wall safe. Use the fingerprint scanner on it to open it and retrieve the hidden encoder. Objective 2 complete.

Head back to the printing room, keeping an eye out for enemies. Take the doorway you haven’t gone through yet and proceed through the hallway where several more guards await you by the paper rolls. You’ll end up in another room which has several more snipers and guards posted. Whether you want to take it slow and steady or rush right through, the goal is to get to the other side where one final hallway awaits. Reach this point to escape from the building and complete the mission. Objectives 3 and 4 complete.

MISSION COMPLETE.

---

Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest coverage of all the James Bond 007 video games.

James Bond season at Ottawa's Mayfair Theatre

As was the case in 2009, this January will see Ottawa’s Mayfair Theatre hosting a season of classic and contemporary James Bond films all month long.

Scheduled to take place between 3 and 26 January 2010, this 007 season will include eight Bond films featuring actors Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan. The full schedule follows below:

Sunday, 3 January:

• 4:30pm: Goldfinger

Tuesday, 5 January:

• 7:00pm: Dr. No
• 9:10pm: Goldfinger

Saturday, 9 January:

• 7:00pm: Thunderball

Sunday, 10 January:

• 2:30pm: You Only Live Twice

Tuesday, 12 January:

• 7:00pm: Thunderball
• 9:25pm: You Only Live Twice

Saturday, 16 January:

• 4:30pm: The Spy Who Loved Me

Sunday, 17 January:

• 4:30pm: Moonraker

Tuesday, 19 January:

• 7:00pm: The Spy Who Loved Me
• 9:20pm: Moonraker

Saturday, 23 January:

• 4:30pm: The Living Daylights

Sunday, 24 January:

• 4:30pm: GoldenEye

Tuesday, 26 January:

• 7:00pm: The Living Daylights
• 9:25pm: GoldenEye

Admission costs are as follows: yearly membership ($10.00), members ($5.00), non-members ($9.00) and seniors/children ($6.00).

The Mayfair Theatre is located at 1074 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 3X3, Canada.

To puchase tickets or for further information regarding this James Bond film festival, phone 613-730-6552 or visit the official website.

Keep your browsers locked to the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest on James Bond-related events happening around the world.

The James Bond Phenomenon: A Critical Reader pushed to 19 January release

The forthcoming second edition of Christoph Lindner’s The James Bond Phenomenon: A Critical Reader has unfortunately been delayed once more—to 19 January 2010.

Originally published in the UK and US at the end of 2003, The James Bond Phenomenon: A Critical Reader features various essays examining from different perspectives the cultural icon that 007 has become.

This new edition of The James Bond Phenomenon: A Critical Reader is published in paperback by Manchester University Press. At 272 pages in length, it retails for $24.95. A pre-order link follows at the end of this article.

The book’s original blurb follows:

Sean Connery’s tuxedo, Ursula Andress’ bikini, Oddjob’s bowler hat, and Q’s gadgets are just a few defining features of the 007 world examined in this text. Drawn from the fields of literary, film, music and cultural studies, the essays in this collection range from revitalized readings of Ian Fleming’s spy novels to the analysis of Pussy Galore’s lesbianism, Miss Monneypenny’s filmic feminism and Pierce Brosnan’s techno-fetishism.

Together the essays not only consider the James Bond novels and films in relation to their historical, political and social contexts, from the Cold-War period onwards, but also examine the classic bond canon from an array of theoretical perspectives. What the text aims to show is that there is much more to the 007 series than cheap thrills, fast cars and beautiful women.

With essays by Umberto Eco, Tony Bennett, Tara Brabazon, Toby Miller and Jim Leach, among others, Lindner illustrates not only how the Bond character has conquered the globe, but has sustained its pre-eminence across six decades. Starting with the original books and moving through the films, the music and the marketing, this study should be of use to students of film, media, popular literature, marketing and cultural studies.

• Order the paperback edition of The James Bond Phenomenon: A Critical Reader (2nd ed.) from Amazon.com

Keep turning to the CommanderBond.net main page and our Twitter feed for the most up-to-date literary James Bond coverage on the web.

Conversations with Kingsley Amis now available

Conversations with Kinglsley Amis, edited by Thomas DePietro, is now available to order online.

Although the British author is known around the world for his many novels, poetry collections and short stories and has been called ‘the finest British comic novelist of the second half of the twentieth century’, James Bond fans best know Amis as the man behind the first 007 continuation novel, 1968’s Colonel Sun.

Conversations with Kinglsley Amis is available in paperback format, published by the University Press of Mississippi.

“If you can’t annoy somebody, there’s little point in writing” – Kingsley Amis

Soon after Kingsley Amis (1922-1995) published his first novel, Lucky Jim, in 1954, he became an object of literary and journalistic scrutiny. This attention would continue until his last days, four decades and forty books later. Conversations with Kingsley Amis includes both the first and last interviews Amis gave. Celebrated by reviewers and critics for his wit and irreverence, Amis rose to the occasion whenever interviewed. His clever and common-sense views covered everything from the state of the novel and current intellectual trends to the circumstances of his domestic life.

Not many writers can hold the interest of inquisitors from both Penthouse and the Economist as Amis does. Not many writers, for that matter, articulate views worth recording on sexual relations, about which Amis is something of a failed expert, and on the modern university, about which he could claim a greater authority. English periodicals of all varieties sought out Amis for his opinions on culture, both high and low. Along the way, Amis also entertained literary interrogators from the Paris Review and other journals, including talks with a number of distinguished men of letters such as Clive James, Michael Barber, and John Mortimer.

Conversations with Kinglsley Amis will retail for $22.00 / £21.00. Order online:

• Order Conversations with Kinglsley Amis from Amazon.co.uk
• Order Conversations with Kinglsley Amis from Amazon.com

For up-to-the-minute literary James Bond coverage, always turn your browsers to the CommanderBond.net main page. Be sure to check out our new Twitter feed as well.

Tomorrow Never Dies Game Walkthrough – Carver Media, Hamburg (3)

Tomorrow Never Dies (1999)

Mission 3: Carver Media, Hamburg

Proceed carefully down the stairs and take out the unsuspecting guard posted at the bottom. Then quickly head back up and eliminate the approaching guards as they ascend the staircase.

Once they are out of the way, head back down and enter a room with a table in the center, watching out for enemies along the way. Grab the door remote and the armor inside and then head over to the panel to open the doors (press CIRCLE). As you look outside the doorway you just opened, you’ll notice a guard situated beyond a glass panel. Fire away to shoot out the glass and take out this enemy—then quickly back up into the room so you can deal with any guards that are alerted to your position.

After this set of enemies is out of the way, make your way into that glass paneled room which has holds the central computer. Take out the patrolling guard and then destroy the computer with whichever weapon you currently have equipped. Objective 3 complete.

Head down the nearby hallway and proceed through the unlocked room, taking out the guard posted inside and grabbing the elevator card which is sitting on top of a few crates inside. Exit and then make your way back to the elevator, pressing CIRCLE at the panel to get on.

Once you arrive upstairs, snipe out the enemies in the room just past the first corner. Once they are all eliminated, head inside to grab the Med Kits. Make your way down the hallway with Elliot Carver’s face on the walls and you’ll soon end up in a media room where Paris Carver awaits. Objective 1 complete.

After this sequence, you’ll find yourself in an interrogation room with your weapons removed. Use your Cufflinks on the mirror to shatter it and reveal a new room to enter. Quickly head inside, grab the PK7 and immediately take out the attacking guard. Once he is taken out, grab door remote and Med Kit from the new room, all the while keeping a careful eye on the door for any enemies who approach. When you get a free second, head over to the power console station and press CIRCLE to cut the power to Carver’s building and broadcast. Objective 2 complete.

Exit through the door the guards were entering and eventually make your way back to the room where you first grabbed the elevator card. Take out the guard here and pick up the gold 007 life icon on the ground.

Head back to the room with the central computer and press CIRCLE at the overhead doors. Quickly take cover as this will allow several enemies to advance your position. Once you have taken all of them out, proceed forward and head back up to the same area where you began the mission. Go through the door to complete the level. Objective 4 complete.

MISSION COMPLETE.

---

Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest coverage of all the James Bond 007 video games.

Tomorrow Never Dies Game Walkthrough – Arms Bazaar, Russian Border (2)

Tomorrow Never Dies (1999)

Mission 2: Arms Bazaar, Russian Border

You begin this mission outdoors surrounded by several cargo crates, weapons and various patrolling guards. Take out the first guard ahead of you near the Scud missile mounted on the truck. Move along, using the various crates as cover, and take out the remaining enemies. As long as you have your assault rifle, this section of the mission really shouldn’t be a problem.

Once the guards are out of the way, photograph the Scud and the mortars which are located on the ground next to the truck. Objectives 2 and 3 complete.

Move towards the wall of crates and place an STK mine in the section where there are pure white crates located in the corner. The detonation will open up an entrance for you to proceed through—but note that there are several guards posted inside this area—you may prefer to slowly draw them out as opposed to rushing right in. Either way, once you have taken them out, photograph the chopper inside. Objective 1 complete.

Proceed through the large black gate, making sure you have stocked up on ammunition and Med Kits. Once through, move forward to grab the 007 logo lying on the ground, firing at enemies as you go. Keep moving along towards the back until you come to a wall by some of the fuel tanks. Using the wall as cover, take out the guards posted here and pick up the cockpit key one of them eventually drops. Objective 4 complete.

Once you have the key, run towards the fighter jet and pres CIRCLE at the ladder to climb in. As the jet begins to circle around, press SQUARE and X to fire at the various obstacles and items surrounding you. Eventually you’ll successfully take off. Objective 5 complete.

MISSION COMPLETE.

---

Keep your eyes on the CommanderBond.net main page for all the latest coverage of all the James Bond 007 video games.

James McAvoy attached to new Ian Fleming biopic

Scottish actor James McAvoy is reportedly attached to star in a newly announced Ian Fleming biopic.

According to Pajiba, the Atonement and Wanted star is currently the top name in line for the lead role.

The project, with a current working title of Ian Fleming, is being developed by Palmstar Entertainment and Animus Films and is based off of Andrew Lycett’s extensive 1995 biography of the James Bond creator, Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond.

The biopic is said to be independently financed at a cost of roughly $40 million. While no release date has been announced, the producers are currently in search of a director. Matt Brown, who helmed and wrote 2000’s Ropewalk, is writing the screenplay.

As earlier reported on CommanderBond.net, a separate Fleming biopic (produced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way company) is also in the development stage. For more on this project, check out this CBn article.

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.

Epix to host a James Bond New Year's marathon

High-definition pay-TV and online streaming channel Epix will be hosting a marathon of James Bond films on New Year’s Day.

Home Media Magazine reports that the channel, co-owned by Lionsgate, MGM and Paramount Studios, will offer all-day screenings of the 007 films beginning on 31 December.

Titles include Goldfinger, Bond Girls Are Forever, Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights, Casino Royale, and the 1954 TV special Casino Royale.

CommanderBond.net readers will recall that it was reported earlier this year that Epix had secured the rights to 17 remastered Bond films.

For further information on Epix, visit the official website at EpixHD.com.

Keep your browsers locked on the CommanderBond.net main page and our Twitter feed for all the latest news on James Bond-related events occurring around the world.