Filmonic » James Bond

Harry Potter expected to overtake Bond to become top grossing franchise

Liam — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:42:10 +0000

With the Harry Potter franchise earning crazy amounts of money in the region of $800 – $950 million per film you’d expect it to give other franchises a run for their money (pun intended) in terms of ‘highest grossing franchise ever’. It’s taken a few years but it looks like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be the film that tips the franchise over the $5 billion worldwide mark, overtaking the Bond franchise in the process and taking the highest grossing movie franchise in the history of ever crown.

From Variety:

The five previous “Harry Potter” pics have grossed $4.48 billion at the worldwide box office. That still trails the roughly $5 billion grossed by the James Bond film franchise (not accounting for inflation), but the boy wizard is expected to overtake agent 007 within the month.
The sixth installment, grossed a record-breaking $22.2 million in midnight releases unspooling in 3,003 theaters at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. That more than beat the $18 million midnight record set last summer by Warners’ “The Dark Knight.”

Everyone expects Half-Blood Prince to make big numbers, however it seems the lack of anything Potter related over the past 2 years (no book, no film) has caused anticipation to sky rocket, which could cause it to start breaking a few records. Warner Bros. still have two movies and another $2 billion to go, but they will have to start planning ahead. After 2011 their cash cow will be gone (in terms of movie releases anyway, I expect them to milk the franchise with DVDs, box sets, extended editions and all that jazz for years to come).

Warning: Do not be a Bond girl!

Liam — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:59:30 +0000

The Guardian have undertaken extensive research (by that I mean watching all 22 Bond movies) and have come to the conclusion that being a love interest to James Bond is probably not the best thing for your health or well-being.

Almost a third of Bond’s lovers have died since the spy began his big-screen adventures in 1962’s Dr No – and the mortality rate is on the rise.
Sixteen of Bond’s 51 lovers have met sticky ends, beginning with the murder of Jill Masterson in 1964’s Goldfinger. Sean Connery started his career as a relatively safe 007: his lovers in Dr No and From Russia With Love both escaped with their lives. But in Thunderball and You Only Live Twice, he looked on as two women were assassinated and another was devoured by piranhas.
But the latest 007, Daniel Craig, proves the most lethal of all. The two women he beds in his first Bond movie, Casino Royale, are both murdered, while a conquest in new film Quantum of Solace is covered in oil in a homage to Masterson’s demise in Goldfinger.

So if anyone has a goal of being a Bond girl, the sex will probably be great, but you will most likely die shortly after.

Matt Damon is anti-Bond

Liam — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:17:50 +0000

Ever since the Bond franchise got a much needed makeover in 2006 some people have been comparing the action and style of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace to the Bourne movies. However Matt Damon does not think the franchises could ever be compared, and made it quite clear during an interiew with Usmagazine.

“They could never make a James Bond movie like any of the Bourne films,” Damon said. “Because Bond is an imperialist, misogynist sociopath who goes around bedding women and swilling martinis and killing people. He’s repulsive.
“Steve [Soderbergh, who produced Damon's 2005 spy movie, Syriana] told me that years ago he was offered a Bond movie,” the actor went on. “He told them he’d do it if they gave him creative control.
“‘Absolutely not,’ they said. They have a formula, they stick to it, and it makes them a lot of money. They know what they’re doing, and they’re going to keep doing it.”

Obviously Damon is going to support his own franchise, however people seem to like this ‘repulsive’ character seeing as though the Bond franchise has been going strong for nearly 50 years (with a few gaps along the way).

However, I get the feeling Damon didn’t actually mean much of what he said. Earlier in the interview he revealed that he wasn’t invited to the Obama Inauguration after campaigning for them for 2 years, so he was probably still pissed off about that.

The Golden Gun Has Been Stolen!

Liam — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:40:44 +0000

Some cock has stolen The Golden Gun that was used in the 1974 Bond film The Man With The Golden Gun. In the film Christopher Lee played Scaramanga, a three-nippled assassin who only ever needed one golden bullet fired from his golden gun to kill his target. The gun was being cared for by Elstree Props, a tenant based at Elstree studios.

From The Telegraph:

Stephen Wickenden, its managing director, said: “I’m hoping the gun will be offered to one of the memorabilia dealers and from them we can trace it back to the thief.
“We have no idea who stole it or when it was stolen but things do not usually go missing.”
Nicolas Cage’s latest film Kick-Ass is being filmed there. It is thought a crew member was being shown around by Mr Wickenden when the weapon’s absence was noticed, although he would not confirm this.
A spokesman for Hertfordshire Police said: “We were called to Elstree Studios in Borehamwood at 1.25pm after a report of a theft of a prop, which was the golden gun. Inquiries are ongoing.”

The prop is expected to be worth £80,000 ($135,096) so if you notice a golden gun pop up on eBay let me know. Or you could tell the police, either way is fine.

Naomie Harris And Rick Yune Join Ninja Assassin

Liam — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:06:08 +0000

The Hollywood Reporter have announced that Naomie Harris and Rick Yune have joined Ninja Assassin. The film is apparently filming as you read this, and is being produced by Speed Racer directors, the Wachowski Brothers. V for Vendetta director James McTeigue will be sat in the directors chair, for what apparently is an original film. No comic books, no graphic novels, no novel, no anything. A writer has actually been paid to use his imagination for once!

The title of the film is a good indication of what we may get, producer Joel Silver has described it as a “full on martial arts movie.” He also says it’s has the theme of revenge running through it.

It certainly sounds interesting. Naomie Harris is best known for her role as Tia Dalma in the Pirates of the Caribean trilogy. She has also appeared in the amazing 28 Days Later and more recently, Street Kings.
Rick Yune is best known for being a Bond villain in Die Another Day, who had the unfortunate (or fortunate depending on how you look at it) accident involving diamonds blowing up in his face, and embedding themselves there.

Rick Yune spoke of his role:

“Not to give too much away, (but) my character stays within what he was brought up with, and they go up against each other,” Yune said. “I’m not a heavy. The characters are ninjas, they are assassins, and there’s this mix of morality the Wachowskis are exploring.”

Warner Brothers have yet to announce a release date, but I’m guessing we will see this sometime in 2009.

Aston Martin DBS Crashes Into Lake Garda During Quantum Of Solace Preperations

Liam — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 22:12:20 +0000

Oops! An Aston Martin DBS has been fished out of Italy’s Lake Garda after it plunged into the water while being driven to the set of the latest James Bond film, reports the AP. Producers of Quantum of Solace say James Bond’s iconic car was being delivered to the filming unit in heavy rain on Saturday morning when it went off the road and into the lake in northern Italy. Footage of the car being hoisted out of the water has been shown on Italian TV. Thankfully the driver wasn’t badly hurt, but was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

A source said the car was the only one available for shooting. Oh dear.

Update: Images from the BBC and Autoblog

Coolness: Bond.com Up For Auction At $1m

Liam — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:54:20 +0000

Domin names are big business nowadays. If you want to set up a new website you either have to make a word up that nobody else would think of (like myself) or wait it out until your preferred domain is released from its previous owner. However, if that domain name is remotely popular, it may cost you quite a bit of money. The biggest ever seller is sex.com, which went for a reported $12m (£6.m) in 2006. Vodka.com sold for $3m (£1.5m), and Pizza.com fetched $2.6m (£1.3m). Now Bond.com is going to join the list of most expensive domain names ever, as it has been put up for auction for $1 million.

The people behind James Bond have already got 007.com and JamesBond.com, so I wonder if they will be interested in placing a bid? They have until next Thursday to decide!

Behind the Scenes Look At Quantum of Solace

Liam — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:27:41 +0000

Two new behind the scenes videos for Quantum of Solace have popped up over at IGN. The first video follows Toby Hefferman, who the 2nd Assistant Director, and the second video follows Ana Endara, who is in charge of the extras while they shoot on location. Check them out below!

Sean Connery Wants To Be In Another Bond Movie…As A Villian!

Liam — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 15:15:08 +0000

Some people regard Sean Connery as THE James Bond, which is probably due to the fact that he was the original. However, I am sure that if another actor made a few more Bourne movies, everyone would still regard Matt Damon as THE Jason Bourne, same with Tobey Maguire as Spiderman, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and any other actor or actress playing a character. Daniel Craig gave 007 a much needed update, which has even impressed Connery himself.

“I think Daniel Craig is a terrific choice,” said Connery. “I think they’re going back to a more realistic type of Bond movie as I don’t think they could have gone much further with the special effects.”
He added: “They don’t pay the money for the other parts, only for the Bond character, although that wasn’t the case when I was doing it.”

Connery earned just £50,000 to play James Bond for the first time. By his last 007 movie in 1983 Connery was paid £3 million, compared to Daniel Craig’s £30 million for four movies.

Connery is semi-retired from acting, which is a shame. He was approached to play the role of Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, but declined as he didn’t understand the complex story. He also declined an offer to reprise his role as Professor Henry Jones in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. All of this declining great projects has meant that his last movie was The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen back in 2003, which is not a movie a great actor should end his career on.

Thankfully, Connery is interested in returning to the big screen, and the Bond franchise.

“I wouldn’t mind coming back as a Bond villain,” he said. “But I don’t think they would pay me enough money.”

This would be amazing! Daniel Craig and anyone working on Quantum of Solace should start talking to Connery now! Give him $30 billion or however much he wants, and get him in Bond 23! It must happen!

Coolness: Daniel Craig + Pierce Brosnan = The Ultimate Bond?

Liam — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:07:06 +0000

Just after Daniel Craig was cast as 007, in fact within a couple of second, there were websites being made bashing the decision. Craig was apparently too blonde, and looked nothing like the Bonds we had seen in the past, such as Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan. After Casino Royal was released all of that anti-Craig stuff died down, but there are no doubt some hardcore Bond fans who are still not happy with Craig as Bond…so what about this?

This is a digital combination of Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan, from the Daily Mail. I wonder if the fans approve of this?

Click here for combinations of:

Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron and Carmen Electra

Gwen Stefani, Uma Thurman, Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek

Michelle Pfeiffer with Charlize Theron

Fergie’s, Angelina Jolie, Natalie Portman and Jennifer Aniston.

And more!