“Quantum of Solace,” the next installment in the James Bond movie series, will pick up where “Casino Royale” left off. Quite literally.
It looks like the surface of Mars. The rust-colored rolling hills of the Atacama desert appear alien, devoid of life — just sand and dirt and rock baked into vast, barren slopes that stretch endlessly into the bruised horizon.
Against this unforgiving backdrop, Daniel Craig is exploring the merciless side of James Bond. Quantum of Solace is the 22nd film in the 007 franchise, Craig’s second after 2006′s blockbuster Casino Royale, and the first true sequel to a Bond film, picking up the story just minutes after the previous film ends.
Actually, that’s not right. I know it’s happened at least one: 1971′s “Diamonds Are Forever” which marked Sean Connery’s return to the role after a one film hiatus, picked up where George Lazenby’s “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (1969) left off. Bond tracks down and kills Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who had killed Bond’s wife at the end of the previous film.
At any rate, it looks like it’s going to be an exciting film:
The movie, opening Nov. 7, is about halfway through filming. They’ve been to Panama and Baja California, Mexico, with plans to shift next to Italy and Austria before returning to London’s famed Pinewood Studios for more stage shooting.
The action sequence shot in the Chilean desert last week is a turning point for the embittered superspy, his chance to discover whether his thirst for vengeance will turn him into the same kind of cold-blooded killer as the people he is fighting. “He has his heart broken,” says Craig, who turned 40 during the shoot. “The love of his life is killed, and he finds out she’s not who she said she was. … He’s out for revenge. But he’s also out to find — and this is what the title is about — a ‘quantum of solace.’ Something has been taken away from him, and he’s out to get that back.”
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[I]n the thin air of the 8,700-foot elevation, where it’s easy to run out of breath doing take after take of sprinting and gunplay. Craig’s sprinting gunshot scene is literally breathless — his chest heaves hard after multiple takes, but he laughs matter-of-factly later when asked about the high-altitude challenges. “It’s (expletive) hard!”
The thin atmosphere has been hardest on the new Bond girl, Olga Kurylenko, 28, who plays a mysterious Bolivian-Russian rogue agent whose quest for revenge puts her in league with Bond. But even she prefers it to the marshy conditions of their last location. “It’s much easier to work here than in Panama, weather-wise,” she says. “It’s hot in both countries, but in Panama it’s humid, and we were working on the boat and I was sweating. Here it’s dry, it’s different, it’s much easier, but I’m out of breath a little bit.”
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The last time the James Bond producers gambled on major alterations to the long-running formula, there was a huge outcry — and a huge payoff when Casino Royale finally came out. During filming, many die-hard fans of previous Bond star Pierce Brosnan jeered the choice of the blond, blue-eyed, rough-edged Craig for the traditionally suave and sophisticated British agent. But then Casino Royale became the highest-grossing Bond film in history, earning $595 million worldwide (about $150 million more than 2002′s Die Another Day), and many fans and critics praised Craig as the best Bond actor since Sean Connery originated the role.
More changes to the traditional formula are in store for Quantum of Solace, among them the notion of a true sequel. Bond has always been ageless, and the previous 21 movies stand largely independently of each other, but Quantum of Solace picks up where Casino Royale ended, with Bond working his way up the chain of command of the terrorists who blackmailed his lover, Vesper Lynd. “We set something up in motion in the last one that we need to keep in touch with in this one,” Craig says.
Producer Wilson, who is the stepson of the late founding 007 producer, Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli, and has worked on every Bond film since 1979′s Moonraker, says filmmakers might go back to stand-alone plots the next time, but for now they wanted to continue with an evolving Bond. “He has the realization that there’s no place for him in the outside world,” Wilson says. “And also he’s tempted by revenge and tempted by becoming a cynic, by losing his humanity. He has to fight all of these things.”
Another curious twist is the hint that there may be less romance this time for the notorious ladies’ man. “We felt Bond could not immediately fall into another relationship. And we needed someone who had her own agenda and probably could not form a relationship either because of her situation,” Wilson says. Kurylenko says her vengeful rogue agent, Camille, is so focused on “what she’s doing, she doesn’t care about meeting a boyfriend or something.”
Bond does bed another MI6 agent, played by British actress Gemma Arterton, 22, a relative newcomer. “He has one relationship in this movie, a kind of fling. It’s mutually beneficial,” Craig says. “I think both parties enjoy it.”
Then there’s the title, a moniker some fans ridicule. Quantum of Solace comes from a short story by 007 author Ian Fleming, and it’s not a spy story but a tale told to Bond about another couple’s tragic romance. The short story has nothing else to do with the movie. Wilson explains: “The title we thought was appropriate for a couple of reasons. The villainous organization is called Quantum, and what Bond is looking for in his life is a measure of comfort, and that’s what a ‘quantum of solace’ is. He’s just trying to find a little bit of comfort because his life is in turmoil.”
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When Quantum of Solace makes its debut, the squabbles during filming will no doubt largely be forgotten, and 007 fans will now be wondering: How will the film further change the iconic superspy?
The Bond of the past was calculating and in control, rarely caught off guard and more bemused than tortured by the havoc he confronts. Quantum of Solace transforms him into damaged goods. Craig says he prefers to explore the weak spots of a previously invulnerable hero. “It’s a simplistic story that has been around for a long, long time: There’s one lone hero going after the bad guys. It has been around forever. But you have to apply morals to it, and within that you show somebody’s flaws. That’s what makes them interesting, the mistakes they make along the way and how they adjust. “The fact is he’s hurt. He’s damaged and he wants revenge. And that’s another facet of somebody, and it’s not a good emotion to have. You’ve got to see how he deals with it. Last time around, it was just duty and duty alone. This time around, there’s a sense of revenge. That’s how he’s going to screw up. Because he will — but then he gets up and gets it right.”
The Bond formula had gotten very tired. Casino Royale was the best Bond flick in years and it sounds like this will continue that tradition.
Source: James Bond series takes a ‘Quantum’ leap [USA Today]
This isn’t just pointless nudity. It is Bond Girl pointless nudity. Olga Kurylenko is the latest lady for James Bond to impress with gadgets. She will be the object of Daniel Craig’s affection in “Quantum of Solace.â€
The NSFW Photos are Available by Clicking Continued.
Who knew Adam Sandler looked like that in all those goofy movies? Here is Adam Sandler rocking the baby blue James bond trunks, and good grief are they stuffed! That can’t be real, especially considering he’s pictured walking around between takes of his latest movie, ‘You Don’t Mess with the Zohan’. Yep, not with a package like that. It makes for a good laugh though.
In the film, Adam stars as a secret agent who leaves Israel’s intelligence ageny to become a hairdresser in New York. Sounds like hilarity to me. You’ll also see Rob Schneider and Heny Winkler. Yeah, not sure I’ll be seeing this one.
Leona Louise Lewis (born 3 April 1985) is an English singer-songwriter and winner of the third series of the popular television talent show The X Factor.
Her debut single, “A Moment like This“, was released on 20 December 2006. The single was also available as a digital download from midnight on 17 December and broke a world record after it was downloaded fifty thousand times in thirty minutes.
Her debut album, Spirit, is due for release on 12 November 2007. It is claimed Lewis will be the first winner of a major television talent show in both the UK and U.S. to be given a major global launch with the release of the album.
You might be thinking, why is she the ‘hottie of the day”? [you could be blind] Well…Leona also happens to be singing the theme song for the upcoming James Bond movie, after kicking Amy Winehouseto the curb. That makes her hot in my book!
[Click thumbnails for a larger view]
What others said:
Ask Men says, “Leona Lewis has an astounding vocal range that has been compared to legends like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. Simon Cowell has said that what makes her so special is her down-to-earth persona. The beautiful, talented and humble Leona Lewis embodies many of the ideal qualities we look for in women.”
The incident allegedly occurred outside Casa Escobar last Friday in a Malibu mall about 6:15 PM. We’re told Brosnan allegedly committed a battery on Robert Rosen, a photographer.
According to Rosen, Pierce was there with his kids, when Rosen began snapping photos. Rosen says Pierce then said, “Why don’t you get a real f**king job.” Rosen says he then started complimenting Pierce on his Bond roles.
A short time later, an enraged Pierce allegedly told the photog, “Why don’t you f**k off, mate,” and then struck him in the ribs. A witness says the pap instinctively reacted by kicking Pierce — we’re told, in the stomach.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Steve Whitmore says his department is “actively investigating” the matter and will be referring the case to the L.A. County D.A. for review.
Blair Hanson from the Ability Films agency, who works with Robert Rosen, the cameraman involved in the alleged incident.
“My friend Rob was keeping his distance and saying nice things to Pierce like “I love your movies.’” claims Blair. “Pierce was just fake smiling and then went right in his face.â€
There all kinds of shows premiering tonight, so we can only go over two in detail. And the two with the most buzz appear to be the new series ‘Chuck’ and the return of ‘Heroes’.
The premise of ‘Chuck’ reads, “A computer nerd is drawn into shadowy global espionage when subliminal government secrets are downloaded into his brain.” So it’s supposed to be a little James Bond-like, but funny. The lead man is Zachary Levi, who has previously starred in “Less Than Perfect”.
“Plot: A computer nerd accidentally has thousands of government secrets downloaded into his head when he opens a mysterious email from his former college roommate. Chuck is a timid, yet lovable character who works for the ‘Nerd Herd’ (parody of the ‘Geek Squad’ from Best Buy). He lives with his sister, who is trying to get him to go out more often. Chuck doesn’t realize he has government secrets locked in his memory, but he suspects he is being pursued. He soon discovers what he knows when he is contacted by the CIA and NSA. They must now keep him safe while they find out what he really knows.
What I disliked: To be honest, there wasn’t much that I didn’t like about this show.”
Series Premiere Tonight at 8 pm EST/7 pm CST on NBC
‘Heroes’ is also back for its second season, and fans can’t wait. The show is about ordinary people, from all over the world, who gain superpowers, including a young dreamer who believes he can fly, a high-school cheerleader who’s indestructible and a heroin-addicted artist who can paint the future.
Last season ended with Peter, Nathan, Claire, Hiro, Ando, Mr. Bennett, Parkman and Mohinder banning together to stop Sylar from blowing up New York City, though the fates of Peter, Nathan and Sylar remain up in the air. In the season two premiere, someone will die, and new heroes will be introduced.
Season Two Premiere Tonight at 9 pm EST/8 pm CST on NBC
Other shows premiering tonight:
Dancing with the Stars – 8 pm EST on ABC
How I Met Your Mother – 8 pm EST on CBS
The Big Bang Theory – 8:30 pm EST on CBS
Two and a Half Men – 9 pm EST on CBS
Rules of Engagement – 9:30 pm EST on CBS
The Bachelor – 9:30 pm EST on ABC
CSI: Miami – 10:00 pm EST on CBS
Journeyman – 10:00 pm EST on NBC
6ft 2in, blonde tennis star Maria Sharapova is currently playing at Wimbledon, but she also dreams of playing along side Daniel Craig in the next Bond movie.
Sharapova seems to have been preparing for the role of “Bond Girl” while becoming one of the greatest women tennis stars of all-time. She said, “I’m really good at manipulating people. And I’m great at spying. I should have been Sherlock Holmes.” A friend also said,
“… her biggest dream is to be a Bond girl. She’s always talking about it. Maria loves the James Bond films. And with her Russian blood, she thinks she would be a perfect.”
I don’t know if it’s her “Russian blood” or her “Russian legs” that make her the perfect fit.
Tattooed singer Amy Winehouse will reportedly co-star in the next James Bond flick.
British singer Amy Winehouse will reportedly get up close and personal with hunky actor Daniel Craig in the next installment of the James Bond movie series. Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has offered Winehouse a part in the Casino Royale sequel after falling in love with the Rehab star’s hit album Back to Black.
A source tells British newspaper News Of The World, “She’s perfect for the role because she’s the embodiment of the retro glamor of the original movies.”
The latest film in the superspy franchise is set for release next year.
But, aren’t Bond girls supposed to be, like, hot or something? Maybe if they did something about those ugly tattoos?
Barry Nelson, an MGM contract player during the 1940s who later had a prolific theater career and was the first actor to play James Bond on screen, has died at 89.
Nelson died on April 7 while traveling in Bucks County, Pa., his wife, Nansi Nelson, said Friday. The cause of death was not immediately known, she said.
After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1941, Nelson was signed to MGM after being spotted by a talent scout. He appeared in a number of films for the studio in 1942, including “Shadow of the Thin Man,” “Johnny Eager” and “Dr. Kildare’s Victory.” He also landed the leading role in “A Yank on the Burma Road,” playing a cab driver who decides to lead a convoy of trucks for the Chinese government.
Nelson entered the Army during World War II and went on the road with other actors performing the wartime play “Winged Victory,” which was later made into a movie starring Red Buttons, George Reeves and Nelson.
After the war, Nelson starred in a string of movies, including “Undercover Maisie,” “Time to Kill” and “Tenth Avenue Angel.”
He is the answer to the trivia question: Who was the first actor to play James Bond? Before Sean Connery was tapped to play the British agent on the big screen in 1962′s “Dr. No,” Nelson played Bond in a one-hour TV adaptation of “Casino Royale” in 1954.
Nelson switched to the stage during the 1960s and 1970s, appearing on Broadway in “Seascape” “Mary, Mary” and “Cactus Flower.” He earned a Tony nomination in 1978 for his role in “The Act,” which also starred Liza Minnelli.
“He was a very naturalistic, believable actor,” said his agent, Francis Delduca. “He was good at both comedy and the serious stuff.”
Among his other film credits were “Airport” and “The Shining,” and he also appeared on such TV shows as “Murder, She Wrote,” “Dallas” and “Magnum P.I.”
More recently, Nelson and his second wife (they married in 1992) spent a lot of time traveling. He planned to write a couple of books about his time on stage and in Hollywood.
Nelson is survived by his wife. He did not have any children from either marriage.
Despite being scoffed by fans, as Daniel Craig was cast as the first fair haired James Bond, he’s managed to make a killing at the box office!
Casino Royale has just become the most successful James Bond film ever making $454 million at the box office! The record was previously held by Die Another Day in 2002, which starred Pierce Brosnan and made $431 million.
It seems that childrens’ movies have a license to kill at the box office, with a cartoon about penguins beating out the new James Bond flick in their opening weekends.
James Bond has met his match — not a fellow spy but a tap-dancing penguin.
The Warner Bros. animated penguin romp “Happy Feet” debuted with $42.3 million, grabbing an edge for the weekend’s No. 1 slot over Sony’s Bond adventure “Casino Royale,” which opened with $40.6 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The two films were close enough that their rankings could change when final numbers are released Monday. “‘Happy Feet’ is just ahead by a flipper,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. “It’s unusual to have two movies this close, battling for that No. 1 position.”
Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner, said “Happy Feet” was solidly ahead and that the rankings would not flip-flop on Monday. “It’s not going to happen,” Fellman said. “It’s a clear victory here.”
“Casino Royale” took an early lead over “Happy Feet” on opening day because of strong adult audiences Friday night. “Happy Feet” dominated the rest of the weekend, drawing big crowds on Saturday and Sunday when family films do their best business.
The box-office leader the last two weekends, “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” slipped to third with $14.35 million, lifting its total to $90.5 million.
While I was surprised by this result, I shouldn’t have been. Movies with an “R” rating have a huge disadvantage in that a huge chunk of the movie-going public is locked out. Those aimed at a family audience do well if they’re any good at all.
As James Bond, Daniel Craig always gets the girl. In “Infamous,” he gets the guy.
No doubt there are plenty of on-screen kisses in store for Daniel Craig as the new James Bond. But none will be more talked about than the one that premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
Craig plays one of the men who brutally murdered a Kansas farm family in “Infamous,” which examines Truman Capote’s emotional journey into the minds of two killers that formed the core of his true-crime novel, “In Cold Blood.” An attachment grew between Capote and confessed killer Perry Smith during the long periods the author spent in Kansas teasing out their story, and in a pivotal moment, the two men kiss.
“I never dreamed I’d kiss James Bond,” quipped Toby Jones, the British actor who plays Capote. “Now that I’ve done it, I say I hope I’m just the first of many.”
Director Douglas McGrath said Craig was not a recognizable screen presence to most moviegoing audiences when he cast the 38-year-old actor for his movie, which also stars Sandra Bullock. “That isn’t going to be the case in (a few) weeks,” McGrath said.
First John Travolta, now James Bond. Has the world gone insane?
A new Star Trek movie is reportedly in the works, featuring the characters from the original series but set years earlier.
More than three years after the last “Star Trek” movie crashed at the box office, the venerable sci-fi franchise is being revived by the director of the upcoming “Mission: Impossible” sequel, Daily Variety reported in its Friday edition. The as-yet-untitled “Star Trek” feature, the 11th since 1979, is aiming for a fall 2008 release through Paramount Pictures, the Viacom Inc. unit looking to restore its box-office luster under new management, the trade paper said.
The project will be directed by J.J. Abrams, whose Tom Cruise vehicle “Mission: Impossible III” will be released by Paramount on May 5. Abrams, famed for producing the TV shows “Alias” and “Lost,” will also help write and produce.
Daily Variety said the action would center on the early days of “Star Trek” characters James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, including their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and first outer-space mission.
The paper described “Star Trek” as Hollywood’s most durable performer after James Bond, spawning 10 features that have grossed more than $1 billion and 726 TV episodes from six series. The 10th film, “Star Trek: Nemesis,” bombed at the box office on its December 2002 release, earning just $43 million in North America. Last year, Viacom-owned broadcast network UPN pulled the plug on the low-rated series “Star Trek: Enterprise” following a four-season run.
After the “Enterprise” debacle, I am highly dubious of Trek prequels. The problem is that the original series debuted in 1966, long before the modern special effects era, and had a modest budget. As with the Star Wars prequels, then, the result is a distant past that looks much more advanced and futuristic than the original. Plus, since we already know the “future” most of the suspense is left out of the plot, which will instead rely on cheesy references to the old shows aimed at the geeks.
It looks like the surface of Mars. The rust-colored rolling hills of the Atacama desert appear alien, devoid of life — just sand and dirt and rock baked into vast, barren slopes that stretch endlessly into the bruised horizon.
Bond does bed another MI6 agent, played by British actress Gemma Arterton, 22, a relative newcomer. “He has one relationship in this movie, a kind of fling. It’s mutually beneficial,” Craig says. “I think both parties enjoy it.”
The incident allegedly occurred outside Casa Escobar last Friday in a Malibu mall about 6:15 PM. We’re told Brosnan allegedly committed a battery on Robert Rosen, a photographer. 
“… her biggest dream is to be a Bond girl. She’s always talking about it. Maria loves the James Bond films. And with her Russian blood, she thinks she would be a perfect.”
Nelson died on April 7 while traveling in Bucks County, Pa., his wife, Nansi Nelson, said Friday. The cause of death was not immediately known, she said.
