A lot of secrecy... This better be good! http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/03/us-jamesbond-announcement-idUSTRE7A217Q20111103 (Reuters) - Daniel Craig will be back dodging bullets and vanquishing villains from China to Turkey in the 23rd installment of the James Bond film franchise, but the stars and director of "Skyfall" are keeping the who, what and how under wraps for now. As previously announced, Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes directs his first Bond adventure, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012 when Skyfall is released. One of the few details Mendes revealed to more than 100 reporters from around the world at the film's London press launch were his cast and the locations of the blockbuster, which starts production on Monday. Bond regulars Craig and Judi Dench, as his stern spymaster M, return to their roles, Spanish actor Javier Bardem plays the villain and French actress Berenice Marlohe and Britain's Naomie Harris are Bond girls. All five were at the press briefing, where they were joined by Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson. In addition, Mendes said the latest installment in one of cinema's longest and most successful film franchises will feature Ben Whishaw "who will be playing a part I can't tell you about in scenes I can tell you nothing about. "And Albert Finney, who will also be playing a part I can tell you nothing about in scenes that I can't really tell you about and Ralph Fiennes, who, similarly, I can give you very little information about." Asked whether he had not named all of the characters the leading actors would be playing because Bond fans might recognize them, the "American Beauty" director replied: "They might do. On the other hand they might not." What producers have confirmed is that Skyfall will take Bond on another action-packed mission to London, Shanghai, Istanbul and Scotland. A press release gave a brief plot outline, saying Bond's loyalty to M is tested "as her past comes back to haunt her. "As MI6 (British intelligence) comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost." NO "AUSTERITY" BOND Mendes and his producers sought to reassure fans that tough economic conditions in the real world would not make the fictional exploits of the suave superspy any less spectacular. "It, I think, has all the elements of a classic Bond movie, including, to quell any rumors, a lot of action," Mendes said. Wilson added: "I think it's in the same (cost) range as the last film and we really haven't had to change anything in the script. We haven't had to sacrifice anything." The 22nd Bond movie, "Quantum of Solace," cost an estimated $200 million to produce, more than the previous installment and Craig's Bond debut "Casino Royale," which cost a reported $150 million. Any extra outlay did not translate into higher ticket sales, however, with Casino Royale earning $594 million at the global box office and Quantum of Solace $586 million, according to website www.boxofficemojo.com. Sony Pictures, part of Sony Corp, will distribute Skyfall, which is set to hit British theaters on October 26, 2012 and U.S. cinemas on November 9 after a studio bankruptcy put production on hold for months and the last movie earned mixed reviews. Next year is the 50th anniversary of the series, which began in 1962 with Sean Connery -- breathing life into the character created by former intelligence officer and novelist Ian Fleming -- on Her Majesty's secret service in "Dr. No." Debt-laden Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc, known for its roaring lion logo and behind some of Hollywood's most fabled films including "The Wizard of Oz," filed for bankruptcy in November last year. But two months later it confirmed Bond 23 would hit theatres in November, 2012, and in April MGM and Sony announced they would co-finance and distribute the next two Bond movies. Craig's first appearance as Bond in 2006 was hailed as a refreshing change in direction toward a tougher, more serious 007, and reviews were overwhelmingly positive. Quantum of Solace fared less well with the critics, although positive reviews still outweighed the negative and both films were commercially successful. When Craig was asked if he would continue in one of cinema's most recognizable roles for a few more years, Broccoli interjected and said: "Yes, definitely."
completely agree. I love Casino Royale and thought Craig was great in it, but Quantum of Solace was garbage. That being said, I've seen every Bond movie (can it get worse than The Living Daylights?), so I'll be at the theatre to see this one.
Need to get rid of M. That character is utterly repulsive, and an automatic fast forward whenever I see her, which is why I'll wait and catch this on Netflix.
It was like they were trying too hard in Quantum. Just let Bond do his thing, kill the bad guy with some sweet gadgets and bang the hottie at the end.
I didn't like Quantum the first time I saw it but enjoyed it more the second time. Especially after watching Royale right before it. It still wasn't amazing or anything, but I don't think it's as bad as some say.
Brosnan got saddled with bad movies, I actually liked him a lot. Goldeneye is in my top 5 Bond movies, it was all downhill after that. He was certainly better than Lazenby and the all too serious Timothy Dalton. Quantam of Solace wasn't bad, it was just pretty average to me. And coming off Casino Royale which was spectacular, it was a major letdown. I always look forward to a new Bond movie.
i agree w/ you. goldeneye was an average bond movie, but the rest would rank at the bottom for me. it shouldnt be brosnans fault that he got weak movies. i liked t-dalt though - his style is kind of the bridge b/t connery and craig.
I had to warm up to Timothy Dalton but after re watching his movies like the living daylights, he wasn't too bad. Brosnan also is a pretty good bond. All in all, fairly happy w/ the character selections. Craig is a nice change of pace. Am definitely looking forward to Skyfall.
Bond movies are things I watch once, never see again, and completely forget about by the time the next one comes out. I've seen most Bond films but couldn't tell you the plot of any one of them.
Like most, I see Sean Connery as the quintessential Bond. Early on, especially, he could be quite brutal.. and brought the male chauvinist side too ...but these qualities were always tempered with looks, the everpresent Bond class, and the trademark quips. Broccoli's casting of Roger Moore was true genius. Rather than compete with Sean, Moore was a fantastic contrast to Sean's physical character. Charm and class combined with the ability to have a smooth answer for every situaton. We rarely saw Moore's Bond sweat as he made it look like a walk in the park. Tim Dalton on the other hand with his Shakespearean training probably was the best actor to take on this role. Dalton IMO suffered from being slightly miscast and horrible scripts though. Pierce Brosnan was quite adequate for the job, but was formulaic ...He DID surprise me at how well he inhabited the character...well cast. In Daniel Craig though we have a return to a more Connery-like Bond. My first viewing of Casino Royale really blew me away. While I agree that Quantum of Solace was sorely lacking in many areas, and Craig might be slightly behind Dalton as far as his acting chops go (not by much), he carries the torch of James Bond to new generations while doing Cubby's vision proud.
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