In many ways, James Bond laid the template for what a modern-day action hero would look like: handsome, cool, badass, but most importantly, witty. The tradition of tough-guy one-liners may not have originated with 007, but it certainly had a good run within the franchise, and has continued to thrive across all genres of action today. Here’s some of the best of Bond’s zingers over the years. 1. “That’s a Smith & Wesson…and you’ve had your six. ( Dr. No ) 2. “Shocking… positively shocking. “ ( Goldfinger ) 3. “No more foreplay.”( Goldeneye ) 4. “Bond. James Bond.” ( Dr. No ) 5. “But of course you are.” ( Diamonds are Forever ) Hit the jump for more!
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Is there a name more tattered in the annals of big-movie casting choices than George Lazenby ? Notice I say “choice” rather than “mistake,” because for all the static about the admittedly somewhat wooden Lazenby’s shortcomings, he managed to hold his own as the steady center of what James Bond fans have gradually come to recognize as one of the hidden highlights of the series, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service . His filmmaking peers vouch that although inexperienced and not always a day at the beach in terms of temperament, Lazenby was ultimately a pro in his work habits and showed a confidence that enabled him to brazen through a rather daunting succession: replacing the world’s favorite Bond while acting opposite one of the franchise’s most memorable Bond girls. That would be Diana Rigg as Tracy, the daughter of crime boss Draco (played by Gabriele Ferzetti as The Most Interesting Man In the World, 1968-style). “What she needs is a man to dominate her,” Daddy D says of his daughter, but, before we get any comments from readers of The End of Men, be advised that Tracy is more than a match for Bond. And it’s not just because The Avengers goddess Rigg —that’s the classic 1960s UK TV spy series, not the Marvel superhero costume party—is more than a match for Lazenby. It’s because the rather sharp script from one of Ian Fleming’s darker Bond sagas gives the debonair spy license to submit to her charms and depths. As Charles Taylor wrote of Rigg’s Tracy in Salon nearly 15 years ago, “Her presence enhances the whole concept of James Bond. For the first time, Bond has to prove himself worthy of a woman he’s attracted to.” We meet Tracy (aka Countess Teresa) in the pre-credits action when her cardinal-colored Mercury Cougar zooms past Bond’s ride. Although he prevents her suicide in the surf and beats down two thugs who try to grab her, she zooms away, leaving a gaping Lazenby to break the fourth wall and say, “This never happened to the other fella.” [Related: POLL: Vote for Your Favorite Bond Film ] In the making-of featurette that’s found on the Special Editon DVD and in the new 50th-anniversary box set, Lazenby calls that line “A way of breaking the ice,” and he’s right. Director Peter Hunt, who’d been an editor on previous Bond films, explains he decided to accept that Sean Connery’s departure from the role (which would then go on to Roger Moore, et al) was a lurch. So, in order to “get on with it”, he simply asked Lazenby to insert the line, which the model-turned-actor — in his first film role — had been tossing out occasionally on set. It’s a moment not unlike one in the early innings of The Bourne Legacy , when Jeremy Renner , taking over for Matt Damon , is trying to puzzle out his place in the franchise’s deadly world. “You ask too many questions,” says his fellow operative, surely a subtle reminder from writer-director Tony Gilroy that we should simply belt in and take the ride with the new guy. Lazenby’s ride was a turbulent one, thanks in part to his back-seat driving. From the start, the producers of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service had problems calibrating the neophyte’s self-importance: Though he was a tough Aussie who’d been a soldier back home before moving to London in 1963 (where he initially worked as a car salesman), Lazenby groaned about the cold Portugese surf that day he shot the pre-credits surf scene with Rigg. When he had an “I’m the star” snit one night at the Swiss location where the film’s spectacular ski chases were shot, franchise kingpin Cubby Broccoli reminded him that he wasn’t a star until the public decided he was. That was never to be, of course. Director Hunt decided after a frustrating hunt for Connery’s replacement that Lazenby “oozed sexual magnetism”, and Rigg personally signed off on his casting. The film’s cinematographer rather hopefully avers in the making-of short that the filmmakers thought they had found the “ruthlessness of Jack Palance and the charm of Cary Grant” in Lazenby. Alas, the actor’s unfortunate wardrobe in the movie — color-coordinated ensembles, bathrobes and frilly formal shirts — made him look more Austin Powers than James Bond, though a kilt Lazenby wears makes for a good gag. After a girl in a mountaintop harem scrawls her room number in lipstick well up on Lazenby’s left thigh, a henchman for Telly Savalas’ marginally suave Blofeld asks Bond about his physical state following a chopper lift to the cold, mountainous climate. In response, our hero admits to “Just a slight stiffness coming on.”
In an industry where success is often measured by a movie’s performance over a single (opening) weekend, the James Bond franchise is that rarest of things: a long-distance runner. At 23 movies — 22 if you don’t count the independently produced Never Say Never Again — and counting, Ian Fleming’s Agent 007 has managed to be mostly relevant at the box office for 50 years and, according to filmsite.org , while earning more than $1.5 billion. That’s third only to, respectively, the Harry Potter and Star Wars franchises. Even more so than Bob Dylan records (especially the recent ones), Bond movies are very much products of the times in which they are released. The campy 1980s sex-fluff of the Roger Moore 007 movies would probably not fare so well were they released in today’s economically fraught kill-or-be-killed world. Daniel Craig is the right Bond for this era, and, if you ask me, in a dead heat with Sean Connery for the best Bond of all time. But, actually, I more interested in your opinion. In commemoration of Tuesday’s release of Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection, MGM’s Blu-Ray collection of the 22 Bond films that it recognizes, Movieline will be presenting a series of posts all week long that focus on the iconic super spy. To kick things off, we’re asking our readers to pick their favorite Bond movie. Our list numbers 23 because Never Say Never Again deserves to be included. Order up a martini (or, ahem, a Heineken ) and vote your choice. We’ll post the results mid-week and on Saturday. By the way, if you think that David Niven and Peter Sellers’ 1967 Casino Royale spoof should have been included, vote for it in the comments section. Take Our Poll
Two very different posters emerged for November’s release of the 23rd James Bond installment, Skyfall . In one, current Bond incarnation Daniel Craig looks the upright perfectly dressed 007. Sure he has a gun, but he holds it more like a martini as he stands in perfect posture with the Union Jack and what appears to be the City of London in the background. The second one ditches the British flag for a more casual James Bond hitting the dirt in action (with blazer), with a side view of Craig pointing his pistol at an unseen assailant with large 007 emblazoned in the background. The two posters clearly meant to appeal to Bond fans on either side of the pond as clearly marked by their release dates. Upright Bond looking spiffy with tux and bow-tie (and British flag) of course will appeal to British fans as clearly marked by the October 26th release date. Rough and tumble shoot-em-up Yanks meanwhile, see James Bond in action, ready to shoot his nemesis as he risks tears and dirt as he hits the ground (but his hair still looks quite in place). EW surmised (http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/09/17/dueling-skyfall-posters-james-bond/ ) that the British Bond poster played into U.K. stereotypes, which of course translates into something more formal. And of course the American version is meant to appeal to their comparatively more trigger-happy cousins in the former colonies. In the latest installment, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. Sam Mendes is directing the film, which also stars Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Helen McCrory, Ben Whishaw and Judi Dench. Compare/contrast the two posters and give your two cents. Which one do you like better?
Making his first press appearance since that headline-grabbing Republican National Convention speech , Clint Eastwood laughed off his rambling, off-the-cuff missive to an invisible Obama. “It didn’t get the response I wanted,” joked the 82 year-old actor and filmmaker at a press conference for his upcoming baseball flick Trouble With The Curve , “because I was hoping they’d nominate me.” Eastwood’s been around the block long enough in the film (and politics) game to acquit himself well with charming self-deprecation. But as the line of questioning briefly veered from his turn as an aging MLB scout to his now-infamous rambling RNC appearance (which he discussed with hometown paper The Carmel Pine Cone the other week ), audible groans seemed to come from the direction of the publicists in the room. Unperturbed, Eastwood explained what he’d been trying to convey when he improvised an exchange with an empty chair on the RNC stage: “My only message was [that] I wanted people to take the idolizing factor out of every contestant out there. Just look at the work, look at the background, and then make a judgment on that. I was just trying to say that, and did it in kind of a roundabout way which took a lot more time, I suppose, than they would have liked.” A journalist asked if Eastwood would give the same speech if he could go back and do it all over again. “I’d probably say something else,” Eastwood admitted, “but I’d try to get the same message across so that people don’t have to kiss up to politicians. No matter what party they’re in, you should evaluate their work and make your judgments accordingly. That’s the way to do it in life and every other subject, but sometimes in America we get gaga, we look at the wrong values.” Then again, the former Mayor of Carmel, CA did make up his speech up on the spot just minutes before taking the stage. It might be hard not to do things differently. “I thought of that five seconds before we started,” he smiled. “You walk there [in front of] an audience of ten thousand people who are extremely enthusiastic and your mind goes blank, anyway. So I’d say something else.” Stay tuned for more on Trouble With The Curve , in theaters September 21. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Roger Friedman of Showbiz 411 reports that U.K. mega-singer Adele will sing the title theme song to the next James Bond joint, Skyfall — though, grain of salt: He’s confirming his own scoop here, and the phrase “I think I can confirm for you what I said some months ago” doesn’t inspire total confidence. But it’s Friday, and a girl can dream! And Friedman’s got it right when he argues that “Adele’s sound is the quintessential James Bond sound.” Also, those other recent 007 themes did roundly suck. Bring on Agent Adele! [ Showbiz 411 ]
The weekend box office was anything but stellar over the weekend. Expendables 2 and The Bourne Legacy remained the top two earners in the final weekend of August. One bright spot, however, was conservative doc 2016 Obama’s America , which went wide after spending the first three weeks with limited runs. Its gross jumped over 400% and it landed in 8th place in the overall box office despite remaining in far fewer theaters than compared to other titles in the top 10. Newcomers Premium Rush and Hit and Run bowed softly. 1. The Expendables 2 Gross: $13.5 million (Cume $52,313,944 Screens: 3,355 (PSA: $4,024) Week: 2 (Change: $- 53%) Despite a drop of 53%, The Expendables 2 remained the weekend’s top earner at the box office. The feature added 39 runs over its debut and averaged $4,024 vs. last weekend’s $8,670. Adding $22.4 million from overseas and the film has so far cumed over $74.71 million. 2. The Bourne Legacy Gross: $9,281,160 (Cume: $85,467,375) Screens: 3,654 (PSA: $2,540) Week: 3 (Change: – 46%) The Universal Pictures release again took second place now in its third weekend of release. Abroad, the title has taken in $28.1 million. Last weekend in the U.S., the feature averaged $4,535 from 3,753 showings and had dropped 55% from its debut. This weekend’s drop was not as steep despite playing in less theaters, giving the release some momentum in an otherwise dismal box office weekend. 3. Paranorman (3-D, Animation) Gross $8,545,883 (Cume: $28,274,234) Screens: 3,455 (PSA: $2,473) Week: 2 (Change: -39%) Again, Paranorman landed in the third spot over the weekend. Its 39% drop is respectable given its second go-around. Focus Features only added 26 theaters for the film in its second weekend. 4. The Campaign Gross: $7.44 million (Cume: $64,543,000) Screens: 3,302 (PSA: $2,253) Week: 3 (Change: – 43%) The comedy added 47 theaters in its third weekend. Last weekend it averaged $4,112 in 3,255 theaters. It has also drummed up an additional $2.1 million abroad. 5. The Dark Knight Rises Gross: $7.155 million (Cume: $422,188,000) Screens: 2,606 (PSA: $2,746) Week: 6 (Change: – 35%) Worldwide the finale in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy has amassed $941,188,000. It’s sixth week domestic drop of 35% compares to the previous weekend’s 41% decline vs. its fourth weekend run, showing the feature is still holding well now in its sixth weekend of release despite losing 551 venues from the previous week. 6. The Odd Life of Timothy Green Gross: $7,125,000 (Cume: $27,080,000) Screens: 2,598 (Average: $2,742) Week: 2 (Change: – 34%) The title actually went up one spot from the previous weekend’s seventh place showing though that is more a result of a lack of openers that caught audiences attention. Still, its revenue only dropped 34% and it remained in the same number of theaters as the previous weekend. 7. Premium Rush Gross: $6.3 million Screens: 2,255 (PSA: $2,794) Week: 1 The feature opened softly with only $6.3 million and a disappointment after a big sports-related promotional. Also a disappointment for Joseph Gordon-Levitt who has otherwise had a stellar year. 8. 2016 Obama’s America Gross: $6,237,517 (Cume: $9,075,393) Screens: 1,091 (PSA: $5,717) Week: 4 (Change 401%) The anti-Obama doc went wide after three weeks in limited release. Box office watchers were a flutter Friday that the title would even out-gross Expendables 2 , though it ended up in fourth place that day. Still, a strong showing for the title the feature has a strong shot at being the top grossing non-fiction film of the year. 9. Hope Springs Gross: $6 million (Cume: $45 million) Screens: 2,402 (PSA: $2,498) Week: 3 (Change: -34%) Hope Springs ranked eighth last weekend. Its $2,498 average compares with its second weekend average of $3,854. The title added 41 screens. 10. Hit and Run Gross: $4,675,026 Screens: 2,870 (PSA: $1,629) Week: 1 The newcomer made it into the top 10, but it was otherwise a weak showing with a $1,629 average. Still, the production budget was around $2 million, but its otherwise weak opening likely indicates it will have a rough road ahead. [Sources: Hollywood.com , Box Office Mojo ]
No stranger to James Bond himself, Sir Roger Moore said he thinks the current man to hold the reins of 007, Daniel Craig , is the best actor to play the eternally debonaire British secret service agent. Eighty-four year-old Moore, who played Bond in seven films between 1973 and 1985 gave kudos to Craig’s performance in his new book, Bond on Bond . “I love Casino Royale and Daniel Craig. He is a wonderful actor, certainly the best actor to play Bond,” Moore said as quoted in BBC . He also noted that Craig, 44, also had a slammin’ bod, saying he had “the best build of any Bond.” That is a tall compliment given the half-dozen people to play James Bond, beginning with Dr. No in 1962 include the likes of Sean Connery, Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan. Reminiscing about his years as Bond, Moore, whose final two rounds as 007 were in Octobpussy (1983) and A View to a Kill (1985) noted with some levity: “Back then I could leap out of a chair without fear of my knees cracking. “[I] could chew a toffee without fear of losing a tooth; could admire my flowing locks and my bronzed, slim torso. “With a twitch of the old eyebrow I set pulses racing across the world, they say. These days it’s my pacemaker that keeps my pulse racing.” There have been twenty-two films in the James Bond series. The next installment will open Stateside in November (October 26 in the U.K.). Skyfall , will also be Daniel Craig’s third round at playing 007. In 1973, Roger Moore became 007 for Live and Let Die and played Bond a further six times over twelve years before being replaced by Timothy Dalton for two films. Last month, a new trailer was released , teasing the next Bond installment. Skyfall also stars Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem, Ben Whishaw, Helen McCrory and Judi Dench. And Craig even managed to get none other than H.M. Queen Elizabeth II into the act with a short skit helping to kick off last month’s Olympics in London. Craig approached Her Majesty in what looked like a Buckingham Palace office and then was later seen jumping out of a helicopter with a sovereign look-a-like. [ Sources: BBC , Wikipedia ]
James Bond added another leading lady under his belt after he teamed up with none other than Queen Elizabeth II in a sketch for the opening night of the Olympics in London (with what looked like Her Majesty jumping out of a plane with the eternal superstar agent). Most certainly not quite how it happened, but nevertheless a significant royal boost for 007 ahead of his next adventure. The new international trailer of Skyfall promises more action and intrigue – and of course he’s once again ready for the fight, tux in tow. Daniel Craig returns once again crisply dressed, heading to exotic locations and facing up to eccentric bad guys and of course finding romance along the way with beautiful women. Skyfall also stars Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Javier Bardem, Ben Whishaw, Helen McCrory and Judi Dench. Bardem takes his turn playing Bond’s nemesis and even sports a blond-do. The film opens in November in the States. Official synopsis: Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007 in Skyfall , the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In Skyfall , Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. International trailer: Watch the international trailer via YouTube Domestic trailer: Watch the domestic trailer via YouTube
