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British secret agent James Bond first sprung to fictional life in author Ian Fleming's 1953 novel, Casino Royale, which needed three printings to keep up with the demand. Fleming followed with a series of novels and short stories featuring Bond until his death in 1964, at which point the character was also a big screen success as well.
Conversely, Robert Ludlum wrote his first Jason Bourne novel with 1980's The Bourne Identity, writing two more before his death in 2001. Ludlum did not live long enough to see 2002's The Bourne Identity or its subsequent sequels, but, like Fleming, Ludlum's character lives on, with other authors taking over the characters for the novels and the film franchises continuing to find success.
Yet, with Bond making his 23rd big screen adventure in this weekend's Skyfall, we began to wonder: which spy rules the other? There's only one place for Bourne and Bond to face off against one another and that's in our Character Cage Match!
review their strengths and weaknesses before voting in our poll >> Posted 11.12.12 by Ryan -
"Just a drink. A martini, shaken, not stirred."
This is a big year for James Bond. Ian Fleming's iconic British spy celebrated 50 years as a motion picture hero on Oct. 5th, the golden anniversary of the debut of Dr. No in theaters, and the 23rd James Bond movie, Skyfall, will premiere in just one week in the U.K. (we Yanks have to wait until Nov. 9th). If you're a movie buff, chances are you've seen your fair share of James Bond movies over the years and you likely have your preference of Bond actors, whether Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, or the latest, Daniel Craig. But, just as 007 is superior to the other 00s in the service of Her Majesty, not all James Bond movies are created equal. Put on your tux, down a martini and help us sort through 50 years of James Bond movies to select the best of the best.
Rate the Top 10 Best James Bond Movies >>
Posted 10.20.12 by BrentJS -
Does the new trailer for Skyfall have you jonesing to rewatch all 22 James Bond movies? Well, you have until Sept. 25... But at least that gives you time to save up for the Bond 50: Celebrating Five Decades Blu-ray collection, which includes all of 007's adventures, from Sean Connery in 1962's Dr. No to Daniel Craig in 2008's Quantum of Solace. But what about Skyfall, which hits theaters later this year? Don't worry, there's even an open slot for when that movie hits Blu-ray.
Bond 50 includes all 22 movies (nine of which make their Blu-ray debut), their bonus content, an extra disc with two Bond featurettes, and bonus videoblogs from the set of Skyfall. Amazon is currently taking preorders for $199.
watch the trailer for the Bond 50 Blu-ray set >> Posted 05.21.12 by Chris -
Throughout Martin Campbell's career, the director has had a part of either ushering in a new era of an established franchise (1995's GoldenEye, which was the first James Bond movie for Pierce Brosnan, and 2006's Casino Royale, which was the first for Daniel Craig) or starting his own (the two Zorro movies). What Campbell had never attempted was a comic book movie like his upcoming Green Lantern, something he admitted in an interview with The Telegraph.
I did [Green Lantern] because I’d never done a superhero movie before, and they’re complicated. I had no idea. You accept these jobs and then you realize you’re in the quicksand. It was an extraordinary learning curve, conceptualizing the characters, going to another planet, deciding what the planet looks like and keeping a sort of reality, if you can call it that. The most difficult thing, apart from the damned effects, which are so time-consuming, is finding a tone and keeping the reality of it.
While not immediately familiar with the character, Campbell admitted that he soon found Hal Jordan, a.k.a. Green Lantern, "way more interesting than a Superman or a Batman" because of Jordan's "origin story, the different universe, the different planet and the Green Lantern corps." That meant that Campbell had to choose well for the part of Hal Jordan, a role eventually filled by Ryan Reynolds. "He was cheap and he’s not the best-looking guy in the world," Campbell joked.
campbell not a fan of 3-D or Quantum of Solace >> Posted 06.14.11 by Ryan -
Despite rumors to the contrary, the next Bond girl won't be Freida Pinto or Olivia Wilde. British newspaper The Mirror claimed that Pinto was in negotiations for Bond 23, the upcoming, untitled sequel to 2008's Quantum of Solace, but representatives of the Slumdog Millionaire actress were quick to deny them to India's NDTV.
I would like to confirm that as of today, Freida Pinto has not been approached to be part of the next Bond film. It is of course very flattering to even be rumored to be part of a Bond film but she has certainly not been approached for the role of the next Bond girl opposite Daniel Craig as yet.
Tron: Legacy's Wilde took to her Twitter account to let fans know that she will not play the reported role of a "double-crossing UN worker based in Afghanistan".
Despite the rumors, I have no plans to do Bond, but the internet may be confused as I am doing Cowboys & Aliens with Daniel Craig. fun!
The next Bond is reportedly taking place in Afghanistan with Sam Mendes directing, though none of those details are confirmed. Financial troubles within rights-holder MGM have created a cloud of rumors around Bond 23, and until MGM's assets are auctioned off, producer Michael G. Wilson admitted earlier this year that details of the movie are "up in the air".
Posted 03.24.10 by Ryan -
While Daniel Craig is the current 007 in residence at EON Productions — the company responsible for 22 James Bond films, from Dr. No (1962) to Quantum of Solace (2008) — another British actor may be working with "Her Majesty's Secret Service" in the near future.
According to Pajiba, an inside source has revealed that Wanted star James McAvoy is in talks to play Bond's creator,Ian Fleming, in a biopic from Palmstar Entertainment and Animus Films.
With the working title Ian Fleming, the movie will be based on the book Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond by Andrew Lycett and is expected to focus on the years of Fleming's life that inspired him to create the world's most famous spy. Matt Brown is adapting the book for the screen, but no director has been attached yet.
Posted 12.30.09 by BrentJS -
Actor Daniel Craig has spilled the news that another chapter in the long-running 007 franchise is on the way. According to Variety, following a performance of A Steady Rain, the play he's currently starring in with Hugh Jackman on Broadway, Craig told a fan that filming of the 23rd 007 movie will begin in late 2010.
Screenwriters Peter Morgan, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are currently at work on a script, but no director has been announced. MGM has not commented on Craig's statement, as of yet.
Posted 10.27.09 by BrentJS -
Less than a week ago, MGM received a deferment on their outstanding loans to allow them to continue with plans for producing a Guillermo del Toro-led production of The Hobbit. At the time of the announcement, nothing was said about the other properties under MGM's umbrella, such as the 007 franchise, the most valuable one in its library.
Now, it appears that MGM may be forced to sell off the rights to future James Bond movies to generate some much-needed cash. According to We Are Movie Geeks, a "source close to the dealings" claims that MGM has already sold the marketing and distribution rights to 20th Century Fox and that the official announcement will "come out any day now."
Sony, who acquired MGM in 2004, has used Sony Pictures to market and distribute the last two movies, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Prior to this, MGM partnered with Fox on all home video and international marketing.
Posted 10.06.09 by BrentJS -
Louis Letterier's (The Incredible Hulk) remake of The Clash of the Titans is adding some actors to its cast that will be quite familiar to James Bond fans. Casino Royale villain Mads Mikkelson is joining the cast as Draco, a leader of the Praetorian Guard that follows Perseus (played by Terminator Salvation's Sam Worthington) during his quest.
Quantum of Solace's Gemma Atherton will play Io, a part she described as "the coolest" to Emipre. "Io’s not in the original film," Atherton continued. "Perseus falls in love with her and then [Empire censors a "tiny spoiler"]. It’s a really great part.”
While the movie is still a remake of the 1981 original, Atherton claims the script is "very different" and while the story may be similar, the remake is "more about Perseus’ mission, and how he deals with being the son of Zeus."
Posted 04.01.09 by Ryan -
Is the economic meltdown affecting our appetite for ridiculously overpriced stale popcorn? The Hollywood Reporter says yes -- as two theater chain operators are reporting lower concession sales in the third quarter. We, on the other hand, have another take on this story. If theater operators want to increase their concession sales, they need to convince Hollywood to start making movies more appealing to people who like to eat a lot. We're not saying we need a remake of Big Night, Dinner Rush, or any of the many other food flicks that have done anemic box-office over the years -- but would it be so hard to mix a pie fight into Quantum of Solace instead of just another shoot-out?
Posted 11.13.08 by reelz