NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN

Bond is back. Sean Connery came back not once, but twice to play 007. Here is a brief look at the later films. Be sure to click on “View original post” at the bottom to head over to SERENDIPITY for the rest of my review.

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The Sean Connery Years, part 2

When Sean Connery looks across the card table during a game of Baccarat Chemin de Fer in the opening of Dr. No, he started one of the greatest movie series ever simply by giving his name, “Bond, James Bond.”  Since then the Bond films have gone on to be one of the most successful movie franchises ever.  The eight Harry Potter films achieved unprecedented box office numbers.  Star Wars is back near the top. If you add up all the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, they get number one on the revenue list, but there are many films; you know, Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Guardians of the Galaxy. These are not all about one character, so does it count?  There are 25 Bond films, and it will take at least 2 more for the series to equal the Potter gross revenue…

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BOND. JAMES BOND. – Rich Paschall

With the passing of the first James Bond, we thought it was a good time to look back at the Sean Connery years. His success made all the other Bonds possible. Be sure to click on “View original post” at the bottom to head over to SERENDIPITY for the rest of my review.

SERENDIPITY: SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH

A few years ago I set out to watch all of the “official” James Bond movies in order, the EON Productions films, that is.  I saw the other 3 as well. As I finished the films of each actor, I wrote down my thoughts on the movies.  This took place over a couple of years, as procrastination left a time lag between actors.  In some cases, I was also chasing down the DVDs.

There will be a lot of talk about Bond 25 for the next year as it will soon go into production and will be released in the fall of 2019. 

First, let’s go back to the start.

The Sean Connery Years, Rich Paschall

If you remember the very beginnings of the James Bond movies, then you have to admit this: When you hear that often used introduction, you immediately hear in your head the iconic music which…

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BOND REBOOT

Bond 25, as the working title is known, is tentatively set for November 2019. Daniel Craig will return along with some of the actors featured previously. Here is a look at the Daniel Craig years so far. Hit “View original post” at the bottom to follow over to SERENDIPITY for the entire article.

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The Daniel Craig Years, by Rich Paschall, Sunday Night Blog

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After 20 James Bond films and 40 years, EON Productions finally had something that eluded them from the start.  They obtained the rights to the first Ian Fleming novel, 1953’s Casino Royale.  The story had been adapted into a 1954 American television drama and a 1967 comedy spoof, but had never been given a serious big screen treatment.  The chance was at hand when Pierce Brosnan declined the opportunity to go on as 007.

The change to a new Bond also meant another change in attitude at the studio now run by the daughter of original Producer, Albert R. Broccoli.  Other studios had given their heroes a new start to great success, so why not Bond?  Comic book characters had moved away from cartoon portrayals to serious action heroes.  It was time to move Bond away from the comic quips and amazing…

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A TALE OF THREE JAMES BONDS

With another Daniel Craig feature somewhere in our future, here’s a look back to the beginning, the very beginning. I guess you could say it’s The Look of Love. Read on and you’ll understand that reference. Be sure to hit “View original post” at the bottom so you can follow over to SERENDIPITY for the rest. You do play baccarat, don’t you?

SERENDIPITY: SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH

Casino Royale, By Rich Paschall

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When Eon Productions, maker of all those James Bond movies, finally made a film based on the very first Ian Fleming novel, fans of the super spy may have wondered what took them so long.  The novel, published in 1953, introduced us to the Cold War spy with a “License to Kill”, but why no movie?  In the book as in the films (plural, follow along), Bond’s mission is to bankrupt the evil Le Chiffre of the Russian secret service by beating him at cards at the Casino Royale. Le Chiffre is desperate for the money, but confident he will win.  His own life will be at risk if he loses.

The book was a hit in the UK, but sales in the US were slow and this set into motion events that would keep a serious adaptation of the novel away the big screen for over 50…

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GOLDENEYE

With the Casino Royale story up on SERENDIPITY, I thought it was a good time to revisit this.

SERENDIPITY: SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH

The Pierce Brosnan Years, by Rich Paschall

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Although Timothy Dalton had a six-year, 3 film deal to play the famous secret agent, James Bond, only two films were made.  The third was delayed by a protracted legal fight between Danjaq, holder of the Bond copyright, and a variety of parties, including mega studio MGM.  When the six years expired, Dalton walked away.  He felt it might not just be the end for him as Bond, but the series itself may be over.  Sixteen films had been made by 1989 which is a good run for any series.

While the legal battles went on, EON Studios planned to go ahead with the Bond legacy.  With Dalton dropping out, the producers called on Pierce Brosnan who had actually been considered as the one to replace Roger Moore.  His contractual agreement to a revived Remington Steele television series kept Brosnan from agreeing years…

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LOVE TO READ – HOW HARRY POTTER CHANGED THE WORLD

I recently thought about the reading of books that ultimately became films while watching the early James Bond movies. That was another series of books that people actually read. In the case of James Bond, however, it may have been more because of the movies.

SERENDIPITY: SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH

Recently I saw the 8th and final Harry Potter movie on Blue Ray DVD. In an introduction to the movie celebrated author of the seven Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling, talked about the 13 year adventure from the time the first Harry Potter book was published until the time the 8th movie was finished. In case you did not know, the 7th book was long and made into two movies. They probably should have made books five and six into two movies each, but I digress.

The really remarkable thing about the series was not that it made eight movies, turned Daniel Radcliffe into one of the richest people in England and Rowling into a Billionaire. It is not that Radcliffe and his costars, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, are now the most famous wizards of all time, or even that a wonderful theme park was opened in Florida to…

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