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We have what we feel is an exceptional issue we hope you enjoy, with all the things that you have come to expect from HMSS. The writers, the insight, the opinions. We have a couple of old friends returning, and a couple of new contributors making their debut. Our good pal Deborah Lipp checks in with two fascinating articles; one about Live and Let Die's monkeying around with tarot cards, the other about recurring themes of voyeurism and concealment in You Only Live Twice. Ron Feyereisen returns with a contrarian view of the ongoing Daniel Craig "reboot" tenure; suffice it to say that he's not a satisfied customer. Speaking of reboots, regular contributor Derek Austin Johnson casts his gimlet eye on the latest 007 literary adventure, Jeffery Deaver's Carte Blanche (the James Bond watches man, Dell Deaton, offers a rebuttal). On the subject of the latest Bond novel, we're rerunning Mark Henderson's excellent interview, first published last April on our blog, with the author. We're excited to welcome Stuart Basinger (that's "Dr. Shatterhand" to you civilians) to the fold with his imaginary interview with former CIA director (and friend of Ian Fleming) Allan Dulles. James Bond is discussed. Ian Fleming Foundation member Colin Clark regales us with the story of the discovery and acquisition of Franz Sanchez' escape plane -- the Cessna we saw Timothy Dalton's 007 lasso in Licence to Kill. And our stalwart senior editor Bill Koenig unearths the amazing story of what 1979's Moonraker could have been like, if only Eon's budget had matched the screenplay's requirements. Bill's story also covers script-to-screen changes in Diamonds Are Forever and Tomorrow Never Dies. (A publisher's note here about Mr. Koenig: Bill has been on board with us since our founding in 1997, contributing at least once to each and every issue [check out his HMSS CV here]. Also, he's almost single-handedly been running our weblog since it's inception, posting almost daily on matters James Bondian and other fictional spies -- he's made the blog something of a go-to site for The Man from UNCLE fans. We appreciate and treasure his commitment, talent, and friendship.) PLUGOLA DEPARTMENT: In addition to said weblog (which you can access from any page here at HMSS or directly at http://HMSSweblog.WordPress.com, we are also on Facebook and Twitter. Please join us there, and don't forget to subscribe, "Like," and follow. Thanks! Now a few words on the next 007 picture... The much anticipated "Launch Event" for the press announcing the next James Bond film finally took place. Most all the main players were on the dais; the producers, director and cast. The actor who took over the iconic role of 007 is obviously a favorite of the producers, and he sits comfortably in front of the reporters answering their sometimes giddy questions. That he has been credited with helping to bring the Bond series into a new and exciting direction makes him something of a rock star. His first turn in the role was widely lauded critically, and general consensus is that James Bond is to be taken a bit more seriously. Questions are asked as to the "personal" angle of the film's supposed plot line, but are met with coy response. Much is made of the longevity of the series, as it has been a remarkable twenty-seven years since the first James Bond film premiered. Others want to know if any Ian Fleming elements will be included in the new film. Much is also made of the (badly kept) secret that is the film's title, "License Revoked", the first Bond movie not to even use an Ian Fleming novel title. Still others ask about the budget. It is revealed that for the first time, a James Bond picture will be filmed at a studio not named Pinewood. Churubusco Studios in Mexico is to be the production's home. Other Mexican locations will also be used, as well as some in south Florida. The producers deny it, but it is widely believed that the decision to move from Pinewood is a financial one. How this will play out in terms of production value is yet to be determined. Timothy Dalton is excellent certainly , and Robert Davi is an interesting choice as the villain. And EON struck gold with Benicio Del Toro. But the rest of the cast is hmmm... underwhelming would be kind. Among the B (if not C) level television talent signed for this James Bond film are Priscilla (Three's Company) Barnes, David Hedison, Carey Lowell, Anthony Zerbe, Don Stroud, Anthony (Seinfeld) Starke, and Wayne Newton. Wayne freaking Newton. Nary an Emmy Award amongst them, though Newton did once get nominated for a Razzie. It is only slight consolation he did not win. Easily the worst cast of any James Bond film. Easily the worst production values of any James Bond film. Fast forward through the next twenty-two years... (swoosh...) GoldenEye (swoosh...) Tomorrow Never Dies (swoosh...) The World is Not Enough (swoosh...) Die Another Day (swoosh...) Casino Royale (swoosh...) Quantum of Solace (screech...) Bond 23 The much anticipated "Launch Event" for the press announcing the next James Bond film finally took place last week. Most all the main players were on the dais; the producers, director and cast. The actor who took over the iconic role of 007 is obviously a favorite of the producers, and he sits comfortably in front of the reporters answering their sometimes giddy questions. That he has been credited with helping to bring the Bond series into a new and exciting direction makes him something of a rock star. His first turn in the role was widely lauded critically, and general consensus is that James Bond is to be taken a bit more seriously. Questions are asked as to the "personal" angle of the film's supposed plot line, but are met with coy response. Much is made of the longevity of the series, as it will be a remarkable fifty years since Dr. No premiered when Bond 23 is released in 2012 -- The James Bond film series' Golden Anniversary. Others want to know if any Ian Fleming elements will be included in the new film. (A somewhat oddly emphatic "No" was the response.) Much is also made of the (badly kept) secret that is the film's title, SKYFALL (SkyFall?... Skyfall?), the latest of many Bond film titles not using a Fleming book title since 1989's Licence to Kill began the trend. Still others ask about the budget. Michael Wilson insisted that "We are not cutting back in any way. In fact we are adding things to the script. Every dollar will be on the screen, and we don't feel as if we've had to sacrifice anything for this production." Wilson also revealed that in addition to filming at Pinewood, the SKYFALL (we're sticking with that, for now) production would be going to China, Istanbul, Scotland, and London. A far cry from Churubusco, to say the least. Director Sam Mendes spoke of the talent assembled for SKYFALL. The same production crew, veteran Bond scribes Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, would be returning from the previous film. Many accolades about the script. Many comments about making this the best Bond with a capital "B". (Umm, whatever that means...) Then on to the impressive cast. Daniel Craig. Dame Judi Dench. Javier Bardem. Ralph Fiennes. Albert Finney. Naomie Harris. Sixteen Academy Award nominations amongst them. Dench and Bardem won the Oscar. Sam Mendes won the Best Director Academy Award for American Beauty, which also won Best Picture in 2000. American Beauty happens to be one of HMSS's favorite films. (Ok, not one of Paul's...) A truly staggering assemblage of talent. Easily the best cast of any James Bond film. An Oscar-winning director. An impressive budget. Globe-trotting locales. And the terrific Daniel Craig as James Bond. What could go wrong? The composer of the score has yet to be announced. Music is an integral element of any film, but is especially important in a 007 movie. (See GoldenEye for a score that did not work and hurt the film.) John Barry set the bar high, and influenced generations. A good score is of the utmost importance to SKYFALL. Will it be David Arnold's estimable contribution again? Perhaps Thomas Newman, who worked with Mendes on American Beauty? That important decision has yet to be made. And, what is this talk of trying to make SKYFALL Oscar "friendly"? It may be unsubstantiated rumor, though several unnamed "sources" have been quoted as claiming such. Mistake. Big mistake. HMSS thought Casino Royale was one of the best films of 2006. It was even a bit of a disappointment that it was not more highly recognized critically. An Academy Award nomination, though it did not happen, would not have surprised us. BAFTA seems to have gotten it right though. But HMSS does not think the producers of that film intentionally went "fishing" for an Oscar. The excellence of Casino Royale emanated from a perfect confluence of talent, directing, writing, and music. To go "fishing", to go high-brow for critical acclaim would/could back-fire badly. See The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Or don't. I didn't.) as an example. A case of a film that was a turn-off in its blatant self-promotion and high-brow attempt at an Academy Award. Just don't go there. If the Oscar is friendly to SKYFALL, terrific. But first, just make a good James Bond movie.
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