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MGM Studios Officially For Sale
Filed under: Deals, Executive shifts, Lionsgate Films, MGM, Warner Brothers, RumorMonger, Distribution, DIY/Filmmaking, Newsstand, James Bond
MGM Studios' financial troubles will soon be coming to a sad end. Back in September, it was reported that MGM was in such poor shape that they might be forced to auction off their assets, including James Bond and The Hobbit. That day has come to pass. Variety reports that MGM Studios is officially on the auction block.MGM has been given a month of breathing space from their interest payments, time they plan on using to begin "a process to explore various strategic alternatives including operating as a standalone entity, forming strategic partnerships and evaluating a potential sale of the company."
But all hopes of survival may rest on what they sell off from their glorious history, including a library of 4,000 titles, the logo, the United Artists company, James Bond, and half ownership in The Hobbit. Time Warner, News Corp, and Lionsgate are said to be interested in all of the above.
As their library scatters to the four winds, it'll be really interesting to see what remakes and reboots it spawns. Remember, Robocop was on the MGM remake slate, and surely some hungry studio will snap that up. The Cannon Films and ITV Global Entertainment collections are just ripe for harvesting. Perhaps you'll finally see a Lifeforce movie, or a remake of Capricorn One, or an aspiring Tarantino type will buy up all those American International Picture rights and revive motorcycle gang movies. Sure, we all want to know who will wind up with James Bond, but it'll be far more fascinating if someone tries to remake Psych-Out. *
*It's possible this is considered one of AIP's "early" films, though it's unclear where that cut off date is.
Discuss: Your Perfect Movie Music Mix-Tape
Filed under: Music & Musicals, Fandom, James Bond, Trailers and Clips
You all remember the romantic rite of passage known as the mix-tape, right? Where you would try and convey how deep, charming, profound, and downright cool you were by compiling a group of songs for your intended? In the world of movies, filmmakers use songs all the time to create a mood, explain an emotional 'state of mind', or even to fill in what they don't have time to explain. As it turns out, so do we, and that's where the art of the mix-tape comes in. But this isn't just about music, and Cinematical is a film site after all, so I thought it would be fun to put together a little mix tape of songs I've come to love thanks to hearing them in the movies.
Now before we start, I should warn you that my mix tape isn't just a collection of run-of-the-mill love songs, because as I keep telling everyone, I'm not a run-of-the-mill girl. Instead, I've put together a 'celluloid compilation', that if given to me would guarantee that I fell head over heels into film geek love.
After the jump; some movie songs that would woo me right off of my feet (in no particular order)...
Could Money Woes Cost MGM James Bond and 'The Hobbit'?
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Deals, Executive shifts, MGM, RumorMonger, Celebrities and Controversy, DIY/Filmmaking, Peter Jackson, Politics, James Bond, Remakes and Sequels, Daniel Craig
MGM has been plagued by financial woes for much of their long and illustrious career, but their most recent crisis could end up costing them two of their biggest titles. Nikke Finke of Deadline Hollywood Daily is breathlessly reporting that the studio is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy with over $3.5 billion in debt. MGM held a very long conference call with their creditors, pleading with themto waive their interest payments until February 2010, and allow them the cash they need for the rest of the year, particularly to fund its upcoming slate of films. Naturally, some of those are highly anticipated, such as Robocop, The Hobbit, and the latest James Bond installment. However, MGM's creditors aren't feeling particularly charitable, and may force the studio to file for bankruptcy. If that happens, they could lose James Bond, The Hobbit, and numerous other franchises as MGM would have to sell them to the highest bidder. Right now, they're trying to convince their Scrooges that bankruptcy is the worst possible option, and that Bond and Bilbo are big enough moneymakers to cover their debt. That's where the situation stands now, and it'll certainly be quite the economic spectacle to watch.
I find the news particularly interesting in light of Peter Jackson's remarks on The Hobbit at ComicCon, when he squashed rumors that the film was in the casting stages, and noted that it hadn't even really been green-lit or had its budget approved yet. It was a douse of cold water after a lot of breathless excitement, much of which seemed to come straight from the filmmakers themselves. Could the brakes have been put on because of MGM's financial woes? Possibly.
Continued below the jump
Credits Report: Quantum of Solace
Filed under: Action, Music & Musicals, Fandom, James Bond, Daniel Craig, Trailers and Clips
I've been a bit of a lapsed Bond-ophile as the series has evolved over the years. I grew up with Roger Moore's slightly more campy Bond, and as an adult I worked my way through the Connery years for a little historical perspective...and yes, I even gave Timothy Dalton a try. But by the time Pierce Brosnan had stepped in I had tuned out. The arrival of Daniel Craig as our new Bond was the chance to reignite a franchise, and say what you will about Casino Royale, (and there is plenty to complain about, which for the purposes of time and brevity, I won't get into here) Craig proved that he could hold his ground as 007. But no matter what I may have thought about Royale, by the time the credits rolled on Quantum of Solace, all was forgiven.
So today's Credits Report might be a bit of a cheat because really, it's about two scenes: the opening car chase, and the iconic Bond theme by Alica Keys and Jack White. So first let's get to that car chase. Well, you can't have Bond without a little vehicular mayhem and Forster delivers with expert uses of sound and stunts. We even get Bond delivering a rare moment of cheekiness before those opening chords of Solace's theme.
After the jump; a few words about Keys and White's 'Bond Song' and two worthy additions to Bond's canon of car chases and snazzy credit sequences...
Terrific Trailers: Casino Royale
Filed under: Action, Thrillers, Movie Marketing, James Bond, Daniel Craig, Trailers and Clips
If the true measure of a good trailer is that it makes you want to see the movie that's being advertised, my definition of a terrific trailer is one that makes you want to see a movie again -- after you've already seen it several times. The trailer for Martin Campbell's Casino Royale fits that definition to a "T."
Granted, any trailer for a James Bond movie has the advantage of familiarity. Yet that same familiarity can breed contempt, and the last two Bond flicks with Pierce Brosnan (The World is Not Enough, Die Another Day) had soured me on the spy that I once loved. The casting of blonde, undersized Daniel Craig did not inspire much confidence. But the Casino Royale trailer really raised my expectations, and the movie itself fully delivered on its promise. I've ended up watching the movie multiple times since its release.
In retrospect, the trailer gives away bits and pieces from the entire movie, but it starts smart by spending its first thirty seconds in black and white, then shifting to color and introducing everyone we need to know, squeezing in a bit of cheesecake (Eva Green in an evening gown), a touch of beefcake (Daniel Craig emerging from the ocean), and then revving up to full-tilt action, accompanied by a jazzed-up version of the James Bond theme music. Watching the trailer reminds me of all the high points and makes we want to see it again ... right now!
After the jump: Watch the Casino Royale trailer.
James Bond 23 Hires Peter Morgan
Filed under: Action, Drama, Thrillers, Deals, MGM, Scripts, Newsstand, James Bond, Remakes and Sequels
If anything can make you forget the disappointment of Quantum of Solace, it's the news that James Bond 23 has taken the first big steps into production. No, that's not casting Bond girls or plotting explosions, but writing the script. Not surprisingly, producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli have looked again to the cream of Britain's film crop and hired a man who's gotten some attention at the Oscars lately: Peter Morgan. Few of his scripts have gone wrong (The Other Boleyn Girl is one mark on an otherwise impeccable record .. and even then, it's not that bad) and he'll definitely lend a lot of gravitas to the project. A lot.Morgan won't be penning 23 solo, however. He's got some old hands in
Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (the pens behind both Quantum and Casino Royale), who are returning to the franchise ... and well, so long Paul Haggis. I guess he's taking the fall for Quantum.
So, now to find that new director. Rumors swirled that Danny Boyle had been offered the job, but that was quickly shot down by Boyle in an e-mail to EW. While it's always possible he could duck in once the script is done, we need to look to the rest of the United Kingdom ... and possibly to Morgan himself, who is about to make his directorial debut with The Special Relationship.
Discuss: The Curious Case of the Curious Cases
Filed under: Lionsgate Films, MGM, 20th Century Fox, Home Entertainment, James Bond, Daniel Craig
When I opened up a couple of Lionsgate DVDs last month, I noticed that the cover portion of each plastic case had a sizable hole in it, shaped like a recycling symbol. It seemed like a nice gesture, though I'm not entirely sure how much good that much plastic would do in its absence (nor how much more I would personally recycle at the mere sight of a reminder).Then, a friend of mine opened up his Blu-ray copy of Fox/MGM's Quantum of Solace to discover similar holes. "Environmental friendly?," he noted. "Maybe. Far less sturdy and protective? Yes." (Or maybe he was just describing Bond in the movie, ZING!)
What do you guys and girls think about this recurring development? Do you believe it's a worthwhile effort on behalf of the studios to reduce waste, or would you rather shell out your hard-earned dollar for your movies to be kept in a proper and complete case?
Laughable Rumor of the Week: Jennifer Aniston, Bond Girl
Filed under: Casting, Celebrities and Controversy, James Bond
There are many roles I can see Jennifer Aniston in, from wacky friend to indie moonlighting. But while we've often seen her rocking a bikini in the tabloids, I never thought it would lead to the biggest bombshell cinematic gig out there -- Bond girl.The latest rumor cooking up at the Daily Express (as outlined on Ace Showbiz) states that after Aniston told Elle Magazine that she'd love to do a James Bond action flick with Daniel Craig, she perked up the ears over at EON, Bond's production company. The source is quoted as saying: "We're always looking for the next Bond girl. She has to be beautiful but she also needs to have brains. It helps if she's athletic and able to keep up with the intense stunt work a Bond movie demands. Jennifer has all these qualities. It's great to hear she'd love to do a movie because we have used established actresses before such as Teri Hatcher and Denise Richards. It's great she's a fan." The source went on to say that it's likely she'll now be called in to meet with producers as another sequel starts brewing.
Call me crazy, but I don't see this working out. Aniston has achieved a great many things, but she's not the woman that exudes toughness and intrigue whilst making men drool. She's got her girl posse, but I rarely if ever hear men (especially action fiends) spouting Aniston love.
So, in honor of crazy casting, go wild in the comments with the most unlikely and crazy Bond girl you can think of. Would anyone be more surprising than Aniston?
Danny Boyle + James Bond = ???
Filed under: Action, RumorMonger, James Bond, Remakes and Sequels
England's irreverent newspaper The Sun is notorious for printing stories that have not been 100% fact-checked and that may well be entirely false. (The Sun was like the blogosphere before the blogosphere existed.) Nonetheless, they get it right now and then, and they ran a particularly tantalizing rumor today: Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle has been asked to make the next James Bond movie. Remember, this is shaky. The best The Sun can do is cite an anonymous source -- and all this alleged source says is that Boyle has been offered the film, not that he's accepted, or is even seriously considering it. It seems reasonable that the offer would be made, though. Obviously he's in high demand after winning the Oscar last week, and at various times all sorts of directors, from Tarantino to Spielberg, have been rumored to be interested in making a Bond film. Furthermore, Boyle is British, which used to be a prerequisite for a Bond director but has not been enforced lately.
The question is, would he be a good fit? One of the things I like about Boyle is that he's proven adept at an astonishing variety of genres, from horror to whimsy to sci-fi to whatever Slumdog was. I have no doubt he could make a full-bore espionage caper if he wanted to, and he could probably dig the franchise out of the Jason Bourne-copying rut it got stuck in with Quantum of Solace.
Holiday Movie Junk: Swatch 007 Villains Collection
Filed under: Fandom, Home Entertainment, James Bond, Holiday Movie Junk
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Our Holiday Movie Junk series continues today with a nifty collection from Swatch called the 007 Villains Collection, which are a collection of 22 Swatch watches inspired by the 22 villains in the Bond series. If you're like me, you have no idea what you want this holiday season and pressure is mounting from loved ones who "just want to get their f**king Christmas shopping done already!" Well good news is you should definitely find a nifty purchase somewhere in here. Personally, I love stylish ways to pimp out your movie geek persona, and if you're a James Bond fan (I know plenty of you are Bond fanatics), there are some very cool watches in here (like the one above, based on the villain from Live and Let Die).
We've gone and built a gallery of our favorites to give you a little taste of what they have, then feel free to head on over to the Swatch site to pick one (or four) up. Right now, it looks like only 12 watches are available for purchase online, and they range in price from $60 to $245. (You can also buy the entire collection for a cheap $4,000.)
[via Superpunch]
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