By Brett Sporich
Thu Jun 5, 3:25 AM ET LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - MGM Home Entertainment's latest James Bond release, "Die Another Day," starring Pierce Brosnan (news) and Halle Berry (news), appears to have sold more than 1 million DVD units during its first day in release this week.
As evidence of hefty demand for the DVD release, two of the studio's major retailers were placing re-orders by its second day on store shelves, according to several industry sources.
The studio is believed to have initially shipped 8 million combined DVD and VHS units of "Die Another Day" to retailers nationwide, with an additional 8 million combined units destined for markets overseas.
With the VHS version priced for rental, consumers have been snatching up two different DVD versions of the film (widescreen and full-screen) for about $20 each, according to an informal survey of national retailers.
Warner Home Video's release of "The Animatrix" during the same frame this week also has been selling briskly at a low-$17-a-disc nationwide, according to several major retailers.
"Animatrix" features the voices of Keanu Reeves (news) and Carrie-Anne Moss (news) in two of nine animated shorts along with a techno soundtrack that has become the audio signature of the "Matrix's" billion-dollar video and game franchise.
Touchstone's thriller "The Recruit," starring Al Pacino (news) and Colin Farrell (news), topped Nielsen VideoScan's First Alert DVD sales chart for the week ending June 1 and topped Video Store magazine's weekly rental chart during the same frame, earning an estimated $11.53 million in gross rental revenue its debut week.
Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment's comedy "National Security," starring Martin Lawrence (news), debuted at No. 2 on VideoScan's First Alert DVD sales chart and at No. 3 on Video Store's weekly rental chart, earning an estimated $10.13 million in gross rental revenue.
Universal Studios Home Video's three-time Oscar-winning World War II drama "The Pianist," starring Adrien Brody (news), debuted at No. 3 on VideoScan's First Alert DVD sales chart and at No. 7 on Video Store's weekly rental chart, earning an estimated $8.45 million during its first five days on rental shelves.
Meanwhile, "Head of State," Chris Rock (news)'s directorial debut comedy about a political puppet-turned-presidential contender, is slated to hit retail shelves on DVD and rental stores on VHS on Aug. 12, according to DreamWorks Home Entertainment executives.
The DVD features a commentary track by Rock, poking fun at his foray into the world of directing along with never-before-seen footage and deleted scenes, among other extras. The DVD is expected to retail for about $20, while the VHS is priced for rental.
DHE's comedy "Walk the Talk," staring Salvatore Coco and Nikki Bennett, also is slated for a similar DVD/VHS release Aug. 12.
Universal Studios Home Video announced that it has brought the cast and filmmakers of the "American Pie" franchise together again for two new DVDs that will come free with the purchase of re-released "American Pie" and "American Pie 2" DVDs.
The "Beneath the Crust 1 and 2" DVDs give audiences a look into the making of the first two "American Pie" movies and will hit store shelves on a limited basis July 29, shortly before the third film in the series, "American Wedding," debuts in theaters.
The "American Pie" and "American Pie 2" DVDs will include a mail-in rebate offer for a free ticket to "American Wedding." Each new "Pie" disc is expected to retail for about $27.
Nielsen VideoScan is a service of VNU that collects VHS and DVD sales data from a sampling of all categories of retail stores. VideoScan charts do not include sales data from Wal-Mart and Toys "R" Us. Most other sell-through retailers are represented.
Video Store magazine, a leading business-to-business weekly serving the home entertainment industry, compiles and analyzes VHS and DVD rental data through an interactive methodology using a multisource predictive model with data from a statistically significant national sample of video retailers.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
Henry Ford's better idea turns 100
1903: a banner year for genius
It was 1969 and I had been in the Navy for a year.
Back home on leave from electronics school in Tennessee, I discovered my dad had purchased a used 1966 cream-colored Ford Mustang.
It was a hardtop, but I fell in love with its sportiness, floor shifter, bucket seats and the looks the pony car drew.
And yes, it was a babe magnet.
I picked up a date and she quickly scooted from the passenger bucket seat onto the shifter console, right close to me.
I remember late night (or was it early morning?) drives from Washington, D.C. to work at Naval Air Station Norfolk. I also remember the time it began to snow and 15 miles from home, the Mustang's light rear end rotated clockwise when the tires lost traction and we came to rest facing backwards in the ditch alongside Route 13.
Because the embankment was shallow, I just pulled back onto the highway and continued on. When you're 20 years old, you're pretty much invincible.
I was attached to a fighter jet squadron at NAS Oceana and when we deployed to the Mediterranean, I handed over the keys to my little sister. Eight months later, I got off the bus to find she had traded it for a Ford Pinto. A Pinto!
I still miss that car.
This week, if you've watched any television at all or listened to the radio, you're aware this is the 100th anniversary of Henry Ford's little business, the Ford Motor Company.
Henry started out on the family farm at Dearborn, Mich. and quickly discovered he had a knack for things mechanical. At 16, he went to Detroit to work as an apprentice machinist. Twelve years later, he went to work at the Edison Illuminating Company as an engineer and quickly worked his way up to chief engineer.
Ford was one of several pioneers who came up with gasoline-powered "horseless carriages." He stuck with automobiles and on June 16, 1903, Ford Motor Company was officially incorporated. !n 1908, the factory started cranking out its famous Model T.
Shortly thereafter, the company retooled operations to its innovative moving assembly line -- workers stayed put while vehicles moved past.
The rest, as they say, is highway history.
Now Ford Motor Company is global and a family of brands including Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar, Mazda, Land Rover, Volvo and Aston Martin -- the maker of the James Bond spy car.
Actor Sean Connery, the original movie Bond, drove a Q-tricked out Aston Martin DB5 in "Goldfinger," the third secret agent flick.
Previously, in "Dr. No," Connery was taken for a high-speed ride by one of the bad gals in a Mustang on some exotic Caribbean island. In last year's "Die Another Day," Pierce Brosnan, the latest version of Bond, battled nasty dudes in the stunningly cool Aston Martin V12 Vanquish. His American spy counterpart, played by Hallie Berry, drove the 2003 limited edition 007 Ford Thunderbird.
Ford produced only 700 (007 backwards) of the special T-birds and the Henry Ford Museum is selling raffle tickets for a chance to win one. The "View to a Thrill" raffle drawing is Sept. 1.
Otherwise, if you motor to the museum on June 27, for $50 you can get into the "Bond. James Bond Premiere Party" celebrating the opening of the International Traveling Blockbuster Exhibit, which runs from June 28 to the end of December.
It's a black tie affair. Bikinis are optional, according to invitations.
But you don't have to be into Bond to dig Fords.
Moses Lake Junkman Monte Holm has a half dozen vintage Ford autos in his "House of Poverty" museum, located on West Broadway next to the railroad tracks.
Lined up in the museum is a 1917 Ford one-ton pickup truck -- "you shake hands with that to start" -- with hard rubber tires, the former hobo said. He also owns a 1927
Ford roadster, 1929 sports roadster, a 1930 Ford pickup -- "which is quite rare," Monte noted -- and an original and last 1997 model production line Thunderbird built.
Among his collection is a 1932 Packard, a 1919 Oldsmobile and a 1917 Mitchell, the model his father drove the family around in.
"I kind of favor that Mitchell," Holm admitted.
If you want to buy a new Ford product now, in Grant County Discovery Ford in Moses Lake and Jess Ford in Grand Coulee are the only dealerships.
But in the 1950s and '60s, Johnson Motors in Ephrata was the place to shop, according to realtor and former mayor Les Parr.
"Johnson Motors was the largest in the Columbia Basin," he said. "He had a very successful dealership."
Pat Whitham, director of the Grant County Historical Museum, noted Johnson Motors started out in 1929 and closed in 1972 or 73.
Parr said there was a former Ford store in Quincy, as well.
The new Fords aren't looking quite as classy as they used to. But Discovery's showroom houses a very nice black 2003 Mustang. And sales manager-in-training Bobby Jackson is more than willing to fit you in to that comfortable bucket seat.
In Grant County, Ford products are "quite popular," said General Sales Manager Randy McNair.
"They're the number one work truck," he added.
Popular songwriters have written about "Mustang Sally," drivers "crazy 'bout a Mercury" and the "Hot Rod Lincoln."
So, whether you like Fairlanes, Galaxies, Custom 300s, Model Ts or Cobras -- take a minute to thank Hank on this centennial celebration.
And if the Aston Martin Vanquish is not in the cards for this reporter, I'll take a Mustang -- shaken, not stirred.
BY JEFFREY M. ANDERSON Of The Examiner Staff
06/16/2003Looking at "Die Another Day" (2002, MGM/UA, $29.98) for a third time at home in the new two-disc special edition, it reveals itself to be one of the sturdier and darker of James Bond films. That the movie shows James (Pierce Brosnan) enduring months of torture during the opening Madonna song already indicates new life in the old series.
Eventually it does downshift into the old formula, which can be disappointing the first time around. But subsequent viewings get better and better as James fights an evil British thrill-seeker (Toby Stephens) with the help of sexy Jinx (Halle Berry). The second disc contains lots of technical featurettes, the full Madonna video and other stuff. Director Lee Tamahori ("Once Were Warriors") provides a commentary track, as does Brosnan and sexy Bond girl No. 2 Rosamund Pike.
With his exquisite taste in women, clothes, cars, booze and weaponry, it's clear that as a moviegoer, James Bond would not go for trashy movies like "2 Fast 2 Furious." I suspect that a man who frequents Paris would prefer something equally exquisite, like the films of Robert Bresson.
Everyone who loves movies eventually comes to Bresson. The French-born filmmaker (1907-99) developed his theories on cinema early, likening it to a marriage between art and music, rather than theater and photography as most other filmmakers imagined.
Most writers use the word "austere" to describe his work. He sometimes leaves out crucial events and focuses heavily on seemingly mundane details -- especially feet. He loves to study feet walking or climbing stairs, transporting humans from place to place.
Bresson never used trained actors or movie stars. He preferred his "models," as he called them, people who could be molded to act and react exactly as he specified without their own interpretation or input.
And he worked slowly, turning out only 13 features and one short in his 50-year career.
The finished works probably sound aggravating, but they're poetic, passionate, alive and transforming in ways that no other filmmaker's works can ever dream of being.
Now the very first Bresson film to be released on DVD has arrived, and it's probably the most atypical of all his works, made early on before he established his working methods. But his talents are still clearly evident, and "Les Dames du Bois de Boulogne" (1945, Criterion Collection, $29.95) remains an absolute must for DVD fans.
Not only is "Les Dames" a melodrama featuring a known star, but it was co-written by Jean Cocteau, who added his own subtle flourishes while adapting the source novel.
Maria Casares ("Les Enfants du paradis," "Orpheus") stars as a beautiful high-class society woman who tries to trick her lover (Paul Bernard) into a deeper commitment by staging a fake breakup -- except that he agrees. To get revenge, she rounds up a prostitute (Elina Labourdette), turns her into a society woman, and tricks him lover into marrying her, only to reveal the truth on his wedding day. (Scandal!)
Bresson's treatment of the material has the marks of his later style, but it's also more overtly stylized than any of his later works. Criterion's DVD preserves the film's beautiful lighting and contains two terrific essays by local critic David Thomson and the late Francois Truffaut, and a still gallery showing the director at work.
While "Les Dames du Bois du Boulogne" is the only Bresson available on DVD, New Yorker Home Video has recently re-priced and re-released five other titles on VHS. Until the DVDs become available, these are far better than nothing.
"A Man Escaped" (1956, New Yorker, $19.95, VHS only) is arguably Bresson's most accessible film, based on the true story of Andre Devigny, a French freedom fighter imprisoned by the Germans during the occupation. Documenting the painstaking process of escaping from prison, Bresson lingers over every detail in the hero's cell: the high window, the thickness of the door, the bedframe, etc. And despite the director's rigorous pacing, he manages to build serious suspense.
In "Pickpocket" (1959, New Yorker, $19.95, VHS only) a young man believes himself above and beyond ordinary men and so justifies his actions with crime. Bresson of course shows us the details and rituals behind pickpocketing, while the hero wrestles with a Dostoyevskian conflict; does he really want to be caught? The final moment, during which the hero discovers the love of the devoted girl while behind bars, inspired Paul Schrader to pay homage with his "American Gigolo."
Released the same year as "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," "Lancelot du Lac" (1974, New Yorker, $19.95, VHS only) is its diametric opposite.
It's an extremely difficult, deliberately unheroic film, taking place after the glory of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table has faded (they have failed to find the Holy Grail). Lancelot has a fling with Guinevere, raising the ire of the rest of the knights. Bresson preoccupies himself with watching the movement of the men within the heavy, clunky armor. Even a jousting scene forgoes rudimentary suspense in favor of small details.
Even darker than "Lancelot," but much clearer, "The Devil Probably" (1977, New Yorker, $19.95, VHS only) is also Bresson's most overtly political film. It focuses on Charles, an androgynous, nihilistic activist who wanders through life slowly rejecting everything, from psychoanalysis to money. He callously sleeps with two of his female friends and eventually opts for suicide. He hires a thug friend to pull the trigger, and Bresson shows him the ultimate injustice by cutting him off in mid-sentence. The filmmaker intersperses little industrial films about the environment throughout, heightening the despair.
"L'Argent" (1983, New Yorker, $19.95, VHS only) was Bresson's final film, and a great masterpiece. Based loosely on a story by Leo Tolstoy, the film follows a forged bank note. The upper-class perpetrators pass it in a Paris shop and get away with it, while the innocent Yvon (Christian Patey) takes the blame and winds up on a path to crime and self-destruction.
A BOND beauty was kicked and beaten by a brutal mugger who threatened to slash her face with scissors.
Sexy Catherine McQueen, 27, said: "I really thought I was going to die."
The robber pounced as the actress - who appeared with 007 Pierce Brosnan (left) in Die Another Day - arrived home in the early hours after an awards bash.
Catherine said: "He appeared from nowhere and pushed me into an alley .
"He held the scissors to my face and said, 'Give me your money or I will cut you.' I've had martial arts training but I was terrified and froze. Then he punched me to the ground and started kicking me on my face and body.
"My heart was pounding. I was crying with pain and begging him to stop."
Catherine, a sensation when she modelled for sexy Ultimo bra ads, was left badly bruised.
But a passer-by alerted by her screams saved her from worse injury. She said: "This man probably saved my life. He checked I was OK then chased after the mugger, who had grabbed my camera and phone. The man caught him and retrieved my camera but then the attacker escaped."
Catherine had taken a cab from London's trendy Chinawhite club where she partied with model pals and celebrities such as Calum Best after an awards bash run by FHM magazine.
The mugger struck after she got out at a cash machine a few minutes walk from her north London home.
She said: "It was a horrible ordeal. My bruises are healing but the memory still haunts me."
Rachel Grant says Scots men stink - but only those who dance like geeks
A Rick Fulton Exclusive
Jun 11 2003. LYNX babe Rachel Grant has a nose for what she likes in a man - and she reckons Scots men stink.
But only when they try to impress her by mimicking the famous cheesy dance routine used by the geek in the Lynx TV advert.
The half-Filipino actress, 26, came into contact with dodgy Scots dancers in Glasgow, where she has been filming the UK's first martial arts film, The Pacifiers, for the past month.
At weekends the cast would go clubbing in the city and it was there that Rachel, who was a Bond girl in Die Another Day, came across the would- be Romeos hoping to copy the Lynx ad geek and cop off with the stunning star.
She said: "We'd go to the Art School and Tiger Tiger and a lot of people were doing the moves when they saw me.
"It was funny, though, and it didn't happen enough to make me annoyed.
"But I'm afraid to say if a man danced like the one in the advert I'd run a mile. I certainly wouldn't be attracted by someone dancing.
"I go for personality like humour, generosity and kindness.
"I'm too busy and don't have a place for a boyfriend. But I'm not lonely. Someone would slow me down."
"They would also have to put up with me being in men's mags. Some guys have a problem with that."
Some guys might also have a problem with her being related to the late Queen Mother.
Rachel was born Rachel Louise Grent de Longueuil on the island of Luzon north of the Philippines.
But her great grandmother was one Ernestine Maud Bowes-Lyon - first cousin to the Queen Mum and born in Glamis Castle, Perthshire.
Rachel, who also starred in Blue Murder with Men Behaving Badly's Caroline Quentin, said: "I haven't had the time to visit Glamis.
"It's very strange to be related to the Queen and know that Prince Williams is only a car ride away in St Andrews.
"I haven't met any of them but my sister Rebecca went to Glamis and saw a grandfather clock dedicated to our family - which is amazing."
Rachel is used to moving in high circles, having been Lara Croft's body double in the first Tomb Raider film as well as a professional dancer for Westlife, Robbie Williams and Toni Braxton.
But after 10 years in showbiz, Rachel only began to make it big when she starred opposite Pierce Brosnan in Die Another Day as Chinese agent Peaceful Fountains Of Desire. She said: "It's strange going from a body double to a Bond girl."
Now Rachel is looking forward to making a splash in Scotland in The Pacifiers.
She said: "It's going to be ground-breaking.
"There is a fight scene every five minutes.
"It's set in the future and is about a group of vigilantes."
Well, it's got to be better than messing about in adverts for men's deodorants.
Pierce Power Finally Shines through with best actor, best film
nominations:Saturn Awards
The 29th Annual Saturn Awards Nominations - Feature Film Category
TWO TOWERS and MINORITY REPORT lead the pack
By: ERIC MORO
Wednesday, March 5, 2003
CINESCAPE and The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror
Films announced today the nominees for the 2003 Saturn Awards
ceremony. Leading the pack in the feature film category with a
whopping 10 nominations each are THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO
TOWERS and MINORITY REPORT, followed closely behind by STAR WARS:
EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (six nominations), HARRY POTTER AND
THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (five nominations) and SPIDER-MAN (five
nominations).
Here is the complete list of feature film nominations:
BEST SCIENCE FICTION FILM
MEN IN BLACK 2 (Sony)
MINORITY REPORT (20th Century Fox)
SIGNS (Buena Vista)
SOLARIS (20th Century Fox)
STAR TREK: NEMESIS (Paramount)
STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (20th Century
Fox/Lucasfilm)
BEST FANTASY FILM
HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (Warner Bros.)
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (New Line Cinema)
REIGN OF FIRE (Buena Vista)
THE SANTA CLAUSE 2 (Buena Vista)
THE SCORPION KING (Universal)
SPIDER-MAN (Sony)
BEST HORROR FILM
BLADE 2 (New Line Cinema)
EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS (Warner Bros.)
FRAILTY (Lions Gate)
QUEEN OF THE DAMNED (Warner Bros.)
RESIDENT EVIL (Screen Gems)
THE RING (Dreamworks SKG)
BEST ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLER FILM
THE BOURNE IDENTITY (Universal)
DIE ANOTHER DAY (MGM/UA)
ONE HOUR PHOTO (Fox Searchlight)
RED DRAGON (Universal)
ROAD TO PERDITION (Dreamworks SKG)
XXX (Sony / Revolution)
BEST ANIMATED FILM
ICE AGE (20th Century Fox)
LILO & STITCH (Buena Vista)
SPIRITED AWAY (Buena Vista)
TREASURE PLANET (Buena Vista)
BEST ACTOR
Pierce Brosnan DIE ANOTHER DAY (MGM/UA)
George Clooney SOLARIS(20th Century Fox)
Tom Cruise MINORITY REPORT(20th Century Fox)
Tobey Maguire SPIDER-MAN(Sony)
Viggo Mortensen THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS(New Line
Cinema)
Robin Williams ONE HOUR PHOTO(Fox Searchlight)
BEST ACTRESS
Kirsten Dunst SPIDER-MAN(Sony)
Jodie Foster PANIC ROOM(Sony)
Milla Jovovich RESIDENT EVIL(Screen Gems)
Natascha McElhone SOLARIS(20th Century Fox)
Natalie Portman STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES(20th
Century Fox)
Naomi Watts THE RING(Dreamworks SKG)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Ralph Fiennes RED DRAGON(Universal)
Tom Hardy STAR TREK: NEMESIS(Paramount)
Andy Serkis THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS(New Line Cinema)
Toby Stephens DIE ANOTHER DAY(MGM/UA)
Max Von Sydow MINORITY REPORT(20th Century Fox)
Robin Williams INSOMNIA(Warner Bros.)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Halle Berry DIE ANOTHER DAY(MGM/UA)
Samantha Morton MINORITY REPORT(20th Century Fox)
Connie Nielsen ONE HOUR PHOTO(Fox Searchlight)
Rachel Roberts SIMONE(New Line Cinema)
Sissy Spacek TUCK EVERLASTING (Buena Vista)
Emily Watson RED DRAGON (Universal)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY A YOUNGER ACTOR
Alexis Bledel TUCK EVERLASTING (Buena Vista)
Hayden Christensen STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES
(20th Century Fox)
Tyler Hoechlin ROAD TO PERDITION(Dreamworks SKG)
Daniel Radcliffe HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS(Warner
Bros.)
Jeremy Sumpter FRAILTY(Lions Gate)
Elijah Wood THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS(New Line Cinema)
BEST DIRECTION
Chris Columbus HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (Warner
Bros.)
Peter Jackson THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (New Line
Cinema)
George Lucas STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (20th
Century Fox)
Bill Paxton FRAILTY (Lions Gate)
Sam Raimi SPIDER-MAN (Sony)
Steven Spielberg MINORITY REPORT (20th Century Fox)
BEST WRITING
Scott Frank and Jon Cohen MINORITY REPORT(20th Century Fox)
Brent Hanley FRAILTY(Lions Gate)
Hayao Miyazaki, Cindy Davis Hewitt & Donald H. Hewitt (English
version) SPIRITED AWAY(Buena Vista)
Mark Romanek ONE HOUR PHOTO(Fox Searchlight) v
Hillary Seitz INSOMNIA(Warner Bros.)
Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Stephen Sinclair & Peter Jackson THE
LORD OF THE RINGS:THE TWO TOWERS (New Line Cinema)
BEST MUSIC
Danny Elfman SPIDER-MAN(Sony)
Reinhold Heil & Johnny Klimek ONE HOUR PHOTO (Fox Searchlight)
Jo Hisaishi SPIRITED AWAY(Buena Vista)
Howard Shore THE LORD OF THE RINGS:THE TWO TOWERS (New Line Cinema)
John Williams MINORITY REPORT(20th Century Fox)v
John Williams STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES(20th
Century Fox)
BEST COSTUME
Deena Appel AUSTIN POWERS IN GOLDMEMBER(New Line Cinema)
Trisha Biggar STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES (20th
Century Fox)
Ngila Dickson THE LORD OF THE RINGS:THE TWO TOWERS(New Line Cinema)
Lindy Hemming HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS(Warner Bros.) <
Bob Ringwood STAR TREK: NEMESIS (Paramount)
Deborah L. Scott MINORITY REPORT (20th Century Fox)
BEST MAKE-UP
Michelle Taylor, Gary Matanky, Bob Newton, & Mark Boley BLADE 2(New
Line Cinema)
>
Nick Dudman & Amanda Knight HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
(Warner Bros.)
Peter Owen & Peter King THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS (New
Line Cinema) v
Michele Burke-Winter, Camille Calvet, & KNB Effects Group, Inc.
MINORITY REPORT (20th Century Fox)
Rick Baker, Jean A. Black & Bill Sturgeon THE RING (Dreamworks SKG)
Michael Westmore STAR TREK: NEMESIS (Paramount)
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
John Mitchell, Nick Davis, John Richardson & Bill George HARRY
POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (Warner Bros.)
Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri, Randall William Cook & Alex Funke THE LORD
OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS(New Line Cinema)
Scott Farrar, Henry La Bounta, Michael Lantieri, & Nathan McGuiness
MINORITY REPORT(20th Century Fox)
John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony LaMolinara & John Frazier
SPIDER-MAN (Sony)
Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll & Ben Snow STAR WARS: EPISODE
II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES(20th Century Fox)
John Hynek, Matthew Butler, Sean Andrew Faden, & John Frazier XXX
(Sony/Revolution)
By Scott Hettrick
Fri February 28, 2003 03:04 AM ET
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - MGM is bringing "Die Another Day" back to
theaters this May. Kind of.
Audiences who sit down to watch this summer's "2 Fast 2 Furious," "The Matrix Reloaded" and "X-Men 2" will see a new trailer for "Die Another Day," the most recent 007 outing that grossed $160 million in the United States.
But this time, the studio will be promoting the June 3 DVD release.
The 30-second trailer will be tailored to moviegoers at more than 900 theaters nationwide. MGM's deal for the unique promotion targeting other movies with similar demographic appeal was struck with Regal Cinemas nationwide and NCN, a company that provides pre-feature ads to multiple theaters in the top 14 markets, including the AMC and Pacific chains.
Other movies to which the trailer will be attached are "Daddy Daycare," "Bruce Almighty" and "The Italian Job."
The double-disc "Die Another Day" should easily become the top- selling 007 movie on the DVD format because that market has grown significantly since the last Bond movie, "The World Is Not Enough," was released three years ago.
But it will not have the kind of overall opening-weekend unit sales and revenue numbers of some of the biggest titles in recent months, such as "Spider-Man" and "Monsters, Inc.," as MGM continues to introduce the VHS versions of the 007 movies as rentals before repricing them to be purchased on videocassette months later.
Like all the 007 DVDs, "Die Another Day" will be loaded with seven hours of extras, including the first audio commentary by the actor playing Bond. Pierce Brosnan teams with co-star Rosamund Pike for his audio track, while director Lee Tamahori and producer Michael G. Wilson also will provide an audio commentary.
In other DVD news, DreamWorks has slated May 6 as the DVD release date for "Catch Me if You Can."
The film's retro-style opening credit sequences are emulated in customized menus for each of the many extra features on the two-disc set.
Co-star Leonardo DiCaprio talks extensively about his approach to the con artist character of Frank W. Abagnale Jr., who is also profiled separately in a featurette. The FBI's real-life investigation is chronicled as well.
Also announced this week for DVD release are Focus Features' "Far From Heaven" through Universal, set for April 1, and Warner's "Two Weeks Notice," slated for April 29.
Review by Aaron Beierle | posted May 29, 2003
The Movie:
007 has now been on-screen for 40 years, going on 20 adventures. Over the years, special effects have gotten consistently more seamless, action scenes are always trying to top the latest one and movies in general have become a bigger business. This continues to be an issue lately, as franchises like "Star Trek" and Bond continue to face newer, sleeker competition. Aside from "XXX", which most have talked about as a new "Bond"-ian series, other films such as "The Bourne Identity" and maybe "Spy Game" have done Bond better lately.
"Die Another Day" is really just another Bond film - no more, maybe a bit less. The action is a cut above the last couple of pictures, the story is sufficently entertaining, but getting down to the bare basics, there's really nothing out of the double-0-ordinary for a Bond movie here. The picture opens with Bond surfing into Korea to do a diamonds-for-arms deal which goes sour when the bad guys in question find out that Bond's....well, Bond. He's captured, leading to fourteen months in a prison before being transfered out in a trade. His superiors are displeased, believing that Bond gave up secrets while in prison.
Displeased with possible suspension, Bond escapes, heading to both Cuba and Iceland in an attempt to catch Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens), the lead in a new weapons program. There's also an American agent called Jinx (Berry) and a North Korean agent named Zao (Rick Yune), who Bond was traded for to be released. Michael Madsen even shows up as a US agent, and Rosamund Pike shows up as a mysterious fellow MI6 agent.
Director Lee Tamahori takes over as a Bond director this time around and the results are simply okay. The movie starts off fairly well, with a nicely done action sequence, but the story by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade is awfully bland, making all the exposition mid-movie rather uncompelling. There's also a few noticably ripe pieces of dialogue. The action-heavy last quarter of the picture becomes ridiculous, and although the scenes are fairly good in theory, the ef fects are surprisingly mediocre (there's a surfing sequence late in the film that looks particularly bad, almost as if it was a few stages away from completion) for such a major production. Berry's light performance also seemed out-of-place in a film that seemed to lack the usual 007 humor. Hopefully, the character's spinoff (which seems odd, given that we really don't learn much of anything about her here) will be better. As for the villians, Yune makes a far better one than Graves, as Stephens' performance really wasn't at all intimidating. Sean Bean's villian in "Goldeneye" remains the best villian out of the Brosnan pictures (and, I think, the best of the Brosnan Bond films, as well.)
"Die Another Day" has moments, but it doesn't succeed in its attempt to be a little bit darker than the usual Bond fare and, as a result, the picture lacks the spirit and humor that these films occasionally weave in so well. I wonder about the choices of director for these films lately...while directors like Lee Tamahori ("Once Were Warriors" and Anthony Hopkins/Alec Baldwin picture "The Edge") and Michael Apted (the "7-up" series, the brilliant "Enigma") are talented filmmakers, they have never handled a movie of this size, nor have either really done action previously. Where's Tony or Ridley Scott when you need them?
Overall, "Die Another Day" certainly started off well, but it falls apart in the second half as it gets continually more ridiculous. Although absurdity in the action is certainly to be expected from a Bond film, the best Bond sequences in recent years (the tank chase in "Goldeneye", which was perfectly just over-the-top, with a few tidbits that showed the scene not taking itself entirely seriously) are at least somewhat grounded in reality and, while effects-driven, are largely built on practical effects and not computer-generated ones. Bond needs a stronger director, more experienced with action for the next one. Director Martin Campbell might be a good choice to return as director, as Campbell's "Goldeneye" offered the right balance of all of the Bond elements. Here's hoping that next one - whoever helms it - will be a lot better.
The DVD
VIDEO: "Die Another Day" is presented by MGM in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen (a separate, heavily cropped pan & scan edition is also available). Sharpness and detail throughout the presentation are generally quite good, although some occasional softer-looking moments were spotted. Cinematographer David Tattersall ("Star Wars Ep. 1, 2, 3") gives the picture a look that's a tad muted in sections (at least more than the usual Bond feature), going along with "Die Another Day"'s slightly darker tone.
While sharpness and detail were generally quite satisfactory, this transfer failed in several other regards. The most distracting and unpleasant flaw of this presentation is edge enhancement, which seems to be almost a constant presence throughout the movie, with obvious halos visible quite often. Unfortunately, that's not all. Occasional slight specks were visible on the print used in a couple of scenes, while a few traces of compression artifacts were also spotted.
As mentioned, the color palette varies. The opening scenes have a subdued palette, but much of the rest of the movie offers a nice, naturalistic tone in regards to colors. Colors remained vivid and without any concern throughout. Black level also remained solid, while flesh tones looked accurate. The presentation did offer some nice aspects, but there's certainly more concerns here than I'd like to see on a new release, especially one this major.
SOUND:"Die Another Day" is presented by MGM in Dolby Digital 5.1-EX and DTS 5.1-ES (The DTS track is ES Matrix, not 6.1 ES Discrete). The audio presentation is wonderful, with plenty of aggressive surround use for the action scenes and pleasing, light ambience in the rear speakers for most of the more subtle sequences. Those who have back surround capability will find that its use really does make for a more enveloping and enjoyable experience, especially during some of the action scenes. This is also certainly a dynamic soundtrack, with fierce sound effects and some pretty superb deep bass at times. Dialogue and music remained crisp and clear, as well.
EXTRAS:Commentaries: director Lee Tamahori and producer Michael G. Wilson offer one screen-specific audio commentary for the DVD, while actors Pierce Brosnan and Rosamund Pike are on the other commentary track. I liked Brosnan's contribution to his commentary, as I did with his commentary on the "Evelyn" DVD. He's complimentary and sincere about the cast and crew without turning whole stretches into "happy talk" and he gives some additional insights as to why he appreciates their work. He's also intelligent about the production process, going into fine detail about obstacles encountered during filming, and providing some very enjoyable discussion of the characters and the series. There are a few short bits of silence here and there, but it's generally a fine track.
Tamahori and Wilson offer exactly what's expected: Tamahori discusses his feelings about helming a Bond feature, the two share stories about shooting on various locations and problems that occured, they chat about how this feature varies from others and offer the occasional joke about what's going on on-screen, although the Brosnan commentary seemed consistently a bit lighter.
Datastream This feature offers an "enhanced" version of a fewature that many DVDs use. When enabled, viewers will see facts regarding the movie popping up in small boxes throughout the picture. Viewers will also be taken to additional featurettes about the making of the film at various points throughout the picture. However, unlike the usual fare where you have to click on a logo to jump to the featurette, this feature automatically opens up a larger screen for the featurette, while the movie continues on a smaller window. I appreciated not having to do all the clicking, like these features usually require.
Inside "Die Another Day": This is a feature-length documentary (80 minutes, to be exact) that starts off the second disc. Although essentially a bunch of featurettes that can be played together, these are well-produced pieces that get right to the point and take the viewer inside the making of each specific section. Rather than interviews going on about how great or wonderful each scene is, the viewer is taken behind-the-scenes through clips of the production at work and interviews that are informative. The sections are: "Intro & Surfing", "Hovercraft Chase", "Cuba", "Quartermaster', "Ice Palace", "Car Battle" and "Post Production and Finale".
Propaganda: Two teasers for "Die Another Day", the film's theatrical trailer and several TV spots are included. There's also Madonna's "Die Another Day" video, a trailer for the "007: Nightfire" video game (good video game, by the way) and a "making of" for both the video game and the music video. Lastly, trailers for "Agent Cody Banks", "Bulletproof Monk", "Evelyn: Special Edition DVD", and the "Windtalkers: Special Edition DVD" are included here.
Mission Deconstruction This section offers multi-angle looks at: "Hovercraft Chase", "Blades", "Car Battle" and "Antonov Fight" scenes. There are also script-to-screen comparisons for "Hovercraft Chase" and "Car Battle". Finally, a piece on the title sequence and another on the digital grading process used to correct skies and alter the look of the film round out the section.
Also: Rounding out the supplemental section are short pieces on Bond's gadgets, an image gallery and additional DVD-ROM features that will be available on the release date.
Final Thoughts: "Die Another Day" is a bigger Bond film than some of the other recent ones, but it's just that - bigger; the action or plot aren't particularly imaginative or original and some of the other recent Bond films have been more energetic, involving and simply, more fun. "Another Day" passes by quickly enough and has a few entertaining moments, but I was expecting more. MGM's DVD edition offers surprisingly average video quality, excellent audio and lots of supplemental features. Recommended for fans.
Bond returns for 'Another Day'
By GERRY PUTZER
After 40 years and 20 films for United Artists, James Bond is still keeping up with the times. In "Die Another Day" (MGM, 132 mins., rated PG-13, in stores Tuesday), the suave spy handles state-of-the-art gadgets and cars and performs thrilling stunts. But for the first time, a Bond adventure has a sizable amount of computer-generated imagery and such editing tricks as "Matrix"-style "speed ramping," those fast pans that suddenly switch to slow motion and back again.
The richly appointed double DVD has featurettes on the action set pieces and the postproduction, with interviews with director Lee Tamahori, the composer, editor and others. Tamahori also does a running commentary, as does star Pierce Brosnan (above) and Rosamund Pike, who plays a beautiful agent.
"Day" has an unusually grim start for a Bond movie, as 007 is imprisoned and tortured in North Korea by a rogue colonel who's smuggling diamonds to use in a satellite-borne laser that can terrorize the world. Bond proceeds to battle baddies and bed beauties - and sometimes bed baddies. Says Brosnan of his fourth 007 effort: "For me, playing the role, there's a certain sense of confidence now and relaxation and a sense of ownership."
By Bob Tourtellotte
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. has boosted initial shipments of its James Bond video and DVD, "Die Another Day," by around 1 million units due to strong, early demand ahead of next week's U.S. roll-out, MGM President Chris McGurk said Thursday.
The Bond film, which hit theaters last fall, has been MGM's biggest box office success, with nearly $430 million in global ticket sales. It is expected to be MGM's most profitable film ever after television, DVD, VHS and other sales are tallied.
In an interview with Reuters, McGurk said DVD and VHS sales of the movie starring Pierce Brosnan as super spy Bond were beating MGM's forecasts in the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Copies are set to hit U.S. retail shelves on June 3.
"It's doing enormously well in those territories. The sell through (at retail stores) percentage has exceeded our expectations and we're very, very pleased," McGurk said.
In April, MGM said it expected initial shipments of "Die Another Day" DVD and VHS units to exceed 14 million units.
"You can raise that to over 15 million," McGurk said.
That is a large number given last year's "Spider-Man" was the best-selling title ever in the United States with 12.7 million units sold, according to Video Store Magazine.
McGurk declined to break-out the percentage of the 15 million Bond units that were DVDs compared with VHS products. But in 2002, DVD unit sales eclipsed VHS.
MGM boasts the movie industry's largest modern library of films -- over 4,000 -- and the DVD's emergence as a popular home product has underpinned MGM's movie and TV production.
MALE BONDING
The Bond character, too, is one of MGM's never-say-die products. Twenty Bond films in 40 years have often lifted MGM from box office doldrums and earned billions of dollars.
Financial analyst David Miller at Sanders Morris Harris reckons other filmmakers would pay MGM as much as $400 million to make their own Bond movies. That figure excludes MGM's library of Bond titles, which Miller said was "tough to value."
Given accounting rules over marketing expenses, MGM is expected to post a second-quarter loss due to the cost of promoting the "Die Another Day" DVDs and VHS movies as well as its July movie, "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde".
McGurk said MGM was not lumping the two releases together to expense the steep costs in the same quarter and clear the books for better earnings ahead.
"We try to do the right thing for every (product) operationally. Accounting is really secondary," McGurk said.
MGM expects a strong second half of 2003 with revenues from "Die Another Day" DVD and VHS and coming movies like "Blonde," and sequels to hits, "Barbershop" and "Jeepers Creepers."
MGM does face some risks. "Legally Blonde 2" debuts July 2 against Schwarzenegger blockbuster "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines." But MGM sees "Blonde" as a solid counter-programming option for women movie fans against the male-oriented "T3."
McGurk declined to comment on MGM's view of Wall Street earnings estimates calling for a second quarter loss of 13 cents and a full year 2003 loss of 31 cents, according to a consensus of analysts polled by Thomson First Call.
"We feel very good about our release slate and television business in the second half of the year," he said.
MGM's TV production wing, which makes shows like "Jeremiah" on cable TV channel Showtime, has grown in recent years. Analyst Miller calls it MGM's "overlooked gem."
McGurk also declined to comment on MGM's acquisition activity. Industry watchers have speculated that MGM could be interested in buying Vivendi Universal's Sci Fi cable channel, as well as other properties.
Reuters/VNU 05/29/03 18:38 ET
Graham Dwyer Special to The Daily Yomiuri
Die Another Day
one star out of five
Dir: Lee Tamahori
Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Toby Stephens, Judi Dench
As the granddaddy of all movie franchises, the James Bond series should have had plenty to celebrate with Die Another Day. When it was released abroad in November, the film marked 40 years since 007's big screen debut in Dr. No, and the 20th film in the "official" series (which does not count such efforts as 1967's Casino Royale and 1983's Never Say Never Again). To emphasize the scale of this achievement, can anyone imagine Star Wars 20, Spider-Man 20 or, horror of horrors, Harry Potter 20?
But this latest Bond has also come at a time when the concept has required a rethink in the wake of younger, more hip competitors such as Vin Diesel in XXX and popular spoofs such as Austin Powers.
Up to now, Bond has survived by moving with the times, while working closely within a tried and trusted formula. However, in Die Another Day, all of these pressures combined with the need to provide something worthy of this special anniversary seem to have proven too much.
The film starts out in characteristically riveting fashion, with Bond involved in a white-knuckle chase on hovercrafts through a North Korean minefield. Here, he has a first run-in with arch villain Zao (Rick Yune), who in the process gets a face that looks like it has collided at high speed with a glass jewelry case.
Bond is then captured by the North Koreans and tortured through the grimmest Bond title sequence ever, made all the worse by a completely tuneless number sung by Madonna.
But after 14 months, 007 manages to get released only to find that what awaits him from his own side is just as bad. Complete with long hair and beard that make him look like a well-fed version of Charles Manson, he flees his captors and, disavowed by his own side, the scene is set for a classic Bond film that is going to be more gritty than ever.
The problem is, it never happens. Writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, and director Lee Tamahori, seem to have all been working simultaneously on different continents because what follows is an incoherent hodgepodge in which a diet of nonstop noise and action is used to paper over a completely nonsensical plot.
For what it's worth, it involves a trip to Cuba, where Bond uncovers a fiendish organization that can give people completely new faces. Here he also encounters, emerging from the surf, the bikini-clad Jinx (Halle Berry), one of the film's many characters who are not what they seem.
And this all somehow ties in with the Icelandic diamond business of a debonair and sinister British millionaire, Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens) and a North Korean plot to take over the world. But don't ask how, as it will take another viewing to work it all out.
At least, thanks to recent real-life events, the latter is no longer so far-fetched, although no Korean has taken very kindly to all of this. It might even cause some in Japan to break out in a sweat too, as it does all seem a bit close to home.
What is far-fetched is the basic premise surrounding Graves (which I won't go into here). Throw this in with Bond's trusty Aston Martin, which is the most unconvincing Bond device ever (it can go invisible), and Pierce Brosnan's complete lack of psychological or other scarring after 14 months in captivity in a North Korean hell hole, and you get a complete mess.
Up until now, the Bond franchise has been in fairly safe hands with Brosnan, who seemed as if he was born to the part. Yet his complete lack of depth, anger, or any sense of realism (which admittedly has never been a Bond strong point) is a major disadvantage. What was needed was a meaner, leaner Bond as was seen in the Timothy Dalton effort, License to Kill.
Worse still are some of the effects--particularly the computer- generated surfing sequence on a giant tidal wave--which would be all right for Spider-Man, but are a cop-out for genuine stunts here. Not much better are the phony Icelandic sets (Brosnan reportedly never even went there during filming) with icebergs looking every bit like they are made of polystyrene and plaster.
The best sequence, besides the opening, is the one with the least gimmicks, involving a long fencing duel between Bond and Graves. Madonna makes a guest appearance here, and, unexpectedly, I found myself wanting to see more of her in this film than this insignificant cameo.
As for the film's other women, Berry is the most hyped Bond girl ever, by virtue of last year's best actress Academy Award. Like everything else in this film, she is a massive disappointment. Her part is poorly defined, with her dialogue consisting purely of a stream of cliches straight out of 1970s "blacksploitation" films.
Newcomer Rosamund Pike as Graves' appropriately named assistant, Miranda Frost, is more appealing, although her part is fairly limited. As for Graves himself, Stephens hails from an eminent British thespian family and looks like a sort of malevolent Hugh Grant. Unfortunately, despite carrying a permanently evil smirk, he is also about as threatening as Grant and will not go down in history as the most convincing villain.
Yune, however, is fairly handy with tae kwan do, and his presence is one of the few pluses of the film. Also giving dependable service is Dame Judi Dench as spy boss M, who seems to have reverted back to the meanness of her first appearance in a Bond film back in Brosnan's Goldeneye.
Being an anniversary effort, this film has lots of nods to Bond films past. Sometimes, this is quite pleasant, as in the scene in Q's storeroom, which is full of previous gadgets. But with so many scenes culled from classic Bonds, it just all seems so derivative.
The Bond series has sufficient momentum and clout to merit at least one more effort. In other words, it lives to die another day. But the next will probably be Brosnan's last and the franchise will have to improve drastically if it is going to survive him. In the meantime, this is one best forgotten and approaches the worst efforts of the Roger Moore era as an all-time low.
The movie opens March 8.
By Hywel Trewyn Daily Post Staff
Feb 26 2003
THE body of an experienced walker missing on Snowdon since Sunday was found by rescuers close to the summit yesterday.
Richard Marsh, a stunt adviser on the James Bond blockbuster Die Another Day, sparked a search after making an emergency call to say he was in difficulties.
The body was last night formally identified as that of 33-yearold Mr Marsh, a professional diver, from Romsey, in Hampshire.
His girlfriend, family and friends were yesterday said to be "distraught".
An RAF team made the grim discovery at 1.22pm on Fantail Gully below the dangerous Crib Goch - not far from the summit of Snowdon.
It is understood Mr Marsh was employed to provide water-safety advice during potentially dangerous scenes in the latest James Bond film starring Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry. He had previously worked on Saving Private Ryan.
Mr Marsh's body was yesterday flown by North Wales Police helicopter to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, to be formally identified.
Teams of rescuers from Llanberis, Ogwen, Aberglaslyn , RAF Stafford and search and rescue dogs had been looking for him since Sunday and had been out since 8am yesterday.
But hopes of finding Mr Marsh alive were fading after rescuers spent three days searching.
He had made the 999 call to police at 6.40pm on Sunday to say that he was in difficulties.
Mr Marsh said he had hit an icy patch near the summit of the 3,560ft peak and was stuck on a ledge in darkness. It was also cloudy.
Llanberis mountain rescue gave him advice on his mobile phone but lost contact with him at 8pm.
A search was then launched involving RAF and North Wales Police helicopters and mountain rescue teams.
PC Robert Owen, stationed at Llanberis mountain rescue centre on the footholds of Snowdon, said last night Mr Marsh was a very competent and experienced walker.
He had parked his Cherokee Jeep at Pen y Pass on Sunday with the intention of either walking or running up Snowdon. The police later towed the vehicle away.
Mr Marsh had started out at 11am on Sunday morning and was hoping to carry on to Brecon.
Later on that afternoon, at around 4.45pm, he told a friend he was on his way down Snowdon but that visibility was poor. He also said that he had lost the path but there were no undue worries at that time.
PC Robert Owen, of North Wales Police, said Mr Marsh was a methodical man who would not take unnecessary risks.
He said: "His family describe him as an old head on a young pair of shoulders. Every time he did something he would always be well prepared.
"Whenever there were any instances in a film connected with water safety he would be called in."
Mr Marsh had also worked with the armed services.
http://icnorthwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/regionalnews/page.cfm?objectid=12677765&method=full&siteid=50142
By Don Groves
Tue Dec 17
SYDNEY (Variety) - A local comedy knocked "Harry Potter" off its perch in Italy, but otherwise the wiz and the James Bond juggernaut dominated the foreign box office last weekend.
The fickle French didn't spark to "Sweet Home Alabama," which fetched $415,000, 20% below "Legally Blonde." However, Disney is confident the Reese Witherspoon vehicle will click in the U.K., Australia and Germany, where it debuts this weekend.
Rob Schneider isn't a big name abroad, so, predictably, "The Hot Chick" was far from hot in Taiwan, its first foreign date, taking $103,000 in the capital Taipei -- a distant second behind "Potter's" fifth lap.
"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" conjured up an estimated $42.4 million from 45 countries, selling 7.6 million tickets, hoisting its total to $350 million. The Chris Columbus-helmed epic smashed the industry opening weekend in South Korea , nabbing $4.2 million, beating the original edition by 21%.
The fantasy/adventure rang up a stunning $8.1 million in its sophomore session in France (off 33%, yet tracking 6% ahead of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in admissions), upping its market total $23.4 million.
In Italy, the adolescent wiz whistled up $3.6 million (down 32%, in local currency a slender 4% below the first edition), tallying $10.5 million in 10 days.
"Potter" was beaten by local laffer "The Legend of Al, John and Jack," which yukked up a terrific $5 million.
The Daniel Radcliffe starrer is unchallenged at No. 1 in Japan, drumming up $7.6 million in its fourth orbit (slipping by just 22%), elevating the local total to a stellar $67.5 million.
"Die Another Day" mustered $21.6 million from 30 territories, propelling the foreign total to $122.7 million. The Pierce Brosnan /Halle Berry starrer set new benchmarks for Bond bows in seven markets, led by Australia's $2.7 million, foreign distributor Fox's fourth-highest debut locally and the biggest for a nonholiday weekend.
That was followed by Russia's $2.6 million (an industry high), Thailand's $1.17 million (a Fox record and the industry's fourth largest), Mexico's $1.68 million and Columbia's $237,000.
In Japan, "Minority Report" abated by a modest 24%, capturing $3 million at the weekend and a dandy $13.2 million in nine days. Its foreign total hit $191.5 million.
Landing in Italy, its final major market, "Road to Perdition" stole a solid $1 million, and its total reached a respectable but not exceptional $57.3 million.
"Treasure Planet" sailed into Mexico with a fair $600,000 (on par with "Toy Story" and "Pocahontas"). The toon has caught on in France, snaring $8.5 million after its third weekend wide, but is so-so in Germany ($2 million in 11 days) and Spain ($1.8 million in 10).
"Santa Clause 2" unwrapped a mediocre $380,000 in Spain (on par with the predecessor) but showed good legs in the U.K. (taking $6.2 million through its third flight), Germany ($3.1 million after its fourth) and Oz ($1.4 million in 11 days).
Reuters/Variety
Former Bonds Show Up at Premiere
By The Associated Press
Wed Nov 20
LONDON (AP) - Three former James Bond actors showed up at the world premiere of the 20th Bond adventure, "Die Another Day," starring Pierce Brosnan .
"So you're the modern James Bond are you?" said Queen Elizabeth II (news - web sites), as she was introduced to Brosnan. "I've met the other three downstairs."
She was referring to George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton and Roger Moore. Sean Connery, the very first of the Bonds, was the only one who wasn't at Monday night's event at Royal Albert Hall.
Brosnan, 49 -- on his fourth outing as the secret agent -- said he loves playing the part. "He's confident, he has style, he has a license to kill, and he has a wonderful way with women. From a male perspective you can't beat him," he said.
Large crowds gathered outside the London landmark to watch the "Die Another Day" actors show up, including Brosnan, Oscar winner Halle Berry (news) and Madonna (news - web sites), who sings the movie's theme song and has a cameo role as a fencing instructor.
The queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, joined the flashy event because the movie had been chosen as the Royal Film Performance to aid the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund.
Berry, wearing a black-and-white Oscar de la Renta gown, said she was delighted to play Bond's latest girl, Jinx. But she also noted that unlike her predecessors, Jinx is a secret agent herself and more than a match for Brosnan's 007.
"Jinx is Bond's equal," she said. "Say what you want about Bond girls, and I know people do criticize them, but the women in these films have a great allure and people want to see them."
Madonna, who arrived with her husband, Guy Ritchie, was dressed conservatively in a knee-length black cocktail dress.
"The queen asked me about Bond. I have never met her before, but surprisingly I wasn't nervous," she said.
"Die Another Day" opens Wednesday in Britain and Friday in the United States.
By CHRISTY LEMIRE, AP Entertainment Writer
Fri Nov 22 Not that there's anything wrong with Pierce Brosnan. After four films as James Bond, the role fits him like a perfectly tailored tuxedo.
But to keep up with younger, hipper imitations, "Die Another Day" -- the 20th installment of the spy franchise -- is about crashes rather than character development, explosions over exposition.
The double entendres clang like feeble frat-party flirtations. And references to gadgets and plot lines from Bond films past, intended as loving homage on the series' 40th anniversary, only make us long to be shaken and stirred like we were watching the Sean Connery films from the 1960s.
As the latest Bond girl, an American agent named Jinx, Halle Berry emerges gloriously from the ocean, just as Ursula Andress did in the first movie, "Dr. No." (She even wears a bikini similar to Andress' with a knife sheath on her hip.)
Jinx is tied down and tortured with a laser, like Connery's Bond was in "Goldfinger." Later, she endures a claustrophobic near-drowning, similar to Denise Richards' fate in "The World Is Not Enough."
And the plot has glimmers of "Diamonds Are Forever," with a villain stocking up on diamonds to pay for a deadly laser satellite.
By now, it would be hard for a new Bond film not to refer to an earlier one; the franchise has been parodied (in the "Austin Powers" movies) and reinvigorated (in the summer blockbuster "XXX") so many times, there's nothing original left.
Here, when Bond snowboards down a mountain trying to escape an avalanche, it's reminiscent of a stunt Vin Diesel pulled in "XXX" -- itself a rip-off of Roger Moore's daring skiing chase in "The Spy Who Loved Me."
That avalanche scene, by the way, brings us to another problem with this newfangled Bond: It relies too heavily on fake-looking computer-generated effects.
The best scene in the movie features a beautifully choreographed fencing duel between Bond and Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens, Maggie Smith's son), a pretty-boy adventurer and megalomaniac who announces from his frozen palace in Iceland that he's created a second sun, which he calls Icarus.
Based on that name, you know something has to fly too close to the device and burn its wings. That something would be a jumbo jet, which Jinx tries to prevent from crashing -- when she's not engaged in a duel of her own with Graves' right-hand woman, Miranda Frost (a Grace Kellyesque newcomer, Rosamund Pike), while Bond and Graves duke it out in another section of the plane.
OK, you have to walk into a James Bond movie expecting a certain level of improbability -- he's never functioned in reality, and that's much of the allure. But director Lee Tamahori's action sequences are bombastic in the beginning and grow increasingly ridiculous, to the point where you're laughing out loud instead of oohing and ahhing.
And just when you think that's the climax, the movie has to go back to North Korea, where Bond was imprisoned in the beginning, to blow up all the remaining land mines.
Beavis and Butt-head would have loved this movie. Explosions! Chicks! Heh, heh-heh.
Who wouldn't get excited over Berry, though? She's strong and sexy, a great match for the dashing Brosnan -- so much so, that MGM already is planning a film based on her character, which has never happened before with a Bond girl. She's more than that, though; she's his partner and every bit his equal.
The movie also gives Madonna the chance to redeem herself after the disastrous "Swept Away." She performs the electronica-heavy theme song, and makes an unbilled cameo as a fencing instructor; dressed in a black leather corset left over from her "Erotica" days, she quips to Bond, "I see you handle your weapon well."
At least Madonna will appear in one successful movie this year -- for no matter what critics say, Bond will survive another day at the box office.
"Die Another Day," an MGM release, is rated PG-13 for action violence and sexuality. Running time: 130 minutes. Two stars out of four.
Motion Picture Association of America rating definitions:
G -- General audiences. All ages admitted.
PG -- Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
PG-13 -- Special parental guidance strongly suggested for children under 13. Some material may be inappropriate for young children.
R -- Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
NC-17 -- No one under 17 admitted.
Through Key Product Placement And On-Line Promotion
Wednesday November 20
DENVER, CO--(INTERNET WIRE)--Nov 20, 2002 -- Three years ago, "The World is not Enough" scored historical results as Samsonite took part in a worldwide marketing effort, giving the brand enormous visibility. Today, Bond is back with "Die Another Day", the twentieth installment of the most successful film franchise in cinema history. Starring Pierce Brosnan (in his fourth film as James Bond) and Halle Berry, the film will be released on November 22, 2002. Directed by Lee Tamahori, the script was written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. "Die Another Day" also stars Toby Stephens, Rosamund Pike, Rick Yune, John Cleese, Judi Dench and Madonna. The film will be released by MGM Distribution Company in North America and through its international distributor, 20th Century Fox.
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Samsonite has participated in the film and in the launch through key product placement, promotional alliance with Best Buy stores and with in-store support at key retailers worldwide.
Samsonite's Product Placement
Just like in "The World is not Enough", Samsonite travel equipment is featured throughout the film, including cases from its Xylem(TM), Streamline and Spark(R) product lines. The Samsonite Xylem(TM) Scion aluminium business case plays a key role in the opening sequence of the film.
James Bond's newest mission begins with a spectacular high-speed hovercraft chase through a minefield in the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea - and the action doesn't let up until the credits roll. From Hong Kong to Cuba to London, Bond circles the world in his quest to unmask a traitor and prevent a war of catastrophic proportions.
On his way he crosses paths with Jinx (Oscar winner Halle Berry) and Miranda Frost (Rosamund Pike), who will play vital roles in his latest adventure. Hot on the trail of deadly megalomaniac Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens) and his ruthless right-hand man Zao (Rick Yune), Bond travels to Iceland into the villain's lair: a palace built entirely of ice. There he experiences firsthand the power of a new hi-tech weapon. Ultimately it all leads to an explosive confrontation - and an unforgettable conclusion - back in Korea where it all started.
In the beginning of the film, Bond meets Zao in Korea. Bond arrives by helicopter, carrying the Samsonite Xylem(TM) Business Case, filled with diamonds. Apparently, a transaction has been prepared. Zao's men check the contents of the case.
Best Buy Stores' 007 On-Line Promotion Features Samsonite
Samsonite has aligned with Best Buy in its on-line promotional game Danger Around Every Curve. From October 6th through October 26th consumers who logged on to www.bestbuy.com/bond and navigated their way through villainous characters, had the chance to win the grand prize- a trip to the premiere of Die Another Day and many other prizes. Four Samsonite Xylem Business Cases were awarded as 1st prizes and 10 Samsonite Ballistic Business Cases as 4th prizes. Samsonite Xylem was featured in the game scenario.
Samsonite Promotes Bond Film at Retail
Samsonite will participate in Harrods' "40 Years and 20 Films of Bond" event during the months of November and December in London. All Harrods' windows will be decorated in Bond style, and include key Bond products, e.g., Samsonite.
The Samsonite Xylem(TM) Business Case will be available at Macy's Herald Square, in New York.
About Samsonite
Samsonite has a 92-year tradition of elegant innovations, integrating clever design and interior space in travel equipment that has earned it a reputation as the global industry leader. Samsonite markets products including hardsided and softsided cases, carry-ons, garment bags, casual bags, backpacks, business cases and accessories. Samsonite Corporation's principal offices are in Denver, Colorado, with U.S. Marketing and Sales operations in Warren, Rhode Island. Consumers can find Samsonite branded products in leading travel and luggage retail and department stores. For more information, visit www.samsonite.com or call 1-800-262-8282.
Die Another Day (C)2002 Danjaq, LLC and United Artist Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Stuntmen had to come in when Brosnan jumps down stairs and when Stephens himself takes a tumble. Stephens plays Gustav Graves in the new James Bond movie.
Except for the stairs scenes, Stephens said he and Brosnan did about "99 percent" of the fencing sequence. Stephens said he became pretty good at fencing because his practice began about a month before they started shooting. He had even more practice time because Brosnan hurt his knee, which delayed the sequence. It was one of the last things they shot.
"By the time we'd gotten around I was just desperate to get it out of the way because I was sick of coming in and doing all of these lessons," Stephens told AP Radio.
Stephens also delivered all the lines in Korean by himself.
"I had a very patient translator who helped me with my Korean. And I was very flattered at the end of the shoot when they came to edit it and (producer) Mike Wilson said I was one of the few people that didn't have to be dubbed," Stephens revealed.
"Die Another Day" won the weekend box office in its debut.
NEW YORK (AP) - I'm a Bond Girl.
Wed Nov 20
Not in that purr-fect Pussy Galore way from "Goldfinger," or even in the sassy-and-sarcastic style of Halle Berry (news)'s Jinx in the new "Die Another Day." But I'm a fan of 007. And, on the surface at least, an unlikely one.
James Bond's movie image turns 40 this year, nearly a decade longer than I've been alive. (The character was born in Ian Fleming's 1953 novel "Casino Royale," then hit the big screen in 1962's "Dr No.")
He's been a smoker and a martini-drinker, and I'm neither. He jets off to the most dangerous places in the world at a moment's notice; I labored over safety ratings before I selected my new car. And Bond, whether played by Sean Connery (news), George Lazenby (news), Roger Moore (news), Timothy Dalton (news) or Pierce Brosnan (news), is an action hero. I've never seen a "Rambo" or "Terminator" movie.
But the beauty of the Bond movies is that there's something for everyone: action, glamour, scenery, gadgets, humor. The hero of the most successful series in film history never seems to age (although Moore was almost 60 in "A View to a Kill"), but he, his enemies and that winning formula just evolve with the times.
Bond detractors generally cite the cartoonish, no-blood violence, or the hokey endings in which Bond drifts off into the sunset with yet another beautiful woman.
Our hero delivers cheesy lines in all seriousness. What else would Bond say when introduced to Mr. Kill, the latest villain's henchman, but "Now, there's a name to die for"?
But going to the movies is, after all, supposed to make us forget about reality for a few hours.
Let Bond dangle from airplanes, preferably wearing a tuxedo and a smirk.
I've never cared much which Bond I was watching. Connery's smooth and sophisticated, Moore adds an endearing campiness and Brosnan is as handsome as he is charming.
I invite any of them, and Lazenby or Dalton for that matter, to come to my house and enchant me with tales of globe-trotting and death-defying exploits, in between sips of champagne and bites of beluga. (I do not, however, have any interest in dating Bond, since he goes through women faster than any of the Aston Martins he has driven.)
In saving the world, Bond also bridges smaller divides ‹ generation gaps. I couldn't have been the only grown woman out there who enjoyed watching ABC's "The Bond Picture Show" on Saturday nights with her middle-age dad earlier this year.
When I was a preteen in image-conscious Fairfield County, Conn., Bond even got me to the movie theater in a rare public appearance with my parents, to see "Octopussy."
None of us were embarrassed by the sex ‹ then, as now, mostly double entendres.
Now that we're in the 21st century, some of the early sets and gadgets seem outdated ‹ the tracking device in the "Goldfinger" car is called a GPS in my new car.
But the Bond films have always seemed modern, partially because of their filmmaking techniques, says Bruce Sciavally, co-author (with John Cork) of a new book, "James Bond: The Legacy" (Abrams). The brisk pace of the action and dialogue, much like "The West Wing (news - web sites)" on television now, was groundbreaking in the 1960s.
"Everything was very quick. There was an internal rhythm of the scene, it kept you going from one minute to the next," Sciavally says. "This way, you could introduce some implausible things that audiences wouldn't question because there wasn't enough time."
Implausible? Hmmm. Maybe the casting of Denise Richards (news), best known as a cutthroat cheerleader in "Drop Dead Gorgeous," as a nuclear-weapons expert in "The World Is Not Enough" was supposed to be one of those things we didn't have time to ponder.
Bond Girls have always claimed brains as well as beauty, but as the series has matured, they have gotten tougher, and are now expected to kick butt as well as Bond does.
Berry insists that doing a Bond movie is not a step down from her dramatic, Oscar-winning role last year in "Monster's Ball."
"It's been around for 40 years," she says of the franchise. "They have to be doing something right, for all the knocks the naysayers want to throw at it."
One thing that hasn't changed: Bond looks good.
Connery's 007 broke a fashion rule when he wore a white dinner jacket instead of a tuxedo to a Las Vegas casino in "Diamonds Are Forever," but heads turned in admiration. The first time Brosnan put on a tux in 1995 might have marked the end of the grunge movement that dominated pop culture in the early '90s.
Bond bests the test of time because of his attitude. He knows when he walks into a room, everyone knows his name. Bond, James Bond.
Fri Nov 22
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Like many men at 40, super spy James Bond likes reliving his youth and his latest bout of youthful energy hits theaters on Friday with 007 flick, "Die Another Day," opening nationwide alongside drama "The Emperor's Club" and comedy "Friday After Next."
But lest moviegoers think this Bond film -- the 20th in the series that began with 1962's "Dr. No." -- goes too far into the extreme sports craze with a first sequence that has 007 surfing down the face of 30-foot waves, think again. "Die Another Day" keeps the same formula that has made Bond flicks one of Hollywood's all-time box office hits for decades with some $3.2 billion in global ticket sales.
Bond films thrive on three things, said director Lee Tamahori, "Girls, gadgets and big action." The people behind Bond, including Pierce Brosnan (news) who returns for the fourth time as 007, don't want to tinker with that formula and, apparently, neither do fans or critics. The movie looks to open to solid box office numbers based on positive screenings and advance ticket sales, and "Die Another Day" is winning generally positive reviews. The New York Times calls it, "perhaps the most satisfying Bond movie since 'The Spy Who Loved Me."' Then again, almost every Bond fan has his or her favorite,and lovers of classics like "Goldfinger" or "From Russia With Love," will always argue nobody does it better.
What this Bond offers is a bit of darkness to the Bondpersona. While trying to foil a diamonds-for-arms deal in communist North Korea (news - web sites), 007 is captured and held captive for over a year while being tortured.
Sprung from prison in a hostage swap, Bond is returned to British intelligence agency MI6 only to be accused of giving the Koreans information that led to a U.S. agent's death.
Bond leaves MI6 and, armed with only a pair of binoculars and a police revolver, he heads to Cuba where he and the latest "Bond girl," a U.S. secret agent named Jinx (played by Oscar winner Halle Berry (news)) blow up a hospital used by villains to get their identities changed.
SAVING THE WORLD, BOND STYLE
From there, it's off to Iceland where Bond and Jinx expose an MI6 traitor and nearly foil a plot to end life on Earth as we know it.
Will the pair eventually save the world? It is, after all, a Bond movie.
Girls, gadgets, big action? This Bond -- rated PG 13 for action, violence and sexuality -- has it all.
"The Emperor's Club" does not.
Of course, the movie that stars Kevin Kline (news) as a school teacher at an all-boys school during the 1970s is not supposed to have any of that.
Kline portrays Mr. Hundert, a teacher of Greek and Roman studies who is able to connect with nearly all his students until one troubled boy, Sedgwick Bell, enters his classroom.
Predictably, Kline is able to turn Bell around. But unpredictably that is only part of the film, because Mr. Hunder, who has built his own life around honor and ethics, does something unethical to help the youth.
While the conflict of the film appears to come between Hundert and Bell, it really lies in the internal battle Hundert wages within himself.
"Emperor's Club" is rated PG-13 for some sexual content.
Finally, "Friday After Next," is the third in the series of comedies about two guys hangin' out and havin' fun with the oddball characters who happen into their lives. The first film in 1995 had Ice Cube as an average guy named Craig Jones and comedian Chris Tucker (news) as his friend name Smokey dealing with friends and family in their Los Angeles 'hood. In the sequel two years ago, the scene shifted between the 'hood and the suburbs and replaced Tucker with Mike Epps playing Day-Day. In "Friday After Next," it's back to the 'hood for Christmas for Ice Cube and Epps. The film is rated R for language, sexual content and drug use.