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Pierce Brosnan

Quantum of Solace Review and An Open Handed Slap to Critics Who Didn’t Like It

by Joi on November 19, 2008

in Hollywood Today!, Movie Posters, Movie Reviews, Pierce Brosnan, Sex Symbols (Female), Sex Symbols (Male)

James Bond- Quantum of Solace


James Bond – Quantum of Solace Framed Art Print
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I have officially lost faith in professional movie critics. It was on shaky ground anyway, but after Quantum of Solace, there isn’t any trace of faith left. I read that the stars didn’t have any chemistry, that the opening song wasn’t “true” to the James Bond dynasty, that the lead actress was too tan (what?!?!) that the story was weak, and so on.

I have no explanation for what others get or somehow fail to get, but it’s a shame to think that people are paid to do this for a living and can’t even get in the ballpark!

First of all: The theme. Alicia Keys and Jack White do an outstanding job with the theme song. I honestly didn’t know what to expect out of such a collaboration, but it was incredible. The entire opening was dead-on what you’d expect from a James Bond movie. Sexy, stylish, breathtaking… What’s not to love?

Second of all: The leads – Daniel Craig and Olga Kurylenko – imo, had a very, very special chemistry. Generally speaking, whenever I’ve seen a Bond film, I walk away from it wondering who the next “Bond girl” will be. However, for the first time EVER, I walked away wondering if I begged hard enough and petitioned as though my life depended on it – would they, somehow, bring Olga back? She was, by far, my favorite Bond girl ever. In fact, she’s one of my favorite action female characters of all time. The character was a perfect blend of vulnerability and toughness – with just the right amount of each.

Olga Kurylenko actress is as talented as she is beautiful and I’ve loved every movie I’ve seen her in (Hitman, Max Payne, Quantum of Solace). Even so, I had no idea she’d be able to pull off being a Bond girl so effortlessly. I certainly didn’t see her becoming my favorite one ever!

Daniel Craig is perfect in the role as James Bond. As I’ve said on this blog a gazillion times, Pierce Brosnan has always been my favorite Bond. After seeing Quantum of Solace, however, I can say something I never thought I’d ever hear myself saying, “Pierce Brosnan is one of my favorite two James Bonds.” I love Daniel Craig in the role just as much. Never. Saw. That. Coming.

The chase scenes, action, fight scenes, emotional undertows, acting, chemistry, GORGEOUS scenery, sex appeal, Dame Judi Dench, the music…. it all gets straight A+s from me.

No action film fan could walk away from this movie without feeling pumped with excitement. That’s part of the beauty of the film, actually. It’s a movie that stands on it’s own two legs – whether or not the name James Bond was involved or not. It didn’t need “Bond. James Bond.” to stand and it didn’t need “…shaken, not stirred…”

Quantum of Solace is action film-making at its best. It just so happens to also be James Bond at his best as well. To be perfectly honest, Casino Royale wasn’t one of my favorite movies – Bond or otherwise. I didn’t like the relationships whatsoever. I hated the Bond/M relationship (or lack thereof) most of all. (I also wasn’t the least bit impressed with the Bond girl in that film. When she met with her fate, my face did more of a grin than a grimace.)

I’ve actually given Daniel Craig and Olga Kurylenko my ultimate nod of approval after seeing Quantum of Solace. See the Categories in the sidebar? Only a certain amount of names/subjects will fit. I have to make certain that I only include the stars, shows, etc. that absolutely send me over the moon. You’ll now find their names there.

Quantum of Solace is, in my opinion, a thousand times better than Casino Royale. It’s a mind-blowing movie that’s just beautiful front to back. Ignore the newspaper critics and see the movie. You won’t be sorry.

If, somehow you find something to hate about this fantastic movie, I only have one piece of advice. Quit your day job, you missed your calling. You were meant to be a professional movie critic. ;/

You may also be interested in: Trying to Make Sense of These Quantum of Solace Reviews

James Bond Trivia

by Joi on October 21, 2008

in Classic Movies, Pierce Brosnan, Quotes from the Stars, Sex Symbols (Male)

Faces of the Secret Service

  • Cary Grant was Bond producer Albert Broccoli’s friend and even best man at his wedding, but still declined the role of James Bond in “Dr. No.” Although many studio executives objected to the decision, Sean Connery was given the role. Even creator Ian Fleming said Connery “wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.” He later stated that Connery made a perfect James Bond.
  • Sean Connery wears a toupee in all the James Bond movies.
  • Sean Connery was said to be one of James Bond’s favorite actors in the novel “Scorpius.”
  • Sean Connery was paid a huge sum to return as James Bond for Diamonds Are Forever in 1971. It was donated to his Scottish charity.
  • Sean Connery’s favorite James Bond Movie is From Russia With Love (1963).
  • Roger Moore succeeded Audrey Hepburn as goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.
  • Roger Moore’s father was a policeman.
  • Roger Moore was the oldest actor to debut as James Bond. He was 45 when Live and Let Die was filmed in 1973.
  • Roger Moore was also older than any other actor to play James Bond when he portrayed him at the age of 57 in A View to a Kill (1985). Sean Connery was 52 when he last played Bond in Never Say Never Again. (1983).
  • Roger Moore quit smoking cigarettes in 1971 following a lecture from Tony Curtis on the set of “The Persuaders!”.
  • Roger Moore hated doing scenes that involved him shooting firearms.  This fact caused him to ruin countless 007 takes!
  • Roger Moore played James Bond in seven movies of the official EON series, the most of any actor to date. Sean Connery also played Bond in seven films, but one of them, Never Say Never Again (1983), was unofficial.
  • Roger Moore drives or rides in a motor-powered boat in every James Bond movie he was in.
  • Every scene in which Roger Moore’s Bond is running in his 7 movies was performed by doubles. Roger Moore felt that he looked awkward running.
  • Roger Moore names The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) as his favorite Bond movie (of the ones he starred in), and A View to a Kill (1985) as his least favorite.
  • Roger Moore suffers from hoplophobia , a fear of firearms.
  • Ironically, though critics often accused him of not looking tough enough to play James Bond, Roger Moore once beat up tough guy Lee Marvin while they were filming Shout at the Devil (1976). Marvin recalled, “The guy is built like granite. Nobody will ever underestimate him again.”
  • Roger Moore once gave the following explanation for his comedic approach to Bond, “To me, the Bond situations are so ridiculous, so outrageous. I mean, this man is supposed to be a spy and yet, everybody knows he’s a spy. Every bartender in the world offers him martinis that are shaken, not stirred. What kind of serious spy is recognized everywhere he goes? It’s outrageous. So you have to treat the humor outrageously as well. My personality is entirely different than previous Bonds. I’m not that cold-blooded killer type. Which is why I play it mostly for laughs.”
  • After seeing Pierce Brosnan playing James Bond on the set of the film GoldenEye in 1995, Roger Moore said, “Both Sean and I will be forgotten after everybody sees Pierce.” (Great quote! Great Quote! – signed, the Hollywood Yesterday writer aka huge Pierce Brosnan fan)
  • For Pierce Brosnan trivia, click HERE!
  • Lois Maxwell (Miss Moneypenny) is second only to Desmond Llewelyn (Q) for the number of appearances in James Bond movies. She was in 14 and he was in 18.
  • Lois Maxwell was born in Canada in 1927. She died in 2007 from cancer.
  • Desmond Llewelyn (Q) personally detested gadgets!
  • Desmond Llewelyn died shortly after the release of The World Is Not Enough (1999).

A few more Roger Moore Quotes:
Today I am completely opposed to small arms and what they can do to children. I played every role tongue-in-cheek because I don’t really believe in that sort of hero. I don’t like guns.

I’m delighted to hear that Daniel Craig has been appointed the new 007. It’s a very exciting time and I would like to wish everyone at Eon much success, and welcome Daniel to the family.

My acting range? Left eyebrow raised, right eyebrow raised.

I’m working on a post dedicated to Daniel Craig and the newest Bond film, which from what I’ve been reading is an absolute beast among beasts!

Halle Berry Appreciation Post!

by Joi on October 15, 2008

in Art Prints and Posters, Halle Berry, Hollywood Today!, Pierce Brosnan, Quotes from the Stars, Sex Symbols (Female)

Catwoman



Catwoman Double-sided poster
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We might as well admit it – even raise a mug of coffee and toast to it – 40 IS the new 30. Recently, Johnny Depp (and other 40ish actors) dominated a “Sexiest man alive” poll in Cosmo magazine. Now, gorgeous Halle Berry has added another accomplishment for the fab 40’s.

Halle Berry was named “Sexiest Woman Alive” by Esquire magazine – a choice that’s completely impossible to find fault with. So, in her honor, today is Halle Berry Day on Hollywood Yesterday. You can’t be that fine and talented and not get recognized for it.

Did You Know?
Halle Berry was born on August 14 (my birthday as well!) in 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Halle has an older sister named Heidi but, unfortunately, the sisters are estranged.

Representing her home state of Ohio, Halle Berry won the Miss Teen All-American Pageant in 1985.

In 1986, she was the runner-up in the Miss USA Pageant.

Her first TV series was Living Dolls. On set, she earned a reputation for her tireless commitment to her craft. She became known as an actress who didn’t just “play” a role, she became the role – even after the cameras stopped rolling.

Halle Berry is a type 1 diabetic.

In high school, Halle was in the honor society, was editor of the school paper, and class president. Naturally, she also crowned prom queen.

Halle Berry was the first African American actress to win the Oscar for Best Actress.

Her amazing dress for the 2002 Oscars ceremony was voted the most popular from the first 75 years.

On Febuary 26, 2005, she showed up in person to accept the Razzie award for Worst Actress for her role as Catwoman. She was the first actress to ever do so! Accepting the award, Halle Berry smiled her beautiful smile and said “Thank you and I hope to God I never see you guys again.”

She was one of only three actresses (Faye Dunaway and Liza Minnelli) to win both the Academy Award for Best Actress and the Razzie Award for Worst Actress (And Faye Dunaway even shared her award – with Bo Derek).

Her favorite actresses are Dorothy Dandridge, Jodie Foster and Whoopi Goldberg.

The dedicated Halle refused to bathe for two weeks in preparation for a role as a crack addict in Jungle Fever (1991).

She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 3, 2007.

Halle was saved from choking (on a fig) by the best Bond ever, Pierce Brosnan, while shooting Die Another Day.

Halle and her longtime boyfriend, Gabriel Aubry, became the parents of a daughter named Nahla Ariela Aubry on 16 March 2008.

Halle Berry Quotes:

“This moment is so much bigger than me, This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll… It’s for the women that stand beside me, Jada Pinkett Smith, Angela Bassett, Vivica A. Fox… and it’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance, because the door tonight has been opened.” – During her Oscar acceptance speech.

“There’s art and there’s commerce. You have to find a way to mesh the two. It’s important to do the little movies just for the love of the art. But it’s those big movies that take you around the world and make you globally famous.”

“I want to be the next Spike Lee. I want to help other black folks to get into Hollywood and be successful in Hollywood.”

“What is my real purpose here? I’ve looked at what I do. I make believe and make movies. I entertain people and get paid for it. Sometimes it seems like such a shallow existence. How insignificant in the scheme of life.”

“I never wanted to be a model. My modeling career was nothing but a stepping stone to my acting career and that’s all I ever saw it as. A pointless rock in the river that has to be stepped on in order to get to the meaningful oasis of acting.”

(While pregnant) “I am three times the girl I used to be. This is the second red carpet where I didn’t have to think about sucking in my stomach – because I can’t!”

Pierce Brosnan – The Smoothest James Bond

by Joi on March 16, 2008

in Art Prints and Posters, Classic Movies, Halle Berry, Pierce Brosnan, Sex Symbols (Male)

Tomorrow Never Dies



Tomorrow Never Dies Poster
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Pierce Brosnan has lived a life that has had as much drama as a lot of movies. As fan, I hope he has found his happily ever after.

GETTING TO KNOW PIERCE BROSNAN:

* Born in Ireland in 1953, but moved to London, England at a very early age.

* When his wife of 11 years, Cassandra Harris, died in 1991, he was left with three children to care for on his own: Two from Cassandra’s first marriage and a son from their marriage. She died, in his arms, one day after their 11th anniversary. She died from ovarian cancer.

* He adopted his first wife Cassandra’s children after their father died in 1986.

* Pierce has a scar above his top lip. He was hit by a stunt man on the making of Tomorrow Never Dies.

* He has two children with his second wife, Keely Shaye Smith. They’ve been married for over 7 years.

* Pierce enjoys fishing.

* He was almost 6 feet tall by the time he was 11 years old! (That’s nearly as fascinating to me as Famke’s feet – see the Famke Janssen post for that one.)

* In addition to his salary for his James Bond movies, Brosnan received cars. Crazy cool cars! The BMW Z3 from GoldenEye, an 8-series BMW from Tomorrow Never Dies, and the Z8 from The World Is Not Enough .

* Like this blogger, Pierce Brosnan is claustrophobic. Apparently this made certain scenes in Dante’s Peak an absolute nightmare.

* After Die Another Day, he was approached by a man in Dublin who asked to shake his hand. Being one of the friendliest and most approachable actors, he shook the man’s hand. He’s said to have cracked up when the man said, “That’s the closest my hand will ever get to Halle Berry’s arse”.

* This is particularly interesting (Yes, even more interesting than Famke’s amazing feet.): On August 12, 1964, as an 11-year-old Pierce flew, for the first time, from Ireland to England. It was the very day that Ian Fleming died.

* He says that his favorite Bond movies are From Russia with Love, and For Your Eyes Only, and that his least favorite Bond movie is On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

* Is an American Citizen but keeps his Irish citizenship as well.

* According to the James Bond tailors, he has the distinction of being both the lightest and heaviest of all the James Bonds! The tailors who fitted him for his Bond films state that in his first Bond movie, Golden Eye in 1995 say that he weighed 164 pounds, making him the lightest actor to play Bond. However, in his fourth Bond movie, Die Another Day in 2002, he weighed 211 pounds, making him the heaviest actor to play Bond.

* Was originally chosen to play 007 in 1986 and was given the script to “The Living Daylights”. Although he was contracted to “Remington Steele” (1982) for seven seasons, NBC decided to cancel the show at the end of the fourth season, which meant that Brosnan was free to play James Bond in The Living Daylights the following year. However, shortly after the end of the fourth season, NBC had second thoughts about canceling Remmington Steele and subsequently approached the Bond producers directly in an attempt to strike a deal that would allow Brosnan to play both James Bond and Remington Steele the following year. NBC also offered to completely reschedule the shooting of Remmington Steele to ensure that there were no scheduling conflicts. But eventually, Albert Broccoli famously told NBC that “James Bond will not be Remmington Steele and Remington Steele will not be James Bond.” Accordingly, Brosnan would only play Bond if the show remained canceled. NBC had a 60 day deadline to revoke their decision to cancel Remmington Steele series and at 6.30pm on the 60th day of the deadline, Brosnan learned that NBC decided to make a fifth season. So, the role of the new James Bond went to Timothy Dalton. NBC went on to make only six episodes of the fifth season of Remmington Steele before finally canceling the show for good.

* He is a professional “fire eater”, having performed a fire eating act in a circus at a young age!

* Something else he has in common with this blogger is he’s an only child.

* He is a vocal supporter of same-sex marriage, gay adoption, gun control and protecting the environment.

* About his first wife, Pierce has said, “Cassie has made me the man I am, the actor I am, the father I am. She’s forever embedded in every fiber of my being.”

A few other Pierce Brosnan Quotes:

There was only one Bond for me, and it was Sean Connery. That made the role daunting.

I know most actors say otherwise, but I like sex scenes. Bond was supposed to be this great lover, but I always found the love scenes in those movies a little dull. It’s lovely to work out the fantasy of it all in celluloid and then go home to my wife.

To my eye, women get sexier around 35. They know a thing or two, and knowledge is always alluring.

Bond is an enigma. He’s smooth and bigger than life, but he’s vague as a personality. It’s a little like doing a period piece. Look, I’m thankful, the role made me an international star. I’ve been in the backwaters of Papua New Guinea and heard, “Hey, Bond.”

(On former James Bond George Lazenby) George is just an angry, old, pissed-off guy. He was never an actor, but some pissed-off Aussie who doesn’t know how to show his feminine side. I met him, and he’s got that kind of brittle edge to him.

When you look at Ian Fleming’s work, it’s there on the page. The martinis, the drugs, the cigarettes, the casino, the blood on the hands. But they never went there. Hopefully, they will go there with Daniel (Daniel Craig). They have the product, they have the man, and I’m sure they will.

(on George Lazenby) George seems to be an unhappy camper about Bond. He gets pissy and spits the dummy out. Tim (Timothy Dalton) was fantastic. He really had the balls to go out there and play it on the nose – Ian Fleming undiluted. But where were the laughs? Sean (Sean Connery) was brilliant, he played it dead on the money. And Roger (Roger Moore) really made it his own and went for the laughs. I think those two were the best.

I think Daniel (Daniel Craig) is a very fine actor. These are rocky waters, but I think he will have the last laugh. You get twisted some way or another if you throw yourself into it. There’s going to be mishaps.

Izabella Scorupco – Golden Eye’s Bond Girl

by Joi on March 16, 2008

in Art Prints and Posters, Classic Movies, Judi Dench, Pierce Brosnan, Sex Symbols (Female), Sex Symbols (Male)

GoldenEye



GoldenEye Poster
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Between Christmas and anniversary gifts, my husband has racked up three different James Bond dvd sets, so we’ve been watching a lot of Bond lately. Bond. James Bond.

We watched Golden Eye last night with my favorite Bond – Pierce Brosnan. I thought the movie was great – all sorts of action and humor. It was apparently Judi Dench’s premiere as M – and I love myself some Judi Dench greatly. The acting was also really top notch in this one as well. Famke Janssen was hilariously evil in her role and Izabella Scorupco (as Natalya Fyodorovna Simonova) proved to be one of my favorite Bond Girls ever. As always, when I’m watching a movie that has people who interest me, I’ve done my homework and have come up with some interesting tidbits about Izabella:

Izabella Scorupco



Izabella Scorupco Photo Enlargement
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* Izabella was born in 1970 in Poland. She moved to Sweden at a very young age with her mother.

* Not surprisingly, Izabella worked as a model in Sweden.

* She speaks four languages.

* Izabella was also a pop singer in Sweden and even had a couple of hits.

* She has a daughter with ex-husband, hockey player Mariusz Czerkawski.

* She also has a son with her current husband.

* Izabella claims that when she was working for Ford Modeling, she went without food for 4 months, using water as her only nourishment.

* Was offered the lead female role in L.A. Confidential (1997), but turned it down. The role went to Kim Basinger.

* Was offered the lead female role in The Mask of Zorro (1998), but turned it down. The role went to Catherine Zeta-Jones. (Picking roles may not be her strength.)

* She’s 5′9″ and her nickname’s Iza.