Focus Of The Week: Renard

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Detached, psychotic and unrelenting, The World Is Not Enough (1999)’s Renard (Robert Carlyle) is an international terrorist/anarchist with almost superhuman abilities.

Bond first learns about Renard — real name: Viktor Zokas, a former KGB operative —in a briefing following the murder of Sir Robert King (David Calder) in an explosion. Renard had been the mastermind behind the kidnapping of Sir Robert’s daughter, oil industry heiress Elektra King (Sophie Marceau), who managed to escape by seducing and killing her guards when her father refused to pay the ransom fee.

Subsequently hunted down by 009, Renard was shot in the head but miraculously survived. The bullet started a slow path to his brain gradually killing off his senses. This means, although he is unable to feel pain or sensual pleasure, Renard can push his body harder and for longer than a normal person — he will grow stronger until the day the bullet severs his nervous system and kills him. M believes Elektra is Renard’s next target and assigns Bond to look after her. 007 tracks Renard to a nuclear arms facility in Kazakhstan where he is stealing a warhead but he escapes with six kilos of weapons-grade plutonium.

At the King pipeline in Baku, Bond confronts Elektra, alongside M, about his suspicions she is in league with Renard. An alarm sounds warning of trouble in the pipeline — Renard has planted the bomb he stole on an inspection car that’s travelling down the pipeline out of control. Bond and nuclear physicist Dr. Christmas Jones (Denise Richards) go to dismantle the bomb. Meanwhile, Elektra reveals her true colours to M, that she organised the killing of her father in order to bait Renard. She then takes her former confidante prisoner. Elektra’s scheming now comes into focus: she is looking to gain revenge on her father and take over his oil empire. In return, Renard exacts his own vengeance upon M, the woman who had sentenced him to death.

Bond teams up with his old enemy, former Russian mafia head Valentin Zukovsky (Robbie Coltrane) to find out more about Renard. The pair figure out Elektra’s plan. She will provide Renard with a stolen nuclear submarine; Renard will place the weapon’s plutonium core into the submarine’s reactor. This will cause the vessel to explode in the Bosphorous, creating a nuclear blast and ensuring Elektra’s pipeline is the only source of oil from the Caspian Sea to the West.

Renard admits to Elektra his pain and frustration in not being able to feel her touch and, with his life expectancy running out, volunteers to oversee the plan personally as both a parting gift to the woman he loves but also, by killing eight million people and throwing the world’s oil economy into chaos, as the ultimate act of anarchy.

In Istanbul, Bond and Jones are captured by Renard’s men. Renard takes Jones to the nuclear sub while Elektra tortures Bond in an antique chair that causes asphyxiation. Zukovsky and his men arrive, freeing Bond who give chase to Elektra. Stopping only to release M, Bond shoots Elektra but not before she tells Renard to carry out the plan.

Bond boards the sub as it submerges, and causes a fire that sends the sub crashing to the sea floor. Confronting Renard, 007 tells him Elektra is dead sending the terrorist into a blind fury. A brutal fistfight ensues ending when Bond launches a plutonium rod straight at Renard’s heart. As the submarine reactor is set to overload, Bond and Jones escape deploying the submarine’s torpedo launcher, moments before the submarine explodes.

Skyfall In Concert In Australia

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Audiences in Australia can see Skyfall in Concert in two cities over the course of the next calendar year. In November (22-23) the Sydney Symphony Orchestra will present the Australian premiere in the iconic Sydney Opera House Concert Hall led by conductor Nicholas Buc. In April 2020 (3-4), the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will perform Skyfall in Concert at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre, Melbourne ahead of the release of Bond 25. 

Tickets are on sale now for Sydney www.sydneysymphony.com for Melbourne bit.ly/2ZmJgq9

Focus Of The Week: Spectre

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Following Skyfall (2012) with Spectre (2015), Sam Mendes became the first filmmaker to direct two back to back Bond films since John Glen directed The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence To Kill (1989). Previous Daniel Craig adventures had reintroduced and reinvented classic elements from Bond history such as the Aston Martin, Q and Moneypenny. Now the filmmakers felt it was right to bring back SPECTRE — to reveal the bigger picture behind the criminal organisation, QUANTUM, started in Casino Royale (2006).

The script, written by John Logan, Jez Butterworth, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, sees Bond (Daniel Craig) receive a cryptic message from the previous M (Judi Dench) that leads him to Mexico, then Rome, infiltrating a secret organisation led by the mysterious Franz Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz). Bond evades Oberhauser’s henchman Hinx (Dave Bautista) in a high speed car chase and travels to Austria to meet his old enemy Mr. White. White reveals information about Oberhauser in exchange for 007 keeping his daughter, Dr Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), safe. 

Initially reluctant to help, Swann informs Bond the secret organisation is SPECTRE and leads him to Tangiers and they discover Oberhauser’s high tech desert HQ where he plans to take control of a global surveillance network. Oberhauser tortures 007 and reveals he is actually the son of Bond’s guardian, Hannes Oberhauser, but, filled with hatred for the man he believes usurped his place in his father’s affections, has renamed himself: Ernst Stavro Blofeld. 

Spectre began filming on December 8 2014 on B stage at Pinewood before travelling to Austria in January 15. The ice Q restaurant at Sölden in Austria doubled as Dr. Swann’s Hoffler Klinik and the Cable Car station. Sölden is now the home of the immersive James Bond experience 007 ELEMENTS. 

Austria also played host to a spectacular plane vs. car chase as Hinx kidnaps Madeleine with a convoy of Land Rovers and 007 gives pursuit in a light aircraft. A key section of the sequence was filmed in Obertilliachwith the special effects team flying Bond’s plane at a low altitude over forested hillsides, skimming across the tops of the vehicles on a high wire and smashing through a barn. When Bond is forced to land the plane on the snow at high speed, the special effects team ingeniously mounted powerful skidoos inside the aircraft’s body so that once the plane landed it could drive along the ground at high speed. 

The unit moved to Rome for five weeks, the first time the series had filmed in the Eternal City. Sequences included the funeral for assassin/SPECTRE operative Marco Sciarra (Alessandro Cremona) — featuring iconic Italian actor Monica Bellucci as Sciarra’s widow Lucia — and a breakneck chase between Bond’s Aston Martin DB10 and a Jaguar C-X75. Mendes created a twist with Bond stealing the car before he understood the modifications and has to figure out its capabilities on the run.

With filming completed in Rome, the Spectre production travelled to Mexico to shoot the Day of the Dead celebrations for the pre-credit sequence. To seduce the audience into the world of the film, Mendes decided to open the film with one continuous shot that follows Bond as he tracks an assassin through the parade (including 1500 extras and huge marionettes) into a hotel, up an elevator, through different rooms and onto balconies and across rooftops. “I just made sure that I didn’t walk into the furniture,” laughed Daniel Craig.

Bond finally pursues assassin Marco Sciarra to an awaiting helicopter and a sequence over Mexico’s Zócalo Square, that required extensive negotiations with Government officials to gain permission to shoot. Most of the exterior shots of the fight on the helicopter were shot over the square and the barrel roll was performed by stunt pilot Chuck Aaron at an airfield in Palenque Mexico. The helicopter interiors were filmed at Pinewood with the helicopter mounted on a gimbal to mimic the movement. 

The unit returned to London to shoot the climax of the film around the Thames — having cast Ralph Fiennes as M, Ben Whishaw as Q and Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, Mendes was keen to expand their roles and this sequence (and film) sees Bond gain a support team in the field. The production ended with a trip to Morocco to film the exteriors of SPECTRE HQ including an explosion that earned the Guinness World Records™ title for the Largest Film Stunt Explosion in cinema history. 

Following his work on Skyfall, Thomas Newman returned to score Spectre. British singer-songwriter Sam Smith and collaborator Jimmy Napes wrote the film’s theme ‘Writing’s on the Wall’ which became the first 007 theme to reach number one in the UK charts, the second to win an Academy Award® and the fifth to be nominated — it also won a Golden Globe. 

Spectre premiered on October 26 2015 at the Royal Albert Hall and broke box office records. 

Aston Martin Bond 25 Cars

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A new image has been released which reveals the Aston Martin cars to be featured in Bond 25. They include the Aston Martin DB5, Aston Martin V8 both of which have appeared on screen in previous James Bond films, and the new Aston Martin Valhalla.

New James Bond Funko Pop! Vinyl Figures

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A new series of Funko Pop! Vinyl figures featuring characters from the James Bond series have been announced. They include Daniel Craig from Spectre, Daniel Craig from Casino Royale, Daniel Craig from Quantum Of Solace, Pierce Brosnan from GoldenEye, Honey Ryder from Dr. No, Baron Samedi from Live And Let Die, M, Le Chiffre from Casino Royale, and Moneypenny from Skyfall. The Spectre James Bond figure is being sold as an exclusive on 007STORE. This new range is set to be released in September but can be pre-ordered now. 

https://007store.com/collections/new-in

Focus Of The Week: Thunderball

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The plot sees James Bond (Sean Connery) sent to the Bahamas to retrieve two nuclear warheads stolen by SPECTRE operative Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi) in order to hold NATO to ransom for the sum of $100 million. In Nassau, Bond searches Largo’s yacht, the Disco Volante, and villa looking for the bombs but without success. Bond gets Largo’s partner Domino Derval (Claudine Auger) on his side by revealing how Largo killed her brother Major François Derval (Paul Stassino), a NATO pilot, to steal the weapons. Bond takes part in an underwater battle between SPECTRE and US aqua-paratroopers, before confronting Largo on his yacht. With Largo about to shoot Bond, Domino saves the day by harpooning him, a fitting revenge for the murder of her brother.

Bond producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman originally intended to make Thunderball the first James Bond movie as the book was the most recently published Ian Fleming novel. Screenwriter Richard Maibaum started revising his initial screenplay in late 1964. During production, respected British playwright John Hopkins polished the screenplay adding some dialogue. 

Terence Young, the director of Dr. No and From Russia With Love returned behind the camera. Recognising the ambition in the script, Young sought additional specialised second unit directors to pull off the complex spectacle. Ricou Browning was hired to direct underwater sequences, underwater cameraman Lamar Boren captured the dazzling underwater battle and Broccoli’s friend and Hollywood filmmaker André De Tothshot the aerial assault over Biscayne Bay. 

 With Sean Connery returning for a fourth time as Bond, the film’s supporting cast was truly international in nature, a testament to the series’ growing global popularity. From Italy, Adolfo Celi played eye-patch wearing SPECTRE No.2 Emilio Largo and Luciana Paluzzi portrayed assassin Fiona Volpe. French actress Claudine Auger played Domino, Largo’s lover who switches allegiance to Bond. Jamaican actor played the ill-fated Paula Caplan (Martine Beswicke) and British model Mollie (Molly in the credits) Peters played Patricia Fearing, the nurse who looks after Bond in the Shrublands Health Clinic. 

Young wanted to ground the film’s gadgetry in real world technology, famously including the iconic Bell-Textron Jet Pack 007 uses to escape from Jacques Boitier’s castle in the film’s opening sequence. Other gizmos proved so believable they duped experts — after the film opened, a Royal Navy representative called to ask about Bond’s mini-rebreather but only to be informed it was a prop. 

The plot called for extensive work with sharks. Sean Connery found himself swimming in a plexiglass tunnel in Largo’s shark pool. A gap in the plexi allowed a shark to swim into the tunnel along with Connery and you can see the expression of fear on the actor’s face in the finished film. During the climactic underwater battle, a grand total of 38 divers appeared on screen, experienced SCUBA specialists flown to Nassau from Richmond, Virginia. 

Composer John Barry returned to work on his fourth Bond film, creating an exotic, lush soundtrack. He penned the original opening credits song ‘Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ — the Italian nickname for 007 — with Leslie Bricusse and recorded it first with Shirley Bassey, then Dionne Warwick. Yet, with the team concerned the song never mentioned the film’s title, Barry quickly wrote ‘Thunderball’ with Don Black, a hit in the US and UK for Tom Jones. 

After the film premiered on December 9 1965 in Tokyo, Thunderball broke box office records earning $142 million, selling more tickets than any Bond film before.  It also set a new benchmark for action-adventure film with its scale, scope (it was the first Bond film to be shot in widescreen) and ground-breaking underwater sequences. The film also became the first 007 film to win an Academy Award, John Stears picking up the Oscar for the film’s innovative special effects.  

007 And Aston Martin Red Bull Racing

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EON Productions and Aston Martin Lagonda are teaming up to celebrate the 1,007th Formula 1 Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend. The British Grand Prix is the home race for the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team so it is fitting that the race falls on a number forever associated with James Bond. 

The two Aston Martin Red Bull Racing F1TM  cars will feature the iconic 007 logo and Bond number plates on the back of their rear wings. Max Verstappen’s RB15 Formula 1 car will run the number plate from the Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger (1964) while Pierre Gasly’s car will feature the Aston Martin V8 plate from The Living Daylights (1987).

Ticketholders can see a number of the Aston Martins from the James Bond films on display in the Bond In Motion exhibition including the V8 that will appear in Bond 25, located in the Fanzone, to register for tickets go to https://www.eventworld.com/en/events/11.

Focus Of The Week: Andrea Anders

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The Man With The Golden Gun (1974)’s Andrea Anders (Maud Adams) is a woman driven by desperation. Under the influence of ruthless international assassin Francisco Scaramanga (Christopher Lee), Andrea lives on his secluded private island in Chinese waters. On the surface she is happy, but deep down she is plotting to escape from his controlling clutches.

Anders’ plans kick into action when she sends a golden bullet engraved with the number ‘007’ to the British Secret Service. She hopes it will spur James Bond (Roger Moore) to come after Scaramanga, kill him, and free her from a life she loathes. She describes Scaramanga as a “monster’, resolute in the belief that leaving him will spell certain death.

Bond takes the bait and watches Anders collect a shipment of Scaramanga’s custom-made gold bullets from a casino in Macau. Bond trails her back to her hotel and confronts her in the shower. Startled, she pulls a gun on 007 (“A water pistol?” Bond quips) and walks him into the bedroom. As she calls the reception desk, Bond knocks the weapon from her hand. Bond proceeds to grill Andrea about her relationship with Scaramanaga. She eventually reveals that she is his mistress and tells Bond he will be at the Bottoms Up club that evening.

Anders later visits Bond in his hotel room (while he is seducing Mary Goodnight [Britt Ekland]) warning Bond that Scaramanga wants to murder him. She admits that she sent the bullet and will pay any price to have Scaramanga killed. Bond asks her to acquire the Solex Agitator, a key component of the world’s most efficient solar energy system.

Andrea goes back to Scaramanga on his boat, telling him she had been at the cinema. As she puts away her jewellery in Scaramanga’s safe, she spots the Solex Agitator and steals it for Bond. When 007 arrives at the rendezvous, a Thai Boxing match, he discovers she has been shot and killed by Scaramanga after discovering her betrayal, the bullet wound concealed by her jacket. “A mistress cannot serve two masters,” the killer coldly observes.

HRH The Prince of Wales Visits Bond 25 Sets

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HRH The Prince of Wales visited Pinewood Studios today, where he enjoyed a tour of the Bond 25 sets with producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.

The Prince was introduced to cast Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Lashana Lynch and director Cary Joji Fukunaga. On display were two Aston Martins, the DB5 stunt car and the V8, that will feature in the film.

Bond 25 is the first film in the franchise to have a dedicated trainee programme that supports new entrants. The Prince met 16 trainees from The BFI Film Academy, London Film School, The Iver Make Up Academy, Iconic Steps and Mama Youth. Roles are within the camera, sound, props, costume, grips, video assistant and locations departments.