19 replies to this topic

[Qwerty]

[box]

Montenegro takes gamble on Bond's Hollywood vision

Montenegro officials have welcomed Casino Royale as free promotion. However, the elegant and swanky Montenegro depicted in the film is actually Karlovy Vary, in the Czech Republic.

Balkan filmgoers erupted in laughter on seeing James Bond arrive by luxury high-speed train for the dramatic poker game at the centre of Casino Royale, the latest film in the long-running franchise.

For a start, the elegant and swanky Montenegro depicted in the film is actually Karlovy Vary, in the Czech Republic. And real Montenegrin railways are slow, rickety and, on occasion, downright dangerous. Less than a year ago, a local train derailed on a mountainside near Podgorica, the capital, killing 46 people and injuring scores more.

However, such factual discrepancies have not deterred the government of the newly independent Balkan country from riding shotgun on the Bond bandwagon. Officials have welcomed Casino Royale as free promotion. Predrag Nenezic, minister for tourism and environmental protection, says the new 007 film should be "even more effective" than the "Wild Beauty" advertising spots in heavy rotation on US television networks.

According to Mr Nenezic,

[JCRendle]

I wonder why Montenegro was chosen?

[*Gala*]

Aye, 'tis true about the current railways. I must say that I too laughed at the train being so luxurious even though I'm from Croatia. As for the hotels, I must say that I also read an article where it said that all of Serbia was in an uproar and started laughing when they saw the luxurious hotel... lol. Not to mention that constant ridiculous debate as to whether Valenka is actually Bosnian, Serbian, or Croatian as an actress.

Good find, I must admit that I loved reading every bit of it. Hopefully my own country will brighten up and start renovating too but I'm really glad that Montenegro is. Pity that "From Russia With Love" didn't have the same effect on Croatia since some of the scenes were filmed in my hometown.

[Vauxhall]

I wonder why Montenegro was chosen?

Suppose it may simply be due to the fact that Le Chiffre was said to be from Albania, and Montenegro is one of the lesser known countries in the Balkans. Have heard some suggestions that the country names sounds exotic... but then again I think that was the same person who complained that Montenegro was a fictional country

[*Gala*]

Lol... It's real alright.

Wait a second... wasn't Le Chiffre Russian in the novel? They could be changing it again though.

[Vauxhall]

Yes, he was an obese Soviet agent in the novel!! M does have a line in the movie that says something to the effect that they believe he's Albanian, although that may have been cut? I can't remember, but it's certainly in the script!

[*Gala*]

Obese Soviet agent... LMAO! By his name somebody would have guessed that he's French, or at least my friend did.

I would like to point out that "Chiffre" is unusually close to the word "cifra" (pronounced cheef-rah) which in most languages native to the Balkans means both "code" and "sum". Considering how many words are similar in Russian as well, I presume it wouldn't be too far off there either. Fitting, isn't it?

[JCRendle]

Le Chiffre was his name when he was in France, he also went by "Die Nummer," "The Number," "Herr Ziffer," etc. in whatever country he was in. He calls himself this because he has no name and is only a number on a passport.

[*Gala*]

That's creepy I must admit, but very fitting for a villain!

[Retrovertigo]

Aye, 'tis true about the current railways. I must say that I too laughed at the train being so luxurious even though I'm from Croatia. As for the hotels, I must say that I also read an article where it said that all of Serbia was in an uproar and started laughing when they saw the luxurious hotel... lol. Not to mention that constant ridiculous debate as to whether Valenka is actually Bosnian, Serbian, or Croatian as an actress.

Good find, I must admit that I loved reading every bit of it. Hopefully my own country will brighten up and start renovating too but I'm really glad that Montenegro is. Pity that "From Russia With Love" didn't have the same effect on Croatia since some of the scenes were filmed in my hometown.

Hey Gala, i went on holiday to Croatia earlier this year with two mates who were born there and i never knew some parts of From Russia with Love where filmed there, do you recall what towns it was filmed in? I remember seeing the Zagreb train station sign in the movie but didnt recognise any of the locations.

I must admit its a beautiful country, spent some time in Zagreb, Dubrovnik, and Pula, lovely beaches, great weather!

[*Gala*]

I'm glad that you liked Croatia, Retrovertigo. Well, my home town would be Zagreb and my apartment there is actually on the same block as the main train station so yay! However, I must point out that the only Croatian bits were really those related to the train if my memory serves right. But if anybody can supply me with screenshots from From Russia With Love, I could probably very very easily recall as to which town they were from cuz I've been to Rijeka, Vodice, Opatija, Zagreb, Zagorje, Split, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Rovinj, and Korcula... Also Istra and Plitvice Lakes if we're concerned about areas in general. I'm glad though that they didn't film any bikini scenes in Croatia, I recall that once there started being mass-advertisements about it half of them included girls in bikinis, causing one of Drax's (dad's) friends to say that if Croatia really is that, then "every man can feel like James Bond when they visit". I recall completely cracking up when I heard that, absolutely priceless to me especially cuz I come from the inland part where there aren't any beaches!

[Retrovertigo]

I'm glad that you liked Croatia, Retrovertigo. Well, my home town would be Zagreb and my apartment there is actually on the same block as the main train station so yay! However, I must point out that the only Croatian bits were really those related to the train if my memory serves right. But if anybody can supply me with screenshots from From Russia With Love, I could probably very very easily recall as to which town they were from cuz I've been to Rijeka, Vodice, Opatija, Zagreb, Zagorje, Split, Dubrovnik, Hvar, Rovinj, and Korcula... Also Istra and Plitvice Lakes if we're concerned about areas in general. I'm glad though that they didn't film any bikini scenes in Croatia, I recall that once there started being mass-advertisements about it half of them included girls in bikinis, causing one of Drax's (dad's) friends to say that if Croatia really is that, then "every man can feel like James Bond when they visit". I recall completely cracking up when I heard that, absolutely priceless to me especially cuz I come from the inland part where there aren't any beaches!

Ahh, Rovinj, that is where i went too as well, forgot the name! I remember the loooong bus trip back to Zagreb to catch the plane home.....ok kewl, i couldnt remember seeing any other parts of FRWL that looked like being from Croatia but it definatley shows the Zagreb sign at the train station.

One of my mates even recognised what the police offiers were saying to each other in Casino Royale (when they discover the body in the trunk that Mathis put there).

[*Gala*]

Hee hee... I remember being able to understand a whole load of the stuff in CR. The "Izlaz" ("Exit") sign before the stairwell fight totally made my day. \d

[vesper_007]

It is very funny to watch Montenegro scenes if you know how it looks like in reality... And that train scene...LOL...

What is Bonds car registration(new Aston Martin)? I think TT and some number...and if I'm right that registration is forom Czech Republic not Montenegro...

(Sorry for my English...)

[Vauxhall]

Welcome to the CBn Forums, vesper_007

Just had a quick look at the trailer and it appears that the registration of the new Aston Martin was TT-378-20. It doesn't appear to be in the style of a Czech Republic number plate, but can't be sure where it's from. The producers are usually quite good with these sort of details though, so I imagine that is likely to be from somewhere in the Balkan region.

[*Gala*]

It is very funny to watch Montenegro scenes if you know how it looks like in reality... And that train scene...LOL...

What is Bonds car registration(new Aston Martin)? I think TT and some number...and if I'm right that registration is forom Czech Republic not Montenegro...

(Sorry for my English...)

Nema veze za Engleski... moj Hrvatski je grozan. Ali nema veze, drago mi je da je jos nedkto iz Hrvatske ovdje. Ja sam iz Zagreba ali zivim vani... a vi?

Anyways, back to English for simplicity. I'd love to check the car plate myself, but I can't remember what the ones in Montenegro look like. But it is pretty darn funny to watch the train scene... the trailer was enough to make me crack up laughing at the cinemas.

[vesper_007]

Hehe...Hrvatski ti ide super... Ja sam iz Splita...

I asked my aunt (she lives in Montenegro) and she saied that registration with TT is not form there...Weird...

And...in stairs scene you see Vesper trying to open the door and on the door you see signboard " I SPRAT" wich means "1. floor"...

[Myrddin]

Le Chiffre was his name when he was in France, he also went by "Die Nummer," "The Number," "Herr Ziffer," etc. in whatever country he was in. He calls himself this because he has no name and is only a number on a passport.

Le Chiffre in the novel was a soviet agent, but not a russian man: perhaps he is german.

[*Gala*]

Hehe...Hrvatski ti ide super... Ja sam iz Splita...

I asked my aunt (she lives in Montenegro) and she saied that registration with TT is not form there...Weird...

And...in stairs scene you see Vesper trying to open the door and on the door you see signboard " I SPRAT" wich means "1. floor"...

Hee hee.. Hvala! Zivis u Splitu, zar ne? Mislim da cu doc u Hrvatsku ovo lijeto, ali nisam sigurna...

Yup, and you also see a sign that says "Izlaz", which means "Exit". Lol! Thanks for veryfying the address with your aunt, btw. LMAO that it's not a Montenegro registration. Perfect way to blow Bond's cover if one of us were there!

[Four Aces]

Nice article