124 replies to this topic

[killkenny kid]

This is crazy. And the sad thing is just last week, out of some sense of loyalty to MGM and the Bond fanchise I didn't go see xxx. And I enjoy Vin Dinsel's work. Well, I will still be a Bond fan. But MGM will never get another dollar from me for anything that isn't a Bond movie. And by the way the JamesBond .com site from MGM s**ks. Sorry about that word froum readers.

[zencat]

Originally posted by killkenny kid
But  MGM will never get another dollar from me for anything that isn't a Bond movie.

Hey, now there's an idea. A boycott of all (non-Bond) MGM films. It's not like we'd be missing anything.

[killkenny kid]

Thanks, Zencat. I feel welcome to a new home

[rafterman]

I once heard a quote that said MGM wasn't really a studio since all they do is put out a Bond film every two or three years with nothing in between....without Bond there is no studio...

[Hardyboy]

Hey, Killkenny Kid, don't give up on AJB just yet--Si did promise that the forums will return, and I hope they do (yes, even us AJB mods don't have all the knowledge). Like someone said above, now is the time for all of the Bond fansites to get together and support each other--we're not really rivals, just groups who love the same thing and choose to celebrate it in slightly different ways.

Too bad MGM and EON can't see that. My God, we're the people who are keeping Bond alive. We're celebrating Bond, discussing Bond, and--what's more--giving MGM and EON tons of FREE PUBLICITY. You'd think that rather than persecuting the Bond sites, MGM/EON would embrace them and support them. . .but I guess that's a little too forward-thinking for the toothless old lion.

[zencat]

Originally posted by rafterman
I once heard a quote that said MGM wasn't really a studio since all they do is put out a Bond film every two or three years with nothing in between....without Bond there is no studio...

Even though I'm loath to say anything nice about MGM right now, I did really like LEGALLY BLONDE and GHOST WORLD (even through that was UA) and their home video division is tops. They put some terrific DVDs.

[killkenny kid]

I willn't give up on AJB.But, I need a Bond forum everyday. So, I will be here for CBN and AJB. All MGM did was may us stronger.

[14 20 02]

Definatly. MGM are just being unfair to us. Filming began this year for Die Another Day wasn't it suppose to be for last year as the Bond films come every two years and they rarely update their Bond website and they are making us wait intil late November to see Die Another Day. It is just stupid and we won't get to buy it on video or DVD until about May next year.

[zencat]

Well...I think we're going to all benefit from the 3-year-gap as it gave EON time to really get this one right. And it was Eon's doing, not MGM. Heck, I'm sure MGM would like a Bond movie ever six months if it were possible as it

[rafterman]

Originally posted by zencat

Even though I'm loath to say anything nice about MGM right now, I did really like LEGALLY BLONDE and GHOST WORLD (even through that was UA) and their home video division is tops. They put some terrific DVDs.

Oh yeah, Ghost World was great and the DVDs are quite nice....love watching an MGM DVD, love that opening....

[1q2w3e4r]

Someone mentioned what i was going to say.. Im sure MGM/ Eon knew about these sites and simply turned a "blind eye" to the use of their "intellectual property". However, I feel, somewhat that the closing of these sites and the threat of legal action to their owners is DIRECTLY LINKED to the release of the 4 odd pages of script...

Funny how the 3 main sites that ran with the story and had it posted and discussed on the forums suddenly were all threatened with legal action...

That is simply poor work on who ever's behind it. It would have been much more effective for the companies involved to politely contact the site and ask to have the content removed without threatening legal action.

AJB and MI6 pulled the script pages from the forums remember. So did CBN from memory. Poor effort by EON and/or MGM.

Its funny that they have shamelessly attacked the very life source of the franchise. Most people don't get on the internet and talk for two or three years between movies about franchises (star wars, matrix, bond) except for their major fans. Good way to effectively piss us off.

But the good and bad thing is if they stuff DAD it's going to be US who are the most dissapointed or pleased, much more so than the general public.

They should sign Lee to a directors contract, least he seems to be shaking things up a bit, while keeping things the same.

Very sad day to be a bond fan. Get your act together.

Couldn't see Cubby letting something happen this drastically.

[mccartney007]

Originally posted by zencat

Even though I'm loath to say anything nice about MGM right now, I did really like LEGALLY BLONDE and GHOST WORLD (even through that was UA) and their home video division is tops. They put some terrific DVDs.

MGM does put ou some terrific DVD's. I've got tons of DVD's from their Avant Garde and Midnight Movie collections. MGM are the proud owners of several of the Vincent Price films. And where would I be without my Elvis films?

[Roebuck]

Wouldn't we be better directing protest at EON?
I mean, we know who the head guys at EON are.
Our grievances are about Bond and EON own Bond.

[Tim007]

After all I read about Cubby, I don't think he would let have happen things like these that happened. I'm sure he'd have defent us.

[Roebuck]

Maybe I'm naive Tim, but I'd like to believe that too.

[Simon]

I'm not entirely sure I could believe that. When Cubby was alive, the JBIFC was asked to remove the 007 logo from the title of their magazine. Certainly in the published circles, efforts were made to protect their intellectual property.

[Tim007]

Well - they were asked to remove the logo. They were not forced to do so. That's the difference. And well, Cubby was old and sick - I think he hadn't anything to do with that decission.

[zencat]

It was in 1983 that the JBIFC (and the American club) got smacked around by Eon. Cubby was healthy and going strong. Even Glidrose was told they couldn

[Tim007]

Great idea, John!

A note to EON/MGM: Let Daniel Dykes or Dave Winter become our personal Steve Sandsweet, our new Yarborough, someone we'd love to hear from every few days!

[zencat]

In a way, I think the very capable John Cork is their Steve Sandsweet. But Cork doesn't participate in online forums (at least I don't think he does) nor does he go to Cons, and I think these two areas are critical. He's also, as far as I know, only employed on a project-by-project basis (the DVDs and now The Bond Legacy book).

[Tim007]

Yeah, but only in a way. And this way is too small, isn't it?

[zencat]

I'm throwing this thread back to page 1 for the newcomers and those returning from vacation who may not know what's happened.

[General Koskov]

The Die Another Day screenplay is on the 'net?!?! Well, I won't read it until November 22, but where is it?

PS. I completely agree with and support Zencat and everyone who has written in this thread. Also, for my information, when exactly did the legal action take place?

[zencat]

Okay. After giving this WAY too much thought I think I

[Blue Eyes]

And what a bloody brilliant last word it was

[Dmitri Mishkin]

Zencat is fast becoming MGM's biggest fan, apparently
Lot of good laughs in that one.

[Blofeld's Cat]

This would make a great black comedy, become the No. 1 hit of the year, and win a bagful of Oscars.

But MGM would have passed on it and another studio makes it instead.

[Hardyboy]

Zencat, you've given me the first laugh I've had since this debacle hit. Does anyone out there have a big media connection? I think this news deserves to be shouted far and near, so maybe--just MAYBE--the idiots at MGM will hang their heads in shame.

[Predator_007]

LOL ... Zencat you are a comedy genius ... if only MGM employed you, maybe we'd get something out of their comedy production depratment that would actually be funny (sorry, everyone, Legally Blonde is a pretty poor movie) ...

So, who would you cast as the MGM execs?

I would choose Nathan Lane for Nathanson (apologies to the actor, I've never seen a picture of said exec)!!

[rafterman]

funny and accurate account Mr. Zen...

You know, this and other sites ARE the advertising campaign for MGM and DAD and they cost nothing other than the use of pictures. So by shutting it down, MGM again proves that they have no clue how internet sites actually promote things, rather than infringe on them. This site has done nothing but spread the word of Die Another Day™ for EON and MGM. It generates interest for the film, basically selling it to fans, who will tell others about it. The site makes money-for MGM.

A Steve Sansweet type is needed. Star Wars understands its fans. Go to the official Star Wars site and have your questions answered by everyone involved in the films, except George himself.

At the Star Trek site, Trektoday, their message boards are frequently visited by the authors and editors of their books. It's not the television producers, but it is a nice link between the fans and the manufacturers. Imagine if Raymond Benson or Glidrose reps posted here, listened and took what we said into consideration like those Trek authors do. They talk to the people who buy their product.

I think the problems are mostly with MGM. They don't make the films themselves, they sit back with too much time on their hands and too many unneeded employees and so they sick them on websites for imagined violations instead of selling their product. All studios make bad decisions. MGM seems to consistently make them.
Also MGM rely on Bond, but don't seem to care or even like their product. They're not fans of it, hence they make suggestions like "hire Denise Richards, the kids love her." They're also the ones who give us title options like If Looks Could Kill and Black Sun and ask us to vote in these ridiculous meetings of people off the street. (forgive me, I forget the correct term...)
Many at the other franchises seem to actually care about getting their product to the fans, while maintaining ownership. They don't give too much, but they don't crush fans who just want to enjoy the product...imagine MGM stealing domain names from websites because someone somewhere uses the numbers 007...
MGM has shot themselves in the foot here. It's just another move that will bring the studio further and further down...