1025 replies to this topic

[Bondian]

"Bond Will Return In?"

Gang. I wouldn't worry. Bond will be back. Please relax and purchase the Bond's on Blu-Ray.

Regards.

M. Wilson (NPOWER Productions)

[Col. Sun]

Bottom line: This is a huge mess and Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson most likely have moved on to other projects while this works itself out for the next decade. Sorry folks, unless Sony gets a free pass, Craig is just a twosome Bond.

I can't help feeling there's a lot of panic here.

But remember Eon have been in tough spots before and always come thru. And Craig seems very committed to Bond.

Let's keep positive.

Bond 23 has been delayed - not canned. We all know why it's being held back from production. We also know the powers that be are working very hard to sort the MGM situation out.

Bond is a key asset in the deal making - and Craig will be seen by all as a major factor. It's unlike the Dalton scenario because Craig has been universally accepted as Bond, his 2 films have been very successful, (where as Dalton's 2nd was and remains the lowest BO of any official Bond film,) and changing Bond actors again is the last thing anyone will want to do.

Only Cubby and Eon were standing by Dalton, we all know that - the studio and investors wanted a new Bond and that's what they got. Dalton moved on with grace because I believe he thought it the best move for the franchise and himself.

Craig, however, has a rocketing career - already way more interesting and impressive than Dalton's or Brosnan's after 2 Bonds. Craig may feel very comfortable coming back to Bond, even if it's 4 years from now, because he's clearly not being type-cast or held back by being Bond - in fact it's really marked him out. I don't think Craig, as an actor, is done with Bond yet.

Keep the faith.

[DamnCoffee]

Completely agreed. Bond will be back, and so will Craig.

[TheREAL008]

I'll take delayed over canned anyday. besides, there's no truth to the tabliod report whatsoever.

[Royal Dalton]

It could go either way for Craig. I expect he'll make another one, but it depends how long this thing drags on for.

[Aris007]

Completely agreed. Bond will be back, and so will Craig.

Yeah there's no doubt in this. I think it's preety clear that Craig will return. Even if the story goes on for 3 more years!

[Loomis]

Gang. I wouldn't worry. Bond will be back. Please relax and purchase the Bond's on Blu-Ray.

I'd dearly love to. Sadly, most of them are unavailable on Blu-ray.

P.S. Long time no see, Ian.

[Harry Fawkes]

Fingers crossed then.

[tdalton]

I'd dearly love to. Sadly, most of them are unavailable on Blu-ray.

I'd love to as well. Can't wait to get my hands on a Blu-ray copy of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

[Aris007]

I'd dearly love to. Sadly, most of them are unavailable on Blu-ray.

I'd love to as well. Can't wait to get my hands on a Blu-ray copy of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

Some of them are quite pricey too!

[tdalton]

I'd dearly love to. Sadly, most of them are unavailable on Blu-ray.

I'd love to as well. Can't wait to get my hands on a Blu-ray copy of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

Some of them are quite pricey too!

You're right about that. I find it quite odd that the Bond films are still selling at ridiculously high prices when even some of the new release films that are being released each week are starting to arrive (if only just for the first week or two) at prices closer to their DVD counterparts.

[Bondian]

Gang. I wouldn't worry. Bond will be back. Please relax and purchase the Bond's on Blu-Ray.

I'd dearly love to. Sadly, most of them are unavailable on Blu-ray.

P.S. Long time no see, Ian.

Hello my friend. Thanks for your reply buddy.

Don't have much time these days to visit CBn which is a shame because it's still a fantastic site. I'm really sorry about the delays etc with Bond 23, and I would dearly love to see Craig back.

Will try to pop in when I can.

Cheers, buddy.


Ian

[Aris007]

I'd dearly love to. Sadly, most of them are unavailable on Blu-ray.

I'd love to as well. Can't wait to get my hands on a Blu-ray copy of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

Some of them are quite pricey too!

You're right about that. I find it quite odd that the Bond films are still selling at ridiculously high prices when even some of the new release films that are being released each week are starting to arrive (if only just for the first week or two) at prices closer to their DVD counterparts.

I wonder how much money MGM has earned from Bond DVDs VHSs and BDs and where all this have gone!

[DamnCoffee]

I'm proud to say that I own all of the Bond Blu Rays available, but my mouth is watering just thinking of the likes of On Her Majesty's Secret Service and The Spy Who Loved Me in HD.

[tdalton]

I'd dearly love to. Sadly, most of them are unavailable on Blu-ray.

I'd love to as well. Can't wait to get my hands on a Blu-ray copy of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

Some of them are quite pricey too!

You're right about that. I find it quite odd that the Bond films are still selling at ridiculously high prices when even some of the new release films that are being released each week are starting to arrive (if only just for the first week or two) at prices closer to their DVD counterparts.

I wonder how much money MGM has earned from Bond DVDs VHSs and BDs and where all this have gone!

I'd be surprised if they've gotten too much out of the BD sales, as everywhere that I ever shop for BDs has a whole bunch of them sitting out on the shelves from quite a while ago. I think Best Buy had a sale not long ago where they put them out for something like $12 each, but were unfortunately out of copies of FRWL, which was the only worthwhile film currently on BD that I hadn't acquired yet.

[Loomis]

I'd dearly love to. Sadly, most of them are unavailable on Blu-ray.

I'd love to as well. Can't wait to get my hands on a Blu-ray copy of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

Some of them are quite pricey too!

You're right about that. I find it quite odd that the Bond films are still selling at ridiculously high prices when even some of the new release films that are being released each week are starting to arrive (if only just for the first week or two) at prices closer to their DVD counterparts.

I bought most of my Bond Blu-rays on Amazon. They were doing a very good deal on them about this time last year, and I picked them up for only about £7 or £8 a pop. And they were new, not secondhand.

The Bond I want most on Blu-ray (other than my beloved MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN, and, yes, I know it's available in America, but I can't be arsed to import it) is YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. But you better believe I want every mother[censored]ing last one of them.

[Bondian]

I'm proud to say that I own all of the Bond Blu Rays available, but my mouth is watering just thinking of the likes of On Her Majesty's Secret Service and The Spy Who Loved Me in HD.

Sorry for going slightly off topic, but I cannot believe we're still waiting for the rest of the movies on Blu.

I've been out of Bond news for well over a year and just cannot believe some of the best movies are still not available.

I feel sorry for you loyal fans.

Cheers,


Ian

[Aris007]

I'd dearly love to. Sadly, most of them are unavailable on Blu-ray.

I'd love to as well. Can't wait to get my hands on a Blu-ray copy of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

Some of them are quite pricey too!

You're right about that. I find it quite odd that the Bond films are still selling at ridiculously high prices when even some of the new release films that are being released each week are starting to arrive (if only just for the first week or two) at prices closer to their DVD counterparts.

I wonder how much money MGM has earned from Bond DVDs VHSs and BDs and where all this have gone!

I'd be surprised if they've gotten too much out of the BD sales, as everywhere that I ever shop for BDs has a whole bunch of them sitting out on the shelves from quite a while ago. I think Best Buy had a sale not long ago where they put them out for something like $12 each, but were unfortunately out of copies of FRWL, which was the only worthwhile film currently on BD that I hadn't acquired yet.

Well BDs are not selling like crazy, but I'm sure that MGM made some money from the VHS releases of the Bond films if you consider that they've been around until 2000 at least.

[tdalton]

I'd dearly love to. Sadly, most of them are unavailable on Blu-ray.

I'd love to as well. Can't wait to get my hands on a Blu-ray copy of THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS.

Some of them are quite pricey too!

You're right about that. I find it quite odd that the Bond films are still selling at ridiculously high prices when even some of the new release films that are being released each week are starting to arrive (if only just for the first week or two) at prices closer to their DVD counterparts.

I wonder how much money MGM has earned from Bond DVDs VHSs and BDs and where all this have gone!

I'd be surprised if they've gotten too much out of the BD sales, as everywhere that I ever shop for BDs has a whole bunch of them sitting out on the shelves from quite a while ago. I think Best Buy had a sale not long ago where they put them out for something like $12 each, but were unfortunately out of copies of FRWL, which was the only worthwhile film currently on BD that I hadn't acquired yet.

Well BDs are not selling like crazy, but I'm sure that MGM made some money from the VHS releases of the Bond films if you consider that they've been around until 2000 at least.

True regarding the VHS & DVD releases.

I'm rather surprised, though, that the BDs aren't selling better. Granted, the format is not the dominate format out there by a large stretch, but it's growing remarkably well considering that only a couple of years ago thing weren't looking particularly good for it. The library of titles is getting bigger all the time, the transfers are getting better, and there are a lot of titles that are selling fairly well, now that the prices on both players and discs are starting to go down. I think a big part of the problem, though, is that a lot of people who don't do their shopping online (like myself) aren't going to drop $30 on a movie as old as some of the Bond films, regardless of how improved the picture quality is. Even if they brought THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS out to the store tomorrow, I'd have to give it serious thought if they slapped a $30 price tag on it. If they brought them down to the $15-$20 level, where they should be, I'd be more inclined to pick up the entire series on the format, at least over a period of time. But at $30, I'm only picking up select titles (already have DN, LTK, and Craig's two films, only willing to pick up FRWL & FYEO at the $30 price, which are already available, and TLD at that price).

[Aris007]

That's right. I agree that only a few people are shopping online, but as the years pass more and more people are getting used to the Internet and so on shopping via it.
As a matter of fact when people buy more pieces of the product, prices go down. So, I expect them to go really down from mow on. I also choose the movies I buy and considering that prices WILL go down I'll enlarge my collection.

[Col. Sun]

This sure seems to be going off topic.

Can we discuss BluRay etc. somewhere else?

[BoogieBond]

Completely agreed. Bond will be back, and so will Craig.

Yeah there's no doubt in this. I think it's preety clear that Craig will return. Even if the story goes on for 3 more years!

Thats what I think. I am not entirely sure of the ins and outs of this but Harry sold his 50% to UA, and UA as a studio sunk in the late 70s/early 80s. MGM put in a bid and then bought UA and merged it into MGM/UA. Didn't UA go effectively bankrupt.
Look at the 70s and 80s though, nearly a Bond film every 2 years, while all this stuff was going on.
I am hopeful of a similar situation and Craig as Bond in 3 or 4 years time. MGM acquired by say Sony or Warner and the Ball rolling for B23 very soon.
As mentioned even with the LTK situation, it was different. Bond is still very marketable and no studio in their right mind would say "Hmm, Bond 23 could gross say 595 million, but lets wait for another 5/10 years shall we" They will want Bond 23 out ASAP.

[Pushkin]

I continued to be surprised that they have not found away to make enough money to make Bond 23 and the Hobbit since both are virtually money in the bank.

What I am hoping is that the time is being used in a productive way. IMO, they should be thinking about a story arc and if Bond 23 is delayed substantially they should consider filming 2 films simultaneously so we don't have long delays again.

Anyway, I remain hopeful Craig will be back for the simple reason that there is money to be made. Having said that, I am surprised it got to this point.

Cheers

[Doctor Shatterhand]

the so-called Harry Saltzman/Technicolor blunder of 1974/75

How was Technicolor involved? From what I can gather from a brief google search Saltzman bought it and I can guess that the expenses were too much and forced him to sell Bond. Is that right? Does this mean that Saltzman killed off the Dye Transfer procedure as well?

Yeah, I always knew the EON series would die someday but I would have preferred it to die by becoming unprofitable or EON deciding to close up shop rather then getting killed by their distributor going bankrupt.

Still if the EON series dies Bond is not dead. Even before going into public domain someone else could buy up Bond and makes some movies.

Read Cubby Broccoli's autobiography WHEN THE SNOW MELTS. He goes into detail about the Harry Saltzman/Technicolor goof. At the time the last American films that utilized the three plate Technicolor system were The Godfather and Death Wish in 1974. After that many of the Kung Fu films from China were done in Technicolor. However, Hollywood had moved onto a faster process and cost effective system. Saltzman heard about the Technicolor deal and purchased it, thinking he would make a bundle. Unfortunately it was the reverse and he was in debt up to his eyeballs. He began to sell off collateral including his half of Danjac which was a no-no. Broccoli claimed that there was a clause in their contract that prevented either partner from selling their half without the other being allowed to buy him out. The reason was to prevent any new partner from messing up the balance of producing the Bond films. Enter United Artist, who bought out Saltzman and 1% of Broccoli's half - making UA the dominating half and deciding factor. The new marriage was good for the rest of the 1970s but after 1981, UA was bought out by MGM and the lion became the new co-owners of Danjac. Broccoli was forced to produce a new OO7 film every 2 years, after 1981, with a budget that never climbed above 30 million. Since then, the Broccoli family has had to deal with the purse strings of MGM. With the demise MGM, it will cause the series to halt for a very long time until a new co-owner appears.

This is not the end of James Bond on film, but it may be the end of Daniel Craig. Personally, I'm mad as hell over this since being a huge fan since the 1960s, a new Bond every 2 years was something I looked forward to, but MGM has been the biggest problem since the early 80s; and since Licence To Kill in 1989, there has only been 6 Bond films in 21 years. That is pathetic when it comes to this fabulous series. In 1983, Bond had 13 films and 21 years, the series has not even lived up to its golden years in the amount of films made. The last six, I can only say Casino Royale has been far above average while the other 5 have been either okay or below par. Compare that to the first 12 Bond films and you'll see that the series is struggling to survive even with the success in boxoffice returns.

To be honest, I hope I'm wrong and a new Bond film will be ready in late 2012 or 2013, but realistically speaking - I doubt it. But rest assure, James Bond Will Return - just not anytime soon.

The legal entanglement of this situation is so enormous that the only way a Bond film will get made for 2012 is that Sony Pictures is allowed to make one more under their banner. Otherwise, the so-called Harry Saltzman/Technicolor blunder of 1974/75 has reached across four decades and forced the most successful movie series in history to a definite halt that will take years to recover. When I say years, I mean this can take up to 10 years to iron out. There is an army of lawyers and bankers behind this and every 'i' needs to be dotted and every 't' crossed. We are talking about billions of dollars and the new owners will want every cent counted. This includes residuals, rentals - past and present, investors - past and present. Working out new agreements with the estates of dead artists, etc. The list is endless and nothing will advance until the accountants have done their research and concluded everything. Of course, if there is anything that was done incorrectly many years before, the accountants have to go back and correct that.

Bottom line: This is a huge mess and Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson most likely have moved on to other projects while this works itself out for the next decade. Sorry folks, unless Sony gets a free pass, Craig is just a twosome Bond.

Either you are Dalton/Craig on MI6 or you uys are copying from one another

What?

[elizabeth]

I've been asking for the Bond DVD collection for my birthday since God knows when. Still haven't gotten it.

[Time Agent]

I continued to be surprised that they have not found away to make enough money to make Bond 23 and the Hobbit since both are virtually money in the bank.

Agreed! I facepalm about this every day, surely there is a way? MGM could borrow money, both the Bond and Lord of the Rings franchises have always been huge moneymakers so I don't understand the holdup.

[blueman]

I continued to be surprised that they have not found away to make enough money to make Bond 23 and the Hobbit since both are virtually money in the bank.

Agreed! I facepalm about this every day, surely there is a way? MGM could borrow money, both the Bond and Lord of the Rings franchises have always been huge moneymakers so I don't understand the holdup.

This is what makes me doubt a 10 year gap while the beancounters count beans. If I'm holding any of MGM's debt, I want somebody at the studio to put something on the screen ASAP.

[Joe Bond]

I'm proud to say that I own all of the Bond Blu Rays available, but my mouth is watering just thinking of the likes of On Her Majesty's Secret Service and The Spy Who Loved Me in HD.

Luckily I have the iTunes HD versions of those two and The Living Daylights that were released on the U.S. iTunes store and their good enough to tide me over until the Blu-ray's are released.

The Bond I want most on Blu-ray (other than my beloved MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN, and, yes, I know it's available in America, but I can't be arsed to import it) is YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE. But you better believe I want every mothering last one of them.

I just watched my Blu-ray version of Man with the Golden Gun the other day and it looked really great and I think that it really stinks that the U.K. hasn't been able to get a release for it which is kinda of ironic since you would think it would sell better in the U.K. than compared to the U.S. and I agree about YOLT but again the iTunes HD version will hold me over but I don't like how they won't release the rest of them right away since they were able to release a Blu-ray version for a bad movie like Showgirls. Sorry if this is off topic.

Edited by Joe Bond, 08 July 2010 - 02:46 AM.

[Quantumofsolace007]

I continued to be surprised that they have not found away to make enough money to make Bond 23 and the Hobbit since both are virtually money in the bank.

Agreed! I facepalm about this every day, surely there is a way? MGM could borrow money, both the Bond and Lord of the Rings franchises have always been huge moneymakers so I don't understand the holdup.

This is what makes me doubt a 10 year gap while the beancounters count beans. If I'm holding any of MGM's debt, I want somebody at the studio to put something on the screen ASAP.

I hope your right. I want bond 23 ASAP.

[blueman]

Just saw that McKellen may opt out of The Hobbit, can't be good news for MGM's creditors.

Get the deal done, make movies.