And the 24th Bond film will be called....

Photos Source: 007.com

Lots of James Bond news coming out of UK's Pinewood Studios today.  Like huge news!  The 24th Bond film will be titled Spectre and most of the cast and crew from Skyfall returns to continue the legendary spy's adventures.

Director Sam Mendes was on hand today to divulge new information about Bond 24.  First up, the film's name is officially confirmed.  It's Spectre, which stands for Special Executive for Counter-Intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge And Extortion, a terrorist organisation which was around in the earlier Bond films. Makes sense as the newest films have been quite interested in Bond's past.

Also revealed was the cast with Daniel Craig back as Bond, Naomie Harris as Miss Moneypenny, Ben Whishaw as Q and Ralph Fiennes as the new M (I miss you already, Judi Dench!). Now to the newcomers, the Bond ladies include Monica Belluci and Lea Seydoux, Dave Bautista from Guardians of the Galaxy as Mr. Hinx and two more cast additions that are bound to raise eyebrows, Andrew Scott (Sherlock) as Denbigh and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Waltz as Oberhauser.

Source: 007.com

For you car aficionados out there, a new Aston Martin was also announced.  What intrigues me is the official synopsis: “A cryptic message from Bond’s past sends him on a trail to uncover a sinister organisation. While M battles political forces to keep the secret service alive, Bond peels back the layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.”  Raise your hand if you're already thinking MOLE!! Spectre hits theatres less than a year from now on November 6, 2015.  

News Update: Gone Girl, James Bond and Dustin Hoffman on Tootsie

•  If anyone asks me for any book recommendations, my first question to them is, "Have you read Gone Girl?" I am practically obsessed with it. And I'm eagerly awaiting the movie adaptation as well.  The talent that's lining up for the film is looking up, like way up. Actress Reese Witherspoon is in the producer's chair, David Fincher is behind the camera and today, comes word that Ben Affleck is in talks to play Nick, whose wife Amy is the titular Gone Girl.  This is shaping up to be quite awesome, folks. I am officially excited.  Have you read Gone Girl yet?

• Never fear, all is right in the James Bond universe as directer Sam Mendes is back to direct the next Bond film after the success of Skyfall. I have moaned about this before and Mendes' return is absolutely the best decision for the franchise. I thought Skyfall was a spectacular film, a great tribute to all things Bond at 50. 
• This AFI video interview of Dustin Hoffman has been making the social media rounds but I have to share it again because it is so refreshing and moving and has become a must watch. How many actors would say this? Thank you, sir.

Happy James Bond Day!

22 films with one more on the way this November. 5 distinctive and different Bonds.  Over 50 Bond girls and after 12 directors' visions, we have finally arrived at 50 years of James Bond, Agent 007, member of his Majesty's secret service.  Although not so secret anymore, he just escorted the Queen to this year's Olympics in front of half the world.  Great undercover work there.

With so many films to chose from (both good and bad), you'll always find people have strange favorites and very strong personal favorites.  Everyone agrees that Sean Connery (the first actor to play Bond) is a sentimental favorite but there is always a healthy debate as to who is the best Bond.  I like the franchise but I'm not such a devoted fan as many so I'm really pleased with the current Bond Daniel Craig and his portrayal.  Overall though, I tend to mix up the parodies and the real films together that makes for confusing recall of actual facts.  I'm working on fixing that by watching some of the older films.

The newest Bond film, number 23, Skyfall will be directed by Sam Mendes, a newcomer to the franchise.  But a stellar cast in Javier Bardem as the main villain along with Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Judi Dench back as M looks to carry forward the Bond name into the new age.  After the outstanding Bourne trilogy with Matt Damon, the Bond franchise needed to up its game although many fans seems to prefer the older films to this gritty, realist direction the newer films are taking.

What do you think? Who's your favorite Bond and does everyone like Daniel Craig as James Bond?  It's been six years already.  

Trailer Time: Gangster Squad, Skyfall, and Argo

Last year was the year of Ryan Gosling with three big name films and some occasional heroism on the side.  This year, he's back with an all-star cast featuring Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, Emma Stone, and Anthony Mackie in Gangster Squad, a look at the 1940s LAPD and their fight against the East Coast Mafia.  It looks explosive with the lines of good vs. bad quite blurred.  The cast alone is reason enough to tune in but the premise too looks intriguing.  Directed by Ruben Fleischer, the film releases on September 7, 2012 in the US.

Bond is back!  The first teaser for the film due to release this November came out today.  The 23rd Bond film, Skyfall, has MI6 Agent Bond facing yet another threat as he helps out as M is in trouble.  Hey, if this means more screen time for Judi Dench, I'm in.  The cast includes Daniel Craig in his third outing as Bond, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Berenice Marlohe and Javier Bardem.  I watched the trailer again to see if we are ever shown Bardem's face but I think that's him at the very end.  Keeping the villain under wraps until a later date, methinks.  Oscar winner Sam Mendes is handling the directorial duties for this latest Bond film.  

Also back for third time in the director's chair is Ben Affleck after two successful well made films, Gone Baby Gone and The Town.  This latest film, Argo, has Affleck doing double duty again as director and actor playing a CIA agent who has to extract 6 Americans working at the Embassy during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.   For me, the trailer switched to a weird comedy angle midway when Affleck's character goes to Hollywood posing as a producer of sci-fi film Argo and decides the hostages will pose as his crew.  But as the trailer assures me, this is based on a true story so it must work out somehow.  I didn't like the trailer for The Town when it came out, it gave away too much of the story but it seemed fine during the film.  Here's hoping Argo goes the same way when it releases this October.  

New photos from USA Today's 2012 Preview

The first week of the new year has yielded so many new looks to some anticipated movies of 2012.  Thanks to USA Today and the preview guide for 2012, we have some new photos from The Avengers, The Bourne Legacy and more.

Thor meets Captain America in The Avengers.

First look at Jeremy Renner in The Bourne Legacy.

Who are these adorable redheaded moppets with Merida from Brave?

I spy The Hobbit's feet.

Noomi Rapace in Ridley Scott's Prometheus.

It's Daniel. Daniel Craig in Skyfall, the next James Bond film.

Charlize Theron reigns as Queen in Snow White and the Hunstsman.

Next Bond Film is Skyfall!

Like Tarsem Singh's new film, now called Mirror Mirror, Bond 23 finally has a name too. It's Skyfall and will feature returning cast members Daniel Craig as James Bond and Judi Dench as M and will be directed by Sam Mendes.  But who will Bond be up against?  Javier Bardem is rumored to play the villain while Ralph Fiennes and Helen McCrory (former Death Eaters from the Harry Potter series) are also joining the cast.  And finally, no Bond announcement would be complete without mentioning the Bond girls.  Naomie Harris (28 Days Later..) and newcomer Berenice Marlohe have the honor for this film.

The cast and crew of Skyfall

Daniel Craig with the new Bond Girls

Javier Bardem with Daniel Craig

Director Sam Mendes

Dame Judi Dench with Daniel Craig

What is the film about? Here's a quick blurb via the @007 twitter feed:

“Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Hmm, what could this mean? It means more Dame Judi Dench!! I fear my blog is quietly becoming the unofficial Judi Dench fansite but come on, the woman is a delight in whatever role she plays.   Did you guys happen to notice the new title in the background? Skyfall will release in theaters November 9, 2012. 

Weekly News Roundup: Casting buzz for Superman and Batman!

• Holy Batman! Could Joseph Gordon-Levitt be re-joining his Inception director in The Dark Knight Rises.  We say: Yes, please!  Christopher Nolan himself confirmed that shooting will commence in May.  We'll know before then if Gordon-Levitt is a part of the cast.
• Now that the Man in Steel aka Henry Cavill has been announced, it's time to guess who might be Lois Lane.  The actress shortlist includes Jessica Biel, Olivia Wilde, Rachel McAdams, Malin Akerman and many more.  Expect an press release about this role soon enough too.
• Javier Bardem is seriously being considered for a villainous role in Bond 23.  He is scary good as a villain.  Watch out, Daniel Craig.
• Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand make up the cast of Mother's Curse which involves them going on a mother-son road trip.  Somehow, I can totally pciture them as mother and son already. 
• Until now, Scarlett Johansson was the lone female in the Avengers film.  That may be changing soon.  Deadline is reporting that Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) is very close to joining the Avengers as SHIELD agent Maria Hill.  Word is that she was director Joss Whedon's choice as Wonder Woman too.  Intriguing! 
• After Robert Downey Jr. and Johnny Depp, new Oscar host James Franco's name is being offered as the lead in Oz, the Great and Powerful.  Shame, as I was really looking forward to seeing Robert Downey Jr. interpreting this role.  
• I wasn't sure I read this right, but it turns out that Tarsem Singh wants Julia Roberts to play the Evil Queen in his version of Snow White.  This will be interesting.
• Finally, for all you James Patterson fans, Alex Cross will be played by Tyler Perry.  Is he the right choice for the role?

Weekly News Roundup: Clint Eastwood is a busy man and the return of James Bond!

• Clint Eastwood, at 70, isn't resting on his laurels.  His much anticipated Hoover biopic is already underproduction.  Leonardo DiCaprio tweeted about J. Edgar starting shooting on February 5th and they have a new cast member, Josh Lucas, who will be playing Charles Lindbergh.  Ed Westwick aka Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl also has a role of Agent Smith.
• But that's not his only production.  Eastwood might possibly be directing Beyonce (!) in a remake of A Star is Born.  I honestly thought this was a joke at first.  Dirty Harry directing a musical?  But it's completely legit.  Let's give him a chance, right?
• Dark Horizons has some new details from producer Tim Johnson on the upcoming sequel for How to Train Your Dragon and the TV series spin-off.   This means awesome adventures ahead for Hiccup and Toothless.
• Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge) is actually thinking of filming The Great Gatsby in 3D! The horror!! This is a very bad idea, very very bad idea.  
• Bond is back! Don't count out James Bond out of the movie business yet.  The 23rd Bond flick is set to release on November 9th, 2012.  Sam Mendes is attached to direct.  The film could potentially be called "Red Sky at Night" and word is that, Rachel Weisz has been offered a role.    
• Mike White exits Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as director.  Despite another setback, I am still stoked for this project to get off the ground.  Please Universe, we need for this movie to find its director along with Elizabeth Bennett and Darcy.