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There is a moment in "Live and Let Die" that sets the tone for Roger Moore's entire run as James Bond. Left for dead on an island in the middle of a pond full of hungry crocodiles, Moore's 007 makes his escape by using three of the deadly reptiles as stepping stones to safety, barely getting his feet wet in the process. There's plenty more where that came from, including the barrel roll car jump in "The Man With the Golden Gun," Blofeld being dumped down a smokestack in "For Your Eyes Only," and the snowboarding scene set to The Beach Boys in "A View to a Kill." But perhaps no film in Moore's tenure is as end-to-end silly as "Moonraker."

After the success of "The Spy Who Loved Me," Moore's next adventure was supposed to be "For Your Eyes Only." (There's even a "James Bond will return..." teaser in the...

After a couple of iffy choices earlier in the decade, Michael Caine made the surprisingly sweet and enjoyable comedy, Sweet Liberty in 1986. We take a look back…

Michael Caine showed no sign of slowing down as he entered his third decade as a leading man. The 1980s would see him win his first Academy Award (Hannah and Her Sisters), tackle new genres such as horror (The Hand) and shark-based revenge movie (Jaws: The Revenge) whilst continuing to work with interesting new auteurs like Brian De Palma (Dressed to Kill) as well as old friends from classic Hollywood such as John Huston (Escape to Victory).

Film by film, I’ll be taking a look at Caine’s 1980s filmography to see what hidden gems I can unearth alongside the more familiar classics…

Spoilers for Sweet Liberty lie ahead…

Directed by: Alan Alda

Tagline: Alan Alda’s hit comedy about life, liberties and the pursuit of happiness.

The attitude to spoilers appeared to be rather different in 1979, if magazine coverage of Moonraker, Alien and more are anything to go by…

Nb: The following contains spoilers for Moonraker and Alien. The irony is not lost on us.

It’s amazing what you can find just by browsing through old magazines: they’re a time capsule of information, cultural tastes and changing attitudes. And if a 1979 issue of Cinefantastique is anything to go by, they also give an idea of how entertainment writers used to handle the concept of plot spoilers.

A quarterly publication that specialised in sci-fi, fantasy and horror, Cinefantastique found itself in the middle of a vintage period for genre film at the end of the 1970s. The seismic impact of 1977’s Star Wars saw film studios clamour to release space-related films of their own, including 20th Century Fox’s Alien and Eon’s rushed-into-production James Bond sequel,...

With Amazon now in full control of the rights to James Bond, it's only a matter of time until the company franchises the world of Ian Fleming's secret agent into the ground. But while the future doesn't look too bright with real-life Bond villain Jeff Bezos in charge, it wasn't always like this. There was, in fact, a point where the announcement of new developments with the 007-sphere actually conjured some excitement, like when the property's 50th anniversary was on the horizon in 2012.

Four years after 2008's dreadful "Quantum of Solace," it appeared Daniel Craig was going to get back in the MI6 saddle and deliver something special with "Skyfall." When that particular James Bond movie finally came out, it felt almost as fresh as "Casino Royale" had six years prior. The visually riveting spy adventure not only remains one of my favorite entries in the entire franchise,...

Quick LinksThe Moonraker Film Was A Response To The Sci-Fi TrendIan Flemming's Original Vision Was Quite DifferentRemaking And Recycling Plots Is Normal In The Bond Franchise

Since films became a new artistic medium, adaptations of classic literature and contemporary literature have been re-written for the screen. Whether it's Bible stories or renditions of American folklore, each retelling comes with big and small alterations to the source material. Often, these changes are a matter of budget, or the demand by producers to cater to the popularity of certain trends. Unfortunately, these alterations can sometimes be at the expense of the original author's vision, which is why writers like Stephen King and George R.R. Martin hold some misgivings about how their books have been adapted over the years. Some writers try to dominate the process instead, of becoming directors themselves like Michael Crichton. However, when it comes to one of Hollywood's biggest action franchises,...

Whether you're a James Bond purist who likes to see the secret agent take his missions seriously or someone who has a soft spot for the series' campier elements, there's a lot to talk about regarding the legacy of "Moonraker" It's a bizarre entry in the franchise's legacy and the only one in which 007 goes to space. The Lewis Gilbert-directed film also happens to be the only Bond adventure to feature a returning evil henchman in Richard Kiel's Jaws.

The mute baddie with a mouth full of metal made his screen debut in 1975's "The Spy Who Loved Me." Since then, he's been rightfully remembered as one of the best Bond adversaries. Kiel's towering 7ft stature and that quietly sinister smile made the character such an imposing figure without saying a single word. He's also one of the only henchmen to have a redemptive arc in another film.

Doja Cat, whose discography includes farm-animal jingle “Mooo!” and the Dionne Warwick-sampled “Paint the Town Red,” made a big impression at the 97th Oscars. Doja performed a rendition of the James Bond anthem “Diamonds Are Forever,” dressed in a gown embellished with crystals. In a social media post Monday, the pop singer expressed her gratitude to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and acknowledged her performance hiccups.

“I never get to sing like that and what I did was brave and scary as fuck for me,” Doja wrote on Instagram.

The Academy Awards aren’t exactly an objective measure of cinematic quality, but it’s always gratifying to see hard-working artists be rewarded for their output – especially when those artists happen to work in the horror genre. And in honor of Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance being nominated for a whopping five Oscars this year, we’ve decided to look back on the small selection of horror movies that have managed to win Academy Awards.

Of course, the lines separating one genre from another can sometimes be hard to define, so don’t be surprised if we end up disagreeing on what does or doesn’t count as a proper horror picture. That being said, don’t forget to comment below with your own Oscar-winning favorites if you think we missed a particularly good one.

With that out of the way, onto the list…

14. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

Often cited as one...

2006's "Casino Royale" opens with a black and white sequence that depicts on-screen, for the very first time, a pre–double-o James Bond. Daniel Craig's spy has yet to earn his license to kill, but in the film's opening sequence, he manages to rack up the requisite kill count to finally earn the distinction.

In Prague, Bond breaks into the office of traitorous MI6 agent Dryden (Malcolm Sinclair), who immediately taunts Craig's spy, revealing that he's aware Bond is yet to gain his license to kill. "Your file shows no kills," he says, "and it takes..." before Bond interrupts with, "Two." We're then shown a brief flashback in which Bond kills Dryden's contact after a bathroom brawl, revealing that he's already dispatched one of the two people he needs in order to become a double-o agent. Dryden then begins to say how easy the second kill is compared to the first,...

Quick LinksMichael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli Still Own 2/3 of James BondJames Bond Is a Big Franchise With a History of Quality IssuesJames Bond Fans Are Angry About Potential Spinoffs and TV ShowsFans Seem to Want Generational Franchises to Die Rather Than Grow

In July 1961, film producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman formed Eon Productions after securing the rights to adapt Ian Fleming's James Bond novels into films. Since then, the company has overseen the first modern franchise, complete with reboots and recasts of the central character. Over time, Albert's son, Michael G. Wilson, and daughter, Barbara Broccoli, also joined the company. These films have been distributed by MGM Studios, which was purchased by Amazon in 2022.

With the news that both Wilson and Broccoli are stepping back from active producing roles, Bond fans online erupted with outrage. It's fair to have skepticism about a corporation that's already facing...

It’s the end of an era, but it doesn’t seem to be the start of a better one. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the daughter and stepson of storied James Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli, have given up their long-held creative control of the $7 billion-grossing 007 franchise about an international super spy who stops billionaires from taking over the world.

And they’ve given that creative control to one of the billionaires who is currently taking over the world.

Amazon MGM Studios, owned by Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, acquired the James Bond series in 2022, after the release of Daniel Craig’s final installment, the incorrectly-titled “No Time to Die” (spoiler alert: it was literally Bond’s time to die). The Broccoli family retained their creative control in this acquisition, which was to be expected since they’ve closely guarded the 007 franchise and overseen its direction since its inception.

When Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson ceded all creative control of James Bond to Amazon MGM Studios, eras ended.

Half-siblings Broccoli and Wilson had extraordinary control over the Bond franchise, personally steering the films after they inherited the company Eon Productions from Broccoli’s father and Wilson’s stepfather, Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli in 1995. More than any director, they were the arbiters of “what is a James Bond film,” navigating Bond’s post-Cold War reinvention with Pierce Brosnan in the ’90s and selecting Daniel Craig as his replacement in 2005.

Reports in Deadline on February 20 say that Amazon bought out the pair for $1 billion — but that the vibe in Broccoli and Wilson’s orbit is “of a death in the family.”

Not long ago, a Bond fan might expect a 007 film to feature a Jeff Bezos-style villain. He shares a bald pate with Blofeld, as well as his own personal rocket fleet.

Casual fans might not realize just how popular Roger Moore's James Bond was for a considerable amount of time. The 1980s decade started with the Saint star and his softer take on 007 at the zenith of their popularity (1979's Moonraker was the highest-grossing Bond film ever without adjusting for inflation), and he'd appear in multiple successful installments in the series before Timothy Dalton brieflyheld the mantle, nearly into the '90s. Underappreciated by critics at the time, this '80s period of Bond films are generally rather unassuming but polished, a majority of them formulaic in the best and most comforting kind of way, often deliriously entertaining. There's a case to be made for this being the most rewatchable decade of Bond movies. The following isn't a ranking by overall artistic merit or even cultural significance (that can be found here); the following ranks every '80s Bond movie by sheer replay value.

Sean Connery was a straight talker, sometimes to a fault. He didn't hold back when laying out his low opinion of the literary James Bond. He never restrained himself when discussing how the role that made his career was somewhat of a double-edged sword, at one point claiming that he "always hated that damn James Bond" and that he'd "like to kill him." Plus, as "Goldfinger" director Guy Hamilton revealed on the banned James Bond commentary tracks, Connery didn't stop himself from providing opinions on individual story beats, at one point calling the moment where Oddjob (Harold Sakata) crushes a golf ball with his bare hands "ridiculous" and claiming it would never make the final cut. (It did.)

That last example points to Connery's ongoing distaste for the more fanciful elements of James Bond. Despite "Goldfinger" being responsible for some of the more outlandish Bond trademarks, such as the high-tech...

In 1953, Ian Fleming's novel Casino Royale debuted one of the most recognizable secret agents: James Bond. Since Fleming's thrilling tales began their on-screen adaptations with the release of Dr. No in 1962, Bond headed one of the most successful and long-running franchises in cinema history. Spawning 27 movies and TV shows starring seven generations of actors taking on the classic role, fans young and old are drawn to the character's cool, confident, and charming disposition in the face of danger. Additionally, through increasingly high-stakes action, cutting-edge gadgets, and 007's glamorous lifestyle, the character provides viewers with an intoxicating escapism. Bond's life of consistently overcoming bad guys and living in luxury often seems too good to be true. Well, maybe some of it is.

According to Bond lore, the MI6 operative is a mid-ranking civil servant within the governmental organization and takes home a modest salary. This begs the question: how...

James Bond is a mid-ranking civil servant on a modest government salary, so it’s not entirely clear how he manages to afford his lavish lifestyle. In Live and Let Die, Roger Moore’s Bond is shown to live in a giant, luxurious mansion. In No Time to Die, Daniel Craig’s Bond goes on a vacation to Matera and retires to a lovely villa in sunny Jamaica. He seems to be pretty wealthy, but the government doesn’t pay its intelligence agents anywhere near as much as the BBC pays its top presenters, so how does 007 afford this stuff?

Between Ian Fleming’s source material and a few details mentioned throughout the movies, Bond’s salary and expensive lifestyle have been explained. The monetary revelations in the books have to be adjusted for inflation, since Fleming began writing them in the 1950s, but they do give a clear idea...

When the best James Bond movie of all time, "Casino Royale," debuted in 2006, the franchise was immediately reinvigorated with Daniel Craig's 007 representing a truly fresh take on the character. Director Martin Campbell, who a decade prior had kicked off Pierce Brosnan's tenure in the tux in similarly spectacular fashion with "GoldenEye," reintroduced audiences to a modern Bond, taking cues from 2001's "The Bourne Identity" and its 2004 sequel to give England's greatest spy a more grounded and — yes, I'm going to use the word — gritty treatment.

But then, things sort of fell apart. 2008's "Quantum of Solace" was the biggest disaster in Bond history, but not for the reasons you may have heard. The film was decent but didn't fare well with critics and fans, prompting custodians of the Bond franchise, Eon Productions, to change tack. What resulted was the truly dismal "Skyfall," a movie that masquerades as...

Quick Links 'Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins' Is an Adult Version of 'The Karate Kid' 'Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins' Had Excellent Franchise Potential 'Remo Williams' Deserves a Feature Reboot or Television Series

In the early 1980s, the James Bond film series was in a period of transition, with aged series star Roger Moore, whose tenure as Bond began with the 1973 installment Live and Let Die and ended with the 1985 release of A View to a Kill, poised to retire as Bond. With the series in a state of upheaval, Hollywood saw an opening with which to create its own successor to Bond.

The first such contender appeared in 1982, with the debut of the NBC television series Remington Steele, starring future Bond series star Pierce Brosnan as a former con man and thief who assumes the titular fictional identity to help a female private investigator. The first big-screen...

Every James Bond movie has separate iconic songs to get listed, but the James Bond Theme has become synonymous with the franchise name. It has been the signature music since Dr. No in 1962. Before Daniel Craig took the legacy baton forward in 2006, every Eon-produced James Bond movie featured Monty Norman’s created theme song. Although Monty Norman wrote several songs for other musical stage plays, including Pinocchio, Stand, and Deliver, he will forever be remembered for composing the iconic James Bond music.

A snippet from Dr. No | Credits: United Artists

Despite his illustrious career, Norman’s association with the “Dum di-di dum dum” guitar que arranged by the John Barry Orchestra will always be iconic. Vic Flick, who used to work with John Barry as a guitarist is popularly known for playing that particular guitar riff, has died. To honor his legacy, let’s look at a few unknown facts about the theme music.

Paul Engelen, the British makeup designer who earned two Emmys and two Oscar nominations in a fabulous career that included work on Reds, Batman, The Phantom Menace, Gladiator and Game of Thrones, has died. He was 75.

Engelen died Nov. 3 of cancer at his home in West Sussex, England, his son-in-law (and fellow makeup designer) Daniel Lawson Johnston told The Hollywood Reporter.

Engelen also did makeup for three James Bonds — Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig — on the 007 films The Man With the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), Die Another Day (2002), Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008).

He teamed with Blake Edwards on Victor/Victoria (1982), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) and Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), with Steven Spielberg on Empire of the Sun (1987) and Munich (2005) and with Ridley Scott on Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005) and Robin Hood (2010).

Engelen shared his first Academy Award nom with Rick Baker...

As anticipation remains high for what the franchise's future holds, 20 James Bond movies have found a new home on streaming platform Pluto TV. Adapted from the novels by British author Ian Fleming, the franchise began in 1962, with Dr. No, and starred Sean Connery in the leading role of the iconic MI6 agent 007. To date, the series has grossed around $7.8 billion, making it one of the most successful franchises of all time, even as six different actors have taken on the role, most recently that of Daniel Craig.

Now, those interested in revisiting the James Bond franchise will now have the opportunity to watch 20 of the titles in the series on the streaming platform Pluto TV. The available titles are Die Another Day, Diamonds Are Forever, Dr. No, For Your Eyes Only, GoldenEye, Licence To Kill, Live and Let Die, The Living Daylights, The Man With The Golden Gun, Moonraker, Octopussy,...

The original script for the James Bond reboot following Roger Moores departure in the 1980s sounds more like an Indiana Jones movie than a Bond movie. Whenever a Bond actor retires from the role, the producers dont just have to find a new actor to don the tuxedo; they have to come up with a way to reinvent the franchise. They ended up following the goofy, tongue-in-cheek humor of Moores tenure with the darker, grittier, more faithful Timothy Dalton Bond movies but that wasnt their first thought.

By the time Moore stepped down from the role of 007 after A View to a Kill, hed been widely criticized for having aged out of the part. To combat these complaints, the producers initially planned to reboot the series with a much younger Bond early in his career. Richard Maibaum and Michael G. Wilson started work on a script, but the project was eventually abandoned.

Movie buffs everywhere look forward to Tarantino‘s upcoming season of his film podcast with his past collaborator Roger Avary. Earlier in August, The Video Archives podcast would post on their social media, inviting fans to send in questions in an analog fashion — by postcard. Their post read, “You may have heard rumor that we’re gearing up for Season Two. On instagram, Gala outlined the perfect way to get your question answered: a postcard! Want to send one?” Then, the post provided the address to get your questions to Tarantino and Avary.

Just in time for Halloween, The Video Archives podcast announced the return for season 2 on October 29. Additionally, they have announced that you can find full, ad-free episodes and aftershows on their Patreon. Their post reads, “The store is officially open starting October 29th. Find us over on @Patreon for full, ad-free episodes and The Aftershows. https://patreon.

The James Bond franchise has become one of the most iconic movie series of all time. From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, each actor to play 007 brought their own unique brand of glamour to the character, allowing the franchise to constantly reinvent itself. Alongside the ever-changing actors, James Bond is a franchise defined by its commitment to death-defying stunts.

Some of these stunts have truly cemented themselves in cinematic history for several different reasons. Whether that's the Bond franchise consistently setting new records, or even making silly film-making mistakes that make it into the final cut, each of these stunts has endeared itself to audiences across generations. While modern technology has helped CGI progress rapidly, the Bond franchise is renowned for its commitment to practical effects wherever possible, and that includes its incredible stunt work.

Mustang Alley Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Sean Connery's final outing as 007 came in Diamonds Are Forever,...

A martial arts expert and instructor gives a low rating to one James Bond fight scene from Moonraker. James Bond films are synonymous with cool gadgets, shaken, not stirred" martinis, and adrenaline-pumping action scenes. However, Bond movies do not always excel in all of these categories. Released two years after Star Wars, the movie came out as a reaction to the increased popularity of science-fiction films. Moonraker has some of the most ridiculous moments in the Bond franchise, including its fight scene.

On Insider's How Real Is It, Seki Nobuhide Sensei, a martial arts and katana instructor, rates Roger Moore's kendo (a modern Japanese martial art that uses bamboo swords as well as protective armor) abilities in the 1979 Bond film. Unfortunately, Moonraker didn't fare too well in his analysis, receiving a 3/10. He questions the equipment, technique, and skill of the performer. Check out his quote below:

Basically, if you want to kill your opponent,...

Celebrate James Bond Day this October 5th with a martini and all the 007 missions, as all 25 official James Bond films are now available to stream worldwide on Prime Video. The official James Bond X/Twitter account shared the news that every Bond outing, from Connery to Craig, are now on the streaming platform, meaning audiences can immerse themselves in the action-packed world of Britains greatest spy.

You may not have ever heard of James Bond Day, but the celebration takes place later this week on October 5, which marks the date that the first official James Bond movie, Dr. No, premiered way, way back in 1962. Starring Sean Connery, who is still considered by many to be the best iteration of the character, and directed by Terence Young, Dr. No started it all, and finds Bond in Jamaica where is investigating the disappearance of a fellow British agent.

Connerys other outings include From Russia with Love,...

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Disney has recently delved into remaking some of its classic films with live-action slants. Some of them are truer to their original tales than others. They have also had varying degrees of success in audiences' minds. The Disney remakes have become a controversial topic in the fandom since a lot of viewers believe that the originals are the best versions. However, some older Disney films could benefit from a remake.

These Disney films either have outdated aspects to their stories or would simply translate well to live-action. There are also ways that these tales can be explored that could make their remakes worthwhile. Not every Disney film should be remade, but some candidates could qualify.

Update: 2024/10/01 22:46 Est By Brian Cronin

Alexandra did a wonderful job listing ten Disney movies that could really do well with remakes, and so this update is...

The James Bond and Star Wars franchises are perhaps the best examples of film franchises evolving to ensure their longevity and continued success. As a result, it is easy to understand why both have lasted decades and rank among the most successful film franchises. However, the launch of Star Wars directly affected the James Bond franchise back in 1977.

The success of Star Wars affected plans for the Bond franchise (Credit: Lucasfilm).

George Lucas took the world by storm when he debuted his sci-fi space opera saga’s first installment in theaters, with the film becoming a global sensation. As a result, producers of the Bond franchise decided to capitalize on the audience’s interest in space-themed stories by launching a similar movie. Here is how the release of Star Wars derailed the original plans for Bond.

The James Bond Franchise Changes Its Plans to Capitalize on Star Wars Success

The Spy Who Loved Me...

The James Bond movie franchise has been running since Dr No. in 1962, with 25 official James Bond movies and seven James Bond actors, with an eighth actor yet to be announced for Bond 26. While no James Bond actor has made a cameo in a different 007 movie the Bond franchise is well-known for featuring cameos from celebrities and people involved in production.

Among many celebrity James Bond cameos, Madonna plays a fencing instructor in Die Another Day, pre-Stranger Things David Harbour sports a mustache in Quantum of Solace, and Virgin Airlines owner Richard Branson is searched by an airline in Casino Royale. Still, one man has made more James Bond movie cameos than any other person, sometimes playing more than one character in a single movie. This is James Bond co-producer Michael G. Wilson, the actor who appears most in James Bond movies, along with the late Desmond Llewellyn,...

Steven Spielberg once revealed that he was rejected twice from helming a James Bond film. He shared that it was right after the success of his blockbuster film, Jaws. When he approached producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, he shared that Spielberg didn’t have enough experience to direct a big-budget film like James Bond.

Steven Spielberg | Elena Ternovaja, licensed under Cc By-sa 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

However, Spielberg had the last laugh since he became one of the pioneer filmmakers in the industry. He has far outgrown the spy thriller franchise, which is looking to reboot the character for a modern audience after Daniel Craig retired from the role.

Steven Spielberg Was Rejected From Helming A James Bond Film Despite His Jaws Success Roger Moore and Lois Chiles in Moonraker (1979) | Credits: MGM

James Bond films were brought to life by six different actors and directed by twelve different directors. Steven Spielberg could...

In a career reaching back to the 1960s, Steven Spielberg has made a string of classics, but the projects that didn't materialize are just as interesting. Ultimately, it's hard to look back on Spielberg's glittering career so far and suggest that he should have done anything differently. Still, it's a shame to see some of the exciting projects that fell through, and fans can only imagine how they would have looked.

Steven Spielberg's best movies include Jurassic Park, Jaws and the Indiana Jones franchise. Had things played out differently, he might have some other classics to his name. Spielberg has worked in a variety of genres, and he has always shown a willingness to experiment with new ideas. Some of the most interesting movies he almost made include sci-fi thrillers, animated video game adaptations, and biopics about historical figures.

Miscellaneous Movies That Spielberg Was Interested In Which Ended Up...

Is it wrong to say something good came out of fascism? Probably. And it should be noted that Venice International Film Festival’s founder, Guiseppe Volpi, though a leading figure within Italy’s National Fascist Party, did ultimately oppose Benito Mussolini‘s government and the country’s alliance with Germany and Adolf Hitler. Nonetheless, his legacy is tainted as a result of this association, even with his and his family’s massive contributions to cinema.

The Venice International Film Festival began in 1932 as a result of Italy’s growing appreciation and interest in film. The Floating City had already played host to an arts festival known as Venice Biennale since 1893, so this film section was tied in and quickly overshadowed all other showcases. The actual event is held on the island of Lido rather than in the city’s central hub. This location was chosen in order to increase tourism...

It may be quite some time until we learn what Quentin Tarantino’s 10th and final film will be now that The Movie Critic has been removed from the slate, but we do at least have another Qt project to look forward to: season two of The Video Archives Podcast which, he co-hosts with Pulp Fiction co-writer Roger Avary.

While we don’t know the release date, a post on The Video Archives Podcast X page teased that the sophomore season is in fact coming: “You may have heard rumor that we’re gearing up for Season Two. On instagram, Gala outlined the perfect way to get your question answered: a postcard! Want to send one?” Then, the post provided the address to get your questions to Tarantino and Avary. This is actually one of the cooler elements to the Video Archives Podcast; sticking with the analog theme to the series,...

Ridley Scott, renowned for his visionary approach to filmmaking, set out to challenge the conventions of the sci-fi genre with his 1979 film Alien. In a bold move, he envisioned Alien to be the complete opposite of Star Wars. Further, deliberately crafting a storyline that diverged sharply from the space opera’s epic, heroic tones.

A still from Alien (1979) || credits: 20th Century Fox

Instead of the adventurous and optimistic universe of George Lucas’s creation, Scott’s Alien introduced audiences to a darker, and intensely terrifying world. Further, redefining the sci-fi landscape with its unique, horror-driven approach.

Ridley Scott on Making Alien the Opposite of Star Wars

Star Wars set a new standard for science fiction movies. Following which, the late 1970s saw a wave of similar sci-fi films. Studios quickly released movies like Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Disney’s The Black Hole, the sci-fi-infused James Bond adventure Moonraker, and...

Moore's Bond films were a cocktail of genres, veering from standard spy thrillers to supernatural and blaxploitation themes. The franchise broke tradition with slapstick humor and wild action sequences, making Moore's tenure unique and memorable. Roger Moore faced off against formidable opponents, like Jaws, and delivered mind-blowing stunts like the AMC Hornet jump over a bridge.

On June 10, 1972, Roger Moore was announced as the new James Bond. Having previously starred as Simon Templar in The Saint and Lord Brett Sinclair in The Persuaders, he knew what it took to play a daring, fashion-savvy, lothario. Born in Stockwell, London, he was also as British as Bond actors come. Surprisingly, everyone always seemed to doubt him. For the 13 years that he was employed by the Broccolis, various critics constantly labeled his version of Agent 007 a buffoon. Others suggested he wasnt as handsome or magnetic as Connery, opinions he disagreed with.

I never...

Spy spoofs like Austin Powers and Kingsman brought humor and fun back to the genre, poking fun at Bond movie tropes. Archer and Johnny English offer comedic takes on arrogant spies, creating characters that are both silly and endearing. Spoofs like The Tuxedo, Oss 117, and Carry On Spying blend action and humor to create memorable parodies of the Bond franchise.

From Get Smart to the Austin Powers trilogy, there are a ton of hilarious movies and TV shows out there that parody the James Bond franchise. With their goofy one-liners, far-fetched gadgets, and nonsensical villain plans, the Bond movies are an easy target for parody. They even became a sort of self-parody during the Roger Moore years. A movie like Moonraker is so ridiculous on its own that its difficult to make fun of.

A bunch of different movies and TV shows have spoofed the Bond franchise. Archer satirizes Bonds arrogance and self-centeredness.

Moneypenny, a key character in James Bond films, plays a crucial role as an MI6 agent assisting Bond in the field and office. Moneypenny's character is a combination of several significant female characters from the original book series, adding depth and complexity. Loelia Ponsonby, a character from Fleming's novels, could bring a refreshing twist to the Bond franchise if introduced in Bond 26, challenging predictability.

James Bond's iconic Moneypenny character has become a fixture in the franchise despite her canonical counterpart never appearing in the films. Moneypenny, most recently played by Naomie Harris, is a fellow agent working with MI6 and assisting Bond. Partners in the field and office, Moneypenny and Bond have a complicated relationship that often toes the line between professional and romantic. Like Bond, Moneypenny reports to the agency's head, M, and frequently pulls unseen strings off-screen to help the agents.

The Bond films are filled...

Bond 26 could breathe new life by setting the film in the 1960s, providing a fresh take on the iconic character's origins. Bringing back time-specific elements from the original novels, like Blades Club, could add depth and nostalgia to the franchise. By returning to its roots in both theme and era, Bond 26 has the opportunity to establish a new fictional universe, separating itself from previous films.

James Bond 26 has to take a radically different approach toward the character in order to stay fresh, and taking place in the 1960s could be the stylistic switch-up that the franchise needs. After the explosive ending of No Time To Die, the James Bond series has found itself in somewhat of a no-man's-land. With the cinematic version of Bond dead, theres no easy way to carry this franchise into the future. Therefore, one of the most effective ways of keeping Ian Flemings classic...

While he may be known as the campiest person to ever don the 007 title, Roger Moore's stint as James Bond did have its fair share of tense and engaging moments. While Roger Moore's career as Bond is goofy on the whole (especially that one time he ventured into outer space in Moonraker), some of Moore's Bond films are more self-serious than others. Among these are the fan-favorite entries of The Spy Who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only, as well as the film most relevant to today's conversation The Man with the Golden Gun.

Our journey through Michael Caine’s 80s work reaches one of his best: Educating Rita, co-starring a powerhouse Julie Walters in the title role.

Michael Caine showed no sign of slowing down as he entered his third decade as a leading man. The 1980s would see him win his first Academy Award (Hannah And Her Sisters), tackle new genres such as horror (The Hand) and shark-based revenge movie (Jaws The Revenge) while continuing to work with interesting new auteurs like Brian De Palma (Dressed to Kill) as well as old friends from classic Hollywood such as John Huston (Escape To Victory).

Film by film, I’ll be taking a look at Caine’s 1980s filmography to see what hidden gems I can unearth alongside the more familiar classics…

Spoilers for Educating Rita ahead…

Directed by: Lewis Gilbert

Tagline: Frank Bryant is a professor of literature. And Rita is his newest student.

Quick Links What Is Moonraker the Novel About? What Is Moonraker the Movie About? Why Did Moonraker Omit Most of Fleming's Source Material?

Released in June 1979, Moonraker is the 11th movie in the long-running James Bond franchise. The story is adapted from Moonraker, the third novel in Ian Felming's popular 007 spy book series, often considered among the author's finest works. However, unlike the acclaimed novel, the movie adaptation remains one of the least favorable Bond adaptations among critics and die-hard fans. The reason for the juxtaposition between the outstanding novel and the lackluster silver-screen adaptation of Moonraker may surprise many.

As Moonraker celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2024, a look back at the making of the movie is necessary to understand how it differs from the book and why the story deserves a more accurate adaptation. With roughly 90% of Fleming's original story discarded by producers to capitalize on the success of A Galaxy Far,...

The James Bond franchise has been a staple of the espionage genre for decades, beginning in 1953 with Ian Fleming's iconic book series starring the British super spy. The character designated 007, became the most famous fictional spy of all time thanks to his appearance in multiple films, beginning with 1962's Dr. No.

Over the last sixty years, seven actors have portrayed James Bond in twenty-five films from Eon Productions. With Daniel Craig now retired from the role and producers on the hunt for the next Bond, the franchise stands at a tipping point. In anticipation of the eighth 007, learn more about the various actors who played James Bond and what their eras brought to the franchise.

James Bond Eras

Bond Actor

Films

Tenure

Sean Connery

Dr. No

1961-1967, 1970-1971, 1982-1983

From Russia With Love

Goldfinger

Thunderball

You Only Live Twice

Diamonds Are Forever

Never Say Never Again (non-Eon)

David Niven...

James Bond movies are based on Ian Fleming's novels, but not all follow the source material closely. Different actors bring their own interpretations to the role of Bond, making each version unique. The future of the franchise looks promising with Aaron Taylor-Johnson rumored to be the next 007.

Watching all the James Bond movies in order is a huge undertaking and requires a little investigating into the franchise's history in order to pull off. Based on the books by Ian Fleming, the MI6 agent was inspired by Flemings time in the British Naval Intelligence Division while serving in World War II. There are 40 Bond books written by six different authors, but Flemings original 14 founded the entire spy-filled universe. The order of the 007 films does not follow the correct order of Flemings novels. Casino Royale was written by Fleming in 1953, followed by Live and Let Die and Moonraker.

However,...

Jaws' girlfriend in Moonraker did not have braces, despite popular belief. The Mandela Effect refers to widespread false memories, likely contributing to the myth. Movie producer Broccoli added a love interest for Jaws due to audience's positive reaction to Jaws.

Movie Urban Legend: Dolly, Jaw's girlfriend in the James Bond film, Moonraker, had braces on her teeth.

The 1979 James Bond film, Moonraker, is one of the most notable Bond films for a few reasons. First off, at the time, it was The most successful Bond film of all-time, grossing $210 worldwide, a record it held up throughout the 1980s and all the way through the release of Pierce Brosnan's first Bond film, GoldenEye, 16 years later. However, with its space theme (almost assuredly a reference ot the insanely high box office results of Star Wars a couple of years earlier), it was also the most over-the-top James Bond film to...

A Happy Gilmore sequel has been greenlit at Netflix, with Adam Sandler returning to star. More details here.

Back in March, there were reports that a sequel to Adam Sandler’s 1996 golf comedy Happy Gilmore had been written, and actor Christopher McDonald had read it. Given the popularity of the film, it seemed to be a question not of if, but when.

We now have the answer, as the sequel has officially been greenlit by Netflix.

The original film, directed by regular collaborator Denis Dugan and written by Sandler and Tim Herlihy, followed Sandler as the titular character, an aspiring ice hockey player who enters a high-profile golfing tournament to earn money to buy his grandmother’s house.

Though his angry outbursts and profane patter initially cause outrage, his skill and tenacity eventually win through in the end. Featuring memorable supporting turns from the much missed Carl Weathers, the imposing...

Show-stopping stunts have long been as important to the James Bond movie formula as gadgets, villains, and the appropriate amount of workday martinis. While the early Connery movies didn’t emphasize such stunts quite as much as future installments did, audiences soon came to expect in the 1970s to see Bond put his life on the line in some incredible stunt sequence for queen, country, and our entertainment.

While other action franchises have certainly raised the bar for film stunts since then, there is a charm to the best Bond stunts that can’t easily be replicated. They’re conceptually creative, they’re often done practically, and they have gradually helped shape the considerable mythology of the world’s greatest spy. They’re as stylish as an expertly tailored suit and as dangerous as an assignment from M. These are the best James Bond stunts ever.

10. The Big Dam Bungee...

Bond movies have moved away from Ian Fleming's original stories, with many later films not strictly based on his novels. Films like "Die Another Day" borrow elements from Fleming's work but are considered distinct, potentially impacting their quality. The success of Bond movies not based on Fleming, like "Skyfall," demonstrates the franchise's ability to thrive with original stories.

Despite creating the character and the novels on which the movies are based, not every James Bond film follows author Ian Fleming's original stories. After writing 14 James Bond books including two volumes of collected short stories Fleming certainly left a lot of inspirational material as his legacy. However, as the Bond movie franchise has gone from strength to strength, it has slowly but surely outgrown its literary roots, forcing filmmakers to come up with increasingly original stories.

The extent to which certain Bond films are based on Ian Fleming's books is debatable.

Story Dlc for GTA 5 was canceled, including an Agent Trevor arc involving espionage and space missions. Fans were disappointed by the cancelation of three planned single-player DLCs, which also included fighting zombies and aliens. Despite the success of GTA Online, players were hoping for more single-player content with the original trio of protagonists.

Story details for Grand Theft Auto 5's canceled story Dlc have emerged, and it sounds like it would have leaned into the espionage genre with perhaps the last character anyone would have expected: Trevor. It has long been known that single-player story Dlc for the game was in the works, much like GTA 4's The Lost and the Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, and Red Dead Redemption's Undead Nightmare before it, but with the monumental success of GTA Online, which launched a month after GTA 5 and made over $500 million in microtransactions alone by 2016, and...

Dan Goozee, the acclaimed artist who created posters for such films as Clash of the Titans, Superman IV and the James Bond movies Moonraker, Octopussy and A View to a Kill, has died. He was 80.

Goozee died April 7 at West Hills Hospital & Medical Center of an age-related condition he had battled for two years, his son, Rob, told The Hollywood Reporter.

The unassuming Goozee spent years as a Walt Disney Imagineering theme park consultant, crafting conceptual artwork for Disneyland Paris and Tokyo DisneySea, for Splash Mountain and Big Thunder rides, for the Imagination Pavilion and Seas Pavilion at Epcot and for the Tree of Life attraction at Animal Kingdom.

He also handled effects work for Battlestar Galactica (1978) and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979).

Born in 1943 in Astoria, Oregon, Daniel Goozee worked on weekends at movie theaters that his father and uncle owned and operated in nearby Seaside, then graduated...

Of all the actors who have played James Bond, Roger Moore’s tenure as the character is one of the most interesting. Although his debut in 1973’s Live and Let Die suggested that Moore could take the franchise in an inventive, original direction, his subsequent films grew increasingly silly and unfocused. Bond managed to go to space in Moonraker, skate down a mountain in For Your Eyes Only, and dress up as a clown in Octopussy. By the time that Moore made his last appearance as 007 in A View to a Kill, the film felt closer to a Zucker brothers parody than an actual Bond entry. Often regarded as one of the worst entries in the entire series, A View to a Kill nearly featured David Bowie as the main villain.