For a long time, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, the James Bond film series was considered the crème de la crème of action and stunts. Back in the early years of Sean Connery and Roger Moore, there were very few competing franchises at all, let alone one that delivered the same kind of highly choreographed chases, jumps, fights, and explosive battles as the 007 movies.
What’s even more amazing is that there was no CG back then either, which meant that just about everything the Bond stunt and visual effects teams pulled off was practical—sure, there were things like rear projection and miniature work, but nothing was created out of bytes of data inside a computer. That’s all different today, of course. CG is the primary tool through which films now create and execute all kinds of action and visuals. Yet some filmmakers remain resolutely committed to practical effects,...
What’s even more amazing is that there was no CG back then either, which meant that just about everything the Bond stunt and visual effects teams pulled off was practical—sure, there were things like rear projection and miniature work, but nothing was created out of bytes of data inside a computer. That’s all different today, of course. CG is the primary tool through which films now create and execute all kinds of action and visuals. Yet some filmmakers remain resolutely committed to practical effects,...
- 7/16/2023
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
So much of movie magic these days is green screen and CGI — the work of animators and special effects artists. Given the fakery we’ve come to expect, when a movie comes along that pulls off some spectacular visuals on-set without a lot of post-production tweaking, that kind of movie magic makes us take notice. The latest wowing practical stunt: “Furious 7.” The “Fast and Furious” franchise has always made its mark with impressive action sequences done practically. If the seventh installment was trying to top the previous six in that department, it succeeded. This time featuring Dominic Toretto and his team drive skydiving cars out of a plane. To shoot the critical scene, the “Furious 7” stunt team actually dropped real live cars out of an airplane. Aerial cameramen followed the jump, doving with their own parachutes. The cars dropped first from an altitude of 12,000 feet in Colorado mountains,...
- 4/3/2015
- by Emily Rome
- Hitfix
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the superb 007-themed web site From Sweden With Love, a James Bond weekend will be held in Stockholm September 19-21 to benefit Unicef Sweden. Among the Bond cast and crew members who are scheduled to appear: Robert Davi, John Glen, Carole Ashby, Rick Sylvester, Kristina Wayborn, stuntman Paul Weston and many others. Click here for full information. ...
- 8/9/2014
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
To mark the 50th Anniversary of one of the most successful movie franchises of all time and with filming almost complete on James Bond’s 23rd official outing in Skyfall due for release later this year, I have been tasked with taking a retrospective look at the films that turned author Ian Fleming’s creation into one of the most recognised and iconic characters in film history.
Following on from Bond’s previous mission into outer space for Moonraker, which although it was a huge success at the box office provided some of the worst excesses of the series so far preferring a more humorous approach over the serious spy thrills of the early days in the character’s long history. The film had also proved to be a costly exercise requiring co-financing from the French wing of United Artists to cover the budget. Series producer Albert R. Broccoli wisely...
Following on from Bond’s previous mission into outer space for Moonraker, which although it was a huge success at the box office provided some of the worst excesses of the series so far preferring a more humorous approach over the serious spy thrills of the early days in the character’s long history. The film had also proved to be a costly exercise requiring co-financing from the French wing of United Artists to cover the budget. Series producer Albert R. Broccoli wisely...
- 5/1/2012
- by Chris Wright
- Obsessed with Film
To mark the 50th Anniversary of one of the most successful movie franchises of all time and with filming well underway on James Bond’s 23rd official outing in Skyfall due for release later this year, I have been tasked with taking a retrospective look at the films that turned author Ian Fleming’s creation into one of the most recognised and iconic characters in film history.
With James Bond well established as a worldwide phenomenon raking in countless millions at the box-office, the tenth film in the series, The Spy Who Loved Me proved unexpectedly problematic in its journey to the screen and marked the longest gap between films since the series began. Due to personal financial issues Bond producer Harry Saltzman decided to sell his 50% stake in Danjaq S.A., the company he had established with Albert R. Broccoli to produce the Bond series. United Artists, who had...
With James Bond well established as a worldwide phenomenon raking in countless millions at the box-office, the tenth film in the series, The Spy Who Loved Me proved unexpectedly problematic in its journey to the screen and marked the longest gap between films since the series began. Due to personal financial issues Bond producer Harry Saltzman decided to sell his 50% stake in Danjaq S.A., the company he had established with Albert R. Broccoli to produce the Bond series. United Artists, who had...
- 3/29/2012
- by Chris Wright
- Obsessed with Film
It’s official, Bond 23 is called Skyfall and filming is already underway for a release in cinemas next October (November in the U.S.) on the 50th anniversary of the film franchise. So as we all start to get hyped up with the series again (yes, a year to go is Not too early to get excited!), it couldn’t be a better time to chart the greatest moments from the Bond films so far…
The James Bond series has been a staple of the cinema-going population’s calendar for the past 49 years! Bond has become a character so ingrained within popular culture that there’s barely a human being alive in the world who doesn’t know who he is. He gets the most beautiful women, drives the best cars and travels to the most exotic corners of the globe. Men want to be him; women want to...
The James Bond series has been a staple of the cinema-going population’s calendar for the past 49 years! Bond has become a character so ingrained within popular culture that there’s barely a human being alive in the world who doesn’t know who he is. He gets the most beautiful women, drives the best cars and travels to the most exotic corners of the globe. Men want to be him; women want to...
- 11/9/2011
- by Stuart Cummins
- Obsessed with Film
Cinematographer known for his work on the Carry On films
Despite, or because of, the ancient, dirty jokes, schoolboy humour, double entendres, and a string of hammy actors tele- graphing each jest with pursed lips, rolling eyes or a snigger, the Carry On films have an army of devotees. Among the most regular actors were Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Sid James, Joan Sims and Kenneth Connor, and behind the camera, on almost all of the 30 Carry On movies, was the cinematographer Alan Hume, who has died aged 85.
Hume started as camera operator on the very first, Carry On Sergeant (1958), soon becoming director of photography (Dp) on Carry On Regardless (1961), and continuing as Dp until Carry On Columbus (1992) ended the franchise. Though few would make any artistic claims for the films, they were competently shot, rapidly, on a shoestring. Because of the rapport Hume built up over a long period with...
Despite, or because of, the ancient, dirty jokes, schoolboy humour, double entendres, and a string of hammy actors tele- graphing each jest with pursed lips, rolling eyes or a snigger, the Carry On films have an army of devotees. Among the most regular actors were Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Sid James, Joan Sims and Kenneth Connor, and behind the camera, on almost all of the 30 Carry On movies, was the cinematographer Alan Hume, who has died aged 85.
Hume started as camera operator on the very first, Carry On Sergeant (1958), soon becoming director of photography (Dp) on Carry On Regardless (1961), and continuing as Dp until Carry On Columbus (1992) ended the franchise. Though few would make any artistic claims for the films, they were competently shot, rapidly, on a shoestring. Because of the rapport Hume built up over a long period with...
- 8/17/2010
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
Cinema Retro publishers Lee Pfeiffer and Dave Worrall attended the Bradford International Film Festival in Bradford, England last week. Here is Lee Pfeiffer's first report:
For many years, we had heard about the exciting events that take place at the annual Bradford International Film Festival. The festival is held at the National Media Museum, which is a state-of-the-art showcase for the history of British film, TV, photography and new media. Over the last fifteen years, the festival has hosted world premieres, classic film screenings and internationally acclaimed interview sessions with actors and filmmakers. Although the festival has proven to be a popular attraction, Bradford's distance from London (several hours north) has kept many movie fans from attending. As most of our dealings are generally in London, we fall into that category ourselves.However, we learned that passing up on this festival is a major faux pas on behalf of any serious movie lover.
For many years, we had heard about the exciting events that take place at the annual Bradford International Film Festival. The festival is held at the National Media Museum, which is a state-of-the-art showcase for the history of British film, TV, photography and new media. Over the last fifteen years, the festival has hosted world premieres, classic film screenings and internationally acclaimed interview sessions with actors and filmmakers. Although the festival has proven to be a popular attraction, Bradford's distance from London (several hours north) has kept many movie fans from attending. As most of our dealings are generally in London, we fall into that category ourselves.However, we learned that passing up on this festival is a major faux pas on behalf of any serious movie lover.
- 3/26/2009
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
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