Almost 18 months since its supposed release date the Bond film No Time To Die has finally been released. We went to Mallorca outlets in Marratxi to see it last Sunday which is the first time we’ve been back to a cinema in a similar amount of time. There’s nothing better than watching a new film on the big screen and this certainly didn’t disappoint. We did comment beforehand that it was quite long at two hours and forty five minutes but the time passed quickly and we thoroughly enjoyed it. If you’ve not seen it yet I won’t spoil it for you but if you’re undecided about going, don’t be it’s a Bond film with all the bells and whistles.
One thing I will say which won’t spoil anything. The opening sequence is as spectacular as ever and the bit where he jumps off the bridge using a rope is done by a guy who used to work at Pirates. Dave Grant was Sir Francis Drake a few years ago and when he left us he trained to be a stunt man and he has built a very successful career.
At the Royal Premiere last week, there was a lot of talk about Daniel Craig’s jacket. So much so that we started talking about it on the radio. Now I’m the last person to talk about fashion but I actually liked it and when I asked our resident fashionista Amanda O’Riordan she did too. The maker was Savile Row stalwarts Anderson & Sheppard, the tailor founded back in 1906.
I think what a lot of people missed was this was his last Bond movie and let’s remember he’s only a fictional character. It’s well documented that Craig found the role difficult, as in all the pressure that goes with it. So instead of going down the conventional black dinner jacket route, I think this was the release he needed. It certainly got everyone talking about it which let’s face it that is what the producers would have wanted. I’m tempted to say a marketing master stroke.
Craig’s final outing as 007 has smashed UK box office records, grossing more on its opening weekend than any other film in the history of the James Bond franchise and has become the biggest movie of the year.
Quite apt that we celebrated Global James Bond Day this past week. The celebration of Ian Fleming’s fictional spy, James Bond, falls on October 5th each year. It’s the anniversary of the world premiere of the very first Bond movie Dr No in 1962 starring Sean Connery.
The Top 10 grossing Bond films globally so far are;
- Skyfall ($1.111 billion)
- Spectre ($879.6 million)
- Casino Royale (2006) ($594.4 million)
- Quantum of Solace ($591.7 million)
- Die Another Day ($431.9 million)
- The World is Not Enough ($361.7 million)
- GoldenEye ($356.4 million)
- Tomorrow Never Dies ($339.5 million)
- Moonraker ($210.3 million)
- For Your Eyes Only ($195.3 million)
An interesting choice for the theme tune as Billie Eilish isn’t your conventional singer. She is also the youngest singer to sing an original James Bond song, which she wrote and recorded in her bedroom studio with her brother Finneas. It has already won a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media and it could go to the Oscars next.
Interestingly only two Bond theme tunes have ever made it to number one. Sam Smith’s Writing’s on the Wall from “Spectre” in 2015 and EIlish in 2020.
The Top 10 earning Bond theme tunes are;
- Goldfinger – Shirley Bassey
- Live and Let Die – Paul McCartney & Wings
- Skyfall – Adele
- You Only Live Twice – Nancy Sinatra
- For Your Eyes Only – Sheena Easton
- Writing’s On The Wall – Sam Smith
- The World Is Not Enough – Garbage
- Diamonds Are Forever – Shirley Bassey
- Thunderball – Tom Jones
- Nobody Does It Better – Carly Simon
So who is going to be the new Bond?
Lots of rumours but I looked at the bookies as they can normally give you a good idea. Rege-Jean Page is the 6/4 favourite. The actor from Netflix drama “Bridgerton” set pulses raising when he first appeared as the Duke of Hastings in the period drama.
Tom Hardy is 9/4 and has been touted for a few years now. Well-known for his powerful performances in films like ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’, ‘Inception’, and ‘The Revenant.’ In 2017 he said “There’s a saying amongst us in the fraternity of acting, that if you talk about it you’re automatically out of the race.”
James Norton is 4/1. He is best known for playing the lead role of Sidney Chambers in Grantchester. However, he has told people not to bet on him as he doubts he would get the role and continued to deny rumours he was in the running.
It will be interesting to see who they choose and I for one will be looking forward to seeing the next film.
Take care everyone and enjoy your Weekend!
Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday 07.30-11.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online at www.radioonemallorca.com on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!
Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com
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