Magazine Reviews featuring Casino Royale

1. Empire  Issue 207: September 2006   UK Price £ 3.70

   It's not often you buy a September magazine at the end of July ? So I was hoping with the cover photo taken during the Venice shoot for a more up-to-date report on the latest movie Casino Royale. Inside you get a eight page preview special by writer Damon Wise who went with the press to the Bahamas not Italy earlier this year, the pages are broken down as follows ...

   1. Half of page has the item title of BET ON BOND with 007 added, in this world exclusive the writer opens with 2 columns of text opening with director Martin Campbell asking "Where's Dan ?!" as the Bahamas doubles for Madagascar.
   2. Whole page with shadow casino poster photo of Craig.
   3. Four photos ( night photo of Craig, DB5 with Bahamas plate, Jeffrey Wright as Leiter at casino, Mads Mikkelsen as Le Chiffre ), interview with Campbell, Briefing film column with info.
   4. A page devoted to the first of The Bond Girls, a colour photo of Eva Green in low cut dress as the writer talks to a "bit overwhelmed" French actress who plays Vesper Lynd.
   5. Two photos of action Craig hitting the ground and Seb Foucan as Mollaka in mid-air with brief Barbara Broccoli & Craig interview. Underneath is a section titled THE MEN WHO WOULD BE BOND looking at the contenders starting with Salmon and ending with Cavill.
   6. Another page, another Bond Girl photo with top half of naked & tanned Caterina Murino laying on silk sheet who plays Solange, the villain's wife. The former Miss Italy's character has a fun night out with Bond.
   7. Hotel photo of Craig on phone and below photo of Le Chiffre giving half a card to someone. Interview ends with Craig joking about "the vitrol against him". Another left section titled THIS NEVER HAPPENED TO THE OTHER GUYS looking at anti-Craig website.
   8. Final Bond Girl photo of Ivana Milicevic who claims to be "the first Croatian Bond girl" laying with legs in the air in a Ferrari. She plays Valenka, Le Chiffre's girlfriend, henchwoman & protector. Busy girl !
   Elsewhere in the film mag is a photo of TND actress Michelle Yeoh in Danny Boyle's Sunshine released next March and opposite is a page interview with original Bond, Sir Sean Connery titled SEAN'S SHOW - Sir Connery celebrates Edinburgh Film Festival's 60th with a large smiling photo of the shaven/'tache only legendary actor who doesn't mention 007 in the whole interview and hasn't retired with a reply of "Well. I am just resting from acting." and the last question is about Indy IV and if back on, he would read it.
   In the large preview section of new releases is a photo of Daniel Craig in white doctor coat with co-star Nicole Kidman for the February release of sci-fi movie The Visiting.
   Back to the Royale item, a little cheeky with the magazine just trying to get a jump start on the competitors with most photos seen on the net, it's a pity later shooting wasn't included. As they've said many times before, Bond on your cover sells extra mags.
2. Radio Times  Issue 11-17 November 2006   UK Price £ 0.98

   With a serious looking, suited Daniel Craig on the cover of this weekly tv magazine with bottom heading of THE NAME'S BOND... with his left shoulder quote of "People hate me. They don't think I'm right for the role. It's as simple as that". The cover mentions his appearance on chat show Parkinson ( which he missed due to stomach bug ) and Film 2006 special about Casino Royale.
   Inside is a four page item, first 2 pages is a photo of leaning suited Craig as 007 with gun and left page heading of I, SPY. The next page of text comes with 2 photos of the Bahamas shoot with Craig exiting sea. The item opens at shooting of the airport scenes and Dan explaining the 'hidden' paparazzi. Turn over to another page of text with right column of PREMIUM BOND with 5 Bond moments with photo/What happens?/Fascinating Fact detail. They also mention that "this is an edited version of an article .. in Entertainment Weekly and have a photo of movie CD with chance to purchase at reduced price.
   This is followed by 2 page colour photo spread of five BBC newsreaders dressed up as Bond characters as homage to TB's casino scene titled From Pudsey with Love as in aid of the annual tv Children in Need appeal. Each are captioned with Best Bond/Best Bond movie/Best Bond Girl/Best villain.
   At the rear a small item on James Bond Short Stories on Radio 2, the first of 8 short 15 minute readings by actor Damian Lewis based on Flemings books starting with The Living Daylights.

3. Empire  Issue 210: December 2006   UK Price £ 3.70

   It's not often you buy December magazines ( see also Total Film ) at the end of October ? With a gun barrel cover showing an untied tux dressed Craig, the magazine's ( circle missing ) front page opens inside with block lettering as they presents The Ultimate Bond Celebration followed by Bond content. You are able to see the full Dan on the right page on a white background with 007 logo running down the page. The next contents page has a smaller version photo of the opening 007 section called NO MORE MR. NICE SPY along with a larger photo of 3 members of staff dressed in tux&tie and stroking toys cats who sat through a James Bond movie marathon.
   Here are my observations:
   Page 59: first of Sony adverts with silver gun barrel used to show shadow faced Craig and mobile phone camera showing Green in focus at the rear.
   Page 63: incinemaonline shows action Craig photo with magazine stating the movie "was being tweaked and polished as [they] went to press."
   Page 71: second of Sony adverts using Craig's 1st movie poster at casino table to sell a device to save/store computer files called a 007 MicroVault Midi 1GB - "preloaded with the movie trailer and four wallpaper pictures."
   Page 72/3: full pages of three faces of Dan as 007 with mentioned title.
   Page 74/5: mixture of text & action movie photos, first of running section called THE OTHER CASINO ROYALES VERSION 1: THE REALITY...? looking at author Fleming. The right red BRIEFING column gives facts about the "$72 million" movie. Also large quote: "Daniel's not a typical action man. You'll be impressed." Martin Campbell
   Page 76: text continues with two Bahamas sea photos with smiling Craig and with Green plus hiding Foucan during chase. Large quote over photo of Mads Mikkelsen at the torture location: "They think I'm ugly but I'll have to live with that." Daniel Craig. Another THE OTHER CASINO ROYALES VERSION 2: THE NOVEL showing the original heart cover looking "at one of [Fleming's] shortest Bond novels".
   Page 78: more text & photos, more THE OTHER CASINO ROYALES VERSION 3: THE TV FILM looking at the live 1954 tv version with Barry Nelson as Jimmy Bond.
   Page 79: a profile of Bond villain titled Mads, bad and dangerous to know... with a Casino photo of the Danish actor with middle page quote: "Le Chiffre is a poker face. Almost like a vampire."
   Page 80: more text and swearing ( why ? ) quotes from Craig, photo of Green near Aston with quote: "Yes, Bond is still a bit of a sexist pig." Daniel Craig with 2 casino photos. THE OTHER CASINO ROYALES VERSION 4: THE COMIC STRIP looking at the Daily Express comic strip.
   Page 82: text includes Campbell interview, 3 Venice photos and bottom section titled Location, location, explosion looking at the work of production designer Peter Lamont.
   Page 84: item ends with half page lift photo of Craig & Green with quote: "Royale is different, but it is religiously a Bond movie." Daniel Craig with opening shooting Craig photo ( in colour ) and final THE OTHER CASINO ROYALES VERSION 5: THE TURKEY looking at spoof movie with photo of gun posing Sellers as Bond.
   Page 86-102: ten of the pages are devoted to THE 21 SCENES THAT MADE BOND GREAT with a countdown to memorable Bond moments with phrases, items & characters. Also included are FOR SORE EYES ONLY where 3 writers sit through 20 movies calling it a Bondathon using the new DVD boxset, a London barman "explains the mystery of Bond's favourite beverage", meets illustrator Robert McGinnis ( now 80 ) to discuss his Bond posters, BEST WE FORGET looks at "five moments that could have ruined Bond" and finally top of their moments .. GF's laser scene. Another page advert not Sony but a £2 National Lottery scratchcard with Craig, Green & Mikkelsen featured on 3 Casino Royale cards under heading of Licence to win .. £70,007 ( note the ending 7 ).
   Other mentions include The Virgin Top 50 DVD Boxsets with the Bond boxset coming top of the pile with a photo of Brosnan driving the hovercraft in DAD and in the BOOKS ROUNDUP section a new one called The Art of Bond given a five star rating but priced at a hefty £30 !
   Plenty of good content about Casino Royale.

4. Total Film  Issue 122: December 2006   UK Price £ 3.70

   Like Empire magazine brought out at the end of October with Casino Royale coverage ...
   First this issue comes in a cardboard folder stamped TOP SECRET - DOUBLE AGENT DOSSIER with photos of the Bond front cover and free DVD cover with 60 minutes of "unseen extras" to Tom Cruise's M:I:III.
   Inside the magazine, on the content page is smaller version of cover and shadowy colour photo of Craig pushing his gun at the casino table. Before the main item, Sony's two adverts ( see Empire ) and another advert for online Casino Royale items: poker chips, cards, set, t-shirts & mugs.
   Another double page photo of shadow, standing, tux-dressed Craig as Bond with highlight glint on left eye in a landscape format opens the Royale item titled A SHOT IN THE DARK. The introductory text goes over history of casting him ending with Pierce's reply of "Go for it." to Dan. The five page text & colour photos that follow include clipped cards of photos & quotes to Craig, Mikkelsen, Green, Murino, Broccoli, Wilson & Campbell. Each are asked: Favourite Bond, Favourite Bond Film, On James Bond & I'd never gamble. Unfortunately it gives Craig the chance to use different forms of the F-word, not necessary Dan. Photos include on-set shooting, also large quotes from Craig: "It's bloody as hell. Chokeholds, elbows, everything", Mikkelsen: "The torture scene? That was brutal scene for Daniel..." and Campbell: "Casino Royale has the best ending to a Bond film ever" - really ? The final right column with Connery silhouette titled Bond? Bah as a MI6 source answers 5 questions about being a real-life Bond.
   The next 6 pages include off-set Bonds photos ( e.g. Connery playing golf on DAF's moon set with the GF's quote of "You must have played the wrong ball somewhere on the 18th fairway." ) titled THE BOND DOSSIER - THE SECRET STATS OF 007 THROUGH THE AGES, facts from VITAL STATS to SURVEILLANCE TRANSCRIPT. Also includes the Royale scratchcard page advert. Later another page advert using DN's beach scene with quotes for another BUY BOND GET BOND FREE DVD offer.
   In the end LOUNGE NEW section another new "whopping great picture book" called BOND ON SET by Greg Williams costing £25 for 128 pages of exclusive shooting photos of Casino Royale, unfortunately the mag has only been sent b&w pages info not the book ! There is also a quiz: in the spotlight ..James Bond and Daniel Craig with 18 questions and photos of Craig as 007 and six picked Bond villains. Among the small ads is one for 007 Magazine with Craig's 1st press photo.
   So not a bad addition to the mag collection with good cover plus that free DVD with Mr Cruise. "This magazine self-destructs ...".

5. Flipside  Issue 18: December 2006   UK Price £ 2.50

   Having seen Casino Royale on November release I popped into the newsagent to see a selection of magazines featuring Craig as 007 on the covers. Most were movies mags but this one called Flipside at cheaper price with a top heading of because fact is stranger than fiction caught my attention with side photo of Dan as 007 and turns out to be a teenage[?] glossy mag published by IET who turn out to be The Institution of Engineering and Technology ( there's a mouthful ! )
   They have 12 pages with topics related to the new movie, the opening page James Bond Special Feature has heading of BOND BEGINS which looks at the "behind the scenes of the Casino Royale, the new film that takes 007 back to basics" with 2 photos of Dan in action. Turn over to a 4 page item on .. Stunts titled SHAKEN NOT STIRRED which reports from the Surrey airfield doubling for Miami with movie photos, the final right page column has photo of Craig seated with Venice backdrop titled The Incredible Sinking House talks to SFX supervisor Chris Courbould about how they achieved the sinking effect at Pinewood. The next four pages are devoted to the sport Parkour featured in the opening chase by its master Sebastien Foucan who plays Mollaka ending with exercises to try out this new sport titled It's not as hard as it looks ..., alas my Parkour days are well behind me. The final three pages looks at .. Aston Martin's Mean Machines with a long title of YOU HAVE A LICENCE TO KILL NOT BREAK TRAFFIC LAWS with a page & half PR photo of Craig next to the new DBS and a smaller one of an evening racing Aston about to do that roll with a report. The last page has a look at different versions of the Bond Astons with fact files.
   Later in the Films review section a page of 007s looking at the different actors and review of Casino Royale which is more a preview as not seen by the writers with photo of Craig leaning against the casino bar.
   So no big interviews just the tech facts behind the action.