andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

Jamie Bell and Daniel Craig play brothers in the just-released war drama “Defiance,” but they will butt heads as enemies in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming Tintin movie.

Bell, known for roles in movies including “Billy Elliot” and “Jumper,” has signed on to play the titular globe-trotting reporter, based on the beloved character by Belgian cartoonist Hergé, in “The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn.”

Craig, who has starred in such movies as “Layer Cake” and, of course, the latest Bond films, will portray the nefarious pirate Red Rackham.

The cast is rounded out by Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Mackenzie Crook, among others.

Spielberg will direct, as well as co-produce with “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson.

“Secret of the Unicorn,” which is scheduled for a 2011 release, is just the first in a planned series of films revolving around Tintin. Jackson is slated to direct the second film, with a third film to potentially follow.

Tintin made his debut in 1929 courtesy of Georges Remi, who went by the pen name Hergé. The cartoonist went on to publish two dozen books about the intrepid reporter and his canine companion Snowy.

The series has been translated into 70 languages and has sold over 200 million copies worldwide.

According to CTV.ca, the producer of the James Bond films, Barbara Broccoli is paying 19,000 pounds, the equivalent of $38,000 CDN, for a kiss from Daniel Craig.

Craig is playing the world famous spy in the upcoming Bond blockbuster, “Quantum of Solace” which will hit theatres this November.

The kiss is part of an auction prize at a charity event for the National Film and Television School.

Broccoli will also get kisses from actors Hugh Grant and Robbie Coltrane as part of her prize.

The auction raised 400,000 pounds, the equivalent of $800,000 CDN for the film school.

Despite topping the weekend box office, The Golden Compass couldn’t find its way to a record-breaking debut.

New Line Cinema was hoping the $180 million fantasy epic would pull in big numbers but had to settle for $26.1 million and the number one weekend spot.

It’s been compared to other children’s books turned movie franchises like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter but those movies grossed at least $47 million in their first weekends.

After loads of controversy surrounding the anti-Christian messages in the Golden Compass and less than great reviews, the movie seemed doomed. But even if it didn’t live up to the hype, the film pulled in much bigger numbers than stars Nicole Kidman’s and Daniel Craig’s last flop, The Invasion, E! Online reports.

Rounding out the top five weekend films are Enchanted with $10.7 million, This Christmas coming in at number 3 with $5 million, Fred Claus, $4.7 million and finally, Beowulf with $4.4 million.

Daniel Craig must have done something right in his debut as suave undercover agent James Bond.

The actor has signed on for four more Bond films according to MGM head Harry Sloan.

The sequel to the 2006 film Casino Royale, Bond 22 will be directed by Marc Forster (Monster’s Ball) and filming is set to begin this January in the UK, Italy, Austria, Panama and South Africa.

Casino Royale was one of the most successful Bond films ever and many critics were quick to peg Craig as giving the best portrayal of Bond since Sean Connery. Connery starred in six films in the franchise.

Bond 22 is set for a November 2008 release date.

New 007 DANIEL CRAIG has told film bosses to cover him up in the next JAMES BOND movie, after attracting attention for his physical prowess in the tight swimming trunks he wore for CASINO ROYALE.

Craig’s famous scene in skimpy blue shorts won over female fans, but the actor is keen for the next Bond film to focus on his acting talent, rather than his appearance, according to a British newspaper.

An source tells the Daily Express, “Daniel was a little uncomfortable at the amount of nudity he had to do.

“He appreciated that a lot of it was to win over the female fans but it’s not something he wants to make a habit of, no matter how good he looks in his trunks.”

(c) 2007 WORLD ENTERTAINMENT NEWS NETWORK LTD. All global rights reserved. No unauthorized copying or re-distributing permitted.

Daniel Craig must be feeling pretty smug right about now.

Craig’s turn as Bond in Casino Royale has already grossed $454 million US at the box office, taking the title of top grossing Bond film ever, BBC News reports.

Based on Ian Fleming’s first Bond book, it has been screened in 64 countries.

The movie has already surpassed the former record of $431 million US set by Die Another Day in 2002, Screen Daily said.

Die-hard James Bond fans were in an uproar when it was announced the blonde Craig would take over the role of 007 this year from Pierce Brosnan. Craig will now likely be holding the role of Bond for years to come.

Daniel Craig refused to dye his blond hair dark brown to play James Bond.

The British actor, who makes his debut as the spy in new movie “Casino Royale,” was asked by the director and bosses if would consider changing the colour of his locks but was adamant he wouldn’t.

He is quoted by the Daily Mail website as saying: “I was asked to dye my hair brown to play this role but it was out of the question.

“I suggested instead that I could cut my hair really short to create a more brutal appearance.”

Craig was heavily criticised by some Bond fans unhappy he was cast in the role.

He was lambasted for allegedly not being able to drive a manual car, not being able to play cards, hating guns and for being blond.

Despite the initial concerns, ‘Casino Royale’ has been a critical success and performed exceptionally well at the box office.

It grossed £13.4 million in the UK in its opening weekend.

Bond producer Barbara Broccoli is thrilled with the how the film has been received, saying: “I am very grateful for the support and goodwill of the British public towards Daniel Craig.”

We’ll get it out of the way right off the top: Daniel Craig is a very worthy James Bond. All the bemoaners still stuck in the days of Connery (and even Brosnan, for that matter) can just shut up already. Craig is fine.

That being said, the blonde Brit certainly makes the role his own. Say goodbye to the Bond of your parents’ generation, because Craig has just kicked his ass out the window.

In “Casino Royale,” the world’s most famous spy gets a complete character makeover. He’s grittier than ever, with subtle complexities added to the classic Bond portrayal (he’s still suave and deadly, but now carries a big chip on his shoulder).

Keeping with the franchise’s tradition of tenuous links between films, “Casino” tells the story of Bond’s first mission as a double-0. He’s out to bankrupt Le Chiffre (played by Danish star Mads Mikkelsen), a terrorist banker with a bit of an eye problem. Along the way, of course, he runs into some rather unsavoury characters, the standard crop of beautiful women (Eva Green of “The Dreamers” makes a fantastic Bond girl), and, in keeping with modern cultural trends, even a high-stakes poker game (though there are no under-table cameras here).

However, some of the classic Bond elements are indeed missing. Most disappointing is the fact that there is little attention paid to gadgets. However, this is also to the filmmakers’ credit; John Cleese did a respectable job as gadget-master Q in 2002’s “Die Another Day,” but no one could match Desmond Llewelyn (who’d been part of the Bond franchise since 1963, but died tragically in a car accident in 1999). With a new Bond, it feels like the right time to move on.

Even without gadgets, “Casino” doesn’t fail to thrill and entertain with incredible action and special effects. The fast-paced post-credits opening sequence features a truly awesome parkour-style chase, while a later scene has a Venitian building imploding into the water. The $150,000,000 budget was, obviously, very well spent.

This is clearly a Bond film for a new generation — one more interested in eye-popping action than martinis and womanizing. Craig has already been confirmed to play Bond in the next installment, and I hope his contract is extended; he was doubted and rejected by many in the beginning, but “Casino” proves that he’s single-handedly reinvigorated the Bond franchise.

Rating: 8

Daniel Craig, the new face of James Bond, is getting a lot of attention in Venice for a very different role.

In his new movie “Infamous,” opening at the Venice Film Festival, Craig plays Perry Smith, one of the murderers explored by Truman Capote in his famous work, “In Cold Blood.”

Smith and Capote formed a bond as the writer documented their story, and at one point they share a kiss.

“I never dreamed I’d kiss James Bond,” said Britain’s Toby Smith (the actor playing Capote) according to the Associated Press. “Now that I’ve done it, I say I hope I’m just the first of many.”

The movie was made at roughly the same time as last year’s film “Capote,” but was held back by the studio so the movies’ releases didn’t overlap.

Craig didn’t attend Thursday’s premiere of the film, as he is finishing up the new Bond flick “Casino Royale,” out in November.

“Infamous” will hit North American theatres later this month.

Current James Bond star Daniel Craig is taking on the role of a main character in the screen adaptation of Philip Pullman’s popular book “The Golden Compass.”

The BBC reports that Craig will play Lord Asriel in the flick. He’ll star alongside actress Nicole Kidman. Eva Green, another Bond castmember, will also appear in the new movie.

A December 2007 release date has been set for the film, which will start shooting early next month in the UK.

It is being directed by Chris Weitz, best known for his Oscar-nominated stint in the director’s chair for “About A Boy.”

“The Golden Compass” (originally titled “The Northern Lights”) is the first of three books in Pullman’s series, along with “The Subtle Knife” and “The Amber Spyglass.”