Where were you when Die Another Day premiered in theatres?
jorgem1
Posts: 136MI6 Agent
I was around 16-17 at that time when Die Another Day (the 40th anniversary of the franchise) premiered in the US, that was 10 years ago! Social Networking didn't exist at that time, the 9/11 attacks were still fresh in their minds, The US was preparing for the Iraq war. "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton was playing on the radio many times, which was like the "Call Me Maybe" of that time, Justin Timberlake released his solo album called Justified. Amanda Bynes and Hilary Duff were the new teen idols. Justin Bieber and Twilight saga weren't mentioned in 2002!
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It must be pretty much ten years to the day that I discovered AJB. I spent a month or so visiting the site on a regular basis before I decided to register as Moore Not Less on the 23rd December 2002. One of the wiser decisions I have made.
I actually quite enjoyed DAD when I first saw it; Brosnan in fine form, some good action sequences (as per the usual Bond film), and the attractive Rosamund Pike :x . It wasn't until a few years later I saw it for the poor Bond film it was.
It was the first Bond that I saw in the cinema, even though I'd been a Bond fan since about 1996. In those days I wasn't much of a cinema-goer, and I only watched TND and TWINE when they came out on video.
I for one was in a Theatre watching it.
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/MlcwoTd4rya/Pierce+Brosnan+Goes+See+Skyfall/_WT3figx3OQ/Pierce+Brosnan
Brosnan goes to a cinema to see Skyfall. Brosnan looks like a 70 year old.
It was exactly 10 years ago when DAD premiered in America, on November 22, 2002.
That is definitely not his best picture. But to be fair at least he's not afraid to go grey and he will actually be 60 in a few years time.
I came across the ajb website during my research. Like a bloke stumbling into a boozer to use the lavatory, and then decides to opt for a quick half, so beginning a lifetime's alcohol addiction, so I am still here today.
The film was dreadful. The Man With the Golden Gun, Never Say Never Again were the lowpoints until now, but DAD easily outstripped them all. Yet it had very positive reviews on this site, initially, a bit like Skyfall frankly. You could talk about the plotholes until the cows came home, no one would see it that way.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Was very excited as it was the first Bond I was going to see in the cinema. It was also the first 12A I got to go see in the cinema, so that was exciting too.
The first thing I remember about going to see it was one of the adverts because it scared the crap out of me and haunted my dreams for a long time afterwards, although I never told anyone. It was part of the (still seen) government THINK! campaign and involves a young lad walking around, who doesn't realise he's a ghost. Towards the end he sees his girlfriend on the other side of the road with a guy and says something along the lines of "what's she doing with him again?!" The lad starts to run over but suddenly a car passes right through him. He stops and remarks "funny... that's the second time that's happened this week... hurt a lot more the first time." I found it really creepy and the end terrified me, as did the idea of a ghost walking round, trying to talk to people, not knowing he's dead. In retrospect it works as an advert because I remembered it, yet I do wish I hadn't had to see it.
Onto the actual film which is (mostly) more cheery!
I remember finding the PTS amazing but age 9, the torture images during the TS were rather shocking. I was scared because I really didn't see how Bond was going to get himself out of it (and he wouldn't). It was the only time watching a film as a kid that I wasn't certain Bond would be alright - and it was only the start
Like almost all the films at that time, there were bits of the plot that didn't make sense to me and watching it since DAD is in a league of its own when it comes to a dodgy plot!
I wasn't aware of Desmond Llewelyn's death (it had only been a year since I'd been devastated to learn the Bond films weren't actually real
I did (and still do) like Halle Berry in it. I had seen Dr No. and loved seeing her emerge from the ocean.
I thought it was pretty cool that a guy permanently had diamonds embedded in his face. The pain and surgery never occurred to me
Overall I thought it was a brilliant film at the time and my brother and I talked about it for weeks afterwards. It became the first 12 film I bought on VHS and when I went to the till in Woolworths, I had to point my grinning, waving dad out to the lady on the till.
After re-watching it for the first time in years recently, I still enjoy it, although its flaws are much more obvious. It's a Bond film and I still like it for that, but it is quite low on my rankings, bolstered only by my great disappointment with QOS.
Anyhow, DAD holds something quite sentimental for me. As many of you are already aware, I worked on the film, so I knew about a lot of it way before the public and press did. I'm not trying to boast here, just give you an insight into my involvement.
I'd always wanted to work in film, the original idea was to work for paramount in America as at the time I decided (about 12 years old) I was a hugs Star Trek fan. As I got older I wanted something more present and realistic (yeah, hollowed out volcanos and world domination is more realistic in my book
A few years later I got the answer I'd been dreaming for; "yes you can work here but can you PLEASE stop calling me?!" The rest as they say, is history.
When DAD came out, my dad had fallen ill, it was terminal and I knew that DAD was gonna be the only time he'd see my work on screen. I didn't realise it at the time, but it was the only time I'd see it too as my short stint in the film industry had already ended. Anyway, I got tickets for the opening night at the local cinema. Dad had a kip to get some energy for the night and we all went out as a family. That was ten years ago last night I think.
At the end of the film, we all got up to leave, and my dad and me had crew jackets on that I'd got during my time at pinewood. A lad in front saw them and asked where he could get one. Before I had chance to answer my dad pipes up "you only get them if you work on the film." It was only then that I realised how proud my dad was. A great moment.
Sadly, pop passed away the following August and never saw me graduate or see any of the other things I've done since, obviously. So for me DAD holds a special place for me.
I still have the photos I took on set (naughty), my ice glass which I got to keep and a rather natty poster from the daily mail, along with the family's tickets for the opening night in the frame hangs in the hall to remind me that sometimes things aren't impossible. The other memories of my life and involvement with bond are for another time. Maybe a book one day?
Still a sh1t bond film though
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
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and whats Brosnan like in real person?
-Casino Royale, Ian Fleming
And I didn't meet brossa, although Halle was very polite and hot.
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
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I mean, after all this time, that ice glass would have melted surely... 8-)
If you knew about the movie beforehand, did you get an insight that it might turn out to be drek? Or did you think it might all come good?
Roger Moore 1927-2017
A few eyes were rolled at the Icarus idea, and with Andy Smith and Nick Finlayson tricking out the cars, it was generally thought they'd go down real well. Aside from the invisible crap, I personally think the vanquish is up there with the GF DB5.
I blame tamahori, the plot needed some polishing as most of Halle's lines were awful, and the homages to past films were way too obvious and bold. I felt sorry for Pierce as he should have been allowed to have more input.
Vive le droit à la libre expression! Je suis Charlie!
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
www.cancerresearchuk.org
1) The Spy Who Loved Me 2) On Her Majesty's Secret Service 3) GoldenEye 4) Casino Royale 5) Goldfinger
1. GoldenEye 2. Goldfinger 3. Skyfall 4. OHMSS 5. TWINE