James Bond: 10 Finest Bond Girls

Posted on 7 oktober 2015 by Jeppe Kleijngeld

In anticipation of SPECTRE, FilmDungeon.com editor Jeppe Kleyngeld lists his favourite things about the James Bond series in 12 unique features. Enjoy!

10. Christmas Jones
Film: THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
Played by: Denise Richards
Quote: ‘Was that a Christmas joke?’

How fine? Well very fine, but still Christmas is often considered to be the worst Bond Girl ever. Audiences should reconsider. Just look at those legs in her first appearance! Holy Jesus!! Off course it is ridiculous that this character is a nuclear scientist, but who cares about these things anyway? This was the first Bond film to win a Razzie as Denise Richards got one in the category Worst Supporting Actress.

9. Solitaire
Film: LIVE AND LET DIE
Played by: Jane Seymour
Quote: ‘The cards tell nothing to those who cannot see.’

How fine? ‘And Solitaire’s the only game in town…’ And she is fair game for Bond because her current boyfriend is fiendish druglord Kananga. Solitaire is a tarot reader who is initially confused when she draws the lovers’ card when reading for James, but soon she gives in to the romance. This beautiful, delicate woman is portrayed by the extraordinarily fine (and appropriately named for the part) Jane Seymour (See More get it?). Solitaire’s mother also worked for Kananga, but lost her power and became useless to him. Solitaire seems to be heading for a similar tragic fate, but luckily she meets James and all ends well for her. Check out Solitaire’s High Priestess tarot card, it is in the likeness of actress Jane Seymour.

8. Andrea Anders
Film: THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN
Played by: Maud Adams
Quote: ‘I’ve dreamt about you setting me free….’

How fine? The stunning Swedish born ex-model Maud Adams plays Andrea. She is the highly attractive mistress of super assassin Scaramanga, but wants to get rid of him. She strongly believes that James is the man for the job. Unfortunately Scaramanga finds out about her betrayal and offs her. What a total waste! And Bond only had the chance to make love to her once. Luckily actress Maud Adams returns in OCTOPUSSY.

7. Natalya Simonova
Film: GOLDENEYE
Played by: Izabella Scorupco
Quote: ‘Do you destroy every vehicle you get into?’

How fine? Very cute Russian lady who has both the brains and the beauty. She worked as a Level 2 programmer at the Severnaya facility of the Russian Space Forces, and didn’t lose her cool when the treacherous General Ouromov and associate Xenia Onatopp caused a bloodbath within the facility. As the knowledgeable sole survivor, she is the perfect partner for James to take on his mission to track the missing GoldenEye satellite. As an intermezzo, they make love a few times.

6. Major Anya Amasova / Agent XXX
Film: THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
Played by: Barbara Bach
Quote: ‘Commander James Bond, recruited to the British Secret Service from the Royal Navy. Licensed to kill and has done so on numerous occasions.’

How fine? In Anya Amasova, Bond has met his equal. She is tough, professional and pretty. Initially, she wants to kill Bond as revenge for the death of her lover (also an agent). But after she executed a mission with James, she can no longer resist his charm. The perfect spy romance.

5. Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo
Film: ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE
Played by: Diana Rigg
Quote: ‘The only thing you need to know about me is that I pay my debts.’

How fine? When we first meet Contessa Teresa di Vicenzo, known as Tracy, she wants to commit suicide by walking into the Ocean, but she is rescued by James. This troubled girl is the daughter of a powerful business man and is used to getting all that she desires, but she is unhappy nonetheless. Until she falls in love with James and he with her. It is easy to see why. She is kind and has this sort of majestic beauty, so when Bond asks her to marry him, it feels 100% natural. Only tragically it cannot last. Right after the wedding she is shot and killed by Blofeld’s partner in crime Irma Bunt.

4. Pussy Galore
Film: GOLDFINGER
Played by: Honor Blackman
Quote: ‘You can turn off the charm. I’m immune.’

How fine? True, her name is a bit embarrassing, but whenever Bond calls her Pussy, it sounds like beautiful music. Pussy is a great pilot and very sexy. She works for the bad guy initially, but switches sides halfway after her intermezzo with James in the stables. The character is probably based on Blanche Blackwell, a Jamaican of Anglo-Jewish descent, who is thought to have been the lover of Bond creator Ian Fleming during his later life.

3. Melina Havelock
Film: FOR YOUR EYES ONLY
Played by: Carole Bouquet
Quote: ‘I don’t expect you to understand, you’re English, but I’m half Greek and Greek woman like Elektra always avenge their loved ones!’

How fine? Melina Havelock is a black-haired Greek beauty that is passionate about taking revenge on the murderers of her parents. Armed with a crossbow, she sets out to find them and meets James underway. He naturally falls for her beauty (that hair, my god!). And she falls for him as well, but not before she has had her revenge. Then he gets to see her whole beauty, but not the viewers. ‘For your eyes only, darling.’

2. Vesper Lynd
Film: CASINO ROYALE
Played by: Eva Green
Quote: ‘Am I going to have a problem with you, Mr. Bond?’

How fine? Vesper Lynd is a classy girl with a gorgeous appearance. She is without a doubt the most beautiful and sexy accountant who ever lived… Makes James want to quit his job, so that is telling of how fine Vesper is.

1. Honey Rider
Film: DR. NO
Played by: Ursula Andress
Quote: ‘You smell nicer already.’

How fine? The shot in which she comes walking out of the water in bikini is breathtaking. That image alone makes Honey Rider the iconic Bond girl. But besides beauty, she has substance as well. Her father was a marinist, looking for special sea shells all over the world until he disappeared on Key Crab, Dr. No’s secret island. Honey has picked up her father’s trade. She is a ballsy woman, not afraid to visit the dangerous island where the metal-handed Dr. No executes his evil nuclear plans. She shows her courage again when she attacks Dr. No’s henchman to help Bond. In short; very pretty, smart, nice and spicy. The perfect Bond girl cocktail.

Read also:

James Bond: 10 Greatest Villains

James Bond: 10 Most Memorable Deaths (Caused by Bond’s Adversaries)

The James Bond Films Rated From Worst To Best (24-11)

James Bond: 10 Best Title Sequences

Posted on 4 oktober 2015 by Jeppe Kleijngeld

In anticipation of SPECTRE, FilmDungeon.com editor Jeppe Kleyngeld lists his favourite things about the James Bond series in 12 unique features. Enjoy!

10. The Man with the Golden Gun
Song: ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’
Artist: Lulu (performer) and John Barry (composer)
Golden guns and bullets and beautiful (naked) dames make for a very cool opening sequence, even though the opening song by Scottish singer Lulu is somewhat forgettable. The theme tune is considered by critics to be among the weakest of Barry’s contributions to the series. He agrees himself. ‘It’s the one I hate most… it just never happened for me.’

9. Tomorrow Never Dies
Song: ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’
Artist: Sheryl Crow (writer and performer) and Mitchell Froom (writer and producer)

Bond really enters the digital age with TOMORROW NEVER DIES. The title scene represents that transition perfectly with the usual images of guns and girls morphed into digital transformations. It has a relaxed pace, features a melodic song by Sheryl Crow and perfectly fits the media theme of the instalment.

8. Moonraker
Song: ‘Moonraker’
Artist: Shirley Bassey (performer) and John Barry (composer)
High velocity, blue moons, the earth seen from space, lunar experience, dames flying… The Moonraker title sequence features the third and final Bond-song performed by Shirley Bassey (following GOLDFINGER and DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER). Very pleasant title sequence that feels a bit like floating in outer space…

7. Licence to Kill
Song: ‘Licence to Kill’
Artist: Gladys Knight (performer) and Michael Kamen (composer)
John Barry was not available at the time of production for LICENCE TO KILL, so Michael Kamen (LETHAL WEAPON, DIE HARD) got the composing job. The song, performed by Gladys Knight, became one of the finest and most popular title songs of the series. It remains a classic song to this day, really beautiful. The title design is the last one by Maurice Binder. He died in 1991.

6. Dr. No
Song: ‘The James Bond Theme’
Artist: Monty Norman (writer) and John Barry (composer)
The first ever title sequence is a pretty basic, but colourful and atmospheric animation sequence. What really makes it work is the exciting and cool surf rock style guitar riff. This ‘James Bond theme’ would return in every Bond flick. Since this is the first time the theme music is used, a position in this list is obligatory.

5. Casino Royale
Song: ‘You Know My Name’
Artist: Chris Cornell (writer and performer) and David Arnold (writer and composer)
‘You know my name.’ Yes, we do. The CASINO ROYALE animation is a stunning piece of art work. In designing the credit sequence, designer Daniel Kleinman was inspired by the cover of the 1953 British first edition of CASINO ROYALE, which featured Ian Fleming’s original design of a playing card bordered by eight red hearts dripping with blood. The scene ends with Bond’s double 0 status being confirmed. New Bond Daniel Craig walks up to the camera, slowly revealing his face. Yes, this is Bond allright.

4. GoldenEye
Song: ‘GoldenEye’
Artist: Tina Turner (performer), Bono & The Edge (writers) and Nellee Hooper (composer)
Tina Turner’s GoldenEye is one of the coolest opening songs ever. It rightly became one of the highest-charting hit singles of Turner’s career in the UK and Europe. The images of the credit sequence mostly revolve around the destruction of the old USSR, one of the main themes of GOLDENEYE. It also has a gun popping out of a girl’s mouth; a combination of the two most frequently used elements in Bond title sequences. Fantastic first design job by Daniel Kleinman, who succeeded Maurice Binder who had died in 1991.

3. You Only Live Twice
Song: ‘You Only Live Twice’
Artist: Nancy Sinatra (performer) and John Barry (composer)
Bitter sweet Asian style credit sequence featuring one of the most beautiful James Bond title songs. Nancy Sinatra sings a song that could easily be her fathers; romantic and spellbinding. Maurice Binder created another visually impressive intro featuring volcanos, Japanese hand fans and off course pretty Asian girls. We like.

2. Goldfinger
Song: ‘Goldfinger’
Artist: Shirley Bassey (performer) and John Barry (composer)
Beautiful golden images combines with the greatest James Bond title song hands down. Shirley Bassey’s vocals give us goose bumps every time. Interestingly, the theme was almost taken out of the film because of its producer’s (Harry Saltzman) opinion. He hated it, saying ‘That’s the worst fucking song I’ve ever heard in my fucking life’. Luckily, there was no time to record another song, so the theme song stayed. During the opening, we get to see many clips of the movie we are about to see moulded in golden shapes. It has the same effect gold does; it makes us greedy for more. Great job!

1. Skyfall
Song: ‘Skyfall’
Artist: Adele (writer and performer) and Paul Epworth (writer and producer)
‘This is the end…’ A fascinating play of shadows and dark underwater worlds, and tokens of death… Designer Daniel Kleinman’s best so far. And Adele’s title song really has the classic sound to it. An unparalleled beauty of a credit sequence.

Read also:

James Bond: Top 10 Vehicles

James Bond: 10 Greatest Licensed Kills

The James Bond Films Rated From Worst To Best (Top 10)

James Bond: 10 Best Pre-Credit Scenes

Posted on 2 oktober 2015 by Jeppe Kleijngeld

In anticipation of SPECTRE, FilmDungeon.com editor Jeppe Kleyngeld lists his favourite things about the James Bond series in 12 unique features. Enjoy!

The 10 Best Pre-Credit Scenes

10. Die Another Day

Multi-dollar action sequence in North Korea, featuring terrific hovercrafts and high-tech weaponry. In his last performance as Bond, Brosnan comes surfing in on this high stakes assassination mission. The images have a very bleak colour, fitting and stylish for the North Korean setting. Most of the action consists of a hovercraft chase through a damp North Korean forest.

9. Licence to Kill

Felix Leiter’s wedding is rudely interrupted by the DEA. They are after a South American drug lord who is currently on the Bahamas’ and they enlist CIA-agent Leiter to catch him. Bond goes along for the ride, but ‘strictly as an observer’. Yeah right. It is too much to explain all that happens next, but it’s very good stuff. It ends in a brilliant stunt, namely a DEA helicopter that plucks Sanchez’s plane straight out of the sky. Leiter and Bond still make it to the wedding in time by parachute.

8. Octopussy

007 becomes a one man army in this adrenaline fuelled start of OCTOPUSSY. He pretends to be Colonel Luis Toro in order to enter a heavily armed enemy base in Cuba to place a bomb. But he is caught, so he has to go with Plan B. That involves attacking the base with a micro airplane, being chased by a heat seeking missile and using that to blow up the main hangar (where the enemy’s secret weapons are stored). Off course he also snugs a girl during all of this. That is how you fulfil your objectives in style.

7. Thunderball

James attends the funeral of Colonel Jacques Bouvar, an operative from SPECTRE (Number 6). On his coffin are the initials JB and Bond remarks that he would have liked killing Bouvar himself for murdering two of his colleagues. Later, Bond goes to the château of Bouvar where he identifies his foe disguised as his own widow. A spectacular fight ensues in which no piece of furniture is left unused. After Bond killed Bouvar with a fire poke, he makes a spectacular escape using a jetpack and his Aston Martin DB5. Very cool sequence that sucks you right into the movie.

6. For Your Eyes Only

It took a while, but James finally gets his revenge on his arch enemy Ernst Stravro Blofeld for murdering his wife Teresa in ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE. This credit sequence has no direct link with the story in FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, but does fit the central ‘revenge’ theme. Bond is called away while visiting his deceased wife’s grave. As he approaches Blofeld’s hide-out, the controls of his chopper are taken over by the old SPECTRE leader. After Blofeld has toyed with him for a while, Bond manages to take back control of the chopper again, scoops up Blofeld and drops him in a factory chimney. ‘Mr. Bond’, he pleads, ‘We can do a deal. I’ll buy you a delicatessen. In stainless steal.’

5. Casino Royale

This back-to-the-beginning entry in the series opens with a grainy black and white sequence in which Bond earns his Double 0-status. We learn it takes two kills to become a Double 0. The first one is a real die hard kill in a men’s room. But the second one is considerably easier. Nice to meet you, Mr. Bond.

4. Skyfall

SKYFALL opens with a massive pursuit through Turkey. Bond needs to get his hands on a stolen list with identities of secret agents. He chases the bad guy on foot, by car, by bike and by train. With trademark humour (‘just changing carriages’) and plenty of demolition. The perfect opening for Bond’s 50th anniversary movie.

3. You Only Live Twice

It begins with the brutal space jacking of Jupiter 16, an American spacecraft. With the cold war going on, the Americans are quick to accuse the Russians, but her Majesty’s government does not agree. Their sources say the enemy’s spacecraft has landed in Japan, so all secret intelligence should look in that direction. ‘Our man in Hong Kong is on it right now’, says a British official. Cut to James Bond making love to a Chinese girl. Soon after, Bond is executed off screen and the police finds his dead body. Surely, James can not be dead? Very suspenseful opening of the fifth official Bond movie.

2. The Spy Who Loved Me

A submarine hijacking, a terrific skiing purchase, the classic British flag escape… This is how you start a Bond movie. The action is also a set-up for the plot, unlike the usual standalone pre-credit scenes. Bond kills a Russian agent who happens to be the lover of a female Russian spy (the gorgeous Triple X) who James will very soon meet…

1. GoldenEye

It is a breath-taking moment, when James bungee jumps of a massive dam in Russia. After that comes the toilet joke (‘beg your pardon, forgot to knock’), the first we see of Pierce Brosnan’s humorous take on 007. After that it is action time with Bond and colleague 006, who are assigned to destroy a chemical weapons factory. After 006 gets killed by General Ouromov, Bond makes a very narrow escape by pulling an unbelievable airplane stunt. Spectacular opening in every way.

Read also:

James Bond: 10 Finest Bond Girls

James Bond: 10 Greatest Henchmen

James Bond: Top 20 Action Sequences

5 marketinggeheimen van Grand Theft Auto

Posted on 20 september 2013 by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Afgelopen week ging GTA V in première, een gegarandeerde miljoenenhit. Op de eerste verkoopdag, woensdag 18 september, bracht het spel al 800 miljoen dollar op. Niet slecht voor een spel met een budget van ‘slechts’ zo’n 165 miljoen dollar.

Voor wie het nog niet kent, Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is een interactieve misdaadgame. In een open stedelijke omgeving heb je als speler de vrijheid om allerlei activiteiten te ontplooien. Daarnaast kun je missies voltooien, waardoor je geleidelijk een groot misdaadimperium opbouwt.

De lancering van een GTA-spel heeft veel weg van de première van een James Bond film. De entertainmentbladen schrijven over niets anders, hongerige fans speuren het internet af naar nieuwe informatie en winkels blijven op premièredag langer open om de duizenden gamers te bedienen die het spel direct willen hebben. Wat verklaart het succes van deze misdaadserie?

GTA biedt spelers:

1. Product leiderschap
Een nieuwe GTA-game staat garant voor het beste wat je kunt krijgen op gaming-gebied. De makers bij Rockstar North melken geen voorgangers uit, maar benaderen ieder deel alsof het de eerste is. De gebruikte technieken zijn altijd state-of-the-art zodat ook verwende gamers nog verast worden op het gebied van gameplay en graphics. Ook op het gebied van scripts en stemacteurs nemen de makers alleen genoegen met ware excellentie. Een GTA-game spelen staat garant voor een unieke interactieve spelervaring. Er is geen spel dat zoveel vrijheid en mogelijkheden biedt.

2. Waar voor je geld
Behalve de technische en verhaalsaspecten, zitten er zoveel activiteiten in een GTA-game, dat spelers er gemakkelijk 100 uur aan kunnen besteden zonder dat het saai wordt. Auto’s stelen, helikopters vliegen, motorracen, daten met mooie vrouwen, overvallen plegen, ingame games spelen, pizza’s bezorgen, base jumpen, een bendeoorlog beginnen…. Het houdt niet op.
Daarnaast is de stad helemaal volgestouwd met verassingen voor spelers die alle hoeken en gaten willen verkennen. In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – het op Scarface gebaseerde deel – is bijvoorbeeld in een huis de douche te vinden waar de beruchte kettingzaag scene van Scarface zich afspeelde. Gamers die het spel kopen, worden dus meer dan voldoende beloond voor hun aankoop.

3. Een cult sausje
De misdaadwerelden van GTA waarin je je als speler bevindt, zijn doordrenkt van popcultuur. De muziek, de kleding, de fictieve merken… het zou allemaal uit een Tarantino-film kunnen komen. De fans van GTA, houden doorgaans van de misdaadfilms die aan de basis staan van deze games. Zo is GTA: Vice City gebaseerd op Scarface, één van de populairste cult films aller tijden. De acteurs die in de spellen de stemmen verzorgen, zijn ook vaak afkomstig uit gangster klassiekers. Denk aan Ray Liotta, Samuel L. Jackson en Michael Madsen. Hiermee heeft Rockstar North een grote groep fans weten te binden.

Het succes van GTA wordt verder vergroot door:

4. Verhalen delen
Zodra je klanten verhalen gaan uitwisselen over je producten, heb je het beste marketinginstrument ter wereld in handen. De interactieve wereld van GTA, maar ook de missies die je als speler uitvoert, bieden hier alle mogelijkheden toe. ‘Er stond een mannetje te pissen bij die ene missie, en toen heb ik met een machete zijn hoofd afgehakt’. Gamers delen graag hun gewelddadige prestaties met elkaar, en de nieuwste GTA-spellen bieden hier ook nog eens vele online opties voor, zoals het filmen van je gruwelijkste misdaden en waanzinnigste stunts.

5. Anticipatie creëren
Een uitgekiende marketing campagne, zorgt er steeds voor dat gamers al lang van te voren lekker worden gemaakt. In korte trailers worden hints gegeven voor karakters en verhaallijnen, terwijl de fans zien wat voor prachtige en realistische omgevingen de makers nu weer hebben samengesteld. De trailers gaan uiteraard direct viral. Hoe dichter bij de release datum, hoe meer er wordt weggegeven. Gevolg: liefhebbers kunnen niet meer wachten het spel te kunnen spelen en de nieuwe mogelijkheden te verkennen.

En dat kan nu! Maar alleen op de Playstation 3 en X-Box 360. PC-gamers (zoals ik, snik) moeten nog een tijdje wachten.