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Paul Engelen died on November 3 at his home in West Sussex, England. He was a famous makeup artist who made players into unforgettable characters in movies and TV shows. Daniel Lawson Johnston, a fellow makeup artist and his son-in-law, said he was 75 years old and had been fighting cancer.

Over more than 50 years, Engelen had an amazing career in which he worked on some of the most famous movies ever made. For his work as a makeup artist, he won two Emmys and was nominated for two Academy Awards, solidifying his reputation as a master.

Engelen got his start in the business as an assistant makeup artist on Carol Reed’s “Oliver!” in 1968. He quickly became a major creative force in the field. Along with six James Bond movies, he worked on Steven Spielberg’s “Empire of the Sun” and “Munich,” as well as the first three seasons of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.

Paul Engelen, the British makeup designer who earned two Emmys and two Oscar nominations in a fabulous career that included work on Reds, Batman, The Phantom Menace, Gladiator and Game of Thrones, has died. He was 75.

Engelen died Nov. 3 of cancer at his home in West Sussex, England, his son-in-law (and fellow makeup designer) Daniel Lawson Johnston told The Hollywood Reporter.

Engelen also did makeup for three James Bonds — Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig — on the 007 films The Man With the Golden Gun (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Moonraker (1979), Die Another Day (2002), Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008).

He teamed with Blake Edwards on Victor/Victoria (1982), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) and Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), with Steven Spielberg on Empire of the Sun (1987) and Munich (2005) and with Ridley Scott on Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005) and Robin Hood (2010).

Engelen shared his first Academy Award nom with Rick Baker...

Merry Saltzman, the firstborn child of Harry Saltzman, who co-produced the first nine James Bond films, has died. She was 77.

Saltzman died Oct. 30 at her home in San Jose, California, after a brief battle with cancer, family members told The Hollywood Reporter.

Saltzman served as an associate producer on the 2019 feature Mermaid Down, and four years earlier, she announced that she had secured the rights to a stage project she was calling James Bond: The Musical. The show, a parody, was designed to open in Las Vegas or Broadway but never made it.

Saltzman was born in Manhattan on Dec. 21, 1946, to Herschel Saltzman, a Canadian, and the first of his three wives, Tanya. Before the movies, her father served as a wartime spy, and she “helped in an amazing way to enlighten his work and contribution to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force and in the U.S. secret service Oss,...

by Chad Kennerk

Image courtesy of Sky Arts

Christopher Lee may have become famous for his iconic performance as a young, suave, debonair Dracula, but his work went far beyond the Hammer Horror roles he is most often associated with. With a commanding voice, penetrating eyes and his imposing height, he often found himself cast as the villain, but like Vincent Price and his other horror contemporaries, the villains Lee played were often the most interesting and layered performance in the film.

Following a long and expansive career that began with uncredited roles in the 1940s, he worked later in life with the biggest names in the industry, appearing in major franchises like The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. He made five films with director Tim Burton and worked with Martin Scorsese on Hugo. Beyond his work on the screen, Lee led a fascinating life. Before his acting...

Christopher Lee was never one to shy away from sharing his thoughts, and when it came to The Lord of the Rings, he had a lot to say. The late actor, known for his iconic role as Saruman, had some serious mixed feelings about Peter Jackson’s decisions during filming. While he appreciated the chance to work alongside Ian McKellen, there was a part of him that wasn’t thrilled with how things unfolded.

Christopher Lee as Saruman the White in Lord of the Rings | Credits: New Line Cinema

Lee felt the pressure of the creative choices and the weight of expectations on his shoulders. But he stayed professional, bringing his own magic to the screen while navigating the drama behind the scenes.

Christopher Lee: A Legacy in Shadows and Saruman’s Struggles Ian McKellen as Gandalf | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Though Christopher Lee passed away in 2015, his mark on cinema is eternal.

Featuring: Peter Serafinowicz, Peter Jackson, Joe Dante, John Landis, Caroline Munro, Paul Maslansky, Jonathan Rigby, Harriet Walter, Juan Rodriguez | Written and Directed by Jon Spira

The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee, written and directed by Jon Spira, is a look at one of the most iconic, versatile and conversely underrated actors in the genre.

Narrated by a marionette of the late actor, voiced quite convincingly by Peter Serafinowicz the film starts with a quick overview of Lee’s heritage and formative years that included he and his mother being abandoned by both his father and stepfather. Interviews with his niece, an award-winning actress in her own right, talk about how this influenced both his personality and the direction his life would take.

The part he played in World War II is covered as well. Although there are no new revelations of his still-classified work tracking down war criminals. Work...

Considering the first two Superman movies made over $500 million at the worldwide box office, it was absolutely no surprise that a Superman III would take flight. Besides, it was promised in the closing credits of Superman II!

With the success of Superman and its sequel, superhero movies were in the earliest iteration of franchise mode. In short: strong box office numbers guaranteed another movie, no matter how bad it could possibly turn out. And Superman III is just about as bad as it could possibly turn out, generally ranking among the worst superhero sequels ever and a prime example of what happens to a series’ reputation when things go wrong with the script, cast and, hell, even the opening credits sequence!

So, let’s go from Superman to Super-Mean to Super-Machine as we find out: What Happened to This Movie?!

Superman III was announced at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival, well...

Exclusive: British agency Host Talent Group has signed singer-actress Lulu, Strictly Come Dancing professional Michelle Tsiakkas and Peleton instructor Bradley Rose.

British entertainment icon Lulu is know for a six-decade career in which she has worked with everyone from The Beatles to Take That, and released hits such as “Shout” and “To Sir With Love.” On the acting front, her recent projects include the Diane Keaton-starring Arthur’s Whisky, which Arclight Films shopped in Cannes last year before it premiered on Sky in January. She has also appeared in To Sir With Love and performed the title song for The Man with the Golden Gun in 1974.

Host said she is gearing up for more acting roles, live performances and media ventures.

Tsiakkas is known as a dancer on BBC entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing, which returned to screens over the week amid several ongoing controversies relating to former stars of the program.

James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli was one of the guests at a gala dinner hosted by the Doha Film Institute (Dfi) and the Media City Qatar (McQ) on the fringes of the Venice Film Festival on Monday evening.

The veteran producer’s presence added fuel to recent reports that she is attempting to secure Qatari finance for ex-James Bond actor Daniel Craig’s big screen passion project Othello, with well-placed sources hinting on Monday night that talks were ongoing.

Related: ‘Russians At War’ Teaser: Anastasia Trofimova’s Doc Gives Rare Insight Into Life Of Russian Soldiers On The Frontline In Ukraine – Venice

Broccoli — who is co-head of James Bond producer Eon Productions with Michael G. Wilson — has reportedly been working with Craig for some time on the project, billed as a modern adaptation of the Shakespearean classic set in American army barracks in Iraq.

Related: ‘King Ivory’: Melissa Leo,...

Who says 1994 was a classic year for cinema? Netflix begins today to make that argument, curating a release of 17 films that turned 30 this year. The streamer has its list below. I have mine, and with the exception of the seminal Farrelly Brothers-directed Dumb & Dumber with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, and Luc Besson’s Leon: The Professional, the film that stars Jean Reno and a sinister Gary Oldman and introduced the world to the outsized talent Natalie Portman, and maybe Ron Howard’s The Paper, there’s a lot missing. How about Forrest Gump, The Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, The Lion King, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Clear and Present Danger, Sicario, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Interview With the Vampire, Speed, Ed Wood, and the other two films in a starmaking year for Jim Carrey, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask. Speed, Once Were Warriors, and Ang Lee...

There are no words in the dictionary that can perfectly describe late Christopher Lee’s career in the film industry. With over 250 films to his name, the actor was a force to reckon with. Even though it has almost been a decade since he passed away, Christopher Lee’s legacy still lives on, and his fans will finally get to learn more about him in an upcoming documentary on his life.

Christopher Lee in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

Titled The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee, the documentary is directed by Jon Spira, who has access to the actor’s scrapbooks and interviews from the British Institute’s library. However, this is no ordinary documentary, just as Christopher Lee was no ordinary man.

A Documentary Gives Insight into Christopher Lee’s Life

A still from the trailer of The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee (2024) | Credit: Canal Cat Films...

"The Wicker Man" is the gold standard of occult horror. Police Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward), a God-fearing Englishman, arrives on the island of Summerisle to investigate the reported disappearance of a young girl. Howie soon discovers the islanders are pagans and spends the movie angrily berating them. Soon, it becomes clear the cultural differences are more sinister than the proper way to worship.

The islanders' crops are failing, so Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) has plotted a virgin sacrifice to appease their gods. No one ever said the virgin had to be a young girl; no, it's the unmarried Howie, who is burned to death in an excruciating sequence as the Summerisle villagers sing.

Despite being underserved by producer/distributor British Lion Films (to the point where Lee had to promote the film on his own time), "The Wicker Man" is now regarded as a horror classic. 2023 was the 50th anniversary of "The Wicker Man,...

The James Bond films have a legacy of over six decades and the books by Ian Fleming were legendary even before that. The franchise is one of the highest-grossing franchises of all time and has seen multiple actors essay the titular role of James Bond. The films have inspired many films and other media in the spy genre and have a profound effect on pop culture.

Every work has been inspired by something, and even James Bond was reportedly inspired by multiple people and events. Legendary actor Christopher Lee claimed that he knew James Bond more than anyone else as the author Ian Fleming was his first step-cousin. He also mentioned many of the characters in the series were inspired by Fleming’s real-life acquaintances.

Ian Fleming Based James Bond On Stories He Heard During World War II Ian Fleming with Sean Connery | Credits: United Artists

Author Ian Fleming created...

Even the most die-hard 007 fans know that James Bond movies don’t always hit. There’s the yellow face of You Only Live Twice, the pigeon double-take in Moonraker, the surfing in Die Another Day. But never has the franchise done worse than when a certain Louisiana police officer bumbles into the otherwise solid Live and Let Die.

Yes, I’m talking about Sheriff J.W. Pepper, a loudmouth distraction who sort of makes sense in the American-set Live and Let Die, but then he somehow also shows up in Thailand to further drag down The Man With the Golden Gun.

Modern viewers meeting the character for the first time today will likely be confused by Pepper’s shtick. But to the viewers of the early 1970s, Pepper not only hit as a funny joke, but he was very much in line with Bond’s history of pop culture Johnny-come-latelyisms.

The James Bond franchise revolutionized action cinema in the 1960s when it started with 1962’s Dr. No and stands to this day as one of the longest-running film series in history. From almost the very beginning, Bond movies strive to draw in their audiences with high-octane prologues that run before lush and stylishly rendered title sequences. These pre-title action scenes not only set the tone for the movie right out the gate but, in several instances, are the best sequences within their respective films.

This pre-title sequence tradition began with the franchise’s second movie, 1963’s From Russia with Love. Believe it or not, Dr. No does not actually contain a pre-title action scene and instead dives headfirst into its opening titles. These prologues highlight the classic elements of a spy who always served Her Majesty’s Secret Service faithfully. They also showcase how each of the actors playing Bond...

A classic film that not only endures but continues to inspire half a century later is a true marvel. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, The Wicker Man helped popularize the folk horror genre that continues to flourish with the likes of Midsommar, The Witch, and The Ritual. Its impact extends beyond cinema, from inspiring Radiohead (“Burn the Witch”) and Iron Maiden (“The Wicker Man”) songs to being included in the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.

In the film, Sergeant Neil Howie travels from the mainland to the Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. The devout Christian is appalled to learn that the islanders practice a form of paganism characterized by blasphemous beliefs, degeneracy, doublespeak, and peculiar customs. Like The Bride of Frankenstein, the namesake doesn’t show up until the final moments of the film, but it leaves an indelible impression long after the credits roll.

The serial killer thriller Squealer is set to receive a theatrical and digital release on November 3rd – and with just three weeks to go until that date arrives, a trailer for the film has been unveiled. You can check it out in the embed above.

Squealer marks the feature directorial debut of Andy Armstrong, who got his start in the entertainment industry by working as a stuntman. He earned stunt credits on more than fifty projects, including Nightbreed, Total Recall, Air America, Leprechaun, Universal Soldier, The Firm, Flesh and Bone, Stargate, Galaxy Quest, Charlie’s Angels, Planet of the Apes, Green Hornet, Thor, The Amazing Spider-Man, and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. He also worked as assistant director or second unit director on many films, including The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Superman II, Krull, Highlander, Rambo II, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, and Double Impact. He has even...

October has arrived, and Amazon Prime Video is not lacking in great new movies to stream this month. The bulk of the James Bond library is available to stream on Prime Video starting on Oct. 1, so pick your favorite era and play your marathon accordingly. There’s also a bona fide new release hitting just in time for Spooky Season – the 1980s-set time travel horror film “Totally Killer,” starring “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” lead Kiernan Shipka. And the Nicolas Cage Dracula film “Renfield” also hits Prime Video this month.

Whether you’re looking for scares, thrills or a classic rom-com, we’ve got you covered. Check out our picks for the best new movies on Amazon Prime Video in October 2023 below.

The James Bond Franchise Eon

Ok so this is more than one film, but if you’re a James Bond fan you can now stream a slew of entries...

There’s a lot to watch on Prime Video in October and, as you may have guessed, there’s spooky stuff galore in amongst Prime’s usual rotation of extensive library content.

In the movie Totally Killer, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star Kiernan Shipka travels back in time to the 1980s to stop a serial killer. Then there’s Make Me Scream, a Halloween special that challenges celebrities to “a gruesome game of terror.” Renfield will also be streaming on the service for anyone who’s been dying (muahahaha!) to catch the Nic Cage Dracula film.

Outside of Prime Video’s more creepy fare, Shazam! Fury Of The Gods will debut, Upload will be back for a third season, and new film Awareness should scratch your sci-fi itch. Meanwhile, for Frasier heads – those who consider themselves utterly Frasier-pilled – all eleven seasons of the Cheers spinoff show will be streaming at the touch of a button.

If you’re looking for a complete list of every new movie and TV show coming to Amazon Prime Video in October, you’ve come to the right place. This month kicks off with a slew of great library additions, from James Bond films to relatively new releases (“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” and the Nicolas Cage Dracula movie “Renfield”) and beyond.

There are also some high-profile originals landing in October. The third season of the sci-fi comedy series “Upload” arrives on Oct. 20, while Oct. 6 marks the release of the Prime Video original film “Totally Killer,” a fun slasher set in the 1980s that stars Kiernan Shipka.

Check out the full list of what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in October 2023 below, followed by a complete list of new arrivals for Freevee in October as well.

Arriving October 1

Frasier, Seasons 1-11 (1994)

Hit, Season 3 (2020)

A Fish Called Wanda (1988)

A Guy Thing...

Throughout the 60 years James Bond has been on the big screen, there's been no shortage of casting controversies associated with the franchise. For 1974's "The Man with the Golden Gun," producers cast Christopher Lee in the role of villain Francisco Scaramanga, much to the chagrin of some behind the scenes. Writer Tom Mankiewicz even claimed to have "begged and pleaded" for them to find anyone else, mainly because he'd originally envisioned Jack Palance in the role.

Even Bond himself caused casting issues. When writer Ian Fleming and producers Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman were casting 007 for "Dr. No," they all had a sense that Sean Connery was the man for the job. But before he was offered the part, he would have to screen test, which he ultimately agreed to do despite pushing back initially. As recounted in Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury's 2015 book, "Some Kind of Hero: The...

When it comes to the Sean Connery James Bond movies, the highest praise is usually reserved for "Goldfinger" or "Dr. No." The latter was, of course, Bond's on-screen debut, while the former introduced so many of the trademarks we've come to expect from the franchise, it's arguably even more of a Bond blueprint than "Dr. No."

But while it might not be considered the greatest James Bond film, Connery's fourth outing in the tux, "Thunderball," is a significant entry in the saga. The fourth Bond movie made $141 million, making it the most successful Bond at the time — a title it retained (adjusting for inflation) until 2012's "Skyfall." "Thunderball" was also the last time director Terrence Young would oversee a 007 movie, having helped define the character's fashion sense, humor, and bon vivant persona with "Dr. No." But the fourth Bond outing is also significant for the behind-the-scenes controversy that accompanied it.

To clarify right away, James Bond, Jr. (Corey Burton), the title character from a barely-remembered 007-adjacent 1991 animated series, is not the son of James Bond. More confusingly, James Bond, Jr. is actually the nephew of James Bond. "He learned the game from his uncle James," the theme song makes very clear. This means that James Bond did indeed have a brother, but also that his brother was named James as well ...?

As of this writing, "James Bond Jr." is the only TV adaptation to date of Ian Fleming's ultra-popular James Bond book series. It came at a fascinating time in the history of the James Bond franchise, as Timothy Dalton's two-film run had come to an end, and a messy rights dispute behind the scenes kept Bond off the big screen for years. It also likely didn't help that the Berlin Wall fell in November of 1989, calling...

Of all the James Bond movies, "The Man with the Golden Gun" isn't the most beloved. Debuting to lackluster reviews in 1974, following the success that was '73's "Live and Let Die," Roger Moore's sophomore outing as Bond failed to dazzle audiences who were growing weary of the franchise.

The producers had a rough time replacing Sean Connery, who'd come to define the character with his run as England's greatest spy, before departing the series and being replaced by Aussie actor George Lazenby. While Lazenby did a solid job in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," he too left the role after his one and only appearance, after which Connery returned for the less than stellar "Diamonds Are Forever."

Unfortunately, Connery would once again leave the role that helped launch his career following this brief return, clearing the way for Roger Moore to take on the mantle with "Live and Let Die.

Cult Horror Masterpiece, The Wicker Man, Arrives on a SteelBook in 4K Ultra HD October 17: "The cult horror masterpiece, The Wicker Man, arrives on a SteelBook® in 4K Ultra HD™ (+ Blu-ray™ + Digital) on October 17th from Lionsgate. Directed by Robin Hardy (The Fantasist), the film follows Police Sergeant Howie, as he investigates Lord Summerisle and his secretive pagan society. The Wicker Man will be available for the suggested retail price of $27.99."

Official Synopsis

When a young girl mysteriously vanishes, Police Sergeant Howie (Edward Woodward) travels to a remote Scottish island to investigate. But the seemingly quiet community is not as it appears, as the detective uncovers a secretive pagan society led by the strange Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee). While the townsfolk tempt and threaten him with bizarre rituals and wanton lust, Howie must race to discover the truth behind the girl's disappearance before his clash with Lord Summerisle builds...

Clockwise from top left: John Wick: Chapter 2 (Lionsgate), Enter The Dragon (Warner Bros.), Rush Hour 2 (Warner Bros.), Bloodsport (Warner Bros.), Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (Disney)Graphic: AVClub

Hollywood was not ready for Bruce Lee. When Enter The Dragon hit theaters 50 years ago, in...

1977's "The Spy Who Loved Me" is a landmark James Bond film for several reasons. For one, it fully cemented Sir Roger Moore as Bond, establishing his take on the character as distinctive and separate from Sean Connery and George Lazenby. For another, it introduced another recurring character to the continuity-lite franchise: Richard Kiel's imposing (and mostly silent) henchman, Jaws. The film also featured a then-groundbreaking stunt sequence, a buzzworthy moment that helped it become the massive box-office hit the franchise needed in order to continue at all after the underperformance of "The Man With the Golden Gun."

Most intriguingly for the spy movie in general, however, "The Spy Who Loved Me" introduced the notion of detente between Her Majesty's Secret Service (represented by Bond) and the Kgb (represented by Barbara Bach as Anya Amasova). This spirit of tolerance and occasional cooperation continued throughout the next several Bond films,...

Bond girls just wanna have fun – or at least had more of it in the early days of the franchise. But according to Britt Ekland, who played Mary Goodnght in 1974’s The Man with the Golden Gun opposite Roger Moore, today’s standards have limited the amount of “fun” that modern Bond girls can have.

In a recent interview, Britt Ekland told Pa Media (as per Metro) that shifting values have given today’s Bond girls different opportunities, both for good and bad. “There are no more Bond girls, they are Bond women today. They have it with the political correctness and the #MeToo, they have a much better time than we had…But I don’t think that the end product is as fun as ours were, because we were pretty and we had good bodies and we didn’t try to look sexy, we just were.”

Britt Ekland...

A perfect way to plan a trip to Thailand — the country where Mike White plans to film season three of The White Lotus — is to combine beachy adventures (such as Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley once had at the Amanpuri resort on Phuket) with a journey to the mountainous north and a stint in the epicurean capital of Bangkok.

“One of the absolute highlights of my tour around the globe with Peacock’s travel docuseries Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss were some epic adventures in Thailand, the jewel of Southeast Asia,” Rainn Wilson tells THR. “This peaceful culture made up of so many united tribes has at its center the concept of sanuk, a spiritual/cultural concept of finding a loving, fun-filled pleasure in whatever you are doing.”

For sand and surf there are countless possibilities in a country with seemingly infinite coast, not to mention many islands.

She’s done everything from Bond films to I’m a Celebrity, and has found time to inspire a song or two along the way. So now’s your chance to ask the question you always wanted to

This week we welcome Britt Ekland to the Reader Interview chair, to celebrate the 50th-anniversary re-release of British folk horror classic The Wicker Man. So … what to know, and what to ask? There’s her other famous films: as showgirl Rachel Schpitendavel in The Night They Raided Minsky’s in 1968, Anna to Michael Caine’s Get Carter in 1971, alongside Roger Moore’s 007 as Mary Goodnight in 1974’s The Man with the Golden Gun, and as real-life socialite/prostitute Mariella Novotny in 1989’s Profumo affair drama Scandal.

As well as all that, Ekland has done panto (Cinderella in Swindon in 2007); starred on Swedish reality TV show Stjärnorna på Slotted and I’m...

Fantasy Island entered the pop culture consciousness as two made-for-tv movies and returned as a popular ABC series airing from 1977 to 1984. It lasted long enough in the memory to earn three Fantasy Island reboots. However, none garnered the same acclaim as the original show starring Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize. Sure, the remakes speak to Hollywood’s neverending desire to mine profitable IP, but they also prove Fantasy Island still has value despite its principal cast members’ deaths years ago.

‘Fantasy Island’ is a ’70s anthology series about human’s darkest desires ‘Fantasy Island’ stars Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize in 1978 | ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize played the only two regular cast members on Fantasy Island. Montalban portrayed Mr. Roarke, the mysterious overseer of the titular location somewhere near Devil’s Island, French Guiana, in the Atlantic Ocean. Sporting a...

On 27th February 2023, Nucleus Films will release the shocking 1970s horror film Dark Places on Blu-ray.

There’S More Than Death Waiting For You In Dark Places

Legendary British stars Christopher Lee, Joan Collins and Herbert Lom get together in a grisly tale of hidden loot in a haunted house.

Dr Ian Mandeville and his sister Sarah mean to get their hands on the £200,000 stashed in the derelict Marr’s Grove – only to find that Edward Foster, a stranger to the district, has recently inherited the place. As Edward rapidly succumbs to the influence of the mansion’s long-dead owners, madness and bloody murder ensue…

Directed by Don Sharp, this long-awaited UK Blu-ray premiere has been remastered from original vault elements and is packed with bonus features.

Also starring Jane Birkin, Robert Hardy and Jean Marsh…

Dare you enter Marr’s Grove and encounter the evil lurking within?

Special Features:...

February ushers in a new slate of movies and TV shows making their way to HBO and HBO Max, from a slew of James Bond movies to the recently released Olivia Colman-led “Empire of Light” to, yes, the Puppy Bowl.

“The Terminator,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Footloose,” “Taxi Driver” and “The Silence of the Lambs” all mark notable library offerings this month, in addition to “Superbad,” “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” and “Eighth Grade.”

Despite HBO Max pulling a number of originals from its roster over the past several months, HBO Max originals premiering on the platform this month include a Dionne Warwick documentary, an adult European animated series titled “Poor Devil” and “Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special” based on the popular animated series.

HBO Max is also beefing up its sports offerings by streaming soccer matches featuring the U.S. national teams,...

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and HBO Max got the memo. With its list of new releases for February 2023, the HBO streamer is bringing a very special Valentine’s Day episode into the fold.

Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentine’s Day Special premieres on Feb. 9 and finds Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy celebrating their first Valentine’s Day together. Consider this a fun little aperitif for the fast approaching Harley Quinn season 3 – which will feature none other than freshly-installed DC czar James Gunn. Other HBO Max original series this month include another C.B. Strike special on Feb. 6 and Spanish-language animated comedy Poor Devil a.k.a. Pobre Diablo on Feb. 17.

February also looks to be a jam-packed month for movies on HBO Max. February 1 sees the arrival of many appealing library titles like Birdman, Casino Royale, The Silence of the Lambs, and The Terminator. Later on HBO Max...

Tl;Dr:

A star once said The Beatles’ “Love Me Do” was inspired by Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog.”She also felt the song was inspired by Barrett Strong’s “Money (That’s What I Want).”Paul McCartney and John Lennon discussed how the song came together. The Beatles | Bettmann / Contributor

A star once said The Beatles‘ “Love Me Do” was inspired by Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog.” In addition, she felt the song was different from its inspirations. Notably, Paul McCartney and John Lennon both gave fans insight into the composition of “Love Me Do.”

Singer Lulu said she liked The Beatles when she was young because they looked cute without looking threatening

Lulu is a singer known for her hits “To Sir with Love” and “Boom Bang-a-Bang,” as well as the title song from the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun. During a 2022 interview with The Guardian,...

This writer remembers Easter Sunday mornings of childhood when all the candy-filled eggs were collected, sitting before the TV and devouring Cadbury treats as the sweeping fanfare of Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments" filled the family room. Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner made big impressions with their booming voices, but what I remembered most was the swell of strings that would arise anytime Yvonne De Carlo's saintly Sephora would grace the screen. Years beyond that childhood, Elmer Bernstein's epic score is what remains in the memory.

Responsible for the oom-pah horns accompanying the "Ghostbusters" on their paranormal escapades and for the militant pomp of Ivan Reitman's "Stripes," Bernstein is as much associated with comedies as the more serious dramas, though you might not know that the guy who scored "The Man With the Golden Gun" is the same who worked on "Animal House." In short,...

Believe it or not, there once was a time when James Bond movies were fun. And more than fun, Bond himself had fun in them! As difficult as it is to sometimes imagine after Daniel Craig, James Bond was previously a character of high camp and sheepish boarding school humor. And no actor ever better personified that side of Bond than Roger Moore.

Moore was the third actor to portray Bond in Eon Productions’ 007 series, although for many (particularly those who came of age in the ‘70s and ‘80s) he remains the definitive portrayal. With the naturally debonair demeanor, the ease with which he delivers a pun, and ever the boyish twinkle in his eye, Moore was the first Bond who seemed naturally at home in his elite lifestyle. Whereas Sean Connery and George Lazenby could be rough around the edges, suggesting they had to claim their refined place in polite society,...

The James Bond franchise is the gold standard for long-running film series. Sixty years of 007 have not only come with new takes on the secret agent himself but what the franchise should be for each generation of the character. This has meant consistent alterations to every aspect of the movies, as one star takes over for another, from ditching the overt sexism on Bonds past when Daniel Craig took over the role to embracing the absurd in the early years, namely the later Sean Connery films and the majority of the Roger Moore era.

Even the music has changed with each theatrical adventure. From absolute classics, such as Matt Monro’s “From Russia With Love” and Shirley Bassey’s “Goldfinger,” to more modern hits like Adele’s “Skyfall,” each new Bond song is as big an event as the movie itself. But not all Bond songs are equal, and...

It's difficult to imagine what 007 in the modern age would look like without Daniel Craig, who brought a new and brash energy to a screen presence once defined by the signature martini, his gadgets, and the glide of an Aston Martin. His Bond is the most personal of them all, as we're introduced to a blue-eyed recruit who ultimately becomes a rugged pawn on behalf of Her Majesty's Secret Service. Craig's streak isn't perfect, akin to most Bonds, but not even "Quantum of Solace" or "Spectre" could take away from his very best.

Where "Casino Royale" reinvigorated the contemporary legacy of James Bond, it was "Skyfall" that solidified his place in the 21st century. The combination of director Sam Mendes, cinematographer Roger Deakins, and composer Thomas Newman took what could have been a traditional Bond adventure, and turned it into a deeply personal action epic that ranks among my favorites of the series.

Sean Connery in the role of James Bond is the very definition of a tough act to follow. Most actors who have the good fortune to portray a character on screen for the first time become associated with that character by default, but Connery did more than perfectly portray novelist and creator Ian Fleming's British spy — he defined the character completely, turning Bond into an icon.

Connery was rakishly handsome, effortlessly charming, and devilishly witty while also being able to tap into 007's coldness. His performance did the heavy lifting in explaining how a man with a license to kill is able to operate on a daily basis, and slyly offset the kitschy tone of the films by giving a grounded darkness to the character. When Connery briefly exited the role, Eon Productions recast Bond with George Lazenby, who was only afforded one at-bat in 1969's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Roger Moore's turn as James Bond is typically known as one of the more whimsical interpretations of 007. Moore would compare himself in interviews to his predecessor in the role, Sean Connery, saying, "I always say, Sean was a killer; I was a lover."

Whereas Bond has always had a womanizing side and been prone to making quips towards the villains he brutally murders, Connery's Bond took himself a bit more seriously than Moore's. Connery leaned a bit more into the calculated, professional killer aspect of the character, whereas Moore's Bond worked under the assumption that he wouldn't enjoy killing, but would do so "professionally, quickly, and accurately." Moore's gentler Bond would make goofy jokes and pretend his villains had bad breath.

However, behind the scenes, Moore's Bond was just as heroic as any of the agent's other iterations. From the very start of his stint with the character, Moore...

Director Mat Whitecross was handed a large task with "The Sound of 007." The filmmaker, who also directed the hilarious "Oasis: Supersonic," had to tell 60 years of history in a 90-minute documentary. The brisk doc easily could've been a six-hour miniseries exploring the life of composer John Barry or going through all the ins-and-outs of every single theme song. Whitecross didn't have that kind of time, but with the time he did have, he made a documentary that should entertain even the mildest of Bond fans. 

The doc is packed with fun facts, creative disagreements, and explores the history of the most beloved and disliked Bond theme songs. Maybe the fact that Prince was a big fan of "Another Way to Die" may not change people's minds about the Alicia Keys and Jack White collaboration in "Quantum of Solace," but still, it's nice to know the song found a fan in one of the all-time greats,...

The tear-stricken faces peering up adoringly at James Bond producer Michael G. Wilson, seated in the royal box at Royal Albert Hall, during a lengthy standing ovation at “The Sound of 007” concert said it all: It’s not just movie music — the music, for this franchise at least, is the movie.

Tuesday’s charity event at London’s grandest venue preceded the Oct. 5 release of feature documentary “The Sound of 007” on Amazon’s Prime Video, and didn’t hesitate to remind both Bond novices and grizzled veterans that the franchise is virtually synonymous with some of cinema’s most iconic tracks.

The concert — part of a cavalcade of events marking the British spy’s 60th anniversary on screen — was produced and overseen by five-time Bond composer David Arnold, who was front and centre the entire evening, shredding with Hans Zimmer on an electric guitar or belting out late Soundgarden frontman...

James Bond (Daniel Craig) prepares to shoot in

No Time To Die,

an Eon Productions and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios film

Credit: Nicola Dove

© 2020 Danjaq, LLC And MGM. All Rights Reserved. Prime Video has announced that 25 James Bond films will be available to stream in the U.S., U.K, and other key territories as part of the 60th anniversary celebration of the legendary film franchise. Prime Video also unveiled the official posters and trailers for the 60th anniversary celebration and for The Sound of 007, a Mat Whitecross-helmed feature documentary about the remarkable history of six decades of James Bond music that will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in 240 countries and territories worldwide. All 25 of the Bond franchise films and The Sound of 007 will be available October 5.

Additionally, following the live October 4 Eon Productions and David Arnold-created charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall, Prime Video will globally stream an...

Amazon’s Prime Video is celebrating cinema’s most iconic superspy with a James Bond 60th Anniversary event that will leave subscribers shaken and stirred. The party starts on October 5 with No Time to Die widely available to watch on the streaming platform alongside The Sound of 007, a feature documentary by Mat Whitecross focusing on six decades of music in the James Bond saga.

For a limited time, 25 Bond movies are hitting Amazon’s Prime Video for the James Bond 60th Anniversary presentation, including Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights, Licence to Kill, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day, Casino Royale,...

After closing an 8.45 billion deal last year to buy MGM, the longtime home of the James Bond franchise, Amazon has announced that 25 Bond films are heading to Prime Video in the U.S., UK and a few other territories.

The move is hailed as part of the franchise’s 60th anniversary.

Along with official posters and trailers, Prime Video also unveiled The Sound of 007, a Mat Whitecross-helmed feature documentary about the six-decade history of Bond music. The doc will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in 240 countries and territories worldwide. All 25 of the Bond franchise films and The Sound of 007 will be available October 5.

After the live Eon Productions and David Arnold-created charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall on October 4, Prime Video will globally stream an exclusive recording of the show. At the concert, guest vocalists and a host of stars will perform iconic Bond themes.

The 25 films...

James Bond fans will have plenty to feast on if they subscribe to Amazon’s Prime Video.

The streamer announced Thursday that 25 James Bond films — including the most recent installment, No Time to Die — will be available to watch on Oct. 5, along with The Sound of 007, a feature documentary from filmmaker Mat Whitecross about the six-decade history of music in the James Bond franchise. (No Time to Die is already streaming on Prime in certain markets.)

The 25 films coming to Prime Video in the U.S., U.K., Australia, India, Italy, Japan, Spain, Southeast Asia, Mexico and other regions of Latin America, excluding Brazil, for a limited time are Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me,...

At long last, all 25 James Bond films will be available for streaming in one place, with the entire 007 franchise officially landing on Amazon Prime Video starting next week on October 5.

For years due to various rights issues, the Bond movies were scattered across numerous disparate streaming services and never all in one place, with some — namely a couple of the Daniel Craig entries — being especially tricky to track down for streaming. As part of the 60th anniversary celebration for Bond, but also in no small part thanks to Amazon’s acquisition of MGM earlier this year, that’s finally changing, and Bond fans now have access to all the films as included with a Prime Video subscription.

However, Amazon specifies that the films will only be available “for a limited time,” and that includes subscribers in the U.S. but also the U.K., Australia, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico/Latin America (excluding Brazil), Spain,...

Near the beginning of what many consider to be the definitive James Bond movie, 1964’s Goldfinger, Sean Connery’s 007 reveals himself to be simultaneously roguish and antiquated. The moment occurs when his latest conquest affronts his snobbish tastes—dismissing something to do with champagne and refrigerators. He thus believes it’s his duty to explain, “My dear girl, there are some things that just aren’t done, such as drinking Dom Pérignon ’53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs.”

Bond might’ve been the coolest fictional character around at the time of that movie’s release, but his musical tastes were clearly not. Fortunately for the superspy, his producers at Eon Productions were rarely so old-fashioned.

Over the past 60 years and 25 James Bond pictures, the Bond franchise has become synonymous in its better years with evolving with the times.

This week, Hong Kong's famous Jumbo Floating Restaurant made international headlines when it capsized while being towed out to sea. The triple-decker barge, once considered the world's largest floating restaurant, had been moored in Aberdeen Harbour for almost fifty years. It closed in 2020 due to the pandemic but remained a recognizable city landmark — one that's appeared in several movies. Conflicting reports about whether it has already sunk or remains afloat have been supplemented by claims in major news outlets that it featured in the Bruce Lee film "Enter the Dragon" and the James Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun," starring Roger Moore.

The only problem with that...

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