The film, which features the Algerian Love Knot in several scenes, was not as well received as it’s foreunner, Casino Royale, but despite that the DVD release is expected to be huge.

Unfortunately the alternate ending that director Marc Forster previously mentioned is not included as an additional feature, no doubt James Bond fans will be double dipped with a re-release that includes that in the next 18 months or so.

The story goes on to explain that a permanent exhibition in Bregenz will open on 20 March with free entry to visitors. The museum will feature props used on location and pictures and fact sheets to take visitors behind the scenes.

Read the full article in Time.

Corgi James Bond range

Price: from £4.99 for individual models to £30 for boxed sets

From: retailers of distinction or www.corgi.co.uk (first models on sale in April)

When it hit multiplex screens last year, Quantum of Solace became the first Bond movie whose release was not commemorated by an associated Corgi model… but that omission is about to be rectified. Hornby, which purchased Corgi in 2008, has just secured a deal to produce licensed Bond goods and a flood of collectible vehicles is scheduled to follow.

As well as established classics such as the Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5 and the (non-amphibious) Lotus Esprit Turbo from For Your Eyes Only (available as individual, 1/36-scale models, for £13.99), there will be a range of themed collections pertaining to the various different Bonds. These include a Daniel Craig set (on sale in May, price £30) with the Aston Martin DBS models that featured in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.

The game’s Bond…

Recommended: Sean Connery; Sunbeam Alpine; Aston Martin DB5; Ford Mustang Mach 1; throwing Robert Shaw out of train windows.

Not recommended: Roger Moore; alligators (slightly less dangerous than Rosa Klebb, but undesirable nonetheless).

Read entire article

Thermal underwear, including a style of vest Bella di Notte provided for actress Olga Kurylenko in Quantum of Solace, has been in demand, resulting in sales increasing by a third for the North Yorkshire firm.

And although the celebrity endorsement has been partly accounted for the rise, the firm’s founder, Susan Johnson, who last year won Government praise for the company’s attitude to flexible working for mothers, also put a 35 per cent increase in sales of its thermal lines down to the harsh winter.

Ms Johnson said: “In this continuing cold weather, customers are wearing vests every day, rather than just once or twice over the winter.

“There is a definite move to warmer styles, such as long sleeves and long johns.

“The fact that women can keep warm and look glamorous is the key reason our sales are going so well.

“Our Italian suppliers have suspended production of our spring collection to make more thermals for us.”

She said that the Bond vest had also contributed to sales.

“We provided 40 pieces for the film, because she wears one vest on top of the other and there were a lot of action scenes and rolling on the floor,”

said Mrs Johnson.

“We are really delighted, and relieved, in this economic situation that things are working for us. There has been a lot of fear in the economy with people scared to spend money, so it has been a relief the weather has brought such good business,” Ms Johnson added.

Ms Johnson, who has two children under five, employs 16 people at her shop and offices in Helmsley.

She was praised by Deputy Minister for Women and Equalities Barbara Follett as an example for offering flexible contracts.

Fourteen of her staff are working mums, 11 of whom are on flexible contracts.

She drew up the contracts to enable them to balance quality jobs with home and family life.

Ms Johnson, who started the mail order company with a Prince’s Trust loan ten years ago, designs the majority of the lingerie for the company, which has a turnover of £2m.

• Another Way to Die Music Video
• Theatrical Trailers
• Bond on Location – 24 minute special feature
• Start of Shooting
• On Location
• Olga Kurylenko and the Boat Chase
• Director Marc Forster
• The Music
• Crew Files

The release date is March 23rd in the UK and the following day in the US, while Australia is the first territory to receive the release, on the 18th.

Pre-order from Amazon.co.uk

Pre-order from Amazon.com

Daniel Craig returns as James Bond in this thrilling, action-packed adventure which starts shortly after Casino Royale ends. Betrayed by the woman he loved, 007 fights the urge to make his latest mission personal. On a nonstop quest for justice that criss-crosses the globe, Bond meets the beautiful but feisty Camille (Olga Kurylenko), who leads him to Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric), a ruthless businessman and major force within the mysterious “Quantum” organization. When Bond uncovers a conspiracy to take control of one of the world’s most important natural resources, he must navigate a minefield of treachery, deception and murder to neutralize “Quantum” before it’s too late!

The 22nd film in the James Bond franchise, QUANTUM OF SOLACE features many familiar faces from 2006’s Casino Royale including Academy Award®* winner Dame Judi Dench as Bond’s closest confidant, M, Giancarlo Giannini as René Mathis and Jeffrey Wright as Felix Leiter. The Blu-ray Disc and two-disc special edition DVD contains special features including behind-the-scenes featurettes, crew files, plus a music video for “Another Way to Die” featuring Jack White and Alicia Keys.

*1999; Best Actress in a Supporting Role; Shakespeare in Love

Packshots for Blu-ray and DVD to follow.

Two-Disc Special Edition Special Features:

- “Bond on Location” 24-minute special feature
- Music Video – Jack White & Alicia Keys – Another Way to Die
- 5 Featurettes

• Start of Shooting
• On Location
• Olga Kurylenko and the Boat Chase
• Director Marc Forster
• The Music

- Crew Files
- Trailers

Blu-ray DVD Special Features:
Includes all of the above two-disc special edition content in spectacular hi-definition.

The second Bond film starring Daniel Craig and first to be released by MGM has release dates in other countries literally all over the map. The dates shake out as follows: Australia (March 18), UK (March 23), Netherlands (March 25), Sweeden (March 25), Spain (March 25), Italy (March 25), Italy (March 26), Germany (March 27), Mexico (March 27), Switzerland (March/May), France (May 13), Japan (June 16), Brazil (June 24 retail, March 23 rental).

If you recall, Quantum of Solace arrived in France theatrically weeks ahead of its North American debut. Funny how the tables turn for the home video release.

Blu-ray specs for Quantum of Solace include a widescreen 1080p transfer and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio.

MGM is not including a single Blu-ray exclusive bonus feature but is presenting every extras in high definition.

* Another Way to Die Music Video (HD)
* Theatrical Trailers (HD)
* Bond on Location: 24-minute special feature (HD)
* Start of Shooting (HD)
* On Location (HD)
* Olga Kurylenko and the Boat Chase (HD)
* Director Marc Forster (HD)
* The Music (HD)
* Crew Files (HD)

Quantum of Solace co-stars Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton as Bond girls. Both have appeared on Blu-ray Disc already. To see which films and to rate these actresses, click their names in the disc details below.

We’ll have high resolution cover art and Amazon pre-order pricing to share in the near future. With a retail price of $39.99, expect Amazon pricing to be around $28.

Total revenues for the cinema chain were up by 4.4 per cent, with additional retail revenues up 2.2 per cent.

The company is looking forward to 2009, believing that many big-name releases – including Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – will allow for continued growth.

The chain’s share of the box office in the UK and Ireland dropped slightly last year from 23.7 per cent to 23.3 per cent.

In the new James Bond film “Quantum of Solace,” all the usual Bond elements are in place. There are many action scenes, an evil villain, a beautiful woman, 007 — played by British actor Daniel Craig — and 007’s wheels — played by British sports car Aston Martin.

“And if there was not an Aston Martin in ‘James Bond,’ the public would respond to that and say, ‘Where’s the Aston Martin?’ ” said Josh Hancock, an expert in movie cars.

Unlike in other Bond films, the $250,000 Aston Martin DBS in “Quantum” doesn’t show off any special gadgetry. However, it does show off its 12-cylinder performance in a high-speed chase.

“It does the deed,” said Hancock. “It’s like Daniel Craig. He’s a guy who looks like James Bond. This car is James Bond’s car.”

Bond driving Aston Martins onscreen goes way back to 1964, when Sean Connery turned the previously obscure DB5 into one of the most famous cars in the world.

That car also got a much bigger role than the Aston of today.

“The car was very much involved in the plot of the film. The fact that they put gadgets in the car that you see in the beginning … and then you see them play out one-by-one. I kind of miss that,” said Hancock.

To many fans, the James Bond franchise and Aston Martin really go together. “Quantum of Solace” marks the eighth time we’ve seen an Aston in a 007 film. But lately, the British brand has expanded its reach beyond just big-screen secret agents. The car earned small-screen credits with a desperate housewife. The elegant DB9 Volante was almost a fashion accessory for the stylish Gabrielle, played by Eva Longoria on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives.”

“With the Aston, they were doing poorly and then they did really well and he gave it to her as a gift. And it’s something that’s brought up in the script that she doesn’t want to let go,” said Hancock.

But for fans of Aston Martins and 007, the new DBS — or any other Aston — will always be associated with Bond … James Bond.