New York TV and Movie Sites Tour

19 February 2011

New York City has been centre stage on the big screen since filming began and over the years has become the most filmed city in the world.  The New York TV and movie sites tour takes you round this exceptional city of stardom, stopping at all the most filmed places for your recollection of movies past and present.  You will be taken behind the scenes of once midtown and uptown Manhattan film sets, where you can relive the movie experience.

You can check out TV hotspots from famous shows like; The Sopranos, Sex and The City, Gossip Girl and films such as; Taxi Driver with Robert Di Nero and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  Go behind the scenes of popular shows such as; Ugly Betty, Law and Order and friends.  You can take a break at these classic TV hotspots with a coffee or bite to eat and picture the stars walking by in there acting roles.

The list of films for which this city has played host is endless with top blockbusters including; Ghostbusters, Spider-Man, I am Legend and the Devil Wears Prada.  All the sets from the different locations of Upper West Side, Columbus Circle, Central Park West and Upper East Side can be visited on the New York TV and movie sites tour, even off the beaten track locations don’t get left out of this fun packed adventure.

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The new James Bond Daniel Craig has proven himself

31 August 2008

English actor Daniel Wroughton Craig was born March 2, 1968 and Chester, England. He is the son of Olivia Williams, an art teacher, and Timothy John Wroughton Craig, who was a midshipman in the Merchant Navy, working in various capacities when he came ashore. His cousin is the novelist Joe Craig. Daniel was raised on the Wirral, Merseyside where his father was landlord of the Ring �O Bells and The Boot pubs.

He attended Hilbre High School and Calday Grange Grammar School in West Kirby. Craig also played for the Hoylake Rugby Club. He moved to London when he was sixteen, joining the National Youth Theatre after a brief stay at Calday.

Craig studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 1991, then going on to appear in several minor roles including Sharpe’s Eagle, and an episode of Drop The Dead Donkey. Our Friends in the North, a BBC Television serial, offered Craig his first leading role. He continued to work with the BBC, and starred in the 1997 Francis Bacon biopic Love is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon, playing Bacon’s lover George Dyer. Craig also played D.S. Andy McLoughlin in the TV drama The Ice House.

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A quick run down on George Lazenby as James Bond

24 August 2008

Australian actor George Robert Lazenby was born September 5, 1939 in Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia. Lanzenby worked as a salesman at a Morris Motor Company dealership in Canberra after leaving school early. He also worked as a ski instructor and won several skiing competitions. In an Australian band called The Corvettes, George played bass guitar.

He proudly served in the Australian Army Special Forces, reaching the rank of Sergeant, and becoming an unarmed combat instructor. In 1964, he moved to London, England to become a model, and then later landed a job as an advertizing actor. Lazenby’s time as a model made him the highest grossing male model in the world, earning over a million dollars after inflation. Lazenby may be recognizable to some from his job as the European Marlboro Man.

After working in television advertizing and an Italian B-movie, Lazenby’s first real acting role was as James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service in 1969. Lazenby was the second Bond, immediately following Connery whose portrayal of the character was always in question.

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Who is Timothy Dalton

07 August 2008

Born in Colwyn Bay, Wales, on March 21, 1946, Timothy Peter Dalton is a Welsh born English actor best known for playing the role of James Bond. He is the eldest of 5 children. His mother was American (the Bronx, New York) of English, Italian, and Irish decent, and his father was an English advertizing executive from Wales.

Dalton grew up in Manchester, England, and joined the National Youth Theatre for 3 summers after leaving school. Dalton also studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art for 2 years. In 1966, Dalton joined the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, where he played numerous leading roles.

In 1968, Dalton landed a role alongside Peter O’Toole and Anthony Hopkins, in the instant hit The Lion in Winter, where he played the King of France. This proved to be Dalton’s big break. Dalton then went on to follow Laurence Olivier as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights.

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Star Trek The Experience is Closing it's Doors

06 August 2008

A sad day sits on the horizon for many Trekkies. Space has never felt this empty. As the Hilton Hotel makes preparations to close down their Star Trek: The Experience site this coming autumn, loyal fans set their phasers to stun and prepare to wage war against the Borg-like fat-cats who decided that this exhibit isn’t popular enough to keep alive. As the stars slowly dim and fade away, Hilton execs are busy working on something to replace the exhibit.

The Experience is a blend of ship simulator, environment, museum, and gift ship/restaurant. It opened up 10 years ago, during the heyday of the Star Trek: The Next Generation movie series.

This exhibit gives fans a change to boldly explore a Trek time-line with a collection of various sci-fi vestiges. After purchasing a ticket that allows for unlimited rides for the day, customers are free to walk through a museum of Star Trek History. You can then explore displays for each of the major alien races from the show/movies, including the Borg, Klingons, and Ferengi.

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Casino by Martin Scorsese

31 July 2008

There’s something about watching a Martin Scorsese film that is just magical. Along with Robert De Niro, Scorsese has directed a few films, including Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and The King of Comedy, along with a few others.

In Martin’s 1995 instant-classic Casino, an ensemble cast gives a stellar performances and sum up what it was like to be part of the Las Vegas culture when the mob still had influence. Written and directed by Martin Scorsese, Casino stars Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods, and Don Rickles.

Somewhat based on a true story, Casino is the story of Sam Rothstein (De Niro), who is one of the best bookmakers from the old days, hand-picked and brought in to Vegas by the mob bosses. He is charged with running the Tangiers Casino. Sam is essentially forced to be a miracle worker.

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Sean Connery and his James Bond journey

24 July 2008

Sir Thomas Sean Connery was born August 25, 1930, in the Fountainbridge region of Edinburgh, Scotland. He grew up in an impoverished environment as the son of a truck driver. Connery left school and ultimately joined the Royal Navy.

After serving for a while, Connery has to be released to do medical issues with ulcers. He held many jobs before finding his calling. He’s worked as a laborer, lifeguard, a model, a lorry driver, and a coffin polisher. In 1953, Connery represented Scotland at the Mr. Universe Contest and took home 3rd place.

After his bodybuilding career, Connery landed a job in the chorus with the touring company of South Pacific, where he went on to start in various stage productions, and finally making a television debut in 1956.

Most know Connery as the quintessential James Bond, but upon his audition, Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond novels, described Connery as the anti-Bond, stating that Connery was nothing like the character he created. Despite Fleming’s opinions, Connery was cast as the first James Bond in Dr. No in 1962.

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A little story of a Bond called Roger Moore

19 July 2008

Sir Roger George Moore was born October 14, 1927, in Stockwell, south London, England. He is the son of a noted policeman. At the age of 15, Moore entered an art school with aspirations or becoming a painter, later becoming an apprentice at an animation studio.

In the mid 1940s, Moore appeared as an extra in crowd scenes in movies. Studying at the Royal Academy of Drama, Moore appeared in various plays in the West End, before ultimately being inducted into the British Army. He served in the rank of 2nd Lieutenant with a Combined Services Entertainment Unit in Germany near the end of WWII. Moore worked in theater, radio, television, and as a model after his military career ended.

In 1953, Moore went to the United States and landed a film contract with MGM. He would go on to act in several films. His biggest role was as the charming Simon Templar in the television series The Saint.

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Our top choices for the best 5 Bond girls

15 July 2008

Bond films are composed of a simple formula that has stood the test of time: Hero, villain, ridiculously sexy Bond girl. In fact, most men will tell you that the Bond girls are what make the movies worth watching to begin with.

Out of the dozens of Bond girls, the list has been narrowed down to 5. These buxom beauties really stood out on the screen, and will forever be known as the reason why guys want to be James Bond.

1 - Honey Ryder. Played by Ursula Andress, Honey Ryder is perhaps the most mysterious Bond girl. Like a scene from a dream, Bond awakes to find Honey dripping wet, coming directly from the sea wearing only a scantily clad bikini and a knife.

Adding to the mystique, she begins to sing "Underneath the Mango Tree" as Bond looks out at this gorgeous girl. At the time of Dr. No (1962), Honey Ryder was the first Bond girl.

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Biography of James Bond creator Ian Fleming

04 July 2008

Born in Mayfair, London, 1908, Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist, and World War II Navy Commander. Though, in popular culture, Fleming is best known for creating the James Bond character, chronicling his adventures in twelve novels and nine short stories.

Also accredited to Fleming are the children’s story, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and two other non-fiction books. Fleming died in 1964, but his timeless character James Bond continues to live on with numerous movies, the more recent movies being throwbacks to the first book, Casino Royale, and its sequel, Quantum of Solace.

Fleming was born to Valentine Fleming, a Member of Parliament, and his wife Evelyn Ste Croix Fleming. He was the younger brother of travel writer Peter Fleming and the older brother of Michael and Richard Fleming. Fleming was educated at Sunningdale School in Berkshire, Eton College, and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

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Top 5 James Bond Villains

27 June 2008

Throughout the history of cinema, few movies have had an impact quite like the James Bond series. 007’s legacy is unwavering, and even in 2008, the Bond character is kept alive by Daniel Craig. The universe loves symmetry and always finds a way to pit hero against villain as a way to even things out.

For every great James Bond mission, there has been an impressive villain there attempting to stop Her Majesty’s top agent from saving the day.

In no particular order, here are the top 5 James Bond villains of all time.

1 - Jaws. This 7-foot giant with the metal mouth was introduced first in The Spy Who Loved Me, and became an instant hit. The sheer size of this bad-guy made for an impressive showing on the silver screen. Able to chew through everything from bone to steel, Jaws was a worthy adversary for Bond, giving this super-spy all he could handle. Because of the popularity of Jaws, he made yet another appearance in Moonraker. But brawn did not prevail in the end. It was Jaws’ lack of brainpower which always left him defeated. In the end, Jaws found love and abandoned his life of crime.

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James Bond Plays the Casinos - The Top Five Scenes

18 June 2008

Although Casino Royale is an obvious clue that the movie will feature gambling, gambling scenes and James Bond’s predilection for the game of Baccarat, this James Bond movie is far from being the only movie that includes scenes of Bond enjoying one of his favorite pastimes.

The James Bond character reflects everything that is the ultimate gambler--coolness in the face of danger, calm when the opponents are obviously increasing to the boiling point, intelligent enough to know when to play a hand and how to make the best use of the hand he is dealt, and oozing with self-confidence.

Casino Royale was written by Ian Fleming, with the casino scene based on a visit to the Casino Estoril located in Lisbon. In history, the Casino in Portugal’s capital was a popular gathering place for German agents during World War II.

The novel and earlier versions of the movie have Bond playing Baccarat, but the signature movie capitalized on the increasing popularity of a game called Texas Holdem--a form of poker.

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Casino Monte Carlo and the Famous Casino Square

16 June 2008

The Casino Monte Carlo is built for and used by tourists only. In fact, citizens of Monaco are not allowed inside the gaming rooms of the facility. The royal family of Monaco can attend opera and ballet performances, but they do use an alternative entrance.

Other individuals must display a passport and pay the entrance fee before being allowed entrance to the building. Individuals wearing military uniforms are also prohibited from using the facilities of the casino. The casino is arguably the most famous of Monaco’s tourist draws.

The casino complex includes more than just the gambling facility. The Grand Th��tre de Monte Carlo is situated in the complex, as well as the opera and ballet house. The gardens behind the casino offer a glimpse of Bordighera in Italy.

The theater was not part of the original facility, but was added in 1910. The Ballets de Monte Carlo headquarters is also located in the complex. The entire facility is part of the Monte Carlo quarter.

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A special preview of Quantum of Solace

21 May 2008

Quantum of Solace, the 22nd spy film in the James Bond catalog, is due for release in the United Kingdom on October 31st, 2008. It is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Casino Royale, in which Bond, played flawlessly by Daniel Craig, had to infiltrate a high-stakes poker game to apprehend a world-renowned terrorist.

Casino Royale won critics over partly by telling the story of how James Bond became 007. Through numerous bond films and multiple characters playing the role, viewers of the series were never granted access into Bond’s personal love life. Though there had always been the evident Bond-girl, there was never a story about why James Bond never fell in love. In Casino Royale, the viewers see that Bond was betrayed and turned cold-hearted by his girlfriend, Vesper Lynd, played by Eva Green.

This sequel delves deeper into Bond’s beginnings as a super-agent. After his initial break from love in the first film, Quantum of Solace picks up exactly one hour after the first ended. Bond is colder in this film and seems to have a taste for revenge.

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