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Bond Bonanza Bond films have always been full of fantastic cars, clothes and locations. But the bar has been raised extra high for Die Another Day. After a few years of less-than-creative Bond entertainment, the franchise picked up again when Pierce Brosnan signed on as agent 007, and the films have been getting progressively better. The next installment, Die Another Day, is one of the most anticipated ever. In addition to Brosnan, Oscar-winner Halle Berry stars as the slinky, sexy Jinx. Madonna has a cameo as a fencing instructor and is singing the title song. New British stunner Rosamund Pike is Bond's blonde excursion. And there are plenty of other extras. Here's a Movielife breakdown of what's in store. The Location The Location In his 40-year career, James Bond has traversed through far-reaching locales like Egypt, Thailand, Istanbul, Vietnam and Guatemala. In Die Another Day, he hits a few of the hottest travel locations of the moment--Iceland, Cuba and Korea. Iceland is no longer known just for its fjords and waterfalls, or as Bjoerk's homeland. Its capital, Reykjavik, is considered the Ibiza of northern Europe, with some of the hottest nightclubs around. And though Cuba is still an illegal destination for nearly all Americans, an increasing number of U.S. citizens have been sneaking in via the Caribbean to enjoy the pristine beaches, world-class colonial-style hotels and amazing architecture. Parts of Die Another Day take place in communist North Korea, but South Korea has become Asia's hottest travel spot these days, and the country is still riding the boost it experienced as cohost of this year's World Cup. Shopping is a favored pastime, with high-end boutiques that give Rodeo Drive a run for its money, plus open-air markets for just about everything else. Skyscrapers pop up among the ancient temples, and for nighttime fun, there are "booking clubs," where waiters act as matchmakers between the male and female patrons. --Anna Lisa Raya |
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The Cars Though BMW scored the product placement coup of the century when they premiered their Z3 roadster in the smash 1995 hit GoldenEye, they also suffered from a backlash delivered by the British press, which considered James Bond--"the epitome of all things British"--driving a German sports car to be an infuriating prospect. Mincing no words, the London Times said that Ian Fleming's superspy had "turned traitor." It goes without saying that people think the cars in Bond movies are a big deal. Since 1964's Goldfinger, when Desmond Llewelyn issued Sean Connery a stately Aston Martin DB5 with an ejector seat and rear oil slick cannon, tricked-out autos have been as expected a feature in Bond films as double entendres and tuxedos. Roger Moore used an AMC Hornet to pull off a barrel roll in The Man With the Golden Gun, while Pierce Brosnan navigated his BMW 750i by cell phone in Tomorrow Never Dies. This month's Die Another Day finds Halle Berry behind the wheel of a splashy Ford Thunderbird, while Rick Yune and Brosnan duke it out across a frozen lake in a Jaguar XKR convertible and Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, respectively. Ford Motor Company, which manufactures the Thunderbird, XKR and Vanquish, has big plans to translate Die Another Day's celluloid thrills into real-world excitement. It's hand-assembling 500 of the $228,000 Vanquish coupes for sale around the world (there's already a long waiting list), as well as manufacturing 700 James Bond edition Ford Thunderbirds, complete with "007" insignias on the instrument panel and floor mats, for release in 2003. --Daniel Davis |
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The Clothes Costume designer Lindy Hemming had more than a little fun with Die Another Day, her fourth Bond film. In addition to handpicking fabrics at the Brioni factory for Pierce Brosnan's suits and tux, Hemming was also responsible for the orange bikini Halle Berry wears in her homage to Ursula Andress from Dr. No. "I chose the color and the fabric and then got in touch with La Perla," Hemming says. Berry's Cuban character, Jinx, wears an assortment of brightly colored dresses and leather ensembles, which were either designed by Hemming herself, or by Donatella Versace, who contributed several sexy getups, including a fierce black leather suit and a stunning evening dress with rhinestone straps in the back. For Rosamund Pike's icy cold character, Miranda Frost, Hemming used a combination of her own designs (such as the beautiful beaded gown, pictured above), as well as Giorgio Armani suits and tailored pieces. "Everything was about keeping her very crystal and cool; the color scheme was all icy blues and pale grays," Hemming says. Several mainstream labels such as Escada and Fendi were mixed in with English designers like Amanda Wakely and Witaker & Malem, a high-end leather goods company that made all of Berry's belts and several pieces for Madonna's special appearance. And because diamonds are a Bond girl's best friend, all the jewelry was provided by Tiffany & Co. --Anna Lisa Raya |