Exploring the "The Sound of 007"

One of the most distinctive aspects of the James Bond films, aside from the spectacular stunts, exotic locales, beautiful women and of course, the different actors portraying Bond, is the music. The title songs and musical scores for the 007 series are often as memorable as the films themselves. Artists like Shirley Bassey, Paul McCartney & Wings, Chris Cornell and Adele have all contributed title songs to the series, and composers like John Barry, Marvin Hamlisch and David Arnold have composed scores to the movies. A new documentary, The Sound of 007, currently streaming on Amazon Prime, explores the history of 007 music through a series of new and archival interviews with Barry, Hamlisch, current Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, and artists like Billie Eilish, Tina Turner and Jack White.

The film is a comprehensive look at the history of music in the Bond franchise throughout its 60 year history, beginning with Dr. No (1962), the first entry in the series, right up until the most recent film, No Time To Die (2021). Along the way, there are insightful interviews and comments about the creation of the music for the films, including the now iconic 007 Theme. There are also some cool behind the scenes stories about the creation of the title songs in the Bond saga, including Goldfinger, Thunderball and Diamonds are Forever. Since the film was produced around the time of No Time To Die's release, there's a significant amount of behind the scenes coverage for the recording of the title tune for that film, and its score by Hans Zimmer, as well as a look at the songs for the rest of Daniel Craig's tenure as Bond. 

The James Bond franchise has been around for six decades now, and interesting to see how the films (and their music), have adapted to the changes in musical styles throughout the years. The Sound of 007 also includes some fantastic performance clips of artists like Shirley Bassey, Louis Armstrong and Paul McCartney performing their classic Bond theme songs. There are some title songs that are given surprisingly brief coverage, like Sheena Easton's "For Your Eyes Only," but with 60 years of Bond music to explore, it's understandable that some songs might get a bit less focus. The documentary does not cover the "unofficial" Bond films, the 1967 spoof Casino Royale, or Sean Connery's return to the role in 1983's Never Say Never Again, neither of which was released by Eon Productions, the producers of the official Bond series.

The Sound of 007 is a fascinating and insightful look behind the scenes of one of the most enduring series in cinema history. What you will discover while watching this engrossing documentary is just how integral the music is to the character of James Bond, and how it absolutely helps to define his onscreen persona. And you'll hear some great stories about some of the most enduring and memorable film music of the last six decades. The film, directed by Mat Whitecross, is a must see for 007 fans. There's a companion program, also streaming on Amazon Prime, The Sound of 007: Live From The Royal Albert Hall, featuring artists like Shirley Bassey and Paloma Faith performing some of the theme songs from the films in the series. The Sound of 007 is now available for viewing on Amazon Prime. Here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcs5icPCTnI.

Opening Up Guillermo Del Toro's "Cabinet"

Guillermo Del Toro (photo courtesy of Netflix)

Writer-director Guillermo Del Toro has enthralled us throughout his career with beautifully crafted films such as The Devil’s Backbone, Pan’s Labryinth, Crimson Peak, The Shape of Water and Nightmare Alley. His movies are deeply infused with his love for cinematic and literary genres like fantasy, horror and noir, and he often pays tribute to the artists who have strongly influenced his work, like directors Mario Bava and Alfred Hitchcock. For his Netflix series, Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities, Del Toro takes a step back, acting as producer and host for an anthology of horror tales by eight acclaimed filmmakers including Catherine Hardwicke and Jennifer Kent. Del Toro introduces the episodes, a la Rod Serling, but Cabinet of Curiosities has more in common with Serling's 1970s horror-centric Night Gallery (a Del Toro favorite) than the fantasy-oriented The Twilight Zone.

The series runs the gamut from eccentric outings like director and co-writer Panos (Mandy) Cosmatos' visually striking "The Viewing" featuring Peter Weller, to the more visceral horrors of Keith Thomas' "Pickman's Model" starring Crispin Glover, one of two H.P. Lovecraft adaptations in the series, along with Catherine Hardwicke's version of "Dreams In The Witch House," with Rupert Grint. "Pickman's Model" was adapted for Night Gallery in 1971, directed by Jack Laird, while "Dreams In The Witch House" was previously filmed as a 2005 episode of Showtime's Masters of Horror by Stuart (Re-Animator) Gordon. There's also the satirical "The Outside," directed by Ana Lily Amirpour, who also helmed the offbeat vampire film A Girl Walks Home At Night. "The Outside" stars Kate Micucci as a bright young woman who becomes obsessed with looking more like her attractive but empty-headed co-workers, and uses a new beauty product with unexpected side effects.

The unsettling tales featured in Cabinet of Curiosities are somewhat bloody in nature, and there's quite a bit of dark humor in evidence as well, in the vein of Creepshow and the Tales From The Crypt television show, which is no surprise, since the original horror comics that influenced those projects are among Del Toro's own inspirations for the series. Cabinet of Curiosities also includes adaptations of two short stories by Del Toro; the creepy storage unit centered supernatural thriller "Lot 36" starring Tim Blake Nelson, and the ghost story "The Murmuring" directed by Jennifer Kent, who also made the excellent The Babadook. "The Murmuring" features Essie Davis, one of the stars of that compelling 2014 film, along with Andrew Lincoln of The Walking Dead. Both actors are excellent in this eerie tale of a very personal haunting.

Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities will have major appeal for longtime horror fans. There's much to relish and enjoy in these eight films from a group of wonderful filmmakers, which truly celebrate the many shadings and variations of the horror genre. Each episode is truly centered in the personal style of its director, but these episodes also bear the influence of Del Toro as a guiding force. Cabinet of Curiosities comes across as a truly collaborative project, and a labor of love for everyone involved. Here's hoping the network will green light a second season of the series. Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities is currently streaming on Netflix. Here's a look at the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3E1URhCR60.

Never Surrender: The Story of Galaxy Quest

A group of actors from a beloved science-fiction television series make ends meet by appearing at sci-fi conventions. Some of the cast members are a little fed up with continually celebrating their long-ago cancelled series, while others get a charge out of the adulation of their adoring fans. Sound a little familiar? If you're thinking this sounds a lot like Star Trek, you're not too far off the mark. Galaxy Quest (1999), an entertaining science-fiction adventure film, takes the concept one step further. What if a group of actual aliens viewed transmissions of the television series Galaxy Quest, and think they're watching real-life adventures? These aliens want the heroic crew to help them defeat an interstellar villain threatening their race with extinction.

Galaxy Quest is a funny, action-filled and often touching tale that's become something of a cult classic in the years since its original release. While the movie resonates strongly with Star Trek fans, it's also garnered its own group of devoted followers, who celebrate the film's clever allusions to science-fiction fandom. Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary (2019), takes an in-depth look at the making of the movie, and features interviews with the cast and crew, including actors Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Enrico Colantoni, and Sam Rockwell, director Dean Parisot, screenwriter Robert Gordon, and producer Mark Johnson.

The making of Galaxy Quest is covered in detail, from early script concepts to the film's eventual release. The documentary features some fascinating stories about the production, including the fact that Harold Ramis was originally going to direct the film, which at the time was set to be even more brash and comedic in tone. There's also intriguing information and behind the scenes details regarding the film's casting, music and special effects. The cast and crew are quite candid about DreamWorks Pictures, whose post-production mandate was that the producers should tone down some of the film's language and content, thus making it more family friendly.

In addition to the comments from the cast and crew, there are some delightful interviews with famous fans of the film, such as Trek cast members Brent Spiner and Will Wheaton, and writer-producers Damon Lindelof (Lost) and Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash). Many fans consider Galaxy Quest to be a sort of honorary Star Trek film, and in fact it's been voted "one of the best Trek movies" as part of many online fan surveys and polls. Several of the interviewees note that Galaxy Quest predates the explosion of "comic book, sci-fi and nerd culture" that now sees comic book and sci-fi films and television series appealing to a much wider audience. In a way, the movie really was ahead of its time.

Never Surrender also follows a group of Galaxy Quest fans who are attending a convention, and are participating in cosplay as the film's characters. They talk about their love for the film, and what its characters and themes have meant to them. Their heartfelt comments help to bring this delightful documentary full circle. Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary (2019), is a loving and insightful tribute to a movie that has become a true cult favorite for science-fiction fans. Never Surrender is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime, and is well worth your time. As a bonus, you'll get to see Brent Spiner's terrific Patrick Stewart impression! Here's a link to the film's trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39cVvN28UXE.