Die Another Day (2002)

The High Life Gustav Graves article, transcribed below

Gustav Graves: King of Diamonds

On his flight back to London in Die Another Day (2002), James Bond reads the Gustav Graves cover article of the in-flight British Airways magazine High Life. Check out the transcript of the rather neat article below the pictures and after the jump. It details some interesting facts about Graves’ life.

James Bond's British Airways flight in Die Another Day (2002)

James Bond’s British Airways flight in Die Another Day (2002)

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) is served a vodka martini by a flight attendant (Sir Roger Moore's daughter Deborah Moore) in Die Another Day (2002)

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) is served a vodka martini by a flight attendant (Sir Roger Moore’s daughter Deborah Moore) in Die Another Day (2002)

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) checks out High Life Magazine in Die Another Day (2002)

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) checks out High Life Magazine in Die Another Day (2002)

The High Life Gustav Graves article, transcribed below

The High Life Gustav Graves article, transcribed below

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Halle Berry as Jinx in Die Another Day (2002) and Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

Jinx sounds like Jar Jar Binks

Halle Berry as Jinx in Die Another Day (2002) and Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

Halle Berry as Jinx in Die Another Day (2002) and Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

Coincidence? I think not.

Pierce Brosnan hilariously distracts security guards at the gene therapy clinic in Die Another Day (2002)

Quite the Distraction

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) hilariously distracts security guards at the gene therapy clinic in Die Another Day (2002)

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) hilariously distracts security guards at the gene therapy clinic in Die Another Day (2002)

I laughed in the theater when I first saw this! Hilarious!

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) with his virtual reality training exercise glasses in Die Another Day (2002)

Check the replay

This training scene from Die Another Day (2002) was pretty sweet. Not often do we get insight into 007’s training regimen, but here the audience is immersed in it perfectly. I remember thinking this was a dream sequence when I saw it in the theater, and aside from the jarring image of a dead Moneypenny at her desk with a gunshot wound to the head, I knew it was a farce when Bond’s bullet hit M’s hostage-taker’s arm and did no damage.

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Rick Yune as Zao in Die Another Day (2002)

#DiamondZits

Rick Yune as Zao in Die Another Day (2002)Rick Yune as Zao in Die Another Day (2002)

The #DiamondZits hashtag is all the rage… 🙂

Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in Die Another Day

Cowabunga Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in Die Another Day

Die Another Day (2002) - Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens) King of Diamonds

King of Diamonds

Like all James Bond movies I see in the theater (save No Time To Die, of course), I walked out of my first viewing of Die Another Day amped up and declared it the best James Bond movie of all time. I was excited to see it again! And although DAD’s luster surely faded with subsequent viewings and definitely over the years compared to the other movies, as always, there are some bright spots in the movie. Gustav Graves’ introduction is one of them.

As Bond jets to the UK and is served a first-class vodka martini (by Roger Moore’s real-life daughter, FYI) and the Clash’s “London Calling” blares, we are thrust into the ostentatiousness that is the villain, Gustav Graves. Although the movie decays with subsequent revelations of his DNA-altered identity as Colonel Moon, poor acting by Halle Berry and many eyeroll moments, Graves’ intro scene feels like its from a different caliber Bond movie. His entrance (the Union Jack parachute an obvious nod to The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)) and cocky demeanor are spot on for a megalomaniacal Bond villain, and comes off as suave and in control, but definitely annoying and not self-aware. These days, I can’t help but see a bit of Elon Musk in Gustav Graves, unfortunately.

Die Another Day (2002) - Gustav Graves (Toby Stephens) King of Diamonds

Yes, the weekend!

jinx

My favorite shot of Pierce as Bond

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) swaps hands with his Walther P99 in Die Another Day (2002)

Average Firearm Handling

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) swaps hands with his Walther P99 in Die Another Day (2002)

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) swaps hands with his Walther P99 in Die Another Day (2002)