Anticipation Builds Over 'Skyfall'

In its coverage of things to look forward to in 2012, the British media placed the new James Bond film 'Skyfall' high on its lists of eagerly anticipated movies.

The 'Daily Express (30 Dec), for example, proclaimed: 'Bond is Back! Half a century after Sean Connery first fired a quip in anger, the world's most conspicuous secret agent returns. We are promised lots of action and a plotline involving betrayal, loyalty and an M haunted by her past'. The paper aded: 'Sounds like the gritty muscularity of Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace will be maintained and fans wouldn't have it any other way. Daniel Craig is still licensed to thrill'.

The 23rd James Bond movie was also pointed to as a must-see movie by some of the UK's quality newspapers, such as the 'Independent' (30 Dec) , and the 'Guardian' (30 Dec). The 'Independent' newspaper noted: 'Casino Royale was a step forward for the Bond franchise - and Quantum of Solace arguably a step backward. Now, with Sam Mendes at the helm, the emphasis is likely to be firmly back on characterisation. This won't be 007 done Donmar Warehouse style but the gadgets and action set pieces are likely to sit alongside dialogue-driven sequences in which Daniel Craig's Bond won't just be wrestling with enemy agents but with his own inner demons'.

The 'Independent' (3 Jan) soon returned to the topic of 007; it greated the New Year with a list of 'Reasons to be Cheerful', pointing in its arts and culture list to the new James Bond movie coming later this year.

Meanwhile, interesting reports have emerged in Turkish newspapers that the 'Skyfall' production team will be going to Turkey this month (Jan). According to the Turkish 'Hurriyet Daily', for example, after preparations have been completed in January, the movie's main unit will then be shooting at the famous Varda Railway Bridge in February, 2012. The spectacular bridge is located in the Taurus Mountains in southern Turkey. It is thought the Turkish railway sequences will be based on the ones originally planned for India before shooting in that country was cancelled by Eon Productions.

'Skyfall' is released in the UK on 26 October, 2012.