Bond, James Bond: 8 Actors Who Played 007, From Past To Present

Bond, James Bond: 8 Actors Who Played 007, From Past To Present

When Ian Fleming created the character of James Bond in his 1953 novel Casino Royale, he probably never imagined that it would start a media franchise that would not only outlive him, but also span more than 50 years of action. With countless books, 24 films, and other adaptations and depictions having taken place, there's certainly a lot of Bond to go around for anyone who wants it.

But those who have most indelibly ingrained the character on our minds are, of course, those who got to play the character on film, and for one brief instance on television. Those eight actors are the historic watermarks for James Bond's longevity on the screen, and without their contributions, the series just might not be the behemoth that it has evolved into. Who are the people who have played James Bond over the years? Let's catch up on them all.

Barry Nelson

Year(s) Active: 1954

Number Of Films: 1

Believe it or not, James Bond began his journey to the silver screen as a live TV adaptation for the hit show Climax! Adapting the first book in the series, Casino Royale, writers Charles Bennett and Anthony Ellis made a rather interesting change to the source material in order for Barry Nelson to star as 007 himself. Which is why this is the only version you'll see with an American James Bond, and a British Felix Leiter. All other versions after this would revert Bond back to being a renowned super spy for MI6, but in the Climax! version, he works for the Combined Intelligence Agency.

Sean Connery

Year(s) Active: 1962 – 1967, 1971, 1983

Number Of Films: 7

Probably the most iconic James Bond to ever hit the screen, Sean Connery is the person that everyone thinks of when you say the words, “Bond, James Bond.” While Ian Fleming initially doubted the casting, his successful debut in 1962's Dr. No not only won the author over to his side, it also caused him to write the character closer to the actor's own background in subsequent novels. But while he's one of the most iconic actors to have played the role, he's also one of the most complicated actors to have taken the role.

This is because of the fact that while he had a straight five year run as the character, from 1962 to 1967, he was lured back twice after that golden age to reprise the character. One of those performances, 1983's Never Say Never Again, is counted as an unofficial James Bond film; considering it was made outside of the EON Productions canon, and is a remake of Thunderball, driven by the film's original creator, Kevin McClory. Save for a video game voice-over role in an adaptation of From Russia With Love, that was the last time Connery ever donned the tuxedo – and it's still a source of debate between Bond fans who love it or hate it.

David Niven

Year(s) Active: 1967

Number Of Films: 1

Whenever David Niven enters a conversation on film, the James Bond series is something folks wouldn't be likely to cite as part of his resume. And yet, when Columbia bought the rights to turn Casino Royale into a comedy send-up of the still young 007 franchise, he was indeed the man they chose to play the O.G. James Bond. The second of the non-EON Productions films that is argued to either be canon or not, it took an interesting approach to the character that saw Niven being the classiest, most atypical Bond of all.

In the 1967 spoof, MI6 decides to name several agents James Bond, complete with the 007 designation. Their reasoning? Because it'll confuse the enemy. And the one to train all of them is Niven's Sir James Bond, who doesn't do fancy gadgets or womanizing, but instead is a stiff upper lip type who knows his craft. The film remains an oddity for Bond fans to discuss, and while co-stars like Peter Sellers and Woody Allen technically had the Bond name as covers, David Niven was the only one to really be James Bond.

George Lazenby

Year(s) Active: 1969

Number Of Films: 1

A first time actor and Australian model, George Lazenby was the man selected to take on the role of James Bond after Sean Connery had first bowed out of the role after 1967's You Only Live Twice. His one, and only, turn in the role was in the 1969 format breaker On Her Majesty's Secret Service. It's a format breaker for two key components: there's only one, big gadget used in the entire film, and Bond ends up having a female partner / love interest.

While he was considering returning for The Man With The Golden Gun, back when it was slated to be the next film in line, Lazenby eventually vacated the role, triggering Connery's first return to the role. Apparently, the production of On Her Majesty's Secret Service was so disheartening for George Lazenby, as he felt the creative forces mistreated him and he had grudges with two of his co-stars. Though after this slight bump in the road, the James Bond franchise would experience its most stable period yet.

Roger Moore

Year(s) Active: 1973 - 1985

Number Of Films: 7

Thanks to his work on a rather Bond-esque television adaptation of Leslie Charteris' The Saint, Roger Moore was eventually cast as the fifth actor to take on the role of 007. Starting in 1973's Live and Let Die, the actor would set a record for official installments played by a single actor, as he racked up seven films by time 1985's A View To A Kill hit theaters. Though if you were to ever discuss his tenure with die-hard Bond fans, you'll hear some of the same criticisms come up over and over again.

Between the more joke-laden tone that the Moore films took, and the fact that Roger Moore might have been wise to retire while he could still do most of his stunt work, you'll get some people labeling him as the worst James Bond of the lot. But it's hard to deny that he did possess the charm that the role requires, and when allowed by the material he was given, was able to lend an air of gravitas in moments that truly counted.

Timothy Dalton

Year(s) Active: 1987 - 1989

Number Of Films: 2

When On Her Majesty's Secret Service was trying to cast the role of James Bond, one particular actor was considered but eventually deemed too young for the role. That man was none other than Timothy Dalton, a classically trained actor who was eventually given another chance when someone with a very similar situation had to back out when casting 1987's The Living Daylights. Naturally, the role went to Dalton, and the rest was rather interesting history.

Known as a super serious Bond, Dalton only made two very experimental appearances as the character, with 1989's License To Kill being his swan song. In both films, 007 ditched the Moore era's tone of winks and smiles, and instead delved more into Ian Fleming's original intent for the character to be a noir-ish hard case. Even the trademark womanizing was toned down, as Bond focused more on his job and less on the ladies surrounding him on both occasions. He would never get to reprise the role, as legal troubles for the series would delay production on his proposed third film so long, his contract had expired and not been brought up for renewal.

Pierce Brosnan

Year(s) Active: 1995 - 2002

Number Of Films: 4

After legal troubles, and the end of the Cold War took place in the gap between License To Kill and 1995's Goldeneye, the storied franchise of 007's exploits was going to need a pretty severe revamp. And who better to lead the way than another actor who was previously approached for the role, but had to pass. We could have had a version of The Living Daylights starring Pierce Brosnan, but you can thank contractual obligations with NBC's hit TV show Remington Steele from letting that happen. But as history has shown us, sometimes losing the role once means it just wasn't your time.

With one foot in the wittier side of the pool that Roger Moore's films occupied, and the other in Sean Connery's era of a killer edge, Brosnan's tenure in the role was a mixed, but exciting bag. Starting off with the very serious Goldeneye, but finishing with the very silly Die Another Day, the Pierce Brosnan era also brought another pleasant surprise – his first female boss. Through four films together, Brosnan and Dame Judi Dench gave the flagging series a more contemporary update, which also saw its lead surprisingly replaced with very little notice. While his last film would celebrate 40 years and 20 films in the James Bond canon, change was once again in the air.

Daniel Craig

Year(s) Active: 2006 - 2020

Number Of Films: 4 (to date)

Enter the most recent cast change, and our current era of Bond history – the age of Daniel Craig. In a casting contest that had the likes of Clive Owen and Henry Cavill competing for the role, Craig won out when it came to the role of England's premiere covert operative. And it was at a moment that the series really needed a strong hand, as 2006's Casino Royale was announced as not only the 21st James Bond film, but also a reboot to the character's first assignment as a 00-agent.

Like a brick through a plate glass window, the film was the smash that revitalized the series that has now been operating into its fifth decade of film history. Craig brought back the edge of Timothy Dalton and the vulnerability of George Lazenby, and the charm of Sean Connery, into a cocktail that would serve Craig, and his audience, very well in the years that followed. While he was originally deemed by fans as unfit for the role, most memorably after being labeled as “James Blonde,” it didn't take long for him to convince the world that he was one of the best Bonds to have come along in some time.

While Quantum of Solace and Spectre have been seen as slight dips in quality, Skyfall delivered a 50th birthday present that only guaranteed that James Bond would be returning for some time to come. And as Bond 25 serves as Daniel Craig's rumored final entry as 007, the page will now turn for a new era of Bond history. Who will occupy the role next is left to be discovered. If we've learned anything from this re-examination of history, it's that whoever fills the tuxedo next will probably be an unexpected surprise, but one worth sticking around for.

Salma Hayek Is Sporting A New Chest Tattoo For The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard

Salma Hayek Is Sporting A New Chest Tattoo For The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard

We’ve known for a while now that Salma Hayek would be returning to The Hitman’s Bodyguard universe for the impending sequel, and this week the actress gave us a fun glimpse at her character in the new movie, Sonia Kincaid. But we don’t just get to see the actress; instead, we also get a look at her tattoo for the movie.

Lest you think this were Salma Hayek’s personal tattoo, the actress makes it very clear in her “sneak peek” at the new look that this isn’t her own body adornment.

There are a few locations on a woman’s body where she would be able to hide a secret tattoo, but for The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, it’s going directly on her breast. The tattoo belonging to her character Sonia Kincaid looks to be a bird of prey.

The image has been exceedingly popular on Instagram, where it has racked up more than 354 thousand likes.

In the 2017 movie, Salma Hayek also played Sonia Kincaid, who happens to be the wife of Samuel L. Jackson’s Darius Kincaid. Sonia is a major catalyst in the first movie, as Darius only agrees to testify as part of a deal that will allow his wife to be released from prison. She ultimately -- and spoiler -- gets out of prison at the end of the movie, assumedly leading to a series of events that will allow a sequel to make sense.

In the upcoming The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, the new movie will again bring back the original cast members, as well as add a few new faces for a story that will be set in the Amalfi coast. (Because if you are doing a sequel, why not set it in a beautiful place?) Antonio Banderas, Frank Grillo, Morgan Freeman and Tom Hopper have all joined the franchise for the new movie.

Other filming locations include Bulgaria and Croatia for the new sequel.

The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard was confirmed to be filming by Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds earlier this spring and a few weeks later, Ryan Reynolds also mentioned he had wrapped on the flick.

Salma Hayek has also shared other stuff from the set of The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.

Unfortunately, there’s still going to be a little bit of time for the flick to undergo the editing process. The movie isn’t slated for release until 2020, but while we wait, be sure to take a look at our full 2019 movies schedule.

You can also catch Ryan Reynolds, or at least his voice, coming up in Detective Pikachu, which hits theaters in May. Samuel L. Jackson will next star in the big summer release Shaft, unless he pops up in Avengers: Endgame, which kicks off it's preview night tonight. And Salma Hayek can currently be seen in Drunk Parents.

Robert Downey Jr. Says Avengers: Endgame’s Last 8 Minutes Are The MCU’s Best

Robert Downey Jr. Says Avengers: Endgame’s Last 8 Minutes Are The MCU’s Best

It's almost hard to believe, but we're mere days away from the release of Avengers: Endgame. It's been a long year of waiting and theorizing for the fandom, as Marvel Studios made room for the release of Captain Marvel and Ant-Man and The Wasp. But moviegoers will finally get some answers shortly, and see how the MCU has reacted to Thanos' snap of death that wiped out half of all life.

The stakes couldn't be higher for The Russo Brothers, who must live up to the precedent they set with Avengers: Infinity War. The surviving heroes must find a way to unite and avenge the galaxy, bringing the fight to Thanos in his presumed retirement. While the pressure is on, Robert Downey Jr thinks that Endgame's final minutes are the very best the MCU has to offer. As he recently put it:

The last 8 minutes of that movie are maybe the best 8 minutes of the entire history of the whole run of them in a way because everyone's involved. So I was delighted.

Well, that's a bold statement. Marvel Studios has released 21 movies ahead of Avengers: Endgame, so there's been some major moments brought to the silver screen. Infinity War is certainly no exception, but it appears that The Russo Brothers outdid themselves with their next (and possibly last) MCU installment.

Robert Downey Jr's comments to The Upcoming are sure to capture the attention of the rabid MCU fanbase. Avengers: Endgame is the most hotly anticipated movie of the year, and The Russo Brothers are going to need to pull out all the stops in order to please the countless fans who broke the internet to get pre-sale tickets. But Endgame's ending is apparently so epic that it puts the rest of the shared universe to shame.

Just what RDJ is referencing is a mystery, as is basically all of Avengers: Endgame. While there are some spoilers floating around the internet, Endgame's marketing campaign has been methodical, and we've only seem a limited amount of footage. This includes the film's ending, which should have a big group of characters involved.

Related: 10 Questions We Still Have About Avengers: Endgame

If I were to guess, I assume the last 8 minutes of Avengers: Endgame includes all the characters-- including the ones who faded to dust in Infinity War. Most fans assumed they'd be revived sometime during the movie, allowing the MCU to continue in Phase Four. Perhaps this is what Robert Downey Jr is referencing. Luckily, we only have a few days left before answers will finally arrive.

The Russo Brothers have already shown their ability to balance a large cast of characters. Captain America: Civil War proved this, as the directors brought a story that had both action and heart. Things got even bigger with Infinity War, as the Russos serviced a giant cast of beloved characters. They'll have a smaller group to utilize in Endgame, but clearly something big is happening in the film's final moments.

Answers will finally arrive once Avengers: Endgame hits theaters on April 26th. In the meantime, be sure to fill out CinemaBlend's Endgame death pool, and check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

New Mortal Kombat Movie Gets A Release Date, And Some Powerful Competition

New Mortal Kombat Movie Gets A Release Date, And Some Powerful Competition

It seems like a feature film reboot of Mortal Kombat has been talked about for a long time, and even once James Wan was brought aboard to produce a few years ago, it still seemed like it was quite a ways off. Then few days ago, we heard that the new Mortal Kombat had finally started pre-production. Now we know when Mortal Kombat will arrive and the powerful competition it will face when it does.

According to Variety, Warner Bros. has picked March 5, 2021 as the date the next Mortal Kombat tournament begins in theaters. In keeping with the spirit of the property, Mortal Kombat is ready to fight some formidable competition -- because just days ago, it was announced that March 5, 2021 is also the new release date for the latest Masters of the Universe adaptation.

Masters of the Universe was at one point supposed to release this year, but that obviously isn’t happening. Now the Sony film from directors Adam and Aaron Nee and starring Netflix heartthrob Noah Centineo as He-Man will arrive in 2021. It will do battle with producer James Wan’s Mortal Kombat, which is being directed by Australian director Simon McQuoid, who has done commercial work for popular video games including Halo and Call of Duty.

Other films with their flag planted on March 5, 2021 are the animated Nimona and an Untitled Universal Event Film. The latter may make this one-on-one fight into a triple threat depending what it is, but at the moment the story of March two years from now will be Mortal Kombat testing its might against Masters of the Universe.

It’s an interesting bout given that both properties hold nostalgic sentiment for kids of the '80s and '90s. Both properties have also had previous feature film adaptations. The 1980s cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was adapted into Masters of the Universe starring Dolph Lundgren in 1987, and Midway’s video game series, which first debuted in 1992, received a feature film in 1995. That film is still held up as one of the best video game adaptations to date.

Anecdotally, I think Mortal Kombat has maintained more cultural relevance and awareness than Masters of the Universe and that may help it in this fight. In fact, the latest Mortal Kombat video game, Mortal Kombat 11, was just released to rave reviews back in April.

We don’t know much about either film yet, and neither directing team -- Aaron and Adam Nee vs. Simon McQuoid -- has enough of a track record to say one film has the competitive advantage creatively. I will be curious to see if Mortal Kombat goes the R-rated route, as its bloody source material would dictate and many fans might hope for. That would certainly impact its chances to defeat the almost assuredly PG-13 Masters of the Universe.

Of course, two years from now is a long time and it is entirely possible that one of these films will blink and seek greener pastures elsewhere on the calendar. Regardless of ratings, I feel these two films are essentially competing for the same millennial audience and would probably be better served not cannibalizing each other. Because whoever wins, it won’t be a flawless victory.

With pre-production beginning soon and filming starting later this year, hopefully we’ll begin to hear more details about Mortal Kombat, like which characters will be showing up and who will be playing them.

Mortal Kombat looks to fatality Masters of the Universe when both open in theaters on March 5, 2021. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see all of this year’s biggest movies and let us know in the poll below what ticket you’ll be buying in 2021.

Sorry, Sean Astin Doesn’t Think A Goonies Sequel Will Happen

Sorry, Sean Astin Doesn’t Think A Goonies Sequel Will Happen

Hey, you guuuys! It’s really been almost 35 years since classic adventure film The Goonies was released, and while we’ve heard talk of a sequel through the years, there hasn’t been a whole lot of action about Goonies 2 actually being underway. Now the film’s Mikey, Sean Astin is finally losing a bit of hope that he’ll ever reprise his iconic role due to all the time that has passed. Here’s what he said:

I think we’ve probably passed the threshold for which all of us original cast members are right for doing a sequel.

Sean Astin has been one of the leading flag-flyers for another Goonies for quite some time but now at 48-years-old, he feels the time may have passed for him and the treasure hunting gang to come back for another adventure. He recently told Collider that for 20 years his answers has been an “unequivocal yes” but not anymore. Astin does have hope however for a reboot, with these words:

The audience is so powerful and so devoted to it that I’m absolutely convinced that it will at the very least will be rebooted, which I would be fine with. If it’s not as good as the original Goonies, then okay, who cares, at least it’s out there.

The Lord of the Rings actor said it’s been a project that both Steven Spielberg and Richard Donner have been interested in exploring, but Spielberg just hasn’t found the right “sauce” to jump on it yet. Plus, he's been busy pursuing his various other recent movies. Richard Donner, who directed the original film is almost 90 years old, but no one seems to want to do the project without his involvement.

Sean Astin admitted that he and Corey Feldman, who played Mouth in Goonies actually went to Richard Donner and pitched a three-act treatment to him but his response was “we’re not doing that”. So the chances of a Goonies sequel may be thin, but Sean Astin still hopes one day he’ll at least get a call about being in a cameo for a reboot one day. Goonies never say die!

Otherwise, Sean Astin has been busy recently taking on the realm of television. He’s also guest starred on the final season of The Big Bang Theory and on an upcoming episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine after being one of the “Guardians of the Nine-Nine”. Last year, the comedy was cancelled by Fox and Astin was among a handful of celebrities who rallied against it online including Guillermo del Toro, Mark Hamill, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Seth Meyers.

He was also a fan favorite Bob Newby in Stranger Things 2, which he attributes to scoring his new Netflix family sitcom No Good Nick, which is now available to stream on the platform.

Do you still want to see a Goonies sequel or reboot? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

The 7 Best Action-Packed Jason Statham Movies To Watch Before Hobbs And Shaw

The 7 Best Action-Packed Jason Statham Movies To Watch Before Hobbs And Shaw

He’s been a hero, a villain, a joker and a competitive diver. But if action superstar Jason Statham is known for anything, it’s his ability to kick a lot of ass. The most recent example of that piece of his career has been his success as an ass-kicker in the Fast and Furious film series, so much so that he’s half of the new spinoff, Hobbs and Shaw.

If you’re a fan of Jason Statham's, or are looking for a reason to get into his work, we recommend you, at the very least, watch the last two films in the Fast and Furious series to get caught up to the point that Hobbs and Shaw is at in the series. However, there are other movies in the Statham catalog you should be partaking in to get yourself pumped and ready for his latest action romp, and we have a good list of what those films should be.

So schedule a little bit of “me time” on the books, make sure you do your streaming and rental research as to how to get ahold of the Jason Statham movies we’re about to lay down and prepare for your very own film festival. Let’s call it “StathamFest,” which means that the following are your required stops on the StathamFest trail.

The Italian Job (2004)

With his career as an action lead getting a huge boost out of The Transporter’s surprise success, one of the Jason Statham movies that increased his visibility exponentially was director F. Gary Gray’s remake of the 1969 crime caper, The Italian Job.

Flexing his action hero muscles as Handsome Rob, Jason Statham also got to play the eye candy of Mark Wahlberg’s band of criminals, which was certainly a bonus for the audience that made it a theatrical hit. The Italian Job not only gave Statham a chance to be a comedic heartthrob, but it also gave him even more experience with the impressive car stunts that helped make his career what it is.

While we never got the proposed sequel, The Brazilian Job, we did get a Statham/Gray reunion when the star and director paired up for The Fate of The Furious; so The Italian Job is a good film to re-watch in preparation for the further adventures of Deckard Shaw.

The Transporter 2 (2005)

The Transporter is one of the earliest successes of Jason Statham’s career, as Frank Martin was the first blockbuster character that Statham had under his action belt. And with The Transporter 2 bringing Frank to the mean streets of Miami, the scenery is closer to home, along with the high flying automotive action.

While it acts as a sort of loose remake of Man On Fire, with Jason Statham’s Frank replacing Denzel Washington’s Creasy, the film is a full throttle thrill ride, complete with one of the most ridiculous action moments in the man’s entire career. The second of three installments with Statham as Mr. Martin, our hero is charged with not only preventing a viral outbreak, but also recovering a wealthy family’s child in the process.

A positively breathless ticking clock action film, The Transporter 2 is a Jason Statham movie quick enough to fit into any day’s schedule, but it’s also weighted enough to keep an audience fixed on the screen the whole time. If you believe one of life’s rules is a person knowing their car and its contents, in and out, this one is a no-brainer.

Crank (2006)

Mixed in with all of the big budget franchises and one-off action fests that make up the body of Jason Statham’s movies are some smaller, and definitely weirder, choices. Case in point is the extremely memorable Crank, directed by Neveldine/Taylor, a duo more than familiar with the world of the weird.

Jason Statham’s character this time around is Chev Chelios, with Crank seeing his protagonist injected with a drug intended to prevent the flow of adrenaline, in hopes of killing him dead. But, of course, as this is a Neveldine/Taylor directed film, Statham’s assassin antihero does have a way out of this mess. And it’s keeping his adrenaline pumping in such an extreme fashion, that methods such as electrocution and other feats tempting death are needed at all times in this single day thriller.

Pushing the boundaries of every force it comes into contact with, Crank makes for one of the weirdest, but also one of the most exhilarating Jason Statham movies in his collected canon. Proving that he can turn his charms and action talents to 11 when need be, Crank gave Statham the range he needed to eventually jump into the sort of antics that Hobbs and Shaw will eventually demand of him.

War (2007)

While Jason Statham and Jet Li would eventually team up yet again in The Expendables, their paths would cross earlier in the gang thriller War. Except in the instance of this particular film, Statham and Li faced off as nemeses in an all-out street fight between an FBI agent and a rogue element.

Jason Statham’s John Crawford is the FBI agent who’s swearing revenge against Jet Li’s former CIA operative Rogue, a target who survived his supposed death and not only killed Crawford’s partner, but also plans on starting a gang war between the Triads and the Yakuza. Things get pretty hairy as the two play cat and mouse on the streets of San Francisco, and will use everything at their disposal to strike the other where it hurts the most.

Another interesting connection that adds an interesting layer to watching War is the fact that Jason Statham’s character, Crawford, works with an FBI sniper by the name of Goi throughout the film’s duration. Playing Goi is none other than Sung Kang, better known as Han from the Fast and Furious universe; and considering how War ends, Jason Statham’s murder of Han in that particular series could be seen as pure revenge.

Death Race (2008)

Sometimes a movie gets remade because of its popularity. But in the case of director Paul W.S. Anderson’s Death Race, the film feels like a remake that is made to capitalize on the popularity of someone like Jason Statham. At least it feels that way, because wisecracks meet car stunts in this dystopian action extravaganza that screams its status as a Jason Statham movie.

Framed for a murder he didn’t commit, Jason Statham’s Jensen Ames is sent to prison and given the opportunity to win his own freedom through the titular Death Race. A televised pay-per-view spectacle, take The Running Man and infuse it with the DNA of NASCAR, and you’ve got the basic premise for this particular film.

As far as Jason Statham movies go, Death Race is sort of an underrated gem. Showcasing Statham’s abilities as an action lead, while also putting him into an ensemble that sees Joan Allen, Ian McShane and future Fast and Furious co-star Tyrese Gibson all mixing it up, Death Race is well worth tracking down if you’re serious about your Statham.

The Expendables (2010)

If there’s anything that the viewing public should know about Jason Statham by this entry in the list, it’s that he plays very well as both a lead and an ensemble member. The latter is part of why The Expendables is such a treat to watch, as the relatively fresh faced Statham gets to play with heavy hitters like Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren.

Hired to overthrow a villainous dictator, The Expendables sees some of the biggest names in action teaming up, or in some cases fighting against, the likes of Sylvester Stallone’s expendable team. Playing Lee Christmas, the team’s blade expert, Jason Statham gets to be a man who only talks when the conversation requires him to. And if he’s not talking, chances are his opponent is about to take some serious damage.

Whether it’s an island in the Gulf of Mexico or a basketball court on home soil, Jason Statham takes the fight to whomever stands in his way in The Expendables. Even though he appears as a member of the overarching ensemble, this Statham movie has enough action to excite the crowd and enough Statham magic for him to stand out from all the rest.

The Meg (2018)

Let’s just get something out of the way: The Meg is, by no means, a film that needs to be taken seriously. Getting past that though, it’s easy to see how people enjoyed this film so much, it became a blockbuster hit in 2018’s film market. And naturally, part of that success is Jason Statham’s Jonas Taylor.

Playing a rescue diver obsessed with proving the existence of a rare Megalodon, Jason Statham gets to be The Meg’s hero, front and center. As such, Jonas is wise, kind and not afraid to put his foot down; all the things you’d expect from a Statham performance, with a little more heroic charm allowed this time out.

In fact, it’s Jason Statham’s charm that helps anchor The Meg’s all-star cast, which also includes Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose and Li Bingbing. And with both Statham and his cast fully in sync, the level of ridiculous spectacle and action is balanced in such a state that the audience can really sink their teeth into it. And if you want to make it a family affair, this film’s PG-13 rating will certainly allow the kids to enjoy this one alongside the adults in the room.

Jason Statham’s career is as varied as it is exciting, and this sampler pack of films is only the beginning of the proof to that point. So let StathamFest pump you up for a summer of action, as well as the eventual box office debut of Hobbs and Shaw. But more importantly, let these films entertain you while showing the many facets of Jason Statham’s career as a hero, a villain and a comic relief for the ages.

Hobbs and Shaw promises to kick the box office’s ass on August 2, but if you’re looking for some action prior to that point, check out the 2019 release schedule for more of the options available to you.

The Very Specific Reason The Original Pet Sematary Chose Its Breed Of Cat

The Very Specific Reason The Original Pet Sematary Chose Its Breed Of Cat

Cinema history is filled with some wonderful big screen felines, and Church from Mary Lambert’s Pet Sematary is a challenging inclusion to that list. After all, while the cat is certainly cute and a pretty animal, what it goes through in the story – being killed and then brought back to life through sinister magic – is decidedly not that loveable or “wonderful.” Still, few will ever forget his presence in the fantastic Stephen King adaptation, and part of that extends from his noteworthy look – which I recently learned was specifically chosen for a pair of reasons by the director in the making of the movie.

In the 1989 film, Church is portrayed as a British Blue cat, and while speaking with Mary Lambert this week in celebration of Pet Sematary’s 30th anniversary I learned exactly why that breed was chosen. I had asked the filmmaker about her memories working with the cats on the set of the movie, and while she couldn’t name on the spot the type of cat, she did explain the key reasons why she wanted Church to have his specific look. Said Lambert,

We had a lot of cats and I chose that gray - it's a special breed, I've forgotten the name of it. It has that really thick, thick, thick fur, and they all look alike. A) They all look alike, and B) I just thought that they were kind of creepy. It looks a little bit like a plush toy. I was thinking that sort of subliminally when the cat comes back to life, it's kind of like a toy that comes to life. And I think he looks a little bit like a stuffed toy to me, that cat.

Even someone who loves cats has a really hard time falling in love with Church, and according to Mary Lambert it seems like part of that may be due to a special take on the uncanny valley. With its mono-colored and dense fur, they don’t always look entirely real, and when you’re dealing with an undead cat, that works to your advantage.

Church is, of course, a key part of Stephen King’s original novel, as the entire book was inspired by the death of the cat that belonged to the author’s daughter. This made him absolutely vital to include in the big screen adaptation, but as you can probably guess, it wasn’t exactly easy. Though Pet Sematary needed the feline presence, cats are not the easiest animals to control, and so it was actually a group effort that was needed in order to bring the character to life. Mary Lambert explained,

We had a whole army of cats. If you love cats and you own cats you know that every cat is a little different and that no cat is really completely trainable. You can have a cat that will reliably do something, but the next cat might not reliably do that. So he had a cat that was a snarler; we had a cat that was a jumper; we had a cat that was a scratcher; we had cats for everything the cat does. We had about eight or nine cats. Whatever Church needed to do, we would bring in the cat that would do it.

And now you have a much better understanding of the whole “they all look alike bit,” as well.

It clearly took a bit of extra work, but the filmmaking team was eventually able to collect all of the footage that they need to make Church’s “performance” in Pet Sematary legitimate. What was a surprise added bonus from this, however, was the fact that the material shot apparently helped the director occasionally in getting higher-ups to clear out of the editing process. As Mary Lambert noted while laughing during our interview, nothing would get executives out of her hair faster than a call to bring up the dailies for Church:

The dailies from that would be pretty funny, but not for long. That was back in the day when you actually screened dailies, and everybody that wanted to see the dailies came to the dailies screening. The execs would come, and the producers would come, and they were screened in the evening. Whenever I wanted to clear the room, I would just say, 'Put up the cat reel!'

Continuing, Mary Lambert explained what it was that was featured in the “cat reel,” and while one can imagine it being cute for a second (it’s footage of cats, after all), it would get old pretty damn quick. Apparently not only would each animal only do one specific trick, but it was still a challenge to get them to actually do it, and the cameras would have to keep rolling in order to try and get the needed material. Said Lambert,

It'd be like an hour of a spoon with a clicker and a piece of liver on it comes into the frame, and the hand holding the spoon clicks it, trying to indicate to the cat to look. And after about 30 seconds of clicking, the cat like comes in and eats it, and doesn't do what it's supposed to do. 'Okay, then take two.'

There is a good reason why that classic W.C. Fields line about not working with children and animals has stuck around the industry for about a century – and I’m not talking about the way that they steal the spotlight.

Getting all of that cat footage together was clearly a challenge, but at the end of the day it was entirely worth it - and Church remains an iconic part of the fantastic film in all his snarling and hissing glory. And now you can enjoy all the extreme horror of it all in a brand new way, as the incredibly beautiful restoration of 1989’s Pet Sematary was released on 4K and Blu-ray this past week. Copies are now available in stores everywhere, so go pick yourself up a copy, and celebrate the 30th anniversary right!