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The Lost Adventures of James Bond

By Mark Edlitz

315 pages, $29.95 (print)/$9.99, (eBook)

It sometimes feels like that for every James Bond film made, there are several others that never get before the cameras. We hear of actors, writers, and directors coming and going, which sometimes explains the long gap between films. And with an unexpected delay for No Time to Die (please open in 2021), we could use a dose of 007.

Mark Edlitz delivers with his latest deep dive into pop culture. His self-published The Lost Adventures of James Bond covers the films, novels, comic books, and other media complete with fresh interviews with many who were actively developing stories we’ll never see.

While I knew comics writer Cary Bates wrote an unsolicited treatment, which he sold, I had no idea John Landis, fresh off Schlock, was invited by Bond impresario Cubby Broccoli to write a screenplay for Roger Moore.

The Many Lives of James Bond

By Mark Edlitz

Lyons Press, 300 pages, $27.95

Now that No Time To Die’s April release feels imminent, now may be a good time to catch up on some past James Bond history. Always remember that the past is prologue for the James Bond series. Prolific interviewer Mark Edlitz is back, this time with the recently released book The Many Lives of James Bond.

James Bond has been explored in just about every manner imagined and yet, Edlitz comes through with a collection of discussions that is unique in its breadth. Subtitled “How the Creators of 007 Have Decoded the Superspy”, he offers insights from not just the actors, but the directors, songwriters, novelists, artists, designers, and more.

The book is broken into five parts: Bond on Film, Bond in Print, Being Bond, Designing 007, and Bond Women with an appendix on the Quotable Bond. It’s...

Mark Edlitz new book, How to Be a Superhero, hit retailers last month and it has been getting pretty good reviews so far.  As Edlitz put it; "It's like Hall H in a book.", so what better time than now, the week of the San Diego Comic-Con, to let the Cbm community know about it?! Is playing a superhero a privilege or a curse? How to Be a superhero goes directly to the source to find out! As a treat for the great users at Cbm, I'm including just a portion of Mark Edlitz interview with Tom Hiddleston (Loki). It's a Great interview and I wish I could share the interview in its entirety, but you'll have to pick up the book for it. Edlitz: Michael Chabon called the outfit that superheroes wear their "secret skin," something that reveals the true nature of the character wearing it. In what way...

Roger Moore has revealed the key to playing James Bond: that he doesn't enjoy killing.

The actor explained his approach to the iconic role in an interview in Mark Edlitz's new book How to Be a Superhero (courtesy of io9).

"When I first took on the part, I read Fleming's books," said Moore. "There was little offered in them about the character.

"However, I remember reading one line that said Bond had just completed a mission - meaning a kill. He didn't particularly enjoy killing but took pride in doing his job well. That was the key to the role as far as I was concerned."

A passage from Ian Fleming's original Goldfinger novel reads: "It was part of his profession to kill people. He had never liked doing it and when he had to kill he did it as well as he knew how and forgot about it.

How to be a Superhero

By Mark Edlitz

Bear Manor Media, 586 pages, $42.95/$29.95

Longtime readers of pop culture magazines have no doubt read interviews with actors who have donned capes, cowls, spandex, and prosthetics to portray heroes and villains drawn from comic books. I certainly was involved in my fair share of such interviews working at Starlog Press and its successors have continued, especially contemporary online outlets which are enjoying a bonanza of options.

Most of those interviews tend to be about the most immediate project with little insight or context about an actor’s association with a media property or being the latest in a long line to play the same role. And certainly, these interviews are sandwiched between news, features, and other topics. So, it’s a bit of a surprise that such a collection has not been attempted before.

Mark Edlitz, a hardworking writer with credits including The Huffington Post,...

President Obama may have gotten in hot water recently by evoking the mixed metaphor of a “Jedi mind meld,” but “Star Wars” absolutists can seek solace in the form of “Jedi Junkies,” the nonfiction answer to 1999′s “Trekkies” and its subsequent follow-up exploration of “Star Trek” fandom. A “Star Wars” fan film on par with those geek-outs, this title is sure to be a warmly embraced subcultural hit — particularly as we move closer to a new big screen trilogy in the franchise. Directed by Mark Edlitz, this brisk but rangy documentary takes a look at everything from “Star Wars” collectors and tribute bands to those who’ve fashioned their own spin-off fan films, like [ Read More ]

The post DVD Reviews: Jedi Junkies, Katy Perry, 6 Bullets, The Packets and The Pinochet Case appeared first on Shockya.com.

I have decided that I am going to make my mother watch Mark Edlitz's Jedi Junkies because maybe then she will finally realize that the hundred or so vintage Star Wars action figures that are packed away in my childhood bedroom does not constitute a collection by any means. I bought my last Star Wars action figure in 1984 and every piece of my "collection" has been used and abused; so nothing in that "collection" is worth anything other than sentimental value to myself. Of course, I knew all if this before watching Jedi Junkies; but to hear it from my mother, she makes it sound like I threw away so much of my hard-earned money (from birthdays, holidays and my paper delivery route) on a massive collection that has taken over her home. (I challenge you to search my parents' home for any Star Wars memorabilia -- I guarantee you will find nothing.

Fantasy has a funny way of capturing the imagination of the geek demographic. While readers of Harlequin romances, fans of John Ford westerns, or lovers of historical epics may daydream about their particular field of interest and imagine themselves as heroes or lovers in their genre of choice, 'hardcore' fantasy adherents simply aren't content with wondering "what if?". A true geek's love for his beloved material invariably translates to a real-life imitative lifestyle. A lover of all things medieval visits ye olde Renaissance Faires, complete with broadsword and chain mail. A Trekker wouldn't dream of attending the latest Star Trek convention without his Starfleet uniform, replica tricorder and phaser, and a practiced Vulcan salute. A Dr. Who fanatic has his Sonic Screwdriver and 1/6th scale Tardis. And a huge Star Wars nerd has...well...a seriously-distressing compulsion, to the average layperson.

Such is one of many issues touched upon, but never mocked,...

Let.s be honest… there’s no shortage of films out there about Star Wars fans. With as many people as there are who love — and I do mean Love — the Star Wars saga, it’s no surprise. The make-believe universe that George Lucas created, and subsequently materialized and capitalized, has in many ways been taken over by a siege of die-hard fans. Star Wars is no longer limited to a six-film trilogy, nor does it end with the official merchandise, authorized novels or animated spin-offs. Fans has created a living, breathing and ever-expanding society filled with extreme collections, fan-art, fan-fiction and fan films.

This underground society of Star Wars fans that live un-apologetically in plain sight, this is what Jedi Junkies is all about. Initially, one conjures the image of the nerdy, geeky acne-faced 40-year old dude with no social skills that live with his mother. Well, that.s not entirely accurate.

By Christopher Stipp

The Archives, Right Here

Check out my other column, This Week In Trailers, at SlashFilm.com and follow me on Twitter under the name: Stipp

Little Fockers - Screening

Live in Phoenix or the nearby environs? Interested in seeing Little Fockers on December 16? Then, pal, I have just the ticket for you. In fact, I have a lot of tickets so by all means shoot me a line at Christopher_Stipp@yahoo.com and I’ll see about hooking you up with passes to see it.

Need to know more? Here’s some information:

This holiday season come Little Fockers the third installment in this blockbuster series (Meet The Parents and Meet the Fockers.) The test of wills between Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) and Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) escalates to new heights as Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) and Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) and the family...

Genre: Documentary

Director: Mark Edlitz

Cast: Olivia Munn, Ray Park, Peter Mayhew, D.M. Atlas, Jeremy Bulloch, Vince Collura

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Summary: Star Wars has its hundreds of millions of “Star Wars Fans,” but there’s another kind of fan, one whose appreciation goes well beyond mere admiration for the films and becomes a part of their everyday life. This film is a fun, affectionate look at the men and women who have dedicated their personal and

professional lives to all things Star Wars -­ we call them the “Jedi Junkies”.

Run Time: 75 minutes

View the Trailer Here

Jedi Junkies, directed by Mark Edlitz is a grand tour through the fandom of the Star Wars galaxy. While the film does include a few celebrities, including Attack of the Show’s Olivia Munn, and Star Wars alumni, including Ray Park (Darth Maul), Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), and more,...