007 SCIENCE

The name's Bond, James Bond ... when this movie geek and car gearhead heard that the Griffin Museum of Science + Industry was hosting a 007 exhibit featuring costumes, props and vehicles from the films you know I had to take a road trip to Chicago. How often do you get the chance to obtain close up views of items used in filming some of your favorite movies?! Only on display until October 27, 2024, this limited time exhibit, 007 SCIENCE: INVENTING THE WORLD OF JAMES BOND, showcases how film production teams utilized real-world science to cast Hollywood magic on moviegoers. I am so GEEKED that I made the trip to Chicago's science museum for this James Bond 007 experience!

007 SCIENCE, INVENTING THE WORLD OF JAMES BOND highlights how moviemakers harnessed scientific thinking to craft 007's iconic gadgets and vehicles as well as employed physics, chemistry, engineering and mathematics to create the thrilling stunts and actions sequences the films are known for. There is a big emphasis in the exhibit on the technology used for spying by both the fictional 007 and his real-life counterparts in the CIA and MI-6. Get a look at fantastical gadgets created for the Bond films alongside the real-life inventions they prefigured—see a prototype jetpack from “Thunderball” and the modern Gravity Industries Jet Suit.

You have to love the cars in 007 movies and there are a number of them on display here ranging from the classic Aston Martin DB5 Bond Car seen in films that include "Goldfinger", "Thunderball", "Tomorrow Never Dies", "Skyfall" and "No Time to Die" to the more modern DB10 model created by the car manufacture to be featured in "Spectre." The weaponized Jaguar XKR used by the villainous henchman Zao in "Die Another Day" is also featured in the exhibit to provide some contrast to the hero's vehicles. 

You can also get a look at one of James Bond's most memorable cars, Wet Nellie, a custom-built submarine shaped to look like a Lotus Esprit S1 sports car used in "The Spy Who Loved Me." Interesting the submarine actually works but it wasn't able to maintain a dry interior so occupants had to wear scuba gear while operating it. The film crew hired an ex-Navy SEAL to drive Wet Nellie when shooting underwater scenes and borrowed the chairman of Lotus personal vehicle for shooting road scenes featuring the car.

There is also a lab space inspired by Q, the source of secret field technologies in the Bond movies, where you can test your abilities to design the perfect spy vehicle as well as learn about the science behind the tech and technique of the world’s most famous spy. As you make your way through the galleries complete a scavenger hunt questionnaire that adds to the educational element of the experience. Turn it in on your way out to get a free sticker! 

Also, on display is concept art used to develop the look of the films to assist in creating costumes, props and sets. I always find this type of artwork intriguing and am glad some of these samples were included within the exhibit.

Admission to the James Bond exhibit is a separate, timed-entry ticket purchase in addition to the general museum admission price. So, if you visit, make sure to explore all of this wonderful museum. The Griffin Museum of Science + Industry is the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere. There is a lot to see across three stories of gallery space including the command module of Apollo 8, life size scale replica of a working coal mine, a German submarine captured during WWII, a Next Gen Ford Mustang NASCAR stock car and more! 

While the James Bond exhibit was the highlight of the visit for me, my teenager who joined me on this journey for a father-son summer road trip will probably say the Interactive Flight Simulator was his favorite thing at the science museum. You harness into a flight simulator that literally moves in the direction the plane is being steered. We flew a F-4 Phantom simulation where he piloted and I co-piloted and I'm not joking when saying we were hanging upside down for a good portion of the "flight." 

Wow! Yes, you actually physically feel the motion of doing a climb, dive or roll while simulating your flight at the machine moves around. I can confirm you can do a 360-degree barrel roll! It is a good thing they have lockers you have to put all your items in or everything in my pockets would have fallen out. There is absolutely something for everyone to enjoy at this Chicago science museum.

SPIES IN DISGUISE FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

Thanks to Fox Home Entertainment for sending us the animated secret agent flick SPIES IN DISGUISE for a family movie night. A combination of James Bond and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, this PG-rated film is now available to view on Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD. We missed seeing this movie when it was in theaters so this will be our first time watching it. Family movie nights are extra special when you are seeing something for the first time!



Super spy Lance Sterling and scientist Walter Beckett are almost exact opposites. Lance is smooth, suave and debonair. Walter is not. But what Walter lacks in social skills he makes up for in smarts and invention, creating the awesome gadgets Lance uses on his epic missions. But when events take an unexpected turn, Walter and Lance suddenly have to rely on each other in a whole new way. And if this odd couple can't learn to work as a team, the whole world is in peril.

Add some extra fun to your family movie night with these SPIES IN DISGUISE activity pages:



Also check out the AGENTS ON THE RUN mobile game that ties into the movie.



SPIES IN DISGUISE is available from Best Buy. You can get it on a 4k Ultra HD disc in an exclusive steelbook case or in a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital combo pack. Purchasing the movie from Best Buy through one of the affiliate links above will provide this dad blogger with a small commission at no additional expense to you. Thanks for your support of a geek daddy!

A Geek Daddy's 10 Favorite Easter Eggs From Last Year

When I think of Easter Eggs it normally isn't the decorated holiday decorations that come to mind but rather the inside jokes and references that are often hidden within movies.  Whenever we add a new movie to our family's home video library, I always enjoy going on an Easter egg hunt to find these hidden tidbits within a film.  As an Easter treat here are ten of my favorite discoveries from the last year:

10.  THE MARTIAN

When a group from NASA secretly works to save a stranded astronaut on Mars they call their effort Project Elrond in a reference to the secret mission that is the heart of the plot for The Lord Of The Rings.  Also actor Sean Bean has major parts in both movies.

 9.  JAMES BOND: SKYFALL

The Mi6 safe house location in the film is hidden behind a storefront that says "Hildebrand - Prints and rarities - Established 1953, London" which is a reference to James Bond creator Ian Fleming's  collection of  five short stories titled For Your Eyes Only which included one called The Hildebrand Rarity.  

8. STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

While rummaging through the Millennium Falcon, Finn comes across the training orb used by Luke Skywalker from when he trained with Ben Kenobi during his first voyage on the ship. A nice homage to the original Star Wars movie. 

 
7.  ANT-MAN

While watching the Ant-Man scenes within Hank Pym's house keep an eye out for shrunken items sprinkled throughout the house from the scientist's experiments.  One of the items to look out for is a little red chair that is a reference to Pym's first comic book appearance in Tales To Astonish where he shrinks this chair to test his invention before using it on himself.

In another scene of the movie the character Darren Cross during his speech introducing the Yellow Jacket militarized shrinking suit jokes about Hank Pym saying "an Ant-Man sounds like tales to astonish" referencing the Marvel comic book series in which the Ant-Man and Wasp characters were first introduced.  Hank Pym first appeared in Tales To Astonish #27 and the Wasp joined him in his adventures beginning with issue #44.

6. MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

The movie references a popular character from past Mad Max films, Gyro Captain, in a gruesome scene.  When the Road Warrior is captured by the War Boy's one of the captors is hoisting a totem that has a human skull mounted at the top wearing the Gyro Captain's cap and flight googles.  Alas it appears this is the end of the road for the Gyro Captain in Mad Max films.

5.  FANTASTIC FOUR

When the Johnny Storm character is introduced in the movie there is a hint to his future fate hanging from the rear view mirror of the car he is racing -- A Super Mario Fire Flower which spits out flames in the video game.

4.  JURASSIC WORLD

 Jeff Goldblum may not have appeared in Jurassic World, but the book God Creates Dinosaurs (written by his Jurassic Park character  Dr. Ian Malcolm) is shown in the movie during several different scenes.

3.  AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

When Tony Stark needs to replace JARVIS at the end of Age of Ultron to help him control the Iron Man suit he considers several alternate AI programs to use including versions called Friday, Jocasta and Tadashi.  Friday is a reference to an AI secretary used by Stark in Marvel's comic books; Jocasta was a robot built by Ultron as his wife in a comic book story arc; and Tadashi refers to the character that created the Baymax robot in the Disney animated movie BIG HERO 6.

2. INSIDE OUT

Disney / Pixar films are know for being filled with Easter eggs, especially ones with clues to upcoming movies, and INSIDE OUT is no different with references to The Good Dinosaur and Finding Dory.  In one scene you can see an image of Nemo on the box for a board game called FIND ME in a tease for the upcoming sequel.  There is also a scene where Riley's family car has a run in with a dinosaur tale to tease The Good Dinosaur.

1. FURIOUS 7

While the Rock's character is staying in the hospital he's watching a football game that features footage of his real life self (Dwayne Johnson) playing as a defensive tackle in a Miami Hurricanes versus Florida State Seminoles game.

So what are some of your favorite Easter Eggs from movies that you've stumbled across?

November is a good month to be a James Bond fan

One of my best friends in high school was enthralled by the mystique of the secret agent world of Ian Fleming's 007 and is still a huge fan of all things related to James Bond as you can tell from his recent Facebook pictures from Halloween showing him dressed in a tuxedo holding a martini in one hand and a toy Walther PPK in the other.  Whether you are a die-hard or casual 007 fan there are a lot of exciting things going on this month featuring the suave agent of her Majesty's Secret Service.  November is truly a good month to be a James Bond fan.

The newest addition to the James Bond saga, the  motion picture SPECTRE debuts Friday, November 6, 2015 at movie theaters across the United States.  In the movie, a cryptic message from 007's past sends him following a trail to uncover the sinister organization known as SPECTRE.  While M battles political forces in an effort to keep the secret service alive, James Bond peels back layers of deceit to reveal the terrible truth behind SPECTRE.

This new movie directed by Sam Mendes is the twenty-fifth James Bond film and Daniel Craig's fourth performance as 007.  It will also reintroduce the classic Bond nemesis Ernest Stavro Blofeld, played by Christopher Waltz, creating a unifying story arc among the James Bond films starring Daniel Craig.  Blofeld is the super villain parodied by Mike Myers as Dr. Evil in the Austin Powers movies and the character who has appeared in three James Bond novels (Thunderball, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and You Only Live Twice) and seven 007 movies (From Russia with Love [1963] Thunderball [1965] You Only Live Twice [1967] Her Majesty's Secret Service [1969] Diamond Are Forever [1971] For Your Eyes Only [1981] and Never Say Never Again [1983] ) was originally created by Ian Fleming himself.   SPECTRE has the highest production budget of any James Bond film and in fact is currently tied with Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End for being the second most expensive film to ever be made.



"VARGR" the first story in a new ongoing James Bond comic book series from Dynamite Comics hits store shelves with its first issue on Wednesday, November 4, 2015.  The series written by best-selling writer Warren Ellis.  This series starts off with James Bond returning to London after a mission of vengeance in Helsinki to take up the workload of a fallen 00 Section agent.  But something evil is moving through the back streets of the city and sinister plans are being laid for Bond in Berlin.  CLICK HERE to check out a preview of Dynamite Comics James Bond #1.

There is a new mobile game for fans to enjoy too!  Join 007 in the action packed multiplayer strategy RPG from Glu, JAMES BOND: WORLD OF ESPIONAGE.  Now available in the Apple App Store and from the Google Play Store for Android devices.  Seduce beautiful allies, drive fantastic cars and execute foul villains as you deploy James Bond and other secret agents around the globe, solve classic missions and build your agency branch in order to take on the coveted role of M as head of MI6 in London and protect the world from mass destruction.



You know James Bond always has some awesome cars to drive and TOY STATE lets you bring some of these cool rides home to play with through their line of 007 remote control toys.  New to the line up is the Aston Martin DB 10 which is featured in the new SPECTRE movie.  This R/C/ toy comes with a secret agent watch that triggers working headlights on the car and provides full-function driving action.  The vehicle requires 2 AAA batteries (not included) and the remote control requires 3 button cell batteries (not included).

Toy State also has a number of remote control cars resembling various vehicles featured in other James Bond movies that instead of using a mock watch have custom-designed video game styled remote controls that provide for full-function radio control driving while also triggering lights, sounds, light-up hidden weapons, and play the signature James Bond theme music.  My favorite is the Quantum of Solace Aston Martin.  CLICK HERE to view all the James Bond remote control cars offered by Hot Toys.

For more information about what is going on in the world of James Bond visit the official web site www.007.com.

Dynamite Entertainment to Explore Early Years in the Career of 007 in Comic Books, Graphic Novels & Digital Comics Beginning in 2015

Bond, James Bond, the British Secret Services' agent 007, will begin to have his adventures chronicled in comic books beginning in 2015 with the announcement of Dynamite Entertainment acquiring the license rights to publish comic books, graphic novels and digital comics starring the character from Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. The fictional secret agent was created by author Ian Fleming in 1953 who featured James Bond in 12 novels and 2 short-story collections.  007 has also been the inspiration for 23 movies ranging from DR NO in 1962 to SKYFALL which was released in 2012. A 24th James Bond film is currently in production slated to open in US theaters on November 6, 2015.  According to the licensing agreement the upcoming comic books by Dynamite Entertainment featuring Fleming's iconic 007 secret agent will re-live the exploits that have thrilled and captivated fans for over half a century in fresh visual adaptations of the classic Bond stories.

Dynamite Entertainment is planning on creating a series of brand new adventures with a focus on the defining, yet largely undocumented, early years of James Bond's career.  These comic books will draw inspiration from the James Bond canon to explore 007's origins, those raw early years before he gambled with his life in the franchise's first novel by Ian Fleming, Casino Royale.  Dynamite is also promising to include familiar faces from the 007 mythos in their series including criminal masterminds, hired henchmen, those glamorous Bond Girls, and secret service allies.

"James Bond is one of the greatest cultural icons in the world.  His author and creator, Ian Fleming, was not only in touch with popular culture in his time, but also saw ahead of his time, and his written work will outlive us all<" said Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment in the announcement of the publisher gaining the 007 license.  "The character, the structure and the source material is so incredibly strong.  The original prose storytelling serves the basis for one of the most successful film franchises ever, a franchise that reinvents itself to be in tune with each generation.  By doing so, it allows the character to be an ever-progressive pop culture phenomenon, one that energizes existing fans and engages new fans, thus helping to ensure that Bond's relevance and importance will live forever.  The high-octane action, the charm, the unquestionable allure of this man of action - it all stems from Ian Fleming.  We are excited to build upon Fleming's source material with new canonical stories, and are honored at Dynamite to be a small part of his legacy, to be able to bring new stories to fans around the world."

Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications, added during the announcement of this new partnership, "It's over sixty years since the publication of Casino Royale and now more than ever it's an exciting time to be a Bond fan. We're thrilled that 007 will be revisiting the world of comics, as Fleming's novels have a long and successful history in this medium, ever since  they began to be published as newspaper comic strips in the late fifties.  Dynamite are the perfect partners to take on the challenge of continuing this legacy, and we are very much looking forward to working with them."

Dynamite Entertainment is actually one of A GEEK DADDY blog's favorite comic book publishers because it has created itself a retro niche in restoring the glamor to fictional and fantasy heroes of past generations for the enjoyment of today's audience.  Their titles include Battlestar Galactica, The Bionic Woman, Buck Rogers, Dresden Files, Flash Gordon, The Shadow, Green Hornet, The Lone Ranger, Lord of the Jungle (Tarzan), The Six Million Dollar Man, The Twilight Zone, and John Carter Warlord of Mars.  Dynamite does a nice job of presenting these titles with an artistic nod to their original portrayals ( a 1940's vibe for Flash Gordon, 50's for the Lone Ranger, 60's for the Green Hornet and 70's for Battlestar Galactica and The Six Million Dollar Man for example) and through writing intriguing and interesting stories that mix in classic characters and themes from these franchise's canon while also expanding on the adventures and journeys by adding new elements and figures to the mix. 

Now James Bond is joining the lineup and A GEEK DADDY is excited to see what Dynamite does to bring 007 to life in a comic book format.  Keep an eye out on book store shelves (brick & mortar and digital) in 2015 for this new comic book series.