"Ours, the scientists keep telling us, is a universe which is disposable. You know it might be just this one anonymous glory of all things, this rich stone forest, this epic chant, this gaiety, this grand choiring shout of affirmation, which we choose when all our cities are dust; to stand intact, to mark where we have been, to testify to what we had it in us to accomplish. Our works in stone, in paint, in print are spared, some of them for a few decades, or a millennium or two, but everything must fall in war or wear away into the ultimate and universal ash: the triumphs and the frauds, the treasures and the fakes. A fact of life... we're going to die. 'Be of good heart,' cry the dead artists out of the living past. Our songs will all be silenced - but what of it? Go on singing. Maybe a man's name doesn't matter all that much."


This monologue was taken from a documentary by Orson Welles called "F for Fake." It was on TCM last night. I've seen it before and I own the DVD. It's one of my favorite films, and could take the top stop very soon, as I watch it more and more.

The quote above refers to Cathedral Chartres, about 50 miles outside of Paris.

What is the value of art? Is it based soley on aesthetics? Or experts and historians who tell us it has value?

What if an artwork is revealed to be a forgery? It is beautifully rendered, however; but it was not really created by, let's say Picasso. Is it less valuable?

Is it art?

OK, I have some new faith in the next James Bond film, after seeing these production pictures from "Casino Royale" (page 2 has the best pics), I think I like the direction the franchise is going in. From what I've read they're going to do for Bond what "Batman Begins" did for Batman: a total reboot. It looks like they're doing away with the asinine gadgets and over-the-top special effects from "Die Another Day," and going for a grittier, more realistic spy thriller.

The rumor is that the pre-credit sequence will show the mission that let Bond get his "00" status--how he got the required two kills to earn a "License to Kill."

From there it apparently follows the book "Casino Royale," which was the first Bond novel written by Ian Fleming.

Cast as the original Bond girl Vesper Lynd is stunning French actress Eva Green who was most recently in "Kingdom of Heaven" and "The Dreamers." The first link contains some spoilers, so be prepared.

Initially, I was against the idea of casting Daniel Craig as Bond because, although he was great in "Road to Perdition," I just found him to be very lackluster and wish-washy in "Tomb Raider." But, since this is supposed to be a younger Bond, I think it could work if he shows more grit and charisma than he usually has.

But as of right now, I'm really excited about seeing a new Bond movie again.