. . . Prior to this weekend, the new Bond film had opened in 60 markets overseas and was #1 in every territory where it debuted. In virtually every market, Quantum Of Solace exceeded the opening of Casino Royale, which earned just under $600 million worldwide. Bond #22 is a true sequel of #21 because its storyline picks up just one hour later. Needless to say, this latest 007 has been tracking strongest among males, so younger and older men are red hot for this franchise. But Daniel Craig has been bringing interest from older women. The only soft quadrant is younger women who may opt next weekend for Twilight. Then again, North American audiences may not realize this is 007 without the estab...

. . . Prior to this weekend, the new Bond film had opened in 60 markets overseas and was #1 in every territory where it debuted. In virtually every market, Quantum Of Solace exceeded the opening of Casino Royale, which earned just under $600 million worldwide. Bond #22 is a true sequel of #21 because its storyline picks up just one hour later. Needless to say, this latest 007 has been tracking strongest among males, so younger and older men are red hot for this franchise. But Daniel Craig has been bringing interest from older women. The only soft quadrant is younger women who may opt next weekend for Twilight. Then again, North American audiences may not realize this is 007 without the established Bond clichés and stereotypes. In fact, pic 22 is more like Bond-as-Bourne since it dropped Moneypenny, dropped Q, dropped the wit, dropped the gadgets and dropped the line “The name is Bond, James Bond.”

Meanwhile, rival studios tell me this may be the costliest film ever made minute-by-minute: $261 million for a 105-minute movie, which comes out to almost $2.5 million per minute. (Highest is the $300-million price-tag for 165-minute Pirates of The Caribbean 3.) But Sony sources say that number is off base by more than $60 million. Plus they claim tax credits from filming. Which is why one veteran film financing source told me today, "The film cost a fortune, and they spent a fortune to release it so it better do well. Everything is relative."