M-Net Movies Pop-up Channel With All The 007 Films Starts Thursday 23 February

It’s Bond. James Bond. On DStv.
M-Net Movies pop-up channel with ALL the 007 films starts on Thursday, 23 February!

James Bond, the savviest super spy in the world of cinema, has been handed an intriguing assignment: to infiltrate the homes of DStv Premium customers, and keep them spellbound for two weeks. From Thursday, 23 February until Sunday, 5 March, M-Net Movies will be screening every single Bond film ever made – from 1963’s vintage Dr No to the latest explosive big-budget blockbuster Spectre (2015) – on an extra-special M-Net Movies pop-up channel. All the action will play out on channel 109 on DStv Premium. It can also be streamed live on DStv Now and enjoyed at your convenience on DStv Catch Up Plus, which is available with a DStv Wifi Connector.

The M-Net Movies James Bond pop-up channel pays tribute to one of Hollywood’s biggest movie franchises, celebrating 55 years of Hollywood’s most charming secret agent. Over the course of two weeks, fans will be able to experience all the dapper tuxedos, iconic fast cars, sultry Bond girls, exotic locations, mind-blowing gadgets, deadly villains, unforgettable music, incredible title sequences and martinis… shaken, not stirred, of course.

The explosive 24 Bond films will be screened in chronological order with Sean Connery, the first actor to incarnate author Ian Fleming’s suave creation, embarking on the first mission on Thursday, 23 February at 10:10. Thereafter, he will hand the Bond baton over to Roger Moore and the rest of the Bonds until Daniel Craig has dismantled Spectre on Sunday, 26 February 2017 at 20:00. Then the entire sequence will play out again from Monday, 27 February at 10:00 until Thursday, 2 March at 23:20 before those who missed their appointments with the secret agent during the day can enjoy the full marathon of all the films from Friday, 3 March at 10:00 until Sunday, 5 March at 13:30.

As a bonus, four documentaries, namely Now Pay Attention 007 (2000); Best Ever Bond (2002); Bond Girls Are Forever (2012) and Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007 (2012) take a peek behind the scenes – if they can breach the tight security that befits the life of a secret agent, that is. Remember, in the world of espionage, secrecy is everything!

To find out when your favourite Bond film will be screened, you’ll have to employ some of your own gadgets. Go through the EPG Guide on your remote control or click through to the M-Net website – www.mnet.tv – where all the schedules will be displayed. You can also become part of the adventures by joining the conversation @mnetmovies

M-Net Movies James Bond DStv Channel 109

Movie Synopsis

Thursday 23 February 2017

Dr No at 10:10

Year: 1963

Cast: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman

Director: Terence Young

Genre: Action

Rating: 13V

Sean Connery is still regarded is one of the best actors to fill the role of James Bond, so it is fitting that he starred in the film that launched the most successful series set in the world of international espionage. Once James Bond stopped Dr No, there was no stopping James Bond!

English secret agent James Bond is sent to Jamaica to probe the disappearance of one of his colleagues. His investigation leads to the sinister Dr No, who has his hands on a weapon that can send the entire US space programme into disarray.

From Russia with Love at 12:03

Year: 1964

Cast: Sean Connery, Pedro Armendáriz, Lotte Lenya

Director: Terence Young

Genre: Action

Rating: 13V

Five decades on, the second James Bond film is still rated among the very best in the series. Scotsman Sean Connery established himself as a Hollywood icon, and the Cold War became hot property on the silver screen.

SPECTRE, an undercover conglomerate intent on ruling the world, wants to avenge the killing of Dr No, their in-house genius. James Bond must die. They devise a scheme by which he will be conned into stealing a priceless piece of military equipment, which will force authorities to “eliminate” him.

Goldfinger at 14:03

Year: 1965

Cast: Sean Connery, Honor Blackman, Gert Fröbe

Director: Guy Hamilton

Genres: Action

Rating: PG13V

The first two James Bond films were commercial successes, but Goldfinger is regarded as the first real blockbuster, with a box office take of $124-million on a $3-million budget – a profit-to-investment ratio no current hit film can ever hope to match.

James Bond is assigned to stop a gold-dealing crime boss, whom he discovers has a devilish plan up his sleeve – to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve and bring the world economy to its knees.

Thunderball at 15:53

Year: 1965

Cast: Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi

Director: Terence Young

Genre: Action

Rating: PG13V

The fourth James Bond film was released in 1965, a time when the entire world was held hostage by a crazy arms race between America and Russia, and this forms the basis of a spy thriller that, five decades later, still enthralls and delights.

SPECTRE, a secret organisation whose aim is to bring the free world to its knees, steals two nuclear warheads so powerful that it can cut a swathe of destruction across America and Europe. James Bond believes he can outflank their evil plot.

You Only Live Twice at 18:03

Year: 1967

Cast: Sean Connery, Mie Hama, Donald Pleasence

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Genre: Action

Rating: PG13V

Roald Dahl, a legendary writer of wonderfully creative novels and children’s books, was assigned to write the screenplay and given the freedom to tinker with the plot and characters to his heart’s delight. The result? A story regarded by many fans as the most entertaining of the entire series.

Nuclear war is a real threat and a series of skyjackings can tip the balance that starts a conflict that will destroy cities and kill millions of people. James Bond and his Japanese counterpart join forces to prevent the disaster.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service at 20:00

Year: 1969

Cast: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas

Director: Peter R Hunt

Genre: Action

Rating: PG

The success of the sixth James Bond film seemed to be in the balance when Sean Connery retired from the role after You Only Live Twice, but the public soon warmed to his replacement, George Lazenby, an unknown actor and model, and the film made $82-million on a $7-million budget.

James Bond travels to Switzerland and poses as an aristocrat in order to infiltrate the lair of a criminal mastermind. Then he falls in love, or pretends to. But romance turns out to be as dangerous as espionage – if not more so.

Diamonds are Forever at 22:21

Year: 1971

Cast: Sean Connery, Jill St John, Charles Gray

Director: Guy Hamilton

Genre: Action

Rating: PG13VN

Producers of the James Bond film franchise convinced Sean Connery to return to the role that boosted his fame with a $1.25-million pay check – astronomical in 1971. It is the Bond film that introduced a somewhat lighter, humorous touch, and audiences loved it.

Superspy James Bond infiltrates a diamond-smuggling ring to put an end to illicit trade of the coveted stones, and uncovers a sinister plot to set up a laser beam in space that can destroy Washington and take control of the USA – and then the world.

Friday 24 February 2017

Live and Let Die at 09:35

Year: 1973

Cast: Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Seymour

Director: Guy Hamilton

Genres: Action, Thriller

Rating: PG13VL

The first James Bond film to star Roger Moore instantly established him as a leading man the fans could identify with as the world’s number one spy. He had a tough act – and brilliant actor – to follow: Sean Connery, who stepped out of Bond’s shoes for the second time.

The heroin trade is doing irreparable damage to the youth of Harlem, and now a diabolical criminal mastermind who goes by the name of Mr Big wants to cripple his rivals by handing out the deadly drug for free. Only James Bond has the credentials and skills to stop him.

The Man With the Golden Gun at 11:37

Year: 1974

Cast: Roger Moore, Christopher Lee, Britt Ekland

Director: Guy Hamilton

Genres: Action, Adventure, Crime.

Rating: PG13V

James Bond is in the sights of an assassin in the eleventh film in the series, starring Roger Moore in the lead role. The story struck gold with Bond fans the world over.

The sun itself is being harnessed as a weapon of mass destruction and James Bond is chosen to halt the heinous plans to burn selected targets to a crisp. This brings him into the firing line of a ruthless assassin: the Man with the Golden Gun.

The Spy Who Loved Me at 13:42

Year: 1977

Cast: Roger Moore, Barbara Bach, Curd Jürgens

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Genre: Action

Rating: PG13V

Besides a thrill-a-minute storyline, astonishing underwater scenes filmed in the Bahamas are among the main attractions of one of the best-loved James Bond films. Another, of course, is the breathtakingly beautiful Barbara Bach.

The world is in danger of being plummeted into chaos after the hijacking of submarines carrying nuclear warheads. The perpetrator wants to start a new civilization under the sea! James Bond enlists the help of a KGB agent who has more than one reason to send him to his grave.

Moonraker at 15:47

Year: 1979

Cast: Roger Moore, Lois Chiles, Michael Lonsdale

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Genre: Action

Rating :PG13V

Science fiction was all the rage in Hollywood in 1979, and the producers of the James Bond film franchise cashed in with a story set in outer space. It became the most successful Bond film, and held on to that accolade for 16 years.

A space shuttle is hijacked, and James Bond must find the perpetrators. He investigates the manufacturers, and stumbles upon an evil plot to use nerve gas to make the earth uninhabitable, and start a master race elsewhere in space.

For Your Eyes Only at 17:53

Year: 1981

Cast: Roger Moore, Julian Glover, Carole Bouquet

Director: John Glen

Genres: Action, Adventure, Crime.

Rating: 13VS

Roger Moore’s fifth portrayal of the fictional MI6 agent James Bond and the eleventh in the series, a tale of revenge and double dealing, was not based on a novel, but on two short stories – a form that is much easier to adapt for the screen. It was a major commercial success.

In a quest to uncover a nuclear missile command system, James Bond becomes entangled in a web of deception and a dangerous rivalry with its leader. Then a beautiful woman enters the fray with revenge on her mind.

Octopussy at 20:00

Year: 1983

Cast: Roger Moore, Maud Adams, Louis Jourdan

Director: John Glen

Genre: Action

Rating: PG13VN

Roger Moore makes his sixth appearance as James Bond, the top agent at M16. While the film takes its name from a collection of short stories by Bond creator Ian Fleming, the story is totally original. It was regarded as a big risk, but not to worry: as always, James Bond triumphed at the box office.

Secret agency M16 has suffered a major blow: agent 009 is found dead, dressed as a circus clown. A fake Faberge egg found on the scene might hold the key to the crime, and James Bond manages to swap it with the original at auction. He then infiltrates the lair of a tycoon of the underworld.

Never Say Never Again 22:10

Year: 1983

Cast: Sean Connery, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Kim Basinger

Director: Irvin Kershner

Genre: Action

Rating: 13S

Sean Connery, perhaps the most beloved James Bond actor of them all, makes a surprise return to the role after a twelve-year absence in what can be best described as a remake of Thunderball. The title is derived from Connery’s earlier declaration that he would never play Bond again!

SPECTRE is at it again. In a devious tactical manoeuvre, they obtain two devastating nuclear warheads, which they plan to use at the first opportunity to move a step closer to world domination. James Bond must stop them before they can detonate the deadly devices.

A View to a Kill at 00:23

Year: 1985

Cast: Roger Moore, Tanya Roberts, Grace Jones

Director: John Glen

Genre: Action

Rating: 13V

Grace Jones was one of the most fascinating entertainers of the eighties, who achieved world fame with a string of pop music hits and a rare brand of beauty. She stars opposite Roger Moore in a tale filled with non-stop mystery and intrigue – as audiences demand from a James Bond film.

A con to manipulate horse racing results turns out to be nothing more than a ruse to distract attention from a far more dangerous scheme: one to destroy California’s Silicon Valley in order to gain total control of the computer trade. But James Bond is on the scene with a solution at hand.

Saturday 25 February 2017

Casino Royale (PETER SELLERS SPOOF_TV Movie) at 10:35

Year:1967

Cast : Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, David Niven

Directors: Ken Hughes, John Huston, Joseph McGrath, Robert Parrish, Val Guest, Richard Talmadge

Genre: Comedy

Rating: PG13VN

A Bond classic that isn’t regarded as part of the superspy film franchise, as it was created by a rival company that acquired the film rights years earlier. It competed outright with You Only Live Twice, and has a satirical tone that sets it apart from other Bond films. Astonishingly, it featured six directors.

An international crime ring with an eye on world domination realises James Bond stands squarely in their way and set out to eliminate him. To confuse them, six Bond alter egos appear on the scene. But only one James Bond can solve the case.

The Living Daylights 11:30

Year: 1987

Cast: Timothy Dalton, Maryam d’Abo, Joe Don Baker

Director: John Glen

Genre: Action

Rating: 13VN

Timothy Dalton makes his first appearance as James Bond in the 15th instalment of the hugely popular film franchise, which is based on a short story by Ian Fleming, who dreamed up the spy with a licence to kill during his time as an employee of the British espionage agency.

As so often in his career, James Bond’s mission is not to perpetrate violence, but to stop it. In this instance the belligerents will stop at nothing less than a conflict that will put the entire planet at risk.

Licence to Kill at 13:40

Year: 1989

Cast: Timothy Dalton, Robert Davi, Carey Lowell

Director: John Glen

Genre: Action

Rating: PG13VL

The first Bond film not to use a title created by author Ian Fleming. Instead, it underlines a fact that Bond’s adversaries will do well to take note of: Bond can stop enemies of the state any way he pleases.

Bond is suspended by his superiors at M16, and decides to go it alone. Without any support, he pursues a drug lord who tortured and killed his friend. This time, of course, he is at the mercy of the law: he operates without his licence to kill.

GoldenEye at 15:52

Year: 1995

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Izabella Scorupco

Director: Martin Campbell

Genres: Action, Drama.

Rating: 13VSL

Pierce Brosnan’s first portrayal of James Bond in the famous spy film series is one of three with the word “gold” in the title, the others being Goldfinger and The Man with the Golden Gun. Oscar winner Judi Dench makes her first appearance as Bond’s mysterious boss, simply known as M.

A former M16 agent, who was thought to be dead, uses his inside information to counter James Bond’s every move in a battle to gain control of a devastating space weapon, code named GoldenEye. Bond has to enlist help from unexpected quarters.

Tomorrow Never Dies at 18:01

Year: 1997

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce, Michelle Yeoh

Director: Roger Spottiswoode

Genre: Action

Rating: 13VSL

James Bond fans around the world warmed to Pierce Brosnan after his first screen appearance as the master spy, and he was fully accepted next time round in a film that outperformed GoldenEye at the box office.

China has replaced Russia as the biggest threat to the West, and the leader of an evil criminal ring sets out to stir the world’s new economic and military superpower into armed conflict with the UK. Bond is called into action to intervene and stop a war that will leave the world in ruins.

The World Is Not Enough at 20:00

Year: 1999

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau, Robert Carlyle

Director: Michael Apted

Genre: Action

Rating: 13VS

Irish actor Pierce Brosnan makes his third appearance as James Bond in the 19th film in the franchise. He rose to fame in the television series Remington Steele, which most observers regarded as a thinly veiled facsimile of… well, James Bond.

A British billionaire is assassinated by a rogue who goes by the name of Renard. Bond investigates and uncovers a plot to send the world’s oil prices through the roof with a nuclear meltdown in the Middle East.

Die Another Day at 22:08

Year: 2002

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Toby Stephens

Director: Lee Tamahori

Genre: Action

Rating:13VS

Halle Berry may be the sexiest Bond girl of them all, and Pierce Brosnan is the lucky spy with whom she shares the screen in the 20th film in the James Bond series. It was Brosnan’s fourth and last appearance as Agent 007.

North Korea is trading African blood diamonds for military hardware, and James Bond is clearly the best man to defuse the atrocity. Then he discovers that an international space weapon is being developed, and he has to move fast to prevent an attack.

Sunday 26 February 2017

Everything Or Nothing: The Untold Story Of 007 at 08:20

Year: 2012

Cast: Ken Adam, Maud Adams, John Barry

Director: Stevan Riley

Genres: Documentary

Rating: PG13VNL

A fascinating documentary account of the creation and history of the most influential film franchise in the history of action thrillers – if not the history of cinema.

Ian Fleming started writing his famous James Bond novels to stave off the boredom of his desk job in the British government’s secret agency. They were an instant sensation, and soon found their way on to the silver screen. Their history is as compelling as any Bond adventure.

Bond Girls are Forever at 10:00

Year: 2012

Cast: Maryam d’Abo, Halle Berry, Ursula Andress

Director: John Watkin

Genre: Documentary

Rating: 13SL

There are no hard numbers available, but quite possibly the Bond girls are as much of an attraction for film audiences as that man James himself. An entertaining documentary tribute to the bevy of beauties who routinely did what no enemy could manage: Set his heart pounding.

Several gorgeous Bond girls reveal what it’s like to be by the side of the film world’s No 1 spy. Many of them shot to fame, others, such as Halle Berry, were already world famous and did as much for the franchise as it did for their careers.

Now Pay Attention 007! At 10:50

Year: 2000

Cast: Michael Apted, Pierce Brosnan, Martin Campbell

Director: Richard Mervyn

Genre: Documentary

Rating: PG

A documentary that pays tribute to Desmond Llewelyn, the actor who portrayed the witty and inventive Q. While Bond actors came and went, Llewelyn was an unmovable rock.

Q is a job title rather than a secret code name in the James Bond film series. He is head of Q Division, the scientific and development branch of M16, and the man who thought up all the gadgets featured in the series. Desmond Llewelyn became Q in 1963 and played the part until 1999!

Best Ever Bond at 11:45

Year: 2002

Cast : Roger Moore, Ken Adam, Michael Apted

Director: John Piper, Debbie Geller

Genre: Documentary, Action.

Rating: 13SL

There is one thing fans of the James Bond film franchise will never agree on: The best actor who ever represented James Bond on screen. One of the favourites is Roger Moore, who focuses on another debate altogether: The “10 best James Bond sequences”.

As the longest-serving James Bond actor – seven films in 12 years – Roger Moore is clearly an expert on all matters concerning the spy of all spies. But will he be totally objective in his choices of the best sequences in Bond film up until 2002, when the documentary was made?

Casino Royale at 13:23

Year:2006

Cast: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen

Director: Martin Campbell

Genres: Action, Thriller.

Rating: 13V

The James Bond film series has never followed the sequence of the novels by Ian Fleming, and the 21st film is based on the first book, in which Bond is issued a licence to kill. The book also introduced the fact that 007 has a hard time keeping his eyes off a pretty girl. Same goes for the film!

Having proven that he is worthy of a licence to kill, James Bond is sent on his most difficult assignment: He must neutralize an arms dealer… and the destiny of his investigation rests on a high-stakes poker game.

Quantum of Solace at 15:52

Year: 2008

Cast: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric

Director: Marc Forster

Genre: Action

Rating: 16VL

Actor Craig Daniels was told to lose weight and add muscle for his second portrayal of James Bond, after picking up injuries in his first Bond film. He arrived on set tough and toned – as one would expect of a master spy.

Bolivia is on the brink of civil war over the country’s scarce water supply, and a mysterious organisation is plotting to accelerate the conflict. James Bond intervenes, but in the back of his mind he has another mission: revenge for the death of his lover.

Skyfall at 17:38

Year: 2012

Cast: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes

Director: Sam Mendes

Genres: Action, Adventure, Crime.

Rating: 13V

If Daniel Craig was born to play the hero in movies, Javier Bardem was born to play the villain, and they come face-to-face in the 23rd James Bond film produced by Eon films, and the first Bond film to earn more than $1-billion at the box office.

British secret agency M16 comes under attack and James Bond’s loyalties to fellow spies is soon tested. But his priority has never been to maintain close ties with colleagues. He has a job to do, and he will do it even at a massive cost to himself.

Spectre at 20:00

Year: 2015

Cast: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux

Director: Sam Mendes

Genres: Action, Thriller.

Rating: 13VL

The most expensive Bond film – and one of the most expensive movies of all time at $250-million – features Daniel Craig in his fourth appearance as the world’s favourite fictional spy. The theme song – Writing’s on the Wall – was rewarded with an Oscar.

A shocking fact is revealed to James Bond: his life-long enemy, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the leader of the powerful criminal organisation known as Spectre, is his half-brother. But this has no bearing on Bond’s determination to dismantle Spectre and put Blofeld away for good.

*In case you missed Casino Royale (PETER SELLERS SPOOF_TV Movie) it will be re-screened on Sunday, 26 February at 21:27

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb