Princes William, Harry to attend James Bond launch

By Mike Collett-White

LONDON (Reuters) - Princes William and Harry are expected on the red carpet on Wednesday at the royal world premiere of the latest James Bond movie "Quantum of Solace," which sees Daniel Craig reprise the role of super spy 007.

The film is released in British cinemas on October 31 and hits theatres in the key U.S. market two weeks later on November 14.

After 40-year-old Craig wowed critics and audiences with his Bond debut in "Casino Royale" two years ago, "Quantum of Solace" is expected to eclipse its global box office take of $594 million.

Early reaction has been generally positive, although Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli may have been less than pleased to read one senior British critic, the Sunday Times's Cosmo Landesman, conclude his review:

"Craig makes an attractive corpse, but Bond is dead."

Movie industry experts believe the popularity of Casino Royale, a lack of alternative Hollywood blockbusters between now and the end of the year and the lasting appeal of the 22-film franchise would make up for mixed reviews and recession fears.

Craig will lead the stars on the red carpet in London on Wednesday evening, where he will be joined by Ukrainian actress Olga Kurylenko, Bond regular Judi Dench and French actor Mathieu Amalric, the latest in a long line of Bond villains.

They will be joined by Prince William, second in line to the British throne, and his younger brother Harry at the charity gala event.

ARMED AND ANGRY

In Quantum of Solace Bond crosses Europe and South America to discover why the woman he loved betrayed him before she died.

He also battles to stop evil eco-terrorist Dominic Greene installing an exiled general in what is supposed to be Bolivia in exchange for land containing huge natural resources.

In a complex web of deceit and diplomacy, the secret agent falls foul both of his enemy and British and U.S. intelligence as his mission becomes intensely personal.

"They think he's gone off course and that he's a loose cannon and his emotions have taken over, and that is a bit more complicated in the story," Craig told Reuters in Los Angeles in an interview to promote the film.

For German-Swiss director Marc Forster, Bond is the biggest movie he has taken on to date. He has won acclaim for "Monster's Ball" in 2001 and "Finding Neverland," a biopic of Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie starring Johnny Depp.

(Editing by Paul Casciato)

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