Dan and Tom decode what makes James Bond the best MI6 Agent. We’ve heard M refer to James Bond as the best agent, but what are the reasons he is the best? 

Is it his training? Loyalty? Survival skills? Or is it something else? Listen to find out!   We cover it all, with examples from the James Bond movies where the attributes discussed are displayed! 

 From: 

• James Bond’s combat proficiency 
• His marksmanship  
• Driving expertise 
• Technical skills 
• Survival skills  
• Bond’s resourcefulness  
• His loyalty and patriotism  
• And much more … 

We touch on some of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels as well.  Find out what makes Bond best! 

Tell us what you think. What makes James Bond the Best MI6 Agent? 

We gave you our list.  Did we miss any?  Are there any on our list that you disagree with? What’s your list? 

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at [email protected].  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!   

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.   

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/3BlEQIA

Luciana Paluzzi joins Dan and Tom for a wide-ranging interview. This is an interview we've been working to arrange for a while, and we are honored Luciana spent this time with us. And we're happy to be able to share this discussion with you.

Luciana’s acting career spanned 3 decades. Although she appeared in multiple spy movies and TV shows, her performance as Fiona Volpe in THUNDERBALL – a stand-out James Bond villain - is her most famous role in the eyes of spy movie fans.

Die-hard Paluzzi fans will know that she retired from acting at the age of 41 when she married her husband, Michael Jay Solomon, Did you know that they have been married for 46 years?

What’s the original spelling of her last name? Why did she change it? How has Barbara Broccoli been to her?

How many grandchildren does she have and what do they call her?

In this episode, we discuss:

• Her amazing career
• Much about her experience filming her role as Fiona Volpe
• The “good news” and “bad news” that Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman relayed to her after her audition for THUNDERBALL
• Some of the James Bond actors she acted with in other movies and TV series
• What actor from THUNDERBALL she liked working with
• Conversely, what actor from THUNDERBALL that she didn’t
• How she got her first acting role
• How important Terence Young was to her life, not just her career
• Her family
• And more ….

So, take a listen to this interview.  Even if you thought you knew Luciana Paluzzi, you will learn something new in this interview. As she tells us: "I think you're analyzing this to obsession". That’s our goal, learn something new about this wonderful actor.

Tell us what you think about our discussion with Luciana Paluzzi

As always, let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at [email protected].  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!  

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.  

Episode Webpage:  https://bit.ly/41nO9C4

Dan and Tom are joined by board members from James Bond Club Ireland.  They discuss the club, its inception, activities, James Bond insights, and more. It’s a fun listen.

Many locales have James Bond Clubs.   For example, in Ireland, there has been the James Bond Club Ireland for four years.

In their discussion, Dan and Tom talk with Club President Paul Lally, Joint Vice-Presidents Kevin O’Callahan and Sean O’Hare, and Treasurer Andy Watson.

In this episode, we discuss:

·         How James Bond Club Ireland was founded.  (We think that the way they did it is a good blueprint for other nascent clubs).

·         The varied activities the Club delivers

·         The coverage of Ireland (and Northern Ireland)

·         Club discussion hot-topics like: NO TIME TO DIE, what should be the criteria for the next James Bond, where EON Productions should take the series

·         Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels

·         Other spy movies that a James Bond fan may enjoy

·         And more ….

So, take a listen to find out more about this group and find out what a James Bond club is all about.

You can find more information about this group on Facebook, YouTube, Bluesky, TikTok, and Instagram. Just search for "James Bond Club Ireland".

Tell us what you think about our discussion with James Bond Club Ireland

So, are you a member of the James Bond Club Ireland? Can you give us your input on the club? 

If not, are you a member of a James Bond club anywhere else?  If so, what group?  What would you like to see your group do differently?

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at [email protected].  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!  

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.  

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/49kA6PC

Join Dan for our November 26, 2024, edition of Spy Movie News. 

We start this episode talking about some news on two existing spy series, some upcoming spy movies and series, some movies that aren’t likely to be getting sequels, and then wrap with a tip of the hat to some industry workers who have passed in the last month.

Some of the shows we discuss include:

• “The Night Agent”
• “The Day of the Jackal"
• BONHOEFFER: PASTOR. SPY. ASSASSIN.
• “The Agency”
• “Paris Has Fallen”
• HARBIN
• BACK IN ACTION
• Jack Ryan movie
• “Ponies”
• BY ANY MEANS
• “The Spy Coast”
• BADH
• Two untitled projects, including a Christopher Nolan movie
• And more …

Tell us what you think about the November 26 2024 edition of SPY MOVIE NEWS.

Do any of these upcoming shows excite you?   If so, let us know which ones.  Also, if you have any thoughts about the format of Spy Movie News, we’d love to hear those thoughts.

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at [email protected].  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!  

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.  

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/3CGdYD8

Johnson and Kevin Hart. 

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE is a comedy/spy movie.  As we’ve talked about in the past, that is a combination that often falls short.  It is rare to get an AUSTIN POWERS, THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO LITTLE, or UNDERCOVER BROTHER and you often end up with a wreck like ARGYLLE or NO 1 OF THE SECRET SERVICE.

So take a listen to find out which CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE is.  Does it work?

Here’s the intelligence we decode in CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE:

·         A high-level look at the plot without giving too much away

·         Bob Stone’s fanny pack

·         How earlier movies influenced CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

·         Bob Stone’s watch

·         Why the movie is called CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

·         How they were able to give us Dwayne Johnson’s character as a much heavier and 20-year younger version of himself

·         What works in the movie

·         What doesn’t work

·         And more ….

There is a lot to decode, so take a listen to enhance your viewing experience as new things are discovered – worth a watch?  Take a listen!  Are you in? 

Tell us what you think about our CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE decoding episode

So, take a listen and let us know what you think.  Have you seen CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE?  If so, what did you think of it? Were there any other movies you think influenced this one that we didn’t mention?

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at [email protected].  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!  

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.  

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/3CLCPFy

Can we be defending Denise Richards’ performance in THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH?

Denise Richard’s performance has garnered a very wide range of opinions.  There are some people who loved her in the role of Dr. Christmas Jones.  Others have problems with her casting and her performance.

So, Dan and Tom decode her performance in THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH and look at what worked and what didn’t.

Some of the areas we examine include:

• Her character’s complexity

• Was she a believable nuclear physicist?

• Was she the right age for the role?

• Did the script and direction work for her role?

• Was her character fully developed?

• What is the correct pronunciation of “nuclear”

• Did her previous movie and TV roles hinder the public’s acceptance of her in TWINE?

• How did she do in her action sequences?

• What did Denise Richards think of the role of Christmas Jones?

• And more…

Tell us what you think: How were we at defending Denise Richards' performance in THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. What are your thoughts on Richards’ performance in TWINE? Do you agree with Dan and Tom?

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at [email protected].  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!  

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.  

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/4hUO5zQ

 

Amazon recently released the spy movie CANARY BLACK.  This movie stars Kate Beckinsale, Rupert Friend, and Ray Stevenson. Is it worth a watch? 

Join Dan and Tom as they decode CANARY BLACK.  It carries an “R” rating here in the U.S., and we think it is earned with the quantity of violence. Dan and Tom disagree with the impact of this violence.

For those of you who want to find out what earlier movies may have influenced scenes in this movie, we drill into these scenes.

As usual, there are some strong positives as well as some negatives to this movie.

In this episode, we discuss:

• A high-level look at the plot without giving too much away
• The violence
• The actors and their characters
• How earlier spy movies influenced CANARY BLACK
• The company name of the main character’s cover company
• The sets
• A watch
• A bottle of wine
• The use of a Double Pursuit
• And more ….

There is a lot to decode, so take a listen to find out why this movie gets mixed reviews and what we think.

Tell us what you think about our decoding of CANARY BLACK

So, take a listen and let us know what you think.  Have you seen CANARY BLACK?  If so, what did you think of it?  If not, did we give you enough information to help you decide if you want to watch it?

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at [email protected].  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!  

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.  

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/4fB0l6F

Join Dan for our October 29, 2024, edition of Spy Movie News. 

If you prefer to read your news instead of listen, click here to read the article

We start this episode talking about spy entertainment in development, then move on to some industry news, and then wrap with a tip of the hat to some industry workers who have passed in the last month.

Then we will look at upcoming, yet-to-be-released movies and shows.  Some of the shows we discuss include:

• THE TRAITOR
• Two untitled projects, including a Christopher Nolan movie
• GHOST TRAIL
• CLASSIFIED
• SCORPION
• JASON BOURNE DILEMA
• INTO THE LION’S MOUTH
• AGENT 86
• A LINE OF FIRE
• RED ONE
• KINGSMAN: BLUE BLOOD
• “The Agency”
• “Black Doves”
• “The Day of the Jackal”
• “Slow Horses”
• “The Old Man”
• And more …

Tell us what you think about the October 29, 2024 edition of SPY MOVIE NEWS.

Do any of these upcoming shows excite you?   If so, let us know which ones.  Also, if you have any thoughts about the format of Spy Movie News, we’d love to hear those thoughts.

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at [email protected].  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!  

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.  

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/3AoMv8c

URLS

Here are the URLs we either mentioned in the episode or used to develop this episode.  These links can provide more background information.

• Michael Fassbender Returns to TV With Richard Gere in First Look at The Agency
• Paramount Plus just teased Michael Fassbender's new spy thriller show — this looks tense | Tom's Guide
• https://deadline.com/2024/10/showtime-the-agency-cast-reza-brojerdi-1236110269/
• Michael Krummenacher's 'The Traitor' Recounts World War II Spy Story
• Melissa Barrera, Brian d'Arcy James Cast in Simu Liu Thriller Series
• Cannes' Critics Week Film 'Ghost Trail' Lands U.S. Distribution Deal
• https://movieweb.com/christopher-nolan-next-movie-not-sci-fi-espionage-thriller/
• Classified Review | Another Day, Another Aaron Eckhart CIA Thriller
• Aaron Eckhart To Star In CIA Action Thriller 'Scorpion'
• https://variety.com/2024/tv/global/eddie-redmayne-the-day-of-the-jackal-nbcu-1236188839/
• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/day-of-the-jackal-trailer-lashana-lynch-eddie-redmayne-1236028488/
• https://movieweb.com/jason-bourne-6-sequel-gets-title-director/
• 'Into The Lion's Mouth' Movie In Works; Harald Zwart Directing
• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/keira-knightley-black-doves-christmas-spy-thriller-netflix-1236031276/
• 'Agent 86,' China-Tunisia Action Film, Heads for Theatrical Release
• Kathryn Bigelow and Jason Clarke Reunite On Her Next Film At Netflix
• Cuba Gooding Jr., David A.R.White, Katrina Bowden In 'A Line Of Fire'
• New Predator Movie, Alien Romulus Sequel and Speed 3 Updates Revealed
• https://variety.com/2024/tv/global/slow-horses-renewed-season-6-apple-tv-gary-oldman-1236178258/
• https://movieweb.com/slow-horses-season-6-renewal-apple-tv/
• https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/the-diplomat-renewed-season-3-netflix-1236174440/
• The Night Agent Renewed for Season 3 at Netflix Ahead of Season 2
• https://movieweb.com/netflix-the-night-agent-season-3-renewal/
• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/reacher-renewed-season-4-amazon-1236028247/
• https://deadline.com/2024/10/mr-mrs-smith-season-2-casting-jane-billie-eilish-1236118525/
• https://movieweb.com/mr-mrs-smith-season-2-casting-new-leads-billie-eilish/
• Varun Dhawan, Samantha's 'Citadel: Honey Bunny' Unveils Trailer
• https://movieweb.com/citadel-diana-original-series-connection-explained/
• https://deadline.com/2024/10/citadel-diana-amazon-ratings-record-italy-1236117367/
• https://deadline.com/2024/10/anthony-russo-citadel-diana-honey-bunny-1236107616/
• https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/citadel-india-italy-spinoffs-1236178266/
• https://variety.com/2024/film/news/prince-william-paul-greengrass-jason-bourne-movie-request-1236174148/
• Chris Hemsworth & Sam Rockwell Guest Star In First Stuntnuts Movie
• Alvin Rakoff Dead: 'A Voyage Round My Father' Director Was 97
• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/alvin-rakoff-dead-voyage-round-my-father-director-1236034059/
• Beverly Hills Cop And Midnight Run Star John Ashton Is Dead At 76 | Cinemablend
• https://variety.com/2024/film/obituaries-people-news/kris-kristofferson-dead-country-music-legend-actor-1236159472/
• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/john-lasell-dead-dark-shadows-twilight-zone-1236030980/
• John Lasell Dead: 'Dark Shadows,' 'The Twilight Zone' Actor Was 95
• https://variety.com/2024/film/news/nicholas-pryor-dead-risky-business-1236172341/
• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/nicholas-pryor-dead-risky-business-beverly-hills-90210-1236027800/
• https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bob-yerkes-dead-stuntman-back-to-the-future-remo-williams-1236023595/
• Robert Watts Dead: ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Indiana Jones’ Producer Was 86 –

ARABESQUE is a 1966 spy movie starring Gregory Peck, Sophia Loren, and Alan Badel. Is it worth a watch?

Dan and Tom decode ARABESQUE to enhance your viewing experience – is it worth a watch? There are some very strong positives as well as some negatives to this movie

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why is this movie titled ARABESQUE?
• Did the cinematography help or hinder the movie?
• Which role might have been miscast?
• Was there chemistry between Sophia Loren and her leading male actors?
• What movies may have influenced ARABESQUE?
• What movies have ARABESQUE influenced?
• Was the shower scene funny enough?
• What did director Stanley Donen think of the script?
• Sophia Loren’s wardrobe
• What article of clothing is important to the plot?
• What famous stunt performer/coordinator had his first role in this movie?
• The benefit of disavowing a spy
• And more …

As you can see, there is a lot to decode, so take a listen to find out why this movie gets mixed reviews.  Some people like it and some don’t.

Tell us what you think about our decoding of ARABESQUE

So, take a listen and let us know what you think.  Have you seen ARABESQUE?  If so, what did you think of it?  If not, did we give you enough information to help you decide if you want to watch it?

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at [email protected].  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!  

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.  

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/4dTya1i

What are some of the pet peeves of spy movie fans? Particularly, are there specific things that show up in spy movies that drive fans nuts? 

Dan and Tom are joined by fans from their Facebook group to try to find out.  The members of this group are very devoted spy movie fans, and they don’t hold back on their opinions.  And occasionally they don’t agree. We’re joined by Bill Kanas, Morgan Lisney, Pietro Rossi and Eric Seabury. 

So, listen to what they have to say about: 

• Release Timing
• The Use of Tropes
• The Use of Technology (real and unreal)
• Does the villain matter?
• Dark vs. Light
• Plot Twists
• Romance Subplots
• CGI
• And More … 

Hey spy movie producers: take a listen to find out what spy movie fans REALLY think.  

Tell us what you think about the Pet Peeves of Spy Movie Fans 

Now that you’ve heard from some other spy movie fans, let us know what you think.  Do you agree or disagree with any of the points made by us and our fans?  Did we miss any pet peeves you have about spy movies? 

Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at [email protected].  The more we hear from you, the better the show will surely be!  We’ll give you a shout-out in a future episode!   

You can check out all of our CRACKING THE CODE OF SPY MOVIES podcast episodes on your favorite podcast app or our website. In addition, you can check out our YouTube channel as well.   

Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/3BAIj5C