The James Bond Complex

Hello, dear listeners!

Close your eyes and imagine yourself as James Bond 007, lying in bed, watching as the impressive specimen that is May Day walks slowly towards you, completely nude. She leaps into bed. Just before you attempt a 00-Move on her to get the party under the bed sheets started, she wrestlers herself on top of you, firmly pinning you underneath, animalistic sexual desire and perhaps something else glinting in her eyes. And then…

Oh, sorry, we got carried away there. Where were we?

Ah yes, Mathieu and Edgar are back this week with the back end of their conversation with Phil. This time the trio dive neck deep into the long lost series of Find Your Fate books which served as one of the more intriguing bit of movie tie-in merchandising for 1985’s A View to a Kill. Published by Ballantine Books, the quartet of entries invited readers to live a James Bond adventure by making choices that would determine 007’s fate and that of the world. Think of VR but for book worms.

Phil guides the hosts and the listeners through the publication history of the short lived and hard to find series, revealing some tidbits that are sometimes just as titillating as the book outlines themselves. What would happen if James Bond found himself on the island of Dr. Moreau? Have you ever imagined 007 getting stuffed into an oven? How about being squished into wine? Would you believe it if we told you that R.L. Stine of Goosebumps fame wrote a Bond book? No? Well, have a listen to this week’s episode and let Phil regale you with stuff we’re guessing you probably didn’t know how 007 publication history.

Sit back, relax, and let’s welcome back Phil one more time. This takes being James Bond to a whole new level!*

*Any similarities between this episode’s description and the name of a certain 007 themed podcast is wholly coincidental. The author and hosts will not be held responsible for any confusion on the part of the reader or listeners. We have lawyers everywhere.

Phil can be found on Twitter here. https://twitter.com/paperback_film

*Full disclosure, this episode was recorded on the morning of Sunday October 6th, the day after Global James Bond Day. There is NTTD chatter, but obviously not up to date with what we know as of early January 2020.

Hello, dear listeners!

In December 2018 we invited former MI6 Confidential magazine writer and all around Bond aficionado/historian Philip Poggiali to regale hosts Matt and Edgar and the listeners with the secrets of what could have been Timothy Dalton’s 4th Bond film, Reunion With Death. It was undoubtedly a unique episode for which we thought a little bit outside the box to produce content.

Since then Phil and us have chatted online, shared ideas and banter but without ever concretely setting up a new instalment in our adventures into 007’s lost past. Until now, that is.

Yes, friend of the show Philip Poggiali is back, and much like last time he’s back to back! We give old Timothy a rest and instead discuss a version of Pierce Brosnan’s 2nd 007 adventure that surely exists in another timeline or parallel universe.  Beware the Dragon’s Teeth!

In the first episode of a 2-part instalment, Philip, Matt, and Edgar warm up with some Global James Bond Day discussion as well as share thoughts on NTTD developments (circa early October 2019) before delving neck deep into the trials and tribulations of American crime novelist Donald Westlake’s attempt at penning a Bond film in the mid 1990s. What’s more, Phil even reads a mini article he prepared just for this episode. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the podcast has an exclusive (which serves as the title of this week’s episode!). We even get to know some character names, including a would be legendary pun. It’s a real ‘’banger.’’ Oooh!

So sit back and, just like in December 2018, imagine a world where a different Bond film exists, one we will sadly never get to see, but can conjure up in our minds thanks to Phil’s tireless, meticulous research.

Check out Philip Poggiali on Twitter at https://twitter.com/paperback_film

Hello, dear listeners!

Happy New Year!

We thank you very much for your patience while waiting for the concluding chapter in our OP film review. After some NTTD trailer chatter and a special Christmas bonanza episode, it’s time to get down to business again. Let’s get cracking! Did you think the egg jokes would be limited to the movie’s plot synopsis from Part 1? Ha! Well, look at you now with egg on your face.

We last left Bond at the backgammon table with Kamal Kahn, the latter whom warned 007 to spend his winnings quickly. With so much of the film left to dissect with a finely toothed comb, Matt and Edgar get right down to it. But first, it’s important to take in some sight seeing of ‘traditional’ Indian culture, like sword swallowers and fire breathers. You know, everyday Indian stuff.

A visit to Q’s lab always does the trick to brighten spirits while on a perilous mission, to say nothing of free cleavage shots to keep our spirits up (and keep other things up too). Fake jewelry smuggling between East and West Berlin, the Most Dangerous Game, debating Tarzan’s place in pop culture history, amazing ADR spooky yells, Octopussy Circus: Lethal Assault Unit, clown disguises being no laughing matter and…and… uh…Oh right, Octopussy herself! Who would forget about talking about her?!?

So sit back and relax on this New Year’s Day 2020. It’s a new year, with new challenges, and new threats. But you still count on the brilliance of The James Bond Complex to get you through your mid-weeks.

From The James Bond Complex to you: Happy New Year!

Especially you, Octopussy…Octopussy…

Hello, dear listeners!

Tis the season! Seasons greetings from Matt and Edgar to all of you! Oh, but the hosts have much more to offer their listeners and friends than seasons greetings, even though those are very swell. Nay, they are offering their mics to the community on this very special episode of The James Bond Complex.

Some of you may remember a few months ago when Matt and Edgar unabashedly basked in the glory of their own fantasy Bond 26s, My Enemy’s Enemy and A Picture Worth a Thousand Deaths. Now, in the spirit and season of giving, they have invited a plethora of friends to join in on the fun and share their thoughts on where the franchise might go following No Time to Die, Daniel Craig’s final film. Even Jason Kim, the International Man of Mystery, joins in on the fun.

There is no shortage of unique visions, ideas, and voices on this episode. From getting all the 00s together in an epic climactic battle, taking the series back to the 1960s, rebooting it altogether, scaling down the scope, counting from 2 to 5 in French, the importance of actor-director reunions, Quantum being a superior organization than Spectre, psychic communications with the current producers, references to Roger and rogers in the poster tag lines, to how incredible the trailer for Carl Weathers’ Action Jackson is (uh…you’ll have to listen to find out). One guest even describes in intricate detail an entire pre-title sequence!

Virtually everyone appears in this episode. Even ghosts of James Bond past!

Pour the eggnog, shake your martinis, chill the Bollinger, and get the caviar ready. We sincerely hope you enjoy this episode of the show, not just because it’s all about fans being fans dreaming about the 00 million possibilities, but because it literally could not have happened without you, friends and listeners. 2019 was an incredibly year for the podcast, in large part thanks to you!

Enjoy the episode, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Love, peace, and health.*

Our special guests this week:

David Zaritsky from The Bond Experience

Bill Koenig from The Spy Command and James Bond and Friends

Emery Cormier from The Intrepid 007 Podcast

Jarrod, Jason, Delvin and Pat from On Her Majesty’s Secret Podcast: MI6 Rookie Agents

David Leigh from The Bond Dossier and James Bond and Friends

Don, Tyler, Martin, and Anthony from The 00 Files

Reuben Wakeman from The Toys of Bond

Peter Brooker from From Tailors With Love

Phil Pogiali, contributor to MI6 Confidential and all around Bond historian.

Joe Darlington from Being James Bond

AND

Jason Kim playing himself as the International Man of Mystery

*A good roger never hurts either.

Agent Jason Kim, International Man of Mystery joins us to chat about the brand spanking new trailer for "No Time To Die"!

Hello dear listeners!

Are you sometimes convinced that Sir Roger’s James Bond and Mr. White from CR, QOS, and SP are the hosts of the James Bond Complex? The familiar, nefarious tone when they proclaim that they have people everywhere. The amusing double-entendres and soothing voices to keep the proceedings light and engaging. The unquestionable professionalism with which they go about the analysis of the Fleming novels, the films, and everything in between. You’d earn top marks, dear listeners.

Except they’re fake.

No, it’s just Mathieu and Edgar entering the recording studio, week and week out, to deliver thorough commentary on the James Bond phenomenon.

As you may have guessed, this week the lads crack open 1983’s Octopussy. A rather important film in the franchise, given the same year’s non-official rival 007 picture starring, oh, what was his name again? Oh right, Sean Connery.  As was typical of the 80s Bonds, OP is supported by a fairly complex plot, so Matt and Edgar have a lot to wade through. How decadent is the West? Mirror mirror on the wall, Is Louis Jordain’s Kamal Khan the slimiest of them all? How much can one pack into a horse’s *ss? How easy is it to swap Fabergé eggs at an auction at Sotherby’s (Answer: incredibly)? Is there maximum age for Moore’s Bond at which women left and right stop fantasizing about him?

Sit down, fill your tummies with an egg (hard boiled, scrambled, sunny side up, etc. Your choice!) and get ready for Part 1 of our Octopussy review.

Let the discussion commence!

Hello, dear listeners!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Hosts Mathieu and Edgar being their journey into the world of the James Bond Daily Express newspaper strips!

They start off with a bang with 2 stories: Trouble Spot and Isle of Condors!

(Thinks to self)

…Hmm, we really have to sell this episode hard. People don’t really know much about the old black and white newspaper strips. It could come across as a tepid, antiquated topic for an entire episode. The public needs to be swayed. Alright then..

Extra! Extra! Woman strips to her bear essentials in order to torture whip captive dame!

Extra! Extra! 007 travels to a nude beach!

Extra! Extra! Woman recovers her sight when in the presence of James Bond’s oozing sex appeal!

Extra! Extra! Villain found on small island with an army of voracious condor birds!

Extra! Extra! James Bond finds woman rides naked on horse at night in the middle of the street!

Extra! Extra! Villain uses small army of beautiful dames as brainwashed spies!

Extra! Extra! Man actually has people call him ‘’Sharkface!’’

Sit back, make some coffee, crack open your copies of the Daily Express, and join Mathieu and Edgar as they tackle two efforts by writer Jim Lawrence and artists Yaroslav Horak. They may be in black and white, but don’t let that have you think they are any less colourful than the best of the 007 adventures!

Daniel Craig is done with the tuxedo and the PPK. Dynamite Entertainment to publish a lot more comics. Oh and our buddy Emery's podcast "The Intrepid 007 Podcast" celebrates it's one year anniversary!

Hello dear listeners!

Do you wanna get bugnuts?!? Let’s get bugnuts!!!! Oh, it’s on now. We return to 2002’s Die Another Day for the second and concluding part of the film review. As listeners may recall, co-hosts Mathieu and Edgar were, how shall we put it, uncharacteristically kind towards the picture, at least as far as the general consensus surrounding the film goes (read: it’s the absolute worst Bond film). But then again, as Matt so astutely put it, the film is divided into two parts, the first being a (somewhat) gritty thriller about a spy left out in the cold, on a solo mission to avenge those who wronged him. It’s a section that genuinely has some meat to it, with legitimately interesting ideas thrown into the mix.

Now comes the second part.

This is where the filmmakers pull out all the stops, throwing in everything including the kitchen sink. As they are want to do, Matt and Edgar strive to cover every nook and cranny of this decidedly loony portion of the film. Does Bond just make up espionage tactics on the fly as excuses to sleep with women? How does the film’s final half hour compare to a Michael Bay opus? Why did the series wait so long to give a baddie a super car? How juicy are Gustav Graves’ lines (spoiler: quite). Iceberg surfing, anyone? Are there really parachutes for two people?*

DAD is the film that just keeps on giving reasons to talk about it, as evidenced by this thorough examination this week. So sit back, have some sex for dinner, death for breakfast and…some James Bond Complex as an ‘’amuse bouche?’’ Oh!

*Whoops! Not anymore!

**First and foremost, circumstances forced Edgar to record the plot synopsis at a later date and with a different mic than usual. We apologize for the disparate audio quality that you’ll surely notice for a few minutes when he reads it.  

Hello, dear listeners! Let’s wind the clock back to 2002. The Bond film franchise is full swing into its 40th anniversary celebration. Cross-branding, an onslaught of promotional material, and of course the series’ 20th film installment, Die Another Day starring Pierce ‘ooh la la’ Brosnan.  Co-host Mathieu is a movie theatre employee, living the high life of being in the thick of Bondmania. Edgar is…missing in action? 

Yes friends, it is at long last time to delve into Brosnan’s 007 filmography And what better way to get the ball rolling than by taking care of the film many deem to be the lesser of his entries, much like we did with Connery?  But saying a film is not up to par does not insinuate that there isn’t anything to talk about. This week’s Part 1 of the Die Another Day discussion proves just that point. In fact, DAD is replete with noteworthy plot points, albeit not always for the right reasons. 

There are so many things to discuss that by the end of Part 1 we aren’t even half way through the film! Do Mathieu and Edgar crack the code to the genius of Madonna’s title song? Do iffy Korean accents mar the pre-title sequence? Is it okay to spout one-liners to nobody but oneself? What’s up with the weird pace to the dialogue exchanges? Do North Korean military prison camps fatten inmates up? 

So sit back with a mojito, light up a delectado en enjoy Die Another Day with us, yes and no. 

Analyze this! Analyze this! Analyze this, this this!