The James Bond Complex

Hello dear listeners,

We hope you enjoy discussions about film editing. Like, really REALLY like discussions about film editing, because we’re back this week to analyze more Bond films with a finely toothed comb. That’s right, it’s time to look at how the films of the 70s were stitched together.

Rest assured, we do our best to be as entertaining as we are (mostly) informative. How can we not when good friend of the show Simon Drake is back to accompany us? Consider the impressive topics we touch upon: sausage factories, editing while eating breakfast, Richard Lester style humour, which Bond is Simon’s favourite, Micheline star restaurants and McDonald’s, more UNWARRANTED TMWTGG hate, filming peanuts on the ground, pulling large tubes out of things, the phobia of falling out of a plane without a parachute, and tripping on 7Gs.

So sit back, relax, and let us take you into the editing bay of the Bond films of the 70s.

Part 2 of our radio play The Making of Bomb Voyage, opens the episode. A star-studded cast is featured this time:

Bud West (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBkoFyb-aYj34MLJg662Tkw): narrator

Edgar Chaput: Bomb Voyage’s director

Mathieu Auclair: Bond Voyage’s producer

Simon Drake: the Bond actor

Jocelyn Sia (https://www.instagram.com/ladieswhobond/): the leading lady

Melanie from Birb, James Birb (https://www.instagram.com/birb.jamesbirb/) as M and the costume designer

Mike Reyes (https://twitter.com/MrControversy83) as the Felix Leiter actor

Jason Kim: the special effects engineer (calling in on a Zoom call)

Emery Cormier: voice over dubbing

Rodrigo Gonzalez: the Bond villain actor and disclaimer reader

Pierre Oliver Bernier: the documentary’s director

Mathieu Nadeau aka Matt #2 : the documentary’s cameraman

Hello, dear listeners!

It is often said in filmmaking that the edit, the cut, is a sacred thing. Well, it seems that we at The James Bond Complex believe very deeply in that philosophy because it inspired our longest conversation ever.

But we couldn’t go through the entire series (yes, all 25 films) and dissect its editing on our own. We brought friend of the show and independent filmmaker Simon Drake to talk about the movie making process and how important editing is for all kinds of storytelling elements.

So here is Part 1 of our Editing Bond series with Simon Drake.

Oh, and there is something a little bit different playing the start of the episode.

We got creative and, to help introduce all 5 parts of the Editing Bond series, have put on a little radio play. It’s a mockumentary about the making of a non-existent Bond film titled Bomb Voyage. Some familiar voices are heard, as well as some new ones. We hope you enjoy it. It’s tongue and cheek, nothing to take too seriously.

The players in Part 1:

Edgar: Bomb Voyage’s director

Matt: Bomb Voyage’s producer

Bud West (The Bond Brain podcast): the mockumentary’s narrator

Jocelyn Sia (Ladies Who Bond on Instagram): Bomb Voyage’s leading lady

Simon Drake: the leading man playing Bond

Pierre-Olivier: the mockumentary’s director

Mathieu Nadeau: the mockumentary’s cameraman

Rodrigo Gonzalez: the disclaimer voice

Hello, dear listeners!

As part of the effort to keep No Time to Die in the public conscience and possibly enjoy Oscar glory, a trio of interviews were recently set up between the film's talent and acclaimed directors. They were released online in February of 2022.

South Korean Bong joon-ho (Snowpiercer, Parasite) sat down with Daniel Craig, Cary Fukunaga, Barbara Broccoli, and Linu Sandgren. French Canadian Denis Villeneuve (Sicario, Dune) enjoyed some Zoom time one-on-one with NTTD's director. Finally, Mexican Guillermo Del Toro (Hellboy, The Shape of Water) discussed the latest Bond adventure with Fukunaga, Broccoli and Rami Malek.

Edgar and Jason, who admire the 3 internationally celebrated filmmakers, sit down to discuss the careers of these guest interviewers, their perspectives on the the 25th Bond film, and share some more thoughts on the movie itself, because we're clearly not tired of talking about it. 

So sit back, relax, put your film snob cap on and enjoy the latest episode of The James Bond Complex. We don't "chat about movies." We "discuss cinéma!"

Bong joon-ho's interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqKWL7Jj14Q&t=56s

Denis Villeneuve's interview: https://vimeo.com/665797813/7489c35d0f?fbclid=IwAR3vOalDB-ZLo0KtPwu6ESINcd5cidKqnbBqjfPz66_nC_0hKCT-V986QO8

Guillermo Del Toro's interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E7aHQVI27Y

Hello dear listeners! 

For the first time in 2022, all four of our hosts are together to talk about... The Batman? 

Well yes and no. In fact, while The Batman is a hotly anticipated new movie, we do take most of our time discussing the various, and even numerous, anniversaries in this, the 60th year of our savior James Bond. 20 years of Die Another Day, 10 for Skyfall but the main focus this year will be of course, the celebration of 1962's Dr. No. Without, well, we wouldn't be here. 

Be sure to stay tuned next week for part two. 

Dear regular listeners we are doing another episode in French.  But be assured next week we'll cover another element from the James Bond in the tongue of Shakespeare. But for now if you can or want to try out an episode in Molière's tongue. régalez-vous!

Cette semaine nous vous présentons la conclusion de cette épique discussion. (L'enregistrement original a durée quatre heures!) . Nous explorons tous les aspect de la dernière aventure de 007; Mourir peut attendre. 

Quelle surprise! Cet épisode est en français! Effectivement nous parlons aussi la langue de Madeleine et Mathilde. Raison de plus pour que notre auditoire s'excite: les mêmes amis qui se joignent à l'émission cette semaine étaient avec nous lors de la présentation de "Mourir peut attendre" en d’octobre dernier à Montréal. Nous espérons que nos amateurs francophones apprécieront cet épisode. 

Le James Bond Complex sera de retour next week!