After an unbelievable three-film run to start the James Bond franchise, Eon Productions was feeling itself and decided to make the most expensive Bond adventure yet. What did this mean? Scuba diving. A lot of scuba diving. Like, you won't understand how much scuba diving unless and until you see Thunderball.

And the public ate it up! It is still the biggest Bond movie of all time at the box office (adjusted for inflation). Is it as good as its predecessors? Wade says it is. Matt says it isn't. Who is right? Can these two ever learn to get along?

R.I.P. to the sharks.

Watch this episode in full on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gaz4L1fuuOw

Time stamps:

• 00:09:20 — History segment: The saga of Thunderball and the long legal battle between Ian Fleming, Kevin McClory, and Eon; Sean Connery is getting sick of playing James Bond; the production and legacy of Thunderball
• 00:25:56 — Movie discussion
• 01:23:15 — Final thoughts and star ratings

Thunderball (1965) was directed by Terence Young. Starring Sean Connery, Adolfo Celi, Claudine Auger, Rik Van Nutter, Luciana Paluzzi, Guy Doleman, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn, and Roland Culver as the Home Secretary.

Artwork by Laci Roth.

Produced by Matt Stokes.

Music by Rural Route Nine.

Listen to 1-Week Rental, Matt's weekly movie podcast with Laci Roth on Apple Podcast (https://bit.ly/45fA9IW) or Spotify (https://bit.ly/3tk7FAr), and watch it on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@1weekrental).

Listen to Wade's music:

• Dash Rip Rock's new album, A Song In Everyone (https://bit.ly/4q3gdDO)
• A Song In Everyone on vinyl (https://bit.ly/4r5ds5F)
• Wade's solo album, Who Said That? (https://bit.ly/3LPUNf3)
• Lilli Lewis (https://bit.ly/3NylTIj)
• Incubators (https://bit.ly/3LOeuUv)
• Rural Route Nine (https://bit.ly/45ny1Ss)