Tag: James Bond

Oct 15 2017

Episode 102 – Layer Cake

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Layer CakeWe have reached the end of our James Bond Odyssey as we take a look at the film that is, effectively, Daniel Craig’s audition for the role. Layer Cake is a movie clearly influenced with the works of Guy Richie and Quentin Tarantino.  It makes sense, of course, because director Matthew Vaughn produced some of Guy Richie’s earlier work. Barb Lind joins us to delve into this film that has a few problems but is a heck of a lot of fun.

Next up, Barb will return to watch The Godfather

Layer Cake (2004)
Layer Cake poster Rating: 7.2/10 (204,919 votes)
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writer: J.J. Connolly
Stars: Daniel Craig, Sienna Miller, Michael Gambon
Runtime: 105 min
Rated: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Released: 03 Jun 2005
Plot: A successful cocaine dealer gets two tough assignments from his boss on the eve of his planned early retirement.

Oct 01 2017

Episode 101 – Casino Royale

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Casino Royale

Our Bond cycle is now complete as we watch the first outing for Daniel Craig.  Casino Royale was the first re-boot of the Bond franchise although it held over Dame Judi Dench as M. Craig takes over James Bond and pulls the franchise in a direction that helps us understand a little bit about why Bond is the way we all expect him to be.  Chrys VanDerKamp joins us one last time to see if Mr. Craig can rock the suit and the Walther PPK as well as the actors who have come before him.  Spoiler alert: There is no skiing.

Next up, we follow Daniel Craig to Layer Cake!

Casino Royale (2006)
Casino Royale poster Rating: 8.0/10 (726,077 votes)
Director: Martin Campbell
Writer: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Paul Haggis
Stars: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench
Runtime: 144 min
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Released: 17 Nov 2006
Plot: After earning a licence to kill, secret agent James Bond sets out on his first mission as 007. Bond must defeat a private banker funding terrorists in a high-stakes game of poker at Casino Royale, in Montenegro.

Aug 15 2017

Episode 99 – Goldeneye

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GoldeneyeWe are back on the James Bond train as we introduce our guest Chrys VanDerKamp to the Pierce Brosnan film, Goldeneye!  This was Brosnan’s first outing as Bond and may be one of the most enjoyable Bond films of the storied franchise.  There are better Bond films but this one is an awful lot of fun.  It is also the first Bond film to be set after the collapse of the Soviet Union so there are some interesting shifts in tone when it comes to the relationship with Russia.  Bresnan would go on to make three more films as Bond, two of which were not very good.  He always made a great Bond, though, as this film shows.

Up next, we are recording our 100th episode and we’ll be taking a break from our Bond series to show Star Wars to someone who has never seen the film!

GoldenEye (1995)
GoldenEye poster Rating: 7.2/10 (279,746 votes)
Director: Martin Campbell
Writer: Ian Fleming, Michael France, Jeffrey Caine
Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Izabella Scorupco
Runtime: 130 min
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Released: 17 Nov 1995
Plot: When a powerful secret defense system is stolen, James Bond is assigned to stop a Russian crime syndicate from using it.

Jul 15 2017

Episode 97 – The Living Daylights

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The Living DaylightsWe return to our James Bond series with the first of only two Bond outings by Timothy Dalton – The Living Daylights! Chrys VanDerKamp returns as our guest to decide for herself where Dalton falls in the “who is the best Bond” debate.  Tim and Melissa are both Dalton apologists as he is frequently viewed as one of the worst actors to play the role (but he’s no George Lazenby).  We talk about why we think Dalton is underrated in the role and also why everyone disagrees on which Dalton film is the best.  Melissa prefers this one.  Tim prefers License To Kill.  Melissa won…this time!

Next up – we are going to follow Timothy Dalton to Hot Fuzz!

The Living Daylights (1987)
The Living Daylights poster Rating: 6.7/10 (111,599 votes)
Director: John Glen
Writer: Richard Maibaum, Michael G. Wilson, Ian Fleming
Stars: Timothy Dalton, Maryam d'Abo, Jeroen Krabbé
Runtime: 130 min
Rated: PG
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Released: 31 Jul 1987
Plot: James Bond is sent to investigate a KGB policy to kill all enemy spies, and uncovers an arms deal that potentially has major global ramifications.

Jun 15 2017

Episode 95 – Live and Let Die

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Live and Let DieThis week, we return to our James Bond series with the first installment of the Roger Moore era, Live and Let Die!  Moore was the longest tenured actor to play Bond (this is the first of seven films featuring him as the British super spy).  Chrys VanDerKamp joins us once again to unpack a film featuring some really fun action and some really problematic racism and sexism.  We also take a look at some less than spectacular science and explore the strange rules of psychic sexual contact exhibited in the film.  Eventually, we even talk about the late Sir Roger Moore a little bit!

Next up, we follow Sir Roger Moore to The Cannonball Run!

Live and Let Die (1973)
Live and Let Die poster Rating: 6.7/10 (121,464 votes)
Director: Guy Hamilton
Writer: Tom Mankiewicz, Ian Fleming
Stars: Roger Moore, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Seymour
Runtime: 121 min
Rated: PG
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Released: 27 Jun 1973
Plot: James Bond is sent to stop a diabolically brilliant heroin magnate armed with a complex organisation and a reliable psychic tarot card reader.

May 15 2017

Episode 93 – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

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We continue our exploration of James Bond and the actors who played him with On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the first and only film featuring George Lazenby as Bond.  Our guest is once again Chrys VanDerKamp, who will be joining us for every bond film as the only two she has seen is Quantum of Solace (which is unfortunate) and Goldfinger (which we showed her.)  On Her Majesty’s Secret Service is a fascinating Bond film as it establishes the premise that Bond can be played by another actor but it begs the question “why this one?”  Also there is a lot of skiing (a lot of skiing), Diana Rigg, and Telly Savalas!

Next up, we will follow Lois Maxwell, the original Miss Moneypenny, to The Haunting!  Sorry – George Lazenby really didn’t make another decent film and The Haunting is FABULOUS!

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service poster Rating: 6.7/10 (105,183 votes)
Director: Peter R. Hunt
Writer: Simon Raven, Richard Maibaum, Ian Fleming
Stars: George Lazenby, Diana Rigg, Telly Savalas
Runtime: 142 min
Rated: PG
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Released: 19 Dec 1969
Plot: British agent James Bond goes undercover to pursue the villainous Ernst Stavro Blofeld, who is planning to hold the world to ransom.

Apr 15 2017

Episode 91 – Goldfinger

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Goldfinger

Our Bond project officially begins!  Over the next several episodes, we will be watching Bond movies featuring each of the actors who have played this film icon as well as other movies featuring the same actor!  We begin with what many consider the best of the Bond films, Goldfinger!  Our companion for this film was Chrys VanDerKamp, who has limited Bond knowledge and leaves our Educational podcast anxious to learn more about the film series.  Don’t worry – we gave her a list.

Up next, we will watch another of Sean Connery’s best performances when we see The Untouchables!

Goldfinger (1964)
Goldfinger poster Rating: 7.7/10 (211,423 votes)
Director: Guy Hamilton
Writer: Richard Maibaum, Paul Dehn, Ian Fleming
Stars: Sean Connery, Gert Fröbe, Honor Blackman
Runtime: 110 min
Rated: Approved
Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller
Released: 09 Jan 1965
Plot: While investigating a gold magnate's smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.