Cracking the Code of Spy Movies!

How many of the gadgets do you remember from Pierce Brosnan's first two James Bond movies, GOLDENEYE and TOMORROW NEVER DIES? In this episode, Dan and Tom decode about 30 of them. We also let you know if we think a gadget is believable! So, how many different pitons do we talk about in these two movies? Do we think they are believable? Do you? Tom calls out a favorite weapons/gadgets in any movie and how TOMORROW NEVER DIES enhances that! How realistic is an exploding pen? How about digital scopes with the ability to transmit data? Would either of those things have worked in 1995 when GOLDENEYE was released or in 1997 with the release of TOMORROW NEVER DIES? And, what was that thing in Wai Lin's lab that took the one thug out? How many different uses did we point out for the remote controlled BMW and it's remote control? So have a listen, getting a better understanding of these gadgets will enhance your viewing experience next time you watch GOLDENEYE or TOMORROW NEVER DIES. Links we mentioned In this episode, we mentioned an article about a guy who made a laser watch. Here's the link to that article: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/home-made-laser-watch-is-real Tell us what you think about the gadgets in GOLDENEYE and TOMORROW NEVER DIES So, did we miss any gadgets? Which are your favorite gadgets? Did any gadgets strike you as believable? If so, which ones? Please let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com.  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/4dBH705

27 Aug 202429min

A Salute to George Lazenby Click here to watch the video version of this episode George Lazenby has announced his retirement from public life. This is a well-earned retirement and we wish him nothing but the best. In this episode, Dan and Tom bring Mike Reyes back for a salute to the second Eon Productions actor to play James Bond. George had huge shoes to fill in following Sean Connery. We think he filled them very well. Some of the topics we decode include: How George Lazenby landed the role of James Bond The Hulu show "Becoming Bond" How his James Bond was introduced in the movie and his "This never happened to the other fella" line in the ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE pre-title sequence. The pressure of taking over for Sean Connery who emblazoned his version of James Bond in the moviegoers' minds. Lazenby's upbringing How his work on ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE shaped the role of James Bond for the rest of the series What they think the next James Bond movie George Lazenby should have done. Hint, it isn't DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, which was the successor to ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE So, once again, we wish George Lazenby well in his retirement. And we thank him for his work on ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. You can read Mike Reyes' articles on CinemaBlend.com. Tell us what you think Let us hear from you about George Lazenby. What did you think of his performance as James Bond in ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE. Do you wish he'd done another Bond movie? Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com. 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/3X8RO4j

20 Aug 202442min

What makes a spy movie great? Are they built with common elements? Dan and Tom decode the blueprint that most spy movies use in creating their story. From the protagonist, the villain and a variety of other essential elements we look at how to build a spy movie. What do we need if we want to build a spy movie? Some of the things decoded include: Obviously a spy movie needs a protagonist or spy. But, what characteristics does that, or those spies have? What does he or she look like? Importantly, do they have different characteristics if the spy movie is gritty, an action spy movie, or a comedy? Next, what are the characteristics of the mission? We look at some examples of different spy movies to highlight some of these. And of course, every spy mission's protagonist needs a villain. And these villains aren't all carbon copies. They each seem to have their own physical traits. Again, we look at some examples of successful spy movie villains. If you have a male spy, do you need a femme fatale? What about allies? And what are some examples of how locations influence spy movies? What are some successful locations that we've seen in spy movies. One area of contention is around how much of the movie needs to be action sequences and what are some of the ways a studio can blow these for the audience? As we often talk about, there is a moral ambiguity in most spy movies. We look at this ambiguity and how it has two sides. Of course, there is more that we discuss, but this list gives you some good reasons to listen to this episode: How to Build a Spy Movie. Tell us what you think Are you ready to build your own spy movie? Are there things Dan and Tom missed? Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com. 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/3AiYKCR

13 Aug 202438min

HOGAN'S HEROES – a comedy spy WW II TV series "Hogan's Heroes" was a comedy series in the US from 1965 to 1971. But it was a spy, espionage and sabotage show as well – with plenty of violence. It was based on a group of prisoners of war in World War II who were assigned to Stalag 13. On this show, spy missions rule! Decoding this show, we will show you why! Dan and Tom tunnel their way into this series by looking at the characters, the actors who played them, and many of their missions. And yes, "Hogan's Heroes" is a bit dated with some of its portrayal of Germans and women, but we still think it holds up today. We talk about the German roots of some of the key people involved with the series and what Werner Klemperer required of the show for him to take on the role of Colonel Klink. Klemperer was born in Germany and he had a specific demand. We also include clips from the show to highlight our points and bring fun to it as well. With the lunatics running the asylum, there are some classic lines in the series. Some Hogan's Heroes Influencers Some of the episodes we decode have ties to real-world events or other movies. For instance, did you listen to our episode THE HEROES OF TELEMARK-DECODED? Well, one of the "Hogan's Heroes" episodes had roots in the underlying mission portrayed in the movie THE HEROES OF TELEMARK. We tell you which one. Another episode of Hogan's Heroes had similarities to the 1946 Sherlock Holmes movie, DRESSED TO KILL. Other episodes paid homage to TV game shows that were popular at the time. And what did synthetic fuel have to do with the war and this series? So, take a listen to hear about these and many more fun facts about this comedy spy series. Tell us what you think Have you watched "Hogan's Heroes"? What did you think? Is it a spy series? Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com. 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/4dzxDSG

6 Aug 202443min

THE HEROES OF TELEMARK – Decoding a movie about real World War II heroes In this episode, Dan and Tom decode a movie about some real World War II heroes, namely, the movie THE HEROES OF TELEMARK. This movie stars Kirk Douglas, Richard Harris, Ulla Jacobson, and Michael Redgrave. Plus, many supporting actors in this movie have appeared in other spy movies. We call some of those out for you THE HEROES OF TELEMARK is a dramatization of some real operations from World War II. These operations were: Operation Grouse Operation Freshman Operation Gunnerside And the sinking of the Norwegian ferry Hydro. These operations all focused on the Allies' attempts at keeping the Germans from getting "Heavy Water". Heavy Water was used in the process of creating an atomic bomb. The Allies had to stop or slow down the Germans so that the Allies could create the bomb first. We decode this movie against the backdrop of the real missions, while diving into what "Heavy Water" is and where it comes from. Tell us what you think Have you been involved in atomic bomb development? If so, we'd love to hear your thoughts on the accuracy of this movie's scientific information. Have you watched THE HEROES OF TELEMARK? What did you think? Was the romance a negative for your enjoyment of the movie? So take a listen to hear what we think of THE HEROES OF TELEMARK. Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com. 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/3A20ikR

30 Jul 202435min

MY SPY: THE ETERNAL CITY - Is it worth your time? MY SPY: THE ETERNAL CITY is the much-anticipated follow-up to the 2020 action-comedy MY SPY. It reunites a wonderful cast led by Dave Bautista and Chloe Coleman. The movie takes us on a feel-good adventure set in some of Europe's most storied destinations. In this episode, Dan and Tom decode this movie, while not revealing any spoilers. The goal is to enhance your viewing experience when you watch this movie. Good or bad or both? We think this is a good spy movie for some spy movie fans, while some spy movie fans won't like the lighthearted, comedic feel of MY SPY: THE ETERNAL CITY. One of our goals is to ensure the right people watch this movie. So: If you are a teenager or a young adult, we think you are the target audience for this movie. Listen to this episode to find out why. If you are sensitive to some language, jokes targeted to the Catholic Church, or some nude statues, listen to find out if this is a movie you won't like. We spell out why this has a PG-13 rating in the US so you can make your own decisions. After all, not all movies are for all people. If you are an adult who isn't sensitive to those things and who wants to watch a comedy spy movie, we think you'll like MY SPY: THE ETERNAL CITY. So, in short, this movie has some good laughs, a pseudo-plausible plot, and a chase scene with a vehicle we've never seen in a spy movie before. We like MY SPY: THE ETERNAL CITY, and this episode should help you figure out if it is worth your time. Tell us what you think So, have you watched MY SPY: THE ETERENAL CITY? If so, did Dan and Tom hit the mark? If not, will you watch this movie? Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com.  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/3YdhWMl

23 Jul 202429min

Build-A-Bond – What Does The Next Bond Need to Be? Dan and Tom look at how to Build-a-Bond. In other words, what are the key elements of Bond over the decades that should go into the best Bond? We will help Eon Productions here as we Build-a-Bond! What were the positive qualities of James Bond for each of the previous six actors that Eon Productions has cast for the role? What are the qualities that they each brought that we think must be included in the next hire? James Bond has had a different personality with each actor to play him. Yes, we all know that Sean Connery, with Director Terence Young's tutelage set the stage. George Lazenby brought a little more rough and tumble. Roger Moore brought more humor. Timothy Dalton turned out the lights and made Bond dark. Pierce Brosnan was cool. And Daniel Craig darkened things up again. So, we know all that. But there's much more to it. Dan and Tom dig deeper to find the personality traits that were common to all of the actor's portrayals. Take a listen to find out what these are. Finally, what actors do Tom and Dan think are in their Build-a-Bond box? Tell us what you think So, did we miss any personas for the next actor to play James Bond? What do you think of our list of persona needs? And, who do you want to see take up the role of Bond, James Bond? Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com. 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/4bJFA6l

16 Jul 202427min

EYE OF THE NEEDLE – A WW II spy thriller EYE OF THE NEEDLE is a 1981 spy thriller starring Donald Sutherland. In it, one key plot point exposes one of the acts of deception that we discussed in our episode "OPERATION BODYGUARD - Behind the Spies in Movies and Novels". In this episode, Dan and Tom decode EYE OF THE NEEDLE, discussing the high-level plot and 10 good reasons to watch it. The deception which is centerfold in this movie has its roots in the real Operation Fortitude – which frames the discussion. One big plus for this movie is Donald Sutherland. He gives an excellent performance playing Henry Faber.  He really knows how to play a villain. This DECODING session answers the questions: Is this an engaging espionage plot ? What of the atmospheric setting ? The character development? Does the movie sustain a tense and suspenseful feeling? Strong supporting cast ? What's the movie's historical context? What is the moral ambiguity? How visually impressive is this movie? Spy taxis? U-Boats? Abide With Me? This movie is an adaptation from a Ken Follett novel Dan and Tom also discuss criticisms of EYE OF THE NEEDLE, weighing in as to whether they agree or disagree with the critiques. Tell us what you think So have you seen EYE OF THE NEEDLE?  What did you think of it? Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and what you thought of this episode. Just drop us a note at info@spymovienavigator.com.  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/3S0k2LP

9 Jul 202451min