Was ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE good?  That is a question that Bond fans have been arguing since its release.  In this episode, Dan and Tom walk through the top 10 reasons why they think ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE is a good movie.  Then they look at it from the other side with the top 10 reasons it is criticized.    Some things they examine are:  George Lazenby  The score  The action  Telly Savalas’ portrayal of Blofeld  The emotional...

James Bond can survive, can't he? “Come on Bond, where the hell are you?” M pleads near the end of NO TIME TO DIE.  Let’s talk about that.  In this episode, Dan and Tom have fun coming up with some ways that James Bond can survive after the debacle at the end of NO TIME TO DIE.     Some of their ideas make some sense, some are based on how other fictional characters have survived their demise and still others are just outright wacky. Where are you James Bond? We have a shout-out to...

THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD is often considered one of the best spy movies of all time. We couldn’t agree more. In this episode, Dan and Tom decode this classic. As far as spy movies go, THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD is dark, and probably a bit more realistic in terms of a spy’s life, than anything James Bond does.  There are no Aston Martins here, no tuxedos, no glamorous venues – nothing that could make you smile or feel relaxed much.  The decision to film it in black and...

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME Filming Locations in Sardinia! Your covert field operatives Dan and Tom trace their exploits in visiting the filming locations in Sardinia, Italy from the James Bond Movie, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME.  Many people love going to James Bond filming locations. Dan and Tom do as well. Many times, these locations are very cool.  Sardinia, Italy is one such place – simply beautiful and a destination which made the trip that much more fun! Not everything went smoothly for...

One of the leading experts on traveling to James Bond filming locations worldwide joins us at Cracking the Code of Spy Movies for this amazing segment, our Uwe Brosamle interview!   Uwe Brosamle estimates he’s traveled to over 80% of the James Bond filming locations - and he’s done it in just 10 years. Most James Bond fans love discovering and visiting James Bond filming locations - and certainly, it is a passion for Dan and Tom - so it is great to talk with an expert on how to do it...

DIE ANOTHER DAY - pre-title sequence decoded! We know that Tom hates DIE ANOTHER DAY, but strangely, he has some kind things to say about this pre-title sequence. Hint: Tom likes hovercraft, surfing, and flamethrowers.  Interestingly, Dan has more negative thoughts in this episode than Tom does, and he doesn’t hate the movie. Take a listen as they decode this very different pre-title sequence! What makes this pre-title to DIE ANOTHER DAY unique?  Is it better than the movie itself?  Is...

DR. NO - James Bond's choices: At the end of DR. NO, James Bond has to make several potentially life-threatening decisions to escape from Dr. No’s captivity.  What are the choices he needs to make?  How does he decide which path to take?  Was it just luck that he got out of there alive (and with Honey Rider)?  Dan and Tom break down James Bond’s path and the choices he made from his holding cell to the boat in which he and Honey flee. They discuss Bond’s decisions and the odds against...

Today we talk to the most famous graphic designer no one knows: Joe Caroff!  62 years ago, Joe created one of the most identifiable movie logos in history - the 007 logo! In this episode, we talk with Joe about his work on not just the 007 logo the entire world knows, but his other contributions to the James Bond movie legacy, his non-Bond design work, and more about his background.   What Joe Caroff has designed in his career will astonish you!! And he tells us about many of his...

SPY KIDS: ARMAGEDDON is the just released kids spy movie. You can find it on Netflix. We give you our non-spoiler look at this movie and let you know if we think this is worth watching. We also talk about why it has a PG rating and is family friendly. SPY KIDS: ARMAGEDDON is the fifth installment in the Spy Kids franchise. It has an all-new cast and characters. As with the first Spy Kids movie, it is a story about a boy and a girl who don't know that their parents are spies. This...

Mark Cerulli is a writer, producer, and director who helped create the “Making Of” series giving us the behind the scenes look at GOLDFINGER and THUNDERBALL. Mark tells us how the series was made, behind the scenes stories, his interactions with Sean Connery, and much more. Mark also discusses his documentary BY DESIGN: THE JOE CAROFF STORY.   We KNOW every James Bond fan is familiar with Joe Caroff’s work.  Yet, you probably have never heard of him.  Mark fills you in on Joe’s...

GOLDFINGER - Oddjob Character Spotlight: Today we dig deeply into the character of Oddjob  in GOLDFINGER - superbly and memorably played by Harold Sakata! GOLDFINGER set the standard for the James Bond formula. Oddjob is a character that must be placed in our Character Spotlight, as Harold Sakata’s portrayal of Oddjob is flawless. Yes, he's one of the James Bond series most notorious henchman, he doesn't speak, and he'll do anything so support his boss, Auric Goldfinger. So, how...

HEART OF STONE - First Reactions - No Spoilers: Another spy movie with Artificial Intelligence at its heart, it has explosions, double crosses, an excellent cast, and most spy movie tropes you can think of. We’ll look at these and other components of the just-released Netflix movie starring Gal Gadot, HEART OF STONE.    Listen as we give you our no-spoiler review. We’ll keep the spoilers out but give you our opinion and some background to help you determine if HEART OF STONE is worth...

With "Quarrel Played by John Kitzmiller in DR. NO", we are kicking off our new series where we look at character profiles of supporting roles in spy movies. We'll look at the actor, the role, and how this character enhances and enriches the movie. So, how does Quarrel's role develop throughout DR. NO? How did John Kitzmiller's acting bring out the character of Quarrel? His facial expressions, straightforward approach to the role, and how Quarrel has contributed to shaping the...

MR-9-DO OR DIE, SALAAR, AMATEUR, SPY X FAMILY CODE: WHITE, MAGGIORE, RED NOTICE 2, and BLINDSPOT are just some of the upcoming spy movies or series that we’ll fill you in on today in our Spy Movie News - July 25 2023 edition.  Take a listen as we talk about these movies or series that you may not yet have heard about. We also discuss some industry news both for spy movies/series as well as some news affecting the podcast industry. So, have a listen and you’ll “Be in the Know” and get up...

Welcome to our fourth anniversary show! Yes, SpyMovienavigator.com and our podcast show, Cracking the Code of Spy Movies have just passed their fourth anniversary. Thanks to all of you for listening and getting us here! Join Dan and Tom as they look back on the past year. It has been an exciting one with interview highlights with Trina Parks, Robert Davi, Julian Glover, Del Singh, James Bond Movie Quizzes, movie reviews, and more. We focused and decoded a lot more classic spy...

Dan and Tom just saw MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONE. Take a listen as they give you their no-spoiler first impression of the movie.  Is it dead-on or dead-wrong? Is it worth your time and money to go see it? Does the plot work? How's the acting, the score, and the cinematography? How were the stunts? Did the marketing spoil some of the thrills? We answer these questions and provide our guidance on the movie. Once you've seen MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING...

What is the Mission: Impossible arc that covers the first six movies with Ethan Hunt? Really? Is there an arc? If so, was the arc always there but needed to be exposed in the most recent Mission: Impossible movies? Or did they create the arc after the first couple of Ethan Hunt Bond movies? Well, take a listen as we talk with Mike Reyes of CinemaBlend.com to hear his take on it. Mike writes about movies with a passion toward spy movies. So, does he think there is an arc? If so, what is...

What’s new in the spy movie world?  In this Spy Movie News June 27 2023 edition, we look the upcoming spy movies or series: Trust No One, Fubar, Heart of Stone, Argylle, The Wild Wild West, and of course, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One and more! Speaking of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, what is it's real release date? Take a listen to find out. It's convoluted. What impact and effect will the releases of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny on June...

What would it be like to help work on and restore the actual James Bond vehicles used in the movies long before they go the public exhibits and shows, like Bond in Motion?   Well, we were invited to a work weekend to do exactly that! THE WEEKEND Dan and Tom recently were privileged to attend the Ian Fleming Foundation work weekend. This is one of the times that the Foundation spends working on its inventory, restoring the vehicles, and having a great time telling James Bond stories. It was a...

Today we are excited to talk with Trina Parks! She played Thumper in the James Bond movie DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER. In this wide-ranging interview, Ms. Parks discusses: - Her upbringing by her father, Jazz Saxophonist Charles Frazier - Her stage career - Her experience filming her iconic scene as Thumper in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER - Meeting Sean Connery for the first time - Meeting George Lazenby for the first time - Her experience filming THE BLUES BROTHERS,...

Here in our Spy Movie News – May 30 2023 edition we discuss the upcoming spy movies or series: Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning, The Sympathizer, The Black Kaiser, Butterfly, Classified, Fog of War, Neither Confirm Nor Deny, Birdseye, and more. We'll keep you updated as these movies progress. Some are in early development and other are already filmed. So, have a listen and you’ll “Be in the Know” and get up to date on all things spy movies and series. You can check out all...

Join us for our KANDAHAR - No-Spoiler Review. The spy movie KANDAHAR just released this weekend. Is it worth your time and money to see? We discuss the actors, cinematography, the portrayal of religion, the political statements, and how there is no place like home in the movie KANDAHAR. Gerard Butler stars in this one. But, we think Navid Nehahban steals the movie with his role of Mo. Plus, what is the similarity between KANDAHAR and THE COVENANT, which is still in...

What are the best Bond pre-title sequences in your mind?  Well, today Mike Reyes of Cinemablend.com joins us to share his thoughts on this. In 2020, Mike wrote a column called the 11 Most Memorable James Bond Pre-Titles Openings (link in our episode notes on SpyMovieNavigator.com)  So, what are his thoughts 2 1/2 years later?  We know that our James Bond top lists change frequently, so here we dig into 8 pre-title sequences that Mike thinks are definitely noteworthy today.  So, take...

Join Dan and Tom as they discover THE TRAITORS, a 1962 British B Spy Movie. Does it make the Grade? Low budget B movies were made, for the most part, to be the second billing on double features. Low-budget doesn't necessarily mean a bad movie. In this episode we dive into THE TRAITORS without giving away the movie. THE TRAITORS has a good cast starring Patrick Allen, James Maxwell, Jacqueline Ellis, and Zena Walker. We look at the high-level plot, what makes this a B movie, how...

Join Dan and Tom for their latest episode, NIGHT TRAIN TO MUNICH - Decoded! This 1940 spy thriller stars Margaret Lockwood, Rex Harrison, and Paul Henreid. And, it received an Oscar nomination for writing. In this episode we look at some fun and interesting parts of the movie. Are these real cable cars in this spy movie? What are Charters and Caldicott doing in this movie? Did the major events depicted here really happen?  Was this another propaganda war movie?  What influences do we see...