James Bond & Friends

Join us as we watch 1964's Goldfinger together as a group experience.  Is the iconic film still the gold standard or are parts of it due for smelting down? Along the way, we discover Oddjob's bad fridge habits, effective grannies, why Gillette's not the best a man can get, nerve gas sponsorships, deckchairs for nuke watching, a suspicious Walgreens photo order, questions from insurance agents, the legacy of a serial number, and how Gary Marshall IS in Goldfinger despite Bill's insistence to the contrary. * The audio quality is not up to our usual standard for this episode. Unfortunately, there were several production and technical hitches that plagued the post process and caused an untimely delay to release, but we wanted to keep the order of the episodes intact. The recording took place on September 4th, 2020 in the USA, UK, and Spain.  James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com Phil Nobile Jr is editor of Fangoria and shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

Were the 1980s a golden era for independent women in the Bond film series?  For this episode, we reflect on the Bond Women of the 1980s, who were far from the gun-arm hanging damsels in distress the series had been criticized for in earlier decades. From the crossbow-wielding Melina set out on a mission of revenge, and ending with Pam’s strong-willed CIA pilot, we pick over the characters of the '80s, choose our favourites and shine a spotlight on some of the less-celebrated individuals. We also take a detour to chat about how the '80s saw a shift in the balance of power on Bond posters.  The companion issue to this episode #57 of MI6 Confidential is now shipping around the world from mi6confidential.com  The recording took place on November 25th, 2020 in the USA.  James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential Dr. Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Phil Nobile Jr is editor of Fangoria and shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr Mark O'Connell's home base is markoconnell.co.uk  Sean Longmore shares his artwork @ThatTallGinger  This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

For this episode, the panel remembers the life and career of the original big-screen James Bond - Sir Sean Connery - who died on this day at the age of 90 at his home in the Bahamas. We are joined for the first time by author Lee Pfeiffer who wrote the book on Connery's films and shares personal stories of meeting the man. We also dive into Connery's lesser-known film catalogue to recommend some movies to watch in honor of Big Tam. The recording took place on October 31st, 2020 in the USA. James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential Lee Pfeiffer is co-founder of Cinema Retro magazine and author of The Essential Bond - the best selling 007 film book of all time Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

Join us as we watch 1965's Thunderball together as a group experience.  For this episode, don your orange wetsuit, grab a spear gun, and cue up your copy of Thunderball as the panel chats over the film in real-time with observations, trivia, insights, and irreverence. Along the way, we discover grieving orphans, personalized hotel doors, a sweaty Vargas, Pinder's woodworking, and wonder where the dance floor is on the Disco Volante.  The recording took place on August 28th, 2020 in the USA, UK, and Spain.  James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com Phil Nobile Jr is editor of Fangoria and shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

It just happened again. How do we feel about the latest news of another delay? For this episode, the panel dives into the breaking news that No Time To Die has been delayed again, this time to April 2nd, 2020. When was this decision made? How has MGM handled the ill-fated campaign reboot? Given the big marketing push over the past week, how will this go down with the fan base? Is April next year even a viable target? The recording took place on October 2nd, 2020 in the USA, UK, Spain, and New Zealand. James Page and Paul Atkinson are co-founders of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com Phil Nobile Jr shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

If you apply the 'Death of the Author' theory to the James Bond books, what are you left with? For this episode, the panel delves into the concept of 'Death of the Author' in the context of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels. Is it now practically impossible to read the books independent of the bias created by the reader's knowledge of Fleming? If you remove the author from the reading of the text, is there any objective meaning left? Has Fleming become Bond rather than Bond being based on Fleming? Why did the literary estate start with this concept and then double-down on a reversal in 2008? Warning: the feelings of some continuation authors may be at risk. James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma. Her new podcast 'Licence To Critique' can be found at licencetocritique.buzzsprout.com Phil Nobile Jr shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

Join us as we watch 1973's Live And Let Die together as a group experience.  For this episode, don your tactical turtleneck, grab a bourbon (no ice), and cue up your copy of Live And Let Die as the panel chats over the film in real-time with observations, trivia, insights, and irreverence. Along the way, we discover suspicious grapes, bad grouting, Calvin's disapproval of psychics, Linda McCartney crocodile, JW's off-screen promotion, a very lucky dog, Lisa's robe rankings, and wonder if Kananga hired his heavies from Target. The recording took place on August 21st, 2020 in the USA, UK, and Spain. James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com Phil Nobile Jr shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

What do we think of the new No Time To Die trailer and relaunched marketing campaign? For this episode, the super-panel shares their views on 'Trailer 2' and how the film is being re-positioned after the delay from April to November. We also tackle the sticky issue of the push to release in an uncertain world, a new poster, and a big clanger from Universal in Europe. The recording took place on September 3rd, 2020 in the USA, UK, and Spain. James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential Ajay Chowdhury (co-author with Matthew Field) of Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com Phil Nobile Jr shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

Join us as we watch 1983's Octopussy together as a group experience.  For this episode, don your floppy shoes, grab a red nose, and cue up your copy of Octopussy as the panel chats over the film in real-time with observations, trivia, insights, and irreverence. Along the way, we discover underage drivers, a gameshow set, zooming boobs, Brian Blessed's pirate brother, two-dozen Star Wars cast members, Calvin's super attack-mode crocodile, Chekhov's pineapple, and wonder about Bond's exfoliated perineum. The recording took place on August 14th, 2020 in the USA, UK, and Spain. James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com Phil Nobile Jr shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020 

Join us as we watch 1985's A View To A Kill together as a group experience.  For this episode, don your velour tracksuit, grab a quiche, and cue up your copy of A View To A Kill as the panel chats over the film in real-time with observations, trivia, insights, and irreverence. Along the way, we discover Bavarian factory guards, a model maker massacre, a hot tub dipping chair, creepy kids bedrooms, a quiche serial killer, and subliminally channel Stacey Sutton. In an extended after-show we discuss the absurdist elements of Ian Fleming and wonder what happened to the budget. The recording took place on July 31st, 2020 in the USA, UK, and Spain. James Page is a co-founder of MI6-HQ.com and the magazine MI6 Confidential Calvin Dyson Reviews Bond channel can be enjoyed at youtube.com/calvindyson Lisa Funnell (@DrLisaFunnell) is Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Ben Williams writes for MI6-HQ.com and MI6 Confidential Bill Koenig runs the Spy Command at hmssweblog.wordpress.com Phil Nobile Jr shares his expertise at @PhilNobileJr David Leigh runs thejamesbonddossier.com This podcast is copyright Pretitles LLC © 2020