Now Playing Presents: The James Bond Movie Retrospective Series
30 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 49 ratingsIn celebration of James Bond's 50th Anniversary in film and the release of the upcoming Bond thriller Skyfall, Now Playing will be reviewing every James Bond film! Join us at nowplayingpodcast.com to hear all the reviews!
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Episodes
No Time to Die
October 12, 2021 22:00 - 2 hours - 102 MBDiamonds may be forever, but Daniel Craig only has one more shot at bringing James Bond to life in No Time To Die. Will longtime nemesis Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) ruin the superspy’s chances at Happily Ever After by blowing up his Italian holiday with Lea Seydoux? Or will Rami Mallick prove to be the bigger threat as he uses nanotechnology and a Zen Garden of Death to poison the world? Find out if Brock, Stuart, and Arnie are shaken or stirred by 007 replacement Lashana Lynch, or any of the...
Spectre
November 11, 2015 02:30 - 1 hour - 107 MBDespite being a box office draw for 50 years, James Bond's last outing Skyfall shattered all expectations, making over $1 billion worldwide. That set expectations exceedingly high for the next Bond adventure -- Spectre. The movie brings back the classic cadre of Bond baddies, as well as the star and director of Skyfall. Did this film hit its target? Join Brock, Arnie, and Stuart to find out!
Skyfall
November 22, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 54.2 MBAfter reviewing 25 movies released over the span of 50 years, Now Playing reaches the conclusion of its James Bond retrospective series--Skyfall. Continuing the rebooted spy stories starring Daniel Craig, Skyfall has already become the top-grossing film in the James Bond franchise, and there is even rumblings of Academy Award honors. But can it really best Craig's Casino Royale, and how does a life long Bond fan warm to this new take? Listen to Now Playing's ultimate James Bond review to f...
Quantum of Solace
November 20, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 35.2 MBIn 2006 we got a new take on an old hero with James Bond in Casino Royale, but while the film told of the spy's first adventure questions were left unanswered. Who were the mysterious people to whom Le Chiffre owed money? Who is the mysterious employer behind Mr. White? These answers were to be revealed two years later in the follow-up film Quantum of Solace. With Daniel Craig returning and a title taken from an original Fleming story, can this film live up to the high praise given to Cas...
Casino Royale (2006)
November 16, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 37.8 MBJames Bond made his first appearance in Ian Fleming's novels in 1953 in the novel Casino Royale, and in 2006 a brand new James Bond makes his first appearance in a film based on that novel. Rights issues had prevented Eon from adapting the original James Bond story as part of their film series, but with the rights obtained they used that opportunity to present a new James Bond for a new generation. Not just a new actor in the role, but an entirely new take on the MI6 agent, showing his orig...
Die Another Day
November 13, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 34.1 MBIt's James Bond's first adventure in the 21st century, and Pierce Brosnan's last time playing the role of the British secret agent. Partnered with Halle Berry's NSA agent Jinx Johnson, can the two stop a North Korean terrorist's nefarious plot? It's a film celebrating the lore of Bond, but not very celebrated by Bond fans. Is the reputation deserved, and what final impression does Brosnan leave as Bond? Listen to Now Playing to find out!
The World Is Not Enough
November 09, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 29.7 MBIn Pierce Brosnan's third outing as James Bond he must protect an oil heiress against a mercenary out for revenge, and uncovers a plot that involves a nuclear bomb being detonated in Istanbul. Notorious for having Bond girl Denise Richards, is this movie enough to earn a recommend from Arnie, Stuart, and Brock? Listen to Now Playing to find out!
Tomorrow Never Dies
November 06, 2012 06:00 - 57 minutes - 26.2 MBBond has taken on evil in many forms, from expansionist communist regimes to maniacal villains who wish to destroy Earth, but can Bond take on the villain of the 90s--the media? In Brosnan's second film playing 007, he goes against Elliot Carver who hopes to foster a war between England and China to raise the ratings of his cable news network. The film has kung-fu, a helicopter chase, and a remote-controlled BMW, but is it Bond at his best? Listen to find out!
GoldenEye
November 02, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 36 MBAfter the longest hiatus in the history of the James Bond flm franchise, Bond is back and now portrayed by former Remington Steele actor Pierce Brosnan. In a post-Cold War era, can Bond remain relevant to modern audiences? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Brock's review to find out!
Goldeneye
November 02, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 36 MBAfter the longest hiatus in the history of the James Bond flm franchise, Bond is back and now portrayed by former Remington Steele actor Pierce Brosnan. In a post-Cold War era, can Bond remain relevant to modern audiences? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Brock's review to find out!
License to Kill
October 30, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 29.6 MBDalton is Bond, but no longer 007 when his License to Kill is revoked! When a drug lord goes after Bond's friend, the spy will stop at nothing for revenge. It's a Bond for the 80's, but does it hold up in the 21st century? Listen to Brock, Arnie, and Stuart's review to find out!
The Living Daylights
October 23, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 29.6 MBWith Roger Moore retiring as James Bond the mantle was passed to British actor Timothy Dalton. Portraying a more modern version of 007, Dalton's Bond had a harder edge and a more action movie feel. Is The Living Daylights the living end for Arnie, Stuart, and Brock? Listen to their review to find out!
A View to a Kill
October 16, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 37.9 MBIn 1985 Roger Moore set two records--at 57 years old he was the oldest actor to portray James Bond, and with A View to a Kill his seventh Bond film he played Bond in the official films more times than any other actor to date. A View to a Kill would be his last film as James Bond, but with Christopher Walken as villian Max Zorin, Grace Jones as Zorin's goon May Day, and a rocking theme by 80's rockers Duran Duran, is Moore's last Bond film worth a view, or a kill? Listen to find out!
Never Say Never Again
October 09, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 31.6 MBYou Only Live Twice declared "Sean Connery IS James Bond"...and then Connery quit and Roger Moore was James Bond. But due to legal wrangling a competing James Bond film was released in 1983 and once more Sean Connery WAS James Bond. Is this the long awaited return of the true James Bond, or a desperate cash grab? Listen to find out!
Octopussy
October 02, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 32.3 MBAfter For Your Eyes Only many people thought Roger Moore's Bond was at an All Time High, and with the impending revival of Sean Connery as a competing James Bond Eon was sure to bring back Moore as their golden gun for another adventure. This time Bond must team up with a group of smugglers to stop a crazed Russian general from taking over the world. Does Bond's clowning around work for Arnie, Stuart, and Brock? Listen to find out!
For Your Eyes Only
September 25, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 31.7 MBAfter an out of this world adventure, Bond faced a more grounded foe in 1981's For Your Eyes Only. A British spy boat is sunk and Bond must get to its missile control system before the Russians do, but his quest is stymied by crime boss Aris Kristatos. Is the quality of this film as high as Kristatos' mountaintop fortress? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Brock's review to find out!
Moonraker
September 18, 2012 06:00 - 52 minutes - 24 MBJames Bond has traveled the world in name of Queen and country, but for his eleventh official movie he has to go where no MI6 agent has gone before--outer space! In Moonraker Bond goes up against space shuttle manufacturer Hugo Drax and stop his plan to kill most life on Earth and breed a new master race. With a return of Bond baddie Jaws, a laser gun battle, and CIA agent Holly Goodhead, Moonraker is one of the most polarizing entries in the Bond franchise. Will it achieve liftoff with Ar...
The Spy Who Loved Me
September 11, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 30.2 MBWhen both British and Russian nuclear subs disappear, 007 must team up with Soviet Agent Triple X to investigate. But when X discovers Bond killed her lover, things get more complicated. Can they work as partners to stop aquatic anarchist Karl Stromberg? And is this movie, directed by Lewis Gilbert, as good as his previous Bond--You Only Live Twice? Listen to Stuart, Brock, and Arnie's review to find out!
The Man with the Golden Gun
September 04, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 28.5 MBFor Roger Moore's second Bond film every attempt was made to recapture the magic of Goldfinger. With the return of Goldfinger's director Guy Hamilton, another character carrying a golden pistol, and a plot full of twists and turns, it certainly seems like all the right ingredients were brought together. Add in classic Hammer horror icon Christopher Lee as a master assassin aided by diminutive aide Nick Nack, did this film live up to Bond's gold standard? Listen to Stuart, Arnie, and Brock ...
The Man With the Golden Gun
September 04, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 28.5 MBFor Roger Moore's second Bond film every attempt was made to recapture the magic of Goldfinger. With the return of Goldfinger's director Guy Hamilton, another character carrying a golden pistol, and a plot full of twists and turns, it certainly seems like all the right ingredients were brought together. Add in classic Hammer horror icon Christopher Lee as a master assassin aided by diminutive aide Nick Nack, did this film live up to Bond's gold standard? Listen to Stuart, Arnie, and Brock ...
Live and Let Die
August 31, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 34.4 MBThey tried replacing Sean Connery once and failed. But with Connery's determination to move his career beyond Bond, United Artists had to once again recast the British spy. With the adaptation of Ian Flemming's second James Bond novel, Live and Let Die, English actor Roger Moore stepped into the tuxedo. Moore was already familiar with playing a spy, having played Simon Templar on television's The Saint for eight years, and Moore continued that success becoming the longest-serving James Bon...
Diamonds Are Forever
August 28, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 28 MBNever Say Never Again isn't the only time Connery played Bond after leaving the role. After George Lazenby's one outing, United Artists decided to take Bond back to its original formula, bringing back the director, the writer, and the star of Goldfinger for one last Bond adventure. It's Connery's last official appearance as 007, facing off one last time against SMERSH and Blofeld. Which is better, Diamonds or Gold? Listen to Stuart, Brock, and Arnie to find out!
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
August 24, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 28.6 MBJames Bond is back, but Sean Connery isn't. Instead, wearing the tuxedo and tossing the hat, is George Lazenby, an actor who would play Bond only once. Lazenby was long a punch line for the Bond franchise, but some Bond fans consider this film one of the best. Does Lazenby escape Connery's shadow, and should he have had a second shot playing the British agent? Listen to this episode of Now Playing and find out!
You Only Live Twice
August 21, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 30.7 MBThe poster boasted "Sean Connery IS James Bond", and yet You Only Live Twice was released with Eon Productions looking for a replacement actor as Connery had announced he was leaving the role of Bond. But for his supposed final film all stops were pulled out as he finally comes face-to-scarred-face with Blofeld, head of the evil group SPECTRE. Is this a film that you should watch twice? Listen to Brock, Stuart, and Arnie's review to find out!
Casino Royale (1967)
August 17, 2012 06:00 - 57 minutes - 26.5 MBIn 1967 Bond fans were very anxious for the next installment in the series, with Sean Connery returning in You Only Live Twice. But that's not the movie we're reviewing! A few short weeks before You Only Live Twice came out, the first "unofficial" James Bond film came out--Casino Royale! A broad Bond spoof with several big name actors, a licensing deal allowed Columbia Pictures to put out this competing James Bond film, and would be the only theatrical adaptation of Ian Flemming's first Ja...
Thunderball
August 14, 2012 06:00 - 53 minutes - 24.5 MBJames Bond's fourth theatrical outing has the superspy enjoying the Bahama sun, facing off against SPECTRE to retrieve two stolen nukes! Featuring a bevy of henchmen and extensive underwater sequences, does this Bond film sink or swim? Listen to this week's Now Playing to find out!
Goldfinger
August 10, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 29.8 MBSean Connery's third time was a charm for his James Bond films. With Goldfinger the Bond formula was solidified. The song, the gadgets, the girls, the plots, it all came together for this film, which many Bond fans cite as their favorite. Does this film have the Midas touch with Arnie, Stuart, and Brock? Listen to find out!
From Russia with Love
August 07, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 28.7 MBJames Bond is back! In the last film Bond killed SMERSH agent Dr. No, and now No's boss, the mysterious ailurophile Blofeld. His plot--a beautiful Russian double-agent offers to defect in exchange for Bond's affections. Will Bond take the bait? And is this a review from Now Playing with love? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Brock to find out!
From Russia With Love
August 07, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 28.7 MBJames Bond is back! In the last film Bond killed SMERSH agent Dr. No, and now No's boss, the mysterious ailurophile Blofeld. His plot--a beautiful Russian double-agent offers to defect in exchange for Bond's affections. Will Bond take the bait? And is this a review from Now Playing with love? Listen to Arnie, Stuart, and Brock to find out!
Dr. No
August 03, 2012 06:00 - 1 hour - 36.3 MBAfter years of financial troubles, MGM Studios has finally gotten the next James Bond movie off the ground--this November's Skyfall. And there is no better time for Bond to be back as 2012 is the 50th Anniversary of James Bond's first appearance on the big screen in his first outing, Dr. No. With Sean Connery embodying Ian Flemming's British spy in a star-making role, this is the film that started it all. Now Dr. No also starts the James Bond retrospective series at Now Playing as Arnie, S...