Cracking the Code of Spy Movies‪!‬ Cracking the Code of Spy Movies / SpyMovieNavigator.com

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 

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

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 


 

OPERATION BODYGUARD AND DECEPTION IN WORLD WAR II 

Your field operatives, Dan and Tom, talk with author and historian Rick Beyer about the deception techniques used in the war.  Operation Bodyguard and its sub-operation, Operation Fortitude, which helped win the war, are highlighted.  


Operation Bodyguard was an overall deception operation to assist the Allied Forces in World War II.  It is one example of how deception was an important part of the Allied success. 


Operation Fortitude was designed to deceive Adolph Hitler as to the location of the Allied invasion of Europe.  You know the landing came at Normandy.  Listen to find out the ruses and locations the Allied Forces used to keep Hitler believing that Normandy was not going to be the landing location. 


We also talk with Rick about a deception unit called Ghost Army of which Rick co-authored the excellent book, “The Ghost Army of World War II”.  Ghost Army deployed just after D-Day, so they weren’t directly involved in D-Day.  But they are the source of the inflatable tank. Listen to find out what that means 


Finally, we look at some of the spies who were involved in the deceptions, highlighting double agents who Hitler thought was working for him.   Without real spies, we have no spy movies or spy fiction!   


Tell us what you think  

So, prior to listening to this episode, did you know about these deceptions?  Would you like more episodes like this that talk about real-world spies and their techniques? 


Let us know your thoughts, ideas for future episodes, and your thoughts on 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.    


You can get Rick’s book on his website: The Ghost Army of World War II | Rick Beyer. 


Episode Webpage: https://bit.ly/3W85SuA

3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR – A Fresh Look 

The 1975 spy movie, 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR, is a “reluctant spy” movie starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway. Cliff Robertson, and Max von Sydow. 


Dan and Tom take a fresh look at this movie, decoding the plot, characters, direction, and more.  What are the influences on 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR as well as what movies/TV shows may CONDOR have influenced?  What about Hercules (the myth, not the movie)?   “Seinfeld?” The James Bond series, Mission: Impossible, or the Bourne series?   And then, there’s the actor Sterling Hayden, the MCU, and more.


3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR has an intriguing plot that has Robert Redford’s character, Turner – codenamed Condor, dealing with a series of murders, with him being a target as well.  Turner works for the CIA in the role of a reader. Significantly, Turner is not an agent.  What other spy movies can you think of where the protagonist wasn’t really a spy?  Decoded! 


We take a deep dive into the positives and negatives of 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR.  The movie generally has positive feedback, but there are some criticisms.  Do you agree with our discussion of these? 


Tell us what you think 

We like 3 DAYS OF THE CONDOR.  But its ending left Dan and Tom divided.  Dan didn’t like the ending whereas Tom thought it worked well. Who do you agree with? 


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.   


Webpage: https://bit.ly/4bxW2GR


 

SPIONE And Its Influence On Spy Movies 

SPIONE And Its Influence On Spy Movies is a look at this 1928 Fritz Lang spy movie. And, Dan and Tom fill you in on just how big an influence SPIONE is in the spy movie genre.   


Significantly, SPIONE is the first spy movie we’ve been able to find that isn’t based on a war. Not surprisingly, this movie laid out the blueprint for most non-war-based spy movies to come. 


SPIONE was a very influential movie 

Even if you don’t watch the movie, this episode will fill you in on how SPIONE blazed the trail and influenced spy movies to come, which all spy movie fans should know. You’ll certainly recognize some tropes you’ve seen in more modern spy movies.  Tropes such as: how did that guy not die when he was shot at close range? What was that pill that guy bit down on?  What is a spy movie villain supposed to look like?  A train in a spy movie? What things in this movie did we then see Alfred Hitchcock do? How was that guy dressed? And more! 


What are the positives and the negatives of SPIONE? 


We should warn you that SPIONE is a 2 ½ hour black and white silent movie. Watching a silent movie is a different experience from what we get when watching modern 
movies.  Although the movie was filmed in Germany, there are many versions with English subtitles available.  You can certainly find different releases of SPIONE on YouTube. The English title of the movie is SPIES. 


So, have you seen SPIONE?  Will you watch it after you listen to this episode? 


Tell us what you think 

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.   


Webpage: https://bit.ly/3xjW0US