Amazon recently released the spy movie CANARY BLACK. This movie stars Kate Beckinsale, Rupert Friend, and Ray Stevenson. Is it worth a watch?

Join Dan and Tom as they decode CANARY BLACK. It carries an “R” rating here in the U.S., and we think it is earned with the quantity of violence. Dan and Tom disagree with the impact of this violence.

For those of you who want to find out what earlier movies may have influenced scenes in this movie, we drill into these scenes.

As usual, there are some strong positives as well as some negatives to this movie.

In this episode, we discuss:

• A high-level look at the plot without giving too much away
• The violence
• The actors and their characters
• How earlier spy movies influenced CANARY BLACK
• The company name of the main character’s cover company
• The sets
• A watch
• A bottle of wine
• The use of a Double Pursuit
• And more ….

There is a lot to decode, so take a listen to find out why this movie gets mixed reviews and what we think.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Have you seen CANARY BLACK? If so, what did you think of it? If not, did we give you enough information to help you decide if you want to watch 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/4fB0l6F

ARABESQUE is a 1966 spy movie starring Gregory Peck, Sophia Loren, and Alan Badel. Is it worth a watch?

Dan and Tom decode ARABESQUE to enhance your viewing experience – is it worth a watch? There are some very strong positives as well as some negatives to this movie

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why is this movie titled ARABESQUE?
• Did the cinematography help or hinder the movie?
• Which role might have been miscast?
• Was there chemistry between Sophia Loren and her leading male actors?
• What movies may have influenced ARABESQUE?
• What movies have ARABESQUE influenced?
• Was the shower scene funny enough?
• What did director Stanley Donen think of the script?
• Sophia Loren’s wardrobe
• What article of clothing is important to the plot?
• What famous stunt performer/coordinator had his first role in this movie?
• The benefit of disavowing a spy
• And more …

As you can see, there is a lot to decode, so take a listen to find out why this movie gets mixed reviews. Some people like it and some don’t.

So, take a listen and let us know what you think. Have you seen ARABESQUE? If so, what did you think of it? If not, did we give you enough information to help you decide if you want to watch 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/4dTya1i

What are some of the pet peeves of spy movie fans? Particularly, are there specific things that show up in spy movies that drive fans nuts?

Dan and Tom are joined by fans from their Facebook group to try to find out.  The members of this group are very devoted spy movie fans, and they don’t hold back on their opinions.  And occasionally they don’t agree. We’re joined by Bill Kanas, Morgan Lisney, Pietro Rossi and Eric Seabury.

So, listen to what they have to say about:

• Release Timing
• The Use of Tropes
• The Use of Technology (real and unreal)
• Does the villain matter?
• Dark vs. Light
• Plot Twists
• Romance Subplots
• CGI
• And More …

Hey spy movie producers: take a listen to find out what spy movie fans REALLY think. 

Now that you’ve heard from some other spy movie fans, let us know what you think.  Do you agree or disagree with any of the points made by us and our fans?  Did we miss any pet peeves you have about spy movies?

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/3BAIj5C

Join Dan and Tom as they decode the Netflix spy movie THE UNION. Is this movie starring Halle Berry and Mark Wahlberg any good? Listen to find out what we think.

THE UNION has an amazing cast, including 2 Oscar winners, 4 Oscar nominations, Tony Award winners, and Primetime Emmy Award nominees and winners. So, with this star-studded cast this has to be a great movie, right?

In this episode, we look at:

• The extremely talented cast
• The writing
• The high kill count
• The action sequences
• How other movies have influenced it
• The initial title for the movie before it was changed to THE UNION and why that matters
• Some of the nods to the actors' earlier works
• What Matilda the Musical has to do with this one
• And more ...

Have you watched THE UNION? What did you think? Are Dan and Tom right with their analysis?

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/4gXMkkI

Dan and Tom decode the answer to this question: Dan and Tom decode the answer to this question: Why the Next James Bond Actor Doesn't Matter? The debate over who should be the next James Bond and the future of James Bond often stirs up a lot of excitement and opinions. But, we don’t think it matters who the next James Bond is because we think James Bond can go on indefinitely – Listen to find out why!

What really matters? Is the character consistent? Where does the “brand” stand? James Bond actors have delivered some fresh perspectives, but could Bond grow stale?

The supporting elements and cultural impact of the franchise have kept it strong.
Can EON Productions continue to enjoy a very strong franchise following and strength?
As crazy as this may sound, we think who the next James Bond actor doesn't matter!

What do you think? Do you agree with us that the next James Bond actor doesn’t matter? Why or why not?

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/4eNhbOW

Is James Bond a psychopath? Well, despite the obvious fact that he is a fictional character who has had many authors, actors, and screenwriters involved in defining this character, just . . . maybe!

In this episode, Dan and Tom bring in Dr. Stephen McWilliams, author of the book “Psychopath? Why We Are Charmed by the Anti-Hero” to discuss this topic.

We’re getting deep into the mind of James Bond and with Stephen’s help, we define what a psychopath really is, then examine the known mind of James Bond to determine if he can be considered a psychopath. (Hint, Bond doesn’t score 100 on the test). We use the famed professor, Robert D. Hare’s psychology checklist as our driver for the analysis. Hare’s checklist includes breakdowns of the following categories: Interpersonal Traits, Affective Traits, Lifestyle Traits, and Anti-Social traits.

How many of those apply to the agent with the OO designation we know as James Bond? Can you be a spy with a license to kill without some psychopathic traits? Can you be a great spy and still be a psychopath? Listen to find out.

Stephen is a Consultant Psychiatrist at Saint John of God Hospital, Dublin, and an Associate Clinical Professor at the School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin.

In addition to talking about James Bond, McWilliams’s book talks about other fictional characters such as Hannibal Lecter, Frank Underwood, Amy Elliott Dunne, and more. He has also authored the book “Fiction & Physicians – Medicine through the Eyes of Writers”.

So, before listening to this episode, do you think James Bond was a psychopath? After, listening, did your opinion change?

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/3XA1xQe