Bond Revisited

Compared to more recent years, 2025 has been jam packed with Bond news thanks to the transfer of creative control to Amazon. Tom & Joe recap the year's headlines and discuss how Bond 26 is shaping up, as well as give their own predictions for whats to come in 2026. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After exhausting all versions of Casino Royale to review, Tom & Joe focus their attention to the biggest piece of James Bond news to be announced in quite some time. The Broccoli family are stepping away from creative control of the franchise and handing the reins over to Amazon. What does this mean for future of James Bond? Will this lead to a new, exciting era for the character where fans finally see some stability and consistency? Or will the e-commerce giant rinse the series for all its worth in an attempt to see returns from its $8.5 billion investment? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Casino Royale is too much for one James Bond! Back in 1955, before Dr. No, the film rights to Casino Royale were sold to film producer Gregory Ratoff. This was the start of a long and messy history for the rights to Casino Royale, but it did result in a film adaption being released in 1967. Rather than being a traditional Bond film, it was an ensemble comedy with big names like Peter Sellers, Orson Welles and David Niven. It's not a film that's very well remembered and rarely discussed, but if it's a James Bond film, then Tom & Joe are going to give it a watch. Will they find an interesting piece of Bond history or is it truly best left forgotten? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean Connery is James Bond. After years of legal battles, Kevin McClory finally released his own James Bond film with a remake of Thunderball, Never Say Never Again. When Spectre steals two nuclear warheads, Bond is travels all over the world to the Bahamas, France and North Africa to track them down. The film starred Sean Connery, returning to the role after 12 years with The Empire Strikes Back director Irvin Kershner taking the helm. As it starred the original James Bond and came out the same year as Octopussy, it resulted in the Battle of the Bonds. Never Say Never Again ultimately lost but was still a success, grossing $160 million at the box office. With it not being part of the main series, it's become a bit of an oddity but does it deserve to be remembered, or were Tom & Joe right to skip this one in the initial rewatch? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You have all the time in the world. After a year and a half delay due to the pandemic, Daniel Craig returns as James Bond for No Time to Die. Following the events of Spectre, Bond believes Swann has betrayed him causing him to go into retirement. Felix asks Bond to help him retrieve Dr. Valdo Obruchev who is working on the mysterious Project Heracles which leads Bond to finding out the truth about Swann. The film was directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and wraps up the story line started in Casino Royale. It was an ambitious film that received a decent reception but what will Tom & Joe think of the franchise's latest film? Did Craig's era end of a high note or was the wait sadly not worth it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You have all the time in the world. After a year and a half delay due to the pandemic, Daniel Craig returns as James Bond for No Time to Die. Following the events of Spectre, Bond believes Swann has betrayed him causing him to go into retirement. Felix asks Bond to help him retrieve Dr. Valdo Obruchev who is working on the mysterious Project Heracles which leads Bond to finding out the truth about Swann. The film was directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and wraps up the story line started in Casino Royale. It was an ambitious film that received a decent reception but what will Tom & Joe think of the franchise's latest film? Did Craig's era end of a high note or was the wait sadly not worth it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You're a kite dancing in a hurricane, Mr Bond. After a lengthy legal battle, MGM got the rights to Spectre once again so they didn't waste time with the follow up to Skyfall, Spectre. After Bond kills a bomber with a mysterious octopus ring, it leads to him finding out about an organisation called Spectre, headed by Franz Oberhauser who appears to be connected to Bond's past. Sam Mendes decided to return to direct the film, so it was looking like the stars had aligned for a great Bond adventure. The film ended up with a mixed reception both from fans and critics, with Joe ranking it his least favourite film being the rewatch. Will Joe warm to the film, or is it still the author of all his pain? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regret is unprofessional. It's time for Tom & Joe to check out the most successful Bond film of all time, Skyfall. After Bond is assumed dead during a mission, MI6 is attacked causing him to come out of retirement to stop former agent Raoul Silva, who wants revenge against M. Sam Mendes directs the film to give us a more stylish take on Bond which also adds in classic Bond elements not yet featured in the Craig era. The balance of old and new paid off with Skyfall receiving critical acclaim and a box office gross of over $1.1 billion. As it's over 10 years old now, does it still hold up or will Tom & Joe find it all rather quaint? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regret is unprofessional. It's time for Tom & Joe to check out the most successful Bond film of all time, Skyfall. After Bond is assumed dead during a mission, MI6 is attacked causing him to come out of retirement to stop former agent Raoul Silva, who wants revenge against M. Sam Mendes directs the film to give us a more stylish take on Bond which also adds in classic Bond elements not yet featured in the Craig era. The balance of old and new paid off with Skyfall receiving critical acclaim and a box office gross of over $1.1 billion. As it's over 10 years old now, does it still hold up or will Tom & Joe find it all rather quaint? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Forgive her. Forgive yourself. With Casino Royale ending on a cliffhanger, audiences only had to wait 2 years for it's direct follow up, Quantum of Solace. With Bond investigating the mysterious organisation involved in Vesper's death, he starts tracking one of it's members, Dominic Greene, a famous environmentalist who is trying to destabilise the government of Bolivia. Marc Forster steps in to direct the film, which was plagued by a rushed production in part due to a writer's strike. This led to the shortest Bond film yet and overall disappointment from Bond fans. Will Tom & Joe share the same disappointment or is it another blinger with the slick trigger finger? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You think of women as disposable pleasures, rather than meaningful pursuits. It's the first official reboot for the franchise with Daniel Craig taking over the role of Bond for Casino Royale. After Bond becomes a 00 agent, he investigates a banker for terrorism, Le Chiffre, who is holding a poker game to try and make back 100 million dollars. Martin Campbell returns to direct a version of Bond that relies on less on CGI and gadgets, and more practical effects and character. The film was a big success and one Tom & Joe ranked very highly previously. Will they still feel that way on the revisit or will it cause them to cry blood? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the virtues of never sleeping, Mr. Bond. I have to live my dreams. Tom & Joe dive into a world of CGI, Madonna and Yo Momma jokes to take on Pierce Brosnan's final film, Die Another Day. After being captured in North Korea, Bond is stripped of his 00 agent status leading to him go it alone, investigating eccentric entrepreneur Gustav Graves while trying to find out who betrayed him. It was a celebration of the franchise's 40th anniversary but ended up being well known for all the wrong reasons, frequently considered one of the worst by critics and fans. Will Tom & Joe join the mob in panning the film, or is there a diamond in all the rough? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Always have an escape plan. Another Pierce Brosnan film, another new director with Michael Apted taking the reigns for The World is Not Enough. When British oil tycoon Robert King is assassinated at MI6 headquarters, Bond is sent to protect his daughter Elektra King and stop the terrorist Victor "Renard" Zokas from destroying a new oil pipeline to the West. The film received mixed reviews, seemingly following the trend of the Brosnan films getting worse with each one. Is that really the case or does everyone just need a bit more Christmas spirit? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.