Delayed almost as long as the film we are talking about, Licence to Spiel finally returns with a full discussion of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE—DEAD RECKONING PART 1. While we both agree that this is an overlong setup for the upcoming sequel, it’s stil

The That-Guy Cavalcade

Mar 15th, 2024 56m 32s

We come full circle this episode by discussing the television miniseries version of The Bourne Identity (1988) starring Richard Chamberlain, Jaclyn Smith, and a whole slew of “that guys.” Despite the low expectations that typically come with a

The Bourne Redundancy

Feb 23rd, 2024 1h 4m

The Jason Bourne franchise concludes, at least for now, with the appropriately named JASON BOURNE (2016), a movie that we both enjoyed a lot more than we remembered. Of course, we still find time to poke fun at laptop choices, a hacktivist with

The Infinite Onion

Feb 8th, 2024 1h 18m

We’re back! After a long and unexpected hiatus, Licence to Spiel returns with a discussion of 2012’s THE BOURNE LEGACY (a.k.a. the Bourne film that doesn’t have Bourne in it). We would have returned sooner, but we got too distracted by the ins

Discount John Heard

Oct 13th, 2023 1h

The Jason Bourne story concludes with 2007’s THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, but that didn’t stop Universal Pictures from making two more films after this one. For now though, we discuss Motorola RAZR screen resolutions, the fat content of goat’s cheese,

Karl Suburban

Sep 29th, 2023 1h 14m

Thad and Carl talk about The Bourne Supremacy (2004), a film that added depth to the already-excellent story begun with the previous installment but also inflicted countless Paul Greengrass imitations on the movie world for years to come.

He’s Even the Villain in a Mr. Rogers Biopic!

Sep 13th, 2023 1h 17m

After a bit of a hiatus, Licence to Spiel returns to take a look at one of the best and most influential action film franchises of the 2000s—which continued to be one of the action franchises of the 2010s (but more on that in a few episodes). T

Accidentally Topical

Jul 15th, 2023 48m 36s

Our immediate thoughts on MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART 1. WARNING: This show contains spoilers!

Peak of the Wolf Blitzer Oeuvre

Jul 7th, 2023 55m 29s

Before you go to see the latest Mission: Impossible film, catch up on the previous entry, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT, just like we had planned from the start…

Possible Mission Force

Jun 14th, 2023 1h 6m

We discuss Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015), a movie that is chock full of movie tropes and still manages to be quite excellent. We also get side-tracked by Thad’s dislike of opera and the fact that there are too many actors named Laur

Disavow Everything!

May 27th, 2023 55m 5s

It’s all about Brad Bird’s entry in the franchise, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol. We discuss Ethan Hunt’s habit of being disavowed, mourn the loss of the IMF Director (served from Dec. 2011 – Dec. 2011), and realize how large screen bezels

Shockingly Last-Minute Transit Conferences

May 20th, 2023 1h 13m

Much like the series itself, Thad and Carl return after an unexpectedly long hiatus to talk about the third installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, creatively titled Mission: Impossible III. As always, we ask the important questions l

Slo-Mo Pigeons In Styrofoam Lairs

Mar 31st, 2023 1h 1m

We continue our look at the Mission: Impossible films with Mission: Impossible 2—a movie that we can certainly say is part of the franchise. But this overblown action film’s effect on early 2000s cinema is much greater than you might think. #Re

I’ve Seen PRIMER…This Movie Is Not Complicated

Mar 9th, 2023 1h 6m

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find all Dutch angles, split diopter shots, and humorous computer/tech choices made in this film. Should you fail, the Secretary will disavow all knowledge of your existence. Your download wil

The Unnecessarily Extended Version

Mar 2nd, 2023 1h 9m

On this normal-length episode, we discuss the Extended Edition of Spy (2015), a film that despite some unfortunate choices at times, we both enjoyed quite a bit. However, when the Extended Edition mainly involves literal dick jokes and five pun

SHERBET F

Feb 10th, 2023

A full seven years after the previous entry, the Johnny English franchise concludes (for now) with Johnny English Strikes Again (2018). We discuss whether the series has run its course (it has), bad mobile phone and submarine missile security,

Jimmy McNulty and Mr. Rhubarb

Feb 2nd, 2023

This week it’s Johnny English Reborn (2011), a fun if not entirely necessary continuation of the Johnny English franchise. Even though Dominic West has a name, and so does his character in this film (it’s Simon Ambrose), we refer to him as McNu

Sometimes You Just Wanna Feel Gouda

Jan 28th, 2023

In this episode, we talk about 2003’s Johnny English, the first entry in the occasional film series that has a release schedule comparable to some BBC shows. We also discuss the merits of Mr. Bean and the line of succession to the British thron

Entertainment that Costs Less than Your House

Jan 17th, 2023 56m 49s

Licence to Spiel returns, ostensibly to talk about the 1954 TV adaptation of “Casino Royale.” While we do talk about this interesting time capsule of entertainment, we also fall down several rabbit holes, including a long discussion of the 90s

Hey, It’s Better Than Spy Hard

Dec 15th, 2022 48m 22s

In this episode we discuss Austin Powers in Goldmember from 2002, a film that helps reinforce the Law of Diminishing Returns. is it good? No it’s not at all. But it’s not the worst film we’ve watched so far…

Way To Go There, Norway

Nov 15th, 2022 50m 23s

This episode, we talk about Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), a film that is absolutely hilarious if you are a thirteen-year-old boy. Sadly, Thad and (especially) Carl are much older…

Chekhov’s Penis Pump

Nov 7th, 2022 48m 10s

Groovy baby! Join us (briefly) in 1960s En-ga-land as we talk about Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997). It’s a film that has certainly dated since it came out but is one we still enjoyed.

The Matlock Cinematic Universe

Oct 29th, 2022 54m 52s

In this episode, we watched 1996’s Spy Hard, so you don’t have to. While occasionally funny, this movie mostly made us question its casting choices, acting choices, and random non sequitur movie references. We also make a comment that you would

When Fandoms Collide

Oct 9th, 2022 57m 7s

Normally we have to go out of our way to find opportunities to talk about Star Trek in our Bond podcast. This week though, we are talking about the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Our Man Bashir.” So if you thought we’ve gotten overly nerdy

Kevin Costner Is Not In This Movie

Sep 30th, 2022 1h 16m

Remember when James Cameron made movies you wanted to see? We leave the world of James Bond for the first time to talk about True Lies (1994), a movie we feel safe in predicting will be more fun than Avatar 17.