Spy Movies

[DrSimonCowell]

Hello bad movie junkies.  I would like to talk a little something about I am sure you all have seen.  Movies with characters like James Bond and Jason Bourne.  Yes, that is right.  Espionage Films or Spy Movies.

You all probably know that spies go back over a thousand years in history.  I mean look at the story of Exodus in the Bible.  Moses' army had a double agent inside of Jericho.

But back to the subject of Spy Films.  Some of these films are unrealistic in the way they show the behavior and workings of a spy.  But I will not go into those now.  The purpose of a spy as you know is to smuggle enemy information to his or her superiors or sabotage enemy equipment.

James Bond was created by Iam Fleming.  I haven't read any of the original James Bond novels, but have seen a few Bond films (Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger and Thunderball.)  Most of these films I just laugh at.  Because James is very unrealistic for a spy.  His behavior would draw the attention of the policing agencies of the countries he is spying in.

Jason Bourne was created by Robert Ludlum.  I never saw any of the Bourne films but have read all the novels.  For a spy who is an amnesiac, Jason is quite a resourceful and skilled man.  What I read suggests his amnesia did not wipe clean his training.  I once seen a karate expert who suffered amnesia after a car accident.  But yet, she was still very proficient at karate after her recovery.  Seems that muscles retain memory too.

Don Adams.  This actor has played spies in one TV series and many movies.  Of course, these are all comedy films.  Adams being a comedian himself.  Of course he has done more.

So tell me bad movie junkies, what are your favorite espionage films and which ones intrigue you the most?

[Bushma]

I think Shining Through while a love story is a great example of a spy movie.

[major jay]

Hide your daughters and lock up your liquor cabinet. It's Eddie Constantine!

[The Burgomaster]

James Bond was created by Iam Fleming.  I haven't read any of the original James Bond novels, but have seen a few Bond films (Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger and Thunderball.)  Most of these films I just laugh at.  Because James is very unrealistic for a spy.  His behavior would draw the attention of the policing agencies of the countries he is spying in.

The Bond books are much more "toned down" than the movies.  In the books, he does a lot more investigative work and a lot less escaping from traps and using over-the-top gadgets.

Some good spy movies that hardly ever get mentioned are THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD, THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM, and SCORPIO.

I'm also a fan of the (mostly European) James Bond rip-offs from the 1960s.  You can buy many of them from Something Weird Video and other online sources of obscure movies (mostly on DVD-R).  SECRET AGENT SUPER DRAGON (which has been on MST3K) is one of the most entertaining because it is so laughably bad.

[Chainsawmidget]

Spies Like Us is a personal favorite of mine. 

[DrSimonCowell]

Spies Like Us is a personal favorite of mine. 

Oh that spoof I had seen.  I found it rather hysterical.

[Trevor]

Hide your daughters and lock up your liquor cabinet. It's Eddie Constantine!

I'll never forget him as the wimpy Mafioso guy in The Long Good Friday.

[Kooshmeister]

If Looks Could Kill, Fred Dekker's love letter to the genre.

[Ted C]

Our Man Flint and In Like Flint, starring James Coburn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQwJQkEh2QY

Dean Martin's "Matt Helm" movies:

• The Silencers
• Murderers' Row
• The Wrecking Crew
• The Ambushers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqLVtMsTo8A