The 007 Files

In this episode of The 007 Files, the hosts continue their discussion on revisit Goldeneye, the film that didn’t just reintroduce James Bond, but quietly rescued the franchise from irrelevance. They look at the change to Leavesden Studios and the symbolic shift away from Pinewood Studios, mirroring Bond’s own need to evolve after the Cold War.They explore the cultural shockwave of casting Judi Dench as M, the uneasy question of whether Bond had become a Cold War relic, Jack Wade and why Felix Leiter was absent. There’s also a close look at Bond’s changing image through cars and brands, from the BMW Z3 to the return of the DB5, and the long-lasting partnership with Omega.Where to find us:Bill Koenig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Javi Trujillo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/javitru.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thebondisnotenough/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David Leigh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thejamesbonddossier.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Recorded in the USA and Spain on 10th December 2025

Bill Koenig, David Leigh, and Javi Trujillo mark the 30th anniversary of Goldeneye by revisiting the moment James Bond returned to the big screen and reminding audiences why it mattered. They explore the film’s release in 1995, its immediate impact on the franchise, and how its box office success reshaped Bond’s future after years in the wilderness.The discussion moves into the realities of production, from budget constraints to the risks involved in relaunching 007 for a post–Cold War world. Personal memories of first viewings and early fan excitement blend with reflections on how conventions helped build momentum around the film. Attention is also given to the iconic dam jump, a stunt that reset expectations for Bond action, and the controversial but influential score by Eric Serra.They also examine the evolving importance of title sequences, shaped by Daniel Kleinman, and why Goldeneye still stands as a defining chapter in Bond history.Where to find us:Bill Koenig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Javi Trujillo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/javitru.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thebondisnotenough/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David Leigh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thejamesbonddossier.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Recorded in the USA and Spain on 10th December 2025

The second half of our Licence to Legacy deep-dive sees co-hosts Javi Trujillo, Bill Koenig, and David Leigh return to SPECTRE a decade later to explore how the film sits in the Craig era’s legacy.This time we wonder whether bringing back Blofeld and SPECTRE truly delivered the creative spark the filmmakers were aiming for, and we discuss the scene inspired by Colonel Sun and whether it sets a precedent. From the much-publicised yet underwhelming “world record” explosion to the Rome car chase that never quite lands, we revisit several moments that fell short of their promise.The Sony hacks inevitably come up as we look at how they shaped rewrites and coloured the film’s reception. We also explore the decision to retrofit the Craig films into a single overarching storyline, the two-part narrative John Logan originally planned, and how Daniel Craig’s “slash my wrists” comment took on a life of its own.Where to find us:Bill Koenig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Javi Trujillo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/javitru.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thebondisnotenough/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David Leigh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thejamesbonddossier.com⁠⁠⁠⁠Recorded in the USA and Spain on 3rd December 2025

In this Licence to Legacy episode co-hosts Javi Trujillo, Bill Koenig, and David Leigh revisit SPECTRE on its 10th anniversary of its release.We start with our first viewings back in 2015 and how our opinions have shifted after a decade of rewatching, reflection, and franchise changes. The conversation explores how SPECTRE performed at the box office compared to Skyfall and how Mexico’s tax credits influenced the film’s colourful opening sequence. We dive into the return of the gunbarrel to the beginning of the movie, why it mattered to fans, and whether or not Amazon should consider experimenting with gunbarrel placement. Thomas Newman’s score gets a close look as we compare its reuse of Skyfall motifs and, if Sam Smith's theme is from the point of view of James Bond, come up with the answer to just why his voice is so high pitched.Where to find us:Bill Koenig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Javi Trujillo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/javitru.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thebondisnotenough/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David Leigh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thejamesbonddossier.com⁠⁠⁠Recorded in the USA and Spain on 3rd December 2025

In this episode we’re joined by Edward Biddulph to explore the real-world Britain behind James Bond. His new book, The James Bond Lover’s Guide to Britain, brings together locations from Fleming’s novels, the films, and Fleming’s own life — all chosen with one thing in mind: places anyone can actually visit.We dive into the adventure of visiting these sites as Edward talks about the thrill of standing at a location from his favourite Bond film, and the memories of growing up in Kent where he first realised that Bond’s world overlapped with his own.Listen in, enjoy the stories, and if you want to dig deeper into 007’s Britain, pick up the book.Where to find us:Edward Biddulphhttps://www.jamesbondfood.com🛒 https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-James-Bond-Lovers-Guide-to-Britain-Paperback/p/56633Bill Koenig⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Javi Trujillo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/javitru.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thebondisnotenough/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠David Leigh⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thejamesbonddossier.com⁠⁠Recorded in the UK, USA and Spain on 17th November 2025