The Rewatchables

‘GoldenEye’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

February 17, 2026

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  • The hosts generally view *GoldenEye* as a well-balanced James Bond film, sitting perfectly between the goofy and overly serious eras of the franchise. 
  • The enduring legacy of *GoldenEye* is heavily tied to the revolutionary success of the Nintendo 64 video game, which is considered a turning point for mainstream first-person shooters. 
  • The introduction of Pierce Brosnan as Bond in *GoldenEye* marked the fourth reinvention of the character, occurring during a period of significant upheaval in Hollywood studio ownership (MGM/Broccoli family disputes). 
  • The BMW Z3 featured in *GoldenEye* is widely considered a corny and trying-too-hard car choice for James Bond, contrasting with the traditional English secret agent aesthetic. 
  • The scene where Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen) kills a man by crushing him with her legs during sex is highlighted as one of the best-aged elements of *GoldenEye*, despite its over-the-top nature. 
  • Pierce Brosnan is viewed as the 'AI Bond'—the physical embodiment of what Bond should look like—but his overall tenure is diminished by the perceived poor quality of his subsequent films compared to *GoldenEye*. 

Segments

Bond Eras and Favorite Films
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(00:02:34)
  • Key Takeaway: Pierce Brosnan’s GoldenEye is positioned as a perfect midpoint in the Bond franchise, balancing silliness and seriousness.
  • Summary: One host listed their top four Bond films by era: Goldfinger, The Spy Who Loved Me, GoldenEye, and Casino Royale. Skyfall was cited as a favorite Craig Bond film, while From Russia with Love was named the best Connery entry. The discussion highlighted that GoldenEye avoids the campiness of earlier films while remaining less trauma-focused than the later Daniel Craig entries.
Bond Fandom and History
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(00:04:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The Craig era was the catalyst for one host’s deeper appreciation of the James Bond franchise history.
  • Summary: One host admitted to not being raised as a Bond fan, only becoming interested after the Daniel Craig movies began. The hosts noted that the franchise’s 60-year history contains much interesting movie lore to explore. Their early exposure to Bond often came from fragmented viewings during local TV marathons.
Impact of Mission Impossible/Bourne
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(00:07:47)
  • Key Takeaway: The Mission: Impossible and Bourne franchises cut into the James Bond franchise by raising the bar for practical stunt work.
  • Summary: The stunt work in GoldenEye was excellent, but Mission: Impossible (released a year later) immediately took the mantle for escalating action sequences. This forced the later Bond films, like the Craig era, to focus more on character psychology and damage history to differentiate themselves. The rise of the ‘Nokia Wave’ techno-thriller aesthetic was perfected by Mission: Impossible and Bourne.
GoldenEye Video Game Legacy
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(00:09:43)
  • Key Takeaway: The GoldenEye 007 N64 game is credited as the first mainstream, console-based first-person shooter with successful multiplayer, setting the stage for future games.
  • Summary: The GoldenEye game sold over 8 million copies, representing a massive cultural footprint that arguably surpassed the film’s immediate impact. It is considered ground zero for subsequent first-person shooter console games due to its groundbreaking multiplayer mode. The game successfully captured the globetrotting excitement of the film across its various levels.
Brosnan’s Casting History
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(00:13:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Pierce Brosnan was originally slated to be James Bond earlier but was contractually obligated to finish Remington Steele, leading to Timothy Dalton taking the role first.
  • Summary: Brosnan checked every box for the role, but his commitment to Remington Steele (1982-1987) prevented him from taking the role when it was first offered. Timothy Dalton passed on the role after waiting years for a suitable script, which then opened the door for Brosnan when he became available six years later. The delay in GoldenEye’s production was also tied to significant legal disputes involving MGM ownership.
GoldenEye Production Facts
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(00:22:23)
  • Key Takeaway: GoldenEye was the first Bond film not to use any story elements from Ian Fleming’s original books and was the first to feature CGI.
  • Summary: The film was the first Bond movie directed by a non-Brit, Martin Campbell, and featured a confusing Cold War plot set against the backdrop of the USSR’s collapse. It introduced a female M (Judi Dench), which was a significant casting choice at the time. Famke Janssen’s character, Xenia Onatopp, is considered one of the top 10 Bond girls, despite also being a villain.
Top Bond Girls Ranking
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(00:24:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Famke Janssen’s performance as Xenia Onatopp was highly praised, with one host ranking her in their top five Bond girls.
  • Summary: One host’s top three Bond girls included Barbara Bach, Talisa Soto, and Pussy Galore, with Eva Green added as a fourth favorite. The discussion noted that Famke Janssen’s character was a rare instance where the villain arguably outstripped the primary love interest in appeal. Britt Ekland (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service) was also mentioned, whose career included a memorable role on Melrose Place.
Most Rewatchable Scenes
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(00:33:32)
  • Key Takeaway: The opening sequence, featuring the 722-foot bungee jump and the motorcycle jump onto a plane, is considered the most rewatchable part of GoldenEye.
  • Summary: The opening bungee jump set a record for height at the time of filming in 1995. The subsequent motorcycle jump onto a plane is considered by one host to be a crazier stunt than anything Ethan Hunt has performed. The car chase featured an Aston Martin DBS against a Ferrari F355, and the scene where Bond seduces Caroline (an MI6 psychological evaluator) was highlighted for its dated workplace conduct.
1995 Cultural Markers
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(00:49:29)
  • Key Takeaway: The debut of the BMW Z3 in GoldenEye marked the first time a non-British car was featured as Bond’s primary vehicle in the series.
  • Summary: The most 1995 elements cited included the post-Soviet Union setting, the necessity of using an internet cafe, and the harmless sexual attention at work depicted in the film. The theme song, written by U2’s Edge and Bono and sung by Tina Turner, was considered a miss because the vocal register did not suit Turner’s range.
BMW Z3 Bond Car Critique
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(00:50:11)
  • Key Takeaway: The BMW Z3 was the first non-English car in the Bond series, and the hosts universally disliked it as corny.
  • Summary: The BMW Z3 was noted as the first German car featured in the Bond franchise. The hosts felt it was trying too hard to emulate Alfa Romeo. One host suggested they should stick to making the best cars rather than trying unexpected takes.
Xenia Onatopp’s Aged Kills
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(00:51:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Xenia Onatopp’s signature move of killing men during sex via leg crushing is considered spectacular and aged well.
  • Summary: The act of killing someone with legs during sex by a female villain was praised as spectacular 31 years later. A major acting note for Famke Janssen was reportedly to have an orgasm every five minutes regardless of the scene. She appeared to have an orgasm when her back was broken against trees.
Joe Don Baker’s Return as CIA
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(00:52:26)
  • Key Takeaway: Joe Don Baker reprised his role from a previous Bond film, appearing as a CIA agent in GoldenEye after losing a leg in Licence to Kill.
  • Summary: The appearance of Joe Don Baker as a CIA guy was noted, despite him being the villain in the previous Bond movie. Felix Leiter lost a leg in the previous Dalton film, Licence to Kill. The hosts found the continuity odd but acceptable.
Integrated Sponsors in GoldenEye
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(00:53:01)
  • Key Takeaway: The product integrations for BMW and IBM ThinkPad in GoldenEye felt organic and factored into the plot, unlike many other examples.
  • Summary: The IBM ThinkPad, which launched in 1992, was featured in this 1995 film, and one host noted it was their first computer. Integrations like Perrier and BMW were appreciated because they were not rammed down the audience’s throat. The film successfully factored these products into the plot.
Bond Actor NBA Center Metaphor
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(00:54:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Pierce Brosnan was analogized to Shaquille O’Neal in an extended NBA center metaphor comparing all James Bond actors.
  • Summary: Connery was compared to Bill Russell, Lazenby to Wilt Chamberlain, Moore to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Dalton to Patrick Ewing. Brosnan was likened to Shaq, splitting the difference between styles. Daniel Craig was compared to Victor Wembanyama.
Callum Turner Bond Speculation
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(00:54:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Callum Turner is currently rumored to be a potential next James Bond, partly due to his relationship with Dua Lipa.
  • Summary: The possibility of Callum Turner becoming Bond was raised, noting he is dating Dua Lipa. The hosts debated whether she might sing the theme song or even appear in the film. The consensus was that she would be a ‘home run’ talent.
Bond Must Be English
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(00:56:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The consensus is that James Bond must maintain an English accent, which is why Pierce Brosnan, despite being Irish, fit the role perfectly.
  • Summary: The discussion touched on whether Austin Butler should use his natural accent as Bond, concluding the character must be English. Brosnan was described as ‘AI Bond’ because he perfectly fit the mold, even though he was 42 when cast.
Liam Neeson as Bond What-If
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(00:57:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Liam Neeson was a major casting ‘what-if’ for Bond, potentially leading to a burlier, tougher portrayal closer to the Daniel Craig era.
  • Summary: Neeson passing on the role would have resulted in a more physical Bond, carrying more pain, similar to what Daniel Craig eventually delivered. The hosts joked that Neeson’s famous endowment might have led to the first full-frontal scene in a Bond film.
Villain Monologues and Over-Elaboration
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(00:58:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The trope of villains giving Bond elaborate speeches instead of immediately killing him, exemplified by Boris in GoldenEye, remains a consistent flaw in the franchise.
  • Summary: The segment criticized the trope where Bond should have died multiple times but is spared for a monologue, citing Boris’s pen-clicking scene while hacking encryption. This elaborate setup is compared to the ‘Scott Evil’ trope where the hero is unnecessarily kept alive.
Best and Worst Cinematic Elements
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(00:59:21)
  • Key Takeaway: The opening dam bungee jump is the ‘Most Cinematic Shot,’ while the villain name Xenia Onatopp is the ‘Best Character Name,’ and Boris Grishenko is the ‘Best Russian Hacker Name.’
  • Summary: The name Xenia Onatopp was deemed brilliant for feeling sexual without being overtly so, leading to the ‘Zenya Onatopp Award.’ Boris Grishenko was praised as the perfect name for a Russian hacker character. The hosts ranked Xenia as a 9.5/10 villain, just below Gruber’s 10/10.
Inconsequential Deaths Award
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(01:00:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The train driver who crashes into a tank during the opening sequence won the ‘Rick Trichetti Guard Meet Award’ for the most memorable death of an inconsequential bystander.
  • Summary: This award recognizes the death of a character treated as inconsequential but who likely had a family. The train driver was killed by the ensuing inferno after crashing into a tank, an event Bond caused. The hosts joked about the driver’s presumed Russian pension.
Confusing Plot Mechanics
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(01:02:31)
  • Key Takeaway: The plot of GoldenEye is overly complicated, leading listeners to conclude that Bond films prioritize style over substance and should not be scrutinized narratively.
  • Summary: One host admitted to feeling ‘movie dumb’ because the plot had too many variables. The plot involves an ex-MI6 agent seeking revenge by controlling the GoldenEye satellite system. The ultimate conclusion is that Bond movies are about style, explosions, and martinis, not narrative coherence.
Worst Aged Elements of GoldenEye
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(01:04:54)
  • Key Takeaway: The music score during the Aston Martin/Ferrari chase scene is considered the worst element, sounding like cheap ‘Super Mario Bros. pause music.’
  • Summary: The Tina Turner theme song was also mentioned as something that aged poorly. Q calling Bond a ‘misogynistic dinosaur’ was cited as an element that made it hard to root for the hero. The passwords for world-destroying satellites being simple words like ‘chair’ was also criticized.
Bond’s Lack of Sex and Emotional Depth
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(01:09:00)
  • Key Takeaway: GoldenEye might be the Bond film with the least amount of sex but the most kills, and the attempts at serious emotional moments, like Bond staring wistfully at the sea, feel unearned.
  • Summary: The hosts questioned if this was the least sexual Bond film, though Bond did have sex with a therapist and seemingly caused Xenia Onatopp to orgasm during their fight. The film’s attempt at dramatic introspection was deemed inconsistent with Bond’s usual activities.
Cringiest Dialogue Award
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(01:09:41)
  • Key Takeaway: The line, ‘The things we do for frequent flyer mileage,’ won the ‘Earn This Award’ for the worst, most cringeworthy quote.
  • Summary: This quote was deemed terrible and something that should have been vetted by a better writer like William Goldman. Alan Cumming’s overacting as Boris Grishenko also received recognition in the ‘Rufflohan Rough, low hand, rubinic Partridge, overacting word’ category.
Bond Homages and Director Choices
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(01:10:35)
  • Key Takeaway: The opening scene where Urimov shoots a Russian soldier who accidentally fires on Bond is a direct homage to the opening of The Wild Bunch.
  • Summary: The director, Martin Campbell, is credited with making two of the best Bond movies, and his energetic directing style was praised. John Woo was approached to direct GoldenEye but turned it down, later making similar stylistic choices in Mission: Impossible 2.
Best Bond Actor Hypotheticals
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(01:13:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Colin Farrell was proposed as the best Bond actor who never got the role, possessing the necessary Irish/Scottish proximity to Connery and the right look.
  • Summary: The hosts engaged in a ‘Movie Trade’ exercise, debating trading other films for Farrell as Bond for ten years. Liam Neeson was also considered too tall for the role, and Natasha Richardson reportedly forbade him from taking it.
Casting What-Ifs for GoldenEye
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(01:15:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Mel Gibson was Sean Connery’s first choice for Bond, while Ray Fiennes was considered but ultimately turned down the role, which would have resulted in a more intellectual Bond.
  • Summary: Jude Law was discussed as a strong contender in the late 90s after The Talented Mr. Ripley. Anthony Hopkins and Alan Rickman both turned down the role of Alec Trevelyan (006). Paulina Poriskova and Elle Macpherson were among those who turned down the role of Natalia.
Female Killers During Sex Mount Rushmore
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(01:21:23)
  • Key Takeaway: The Mount Rushmore for female characters who kill men during sex includes Xenia Onatopp, Catherine Tramell (Basic Instinct), Sil (Species), and Amy Dunne (Gone Girl).
  • Summary: The list was compiled based on memorable on-screen kills during intimacy. Jeremy Irons’ girlfriend in Die Hard with a Vengeance was suggested as a strong contender for the fourth spot. Mia Goth in the X movies was also mentioned as a strong modern addition.
Origin of the Title ‘GoldenEye’
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(01:23:03)
  • Key Takeaway: The title GoldenEye refers both to Ian Fleming’s Jamaican estate and a secret, never-deployed WWII military strategy against a potential Nazi invasion through Spain.
  • Summary: Ian Fleming, who worked on the strategy, named his estate after it. The film’s writer, Michael France, likely incorporated WWII themes into the plot due to this historical connection. The film featured 90,000 cans of Perrier water used in the tank collision scene.
Brosnan’s Apex and Legacy
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(01:24:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Brosnan’s peak was GoldenEye, which revived the franchise, though he is now arguably more famous for Mamma Mia! and The Thomas Crown Affair among certain demographics.
  • Summary: Brosnan is credited with killing the highest number of people in a Bond film up to that point. His later career success in films like Mamma Mia! and The Thomas Crown Affair has shifted public perception of his fame.
Worst Bond Theme Song
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(01:26:04)
  • Key Takeaway: The theme song for GoldenEye performed by Tina Turner is considered the worst Bond theme song by at least one host.
  • Summary: Diamonds Are Forever and Goldfinger were cited as amazing themes, along with Carly Simon’s ‘For Your Eyes Only.’ The GoldenEye music during the car chase was compared negatively to ‘Super Mario Bros. pause music.’
Best Bond Movie Era
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(01:26:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The original Sean Connery era films from the 1960s are considered the Apex Mountain for Bond movies because they were cultural events.
  • Summary: Skyfall is noted for being financially successful, potentially earning a billion dollars. The hosts mentioned the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode mocking the Joe Don Baker film Mitchell.
Best/Worst Hangs and Hacker Portrayals
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(01:33:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Moneypenny is the ‘Best Hang,’ while Boris Grishenko is the ‘Worst Hang’ due to his stereotypical, pen-playing hacker persona.
  • Summary: The segment criticized how movies portray computer hackers as having overly dramatic personalities and relying on typing clichés. Timothy Olyphant’s hacker in Live Free or Die Hard was cited as a surprisingly cool portrayal.
Unanswerable Questions and Bond’s Love Life
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(01:38:45)
  • Key Takeaway: James Bond likely breaks up with women between missions by simply stopping communication, and the consistent chemistry with male allies suggests a subtext of Bond being unable to commit to women.
  • Summary: The hosts speculated that Bond ghosts his romantic interests after a few months, citing espionage as the excuse. The strong chemistry Bond shares with characters like Jack Wade and Alec Trevelyan led to a discussion about Bond’s commitment issues.
Bond’s Post-Mission Breakups
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(01:38:45)
  • Key Takeaway: James Bond likely avoids formal breakups by simply ceasing communication with women after globe-trotting adventures.
  • Summary: The hosts speculated on how James Bond ends relationships between films, concluding he probably stops responding to women like Natalia after a few months. This behavior was humorously linked to espionage, suggesting a lack of commitment beyond the mission. One host suggested this pattern might imply Bond is gay due to his inability to commit.
Physicality of Leg Squeeze Kill
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(01:40:43)
  • Key Takeaway: Killing someone by squeezing their legs around them would likely cause death via broken ribs and internal bleeding, not suffocation.
  • Summary: The group analyzed the feasibility of a death by leg squeeze, as seen in GoldenEye. The consensus was that the immense pressure would crush the ribs, leading to fatal internal bleeding from injuries to organs like the kidney or liver. The physical mechanism of death was determined to be trauma from broken bones rather than simple asphyxiation.
Joe Don Baker Name Analysis
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(01:40:29)
  • Key Takeaway: The name ‘Joe Don Baker’ is considered exceptionally cool, potentially inspiring hosts to adopt similar ‘Don’ middle names.
  • Summary: The segment focused on the impressive nature of actor Joe Don Baker’s name, contrasting it with simpler names. The hosts playfully suggested adopting ‘Don’ into their own names, such as ‘Chris Don Ryan’ or ‘Bill Don Simmons.’ It was noted that Joe Don Baker’s full name might simply be ‘Joe Don Baker,’ possibly stemming from Southern naming conventions or a SAG card necessity.
Taylor Sheridan’s Workload
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(01:42:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Taylor Sheridan’s prolific output, including multiple shows simultaneously, has led to concerns about quality dilution, prompting his reported decision to ’take corners back’ in future seasons.
  • Summary: The discussion shifted to Taylor Sheridan’s involvement in various projects, including the upcoming Michelle Pfeiffer/Kurt Russell spin-off, Landman. One host’s father criticized Landman for stretching four episodes into ten, suggesting Sheridan might be overextending. Sheridan is reportedly taking back more creative control for the next season of his current shows, possibly due to perceived weakness in Season 2.
Screenwriters and AI Tools
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(01:44:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts debated whether screenwriters, like Taylor Sheridan, might be utilizing AI tools like ChatGPT to maintain high-volume output.
  • Summary: The question arose whether screenwriters ‘dabble’ in tools like ChatGPT, comparing it to using a typewriter versus Shakespeare. While acknowledging that AI could be a helpful tool for someone producing as much material as Sheridan, the hosts admitted they did not know the specifics of screenwriting processes regarding AI integration.
Memorabilia and Best Quotes
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(01:44:53)
  • Key Takeaway: The most desired memorabilia from GoldenEye was a mint-condition Nintendo 64 with the GoldenEye 007 game, and the best quote was “Governments change, the lies stay the same.”
  • Summary: When asked for memorabilia, Chris Ryan chose a functional, mint-condition Nintendo 64 and the GoldenEye 007 game, which prompted an offer from another host to trade his current life for that scenario. The segment concluded by identifying the best quote from the film as “Governments change, the lies stay the same.”
Double Feature Suggestions
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(01:45:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Suggested double features for GoldenEye included Moonraker to highlight Bond stretching limits and Lawnmower Man to pair with Brosnan’s early virtual world hacking.
  • Summary: The hosts proposed pairing GoldenEye with Moonraker because both films represent Bond stretching the limits of reality, with Moonraker being hilariously over-the-top. Another suggestion was Lawnmower Man, as it features Pierce Brosnan and deals with hacking virtual worlds, aligning with GoldenEye’s themes.
Craig’s First Viewing Experience
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(01:47:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Craig found GoldenEye surprisingly whimsical and silly compared to the darker Daniel Craig Bond films, an effect potentially amplified by having recently seen the Austin Powers parodies.
  • Summary: Craig, who had only seen the Daniel Craig era Bond movies, noted that GoldenEye was both better and worse than expected. He found the film much sillier and more whimsical than anticipated, citing gags like the phone booth airbag. This perception was complicated by having watched the Austin Powers parodies shortly before viewing the original source material.