Brosnan’s Remington Steele contract reportedly prevented his earlier Bond casting; Dalton later declined a multi-film commitment, opening GoldenEye for Brosnan.
Casting What-Ifs reports Gibson, Grant and Fiennes discussions; Gibson’s age comparison is corrected to younger than Brosnan.
Law is a hypothetical timing alternative, Paul McGann is reported as a studio fallback, and the Zabka claim is plainly joking.
Casting discussion reports Hopkins and Rickman declining an older 006, and Porizkova/Herzigová declining Natalya; Scorupco divides opinion. Courteney Cox as Xenia is explicitly unverified and doubted.
John Woo reportedly declined directing; the hosts weigh losing Broken Arrow or Face/Off and praise Travolta’s villain turn.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 00:31:02Read transcript

Ebert’s three-star review is explicitly stated and its shaken-not-stirred ending admired; the hosts note his continued Connery preference.

Natalya’s survival; tank capabilities; gunfire escapes; slow exit; 006’s fall; missile crash

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 00:42:40Read transcript

Natalya repeatedly surviving destruction and reaching the city from Siberia are questioned.
The tank chase is the preferred scene for two hosts, praised for escalation and destruction while its operation, speed and tight turns are nitpicked.
Nitpicks include escaping many gunmen, Natalya surviving the explosion, tank capabilities, Bond’s slow exit, 006 surviving the fall and the missile/plane crash leaving the leads unharmed.

Nolte as Jack Wade; Dennehy and Hoffman alternatives

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:19:33Read transcript

Recasting Couch proposes replacing Baker because of his earlier villain role, with Nolte favored and Dennehy/Hoffman alternatives; age and leading-man status are debated.

Canadian admiral; title origins; Perrier consumption; Bond kill count

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:22:19Read transcript

Research reports changing the admiral from American to Canadian, the title’s Fleming-estate and wartime origins, 90,000 Perrier cans and a claimed forty-seven Bond kills.

Bond’s breakups; Xenia’s squeeze; Joe Don Baker’s name

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:38:17Read transcript

Unanswerable questions ask how Bond leaves partners between films, with ghosting and interpretations of his male chemistry discussed as speculation.
The physical plausibility of Xenia’s lethal squeeze is debated without verification.
Joe Don Baker’s memorable name prompts proposed Don middle names and speculation about his name’s origin, followed by Wings Hauser.

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:45:20Read transcript

Double-feature choices are Moonraker and The Lawnmower Man, linked to Bond excess and Brosnan/virtual-world themes.

Sillier and more enjoyable than expected

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:47:17Read transcript

A first viewing follows experience only with the Daniel Craig Bond films and proves both better and worse than expected. — Craig Horlbeck
Seeing Austin Powers first makes the original style being parodied feel odd.
The whimsical gadgets contrast with the darker Craig era, but the attractive cast, travel, casinos and spectacle provide enjoyable escapism.
The opening was restarted so Liz could join the viewing after the first twelve minutes. — Craig Horlbeck