Spy films have always been one of the coolest tropes in cinema. Ever since James Bond arrived on the scene, the genre has always crafted splendid cinematic moments, whether in a lighter or a more serious tone. Either way, they have provided the best action sequences, stuntwork and hard-knuckle combat in the cinematic landscape.
One of the most popular highlights of many spy films is the gadgets. It is always cool for an audience to see a spy use them in the most inventive ways. In celebration of this, here are five amazing spy gadgets (and five that are overrated). For clarity, cars and guns will not make this list.
Most Overrated: Spy Watch (Spy Kids 2: The Island Of Lost Dreams)
Watches are always the handiest ways to disguise handy weapons and tools in one portable outlet. And almost every spy movie has a specialty watch that has been upgraded to death. Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams takes the cake for the cheesiest spy watches.
In the movie, junior agents Carmen and Juni Cortez overtake a mission meant for their rivals Gary and Gertie. Once they cross paths, both parties boast high-tech watches and Gary and Gertie’s watches are overly decorated, making them kind of impractical.
Most Amazing: Multi-Function Lighter (Our Man Flint)
Even though this film is a James Bond spoof, Our Man Flint carved out its own identity as an underrated comedy gem. This parody stars James Coburn as ex- Z.O.W.I.E. spy Derek Flint, who was brought out of retirement to stop three mad scientists from world domination with a weather controller.
One of the neatest elements of this comedy is Flint’s arsenal. This included a multi-function lighter with 83 uses, including a bomb detector, a radio and a zip line. All in his pocket.
Most Overrated: Jet Pack (Thunderball)
Thunderball is the fourth James Bond movie, which sees 007 sent to uncover two NATO atomic bonds from SPECTRE and stop its Number Two operative, Emilio Largo, backed by C.I.A. agent Felix Leiter and Largo’s mistress Domino Derval. The climax sees Bond and Largo face off in an underwater setting.
One of the most famous elements of Thunderball is Bond’s jetpack. While it made a mark on popular culture, its influence led to the overuse of jetpacks in both TV shows and movies.
Most Amazing: Brochure Laptop (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation)
The fifth entry if the Mission: Impossible franchise sees Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) up against a rogue international terrorist organization known as The Syndicate, led by Solomon Lane (Sean Harris). All the while, Hunt has to run from the C.I.A. and deal with disavowed M16 agent, Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson).
In the film, Hunt recruited tech specialist Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) to assist him in intercepting Lane inside the Vienna State Opera. He also provides him a portable laptop disguised as an opera program brochure. While convenient, the brochure transformation is really amazing.
Most Overrated: Mask Disguises (Mission: Impossible)
Yet, this is not the end of the gadgets that the Mission: Impossible franchise shows us. There are the suction gloves from Ghost Protocol, the exploding gum from the first M:I and the metal-corroding foam in part III. However, arguably the most overused gadget that the IMF has in their disposal is the mask disguises.
It was effective at first, but it ran its course of convenience in Mission: Impossible II, when the number of mask disguises deter the threats before them. Gratefully, this cliché was downplayed in Fallout.
Most Amazing: Rocket-Firing Cigarette (You Only Live Twice)
Back again with Sean Connery’s James Bond, You Only Live Twice follows Bond contending with the threats from SPECTRE on a remote island to ease the tensions between the world’s major superpowers during the Cold War. But Bond soon comes face-to-face with SPECTRE’s evil mastermind, Ernst Stavro Blofeld.
One of the gadgets that Bond used was the rocket-firing cigarette. In the film, Blofeld gave Bond a chance to smoke a cigarette before his demise. Thankfully, the baddie obliged.
Most Overrated: The Neuralyzer (Men In Black)
The Men In Black franchise may not fully fit into the spy genre, but it contains tons of spy elements. Among its absurd-looking weapons and heavy-damage arsenal, the most well-known gadget at their disposal is The Neuralyzer, which erases the memories of its victims.
Along with The Neuralyzer are the sunglasses that protect the agents from the device’s effects. Given its frequent use by the MIB, to sneak their way out, it is safe to say that it is a deus ex machina.
Most Amazing: Weaponized Umbrella (Kingsman: The Secret Service)
Kingsman is a series of spy movies that pokes fun of the absurd theatrics of classic spy movies, yet pays homage to them, as well, with its witty subversions. This includes the signature weapon of new recruit, Eggsy Unwin (Taron Egerton): the weaponized umbrella.
Eggsy gets to witness the capabilities of the umbrella from his uncle Harry (Colin Firth) during a bar fight. Wittingly, he uses the same weapon when he enters the lair of Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson). Its best feature has to be the stun option.
Most Overrated: X-Ray Glasses (The World Is Not Enough)
X-ray elements have been done to death in spy films and TV shows. Setting aside the privacy ethics about its use, it has become an overdone cliché that its use distracts. Take the X-ray glasses from The World Is Not Enough, where it allows the user to see clearly through each person he encounters.
Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond may find this convenient, but, luckily, he only uses it for this one party. There are better, sleeker Bond gadgets out there.
Most Amazing: Black Leather Case (From Russia With Love)
Speaking of, behold the black attaché case from Sean Connery’s From Russia With Love. It is equipped two compartments that are able to hold two throwing knives, a tear gas mechanism, rounds of gold coins, .25 ammunition and an Armalite AR-7. Q provided this for Bond on his mission to Istanbul, as he assists a secret informant.
With the numerous tools and equipment that Q strategically designed for the briefcase, it is one of the bulkiest yet handiest of Bond’s gadgets, and it secures all his needed arsenal on one portable outlet. Any businessman from the last century would want this badly.