Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best book yet written about the James Bond films., 8 Oct 2002
There have been a lot of books written about the James Bond films and phenomenon; I should know because I've read them all! That's why I feel uniquely qualified and very confident in saying that this latest book (written by the two gentlemen who produced the special edition James Bond DVDs) is without a doubt THE best book yet written about the James Bond films! If you're baffled as to which book to add to you movie library, look no further because here you will find information and photos that you will not find anywhere else.What makes this book so good? Well, first off, it's HUGE in size! A great coffee table book to be sure. The graphic layout is extremely well done and all the films are given equal time (not the case with some of the other books which tend to fixate on the Connery era). Also, for the first time in any official publication, we have coverage of the two "unofficial" James Bond films: NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN and CASINO ROYALE. Up until now these two "rogue" films have been missing from all official publications for legal reasons. JAMES BOND THE LEGACY is the first book to be published after MGM took ownership of these films, so now we are able to learn the fascinating stories of how they came to be made and, most interestingly, how they impacted and influenced the official series. Great stuff! But what I like most about JAMES BOND THE LEGACY is how the authors look at each film within the historical context of when it was made. They focus not only on what was going on with the Bond producers at the time, but also what was going on in the world; what socio-political and even cinematic trends the Bond films were keying into. This really brings a new understanding to each film and helps explain why James Bond has endured while other "pop culture spies" (Matt Helm, Derek Flint, xXx J) failed to connect beyond their time and have long since disappeared. Most people think James Bond films are "all the same", but you will discover here that they are not. In this book I learned how throughout its amazing 20-year history the Bond filmmakers made subtle--and sometimes very bold--changes in the tone of the series and to the character of James Bond himself. This is much more than a simple look at the production and plot of each film, this is a major work on one of the most famous fictional characters of the 20th century. Oh, and the book also gives a detailed look at the new Bond movie, DIE ANOTHER DAY, with some pictures that lead me to believe this could be the best Bond movie of them all! This alone makes it stand above the rest as definitive. JAMES BOND THE LEGACY is a must buy for all James Bond fans and anyone interested in 20th century popular culture. Again, if you buy just one book about James Bond, make it this one.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
007 "you know the rest......", 16 Oct 2002
Well this book goes on to prove that you don't!
A very well writtern definative work on the franchise but also a social history of the last forty years . The book serves as a useful reminder as to how the films very carefully reflected the feeling and moods of the last four decades.
The collection of photographs is stunning. Unusually unlike some of the other Bond books they have not just relied on the publicity photos from EON, UA or MGM. This together with the page layout and graphics makes this book a treat. I have convinced a number of my friends to buy this and think that it will appear in a number of Christimas stockings for both the old and new Bond fan.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Double-o heaven, 9 Mar 2003
Merry Christmas,007! It took me a while (partially based on a slammer review here) to dive into reading this swollen tome of a book. Did someone say "no content"? Must be a SPECTRE plant. There is more in the way of untold stories buried between the glossy pictures than I ever expected to read! This is choice inside scoop on Bond, James Bond. I am a bit of an anorak when it comes to 007, and I am quick to say, "been there, done that" with books peddling more random trivia and plot synops from Bond films. This, in contrast,is a totally fresh take on my favorite spy. Ever heard of the James Bond riotin Boston, USA? Neither had I! There are literally dozens of tales that haven't been peddled before, and considering the truckloads published on Bond, that impressed me.
I became a fan in the late 70s (I know, the Moore films don't quite hold up for me either), but this book wasn't written like I had never seen the films. I concentrates on how Bond became popular and why he's stayed popular.It is a great story, filled with real spies and oodles swish photos from the films.
Negatives? The writers go pretty light on some of the stinkers of the series. You get the feeling they were under MI6 orders not to let loose. (But then my sister goes ga-ga over Octopussy, so there's no accounting for taste.) Also, more expensive that an EasyJet flight to almost anywhere. Glad I have a generous wife! All in all, just the best book on Bond not written by Ian Fleming. If you like the Bond films, I recommend this.
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