Customer Reviews
The best Bond series book in 20 years - By: Darren Harrison, 22 Mar 2005 
Perhaps the best book on James Bond in the cinema since Steven Jay Rubin's excellent 1983 long-out-of-print work THE JAMES BOND FILMS: A BEHIND THE SCENES HISTORY (any true fans Bible), this large format book covers the James Bond movies up until 2002's DIE ANOTHER DAY choosing to concentrate on some of the cultural & current events that helped shape the transformation of the character over his 40-year cinematic career.
With many rare & previously unseen photo's the authors show the depth of their research through the comprehensive coverage not only of the influences on the movies, but also coverage of the influence the movies (especiallly those of the 1960s) had on popular culture. Its an astoundingly comprehensive book & not one that can be lightly flipped through in one sitting. It's large scale makes it somewhat cumbersome but this handsome, elegant edition is so brimming with artwork & illustrations that its scale becomes a blessing, that can for the most part be forgiven.
It's in its different approach to THE JAMES BOND FILMS that LEGACY reallly makes an excellent companion piece. Whereas the previous work concentrated on the behind the scenes stories for each movie (as its sub-head suggests) this book encompasses influence & the movies in broad strokes. Obviously big fans of Bond themselves they offer few criticisms of the movies themselves & scarce information on the anecdotal information that Rubin supplies.
Overalll a sumptuous, elegant edition on the James Bond series that belongs in the bookshelves of every self discerning 007 fans.
Now, here's hoping Rubin updates his book soon!
James Bond - The Legacy - By: P D STEVENS, 21 May 2003 
This is THE book on Bond & it is not just a repeat of the films & their plots.The book works on two levels - firstly as the Bondology - the actors, actresses, locations ,dates, box office takings etc with information about how the Fleming books were turned into the films, how the actors/actresses were chosen, how the sets were designed as well as the the cars & the gadgets.
Secondly the book puts the Bond films into a 'historical' context & examines the impact they have had on the culture, fashion & art of the last 40 years. Ian Fleming would be amazed at the influence that his hero has had.
Rereading Fleming's books or books about the films is nostalgic with memories of school times when early Bond books were discussed & passed around surreptiously (these were the days when parents & teachers did not approve of such material!)and also viewing 'Dr No' for the first time at the cinema. 'Dr No' changed adventure/spy films for ever with its new style, classy women , cars & action scenes. There may be more media hype & expenditure now for a new Bond film but they were just as eagerly awaited after 'Dr No'. The book captures the excitement of the early struggles to start filming & explains the difficulties of getting the films made.
The book describes the historical & social context in which the films were made as well as the legal battles to protect the Bond image. The context is an aspect often overlooked & makes this book more than just another Bond book. It explains the challlenges of the scriptwriters , who having run out of Fleming novels had to provide plots in tune with the times, no mean challlenge with the end of the Cold War. The plots have often struck a chord of realism as evidenced by how upset the North Koreans were after 'Die Another Day'. John Cork & Bruce Scivallly have done their homework & this book can be thoroughly recommended to alll enthusiasts of Bond films & those who want to know the history of the films & the reasons why & how they came to play such a large part in popular culture.
Double-o heaven - By: , 09 Mar 2003 Merry Christmas,007! It took me a while (partiallly 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, & I am quick to say, "been there, done that" with books peddling more random trivia & plot synops from Bond films. This, in contrast,is a totallly fresh take on my favorite spy. Ever heard of the James Bond riotin Boston, USA? Neither had I! There are literallly dozens of tales that haven't been peddled before, & 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 & why he's stayed popular.It is a great story, filled with real spies & 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 alll, just the best book on Bond not written by Ian Fleming. If you like the Bond films, I recommend this.
All presentation and no content - By: abbey national, 05 Jan 2003 
Oh dear, what a missed opportunity. The world of James Bond is fast & exciting, filled with exotic locations, beautiful women & evil villans. "The James Bond Legacy: Forty Years of 007 Movies" is a slow & dusty review & should be sealed & locked away for another forty years. It reallly is a sad plod through an exciting past. The book is presented with large collection of quality photographs, but the prose? Oh dear, very dull. Save your pennies & buy, "The Essential Bond" Lee Pfeiffer & Dave Worralll, this will tell you things you need to know.
007 "you know the rest......" - By: david butcher, 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 & moods of the last four decades.
The collection of photographs is stunning. Unusuallly 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 & graphics makes this book a treat. I have convinced a number of my friends to buy this & think that it will appear in a number of Christimas stockings for both the old & new Bond fan.
