John Cork

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 and current events that helped shape the transformation of the character over his 40-year cinematic career.
With many rare and previously unseen photo's the authors show the depth show more of their research through the comprehensive coverage not only of the influences on the movies, but also coverage of the influence the movies (especially those of the 1960s) had on popular culture. Its an astoundingly comprehensive book and 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 and 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 really 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 and the movies in broad strokes. Obviously big fans of Bond themselves they offer few criticisms of the movies themselves and scarce information on the anecdotal information that Rubin supplies.
Overall 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! show less

This is an entertaining graphic novel with a real dark, cinematic feel to it. I wouldn't be surprised if it was originally pitched as a film script, or that it might eventually end up as one. The storyline involves travelling salesman Hurdis Jones who is on an uneventful trip through the Midwest, until he gives a seriously ill hitchhiker a ride to the hospital. After the encounter he starts having blackouts and keeps finding bodies of individuals he has met on his journey. The police and show more then the FBI get suspect him of being a serial killer. He thinks the hitch-hiker might be following him. Things get progressively more bizarre and out of control.

And there's a fine shock ending. Good, chilling stuff. show less

An amazing compilation of everything Bond; from Dr. No and Connery, all the way up to Casino Royale and Craig. It covers every villain (no matter how small their role), gadget, and the lovely Bond girls, as well as the Bonds themselves (even poor Lazenby, the one-film wonder). The pictures are gorgeous, and the descriptions well-written. A must-have for EVERY bond fan!

Borzage is responsive to the farce of war, as well as its horror. There are sublime scenes of comedy amidst the carnage. The battle scenes put pretenders like ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT to shame; the sheer scale and irrationality of war bursts the screen. Points of identification become lost, the tyranny of destruction is a perversely beautiful thing. It is in this context that the couple's transcendent love must be seen. What could have been as a desperately mushy romance with its talk show more of the Bon Dieu and heaven, becomes a necessary rebellion, a refusal to succumb to social pressures, war, nation's follies, domestic horrors, betrayal or death. So the ending is not preposterous, but the perfectly comprehensible hallucination of a woman who, having been raised from hell, could not possibly leave heaven now. Imperishable. show less