58 replies to this topic

[quantumofsolace]

http://www.empireonl...e.asp?BID=10266

[Major Tallon]

Alas, the Empire review is spot on. I'm glad to have it, but I'd wished for more.

[thecasinoroyale]

...wished for more?! I thought you couldn't get more than this monster...! Are there bits lacking?


I hope I get it for Xmas.

[Dustin]

People like us are always craving for more, especially more unofficial stuff as represented with Rubin's or Charles Helfenstein's books. But as far as the official side/Eon are concerned you can't realistically expect more than comes in this mammoth tome. As has been mentioned earlier it's already a most welcome surprise there are sections on the 1967 CASINO ROYALE and Connery's NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN.

[Major Tallon]

Make no mistake, Archives isn't a bad book It's beautiful, with many wonderful photos. The Empire review sums up my wish list: Script pages, more design drawings, personal notes, plus call sheets and other minutia, all material to which Duncan was given access. As for my disquiet with the oral histories, I offer one example. I was looking forward to a lot of background on the somewhat chaotic filming history of "Thunderball," but the book, though discussing the McClory controversy, mostly contains accounts and interviews that I'd heard before. I don't want to be misunderstood as being overly negative about Archives. As I say, I'm glad to have it. However, I'd really hoped to be knocked out by new revelations about the Bond movies, and I didn't get that. Thus, my mixed feelings.

[thecasinoroyale]

That makes sense - there will be something every fan wants more of for their own interest and desire, but I see your point!

Can't wait to have a look at it, it sounds so...glorious!

[Dustin]

Make no mistake, Archives isn't a bad book It's beautiful, with many wonderful photos. The Empire review sums up my wish list: Script pages, more design drawings, personal notes, plus call sheets and other minutia, all material to which Duncan was given access. As for my disquiet with the oral histories, I offer one example. I was looking forward to a lot of background on the somewhat chaotic filming history of "Thunderball," but the book, though discussing the McClory controversy, mostly contains accounts and interviews that I'd heard before. I don't want to be misunderstood as being overly negative about Archives. As I say, I'm glad to have it. However, I'd really hoped to be knocked out by new revelations about the Bond movies, and I didn't get that. Thus, my mixed feelings.

Well, Bond films are a topic that's been given exhausting coverage already, for example with the various DVD extras and numerous books. I suspect there is not such a whole lot of new stuff we are ever likely to hear about any more. Whatever was left unsaid up to now will probably remain so.

I for one will probably learn a lot of new facts because I'm notoriously lazy with watching DVD extras. More production material - storyboards and script versions and so on - would always be welcome. On the other hand The Archives are difficult to handle as is; if there was significantly more content Taschen would have to provide a reading desk with it like with that Newton book some years ago.

[SecretAgentFan]

I was pretty knocked out by the new revelations about the original QOS script, for example. Never read or heard them before.

But I never expected an EON approved book to actually reveal all those things they would like to keep hidden. Let´s be realistic.

[stromberg]

... if there was significantly more content Taschen would have to provide a reading desk with it like with that Newton book some years ago.

... the André Heller Brockhaus edition even came with an extra shelf

Thing is, 'Archives' wasn't made exclusively for Bond fans who want to know every detail. It also has to appeal to the masses in order to sell. You can't please them all. I know of someone who's got a book on a certain field of Bondology in his drawer, but still hasn't found a publisher. He once told me that all possible publishers would like to scratch half of the contents and replace it by large pictures of Sean Connery. It's just to specialized...

[Turn]

I would think Archives almost exclusively would be created to appeal to serious Bond fans, and to a lesser extent highbrow film enthusiasts with deep pockets. Serious Bond fans are always looking for something to take it to the next level as there are so few books out there left with anything new to say or show, which is why I prize my fanzines so much. There are more than enough of those general books like the Book of Bond to satisfy the common fan.

The Kubrick Archive also intrerests me, but I don't have the cash to drop on something like that, same with the Godfather book Taschen offers.If you're going to offer something for that type of price tag, it had better be worth every penny. I understand some stuff will be repeated, but given the access they had there should be some potential knockout stuff here and I am wondering if there is based on some of the feedback It's why I consider my copy of The Making of On Her Majesty's Secret Service a worthy investment despite having a higher cost than a general Bond book of the same size and more affordable cost - there's more in it than I ever dreamed about the subject packed into its pages.

[sharpshooter]

The book sounds very promising and worth the price tag. I have a copy on the way for Christmas, along with 'All About Bond'. Looking forward to them. 

[quantumofsolace]

http://theincredible...ves-review.html

Edited by quantumofsolace, 08 December 2012 - 05:26 PM.

[S K Y F A L L]

http://theincredible...ves-review.html

 

Fun review I love this line, "one per film including bastard children Casino Royale [1967] and Never Say Never Again."

[thecasinoroyale]

Sounds fab!

[S K Y F A L L]

We keep hearing about how large this book is, I'm curious to know now. Would love to see a photo of it being held to give us some scale. 

[SecretAgentFan]

Go to the taschen.com - website.

[Flint72001]

Got the book. Love it. Yes, there is information that I've seen before, but as someone previously posted, at this point it would be nearly impossible for there not to be. What I most appreciate is the obvious care and craft that has gone into the tome. Every chapter is full of plenty of stuff that I haven't seen or didn't know as well as gorgeous photos. I also have the Kubrick Tachen book which, having devoured that, made this purchase a no-brainer. If the current price is too much, I believe they have since released smaller, soft-cover versions of the previous Archive books, so if you can wait, that might be an option.

[sharpshooter]

I now have the book. It is massive, the photos don't do it true justice. Just leafed through it quickly, and the photos are good. Love the shots from Craig's screen test. It's going to take a long time reading this thing, but it's sure going to be worth it. The James Bond Archives indeed.

[DABOY]

I now have the book. It is massive, the photos don't do it true justice. Just leafed through it quickly, and the photos are good. Love the shots from Craig's screen test. It's going to take a long time reading this thing, but it's sure going to be worth it. The James Bond Archives indeed.

Can you please post an image of DC's screen test?

[glidrose]

 

I now have the book. It is massive, the photos don't do it true justice. Just leafed through it quickly, and the photos are good. Love the shots from Craig's screen test. It's going to take a long time reading this thing, but it's sure going to be worth it. The James Bond Archives indeed.

Can you please post an image of DC's screen test?

 

 

No, he can't post an image of DC's screen test. Copyright violation.

[Double-0-Seven]

Got this for Christmas. I knew it was going to be huge, but I certainly underestimated its size. It's enormous and must weigh at least 10 pounds. I'll have trouble finding a good spot to put it!

Just skimmed through it but it looks to be very impressive. It'll take a while to get through it all but there's tons of nice pictures in it. Very cool to see shots form Craig's screen test - wets my appetite to the see the whole thing some day. Maybe for the deluxe Bond 75 box set in the future.

Also, the actual film strip it includes from Dr. No at the beginning (which the book claims was cut from an original print) is very cool!

[sharpshooter]

 

I now have the book. It is massive, the photos don't do it true justice. Just leafed through it quickly, and the photos are good. Love the shots from Craig's screen test. It's going to take a long time reading this thing, but it's sure going to be worth it. The James Bond Archives indeed.

Can you please post an image of DC's screen test?

 

As explained by glidrose I won't be doing this. Though the shot of Craig in the audition instantly shows you why Babs and co were so excited about casting Craig. It's an encapsulaiton of James Bond - sexy and dangerous. I'm still leafing through this book and I honestly think it's going to take all year, probably more, to really absorb all it has to offer. Which is fine by me.

[thecasinoroyale]

So pleased I got mine for Christmas too!

 

And I echo the sentiment about the size and weight - it has to be seen and held to be believed! It's a juggernaut, but looks so wonderful and reeks of style, passion and dedication.

 

The photos are wonderful, the words are meaningful and it's written with a clear passion about the James Bond films, and the world behind and in front of the films and books.

 

I've just made it to 'Goldfinger', which isn't even denting the sheer size of pages, so there is a lot more to get through, but from the wealth of knowledge, facts and stories from the previous chapters of 'Dr.No' and 'From Russia With Love', I simply can't wait to read and see more how they continued to bring Bond to the big screen.

 

A truly remarkable book.

[Grard Bond]

Great book indeed, but.... I find a lot of the pages not in mind condition. I'm not sure how to say this in good English, but it looks like thumb-marked a lot of times. It was factory sealed, so it must happend when it was bind. Am I the only one who has this problem?

I ordered another one by another bookseller, but unfortunately the second book I received was without the Dr. No filmstrip (and it had also a couple of thumb-marks, but not THAT much), so that's not a good substitution.

Maybe the first print is now OOP? So I'm afraid I have to stuck with the first book I received.

[Grard Bond]

I've now almost read the complete book and what I think is very dissapointing is the fact that almost every quotation is taken from one of the dvd documentaries, which everyone have already for years, so you don't realy get never before released archival stuff.

[thecasinoroyale]

Maybe, but for those who haven't listened to the audio commentaries and may never will with DVDs, this is the perfect Bond Archive and solution to that.

 

I haven't listened to the commentaries either myself, but I would like to for more info!

[Grard Bond]

I don't mean the audio commentaries, I ment it's just taken from the documentaries, the making offs, which are on every dvd (and now on the blu rays) and the first zeventien were originaly made for the laserdiscs in the ninties.

I have never listen to the audiocommentaries, so I don't no what is said on those.

[Eric Stromberg]

Was very fortunate to receive a copy for my recent birthday.  (Hell, it's almost my 50th "anniversary"!)

 

This is a book I can really tuck into.  I just started on the Fleming history portion and burned 2 hours in what felt like 5 minutes.  I know some are not happy with the level of original content, but on my first blush it's plenty comprehensive for me.

 

They should also sell a 007 gurney to wheel this thing around.  It's by far the most massive book I've ever owned, but I'm not complaining!

 

Anybody else receive this product without the Dr. No filmstrip?  Found something online that said that was included on the first print run only.

[SecretAgentFan]

I've now almost read the complete book and what I think is very dissapointing is the fact that almost every quotation is taken from one of the dvd documentaries, which everyone have already for years, so you don't realy get never before released archival stuff.

 

Even so, the absolutely gorgeous photography is reason alone to get this book (fortunately, my copy was in perfect condition).

 

Can´t remember, by the way, that all the infos on QUANTUM OF SOLACE were part of any commentary or documentary.