Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: bond

  • James Bond and the Sixties Spy Craze

    James Bond and the Sixties Spy Craze

    When the first James Bond movie hit the wide screen in the i960’s, Dr No in 1962, it began craze if you like, for more of this farfetched and yet very believable espionage, secret agent spy thriller genre. This was to last from 1962–1969—peaking in 1966–1967.

    The timing was perfect as the world was grappling with the effects of Russia and their Communist philosophies, the very serious threat of nuclear war between the USA and Russia with fear widespread, when along comes James Bond, a man who not only looked handsome, had a very good way with women and had a ruthless personality when came to getting the job done.

    Based on the books by Ian Fleming, who saw James Bond as his alter ego, the pace was fast, the settings exotic and the glamour surrounding Bond made it all the more believable in the cinemas. People needed a hero, even if he was a fictitious fellow.

    The franchise was to go on to great Box Office success and is still alive and well after more than sixty years, the men playing Bond have changed several times with the last Bond, Australian Daniel Craig bringing this man of secrets and talents into the world of today.

    This spawned many other Spy concepts, with In Like Flint being the first one to take a tilt at the Bond franchise, which then lead on to a range of secret agent material for both television and Cinema. Charlies Angels, the Austin Powers series and The Man From Uncle to name a few, are directly related to the original James Bond concept.

    In James Bond and the Sixties Spy Craze, Thom Shubilla looks at the influence James Bond has had on wider range of media productions, the establishment of the ‘franchise’, a little about the very careful selection of who was to play Bond and the men who followed in the footsteps of Sean Connery, Box Office takings and why the concept of James Bond is still popular today.

     For anyone who is an avid James Bond fan, and there are many, James Bond and the Sixties Spy Craze is a must read and a most enjoyable walk back down memory lane.

  • Dog’s Best Friend: A Brief History of an Unbreakable Bond

    Dog’s Best Friend: A Brief History of an Unbreakable Bond

    Dogs are considered as man’s best friend and in this tell all exposé Dogs Best Friend from Simon Garfield, the dog lover expounds on so very much related to dogs from their very beginning, back well before time imaginable, or so it would seem, to the beloved fur babies of the modern world, in which we now all inhabit; dogs and all.

    He investigates the theory that dogs evolved from wolves early the book which is edifying as this is a subject that has caused much conjecture in scientific realms over many, many years. It would now appear that there is a slight but significant difference in the anatomy of wolves and dogs that make a difference, as in the temperament of the various breeds, but the evidence is still not totally conclusive.

    One thing that is conclusive is that dogs have been interacting with humans far longer than was ever considered, as proven in a series of rock art painting discovered in north- western Saudi Arabia that can be traced back to between 8000-6000BC.

    But onward in this fascinating book of all things relating to dogs, their fame, their infamy and how they have become the beloved of so many, replacing in many, many case children in modern families. Dogs have developed their own fame and fortune thanks to Instagram and many have simply become pampered pooches. Some even have cringe worthy titles which often, when heard out in public make humans wonder, let alone wonder what the poor long suffering dog really thinks!

    The other side to coin is many, many dogs have found the perfect place in life as guide dogs, companion dogs, detection dogs, working police dogs  and so much more as people finally began to understand the abilities of theses  intelligent creatures.  Captured in the pages are some heart-warming stories of dogs that have gone out and done wondrous things in the name of duty, courage and the love of their humans.

    Poets have lauded them, Prime Ministers and Presidents have loved them.  Winston Churchill’s dog, a small brown poodle called Rufus was upstaged by a British Bulldog, often sporting a union jack waistcoat, used in war time propaganda.  Hitler was often seen with a large German shepherd. George W.H. Bush and his wife Barbara’s beloved Millie was painted in portrait on the South Lawn of the White House: the Obama’s dogs Sunny and Bo where in such high demand for photo opportunities they had their own schedules.

    Beloved of most everyone, dogs and their humans create a unique bond that lasts until death, which when a beloved pet passes is often devastating in extreme, leaving behind a gap that is incredibly hard to fill.

    Dogs Best Friend is filed with love, awe and a huge amount of hilarity, often tongue-in-cheek, as the love felt by Simon Garfield for his beloved Labrador Ludo shines through and makes this absolutely perfect book for dog lovers everywhere.

    Not one to be read in a hurry, lest some important detail is missed, Dogs Best Friend is to be enjoyed with your best pal settled at your feet and a good glass of red to be enjoyed in a perfectly acceptable manner.