DVDizzy Forum

2099net wrote:Sadly, the short title descriptions only don't offer much insight. However, I see Sony are paying to licence some BBC material from its archives (especially for the late 70's/80's films) so some rare treats are in store.

Does look like some nice new inclusions, but there is just no way I'd re-buy 21 DVDs. At least not in one hit

The current editions are quite special, although the case looks kind of spiffy. I suppose I could just buy a silver briefcase and stick them all inside. Would save some shelf space too...

Release date there is July 17...does that mean R1 gets it then too? God, I hope so. I'm looking forward especially to the three gold movies: Goldfinger, The Man with the Golden Gun, and Goldeneye. And of course, The Living Daylights. Bar none one of the best Bond *stories*.

Escapay

Escapay wrote: Out of all the Bond films, I think I've only seen:

1. Dr. No.
2. From Russia With Love
3. Goldfinger
4. Thunderball
5. You Only Live Twice
6. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
7. Diamonds are Forever
8. Live and Let Die
9. Man with the Golden Gun
10. The Spy who Loved Me
11. Moonraker
12. For Your Eyes Only
13. Octopussy
14. A View To A Kill
15. The Living Daylights
16. Licence To Kill
17. Tomorrow Never Dies

Also, what was Casino Royale and Never Say Never Again? Why were they made if they're not official Bond movies?

Those two are not James Bond movies. "Casino Royale" was a movie based on the James Bond spoof and "Never Say Never Again" was also not a James Bond film. I have all 18 (out of 20) James Bond movies on DVD-R that I taped off of AMC last January. I was at a yard sale yesterday, I seen plenty of James Bond movies on VHS tapes. I don't need it except for "Goldeneye", a James Bond film I would like to get on VHS, but I don't really need it. So I decided to go back to buy James Bond DVD's. The movies "Goldeneye" and "The World Is Not Enough" and "Die Another Day" are the movies that I want to get to complete my 007 DVD collection.

musicradio77 wrote:

Escapay wrote: Out of all the Bond films, I think I've only seen:

1. Dr. No.
2. From Russia With Love
3. Goldfinger
4. Thunderball
5. You Only Live Twice
6. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
7. Diamonds are Forever
8. Live and Let Die
9. Man with the Golden Gun
10. The Spy who Loved Me
11. Moonraker
12. For Your Eyes Only
13. Octopussy
14. A View To A Kill
15. The Living Daylights
16. Licence To Kill
17. Tomorrow Never Dies

Also, what was Casino Royale and Never Say Never Again? Why were they made if they're not official Bond movies?

Those two are not James Bond movies. "Casino Royale" was a movie based on the James Bond spoof and "Never Say Never Again" was also not a James Bond film.

Yeah, um...my question was already answered by deathie mouse on the first page.

EScapay

Still no R1 announcement

musicradio77 wrote:I have all 18 (out of 20) James Bond movies on DVD-R that I taped off of AMC last January.

Oooh... 18 Panned & Scanned James Bond movies. I'm so jealous.

TLK

The Lizard King wrote:

musicradio77 wrote:I have all 18 (out of 20) James Bond movies on DVD-R that I taped off of AMC last January.

Oooh... 18 Panned & Scanned James Bond movies. I'm so jealous.

TLK

And it's got commercial breaks. How impressive!

I'm gonna go crazy waiting for the R1 announcement. Dagnabbit, I want my 2-disc version of Goldfinger!

Escapay

Escapay wrote: And it's got commercial breaks. How impressive!

Escapay

Not everybody keeps the Ads in (like me) for there DVD-R or DVD+R discs.

JiminyCrick91 wrote:Not everybody keeps the Ads in (like me) for there DVD-R or DVD+R discs.

I could live with the ads, but Amercian Movie Classics broadcasts almost exclusively in pan & scan, and for that reason alone, I only watch Turner Movie Classics, the Fox Movie Channel, and the Independent Film Channel for broadcasted movies. I even subscribe to HBO, but I rarely watch a movie on it, since they also show panned & scanned movies. The weird thing about HBO is that they broadcast their dramas in 1.78:1 widescreen (which I will watch)!

TLK

Well, my case arrived today. Unless you put importance on picture restoration and Sir Roger Moore commentaries (he's recorded an all-new, all-solo commentary for each of his films! That's a lot of Sir Roger!), the Ultimate Editions probably won't offer you much over the previous editions.

Annoyingly, Die Another Day is a huge downgrade from the previous UK release supplement wise. Not only is the 70 minute "making of" missing, but the Madonna music video seems to be as well (and, once again annoying the packaging claims that the content previously only available on the UK release is "never before released on DVD"). It's no biggie though, as I still will keep the UK Die Another Day 2-Disc release.

I've not had time to explore the discs yet, bar a quick flick through the menus on a single disc. Very good they are too (as you would expect - there's been a heck of a lot of time and effort put into them) but sadly the transitions are long and you cannot skip them. I can see this becoming irritating in the near future.

Pics (from my cheap and unexceptional digital camera):

The packaging. The case is packedged well and even includes moisture absorbing crystals in paper satchels.
Large


The open case. All the discs are still shrink wrapped. The inside top of the case holds a paper sleeve which includes a certificate and 10 theatrical poster reproduction cards.
Large


Each disc comes with a slipcover! Just in case the attache case isn't protection enough! Each disc also comes with an 8-page booklet, similar to the ones available on the previous Special Edition releases.
Large

In conclusion. While I'm happy with the new set, I think I'll still keep my older UK Limited Edition Tin set. People who already have the previous releases probably won't find anything on the new releases to make it worth an upgrade. They're probably for Bond fans only.

That attache case does look quite lovely and would make all my other DVDs jealous...

Plus, I like your bedspread, netty. Real persian-carpet-esque...

Escapay

The attache case I could do without but I am drooling over the DVDs. And enhanced picture quality is something I care about in my DVDs over all else, packaging be damned.

I am thrilled I held off on purchasing the original issues.

So when for R1?

Well I've had more time to go over the set now, but as you can imagine, its only been general quick looks at each of the films.

Firstly the films. Good news (and bad news). Yes, the films have been "restored" by Lowry - who have basically done their digital magic on the films. The last two (or perhaps 3) films don't mention restoration at all in the booklet, and don't name Lowry like the others do - but claim to be newly restored "frame by frame" on the disc's cover. (Hey, shouldn't Lowry be called "DTS Digital" now?). But I suppose that is understandable - presumably the later films required less work, if any at all (Did "Die Another Day" really need/have restoration at all, let alone "frame by frame"?).

But in practice, you're unlikely to notice much difference after the first 10 or so films have been viewed. I must say, "Dr No" does look spectacular, a big improvement over the previous release. As are all the other early films.

The bad news is

[a] in the UK at least (the verdict is still out on the upcoming R1 releases) the original mono (where applicable) soundtracks are missing - the only options are 5.1 DD or 5.1 DTS.

apparently some of the burnt-in captions on some of the films are either subtitle tracks or totally missing

[c] according to some, the new restorations have altered the colours - one example often cited is the blood in the water in "Thunderball" is now purple rather than red.

[d] DeathieMouse is not happy with the aspect ratios of the early bonds.

"No 1.66s! I'll reapeat what I said yesterday: Those were UA distributed films or the USA shot protected to 1.85 for the bigger than UK market! Just like "A Hard Day's Night"."

So our own Grim Squeaker thinks they should be 1.85 (and the later 2.35 Bond's should be 2.40).

As for the supplements, I was probably a little harsh. There is probably an hour or so of new content on each film. Most is in the form of short featurettes or voice-over clips, but they're not bad really. Some actually have some wonderful Archive footage (or even whole documentaries - although of course, most archive documentries tend to be a little light and general, they're still important to have).

I'm a little annoyed the Brosnan films still don't have proper "making ofs" - especially "Die Another Day" where a perfectly good and substantial "making of" has been removed! Also, its a bit pointless having the branching "Secrets of OO7" which are on two of the Brosnan movies moved to the second disc and presented out of context.

I actually went to sleep listening to Mr Moore's commentary on "Live and Let Die". Which sounds bad, but actually it was very good. He's like a comfortable family member talking to you! I wonder how he can keep it up for another 6 films though - there were periods of silence in his first film/commentary.

All films have the same menu design, with the pictures changing to match the film.But one nice touch is the arrangement of the Bond theme changes too. (The menus are still too long winded when navigating though, and they will get annoying).

Looks like the UK are also getting themed sets:
James Bond: The Ultimate Sean Connery Box Set
http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/RCS/3-/1138 ... oduct.html