New 007 DVDs: Fantastic!

[AndyDursin]

I was not anticipating being blown away by the new 007 ANTHOLOGY box sets coming out next week, but after flipping through the first few discs in the sets, I have to say I am BLOWN AWAY.

These transfers make MGM's old DVDs look like VHS. Seriously, after you put the new GOLDFINGER on, there is simply no going back to the old DVD. Dirt, grain, blurry, out of focus images -- they've been replaced here by clean, vibrant color and HD-worthy mastering. It's amazing!

Did anyone who bought the R2 versions see any glitches or such? I only ask because I recall reading a thread or two over the months about how "they hoped they'd fix" such and such when these discs came out in the U.S. If any one remembers what specifically the complaints were about, I'd be happy to see if they've been corrected here.

[AndyDursin]

Well I just looked up a review of the R2 LIVING DAYLIGHTS Ulimate Edition and it reported the subtitle glitch from the old R1 (uncorrected pressing) DVD was back.

I can confirm the subtitles ARE here, and not only that, but they do not appear to be player-generated captions either, but part of the source being utilized.

[Eric Paddon]

Are these only going to be available in these boxed sets or will they get released individually? I'm not too sure if I want to double dip on every title in the series.

[AndyDursin]

Good question Eric, I can certainly understand that from a consumer standpoint. Right now I believe they're only doing these in box-set volumes (2 this month; 2 next month) because they're all packed in slimcases. Makes it mighty pricey indeed (Amazon has em at $58 a piece so that's over $200 for the whole series!).

[mkaroly]

Good question Eric, I can certainly understand that from a consumer standpoint. Right now I believe they're only doing these in box-set volumes (2 this month; 2 next month) because they're all packed in slimcases. Makes it mighty pricey indeed (Amazon has em at $58 a piece so that's over $200 for the whole series!).

UGH! I am getting tired of buying these things over and over again.... I think I'll pass and keep the DVDs I already have.

[Carlson2005]

They are available separately in the UK (or in an attache case as a complete set), already part of the standard buy-one-get-one-free offer they do whenever a new Bond film is out, effectively halving the price.

I've held off getting them until the price really drops because too many of them are far from 'ultimate' - while OHMSS seems to have everything I'm aware of, the You Only Live Twice disc shamefully only has five minutes of highlights from the excellent 50-minute 1967 episode of Whicker's World, which says to me that an even more ultimate edition will be along some day. Over here Licence to Kill is being released uncut for the first time, but it's such a dire misfire I don't really want to sit through a Bond film where Wayne Newton gives the best performance again. Not a priority for me, I'm afraid, though I'm told Roge's commentaries are fun and there's a featurette on GoldenEye of Brosnan whinging about Martin Campbell (who famously refused to work again on a Bond film until Brosnan left the role because of their 'personality' clash - but then, Brosnan's Norma Desmond-style diva antics on the Bonds are the stuff of legend).

[Eric W.]

The next time I buy a Bond disc it's going to be an HD one.

Too many multidips here.

[Monterey Jack]

Right now I believe they're only doing these in box-set volumes (2 this month; 2 next month) because they're all packed in slimcases.

Damn. I was hoping that I could buy these sets and sell off all the lame Bond flicks (like I did with the previous sets), but if they're all in slim cases, then I'll be stuck with the crappy entries like A View To A Kill and Die Another Day. So, is it two discs in one slim case for every film, or what?

[AndyDursin]

Right now I believe they're only doing these in box-set volumes (2 this month; 2 next month) because they're all packed in slimcases.

Damn. I was hoping that I could buy these sets and sell off all the lame Bond flicks (like I did with the previous sets), but if they're all in slim cases, then I'll be stuck with the crappy entries like A View To A Kill and Die Another Day. So, is it two discs in one slim case for every film, or what?

Exactly, two slimcases for every film. They initially only sent out DIAMONDS and THUNDERBALL but my contacts came thru with the full sets.

[DavidBanner]

I am debating these new releases. I may succumb to the idea of picking them up, but I confess some annoyance that there are other materials not being included. There is no deleted material present on the SPY WHO LOVED ME or MOONRAKER discs, even though the material exists - particularly a scene in Moonraker set in the conference room beneath the Moonraker shuttle. (According to the documentary or commentary, this set was elaborate but wound up only being seen in the one bit where Bond and Goodhead get thrown in there before their near-barbecue.)

But I admit it is tempting to listen to Moore talk about his experiences... Now if they could have just gotten Sean Connery to do some commentaries...

[AndyDursin]

I think if you're on the fence and have the means to pick these up, you will not be disappointed.

I can understand the reluctance of others, though -- if it was going to cost me over $200 to pick up the entire run of box sets, I'd probably be hoping for an HD version.

On the other hand, MGM has corrected whatever glitches there were in the R2 versions it seems, and the older the movies are, the more these transfers are going to pay huge dividends. GOLDFINGER is beyond awesome.

[Eric Paddon]

My problem is I can afford to buy a lot of DVDs but too much new stuff, especially TV related material is looming on the horizon.

[John Johnson]

I was not anticipating being blown away by the new 007 ANTHOLOGY box sets coming out next week, but after flipping through the first few discs in the sets, I have to say I am BLOWN AWAY.

These transfers make MGM's old DVDs look like VHS. Seriously, after you put the new GOLDFINGER on, there is simply no going back to the old DVD. Dirt, grain, blurry, out of focus images -- they've been replaced here by clean, vibrant color and HD-worthy mastering. It's amazing!

Did anyone who bought the R2 versions see any glitches or such? I only ask because I recall reading a thread or two over the months about how "they hoped they'd fix" such and such when these discs came out in the U.S. If any one remembers what specifically the complaints were about, I'd be happy to see if they've been corrected here.

Andy,
Did you like the new sound? I spoke to friends of mine at Movie Boulevard in England. They told me of customers who bought the Region 2 versions which only had the new sound and had to return them because the new sound was terrible. I believe the Region 1 discs have the original as well as the new sound. Any truth in this?

[AndyDursin]

Andy,
Did you like the new sound? I spoke to friends of mine at Movie Boulevard in England. They told me of customers who bought the Region 2 versions which only had the new sound and had to return them because the new sound was terrible. I believe the Region 1 discs have the original as well as the new sound. Any truth in this?

John, great question, and it's yet another reason to pick up the R1s-- all the original soundtracks (either mono or stereo) ARE INCLUDED along with the 5.1 DTS and DD versions.

Personally I love the new DTS mixes across the board. GOLDFINGER has never been in 5.1 and for me there's no going back to the old version.

But the good thing here is, unlike the R2 discs, you CAN choose the original soundtracks. Even on THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS there's the original 2.0 Surround track -- in each case MGM has included the original audio.

[AndyDursin]

I did a screen capture of the old GOLDFINGER DVD vs. the new version on the front page and at

http://www.andyfilm.com/11-7-06.html

Not only is it more clearer and more colorful but the framing is also corrected.