764 replies to this topic

[Qwerty]

Topics merged.

[Gobi-1]

Slim cases = CHEAP. Can you even get 2 DVD's in a slim case?

Yes, one of the pictures I shot for the other thread shows how.

Which thread?

[zencat]

Wait, hold the phone...I just got a look at TSWLM UE DVD and...I'm completely blown away!

The freakin' Menu gave me chills!

All I've watched so far is the PTS and...I'm stunned. This is exactly what it was like to watch TSWLM for the first time on a letterbox laserdisc after a lifetime of watching (and learning) the movie on TV and VHS. It's like a new movie! The picture is so freakin' crystal clear I'm seeing things I've never seen before (bet you've never seen Bond's ski poles falling in the final shot -- well, there they are!). I also convinced the masking is different because the sets look bigger and more lush. The depth of focus looks sharper and deeper (is that possible?) The color is now bright and vibrant (franky, I've always found TSWLM to be a little "muddy" and just accepted that is what it was supposed to look like. After all, it is a 70s movie. Nope. TSWLM is “muddy” no more). It actually looks HD!

Yeah, the packing ain't what I wanted. But what is inside the packaging is, without a doubt, a quantum leap quality-wise from what we've had before!

It will take me a while to work my way though these sets, but I will give a full report/review when I'm done.

And, you know, they do take up a lot less room on my shelf.

[Righty007]

[quote name='zencat' post='634839' date='27 October 2006 - 22:35']
Wait, hold the phone...I just got a look at TSWLM UE DVD and...I'm completely blown away!

The freakin' Menu gave me chills!

All I've watched so far is the PTS and...I'm stunned. This is exactly what it was like to watch TSWLM for the first time on a letterbox laserdisc after a lifetime of watching (and learning) the movie on TV and VHS. It's like a new movie! The picture is so freakin' crystal clear I'm seeing things I've never seen before (bet you've never seen Bond's ski poles falling in the final shot -- well, there they are!). I also convinced the masking is different because the sets look bigger and more lush. The depth of focus looks sharper and deeper (is that possible?) The color is now bright and vibrant (franky, I've always found TSWLM to be a little "muddy" and just accepted that is what it was supposed to look like. After all, it is a 70s movie. Nope. TSWLM is

[Qwerty]

LOL!

I cannot wait to see that movie on these DVDs.

[Bon-san]

[quote name='zencat' post='634839' date='27 October 2006 - 22:35']
Wait, hold the phone...I just got a look at TSWLM UE DVD and...I'm completely blown away!

The freakin' Menu gave me chills!

All I've watched so far is the PTS and...I'm stunned. This is exactly what it was like to watch TSWLM for the first time on a letterbox laserdisc after a lifetime of watching (and learning) the movie on TV and VHS. It's like a new movie! The picture is so freakin' crystal clear I'm seeing things I've never seen before (bet you've never seen Bond's ski poles falling in the final shot -- well, there they are!). I also convinced the masking is different because the sets look bigger and more lush. The depth of focus looks sharper and deeper (is that possible?) The color is now bright and vibrant (franky, I've always found TSWLM to be a little "muddy" and just accepted that is what it was supposed to look like. After all, it is a 70s movie. Nope. TSWLM is

[Righty007]

I can't wait to buy these babies on 11/7!

[DLibrasnow]

[quote name='zencat' post='634839' date='27 October 2006 - 22:35']
Wait, hold the phone...I just got a look at TSWLM UE DVD and...I'm completely blown away!

The freakin' Menu gave me chills!

All I've watched so far is the PTS and...I'm stunned. This is exactly what it was like to watch TSWLM for the first time on a letterbox laserdisc after a lifetime of watching (and learning) the movie on TV and VHS. It's like a new movie! The picture is so freakin' crystal clear I'm seeing things I've never seen before (bet you've never seen Bond's ski poles falling in the final shot -- well, there they are!). I also convinced the masking is different because the sets look bigger and more lush. The depth of focus looks sharper and deeper (is that possible?) The color is now bright and vibrant (franky, I've always found TSWLM to be a little "muddy" and just accepted that is what it was supposed to look like. After all, it is a 70s movie. Nope. TSWLM is

[zencat]

Wait, hold the phone...I just got a look at TSWLM UE DVD and...I'm completely blown away!

The freakin' Menu gave me chills!

All I've watched so far is the PTS and...I'm stunned. This is exactly what it was like to watch TSWLM for the first time on a letterbox laserdisc after a lifetime of watching (and learning) the movie on TV and VHS. It's like a new movie! The picture is so freakin' crystal clear I'm seeing things I've never seen before (bet you've never seen Bond's ski poles falling in the final shot -- well, there they are!). I also convinced the masking is different because the sets look bigger and more lush. The depth of focus looks sharper and deeper (is that possible?) The color is now bright and vibrant (franky, I've always found TSWLM to be a little "muddy" and just accepted that is what it was supposed to look like. After all, it is a 70s movie. Nope. TSWLM is “muddy” no more). It actually looks HD!

Yeah, the packing ain't what I wanted. But what is inside the packaging is, without a doubt, a quantum leap quality-wise from what we've had before!

It will take me a while to work my way though these sets, but I will give a full report/review when I'm done.

And, you know, they do take up a lot less room on my shelf.

Ooh, zenmaestro, you're getting me jazzed. I can't wait to check these babies out. Any comments on the sound mix? Do you have home theatre audio in your casa? Can you provide a comparative analysis of the original audio mix vs. the new 5.1? How is Barbara looking in the scenes in Kalba's club?

Unfortunately, I don't have a 5.1 set up in my place, so I can't really judge the sound. But my concern, after hearing some folk in the UK complain about this, was that the new mixes messed with the balance between effects/music/dialog -- that the movies sounded different. Well, I know TSWLM inside out and the mix sounds exactly the same to me -- only brighter and cleaner. I'm going to check out a few key places on DAF where I think the mix is brilliant, and if those sound the same, I'm going to say this mix issue is a myth and chuck my old DVDs.

Hey, forget Barbara in the Kalba Club...wait 'till you see Eon's home movies from the set and see Barbara lounging by the pool in her bikini.

[zencat]

LOL...That was the first one that I put in too.

So, I take it you are a believer now!

Well, I was only ever a critic of the packaging, and maybe the price (but 30% off at Amazon helps a lot). I still think the slim cases look nasty and I wish they were in order, but the sets themselves look cool on the shelf and, as I said, it saves me room (and that's critical for me now – I have a new Bond collecting philosophy; when something new comes in, something old must go out).

I always figured they'd look good...but I didn't realize how good!

Another thing that makes me VERY happy is the UA logo is back on the films. Not the original, which would have been cool, but at least there's a UA logo there. I think it's important that people know UA was the studio responsible for James Bond (and Rocky and The Pink Panther), not MGM.

[Loomis]

what is inside the packaging is, without a doubt, a quantum leap quality-wise from what we've had before!

Haven't I and others been telling you this for months? Just wait till you have a look at MOONRAKER.

bet you've never seen Bond's ski poles falling in the final shot

Well, I hate to say this, but they're perfectly visible in the old Special Edition version too. I've been noticing those skis for years.

franky, I've always found TSWLM to be a little "muddy"

Same here. Not any more, though.

I'm going to check out a few key places on DAF where I think the mix is brilliant, and if those sound the same, I'm going to say this mix issue is a myth and chuck my old DVDs

Why chuck your old DVDs? Don't forget that so much has been cleaned up on some of the new UEs that they're effectively different films (well, only slightly different, perhaps, but still different). In the old version of THUNDERBALL, there's blood in the shark pool. In the new version, there's none. Even a film as recent as LICENCE TO KILL is a very different viewing experience on UE, thanks to the striking audio/visual improvements.

Would a STAR WARS fan be happy to chuck his original versions of the OT and just stick with new Lucasfilm versions? I don't think so. Bizarre as this may sound, there may come times when you'll actually want the old-fashioned Bond DVD experience.

[Double-0-7]

Zencat, I'm glad to hear that TSWLM picture quality has been addressed. I don't know that muddy was the right term, but it never has the right depth and sharpness to it (and no amount of TV adjustment helped!). I am really looking forward to seeing that particular film crisp and clear - bring on the best PTS ever!

[Gobi-1]

Don't do this too me guys. Here I was happy to skip the new DVDs because of the packaging, slim cases, cover art, etc., but now I'm hearing all these wonderful things about the transfers and the bonus material and I feel torn.

I hate slim cases but I have to admit they are a space saver (which has recently becoming an issue for me). I recently bought the Abbott and Costello Show Season 1 and 2 on DVD and both 5 Disc box sets take up only about 4 standard DVD cases. 10 DVDs where I only had four before is nice.

But this is Bond we're talking about. I want quality to extend to all aspects of the DVD release including the packaging, the cover art and the materials used in the packaging.

What I'm probably going to do is wait for more reviews and if I decided to buy them, just buy one box set at a time. Instead of spending 200 at one time I'll spend fifty here and fifty there until I complete my collection.

However to misquote Tiger Tanaka, "The Ultimate Superman DVD Collection comes first, The James Bond Ultimate Editions DVDs comes second."

Edited by Gobi-1, 28 October 2006 - 04:57 PM.

[Neil S. Bulk]

You can view comparisons of the new transfers versus the old transfers here. Just click on the title of the movie and then click on the photos.

Neil

[Arbogast777]

I thought it would be handy for anyone in the U.S. thinking about picking the sets up to have a quick rundown of the prices available for them...

Circuit City - $94.98
Each set $54.99, and if you buy both at the same time you get an instant $15 off.

Deep Discount DVD - $93.42 (during 20% off sale late Nov)
Each set is $46.71.

Best Buy - $99.99
Each set is $59.99 but you get them for $49.99 when you buy both. Plus, you will receive a bonus DVD featuring the 007 Scene It game.

Amazon - $116.98
Each set is $58.49.

Target - $119.98 + $10 gift card
Each set is $64.99, plus you get a $10 gift card for each set bought, so if you use the first gift card to help pay for the second set, the above is the total plus you'll have another gift card left over.

Edited by Arbogast777, 02 November 2006 - 04:24 AM.

[Gobi-1]

Walmart.com

Volume 1 - $60.39
http://www.walmart.c...duct_id=5230782

Volume 2 - $60.39
http://www.walmart.c...duct_id=5230778

Volume 3 - $56.87
http://www.walmart.c...duct_id=5223291

Volume 4 - $56.87
http://www.walmart.c...duct_id=5223283

I order a few things from Walmart.com every year and I've been extremely pleased with their prices and service. Surprisingly some items online (especially DVDs) are cheaper on Walmart's website then they are in the Walmart stores.

If you don't have a credit card you can simply buy a reloadable Walmart shopping card in the stores and use it online. That's how I do my shopping.

[carddoug]

are these prices only online or instore prices? I wonder why 3 and 4 is cheaper

Edited by carddoug, 29 October 2006 - 05:54 AM.

[00Twelve]

They might not have as many available extras as the films in the first two sets. But I have no idea, just talking out of my butt there. Just one idea.

[Righty007]

I should have Best Buy on Monday - I'll post it then.

Hopefully Best Buy is the cheapest because they usually give away a free gift with high profile releases.

[Gobi-1]

are these prices only online or instore prices? I wonder why 3 and 4 is cheaper

Online prices only. The prices could be higher in the Walmart stores. What makes me mad is that if you live in a city where Walmart has competition (Best Buy, Target, Circuit City etc.) the price will be cheaper then in a town where Walmart is the only place to buy DVDs.

For example when Die Another Day came out on DVD it was $20.00 at my local Walmart and $15.00 at a Walmart that has competition an hour and half from where I live. Fortunately I just happen to be in that town that day and got the cheaper price. Most of the time I'm forced to pay the $20.00.

[carddoug]

almost a week away and so excited. i have been waiting a long time

Edited by carddoug, 30 October 2006 - 12:38 AM.

[tdalton]

The main thing that has me disappointed is that, in order to see The Living Daylights, I would have to spend an outrageous amount of money on DAF, GF, TWINE, and TMWTGG, four films which would have been amongst the last films I would have picked up if they were available individually.

I don't mind the slim packages that the films are going to be in (actually, I kind of like the fact that they'll take up less space), but the way that they're putting the collections themselves together is what is disappointing to me.

[dinovelvet]

I should have Best Buy on Monday - I'll post it then.

Hopefully Best Buy is the cheapest because they usually give away a free gift with high profile releases.

Yeah when I got the DAD dvd there they gave away a free Bond Girls are forever dvd with it. Sometimes when sequels are about to come out in theatres they have some kind of bonus preview discs with trailers, behind-the-scenes stuff, etc.

[carddoug]

Now I don't mind the slim dvd box. when I first saw them I did not like them at all but now I kind of like them.

[Tiin007]

I have a serious question for you guys. I was always considering skipping this release (my SEs are good enough) and waiting until they came out on Blu-Ray. But these positive reviews are changing my mind. Here's the question: When do you think the Bond movies will come out on Blu-Ray? I know we don't have an official date yet, but I'm asking for your guesses. If it's soon, I'll skip the UEs, but if it's a long way off, I might buy these. So what do you think?

[Qwerty]

Finally getting close!

[carddoug]

I have a serious question for you guys. I was always considering skipping this release (my SEs are good enough) and waiting until they came out on Blu-Ray. But these positive reviews are changing my mind. Here's the question: When do you think the Bond movies will come out on Blu-Ray? I know we don't have an official date yet, but I'm asking for your guesses. If it's soon, I'll skip the UEs, but if it's a long way off, I might buy these. So what do you think?

I could be wrong but i would say november 07 or later. im for sure geting them in about a week

Edited by carddoug, 30 October 2006 - 03:40 AM.

[Skudor]

I may just have to get some of these - it will take me years before I bother getting the next gen DVD player (HD-DVD or Blueray or Greybeam or whatever).

I'll probably get them individually in the UK though, don't fancy splashing out all this money in the US and get some films I don't necessarily want. It sounds like the picture quality improvement is fantastic.

[Qwerty]

Sometimes when sequels are about to come out in theatres they have some kind of bonus preview discs with trailers, behind-the-scenes stuff, etc.

Ah yes. I remember Media Play gave out a free DVD as well when Die Another Day was released.

[Gobi-1]

Personally I don't think I'll be getting an HD television or a BlueRay DVD player for three or four years so I may bite the bullet and buy these new DVDs to enjoy NOW.