764 replies to this topic

[K1Bond007]

Does anyone know if these DVD's will be standard DVD's, HD-DVD's, or Blu-ray DVD's?

DVD. Soon after I would suspect they'll be on Blu-ray though.

I don't expect Blu-ray or HD-DVD to be very successful. I'm thinking flop, but you'll never see it on HD-DVD unless they pull off a huge win there.

[Kingdom Come]

I cannot detect any difference from those pics. I do like the way they did the before and after with Bond and Honey - her in a swimsuit and him in a blue t-shirt - yes very effective shot to use the before and after - NOT!

[Ozzel]

DTS for every movie! Woohoo! Here's hoping the DTS track on Die Another Day actually syncs with the picture this time.

[00-FAN008]

Wow, it's about time. Soon enough I'll actually be able to find my favourite Bond movies at the video store! Well, at least the Bond movies other than Die Another Day and Never Say Never Again.

[zencat]

UK release date confirmed...

Ultimate Edition DVDs Due for Release July 17 in UK
Pre-order now from Play.com

[Loomis]

"Sir Roger Moore will provide commentary for all his movies on a separate audio track. Sir Roger recorded his commentary in Monaco during September of last year."

Does anyone know whether there will be any new commentary tracks other than those by the Rogmeister?

[K1Bond007]

"Sir Roger Moore will provide commentary for all his movies on a separate audio track. Sir Roger recorded his commentary in Monaco during September of last year."

Does anyone know whether there will be any new commentary tracks other than those by the Rogmeister?

They'll probably reuse the ones they had on previous DVDs.

[DLibrasnow]

It's somewhat doubtful. We know for example that George Lazenby was asked, but declined.
I did hear that the 25th Anniversary Special hosted by Roger Moore will be on the DVD of The Living Daylights.

[Loomis]

It's somewhat doubtful. We know for example that George Lazenby was asked, but declined.

I wonder why. I mean, it's not as though he doesn't do things like go to conventions and hold signings. Bondwise, he comes across as someone who'd attend the opening of an envelope (in fact, quite astoundingly, I seem to recall reading somewhere a description of the Laz as "a major figure in Bond fandom"; not "a former 007", mind, but a "major figure in Bond fandom"; sheesh, you'd think he was Graham Rye or someone). So it strikes me as curious that he'd turn down a commentary.

Still, seven Moore commentaries = terrific news (in some cases, may well be more entertaining than the actual films, and this is coming from someone who likes all the Moore outings). And it looks as though each of the discs will have at least one new "bonus feature", as well as the improved picture and sound. I am, of course, in.

[DLibrasnow]

Still, seven Moore commentaries = terrific news (in some cases, may well be more entertaining than the actual films

I can't speak to why Lazenby turned down the offer, but I felt tremendously disappointed when I was told that he had.

And something tells me that neither Sean Connery (who sued EON in the 1970s) or Pierce Brosnan (who trashed the character of James Bond, the series and producers in the press) are likely to appear on commentary tracks.

One interesting thing about the Roger Moore commentaries is that they were recorded backwards in that he did the commentary for A View To A Kill first.

[K1Bond007]

I can't speak to why Lazenby turned down the offer, but I felt tremendously disappointed when I was told that he had.

And something tells me that neither Sean Connery (who sued EON in the 1970s) or Pierce Brosnan (who trashed the character of James Bond, the series and producers in the press) are likely to appear on commentary tracks.

Lazenby probably turned it down because they didn't offer enough money. I don't know this for sure, just speculation. Richard Kiel turned it down (although I can't recall if it was for this set or an earlier one) for that reason.

Brosnan already did one for Die Another Day, so I would assume they would reuse that. I would also assume that he'd do the others (same for Connery) if they paid them 'enough' (which they probably won't).

[Loomis]

I can't speak to why Lazenby turned down the offer, but I felt tremendously disappointed when I was told that he had.

And something tells me that neither Sean Connery (who sued EON in the 1970s) or Pierce Brosnan (who trashed the character of James Bond, the series and producers in the press) are likely to appear on commentary tracks.

Lazenby probably turned it down because they didn't offer enough money.

Yet he does things like signings at London's Vintage Magazine Shop, which surely can't pay all that much, and rather less than a commentary, I would have thought.

[DLibrasnow]

I'd like to think it was not due to monetary reasons, though I honestly have no idea.

Just shot off an email to my usual SPHE contact for Region 1 details...we'll see if there is any response forthcoming.

Yep...that was fast --



Nothing to announce on this at this time.

Thanks,
[name witheld]

[Qwerty]

Just a note that I edited the title of this thread to reflect the updates with these DVDs.

I cannot wait for the US release of them!

[bondrocks14]

OK, July 17 is way way sooner than November...so can't we expect US dates to be close to the UK's?????? hopefully???

[Loomis]

I'd like to think it was not due to monetary reasons, though I honestly have no idea.

I doubt it was anything to do with money. Actually, I imagine that Lazenby is considerably wealthier than most people might think, and quite possibly not the poorest of the former 007s. From his Wikipedia page:

Despite having starred in On Her Majesty's Secret Service ... Lazenby's career never flourished. He then focused on business and real estate investments and ended up owning mansions in Hawaii, Brentwood, California, Australia, and a 600-acre (2.4 km

[DLibrasnow]

OK, July 17 is way way sooner than November...so can't we expect US dates to be close to the UK's?????? hopefully???

Hopefully, but Sony isn't saying.

[Turn]

Doesn't the timing on at least the UK releases seem awfully strange? I don't know if that's a good time for something to be released, but it just seems off.

Summer is a time when most people are spending money on vacations and holidays and such. And I could understand releasing it then if Casino Royale was a summer film or if was being released on DVD, but it's not. That's a full four months before the film is even released, so the timing is just strange.

Personally, I hope it doesn't come out until fall at least in the U.S. as I would like it for a birthday or Christmas present. There's just too much going on in the summer to enjoy these properly. I seem to appreciate them more in the holiday season.

[krypt]

Question: Will the new DVDs be sold individually or only in box sets?

[DLibrasnow]

Personally, I hope it doesn't come out until fall at least in the U.S. as I would like it for a birthday or Christmas present. There's just too much going on in the summer to enjoy these properly. I seem to appreciate them more in the holiday season.

I would bet that they will probably aim for an October release. After all Wave 1 of the current Bond DVDs was released on Oct. 19, 1999 about a month before the release of The World Is Not Enough.

[J.B.]

I too am wondering whether Brosnan will do more commentaries or other bonus stuff. I had noticed that the updated discs involved only the older films and had stopped as you approached the Brosnan era. It could be why they have a limited advertisement of the DVD package. You have almost 8 months until they are due...but then again UK has only 3...I guess it isnt looking good for more stuff...

[Turn]

I too am wondering whether Brosnan will do more commentaries or other bonus stuff. I had noticed that the updated discs involved only the older films and had stopped as you approached the Brosnan era. It could be why they have a limited advertisement of the DVD package. You have almost 8 months until they are due...but then again UK has only 3...I guess it isnt looking good for more stuff...

I think it's just the older films got more attention as far as being remastered and cleaned up, something most of the Brosnans didn't really need, and that's one of the selling points.

I would hope they would do more as far as extras go for films like GE, TND and TWINE, which suffered since they came out before DVD got huge and didn't include proper making of documentaries and such.

[J.B.]

Yeah, me too. I have watched all the extras with those DVD's and would love more.

Hey, off the subject here but, I noticed that SPIKE TV showed TND and DAD last night back to back. It made me wonder what the TV channels will do when CR comes out in November. With Craig being a bit controversial with the public bond fans, it could be difficult on him and his appeal to be showing the Brosnan era Bond on TV at the time CR comes out. You know media people, they love controversy! I bet they have a Bond build up to the movie premiere...one week on AMC, the next on Spike, then on TNT...etc etc...Then Craig will have to compete with not only the image but the history as well.

If that happens and it is wall to wall Bond movies, what a November and December it is going to be!

[DLibrasnow]

I think it's just the older films got more attention as far as being remastered and cleaned up, something most of the Brosnans didn't really need, and that's one of the selling points.

I would hope they would do more as far as extras go for films like GE, TND and TWINE, which suffered since they came out before DVD got huge and didn't include proper making of documentaries and such.

I don't think that had much to do with it. Adter all The World Is Not Enough came out on DVD in 2000 and by that time it was pretty much accepted by everyone in the business that DVD was going to overtake VHS as the format of choice.

After all it was in 1999 when the Baskerville Study (always thought that was a funny name) was released that stated that DVD households would outnumber VHS households by 2010 (boy, was that ever a conservative statement). My point is that 1999 really was the turning point for DVD and after that it was accepted by all the smart money that VHS was as good as dead.

But, the real reason that the first three Brosnan's did not get those retrospective documentaries was because retrospective documentaries need time. The World Is Not Enough's DVD came out at the same time as the second wave of DVDs after all, so its not as if they didn't know how to make them.

With Craig being a bit controversial with the public bond fans, it could be difficult on him and his appeal to be showing the Brosnan era Bond on TV at the time CR comes out. You know media people, they love controversy! I bet they have a Bond build up to the movie premiere...one week on AMC, the next on Spike, then on TNT...etc etc...Then Craig will have to compete with not only the image but the history as well.

Well given that AMC is part owned by MGM (and therefore by Sony) I don't think it will be a problem.


I am still salivating at the knowledge that the Roger Moore hosted 25th Anniversary Special is going to be included. That was great news, I remember watching it on television back in 1987.

[Publius]

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but does anyone know just how "cleaned up" all these processes they claim to use leave the films? Other than TND (theater) and DAD (DVD), I've only seen Bond movies on VHS, so is the quality I can expect noticeably improved?

Just wondering, because depending on the answer to that, I may or may not buy more than a handful at best.

[Solex Agitator]

I, of course, share your disappointment with the lack of a Lazenby commentary but wonder about the Dalton commentaries. Did they happen? Does anyone know what is on tap for the Dalton masterworks?

Edited by Solex Agitator, 18 April 2006 - 05:14 AM.

[K1Bond007]

Doesn't the timing on at least the UK releases seem awfully strange? I don't know if that's a good time for something to be released, but it just seems off.

Summer is a time when most people are spending money on vacations and holidays and such. And I could understand releasing it then if Casino Royale was a summer film or if was being released on DVD, but it's not. That's a full four months before the film is even released, so the timing is just strange.

Personally, I hope it doesn't come out until fall at least in the U.S. as I would like it for a birthday or Christmas present. There's just too much going on in the summer to enjoy these properly. I seem to appreciate them more in the holiday season.

It has been speculated for a release in September for quite sometime. It'll definitely hit before November (or perhaps at least in part). I would bet.

Consider me skeptical about the July UK release too. That may very well be true, but then why was the first advertisement that anyone saw on a Region 1 DVD? Fun With Dick and Jane isn't even out in the UK and it won't even be released till late May according to Amazon. July is a poor choice of months too for pretty much all the reasons you said in addition to Casino Royale not coming out till November. I would think, from a marketing standpoint, they would want the DVD release within only a couple months of CR to get the maximum amount of sales for both. To have a 4/5 month gap seems too large to me even with a U.S. release at a later and closer date.

But that's just me. Only Play.com says July. Amazon, which I find to be more trustworthy, doesn't even list it.

Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but does anyone know just how "cleaned up" all these processes they claim to use leave the films? Other than TND (theater) and DAD (DVD), I've only seen Bond movies on VHS, so is the quality I can expect noticeably improved?

Just wondering, because depending on the answer to that, I may or may not buy more than a handful at best.

Huge difference especially with the older ones. Even the currently released DVDs, are really only a moderate improvement over the VHS. They're really not that good (the ones that I own anyway), IMHO. The Ultimate editions should be pretty amazing, visually - should be better than DAD was on its DVD.

[DLibrasnow]

Huge difference especially with the older ones. Even the currently released DVDs, are really only a moderate improvement over the VHS. They're really not that good (the ones that I own anyway), IMHO. The Ultimate editions should be pretty amazing, visually - should be better than DAD was on its DVD.

Not even just the older ones. I remember reading the DVDFile review of the initial Licence To Kill DVD talking about how the picture quality was surprisingly bad for a (at that point) 10-year old movie.

[Gabriel]

If you think about it, July's a good time for the Ultimate releases. You can pretty much guarantee every film will carry a trailer for Casino Royale and maybe some sort of advertising sheet inside. It'll be good to get word of mouth going about the new film and over those three months or so, people can get a fix of their old favourite Bond movies.

The Casino Royale DVD and Blueray will almost certainly continue the cover style of the new releases, so I guess the bigtime push for the movie begins in July!

Oh, and ALL the films have been HD remastered, so everything released should look better than ever!

Personally, I can't wait to see From Russia With Love and Thunderball restored!!!

[Double-0-Seven]

I can't wait until this is released in the US and Canada. Finally Die Another Day will match the rest of the DVDs.

One question though, sorry if this has been asked and answered in the thread already. Will this new set still contain all of the old special features and documentaries that were featured on the other releases?