132 replies to this topic

[Jackanaples]

Why when they have GREAT ORIGINAL POSTER ART TO WORK WITH do studios always create lesser photoshopped images for the dvd covers? It beggars imagination.

(As an aside, I picked up the first six Bond movies in the UK Ultimate Edition the other night, thereby neatly bypassing the ludicrous R1 sets. Viva le region-free player! They dvds look amazing by the way!)

[zencat]

Why when they have GREAT ORIGINAL POSTER ART TO WORK WITH do studios always create lesser photoshopped images for the dvd covers? It beggars imagination.

There was one set of VHS in the '90s which used the original posters on ALL of them. It was a great set, all gate-fold boxes that opened up into pics (later reissued as non gate-folds). They also used the original title fonts on the spines. The set went up to TLD (LTK was weirdly still only put out by CBS/Fox). This was the last time original poster art appeared.

[Gobi-1]

One of the things that really ****** me off about the US release is that Dr. No is not included. One of the bonus features on the Dr. No DVD is a feature on the restoration process undertaken by Lowry Digital. If the DVD we're to be available individually or to rent I had planned on seeing it to get a better idea of what kind of work they did on the films. Plus I could compare the SE and UE transfers and make a better inform decision on if it's worth it buying the new DVDs.

Now I'll just wait until all the sets have are released and the price goes down. Me thinks that will happen around May 2008 when Bond 22 is released.

Edited by Gobi-1, 20 August 2006 - 04:37 PM.

[DamnCoffee]

I dont see why the USA dont release all the movies individually instead of in Boxsets

[zencat]

I dont see why the USA dont release all the movies individually instead of in Boxsets

Beacuse, obviously, they want to screw as many people as they can.

[Gobi-1]

The last time the SE DVD box sets were re-issued in the states the seven films from the Brosnan box were also available individually. However when the Connery and Moore box sets were released the next year they were not.

I had bought the Brosnan films individually and it took me a year or so to track down the other DVDs one by one to complete the Brosnan box set.

[DamnCoffee]

I bet that Pi$$ed you right of Gobi

[zencat]

One of the things that really ****** me off about the US release is that Dr. No is not included. One of the bonus features on the Dr. No DVD is a feature on the restoration process undertaken by Lowry Digital. If the DVD we're to be available individually or to rent I had planned on seeing it to get a better idea of what kind of work they did on the films. Plus I could compare the SE and UE transfers and make a better inform decision on if it's worth it buying the new DVDs.

I really feel bad for Lowery and all the people who worked so long and hard on making these DVDs something very special, only to have MGM Home Video sweep in (who, apparently, took over this project late in the day -- these were going to be put out by Sony) and not give . They just concoct a way to sell these things that, as far as I can tell, only screws the common consumer and frustrates fans.

[Gobi-1]

Well by that time I had learned my leasson and had saved up enough to buy the entire box sets. No more running around trying to complete my collection. Licence To Kill was the last DVD I needed and I lucked out when Best Buy had one copy left.

[zencat]

BTW, we can make our displeasure known to MGM Home Video here: http://www.mgm.com/help.do

[Loomis]

Looks like the French will get them all at the same as well. So it's just the U.S. that's getting screwed.

French covers

Those covers are the same as the UK ones (or at least, I think they are), but it's amazing how much more stylish and sophisticated they look with the simple addition of (mostly) French titles!

I actually like the UE covers. I guess it's almost obligatory in fandom to diss all VHS/DVD artwork and complain about the absence of original poster material, but I don't think these are bad at all. Much better than the SE ones, anyway, although that's probably not saying all that much.

Wish I hadn't paid British prices for them, though.

[DamnCoffee]

Same here, the cardboard slipcases are fantastic - very shiny and i love how Bonds 3-D

[DaltonCraig]

I'm in the US and am thinking about importing the UK editions or AUS editions, and get a region free player. I have all the special editions (US) already...

Are the Ultimate Editions really that different from the Special Editions, or am I just getting too anxious?

The ones I am most interested in are the 2 Dalton flicks, Moonraker (because I've heard it really looks amazing) and the other ones with Roger Moore's commentary tracks. How are the commentaries?

Thanks!

Edited by DaltonCraig, 20 August 2006 - 07:54 PM.

[DamnCoffee]

The UEs are Fantastic, the special features, the menues and a fantastic digital transfer (with the exeption of GE)

[Qwerty]

Second James Bond 007 'Ultimate Edition' Region 1 Release Date Announced

_{Second half of 007 films due on 12 December 2006}

[DLibrasnow]

BTW, we can make our displeasure known to MGM Home Video here: http://www.mgm.com/help.do

I'm surprised at you zencat...given the fact that it was announced sometime ago that Fox had the DVD distribution rights for these (and other MGM titles).

CBN even had the deal as a QuickNews item (if memory serves)

[zencat]

Sorry, I can't keep up with all these Sony/MGM/Fox twists and turns.

Anyway, that's good news that the second wave is coming in Dec. This make me feel a little better about getting them all if the wait is only a matter of weeks between.

Nice find, Qwerty.

[Qwerty]

Credit goes to Arbogast for the link.

[DLibrasnow]

Sorry, I can't keep up with all these Sony/MGM/Fox twists and turns.

Anyway, that's good news that the second wave is coming in Dec. This make me feel a little better about getting them all if the wait is only a matter of weeks between.

Nice find, Qwerty.

LOL. It's even harder when you have to keep all these agreements in mind when asking about titles for my job.

The MGM situation has to be the most confusing. For example, the deal Paretti made with Turner means that all (except for 007 and some other select titles) MGM movies pre-1970 are released by Warner Home Video. (e.g. WHERE EAGLES DARE)

The news broke earlier this year that Fox had won distribution rights for the MGM titles that the studio still owns the rights to.

It's good news since FOX is a lot better with media relations than SPHE or MGM.

[Double-0-Seven]

Good to hear that the second set is coming just a few weeks later. I thought we would have to wait until the Casino Royale DVD comes out to get them, but I'm glad I was wrong.

[Qwerty]

Good to hear that the second set is coming just a few weeks later. I thought we would have to wait until the Casino Royale DVD comes out to get them, but I'm glad I was wrong.

That's when my guess was as well. Still, it's a shame that one big set isn't announced. Always have to break up the DVDs when it comes to US releases.

[trs007]

I personally think the entire US release is crap. Seems like every other region gets to buy the set all at once in that attache case and we're stuck buying it piecemeal and certainlly not in any semblance of chronology based on the titles in the packages. AND, failing that--where are the individual titles? The Region 2's are availble individually on Amazon.UK.

[Turn]

Okay, this decision, whether you want to thank/blame Fox, Sony, MGM or whoever, has officially baffled me. One one hand, it will be great to have all these out this year and before Christmas -- But within a month of each other? There's got to be a better way of doing this.

My SE DVDs were my favorite Bond product of all time and I haven't looked forward to a new Bond item since the expanded soundtracks three years ago like I have the UEs. I still do, but it would be nice to purchase them all at once rather than a few one week then a few more , but what can you do?

I'll just look for the best deal, smile and hand over my money and enjoy watching whichever Bond film I choose over the holidays.

[DaltonCraig]

Guess I'm going the Region-Free route!

[Qwerty]

I personally think the entire US release is crap. Seems like every other region gets to buy the set all at once in that attache case and we're stuck buying it piecemeal and certainlly not in any semblance of chronology based on the titles in the packages. AND, failing that--where are the individual titles? The Region 2's are availble individually on Amazon.UK.

Completely. The most recent DVD release in the US didn't have them available individually either.

[tambourineman]

Wow, you region 1 guys are really getting screwed on these. I bought the complete 40 disk set which came in a really terrific box for $250 australian (think thats about $200US).

[trs007]

I can buy a region 4 attache case set for $277 USD from a DVD vendor in Austraiia. Much more economical than the Region 2 attache for 209 GBP on Amazon UK and just slightly higher than purchasing 4 US SETS minus the case, even if they were to be discounted on Amazon or Best Buy.

EDIT: And that is just what I have done. One Region 4 set on the way. Stupid Region 1 release, later than Reg 2/4, no attache and broken into sets that make no sense to the consumer.

[Judo chop]

I'd have been happy to start with just the first 4 films. Now I see they have been spread evenly across the four sets. Just perfect.

How do they know?!!?

[Kara Milovy]

I can't believe we don't get the attache case. I hate those right now.

[Bon-san]

BTW, we can make our displeasure known to MGM Home Video here: http://www.mgm.com/help.do

I just sent them this:

'Lots of James Bond fans are upset at the way you are planning to release the Ultimate Edition dvds. Four poorly packaged, poorly thought-out sets? No attache case? No option for all the dvds in one set? No individual dvds for sale (so that fans are "forced" to buy the "sets"? Staggered release dates? Many of us will just hang on to our Special Editions and possibly rent a couple of the UE's via blockbuster or netflix. What a shame for us all. Your marketing/sales dept are either ignorant in extremis, or greed overcame sense and you thought you could get people to buy these poorly-thought-out 5-dvd "sets". Think again.'


I bent the truth a bit with the stuff about only renting a couple of them! I'll find a way to see them all. But I hate to reward the sods in the sales/marketing dept with a full price purchase of the lot.