1146 replies to this topic

[Rufus Ffolkes]

Granted, it would seem that Blu-ray is already more successful in this country than Laserdisc ever was, but why can you get all of the LETHAL WEAPONs on Blu-ray in America but just the first one on Blu-ray over here? Why is DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE available on Blu-ray in the States but not in Britain? How come the Yanks can enjoy the wonders of NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN ( wink.gif ) on Blu-ray, while us British urchins must go without?

Well, that cuts both ways. North Americans don't have easy access to films like "Zulu" or "The Ipcress File" or the original "Italian Job" while the UK does.

But actually, many blu-rays are region-free and will work on players all over the world.

Check out this site to see what discs you can safely import.

Well, to be blunt, I'm really only concerned with what happens to Blu-ray in Britain. I don't give a stuff how it does overseas (although I do, of course, appreciate that its "global" performance will have an effect on the situation over here). I'm a Brit and I want British Blu-rays for British people! tongue.gif

My fear is that Blu-ray will become the new laserdisc in Britain. Laserdisc was a huge success for many years in the United States, Japan and parts of Europe, but it never took off at all in Britain.

Blu-ray isn't going away anytime soon. Sales of discs and players are up at a time when all other electronics are down:

According to the Digital Entertainment Group’s midyear report, Blu-ray sales are up a whopping 91 percent to $407 million. And in accordance, retailers are getting more and more Blu-Ray, about 50 percent more than the previous year.

On the other hand, the industry as a whole, which consists of DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and digital distribution, slipped by 3.9 percent to a total of $9.73 billion. DVD sales are clearly slipping, with Blu-ray helping to fill the void.

[oatesy]

I don't get a lot of the pessimism about Blu-Ray in the UK. I am already seeing a lot of family/friends start to consider blu-ray, even those that were late to adopt DVD. For many of them just seeing 'Planet Earth' on Blu-ray is enough to make them go out and buy a player.

The amount of shop space devoted to Blu-Ray seems very large compared to where DVD was in this stage of its life cycle (Blu-Ray has only really been a viable product since March 07 in the UK). The space devoted to Blu-Ray at HMV Oxdord Street is enormous (but still a lot smaller than DVD, but that it is to be expected).

We get major films issued day and date with the DVDs, with only some of the older films being absent/delayed compared to the US. But that is also the case with DVD. We still haven't got the Casino Royale (67) reissue on DVD that US got a few years back. Admittedly the absence of LTK and TMWTGG is infuriating and inexplicable, but we already have about 1600 titles available

[5 BONDS]

The thing is in this day and age normal people who don't have an inkling about picture quality or sound quality are just willing to pass time watch a movie and thats all. Me for instance know a lot more about how a film should be seen in its original aspect ratio, original frames per second which is 23.976, other resolutions for example PAL and NTSC can have their issues. Compression and artifacts are also a common factor which the general Joe Bloggs would have no idea or care about. After VHS I was so happy to know that DVD was a format that you could watch over and over again without any worries of wear and tear. But one thing I did notice was compression artifacts, blocking on accasions with fast movig scenes.Now with Blu ray or HD dvd these films can be seen like they were originally seen in the cinema without the usual video anamolies caused by PAL and NTSC plus you can get the original colours as intended. Compression has vastly improved and will get even better one day when film won't need no compression at all and in the near future perhaps in 1580p!.

Audio too was great with dvd..but now with bluray the lossless tracks are a revelation as now you can hear thuds and bangs that were not too clear on dvd. The Bond movies on blu ray are outstanding. The Man With the Golden has never sounded better. The opening on the beach I could hear birds the sea and other sounds more clearly and more life like that were almost hushed on VHS and DVD. Gunshots were shockingly loud and now I am so glad to hear these films like they were intended.

We all need a good eye and ear for everything.

Edited by 5 BONDS, 05 August 2009 - 04:49 PM.

[scaramunga]

The thing is in this day and age normal people who don't have an inkling about picture quality or sound quality are just willing to pass time watch a movie and thats all. Me for instance know a lot more about how a film should be seen in its original aspect ratio, original frames per second which is 23.976, other resolutions for example PAL and NTSC can have their issues. Compression and artifacts are also a common factor which the general Joe Bloggs would have no idea or care about. After VHS I was so happy to know that DVD was a format that you could watch over and over again without any worries of wear and tear. But one thing I did notice was compression artifacts, blocking on accasions with fast movig scenes.Now with Blu ray or HD dvd these films can be seen like they were originally seen in the cinema without the usual video anamolies caused by PAL and NTSC plus you can get the original colours as intended. Compression has vastly improved and will get even better one day when film won't need no compression at all and in the near future perhaps in 1580p!.

Audio too was great with dvd..but now with bluray the lossless tracks are a revelation as now you can hear thuds and bangs that were not too clear on dvd. The Bond movies on blu ray are outstanding. The Man With the Golden has never sounded better. The opening on the beach I could hear birds the sea and other sounds more clearly and more life like that were almost hushed on VHS and DVD. Gunshots were shockingly loud and now I am so glad to hear these films like they were intended.

We all need a good eye and ear for everything.

Agreed. Seeing the Bond films on blu ray for me has been like seeing and hearing them again for the first time.

[scaramunga]

I noticed this today. It appears that MGM does not have any blu ray titles announced after mid September. Hopefully this is good news that some blu ray Bond announcements are coming soon for the rest of the year?

http://www.blu-ray.c...tby=releasedate

[SpaceAgent]

Agreed. Seeing the Bond films on blu ray for me has been like seeing and hearing them again for the first time.

Couldn't agree more. From the moment I watched Dr. No on Blu-Ray, I thought that no one has ever seen the movie look this good -- not unless you were present when they filmed it and had better than 20/20 vision. Not even a theatrical presentation looks this good.

I wouldn't worry about about the viability of Blu-Ray; at a time when DVD sales are falling, Blu-Ray sales are improving dramatically. Also, with HD TVs now accounting for 50% or more of US households, high-def video demand will only increase. Add to that lower-priced Blu-Ray players coming this fall, and you have a recipe for a growing market.

What I would worry about in terms of the Bond Blu-Rays is MGM's finance troubles. While the Bond films are certain sellers for them, the uncertainty of management may lead to delays. I'm hopeful that we will see more films on BD by the year-end, but given the uncertainty, there can't be any guarantee.

[scaramunga]

Agreed. Seeing the Bond films on blu ray for me has been like seeing and hearing them again for the first time.

Couldn't agree more. From the moment I watched Dr. No on Blu-Ray, I thought that no one has ever seen the movie look this good -- not unless you were present when they filmed it and had better than 20/20 vision. Not even a theatrical presentation looks this good.

I wouldn't worry about about the viability of Blu-Ray; at a time when DVD sales are falling, Blu-Ray sales are improving dramatically. Also, with HD TVs now accounting for 50% or more of US households, high-def video demand will only increase. Add to that lower-priced Blu-Ray players coming this fall, and you have a recipe for a growing market.

What I would worry about in terms of the Bond Blu-Rays is MGM's finance troubles. While the Bond films are certain sellers for them, the uncertainty of management may lead to delays. I'm hopeful that we will see more films on BD by the year-end, but given the uncertainty, there can't be any guarantee.

Quite agreed. I'm starting to wonder if the MGM woes are a reason why the title announcements have slowed for the moment. Hopefully this isn't the case.

Edited by scaramunga, 24 August 2009 - 01:13 AM.

[Shaun Forever]

Went down Bournemouth today with the kids, and managed to pick up TWINE for £9.99 in Borders, which isn't too bad a price for the second wave of Blu Ray Bonds.


It's been a while since I've watched that one, so will be nice to see it again.

[Goldfinger007]

I went by the record store today and decided to expand my Bond Blu-ray collection so I got Dr. No and The World is Not Enough.

So far I own the following Bonds on Blu-ray:

- Dr. No
- From Russia With Love
- Die Another Day
- For Your Eyes Only
- The World is not Enough

Next up: Goldfinger.

Which other Bonds blu-rays do you recommend for me to get? Or should I just buy them all?...Since I think I'm eventually going to get them all. I swore I wouldn't double dip on Bond movies again but these blu's are so amazing that once you watch one there's no stopping.

Edited by Goldfinger007, 05 September 2009 - 05:04 AM.

[dee-bee-five]

I went by the record store today and decided to expand my Bond Blu-ray collection so I got Dr. No and The World is Not Enough.

So far I own the following Bonds on Blu-ray:

- Dr. No
- From Russia With Love
- Die Another Day
- For Your Eyes Only
- The World is not Enough

Next up: Goldfinger.

Which other Bonds blu-rays do you recommend for me to get? Or should I just buy them all?...Since I think I'm eventually going to get them all. I swore I wouldn't double dip on Bond movies again but these blu's are so amazing that once you watch one there's no stopping.

Moonraker. Even if you hate the film. It's not only by far the most stunning looking Bond on Blu Ray, for my money it's the most stunning Blu Ray I've so far seen, period. And although Thunderball is, for me, the dreariest official Bond film, I have to admit it looks bloody good on Blu Ray, too.

[Shaun Forever]

Agreed on that.

Moonraker looks very impressive indeed.


What's the quality like on Die Another Day? I would imagine that it's pretty decent, being one of the newer films.


Might pick it up next, I actually don't mind the film.

[Skudor]

I really need to get Moonraker on BluRay... love the film and it sounds like a no-brainer addition to the collection.

[Loomis]

What's the quality like on Die Another Day? I would imagine that it's pretty decent, being one of the newer films.

It's okay but nothing really amazing. I actually think MOONRAKER looks far more impressive.

I wouldn't agree with dee-bee-five that "it's the most stunning Blu Ray I've so far seen, period". It's probably the third most stunning Blu-ray I've so far seen, after BARAKA and APOCALYPTO.

Which is still nothing to be sneezed at, of course.

[DamnCoffee]

Moonraker on Blu Ray is absolutely amazing, stunning infact. All of them are, well, except For Your Eyes Only. Probably the weakest transfer of the lot.

[Professor Dent]

What's the quality like on Die Another Day? I would imagine that it's pretty decent, being one of the newer films.

It's okay but nothing really amazing. I actually think MOONRAKER looks far more impressive.

Add me to the list that thinks Moonraker is one of the most impressive looking transfers of the recent lot. Die Another Day looks good but it suffers from too much digital grading that seems to dull all of the colors. This grading is not a result of the transfer to Blu-ray but it was processed like this for the original movie. For this movie, I think the audio quality gets the edge.

[Cruiserweight]

I'm a little behind here so have all the bond films been released on Blu Ray yet? If not which ones haven't been released yet?

*Saw the list*

[DamnCoffee]

You Only Live Twice
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Diamonds Are Forever
The Spy Who Loved Me
Octopussy
A View To A Kill
The Living Daylights
GoldenEye
& Tomorrow Never Dies

all need to be released. The Man With The Golden Gun & Licence To Kill and still are all awaiting a UK release.

[Cruiserweight]

Well out of the not released yet list i'd really like to see The Living Daylights in it's Blu Ray version as i love the film & am interested to see how it looks on Blu Ray.

But overall it'd be interesting to see Monnraker. It seems like a film that would be made for Blu Ray.

I'm going on what everyone in this thread has said of course. I don't own a Blu Ray player & am not really sure what aspects it brings to the movies.

[scaramunga]

Well out of the not released yet list i'd really like to see The Living Daylights in it's Blu Ray version as i love the film & am interested to see how it looks on Blu Ray.

But overall it'd be interesting to see Monnraker. It seems like a film that would be made for Blu Ray.

I'm going on what everyone in this thread has said of course. I don't own a Blu Ray player & am not really sure what aspects it brings to the movies.

I'd love to see The Living Daylights on blu ray as well. With the MGM financial problems, I'm guessing we will be waiting a while for more Bond titles on blu ray though. I'm also curious if the studios debt will also lead to delays with Bond 23 as well.

Could be rough times for MGM and James Bond fans.

[dee-bee-five]

What's the quality like on Die Another Day? I would imagine that it's pretty decent, being one of the newer films.

It's okay but nothing really amazing. I actually think MOONRAKER looks far more impressive.

I wouldn't agree with dee-bee-five that "it's the most stunning Blu Ray I've so far seen, period". It's probably the third most stunning Blu-ray I've so far seen, after BARAKA and APOCALYPTO.

Well, I haven't seen those two films and I'm not sure how starved of entertainment I'd have to be before I'd choose to watch a Mel Gibson film...

I can only comment on the Blu Rays I have seen, which is what I did.

Well out of the not released yet list i'd really like to see The Living Daylights in it's Blu Ray version as i love the film & am interested to see how it looks on Blu Ray.

But overall it'd be interesting to see Monnraker. It seems like a film that would be made for Blu Ray.

I'm going on what everyone in this thread has said of course. I don't own a Blu Ray player & am not really sure what aspects it brings to the movies.

Nor did I until I got it. And I had a few problems in the beginning. But such is the quality of Blu Ray playback, that I now feel I'm taking a backwards step whenever I watch a standard DVD - the difference in quality is that marked. That said, my Sony Blu Ray player does upgrade standard DVDs to what it calls "near Blu Ray" quality and, in fairness, the way it upscales standard DVDs is very impressive, so it was worth the price of purchase for that alone.

[Loomis]

I can only comment on the Blu Rays I have seen, which is what I did.

LOL! Point taken.

my Sony Blu Ray player does upgrade standard DVDs to what it calls "near Blu Ray" quality and, in fairness, the way it upscales standard DVDs is very impressive, so it was worth the price of purchase for that alone.

If I recall past discussions correctly, you and I own the same Blu-ray player. Weirdly, I often find that it makes my standard DVDs look better than my Blu-rays. I've been using it to watch my SOPRANOS DVDs (a show not currently available on Blu-ray), and I'd believe I was actually watching Blu-ray.

[dee-bee-five]

I can only comment on the Blu Rays I have seen, which is what I did.

LOL! Point taken.

my Sony Blu Ray player does upgrade standard DVDs to what it calls "near Blu Ray" quality and, in fairness, the way it upscales standard DVDs is very impressive, so it was worth the price of purchase for that alone.

If I recall past discussions correctly, you and I own the same Blu-ray player. Weirdly, I often find that it makes my standard DVDs look better than my Blu-rays. I've been using it to watch my SOPRANOS DVDs (a show not currently available on Blu-ray), and I'd believe I was actually watching Blu-ray.

Yes, I think we have the same model and, it's true, I find that can happen, too.

[scaramunga]

Still no news from MGM or any rumors about the rest of the films for that fact.

It's frustrating to know that the work for the films to be released on blu ray is already completed. Where as other older films have major restoration and mastering that must be completed before they can be released. Not the case with the James Bond films for blu ray...

It's almost like someone has stolen a moon buggy from Willard Whyte.

I know MGM is having major financial issues right now. However, the Rocky Films are slated for release before year end on blu ray.

Let's go MGM.

[Qwerty]

Limited-time Choose Your Bond Blu-ray Pack offer on Amazon.com

All three 007 boxed sets are 57% off--offer ends today

[larrythefatcat]

The Amazon deal is tempting, but I'd rather complete my collection with the individual flicks on Blu. It's too bad the Blu-ray sets don't have slim cases like the Ultimate DVD sets.

*PASS*

[Turn]

I don't care about deals at this point considering I've had two of these sets for nearly a year for the first wave and had the second for six months now. What can I say, I'm greedy and want the next wave.

I want my YOLT OHMSS, DAF, TSWLM, OP, AVTAK, TLD, GE, TND.

[Loomis]

Definitely (and I'm eagerly awaiting YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE in particular). But at least you guys have THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN and LICENCE TO KILL.

In a strange way, though, I quite like the fact that we're being kept in the dark and kept waiting. I think we're too used to being able to buy whatever we want in one fell swoop these days with no suspense or anticipation. I'm oddly glad that Bond on Blu-ray hasn't turned out to be just another box set I've spent hundreds of quid on - I mean, I'll spend the money eventually, of course, if (as I very much hope) the remaining films are released on the format, but as things stand I appreciate the Bond Blu-rays I have all the more, and it makes me more likely to explore the bonus material as I await the other releases. When I bought the Ultimate Edition DVD briefcase in 2006, I hardly touched the special features, and there were even a couple of films in the set that I didn't get round to watching at all. Sometimes less is more.

[Turn]

Definitely (and I'm eagerly awaiting YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE in particular). But at least you guys have THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN and LICENCE TO KILL.

In a strange way, though, I quite like the fact that we're being kept in the dark and kept waiting. I think we're too used to being able to buy whatever we want in one fell swoop these days with no suspense or anticipation. I'm oddly glad that Bond on Blu-ray hasn't turned out to be just another box set I've spent hundreds of quid on - I mean, I'll spend the money eventually, of course, if (as I very much hope) the remaining films are released on the format, but as things stand I appreciate the Bond Blu-rays I have all the more, and it makes me more likely to explore the bonus material as I await the other releases. When I bought the Ultimate Edition DVD briefcase in 2006, I hardly touched the special features, and there were even a couple of films in the set that I didn't get round to watching at all. Sometimes less is more.

I forgot you guys didn't have those yet. I know not having TMWTGG has to be painful to you especially, Loomis. I don't mean to push it, but watching the scenes in Scaramanga's fitness room bring out things I'd never seen before, so you'll especially enjoy that one.

I too enjoy the anticipation somewhat. I'm one of those people who enjoy the unopened Christmas presents and the anticipation of opening them rather than actually opening them.

But having had a taste of these sets has whetted my appetite for more. After I dove into the last releases I was set for the next round. That's the power of Blu-ray for me.

The extra features I've pretty much poured over in the first release and the ultimate editions, so I'm not as excited there. I'm particularly annoyed that some of the things on the original DVD release for DAD didn't make it through, like on the UEs.

Seeing the films like you're seeing them for the first time again is the big selling point for me. And that's one of the tough parts about not having any new releases to look forward through now until the holiday season. There's also nothing along the lines of Indiana Jones or Star Wars to anticipate, either. I know Rocky is coming out, I just feel less and less excited about it, considering the limp extras that were announced that really have nothing to do with the series and more about boxing itself.

[Loomis]

I know not having TMWTGG has to be painful to you especially, Loomis.

Indeed. Although, to look on the bright side once again, its absence is forcing me to get better acquainted with titles I've never been into as much, such as LIVE AND LET DIE. (And what a wonderful Blu-ray transfer that movie has! Almost turns it into a good film. )

Seeing the films like you're seeing them for the first time again is the big selling point for me. And that's one of the tough parts about not having any new releases to look forward through now until the holiday season.

I've pre-ordered the Rocky box set (obviously) and Michael Mann's HEAT, but there's nothing else on the horizon. Most of my home viewing is still on "standard" DVD, due to the poor selection of titles on the Blu-ray format in general. I bought an HDTV earlier this year, but only a small proportion of my viewing is in hi-def. Still, it's always nice to put on a Bond Blu-ray or a Blu-ray like APOCALYPTO, BABEL, BARAKA or WALTZ WITH BASHIR and be reminded of just what my set is capable of.

[Shaun Forever]

Sorry to drift slightly, but is anyone else surprised Star Wars hasn't been released on Blu Ray yet?


He should release them now, make the money on them, then IF the format does flop, he's still made money.

They've been released on Betamax,VHS, Laserdisc and DVD, so why not....



Anyway, my main point is, something like Star Wars could really help the Blu Ray format, let's hope he releases it soon.