James Bond on Blu-ray/4K

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  • Posts: 4,622
    Samuel001 wrote:
    timmer wrote:
    The UE's are a much better picture, especially with the pre-GE films. The prints were all nicely cleaned-up with tender loving care by some company, around 2006.

    A View To A Kill and GoldenEye are cropped though as well as A View To A Kill's deliberately shakey shot being cleaned up! Some bad errors were made by Lowry Digital.
    Interesting. I haven't seen those UE's. I was quite impressed with the work they did on the first four films though. In fact the blu-rays of movies 1-4 aren't spectacularly better than the UE editions. Lowry did the heavy lifting getting the UE editions nicely spruced up, at least on the old films.

  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited December 2011 Posts: 13,350
    timmer wrote:
    Samuel001 wrote:
    timmer wrote:
    The UE's are a much better picture, especially with the pre-GE films. The prints were all nicely cleaned-up with tender loving care by some company, around 2006.

    A View To A Kill and GoldenEye are cropped though as well as A View To A Kill's deliberately shakey shot being cleaned up! Some bad errors were made by Lowry Digital.
    Interesting. I haven't seen those UE's. I was quite impressed with the work they did on the first four films though. In fact the blu-rays of movies 1-4 aren't spectacularly better than the UE editions. Lowry did the heavy lifting getting the UE editions nicely spruced up, at least on the old films.

    These issues were in the first versions for region 2 released in the UK in the Summer of 2006. Some, or many, were fixed for the region 1 release in November of that year but I'm not sure if the aforementioned problems remain. My understanding is that they do.

    The first four films look great though, well apart from the new sound mix. :-&
  • edited December 2011 Posts: 2,594
    Yeah, these UE's just seem to be the single discs with optional commentary. What interests me the most in the special features section of DVD's are the deleted scenes. So there are no extras on this collection at all? No wonder it's so cheap. Ah, here are the 2 disc versions: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_27?url=search-alias=dvd&field-keywords=james+bond+ultimate+edition+2+disc+set&sprefix=James+Bond+ultimate+edition#/ref=sr_pg_2?rh=n:283926,k:james+bond+ultimate+edition+2+disc+set&page=2&keywords=james+bond+ultimate+edition+2+disc+set&ie=UTF8&qid=1324695679

    The second to the bottom is the full set bar QOS (not missing out on much not having this film but still being a Bond fan one must have every film). That's a little more expenisve. I definitely won't get this version when a 50th Anniversary collection will be available. Still can't decide whether I should just get this cheap one disc version then purchase the 50th Anniversary blue ray editions further on down the line. I would really like to watch some of the deleted scenes for these films right now though which the single discs don't have. I've seen some of them as I rented a few Bond 2 disc DVD's from the video store a few years ago.

    I'm tempted to just buy this deluxe CR version now: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Casino-Royale-Deluxe-Martin-Campbell/dp/B001GISLOW/ref=sr_1_21?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1324695715&sr=1-21

    I have CR on DVD (the only Bond film I have on DVD) but it got scratched. It messes up during the part Bond breaks into M's apartment. That's a good scene too. I wonder if the CR in the 50th Anniversary collection will have all the same features as the one in the above link.
  • edited December 2011 Posts: 4,622
    Buy the two-disc ultimates (UE). Thats the best value and you get all the features. The blu-rays don't have much extra extras, beyond whats on the UE's. And do buy CR deluxe on dvd. If you want the blu-ray version, down the road, you can pick it up cheap minus the extras-overload. You only need blu-ray for the actual film. You can also pick up a cheap dvd of QoS anywhere as well.
    This way you got everything including the UE edition, Lowry pristine-digital clean-up jobs, which really make a difference with the old films.
    You can buy blu-ray down the road.
    There - dilemma solved. :P
  • edited December 2011 Posts: 2,594
    "Buy the two-disc ultimates (UE). Thats the best value and you get all the features."

    I appreciate the advice. Thanks. Maybe the 50th Anniversary collection won't be priced very much more than the current UE 2 disc versions though at 180 quid...
  • Posts: 3,160
    timmer wrote:
    The UE's are a much better picture, especially with the pre-GE films. The prints were all nicely cleaned-up with tender loving care by some company.

    That company is called Lowry, and only Dr.No- TMWTGG were given the full-blown 4K restoration.

  • Posts: 1,497
    Zekidk wrote:
    timmer wrote:
    The UE's are a much better picture, especially with the pre-GE films. The prints were all nicely cleaned-up with tender loving care by some company.

    That company is called Lowry, and only Dr.No- TMWTGG were given the full-blown 4K restoration.


    Hmm...interesting. Did they feel the films post TMWTGG didn't need the full restoration, or is that planned in the future?
  • edited December 2011 Posts: 3,160
    "Q: The picture quality of the previous DVD releases was disappointing.

    John Lowry: These are stunning – they’ll blow your socks off. We’re doing all 20 James Bond movies – nine with 4K scanning, the others in high-definition.

    Q: Do the nine include all the Sean Connery ones?

    John Lowry: I believe they’re all in that group, yes. They wanted the older films to be restored as well as they could be."

    More:
    http://commanderbond.net/2878/all-20-films-to-be-remastered-for-new-dvds.html

    You might also want to check out:
  • edited December 2011 Posts: 2,594
    Merry Christmas to all! Have a great day. I wish I had OHMSS on DVD to watch later on. :)
  • BennyBenny In the shadowsAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 14,811
    Have collected the twelve Bond blu-rays thus far, having something of a Bondothon over the last few weeks.
    DN-GF are much better picture quality than any of the dvds I have, but I must say that TB was not so noticeable. Though the blu-ray for TB does omit the dialogue gaff of having Earl Cameron (Pinder) say the line about the manta ray, although he's not in the helicopter with Bond and Leiter. The line just isn't there anymore.
    I'm quite impressed with the quality of picture and sound on this collection, and look forward to the release of the rest of the series.
  • edited December 2011 Posts: 4,622
    Zekidk wrote:
    "Q: The picture quality of the previous DVD releases was disappointing.

    John Lowry: These are stunning – they’ll blow your socks off. We’re doing all 20 James Bond movies – nine with 4K scanning, the others in high-definition.

    Q: Do the nine include all the Sean Connery ones?

    John Lowry: I believe they’re all in that group, yes. They wanted the older films to be restored as well as they could be."

    More:
    http://commanderbond.net/2878/all-20-films-to-be-remastered-for-new-dvds.html

    You might also want to check out:
    Thanks for the clarification @Zekidk!

  • Posts: 406
    buy the boxset of the ultimate editions. when the new versions are released they'll be atleast 10 bucks each which is over 200. I have the ultimate editions and won't be buying the new versions untill the price drops down like the current UE prices are
  • edited December 2011 Posts: 2,594
    Alan007, do you have the single disc or two disc ultimate editions?

    If I were to buy all 22 films now I think I would just buy the single discs for just the 48.99 on Amazon UK. Then, in two or three years time get the blue ray 50th Anniversary versions. I keep procrastinating though. Is it really worth getting the Blue Ray at some point? Are the Blue Ray that good? Or should I say that much better than the standard versions remastered by this Lowry chap? If I were to never get the Blue Ray, then I would buy the two disc version of the 50th Anniversary collection when they are released depending on how much more they are than the current two disc versions and the packaging, the latter of which I hope is different and better than what is currently on offer. I presume the special features will remain the same or have more but not less.
  • edited December 2011 Posts: 4,622
    The only reason I would suggest buying the UE editions is because of your laptop.
    Otherwise the blu-rays offer the best picture. Currently there are 13 blu-rays with full extra packages availabe cheap. The other 9 will likely be out co-incident with Skyfall. The blu-ray versions of course benefit from Lowry's work circa 2006.
    Personally I don't give a darn about 50th anniversary editions. I just want the remaining 9 blu-rays. After that it will be a long time before I buy another old Bond film, other than the QoS deluxe edition, which presumably will have the long overdue commentary tracks.
  • edited December 2011 Posts: 2,594
    You mean the double disc UE's?

    Is it only the blue rays that Lowry worked on?

    I ordered the Father Ted entire season box set and it arrived yesterday. Damn, what a disappointing picture! I can't believe it! The Seinfeld and Cheers DVD's are certainly better except for the odd frame in Cheers where they have completely left out the cleaning up work. 8-|
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,350
    Bounine wrote:
    Is it only the blue rays that Lowry worked on?

    No. Lowry remastered the films for their 2006 Ultimate Edition DVD release. Since then, these prints are being used for every subsequent release, the first of which is the Blu-rays.

    And yes, the Blu-rays are by far the best for picture and sound quality. The same goes for any film but the Bonds really do look great.
  • Posts: 4,622
    Bounine wrote:
    You mean the double disc UE's?
    The double-disc UE's include the extras package on the second disc. You could just spring for the single discs though, if all you are after is top-quality Lowry cleaned-up video for the laptop.

  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,350
    It could well be, and I've heard, that the new DVD and Blu-ray Disc collection will be announced at the CES show to celebrate 50 years of James Bond, on the 10th of January.

    It would make sense and be the proper way to start 2012. The poster was telling afterall...
  • Posts: 612
    I definitely see and hear a difference between DVD and Blu Ray. It's also about the features - the pop up menus are a lot more convenient if you're looking for a scene.
  • Even though it's retarded that they will release all the bonds as one set on blu-ray when they have already released like.12 of the 23 on Blu-ray it's still nice to hear. I wouldn't be surprised either though if they continue to release the bonds as single disc soon..they originally only released the bonds on shitty 4 pack blu-rays same with the DVDs then released them as single "Steel Books" a few years latter so just give it time I'd say around the time the new bond is set to be released on DVD/Blu-Ray we'll see either the remaining ones released on Blu-ray at once or they'll split it in half and release five for the first new bond then the remaining five for the next.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,371
    I have just been heavily craving GE on blu-ray. It's nice that 2012 is finally here, so I can have that - along with some others I have been eager to watch on blu-ray - along with Skyfall. Going to be an extremely fantastic year for the Bond universe.
  • QsAssistantQsAssistant All those moments lost in time... like tears in rain
    Posts: 1,812
    As long as the new blu-rays have the same, or more, special features that the DVD releases have, I'll be happy.
  • JamesPageJamesPage Administrator, Moderator, Director
    Posts: 1,380
    They haven't announced anything about how the Blu-Rays will be released (yet), so let's not assume they are going to screw the fans by forcing repurchases of previously released titles. You never know, they may even keep to the same cover artwork format....
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited January 2012 Posts: 13,350
    Well, we have this coming up tomorrow: http://www.mi6-hq.com/news/index.php?itemid=9890

    Looking at that Blu-ray logo, should I expect an announcement?
  • JamesPageJamesPage Administrator, Moderator, Director
    Posts: 1,380
    I think that's safe to say... Whether actual dates are confirmed is something else though.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    edited January 2012 Posts: 13,350
    Good, good. As I thought then. Hopefully we'll get a look at the set's packaging even though the box art may be the same design. The box art should be better though, it's the 50th anniversary...
  • I wouldn't mind if they scrap the old Blu-ray design and come up with a new design. I'm happy to repurchase them. New covers, new menus, as long as they are consistent I'll be happy.
  • gt007gt007 Station G
    Posts: 1,182
    Samuel001 wrote:
    Well, we have this coming up tomorrow: http://www.mi6-hq.com/news/index.php?itemid=9890

    Looking at that Blu-ray logo, should I expect an announcement?

    This was posted about an hour ago on the offical 007 Facebook page:
    007 wrote:
    Bond at CES!
    Those of you lucky enough to be attending the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas tomorrow should make sure you head for the Panasonic Booth where Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will be bringing its Directors’ Panel series back to CES. You’ll be able to join acclaimed directors John Glen (five Bond films including FOR YOUR EYES ONLY and OCTOPUSSY), Martin Campbell (GOLDENEYE, CASINO ROYALE) and Michael Apted (THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH) as they look back at the legacy of the iconic character and discuss how technology has changed their approach to filmmaking.
    But don’t worry if you can’t make it – on this page and over at 007.com we’ll be bringing you updates from the show and revealing what’s in store for 007 in 2012!
    An announcement for the DVD & Blu-ray release of the films is the least we can hope to get! It's quite possible more products and/or events will be announced tomorrow.
  • edited January 2012 Posts: 4,622
    There is no way I will be re-purchasing the 13 Eon blu-rays that I already own, but I will happily buy the remaining 9, either in packages or individually and of course the long awaited QoS deluxe edition. There is something to be said, from a collectables pov, to grab the first release/packaging of each blu-ray.
    So far, that's 9 of the films released in original 3 pak releases, while QoS (at least in Canada) hit stores as an individual release as well as packaged with TMWTGG and LTK in a rare three-pak. For this 3-pak, the 3 films were all individually packaged in their own cases and covers - the collectable simply being the box-cover that held them all together.
    CR and CR deluxe were both individually released.
    Those original blu-ray three-paks btw are still kicking around. Best Buy knocked them down to $15.00 a pak, for Boxing Week sales and bargain hunters were snapping them up.
  • Samuel001Samuel001 Moderator
    Posts: 13,350
    Thanks @gt007. Tomorrow will be a big day afterall.
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