James Bond: The Ultimate Collection (1962-2012) + Volume Collections

[dhwm]

I'm happy with James Bond. Thank you.

[Nicage22]

Originally Posted by buck135

Well you're going to be told whether you like it or not!

No, not at all. I'm just asking. What do you think of the Goldfinger transfer?

[Nicage22]

Originally Posted by dhwm

I'm happy with James Bond. Thank you.

You're happy with the current Lowry-transfer of Goldfinger?

You must be joking?

[buck135]

Originally Posted by Nicage22

No, not at all. I'm just asking. What do you think of the Goldfinger transfer?

I'm just goofing around. I'm not a huge fan of the transfer myself.

[chewbabka]

I think the skin tones in Goldfinger are way off.

[Show spoiler]

[Nicage22]

Originally Posted by chewbabka

I think the skin tones in Goldfinger are way off.

[Show spoiler]

I will blame the Lowry restoration for many things, but not that

[DavidRoylance]

It would seem all Eon Bonds in 4k on amazon prime right now but still no 4k disc announcement.

[Tylerfan]

Any one else watch the new Sound of Bond documentary? Thought it was pretty good.

[Muyfa666]

I’m kind of new to the Apple TV party… is the pre-Craig Bonds in 4K on iTunes good releases?

I have the movies on BD and the Craigs i 4K UHD discs.

[Joe Bond]

Originally Posted by Muyfa666

I’m kind of new to the Apple TV party… is the pre-Craig Bonds in 4K on iTunes good releases?

I have the movies on BD and the Craigs i 4K UHD discs.

Yes. So most you’ll see more grain. See below:

Dr. No : Darker deeper blacks and colors pop

FRWL : Pretty similar but more grain

GF : Pretty similar but again more grain

TB : No window boxed credits slightly darker and better colors

YOLT : Similar but more grain

OHMSS : More grain and film like

DAF : Similar but more grain

LALD : More grain and film like

TMWTGG : More grain and film like. No EE. Big step up.

TSWLM : Similar as the Blu came from a new transfer

MR : Pretty similar more grain

FYEO : I think this has more grain but hard to tell

OP : Another big step up. More grain no ee. Way more film like.

AVTAK : Way better. Aspect Ratio fixed no ee and super detailed. More film like.

TLD : More grain and film like

LTK : Another home run. More grain no ee and great detail here.

GE : Biggest improvement of the bunch. No DNR more grain more film like. Caveat: A overlap transition got replaced with a direct cut due to it being too difficult to encode (according to James Bond and Friends podcast)

TND : I’ve always felt the Blu wasn’t dark enough. Here it’s darker and a touch more grain.

TWINE : More grain but the Blu still olds it’s own when projected.

DAD : No EE and more grain. Looks more film like

Basically all look closer to film but some are bigger improvements. Goldeneye, Dr. No, The Man with The Golden Gun, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, and License to Kill have the best improvement. Thunderball isn’t that far behind either as it’s a brand new scan but the Blu holds up pretty well. Someone posted this in the past but this blog is a god send when deciding which to get : https://007homemedia.blogspot.com/?m=1 Hope this helps!

[Muyfa666]

Originally Posted by Joe Bond

Yes. So most you’ll see more grain. See below:

Dr. No : Darker deeper blacks and colors pop

FRWL : Pretty similar but more grain

GF : Pretty similar but again more grain

TB : No window boxed credits slightly darker and better colors

YOLT : Similar but more grain

OHMSS : More grain and film like

DAF : Similar but more grain

LALD : More grain and film like

TMWTGG : More grain and film like. No EE. Big step up.

TSWLM : Similar as the Blu came from a new transfer

MR : Pretty similar more grain

FYEO : I think this has more grain but hard to tell

OP : Another big step up. More grain no ee. Way more film like.

AVTAK : Way better. Aspect Ratio fixed no ee and super detailed. More film like.

TLD : More grain and film like

LTK : Another home run. More grain no ee and great detail here.

GE : Biggest improvement of the bunch. No DNR more grain more film like. Caveat: A overlap transition got replaced with a direct cut due to it being too difficult to encode (according to James Bond and Friends podcast)

TND : I’ve always felt the Blu wasn’t dark enough. Here it’s darker and a touch more grain.

TWINE : More grain but the Blu still olds it’s own when projected.

DAD : No EE and more grain. Looks more film like

Basically all look closer to film but some are bigger improvements. Goldeneye, Dr. No, The Man with The Golden Gun, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, and License to Kill have the best improvement. Thunderball isn’t that far behind either as it’s a brand new scan but the Blu holds up pretty well. Someone posted this in the past but this blog is a god send when deciding which to get : https://007homemedia.blogspot.com/?m=1 Hope this helps!

Thanks alot! 😊

[Joe Bond]

Originally Posted by 67stingray

Will the digital versions port to itunes via movies anywhere?

MGM isn’t apart of Movies Anywhere so sadly not. I wish as I have all of them on Vudu but they aren’t the 4k ones.

[Doomhunter]

Nice Dusesenberg Paloma James Bond tribute guitar here:

https://www.duesenberg.de/en/

[Muyfa666]

I watched a comparison of the transition clip from GE and while it’s alot better on BD, I wouldn’t have noticed it if I hadn’t known about it.

It’s a 100% positive tradeoff for the DNR and whatnot on the BD.

Bought the whole collection (minus Craig) and watched TSWLM yesterday. Good stuff. :-)

[Nicage22]

Originally Posted by Joe Bond

Yes. So most you’ll see more grain. See below:

Dr. No : Darker deeper blacks and colors pop

FRWL : Pretty similar but more grain

GF : Pretty similar but again more grain

TB : No window boxed credits slightly darker and better colors

YOLT : Similar but more grain

OHMSS : More grain and film like

DAF : Similar but more grain

LALD : More grain and film like

TMWTGG : More grain and film like. No EE. Big step up.

TSWLM : Similar as the Blu came from a new transfer

MR : Pretty similar more grain

FYEO : I think this has more grain but hard to tell

OP : Another big step up. More grain no ee. Way more film like.

AVTAK : Way better. Aspect Ratio fixed no ee and super detailed. More film like.

TLD : More grain and film like

LTK : Another home run. More grain no ee and great detail here.

GE : Biggest improvement of the bunch. No DNR more grain more film like. Caveat: A overlap transition got replaced with a direct cut due to it being too difficult to encode (according to James Bond and Friends podcast)

TND : I’ve always felt the Blu wasn’t dark enough. Here it’s darker and a touch more grain.

TWINE : More grain but the Blu still olds it’s own when projected.

DAD : No EE and more grain. Looks more film like

Basically all look closer to film but some are bigger improvements. Goldeneye, Dr. No, The Man with The Golden Gun, Octopussy, A View to a Kill, and License to Kill have the best improvement. Thunderball isn’t that far behind either as it’s a brand new scan but the Blu holds up pretty well. Someone posted this in the past but this blog is a god send when deciding which to get : https://007homemedia.blogspot.com/?m=1 Hope this helps!

Thank you, Joe Bond, for this grainheavy review. You put a very positive spin on it, and that is admirable. I don’t agree with everything, however.

I do agree with you that AVTAK looks spectacular in 4K. If only we could say the same about the whole series.

Having just seen Goldfinger in 4K, projected on a big screen, I can only repeat that the transfer is lousy. We can, and should, expect better.

You say it has more grain that the blu, that may be, but the picture is still scrubbed. Basically, it presents the same image as the blu-ray, but in higher resolution.

A user, captainsolo, wrote in another forum something interesting about this topic. It seems to me like they took a shortcut for the 4K-releases:

"I too have seen theatrical versions of some of the Lowry restored versions up against vintage 35mm presentations and there is no contest. The originals looked better. I don't know if it is due to being early 4K work or if they weren't fully finished at 4K. In many instances the color timing on those nine and even some of the video ones is not correct. Some have been reverted to different scans for their blu-ray release such as Thunderball, and others had problems addressed for their Blu-ray release such as LALD having the contrast fixed on the main titles. Others such as OHMSS have brightness issues, and all of the 60's films have none of that Technicolor brilliance in them. I've seen a dye transfer print of Dr. No and it obliterates the Lowry version which I have also seen in 35mm".

Worrying, to say the least.

Thunderball has a new scan, you mention. Are you sure about that? I checked out the 4K version and it is still over sharpened, no grain and there is blur around Bond when he moves around – like Goldfinger - (I guess it's a defect from the grain removal? Waxwork-effect?). If this is a new scan they need to change their methods. Or perhaps not use an old and outdated 4K scan, and do the job properly.

I haven't seen all the 4Ks, but they sure got it right with the spectacular presentation of AVTAK.

[Joe Bond]

Originally Posted by Muyfa666

I watched a comparison of the transition clip from GE and while it’s alot better on BD, I wouldn’t have noticed it if I hadn’t known about it.

It’s a 100% positive tradeoff for the DNR and whatnot on the BD.

Bought the whole collection (minus Craig) and watched TSWLM yesterday. Good stuff. :-)

Yep that’s how I feel 99% of it looks great! I’m sure you’ll be happy with the collection. I’m still getting titles here and there whenever I get iTunes credit.

[Muyfa666]

I’ll buy them on physical format in a heartbeat, but this is ok in the meantime. I do live in a rural area, so I’ll keep my BD’s, but we have very reliable internet connection, so streaming these should be fine.

[Joe Bond]

Originally Posted by Nicage22

Thank you, Joe Bond, for this grainheavy review. You put a very positive spin on it, and that is admirable. I don’t agree with everything, however.

I do agree with you that AVTAK looks spectacular in 4K. If only we could say the same about the whole series.

Having just seen Goldfinger in 4K, projected on a big screen, I can only repeat that the transfer is lousy. We can, and should, expect better.

You say it has more grain that the blu, that may be, but the picture is still scrubbed. Basically, it presents the same image as the blu-ray, but in higher resolution.

A user, captainsolo, wrote in another forum something interesting about this topic. It seems to me like they took a shortcut for the 4K-releases:

"I too have seen theatrical versions of some of the Lowry restored versions up against vintage 35mm presentations and there is no contest. The originals looked better. I don't know if it is due to being early 4K work or if they weren't fully finished at 4K. In many instances the color timing on those nine and even some of the video ones is not correct. Some have been reverted to different scans for their blu-ray release such as Thunderball, and others had problems addressed for their Blu-ray release such as LALD having the contrast fixed on the main titles. Others such as OHMSS have brightness issues, and all of the 60's films have none of that Technicolor brilliance in them. I've seen a dye transfer print of Dr. No and it obliterates the Lowry version which I have also seen in 35mm".

Worrying, to say the least.

Thunderball has a new scan, you mention. Are you sure about that? I checked out the 4K version and it is still over sharpened, no grain and there is blur around Bond when he moves around – like Goldfinger - (I guess it's a defect from the grain removal? Waxwork-effect?). If this is a new scan they need to change their methods. Or perhaps not use an old and outdated 4K scan, and do the job properly.

I haven't seen all the 4Ks, but they sure got it right with the spectacular presentation of AVTAK.

Well maybe I shouldn’t of said a new scan as I’m using info from the other forum and seeing the 4k version on iTunes. Has the newer MGM logo and looks tighter than the Blu-ray. Plus window box credits are gone so maybe not a new scan but they definitely re did it for 4k and is an improvement.

So as far as the rest yeah it depends how you compare it to. I discovered the films back in 2002 on a Bond marathon on at the time was “TNN” network prior to the switch to Spike TV. They were SD and pan and scan. Wasn’t able to see them theatrically until Craig came along so my comparison is going to be different as I’ve only seen a handful of the Special Edition DVD’s. Pretty much Ultimate Edition DVD’s, the Blu-ray’s, and now these iTunes 4K versions. I have no doubt grain and color timing compared to the original Technicolor theatrical version were different or better but have no clue how they looked then. I’m a glass full type of person so I feel the 4k version look the best I’ve ever seen them obviously with the caveat that I’ve never seen the pre SE DVD versions. Color timing has gotten better on some titles. Thunderball on the UE DVD had pretty washed out colors but had improved clarity the Blu brought back more saturated colors. You Only Live Twice had cool colors on the UE but the Blu came closer to bring back a warmer look. Yes some like On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Diamonds Are Forever are contrasty or over bright but like I said that’s pretty much how I saw them originally. At least colors got more saturated on the Blu compared to the UE. Totally agree with AVTAK that is a pretty nice version it’s hard to believe it looks this good. Totally wish they would license them out to a boutique label that would do a bottom up restoration but I’m happy with what we got as it’s probably the best they’ve looked on home video at least since the SE DVDs. That’s my 2 cents. I enjoyed them in 4:3 pan and scan so these are so much better so I’m happy. Do I wish for a Criterion 4k remaster you bet but I’m not going to hold out for that. I’ll settle for these 4k versions as it’s still the best I’ve seen them.

[Nicage22]

Originally Posted by Joe Bond

Yep that’s how I feel 99% of it looks great! I’m sure you’ll be happy with the collection. I’m still getting titles here and there whenever I get iTunes credit.

Compared to the blu-ray, GE has probably taken the biggest leap in quality. The blu-ray of Goldeneye was perhaps the worst of them all.

[Nicage22]

Originally Posted by Joe Bond

Well maybe I shouldn’t of said a new scan as I’m using info from the other forum and seeing the 4k version on iTunes. Has the newer MGM logo and looks tighter than the Blu-ray. Plus window box credits are gone so maybe not a new scan but they definitely re did it for 4k and is an improvement.

So as far as the rest yeah it depends how you compare it to. I discovered the films back in 2002 on a Bond marathon on at the time was “TNN” network prior to the switch to Spike TV. They were SD and pan and scan. Wasn’t able to see them theatrically until Craig came along so my comparison is going to be different as I’ve only seen a handful of the Special Edition DVD’s. Pretty much Ultimate Edition DVD’s, the Blu-ray’s, and now these iTunes 4K versions. I have no doubt grain and color timing compared to the original Technicolor theatrical version were different or better but have no clue how they looked then. I’m a glass full type of person so I feel the 4k version look the best I’ve ever seen them obviously with the caveat that I’ve never seen the pre SE DVD versions. Color timing has gotten better on some titles. Thunderball on the UE DVD had pretty washed out colors but had improved clarity the Blu brought back more saturated colors. You Only Live Twice had cool colors on the UE but the Blu came closer to bring back a warmer look. Yes some like On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Diamonds Are Forever are contrasty or over bright but like I said that’s pretty much how I saw them originally. At least colors got more saturated on the Blu compared to the UE. Totally agree with AVTAK that is a pretty nice version it’s hard to believe it looks this good. Totally wish they would license them out to a boutique label that would do a bottom up restoration but I’m happy with what we got as it’s probably the best they’ve looked on home video at least since the SE DVDs. That’s my 2 cents. I enjoyed them in 4:3 pan and scan so these are so much better so I’m happy. Do I wish for a Criterion 4k remaster you bet but I’m not going to hold out for that. I’ll settle for these 4k versions as it’s still the best I’ve seen them.

Thank you for the reply, Joe Bond. Very good to hear that you are happy with the new releases, and that you are able to enjoy them.

I do like many of them myself. Diamonds Are Forever is a much better film now, in high-def, than it ever was before. It has actually become one of my favorite Bond films.

Too bad that they can't fix the problematic Lowry-transfers on some of these titles when releasing them again in 4K. Perhaps sometime in the future.