James Bond 007 in 4K UHD

[jonam]

Originally Posted by K9 Mark V

I think there are 3 realistic possibilities for the 4K releases of these films:

1. A boutique like Kino, who don't mind using/releasing 4K SDR masters, just slap on the digital 'Lowry' transfers onto 4K Blu-Rays for the pre-Craig films. I imagine they'd release the favorites first (Goldfinger, OHMSS, TSWLM, etc) before filling in the cracks in the catalog.
2. MGM does new scans, or at the very least, HDR grades for the Lowry transfers, and lets WB distribute them (this is more likely as I believe WB now distributes the Craig set and they're more inclined to release boxed sets for 4K titles in general)
3. A complete wild card boutique is picked that no one saw coming (Criterion? Arrow? Shout Factory?).

Seeing as MGM didn't utilize the 60th anniversary to even announce anything (other than a lazy repack of Dr. No), the pre-Craig Bond films will be a complete shot in the dark in terms of 4K releases.

Just imagine an Arrow restoration of the first three Connery movies. My jaw would probably never close.

[K9 Mark V]

Originally Posted by jonam

Just imagine an Arrow restoration of the first three Connery movies. My jaw would probably never close.

Trust me, I'd love these to get a release controlled by a boutique line that understands the legacy they have. Fresh 4K scan, little to no DNR, Dolby Vision, new Atmos mixes, good quality versions of the original sound mixes, the works. If it's a boutique, it'll no doubt come down to the resources they're given. Either way, the only title I'm indefinitely upgrading is Goldeneye. The current blu of it is awful and overly processed (I get the other Bond films have some Lowry processing to them, but they're livable).

[jonam]

I always remember how Goldfinger looked on a CRT tv. Due to the 16bit display the Golden Girl always shone brightly like real gold. For some reason on Blu-ray it has a muted bronze look. Even YOLT was so colouful on a CRT but so muted on Blu-ray.

I just wish they can optimize an HDR grading to look exactly as they should be intended.

I just can't understand how in my opinion the best movie franchise still has not gone full 4K yet. The first 4 Craig movies are just an afterthought and doesn't reach the full 4K potential that they should have. NTTD looks amazing.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by K9 Mark V

I think there are 3 realistic possibilities for the 4K releases of these films:

1. A boutique like Kino, who don't mind using/releasing 4K SDR masters, just slap on the digital 'Lowry' transfers onto 4K Blu-Rays for the pre-Craig films. I imagine they'd release the favorites first (Goldfinger, OHMSS, TSWLM, etc) before filling in the cracks in the catalog.
2. MGM does new scans, or at the very least, HDR grades for the Lowry transfers, and lets WB distribute them (this is more likely as I believe WB now distributes the Craig set and they're more inclined to release boxed sets for 4K titles in general)
3. A complete wild card boutique is picked that no one saw coming (Criterion? Arrow? Shout Factory?).

Seeing as MGM didn't utilize the 60th anniversary to even announce anything (other than a lazy repack of Dr. No), the pre-Craig Bond films will be a complete shot in the dark in terms of 4K releases.

"Realistic" is not a word I'd associate with option 1 or 3. No chance MGM ever licenses these out as long as they've got a home video distributor, which in this is case is Warners as they were chosen to succeed Fox. They don't just have the Craig Bonds, they're handling MGM's current catalogue in general aside from new stuff that's got video rights parcelled in with a theatrical distributor or what they've let go to Park Circus. Hell, I reckon Bond is the sole reason MGM even kept the home video lights on instead of just packing it in completely.

But it's the sort of content that still sells just as it is without too much 4K HDR malarkey, and if it needs a bunch of new restorations on most of the old movies to take advantage of that format then MGM will have to decide if the juice is worth the squeeze, as restoring that many movies anew will require a lot of money.

I think it'll happen one day, whether it comes in time to be released on 4K UHD disc is another matter.

[jonam]

Originally Posted by K9 Mark V

Trust me, I'd love these to get a release controlled by a boutique line that understands the legacy they have. Fresh 4K scan, little to no DNR, Dolby Vision, new Atmos mixes, good quality versions of the original sound mixes, the works. If it's a boutique, it'll no doubt come down to the resources they're given. Either way, the only title I'm indefinitely upgrading is Goldeneye. The current blu of it is awful and overly processed (I get the other Bond films have some Lowry processing to them, but they're livable).

Regardless of how much the whole catalogue may cost for a Boutique label to obtain I guarantee they would be some of the best selling physical label movies of all time.

[Geoff D]

Even if MGM/EON were letting the rights go - and they ain't - the cost would be so prohibitive you'd prolly need every indie under the sun to pitch in with some moneys. Maybe they could get one each? I vote Arrow gets OHMSS

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by david_blu

I find For Your Eyes Only an absolute snorefest. I'm going to go with the unpopular opinion here but I prefer Moonraker, honestly get rid of the Magnificent 7 bit, pigeon and Close Encounters key pad and it's a much better film in my view.

The haunting music as Drax kills the girl in the forest is some great John Barry music there.

Unpopular Opinion: All 7 of the Moore Bond films are great.

[jonam]

Was recently watching those classic OSS 117 French movies. Plenty of location shoots but sadly still don't hold a candle to the classic Bonds of the 60's. Production values were obviously cheaper.

The scene in Thunderball where Bond and Domino come out of the ocean. Absolute astonishing cinematography.

[jonam]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

Unpopular Opinion: All 7 of the Moore Bond films are great.

Moonraker's production values were astonishing. The space scenes still hold up well now.

[stonesfan129]

I believe the original 20 Bond films were remastered by Lowry Digital back in 2006 (whenever the Ultimate Edition DVD sets came out) in 4K. But I thought it was only 11 or 12 films that had actual 4K masters. There has been debate as to whether or not these sources are what they used for the Blu-rays. Thunderball, for example, has vertical scratches and gate hairs that are visible on some beach scenes that are not on the DVD. I am not sure if it's just that the lower resolution on the DVD hides it, but a few other films have the same issues with the vertical lines. So it's got people questioning what they used for sources. Some others like The Spy Who Loved Me look fantastic on Blu-ray and I guess that one MGM/UA did use a 4K source (this title was not remastered by Lowry).

I believe they would have to go back and redo all the original 20 films in HDR as none of them were mastered that way by Lowry or MGM/UA back in 2006. I have heard that OCNs for quite a few of these films are in bad shape, how the 3-track mags for the audio are missing in some cases...

Now that Amazon owns the rights to the films, I wonder if they will even see the value in future physical releases. I was really surprised MGM didn't release 4KBDs of the original 20 films back in 2022 for the 60th anniversary. It's probably all down to an aging audience, people have already bought these films multiple times (VHS, Laserdisc, twice on DVD, Blu-ray), the whole politically-correct issues with the films... And the cost.

[CompleteCount]

Originally Posted by jonam

The space scenes still hold up well now.

As long as you aren't looking in the wrong places.

[scififan73]

Originally Posted by jonam

Moonraker's production values were astonishing. The space scenes still hold up well now.

An excellent score and soundtrack as well.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

I believe the original 20 Bond films were remastered by Lowry Digital back in 2006 (whenever the Ultimate Edition DVD sets came out) in 4K. But I thought it was only 11 or 12 films that had actual 4K masters. There has been debate as to whether or not these sources are what they used for the Blu-rays. Thunderball, for example, has vertical scratches and gate hairs that are visible on some beach scenes that are not on the DVD. I am not sure if it's just that the lower resolution on the DVD hides it, but a few other films have the same issues with the vertical lines. So it's got people questioning what they used for sources. Some others like The Spy Who Loved Me look fantastic on Blu-ray and I guess that one MGM/UA did use a 4K source (this title was not remastered by Lowry).

I believe they would have to go back and redo all the original 20 films in HDR as none of them were mastered that way by Lowry or MGM/UA back in 2006. I have heard that OCNs for quite a few of these films are in bad shape, how the 3-track mags for the audio are missing in some cases...

Now that Amazon owns the rights to the films, I wonder if they will even see the value in future physical releases. I was really surprised MGM didn't release 4KBDs of the original 20 films back in 2022 for the 60th anniversary. It's probably all down to an aging audience, people have already bought these films multiple times (VHS, Laserdisc, twice on DVD, Blu-ray), the whole politically-correct issues with the films... And the cost.

Some of them have been remastered since then, eg GoldenEye has been available in 4K on streaming for years (and looks delicious). But yeah, I think the sheer size of the Bond catalogue and what that means for remastering costs is the main stumbling block, especially when they have 4K SDR masters for a lot of them already.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

Now that Amazon owns the rights to the films, I wonder if they will even see the value in future physical releases.

Amazon releases their most popular shows on UHD, and Bond would certainly qualify as one of their more popular assets now. I would guess the issue is solely about the old masters being seen as too old and remastering them from scratch being a huge project no one is really enthused about green-lighting (that we know of).

They could release them one at a time for $30 a pop and make a lot of money though. Hopefully that motivates them eventually.

[Ben_C]

Originally Posted by jonam

Moonraker's production values were astonishing. The space scenes still hold up well now.

Love all the Moore Bond films very much, and Moonraker may well be my favourite of the bunch nowadays. It’s just a completely daft but hugely enjoyable and entertaining romp.

[stonesfan129]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Some of them have been remastered since then, eg GoldenEye has been available in 4K on streaming for years (and looks delicious). But yeah, I think the sheer size of the Bond catalogue and what that means for remastering costs is the main stumbling block, especially when they have 4K SDR masters for a lot of them already.

Is that a new master? I always thought there were two different masters of GoldenEye. The first being the one that was used for the Ultimate Edition DVD. It isn't DNR'd but it is cropped a bit. Then there is a second one that was used for the Blu-ray that is not cropped, but is massively DNR'd. I believe the former is what is being used on streaming currently as I watched it and couldn't see any obvious signs of DNR abuse.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

Is that a new master? I always thought there were two different masters of GoldenEye. The first being the one that was used for the Ultimate Edition DVD. It isn't DNR'd but it is cropped a bit. Then there is a second one that was used for the Blu-ray that is not cropped, but is massively DNR'd. I believe the former is what is being used on streaming currently as I watched it and couldn't see any obvious signs of DNR abuse.

I bought an Apple TV to try out and Goldeneye was the one movie I bought. It has a gorgeous filmic transfer on there. If it's from a DVD master then I'd eat my hat, as they say. When I returned the Apple TV I shed a tear for Goldeneye.

[TheNarnHomeworld]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

Unpopular Opinion: All 7 of the Moore Bond films are great.

Not unpopular but correct.

[emmet otter]

Just this scene alone wipes clean of all the bond movies out there.....and from my favorite Bond movie too. Barely dodging a rifle fire from an insane Biathlon nutjob, Kreigler, to the tense moments in the elevator right to the top of the ski jump, from the ski jump fighting side by side by another villain and avoiding another sniper fire right down to the spiked wheeled motorcycles firing machine guns mounted on the bikes, then from a fast spaced downhill getaway through the woods and bashing through an outdoor deck party then onto the most craziest chase scenes ever, through a bobsled track still followed by a spiked wheeled motorbike still firing machine guns to fly atop a barn shed narrowly getting crushed by the insane Biathlon Kriegler hurling his bent motorbike at Bond....all topped with the best scoring in any of the bond films out there, BILL CONTIs RUNAWAY!!

For Your Eyes Only - Ski Chase (1080p) - YouTube

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by stonesfan129

Is that a new master? I always thought there were two different masters of GoldenEye. The first being the one that was used for the Ultimate Edition DVD. It isn't DNR'd but it is cropped a bit. Then there is a second one that was used for the Blu-ray that is not cropped, but is massively DNR'd. I believe the former is what is being used on streaming currently as I watched it and couldn't see any obvious signs of DNR abuse.

Unless I'm misremembering, then the 4K master of GoldenEye is definitely newer and was done much later than the ones Lowry did for the previous films. I saw GoldenEye on the big screen in 2022 when all the Bonds were re-released and I thought it looked strong, though I swear there were a couple of fades missing or something. Wish I could remember if it there were any remaster info at the end of the credits.