James Bond Collection [Blu-ray] [2017]

I bought this set due to being sold & fulfilled by Amazon; being the most recent set, and at a really keen price for film's 1-24(Never Say Never Again is not an official James Bond film. Although Sean Connery is James Bond, the film is dull, tedious, obviously lacking in the production talent and expertise associated with the Eon producions, and with appalling music. The competition, Octopussy, in 1983, had a higher box office total, not surprisingly! The boxset arrived with another, on time. This, and the other set cases were undamaged, without any loose discs from a rough ride to my address. (I am further impressed that besides the 30 days return policy, Amazon give a twelve months guarantee against deterioration, which I call "rot"; this is also great for huge box sets that can take weeks & months to watch, before discovering the full amount of sticking and non-functioning discs. Although I have read of other persons problems with R2 box sets playability, I have only found that most of my UK R2/R1 sets have rotted(but non supplied by Amazon.) I was not bothered for the 007Craig film's due to his excessive pouting; QofSol being heavily "inspired" by the superior Bourne film's, and Skyfall's return of huge pointless, Brosnan-era explosions! As Pierce Brosnan has been in some well made film's, since he left the part, and his recent admission he could have done a better job, I will give his turn a re-watch. This purchase also due to buying the Connery, Moore, Dalton film's in Blu Ray box sets more expensive, and difficult to find, outside Amazon.(I have the OHMSS on R1, with semi-original mono soundtrack, as the last cinema 🎥 reel was in stereo), which I prefer to 5.1 surround, which includes manipulation of "shooting" sound effects.) #Dr No through Casino Royale are Region A, B, C; the last 3 are Region B, so those 3 films still cut by the censor up to, including Casino Royale, in the US, should play on a Region 1 player; as well on multi-region players, along with the last 3. Audio is DTS HD 5.1, apart from Spectre, which is 7.1 DTS HD. #Having recently seen the first 3 Connery film's in HD on TV, I was amazed at the quality - which was an incentive to upgrade from the used 2001 DVD Special Edition European releases, which I bought to avoid the "dvd rot". I regard From Russia With Love, and Thunderball, as the best of the Connery Bond's. I was only wary of the restored Thunderball film, which has been reviewed as having Connery de-aged(as he looked a lot older than he was just 1 year earlier in Goldfinger) and addition of sound effects by someone who was in no way connected to the original film. However, having watched it, this is a very finely restored film, with no "de-aging" of Mr.C, nor added sound effects. Claudine Auger, like Daniela Bianchi, before her, proved to be a talented choice, as well as one of the most lovely female leads. I prefer the 5.1DTS. *Dr No, From Russia with Love(viewed on new, multi-region LG UBK 90, from amazon.de), Goldfinger are, as with Thunderball stunning restorations, with 5.1 DTS, "20th Century Fox Blu Ray Discs. *You Only Live Twice menu reveals this box is also comprised of previously issued unsold/returns Blu Rays! The menu offers 5.1DTS English, then English Mono - which I presume is the original soundtrack, then German, etc. As I have this film in mono on DVD, I decided to watch it in 5.1 DTS. The sound, which I prefer to the original Mono, overall, compliments the film - apart from a couple of heavy sound effects, including a body hitting the ground, and, when Bond smashes his way out of the back of Henderson's house, made of, apparently, wood and rice paper, with sliding doors and windows, you can hear the sound of breaking glass! I do not remember that in my dvd 2001 Mono Special Edition, but I will check. Image wise, although this is a very good restoration; it is noticeably not as good as the first 4. Some of the rear projection(excluding the real helicopter formation flying, and attack) and the static toy helicopters blowing up and dropping down onto an unconvincing set, I found reminded me, irresistibly, of a cheese 🧀 sandwich! As one critic wrote that the model effects were better on Thunderbirds; maybe someone can ascertain why Gerry Anderson was not contracted for this film's space, and crashing helicopters, scenes. With FromRussia & Thunderball, Y.onlyL.Twice I highly regard - due to the location, and aerial, photography; and Akiko Wakabayashi is one of my favourite female lead's. The box set appears, so far, mainly, to be all film's finely restored image wise, and the 5.1dts sound is not oppressive - no need to turn the volume down for action, and back up for dialogue! *OHMSS is an excellent restoration (also watched on LG UBK90), but not quite as good as Thunderball, Goldfinger, From Russia with Love, Dr No. There is also the option of original mono sound(but not the last reel in original stereo) which is better; on this version I found the 5.1 Stereo reduced the level of the synthesizer, but magnified the sound of the horns, in the soundtrack. Amazing "Twilight Zone" moment, when George Lazenby, as Sir Hilary Bray in the helicopter with Frau Bunt, looks out of the window and sees himself, as Bond, with his yellow crash helmet, riding his bobsleigh at high speed (in hot pursuit of Blofeld!) down the bobsleigh run! *Diamonds Are Forever" also has the Mono audio option, for purists. The last Eon Connery film is now upped to a 12 Certificate. I presume for the pre-titles sequence; as well the elevator fight between 007 and real-life hard man Joe Robinson, and the finale - both of which are cut for terrestrial TV broadcast. It also appears to have set the "campy" tone for the following 4 film's with Roger Moore. Car chases are dull, with the typical 70's American vehicles; and the helicopter attack, this time on Blofeld's oil rig, is very inferior to OHMSS, as the helicopter attack isuninvolving, with poor visual effects substituting for laughable model work utilised for You Only Live Twice. *Live and Let Die" is bit of an oddity, as a "20th Century Fox Blu Ray", with slightly grainy gun barrel sequence, and slight juddering of the United Nations building - with the same judder, but in a shorter clip, in the "Exotic Locations" extra. But the rest of the film, right to the very end is restored to the same standard as the best of the other films, in the set. Better than Diamonds, with a modern, refreshing George Martin score, after the years of John Barry, which peaked with the excelent OHMSS, to the so-so Diamonds are Forever. So no reasons for me to return the set, and, likely, the other L&LDie discs in this release will have the same version and one flaw. Again, the 5.1DTS compliments the film, and I prefer it to the original mono. *The Man with the Golden Gun restoration is excellent, too. The gun barrel at the beginning is also slightly grainy, but the rest of the film quality is without flaws, and the DTS compliments the film. I found Mr. M had settled into the role, with a new hair colour, and standard operating haircut for the rest of his tenure. However, his abuse of Maud Adams is not appealling, and was an error in judgement in attempting to add a touch of the Connery to the Moore 007. Unjustly criticised Britt Ekland gives a fine job, for me, with her natural good looks; and is smartly dressed, when not in her bikini. The highly complex to develop, and extremely dangerous, river jump, in an AMC Hornet car, is the highlight of the film - but undermined by John Barry's use of a whistle(in a score much better than on DiamondsAreF.) Every time I see it I cringe, and understand why the stunt driver refused to do a second take! *The Spy Who Loved Me is NOT a restored version, and seems to be from a previous release, possibly 2015 - which has been criticized, over quality, and playback working, by some buyers. The quality is good, but I have seen better re-mastered film's on DVD. The quality of the image is not uniform, and is slightly up and down, and less sharp, at a few points - including the a slightly shimmering sky above Stromberg's giant diving platform. The Series 1 Lotus Esprit is powered by an incapable Ford engine, married to a Citroen Maserati transmission, and became as famous for it's unreliability, as it's gorgeous looks, with a top speed of around 120mph. A Series 2 should have come sooner! 3 x Esprit body shells were used for the seemless change to a submarine, which was not water tight, and required divers in wet suits to operate it. *The marvelous b/w photo of Roger Moore(looking exceedingly unhappy) serving pasta in tomato sauce, cooked by Mr Broccoli, to the production crew, has been removed from the end titles of the "Making of..." documentary. Neither issues were enough to return the set. English Dolby Surround is an audio option. I don't know if this film has actually been expertly restored for another Blu Ray release. *Moonraker(watched on LG UBK90), as with Live & Let Die, is another "20th Century Fox Blu Ray Disc", Restoration, with English Dolby Surround audio option. Very good, but the scenes in Corrinne's bedroom, and, later, hacking the office safe, are a bit too smooth; as is Moore's face in the Drax laboratory in Venice, when he is in the crouching position. *For Your Eyes Only is also a Restoration, "20th Century Fox Blu Ray Disc"; with English Dolby Surround audio option. However, Carole Bouquet now has 2 deep blue eyes, rather than one light green and the other light blue, as I seem to remember, from the VHS, Laserdisc, and R1 DVD. A check online found her eyes being described as green, or brown; with a lack of clarity in photo galleries of her! The film showcases the 1980 2.2 litre Lotus Esprit turbo. In Spy Who Lived Me, the production managed to obtain a much needed second Series 1 Esprit, as Colin Chapman surrendered his personal vehicle for use. Contrary to other reviews, the white Esprit turbo was returned from Greece to the Lotus factory in Essex, after being "blown up", and re-sprayed to a copper type of colour; then driven to Italy for further filming. Regarded by some as one of the best Moore efforts, it benefits from an excellent score by composer Bill Conti. As with Live and Let Die, and Spy Who Loved Me, For Your Eyes Only has aged well(very well if you jump to the end titles to avoid Margaret and Dennis Thatcher) due to a change from the usual John Barry style of score, fine though they are. *Octopussy, returned to PG rating, is a Restoration, with English Dolby Surround audio option. *A View to a Kill is now 12 Certificate; a Restoration, with English Dolby Surround audio option. *The Living Daylights, now 12 Certificate, is also a Restoration, with English Dolby Surround audio option. *15 certificate LICENCE TO KILL(superb image, with excellent audio, via my Samsung BD-J4500R BLU RAY multi-region player, and Amazon supplied 43" Sony WF66 TV.) appears to be the same as the restored Ultimate dvd edition, as the original UK cinema, and VHS, versions were edited, back in the overly zealous years of the BBFC(when their perceived main role was to protect the UK public from graphic horror and strong violence, - especially Steven Segal!) "Previous cuts waived" has been the welcome message, when checking the BBFC website, for many 1980's/90's film's, including LtoKill(but, I understand, that despite offers from Fox to make further cuts to Die hard 2, for a 15cert., the BBFC position is that Die Hard 2 will always be 18cert., with cuts.) "Inside License to Kill" making of documentary, and other supplementary material is included. Mr. Dalton resigned the part due to his refusal to make more than one more Bond film, and, anyway, his contract expired during 5 years of legal disputes, and development problems, none of which involved him as a complainant. *Golden Eye I did not dislike, on my first viewing since the cinema release. It was just a bit dull, with Mr B. a bit too laid back, in some of, as well as away from, the action. The only ridiculous part, surprisingly, was to have us believe that an early 1960's Aston Martin DB5 could in any way keep up with a Ferrari F355 - never mind match it! No wonder the vehicles collided during filming- I suspect entirely due to the DB5's shortcomings! But the Eric Serra "take it or leave it, because I'm not starting from scratch, again" museum/ elevator music still stands out as utterly terrible - in a franchise that never previously, or has since, come with a poor, never mind diabolical, score! This, BLU RAY, too, appears to be the same as the Dvd Remastered Ultimate Edition, 15 certificate, with cuts restored, EXCEPT the "execution" bullet impacting against Sean Bean's head, during the pre-titles sequence. Maybe that, too, will be restored in future box sets, as every new release of a film, & new box sets has to be re-evaluated and certified by the BBFC(A View to a Kill is 12 certificate, again, for at least the second time.) The original Region 1 US MPAA cuts, for a PG13, stand. *Tomorrow Never Dies,12 Certificate, was a better effort, especially with Michelle Yeoh as a credible martial arts trained Chinese agent. *The World is Not Enough, 12 Certificate, is a very decent Bond film, in the style of most Roger Moore outings, and Mr B gives good value. *Die Another Day, 12 Certificate, seemed that it was going to be another fine effort, but that all changed with the "let's outdo Moonraker" laughable Aston Martin Vanquish, with CGI extras, (wasn't that the model that, if they used the steering wheel "paddle shift", lucky owners wrecked the transmission?) An ice palace worked in Conan the Destroyer, but not in this fantasy! Lastly, no helicopter(not even a military spec Bell 222) can be shoved out the back of a transport plane, then startup, and correct its descent, before causing the death of its pilot and passenger(s) from massive deceleration! The Bond Girls documentary on the original Casino Royale dvd, and Blu Ray release, is not in this release. #Conclusion: unless you must have/want the Region 1 NTSC release for the original soundtrack option ( even if this version has it); the film traveling at the same speed as in the cinema, 24 frames per second; and are willing to have the MPAA cut version of Licence to Kill, Goldeneye, Casino Royale, and at a higher price, then this Region 2 release is technically superior, more complete, and at the best price for all 24 films, from Amazon UK.

Excellent item. New and sealed. Great price. Fast delivery. Buy with confidence from this seller!

Great value, compact set that won’t take up too much space, quality of the films on blu-ray is excellent. Superb viewing for a long standing or new bond fan

I am not going to go into the technical data and any other facts which you can get on the first movie ( Dr. No ) anyway. The film cost me £49.99 from Amazon April 2022. I will point out that " Never Say Never Again " is not and would not be in this Box Set. Connery had pointed out that he " would never play that that role again" The film is based on the 1961 James Bond novel Thunderball by Fleming (Ring a Bell?) Finally, NSNA was not produced by Eon productions but by Jack Schwartzmans Taliafilm. ( all very boring although it is a good movie.)Picture Quality:If you are like me and am not keen on watching the Special features you are going to miss the features on the Dr. No movie. I decided to have a peak. And glad I did. It shows you the damage & wear and tear of what we have been watching when it comes on tv. So much love, care and time have made this movie look as if it was shot for the first time Yesterday.IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING & BEAUTIFUL.I Collect movies, and i have not seen any Restoration like this. Please give it a watch. The rest of the specials were pretty good too.As for ANY specials on the other movies.... I don't have a clue..... Yet.Packaging.Cannot say I understand it. Is the white box supposed to be really 'arty, or did they run out of money. Because to be honest it looks cheap. I think the majority of us could do a better job on our computer and printer.But for the majority of Bond films that take your breath away, I cannot find it in my heart to moan.So I did not expect Never say never again (it is on Warner) and a box I am not keen on, it still gets 5 stars. C

For less than £40 when I bought this, it's a great deal. It includes all the Eon Bond films up to Spectre (so no Never Say Never Again).As many reviewers have pointed out, the packaging is very plain. The individual cases are plain white, with the years they span and the films included within.In terms of content, I haven't had a chance to watch everything. But what I've seen of the films look and sound great. There's also a wide selection of special features. Commentaries on most of the films, as well as a huge number of behind-the-scenes featurettes, trailers, deleted scenes, interviews, etc. Some of this is quite dated, having been made at the time of the films original release. But there are also interviews they have made in later years featuring the cast and crew looking back. It's great they've gone to the effort to do this and adds a huge amount of value if you are interested in it.It seems that some people had some issues redeeming the digital codes; I tried them in early-October 2019 and was able to redeem all 24 films in Google Play.I knocked a star off because there were some minor scratches on the box, and one of the Blu-ray cases was slightly damaged. A minor issue that isn't noticeable on the shelf.