Jim

The video quality on nearly all of the UEs is a definite improvement over the SEs. Sometimes the improvement is incremental, other times (especially with the Connery DVDs) they are leaps and bounds better. There are a couple of instances where the framing is different than the SEs (Goldeneye, A View To A Kill). Some people are really bothered by it, most are not.

iamnothitler

I'm not much concerned about the second disc supplements. As long as 6-7 movies I want are readily available without another dozen or so, I'm happy. I normally only watch the supplements once, if at all. If I'm dying to see them, I'll get them through Netflix.
LJ

Snowmaker

So, I guess there is no point upgrading my previous single-disk version of Goldeneye.

Aside from DTS, sounds like I'd be getting less, not more features. Or am I wrong here?

LoPan5705

Here's what amazon provides in features for the UE 1 disc release of Goldeneye:

DVD Features:

* Available Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
* Available Audio Tracks: English (DTS), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
* Behind-the-scenes and Making-of Features
* Archival Documentaries
* Screen Tests and other archival footage
* Biographies

Yes, feature wise you get less than the SE. Personally I plan to pickup the Goldfinger UE because I've heard such great reviews about the picture quality and it's my favorite 007 movie.

thelwig14

If you really like Goldeneye, the upgrade is an easy choice. I put in both (the SE and the new release) on my LCD, and I was shocked at the video/upgrade. Personally, it is not noticeable, it is significant. The differences are greater on the older Bonds, but Goldeneye still was a major upgrade. The sound overwhelms you and the print is much tighter.

Jim

Can anyone confirm the info on Amazon that these single disc Bonds have special features such as behind-the-scenes and making-of features? I thought these were supposed to be just the first disc of the 2 disc UEs.

Wildo1966

Anyone pick these up today? Best prices?

LoPan5705

If you buy any 2 titles at CC you get them for $7.99 apiece. The regular price is $9.99. If anyone knows what the Wal-Mart price, please post.

Giles

so, wait, I'm a little confused, which version is the superior version the SE or the new (today's) release?

LoPan5705

I think amazon may have screwed this up. CC and BB are only saying the features for the disc are (Goldeneye):

Feature film with frame-by-frame digital restoration and DTS 5.1 audio
Audio commentary featuring Martin Campbell and Michael G. Wilson

Peep

I'd trust the packaging (which confirms that):

IG80Nate

Pretty sure all the extras are on disc 2 for each movie.

There simply wouldn't be enough room on disc 1 for anything but the actual movie.

This is why these releases blow if you're a fan of the series.

Yeah the movie is the most important thing but you kinda want all the amazing extras if you love the movie so much.

runnersdialzero

I just bought Thunderball and Goldfinger. Didn't open them because I wanted to make sure they are anamorphic.

It doesn't say Anamorphic anywhere on the box so I was a little worried because MGM is nutty like that.

Saxon

critterdvd

I was tempted to pick-up the rest of the films I'm missing from my collection, but do the single-disc releases, I guess I can wait the 2/3 years before the HDReleases...

thelwig14

If the new one disk that was just released of Goldeneye is the same exact disk as the Ultimate Edition that was released in the box sets, then the just released one disk Bond movies are superior to the Special Editions that were released years ago.

OldBoy

are releasing them all on 1-disc? i am specifically looking for "Tomorrow Never Dies".

Snowmaker

Well, maybe I'll pick up the new version of Goldeneye eventually, but I'm in no hurry.

iamnothitler

That's a question I'd like answered as well. I haven't found new individual releases on any list so far. Anyone have an idea?

indiephantom

I'm waiting for the only three I don't own on DVD yet...

The Living Daylights
A View to a Kill
Diamonds are Forever

I'm sure they'll be out sometime around the release of "Casino Royale".

Eben

I have many of these movies from the earlier (nonultimate) box sets. They are anamorphic widescreen, but many of the movies from early in the series are DD 2.0. Are these new versions, From Russia With Love in particular, done in DD 5.1? How good do the new soundtracks sound?

UAIOE

No offense Eben, i'm not picking on you.

I've never understood why having an older movie in 5.1 was acceptable but colorized movies, altered aspect ratios, cut scenes, and redubbed lines are always looked at with disgust.

I never hear anyone asking or demanding that a movie be presented with it's original sound, always 5.1 or DTS.

Dr Phibes

I picked up the single disk Thunderball. There is a mono track included, which I believe is the original sound. Generally, I agree that the re-mixing of older movie soundtracks with new stereo sound effects is a largely unacknowledged problem with DVD releases. It doesn't bother me as much if they include the original mono, as with MGM's The Terminator or Criterion's Seven Samurai. The remixing of The Godfather or American Werewolf In London with new gunshot sounds is a real aesthetic sin.

But, I must admit to my shame that I sometimes like the remixings, if they are not done too obtrusively with too many new sounds. Thunderball does sound pretty sweet in DTS, with Barry's music swinging out loud in stereo. Maybe this is because Thunderball was not one of my fave Bonds in the past, so I never owned it before or watched/listened to it several times.

Eben

Well, I watched my copy of FRWL and thought the 2.0 sounded a little flat on my system. My amp has only a few options when it locks on to a DD stream - picking movie uses only the center speaker, nothing from the surrounds in any mode, so I use stereo (2 front main speakers) but often don't get the "depth" of sound. I agree, I don't like the idea of adding sounds not in the original, but I do enjoy the "wraparound" effect of DTS or 5.1. Thanks for the replies (and I don't feel picked on at all).

DarthPrime

From Russia With Love, The Living Daylights, The Man With The Golden Gun, Moonraker, The World Is Not Enough, and You Only Live Twice should be released on May 22, 2007.

joliom

I think that they should always include the original audio tracks on DVD releases, but I don't equate a 5.1 remix with colorizing or digital "Lucas-izing" of the visuals. That's probably because most soundtrack remixes don't radically alter the integrity of the original audio experience. Typically they just make improvements to the sonics and the configuration of the sound stage. Granted, there are a few remixes that try adding all kinds of new foley effects, music, dialogue, etc. that don't match the original. In that case, I agree, it's sacrilege. But improving a few gunshot and explosion effects, faithfully rescoring with a top-notch orchestra in order to get a mono-only score in full multi-track stereo...well that just doesn't irk the purist in me, I guess. I do hate that so many DVD's fail to include an original audio track option, however. That should be mandatory, imo.