James Bond on Blu-ray/4K

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  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,180
    Sorry if this has been asked before (searching in these forums is not user-friendly) but are the 4k UHD versions available to rent on Amazon the same transfers as the versions on iTunes?

    They are. They're also available on VUDU.
  • Now, I wasn't quite sure if this should go here or in "I've never noticed that before...", but given that this thread has also been used to discuss differences between the films' various releases over the years, I thought it would fit in here well enough.

    Having just watched the blu-ray of DAF, I noticed something odd on the original mono soundtrack. In the 26 years I've watched this film (not continuously, mind), the henchman that Bond kicks off the dune bike (or whatever you wish to call it) during the moon buggy chase has always let out a grunt as he gets the boot. I was suprised to find that on the mono track on the blu-ray, there was only silence.

    I went back to the 1992 VHS and the 1999 SE DVD, which as far as I know also feature the original mono soundtrack, as I didn't think there was any sort of remix before the UE DVD in 2006, and indeed, the grunt grunts on both of those.

    So that begs the question: what kind of mono soundtrack have I been hearing all those years? Obviously something that can't have been the original one, given the silence I encountered on the blu-ray. But if so, where did it originate? Or is there simply an error in the track on the blu-ray?
  • Posts: 16,149
    Now, I wasn't quite sure if this should go here or in "I've never noticed that before...", but given that this thread has also been used to discuss differences between the films' various releases over the years, I thought it would fit in here well enough.

    Having just watched the blu-ray of DAF, I noticed something odd on the original mono soundtrack. In the 26 years I've watched this film (not continuously, mind), the henchman that Bond kicks off the dune bike (or whatever you wish to call it) during the moon buggy chase has always let out a grunt as he gets the boot. I was suprised to find that on the mono track on the blu-ray, there was only silence.

    I went back to the 1992 VHS and the 1999 SE DVD, which as far as I know also feature the original mono soundtrack, as I didn't think there was any sort of remix before the UE DVD in 2006, and indeed, the grunt grunts on both of those.

    So that begs the question: what kind of mono soundtrack have I been hearing all those years? Obviously something that can't have been the original one, given the silence I encountered on the blu-ray. But if so, where did it originate? Or is there simply an error in the track on the blu-ray?

    I'm pretty certain the 1992 VHS and onwards had a different sound mix to the original film. The PTS cat's meow being the dead giveaway.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,180
    I can confirm that the grunting is intact in the 1988 VHS and 1990 LaserDisc.

    There are different sound mixes between the US and UK prints, so I wonder if the lack of grunting was from the original UK version. For a long time home video in the US was based off of the US prints, which is why we got the most obvious differences in TB with the UK ending with the reused James Bond Theme and the US print ending with the TB recorded version as heard in the soundtrack.

    I do wish when remastering the films that they would have just gone with the mixes used in the US. They may not be the "original" UK versions, but I like hearing the TB version of the Bond theme rather than the reused 1962 recording.
  • Junglist_1985Junglist_1985 Los Angeles
    Posts: 1,030
    Just rewatched Thunderball last night on 4K UHD... the Bahamas looks stunning! Quite a slick update.
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    edited October 2020 Posts: 4,512
    It look like MGM found in Warner Home Entertainment studio who takes over releasing there movies in Europe (The Netherlands). Fox did this for a long time and also be responsible for Bond documentry's.

    On 4 November under Warner barcode (5051888252932) there going to be 24 movie collection on DVD and Bluray (5051888252949) released in same style of box as 23 set. Source: bol.com. There is no final picture yet, on this moment it only a picture who look simalas set used without classication.

    550x774.jpg
    Use link from the store, later wil change in actualy Bluray package.

    No 4K yet. Fox is now part of Disney, but of course Bond material is together made with MGM/Eon and can imagine MGM/Eon owns everthing now for later releases. I always hoped on 2 discs BD releases for every movie atleast.

    Casino Royale was released on DVD/BD by Sony whyle three follow ups by Fox. Whyle Spectre was released by Universal in Dutch cinema's (like NTTD is plan to be). Hope Universal wil stil release BD and 4K relesses of NTTD.

    Warner can be very good with releases BD from older movies include movies that be earlier from them, but for new movies from there own can be a problem in The Netherlands and Belgium. Warner and Disney you can say moost hated studio for Dutch releases of new movies.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,180
    Just did an entry for TND. This time I added screencaps from the DTS LaserDisc. As I suspected, it's basically the same transfer as the Special Edition DVD, as both versions were released at the same time. The only difference is that the SE DVD did not have burned in subtitles but instead was player generated.

    https://007homemedia.blogspot.com/2020/10/tomorrow-never-dies-1997.html

    Fun fact, this was the only time a Bond film was released on home media with VHS, LaserDisc, and DVD simultaneously. It was also the last Bond LD release for the US (TWINE would only get a LD release in Japan).
  • Posts: 1,181
    I was thinking about picking up the Connery Collection in UHD on Vudu, for anyone who has experience with it, is it worth it in terms of quality over the blurays? I haven't tried a UHD streaming movie yet, so this will be my first go at it. If it's not worth it I can just wait on 4k discs and try to get a 4k bluray player over black friday sales. Thanks in advance.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,180
    Only drawback is that it doesn’t have the original mono mixes. Other than that, it’s probably as good as 4K streaming will look for Connery.

    I’ll still get the 4K discs whenever it finally comes out.
  • edited November 2020 Posts: 1,181
    Yeah, I understand the bitrate won't be equivalent to the discs, so I'll probably jump in for the umpteeth time to rebuy again. But hey, that's what we do right. I don't really buy that many other movies or tv shows unless they are super discounted, so I guess I shouldn't feel too bad about buying Bond over and over when the new format comes out. It's been fun going from VHS to DVDs, some of them twice on DVD, blurays, and now I have the newer films on digital copy and I'll pick the Connery Collection and NSNA UHD versions up while they are sale.

    Thanks for your help.
  • Posts: 632
    I haven't tried them on Vudu, but I'm pretty happy with how the 4K looks through Apple. I bought a few of the Connerys this week since who knows if or when we'll get proper 4K disc releases.
  • Posts: 1,181
    I got the Connery Collection and NSNA UHD on Vudu. I'm very happy with the quality. Very nice detail and I notice a big improvement from my blurays. I can't wait for the 4k discs. Any recommendations on 4k bluray players?
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,180
    Worth noting, the releases of the GRETEL AND HANSEL, VALLEY GIRL, and BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC blu-ray/DVD were distributed by WB. Suppose they’ve taken over from Fox and will handle Bond from this point on?
  • Posts: 1,181
    So I went in on the Ultimate UHD collection while it was on sale a few weeks ago and just finished watching all of the films. The ones scanned in 4k, (DN, FRWL, GF, TB, YOLT, OHMSS, LALD, TMWTGG, TSWLM, MR, FYEO) and obviously CR, QOS, SF, and SP shot in various HD formats, all look excellent. But films like LTK, AVTAK, etc, (basically the ones that were not scanned in 4k, and were simply just upconverted to 4k, or FAKE4K, look very underwhelming.

    There were parts that were downright blurry or fuzzy in LTK. Some of the faces in scenes are extremely blurry. I mean I'm glad to have something to watch in 4k, and I don't want a refund or anything but I think it's just dishonest to sell those under the same UHD 4K label as they do DN FRWL etc. It's not even comparable and is quite deceptive and misleading to do so.

    I refuse to buy the fake4k films on 4k Bluray if they aren't rescanned when they finally get around to releasing them. Hopefully this has already been done or is being done now in preparation for a new 4k release and maybe we will be lucky enough to receive the upgraded 4k scan for free if we have already bought a 4k UHD digital version through Vudu, Itunes etc.

    Does anyone have a comprehensive list of what all the bond films plus NSNA have actually been scanned at? I know the early films were obviously given the 4k treatment. Some of the 80's and obviously the 90's bonds haven't been properly done. The Craig films look great and I'm aware of SF and a part of QOS not being full 4k, but they still look stunning. Was NSNA a 4k scan? It does look remarkably well on VUDU UHD.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    edited December 2020 Posts: 8,180
    I have to correct you, all the films have been remastered in 4K in 2015.

    What you’re speaking of is the blu-rays, which were only remastered in 4K for DN, FRWL, GF, TB, YOLT, OHMSS, DAF, LALD, MR. All the rest was remastered from old HD transfers. This was in 2005.

    But for UHD, all the remaining films got the 4K treatment by MGM.
  • Posts: 1,181
    So to clarify, all of the films have been scanned in 4k? Is there a source that discusses this? There seems to be a huge quality difference between TB and LTK for example on Vudu UHD.
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,591
    I watched GoldenEye for the first time in 4K on Apple TV last week. I was actually amazed by how vivid everything looked in comparison to the 1080p transfers. The iTunes 4K versions seem less tampered with in most cases.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    edited December 2020 Posts: 8,180
    Ed83 wrote: »
    So to clarify, all of the films have been scanned in 4k? Is there a source that discusses this? There seems to be a huge quality difference between TB and LTK for example on Vudu UHD.

    It's been posted several pages back in this thread.

    The thing with LTK is that its picture quality issues are simply inherent due to how the film was shot and processed. The film was produced in Mexico, and EON was utilizing film stock and development labs that were not on par with what they used in other Bond films. If you look up the Siskel & Ebert review of the film there's a part where Siskel says he was surprised over how the look of the film was not up to standards expected in Bond films. When I was examining the iTunes 4K versions I was surprised over just how grainy and inconsistent the picture quality was from scene to scene. The one that stuck out to me was during the brief interrogation with Kilifer and Sanchez.

    I did screenshot comparions here: https://007homemedia.blogspot.com/2020/08/licence-to-kill-1989.html


    Fox Blu-ray
    10LTK4.png


    iTunes 4K:
    10LTK4K.png


    Just comparing these two images you can see the upgrade even when just at 1080p as the film grain is more noticable and gives LTK a more film look, though when in motion it looks very rough.
  • Posts: 1,181
    Good lord, your right. I am rewatching LTK on VUDU UHD. The interrogation scene is a helping of grain with extra grain. It's dreadful.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,180
    Mid-to-late 80s film stock was notorious for being heavy on film grain, at least more so than expected. James Cameron talked about how much work had to be done to remaster ALIENS because the film stock it was shot in was very high on grain and he didn't want to scrub it off with heavy DNR. Another good example is PREDATOR, at least in the new 4K transfer that shows you how heavy it was in grain. If I'm correct, AVTAK, TLD, and LTK were shot with the same type of film stock, albeit photographed and processed differently from each other. Of the three, TLD looks the best.
  • Posts: 1,181
    Agreed, all of those films suffer from the same quality issues, TLD does seem to look the best.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,180
    That's what happens when a home video title goes out of print. The demand becomes high. I have a Criterion blu-ray copy of THE THIRD MAN that I could sell for over $100.
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Oh wait. Did MGM stop distribution of Bond or something? Is that why?
  • Posts: 2,159
    Oh wait. Did MGM stop distribution of Bond or something? Is that why?

    Given theyre both the “unofficial” films, I can understand why MGM may not makes those as readily available as the EoN films. Plus I cant imagine either were made beyond the first print run of the discs.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,960

    I love how CR is $130 but they still want you to pony up $3.99 for shipping.
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    edited December 2020 Posts: 4,512
    Warner wil possible later re-release some of them with re-using the disc or/and footage as when it be MGM/Fox. Besides 24 movie set Warner more present releasing or plant to release Connery, Roger Moore, Brosnan and Daniel Craig sets.

    Last weak it be confirmd Paramount movies and tv series no longer wil be released with help of Universal in Benelux but by Dutch company DFW (Dutch Filmworks). For other country's Paramount always release the movie's without help of Universal. This possible explain why MGM also choose for Warner and not for Universal (because NTTD is made by MGM/Universal), i say also because Warner release MGM movies before in 2006 for example or 1995/1996 Bond video's.

    Paramount in both cases normal and animated dreamworks movies have long time with Universal, whyle Fox also did release dreamworks animated movies for some time. Iam curious why Paramount quite with them or why Universal no longer whant it. Can be something to do with Brexit and Dutch subs. Disney also have some trouble with that and tv series and 3D movies.

    No Time To Die wil be released in the cinema by MGM/Universal (What there did for The Netherlands with Spectre.) and first released by MGM Universal (like MGM/Fox and DAD, MGM/Sony and CR) or Warner (Like Fox release MGM/Sony QOS and Spectre) on DVD, BD, 4K BD.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,180
    Mallory wrote: »
    Oh wait. Did MGM stop distribution of Bond or something? Is that why?

    Given theyre both the “unofficial” films, I can understand why MGM may not makes those as readily available as the EoN films. Plus I cant imagine either were made beyond the first print run of the discs.

    That’s pretty much it. I think NSNA was a barebones blu-ray as well, right? I never purchased it.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,960
    Mallory wrote: »
    Oh wait. Did MGM stop distribution of Bond or something? Is that why?

    Given theyre both the “unofficial” films, I can understand why MGM may not makes those as readily available as the EoN films. Plus I cant imagine either were made beyond the first print run of the discs.

    That’s pretty much it. I think NSNA was a barebones blu-ray as well, right? I never purchased it.

    It contains:

    - Feature Length Audio Commentary with Director Irvin Kershner and James Bond Historian Steven Jay Rubin
    - "The Big Gamble"
    - "Sean is Back"
    - The Girls of Never Say Never Again
    - Theatrical Trailer
    - Still Photo Gallery

    So, more than SP, surprisingly.
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