James Bond on Blu-ray/4K

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  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,181
    Nice thing of Bond home video is that nearly every special feature that has been made since the laserdiscs have been kept up with the latest releases. The only exceptions are those Criterion laserdisc commentaries that EON banned.

    Were those Criterion laserdisc commentaries that controversial? Or are they relatively tame?

    Certainly. EON has never explained why, but many have surmised it's likely because of stuff like Maibaum calling Fleming a "snob" for example. Cubby wasn't very happy about that.
  • Nice thing of Bond home video is that nearly every special feature that has been made since the laserdiscs have been kept up with the latest releases. The only exceptions are those Criterion laserdisc commentaries that EON banned.

    Were those Criterion laserdisc commentaries that controversial? Or are they relatively tame?

    Certainly. EON has never explained why, but many have surmised it's likely because of stuff like Maibaum calling Fleming a "snob" for example. Cubby wasn't very happy about that.

    Interesting. I haven’t listened to those commentaries, I’ve been meaning to for a while but I’ve never gotten around to it. It’s nice to know that Cubby defended Fleming like that however, I’ve always felt Cubby greatly respected Fleming, even making it a mandate to have his name above every Bond film.
    I haven’t really bothered to look at the discrepancies between DAD releases...because each release of that film sits at the bottom of my collections where it belongs B-) B-) B-)

    I'm offended. :D :D :D

    I apologize for my evil tendencies :)) :))
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    Nice thing of Bond home video is that nearly every special feature that has been made since the laserdiscs have been kept up with the latest releases. The only exceptions are those Criterion laserdisc commentaries that EON banned.

    Were those Criterion laserdisc commentaries that controversial? Or are they relatively tame?

    Certainly. EON has never explained why, but many have surmised it's likely because of stuff like Maibaum calling Fleming a "snob" for example. Cubby wasn't very happy about that.

    Interesting. I haven’t listened to those commentaries, I’ve been meaning to for a while but I’ve never gotten around to it. It’s nice to know that Cubby defended Fleming like that however, I’ve always felt Cubby greatly respected Fleming, even making it a mandate to have his name above every Bond film.
    I haven’t really bothered to look at the discrepancies between DAD releases...because each release of that film sits at the bottom of my collections where it belongs B-) B-) B-)

    I'm offended. :D :D :D

    I apologize for my evil tendencies :)) :))

    Thank you. :)
  • cwl007cwl007 England
    Posts: 611
    Ryan wrote: »
    I think Die Another Day is also missing some of the features that were present on the initial DVD release.

    Ironically, despite DAD being very much around the bottom of the rung for me, it is the only film I own twice on DVD. Because of the different bonus features I keep a copy of the Special edition disc in my Ultimate edition collection.
  • Just finished watching the 4K version of OHMSS, I thought it looked slightly better than the Blu Ray version, but not by much.
    I did notice a bit of a “darkened” (if that’s the right term) to the quality of the picture however. This film was always beautiful, but I’m really impressed by the recent transfers.
  • 007InAction007InAction Australia
    Posts: 2,523
    Just finished watching the 4K version of OHMSS, I thought it looked slightly better than the Blu Ray version, but not by much.
    I did notice a bit of a “darkened” (if that’s the right term) to the quality of the picture however. This film was always beautiful, but I’m really impressed by the recent transfers.

    4K is OK .... :)>-
  • edited December 2020 Posts: 727
    HDR is more transformative than 4K. Too bad these are in SDR.
  • Posts: 113
    The John Cork/Bruce Scivally documentaries and commentaries were produced for the Goldfinger and Thunderball Laserdisc SE full CAV boxsets and were the first two of what was supposed to be a full line of boxsets for each title. This came on the heels of their work on the stuffed LD of Goldeneye. With the format coming to and end this never came to fruition and the extras were first released on the Special Edition DVDs which used the transfers that would have been on the CAV Laserdisc boxsets.

    Unfortunately they are early discs for the format and suffer many issues. Worst of all is that everything is crammed onto single discs which cuts bitrates dramatically. Despite the numerous issues with the Lowry process and transfers across the Ultimate Edition line of DVDs the best aspect is that they are 2 disc affairs that move the extras to separate discs and add all new features. While the Blu-rays carry most everything over the presentation isn't quite as good as the DVD for the extras. A few of the making of docus were redone in HD but I prefer them as they were.

    The DAD original DVD was a 2 disc set that had exclusive extras on the Madonna video and a very insightful making of docu on the film which shows more of the pre-production process than seen in most other places. It's essential to have. The other differences: older transfer with edge enhancement and the like but it does have audio tracks with the Dolby EX and DTS ES information flagged whereas the UE DVD and BD merely has 5.1 with the center surround extra content matrixed in.

    The Criteiron CAV laserdiscs had a typical Criterion supplemental section of text slides, stills, vintage materials in addition to the commentaries. The commentaries themselves are not bad at all in terms of what is said but I get the idea the backlash was more of: "They did WHAT?" because commentaries were a new thing and Criterion had only started the whole idea a few years prior with Citizen Kane and King Kong.
    These tracks are blunt and matter of fact throughout in conversational tones.
    I have to struggle to find anything possibly objectionable and these two instances aren't meant to be at all. The only two things I think people could find very slightly objectionable are Young describing his first eventful meeting with Pedro Amendariz (where his wife's shampoo had mistakenly turned his hair red which after trying to fix at a barbers had turned green) and having to assure Pedro that he wasn't of a certain persuasion.
    The other is Peter Hunt in the GF track talking about Sean's charisma again and simply throwing up his hands saying at that point Sean probably "could've walked into a room and ****ed anybody" with a great degree of impishness and wonder.
    These tracks are so beautifully off the cuff and it's as if you're in the room with them. Every time I listen again it's like the dream meetings with heroes you never got to have. Maibaum sounds incredible too and sadly he passed away literally just after they were recorded.

    You also get great insights in between comments from the usual Criterion LD commentator Bruce Eder (one of the best commentators ever) on DN and GF and Steven Jay Rubin on FRWL (one of the foremost Bond historians for many decades.)

    Only trouble is that these were made before Criterion figured out to put all the extras at the end of the film. On DN and GF some of the extras are at the end of sides. So the movie's going along-BOND BREAD COMMERCIAL-Side Change. FRWL and the CLV movie only reissues play fine but of course the CLVs have no extras or commentaries.

    The official DN-LTK commentaries are essential as well but are compiled from many interviews and honestly go into far more detail then the documentaries. It's a shame more people haven't listened to these. GE onwards it's post production in terms of tracks and they're a mixed bag. The GE one is a blast with Campbell and MGW simply riffing off one another.
    My favorite bit is the Brosnan led secondary DAD track because it starts with a sharp intake of breath and Brozzer: Ok here we go...Die Another Day..
  • Thanks! I can’t find a listing anywhere of how much of that is on the 2017 dvd collection, which I’m tempted to treat myself to for Christmas. Some of those commentaries sound a complete hoot.
  • 007InAction007InAction Australia
    Posts: 2,523
    Just finished watching the 4K version of OHMSS, I thought it looked slightly better than the Blu Ray version, but not by much.
    I did notice a bit of a “darkened” (if that’s the right term) to the quality of the picture however. This film was always beautiful, but I’m really impressed by the recent transfers.

    Yes great film even better in 4K
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  • Just finished watching the 4K version of OHMSS, I thought it looked slightly better than the Blu Ray version, but not by much.
    I did notice a bit of a “darkened” (if that’s the right term) to the quality of the picture however. This film was always beautiful, but I’m really impressed by the recent transfers.

    Yes great film even better in 4K
    EpTQFV4XIAMNvxM?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
    EpTQFV3WMAM6_uc?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
    EpTQFWFXUAEHwg_?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
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    It was beautiful to watch in 4K, but I’d be lying if I said I noticed the differences between the Blu Ray, and the 4K.
    Maybe my eyes just suck.
  • Posts: 113
    I got so tired and frustrated with the Lowry materials that it pushed me into researching Laserdisc which became an obsession of sorts. Ever since then because of the no frills and hands off transfers and superior original audio I've watched them every year. Once I hit upon a good viewing setup it really unlocked their potential.

    So far the 4K versions appear to be an advancement on all fronts-particularly being an improvement in color timing and skin tones over the BD releases. It remains to be seen what HDR gradings would look like on a UHD disc release and what a properly done 1080p version for bundled in BD discs could be.

    I'm pretty sure the one BD that did use newer materials was Spy which was finally a new master and was head and shoulders above the rest.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,181
    I wouldn’t be surprised if the blus bundled with a future 4K release are just the same old discs repackaged. The 4K release for the Craig collection did it that way, with the 4K disc for CR being the uncut version while the blu was the same old PG-13 version.
  • edited December 2020 Posts: 440
    Just finished watching the 4K version of OHMSS, I thought it looked slightly better than the Blu Ray version, but not by much.
    I did notice a bit of a “darkened” (if that’s the right term) to the quality of the picture however. This film was always beautiful, but I’m really impressed by the recent transfers.

    Yes great film even better in 4K
    EpTQFV4XIAMNvxM?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
    EpTQFV3WMAM6_uc?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
    EpTQFWFXUAEHwg_?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
    EpTQFWrW8AYXFMm?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

    It was beautiful to watch in 4K, but I’d be lying if I said I noticed the differences between the Blu Ray, and the 4K.
    Maybe my eyes just suck.

    I believe OHMSS and TSWLM were both restored a few years later than most of the other Bond films and by different people at Lowry, which accounts for them looking better* compared to the other Blu-ray releases.

    *albeit with a slight magenta tint.
  • Posts: 113
    I wouldn’t be surprised if the blus bundled with a future 4K release are just the same old discs repackaged. The 4K release for the Craig collection did it that way, with the 4K disc for CR being the uncut version while the blu was the same old PG-13 version.
    I know it will likely happen this way but there is still a glimmer of hope!
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,181
    Hopefully!

    It’ll be WB handling discs this time instead of Fox, so who knows.
  • 007InAction007InAction Australia
    Posts: 2,523
    Total Recall (1990)– 4K Ultra HD review
    The 4K disc: No expense has been spared bringing this 4K restoration to us, with Verhoeven himself supervising the transfer.Presented in native 4K, and with Dolby Vision HDR enhancement, Total Recall is a joy to watch. The picture is sharp and detailed, with even the then primitive computer effects having made the transition well. While there’s an ever-present field of film grain, it goes about its business without distracting you from the main event.

    Hopefully HDR on the bond films too.
  • Posts: 1,181
    I just bought the Craig Films on 4k bluray, do you guys have a recommendation on a specific 4k bluray player? I don't have an unlimited budget, but something in the $150-250 range hopefully.
  • Ed83 wrote: »
    I just bought the Craig Films on 4k bluray, do you guys have a recommendation on a specific 4k bluray player? I don't have an unlimited budget, but something in the $150-250 range hopefully.

    I’m just going to wait until a ps5 becomes available. It serves as a 4K player and is something I would buy anyway. However it is quite expensive so may not be in your price range yet.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,963
    2Wint2Kidd wrote: »
    Ed83 wrote: »
    I just bought the Craig Films on 4k bluray, do you guys have a recommendation on a specific 4k bluray player? I don't have an unlimited budget, but something in the $150-250 range hopefully.

    I’m just going to wait until a ps5 becomes available. It serves as a 4K player and is something I would buy anyway. However it is quite expensive so may not be in your price range yet.

    The PS5 is lacking both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. You can get a much better and cheaper 4K player at that price.
  • Posts: 1,181
    Ok, I'll keep researching and buy the 4k player soon.

    I play all my games on PC. I do have the previous XBOX that I got for $150 or less, but I hardly ever used it. I might pick up a PS5 way down the road if it gets a massive discount.

    Thanks for the input.
  • JWPepperJWPepper You sit on it, but you can't take it with you.
    Posts: 512
    Ed83 wrote: »
    Ok, I'll keep researching and buy the 4k player soon.

    I play all my games on PC. I do have the previous XBOX that I got for $150 or less, but I hardly ever used it. I might pick up a PS5 way down the road if it gets a massive discount.

    Thanks for the input.

    I have a LG UBK90. Simple, excellent buildquality, loading is very fast and the player is cheap(150 euros) Plus, it supports HDR10, Dolby Vision and Atmos.
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,591
    So I just purchased a Sony 4K HDR bluray player.

    Why does everything look more lifeless and washed out than it did on 1080? I have a Samsung 4K tv and recently used my newly purchased 4K player to compare my 1080p copy of Blade Runner 2049 with the 4K version. The colors are far more washed out and grainy in the latter. Can’t seem to find any solution online. Anyone have the same issue?
  • I don't have that player but I use a Xbox Series X for 4K bluray, I've gone into the settings on the TV because HDR and SDR have different video settings. Might have to make some adjustments to any presets on there.
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,591
    I don't have that player but I use a Xbox Series X for 4K bluray, I've gone into the settings on the TV because HDR and SDR have different video settings. Might have to make some adjustments to any presets on there.
    Tried adjusting the settings to no avail. My TV doesn’t have the latest software so I’m going to try updating it and see how it goes.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,963
    jake24 wrote: »
    So I just purchased a Sony 4K HDR bluray player.

    Why does everything look more lifeless and washed out than it did on 1080? I have a Samsung 4K tv and recently used my newly purchased 4K player to compare my 1080p copy of Blade Runner 2049 with the 4K version. The colors are far more washed out and grainy in the latter. Can’t seem to find any solution online. Anyone have the same issue?

    I noticed that on my 4K player with certain films before I got rid of it (switched to the PS5). Both CR and QoS on 4K looked so bland and lifeless compared to my blurays.
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    edited January 2021 Posts: 10,591
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    jake24 wrote: »
    So I just purchased a Sony 4K HDR bluray player.

    Why does everything look more lifeless and washed out than it did on 1080? I have a Samsung 4K tv and recently used my newly purchased 4K player to compare my 1080p copy of Blade Runner 2049 with the 4K version. The colors are far more washed out and grainy in the latter. Can’t seem to find any solution online. Anyone have the same issue?

    I noticed that on my 4K player with certain films before I got rid of it (switched to the PS5). Both CR and QoS on 4K looked so bland and lifeless compared to my blurays.
    I was planning on getting a disc PS5 knowing of its 4K playback capability but instead opted to buy a 4K player and a digital ps5 instead.

    Weird thing is the same thing persists with streaming 4K movies on YouTube (Apple TV on the other hand looks totally fine). Everything looks extremely dim and washed out. Just tried playing Tenet in 4K - same thing.

    Updating my TV didn’t work either. What’s annoying is that there doesn’t seem to be any solution and is probably a hardware issue with Samsung.


  • ThunderpussyThunderpussy My Secret Lair
    Posts: 13,384
    About a year ago I got a Panasonic 4k Blu-ray player on sale to add to my 55 inch
    4k Telly. I've been impressed with all the 4k discs, especially Skyfall and Spectre.
    The detail in scenes is amazing and the HDR gives deeper colours and stops
    highlights being too bright. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves movies. A
    good sound system also helps the experience.
  • ShardlakeShardlake Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    Posts: 4,043
    Can't say I have had any issues with my LG 4K Player, 4K UHD, Panasonic OLED set up.

    Watched the new Studio Canal 4K UHD of Escape From New York last night, the detail was astounding, the film has never looked this good, the fact the blacks are so black makes the detail in a film set predominately at night stand out like I have never seen before.

    I did have my LG Player with just an LG 4K UHD 42" TV but when up graded to my OLED 55" Panasonic, the difference was noticeable.

    I bought the DC 4K set, no the films don't look night and day to the Blu-ray but I was happy with the picture and didn't think they looked washed out at all. Also watched OHMSS on Christmas day from my Box set and that looked the best home presentation of the film I'd ever seen.

    Not sure I'll go with another box set when the 4K UHD one eventually arrives but I will likely get standalone discs of certain films, OHMSS for definite.

    I also watched SC's new restoration of Don't Look Now, WOW, a gorgeous sight to behold.

    I got Casino for Christmas on 4K UHD, only had a peak but that wipes the floor with the current Blu-ray and Bridge On The River Kwai has the similar effect. As does Gremlins, the best that has ever looked, not scrubbed and very film like as do the other 2.

    What I love about 4K UHD is when these are done properly, they present the films as close to the original theatrical presentation, I can't wait to see what happens with Godfather Part 1 & 2, the Blu-ray was very impressive but I think the 4K will take it to another level.

    I have the new Apocalypse Now UHD and that is astounding.

    Jaws was a revelation in the format and with the current Blu-ray night and day.

    I do know that the new LOTR & Hobbit set is controversial and Jackson's making all 6 films look the same has had mixed results.

    I'll stick with the Blu-ray I think, not sure I'd want LOTR to look like those awful Hobbit films anyway.

    I do have Back To The Future & The new Hitchcock set on my wish list though.

    I don't intend to upgrade everything as some Blu-ray presentations are very impressive, I do look more forward to catalogue releases on 4K UHD because when they are done properly, the effect is magnificent.
  • MakeshiftPythonMakeshiftPython “Baja?!”
    Posts: 8,181
    jake24 wrote: »
    So I just purchased a Sony 4K HDR bluray player.

    Why does everything look more lifeless and washed out than it did on 1080? I have a Samsung 4K tv and recently used my newly purchased 4K player to compare my 1080p copy of Blade Runner 2049 with the 4K version. The colors are far more washed out and grainy in the latter. Can’t seem to find any solution online. Anyone have the same issue?

    I think it may be your Samsung. I had the same issue with my Sony TV. Not only did it look washed out, but the blacks were all grayed up due to the increase in luminescence.

    I eventually bought a different TV years later by looking into picture quality ratings and am now happier with a Vizio TV that gives me true blacks, strong colors and a higher range of brightness/contrast. Sad to say, when doing my own little research on TV picture quality Samsung wasn't exactly rated all that high.
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