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I'm pretty sure @Gustav has a film collection that goes beyond that of Bond but I wonder if he's bothered to watch any of them for him to come up with that question. EoN for a number of years now have come across as being cheap with their home releases. Reward the fans with a decent package for crying out loud!
The fact that some have come to just expect getting the movie is sad and quite pathetic on EoN's part. We wait years for these movies to be made and we get a half arsed cobbled together product thrown at us for a premium. Bullshit. It's easy to see why people feel ripped off. Let's get in depth making of documentaries, never before seen footage, extended and cut scenes, cast and crew commentaries, never before seen interviews. These are 8 month shoots with 2 years of pre/post production, let's see SOMETHING! The fact is there are tonnes of material that can be packed and sold to us that's actually worth buying but EoN won't bother because they know whatever they put out will sell regardless. It's a crappy business philosophy but an effortless business strategy.
But those other movie franchises don't have these (Ughh, now I'm gonna use those stupid url-links....:-S ;-)):
jamesbondlifestyle.com/sites/default/files/styles/fancybox_popup/public/images/product/bo007-bond-on-set-casino-royale.jpg?itok=BriW7ZL6
jamesbondlifestyle.com/sites/default/files/styles/fancybox_popup/public/images/product/bo029-bond-on-set-filming-quantum-of-solace.jpg?itok=xGdd4yle
007.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/BOS-COVER.jpg
ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41kgbCFTSgL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
My point: In the overwhelming amount of audiovisual and written media, there's always something for a Bond fan that makes him/her happy :-).
What's the difference if you get the same amount of background information on the making of a film -untold stories, problems, revealed secrets-, from various sources? Book vs. BluRay? In the end...the info is the same.
Yes, concerning the price/quality comparison of a BluRay release, one should expect more special features. To us, indeed, there's no excuse.
But many other BluRay releases are 1-disc-releases too. Without the extensive special features. Just check the Marvel franchise, or even smaller budget films like "Gone Girl". Home entertainment companies like Fox simply don't care to much about that anymore, simply because their profits are going down like shit due to illegal downloading and pirating (Some people were hailing the SonyLeaks in here? I don't get it). So from the perspective of a finance department at Fox there's a damn good excuse.
I can continue my complaints towards Fox Entertainment for releasing such a bare BluRay disc for "SPECTRE", but I find it pointless. I prefer to look to new and nice ways of enjoying my collection: For instance those wonderful new steelbook releases ;-). Or that upcoming Limited Edition (500 copies) BluFans 2-disc "SPECTRE" steelbook with booklet and character poster cards and lenticular slipcase with a completely different design ;-).
'Gone Girl,' you say? Oh, that has a commentary, and the original release came with a mini book of the 'Amazing Amy' novel that is in the film itself, which would be the same as us getting, say, a free SPECTRE ring in addition to a SP DVD/blu-ray. Marvel films? Commentaries, gag reels, deleted scenes, extended scenes, short films, featurettes, and much more.
We can look forward to them, but even though I'm a huge James Bond fan, it doesn't mean I'll slap a smile on my face and be glad that I only get the film for $25 when I've spent less in the past and been given much, much, much more. There simply is no excuse for a lack of something like commentary, and I think any fans who plan on picking this up (which I can only assume will be just about everyone here) should be equally upset that they get away with being so lazy.
At the end of the day, I'm getting the film and I'll be happy with that, but to have absolutely no unique special features as part of the newest entry in one of the most successful and beloved franchises of all time? Come on.
Your point is duly noted. In all honesty I don't give a s&^& :P. I also like to enrich my collection of coffee table books. For me merchandise, BluRay's and Books, also need to look good. Design-wise. I will certainly buy the "Blood, Sweat & Bond" book, which obviously has some needed insight as well.
I mean, even this wasn't put on the Special Features of "OHMSS", but was beautifully included in a....book ("The Making Of OHMSS": http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pOMoh2zuL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg ). Read this topic for more info:
http://www.mi6community.com/index.php?p=/discussion/13166/deleted-scenes-ohmss-bray-s-assistant-is-spying-rooftop-underground-chase#latest
I won't nitpick something omitted like that when at least OHMSS still has a broad amount of special features included.
Actually, I do mind the absence of the commentary. But it's not a big deal for me either. Perhaps it also has something to do with the SonyLeaks? I mean, how will the commentary tracks be treated after having all of the stuff on the streets (production notes, call sheets, draft screenplays). Everything that Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli say might sound 'fake' or untrue.
I think this could be a reason why EON now thinks not to include commentary.
I loved Mendes's commentary for SF because it was extensive and really delivered the meat that we didn't get elsewhere on the big 50 Bond movie. This time around not having that for SP is an immense drag, and because it was a film that I didn't follow closely during production to avoid spoilers, I now will miss out on why Mendes and his team executed things a certain way. That loss cannot be understated, my bond brethren. The brief, throwaway recycled videoblogs serve no purpose and don't elaborate on much at all about the film that we wouldn't already know. Especially absent is their delivery of the logistics and manpower required in making a Bond script a reality, an aspect of production that commentaries and proper behind the scenes docs of old so heartily supply.
I don't know why money was spent on placing the damn videoblogs on the disc at all; why bother when we've already seen them, and if we haven't, they're just a click away? I said it once before and I'll say it again; EON and Fox Entertainment would be better off just including a slip of paper inside the packaging of SP's release with a link to the Bond YouTube account where all that "content" is posted. There's no difference between having them on the disc and not for those of us who've been there and done that and watched them an unending amount of times already (much like the trailers themselves).
As some have said previously, including myself, I don't think this particular band of members is entirely vain for thinking we're owed a bit more than the bare bones SP release coming oh so modestly to our Blu-ray players next month. We invest as much time and energy as is humanly possible into pursuing every single lead about the upcoming films that when the pre and post release periods end and we want rewarded for our devotion to and curiosity with the latest release, it's no wonder we feel dejected when all that is being served up on a tattered platter is the film and some recycled scraps.
It's because we love Bond unendingly that we care so much and feel a deep infuriation; that mustn't be mistaken. Being a fan equals the product of passion in this little equation of ours, and passion often leads to a deep sense of powerful fury when we feel rather neglected and ignored by those we serve so highly with our wallets and our time. We aren't asking the world, just a commentary and a few tidbits of stuff we haven't already seen plastered about at every corner of the internet.
Very well said there Sir.
I am reminded of a scene in Partridge when thinking about EON's attitude to giving the fans a little bit back:
Fan: People sometimes forget that's it's us fans who make you what you are.
Partridge: I don't actually agree with that.
+1
Well said.
This is correct!
I was a big fan of how they did the Deluxe Edition of CR. It was a bit more initially, but you got a lot of bang for your buck. The video commentary was very enjoyable. You could have a standard regular edition for people who only want the film and a deluxe version for someone willing to spend a few more bucks for lots of special features.
Maybe the cost of production on these items and actual sales do not make it worth doing. I mean surely the Director Commentary could be done fairly easily.
The irony is, you guys in the States didn't really care for the movie in the first place (understandably) and now you're getting it in 2 days while the movie itself is simultaneously doing everything it desperately can in cinemas to reach that all important domestic 200 mill.
I love the DeLuxe edition from "Casino Royale". There are two different casings for this DeLuxe edition. One has a cardboard digibook with booklets that can be unfolded, and that you can put in a fairly thick cardboard lenticular slipcase. And the other one has a blue amaray casing, with booklet, that you can put in a slightly thinner, but nicely embossed lenticular slipcase. I have the latter:
amaray casing:
slipcase:
disc's:
in comparison with my steelbooks:
The thing I like about the DeLuxe set, is that it has a very extensive 2nd special features disc, And that disc has got a valuable documentary "From Novel to Film", which I still like to rewatch.
There's one negative thing though. As this was a Sony Pictures home entertainment release and not a Fox home entertainment release, the film doesn't have DTS Surround Sound. The DTS Sound layer was later added in the Ultimate Edition / Fox release.
It's a fine film, mostly slammed down by fans because of its unofficial status. But it has Connery, in a better performance as Bond as compared to DAF and perhaps YOLT. It has Klaus-Maria Brandauer, who in my opinion portrays a perfect, near-psychotic Largo. And it has Barbara Carrera as Fatima Blush, who obviously served as an inspiration for the more grotesque henchwomen May Day and Xenia Onatopp. Ooowh, and she got a Golden Globe nod for her role.
But, like we all know and said before, too bad there's only THIS as a new and exclusive extra to us, the hardcore fans.
It looks more and more dated with each passing year. It's hard to believe Kirshner could deliver something as timeless as 'The Empire Strikes Back' (albeit under the stewardship of Lucas), followed by this.
It's certainly dated, but if viewed with an open mind, and without comparisons to EON's product, it's really not all that bad.
The score really drags it down in parts as well.
Blush and the motorcycle chase are great, though.
Still can't figure out why the main menu track is the same as the intro track from SF.
Yes, with the blu-ray/DVD arriving February 9th.