Oct 9 2006 12:00AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (1) |
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Growing up in England, I have a special place in my heart for our most famous secret service agent, 007. Of course, Sean Connery is my favorite, but I still like Roger Moore, and Pierce Brosnan used the Walther PPK with great style. I'm keeping a skeptical eye on Daniel Craig, but, I digress...

Just in time for Bond to live once again on the big screen (Casino Royale opens Nov. 17), MGM (through Fox) is releasing what it's calling "The Most Comprehensive Bond Discs EVER." The James Bond Ultimate Edition Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 debut on DVD on Nov. 7 (prebook Oct. 11) and Vol. 3 and 4 are due Dec. 12 (prebook Nov. 15). Each is priced at $89.98. (I know what I'm getting my Dad for his next two birthday and Christmases!)

This is apparently not just a repackaging of the same disc collections Bond fans already have on their shelves. MGM's press release--all 12 pages of it--say the films have been restored frame by frame, and the movies now feature 5.1 DTS sound. Now that's something to be thankful for.

There are new extras too, including commentaries by Moore and previously unreleased footage from the Bond archives, such as "long-anticipated deleted scenes," so the press release claims. Connery's screen tests on the Goldfinger disc should be fun.

Here's the low-down of which movies are in each volume:

Vol. 1: Goldfinger, The World is Not Enough, Diamonds Are Forever, The Man With the Golden Gun and The Living Daylights

Vol. 2: Thunderball, Die Another Day, The Spy Who Loved Me, A View To a Kill and Licence to Kill

Vols. 3&4: GoldenEye, Live & Let Die, From Russia With Love, For Your Eyes Only, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Tomorrow Never Dies, You Only Live Twice, Dr. No, Octopussy and Moonraker

Wait a minute, I know it's unofficial, but how "comprehensive" can a Bond collection be without the rogue movie, Never Say Never? I'm just a sucker for Connery in a wetsuit.