They’ve taken their time getting here, but the 007 back catalogue finally makes its bow in high definition, with a broad choice of films to get things started. And where better to start than with the film that started the James Bond saga off in the first place?
Dr. No, starring Sean Connery, is the first of the official Bonds, and regarded by many as one of the best. It’s inevitably quite raw by recent standards (and arguably better for it), but the balance of humour and action is superbly handled, and it continues to endure far beyond nostalgia value. From Russia With Love, also starring Connery, is even better (and this is the 007 film that plenty cite as their outright favourite), pitting Bond up against SPECTRE in an ambitious and outstanding adventure. The final Connery title in the set is Thunderball, which finds SPECTRE again up to no good, holding a city to ransom under threat of an atomic weapon. It, too, is premium Bond, and great to see in high definition.
Next up in the set is a pair of Roger Moore outings, starting with his debut in the role, Live and Let Die. The memorable title song aside, this is an often-underrated adventure, replete with dramatic boat chase, and drug smugglers needing to be taken down. Then there’s For Your Eyes Only, which pits Bond against Julian Glover’s Kristatos in the hunt for the ATAC weapons system.
The final film in the set is Pierce Brosnan’s swansong as 007, Die Another Day, which also introduces Halle Berry as Jinx, a massive ice castle and the oft-mocked invisible car. But it’s a harder adventure than you’d expect, and again, better than it’s given credit for.
It’s been some wait for James Bond fans eager to get their hands on high definition versions of their favourites. And while there are still plenty of Bond movies to make the jump to 1080p, this collection is a great way to get the ball rolling. Let’s hope James Bond will return to hi-def. And soon.
- Interactive menus
- Scene access
- Bonus footage
- Trailers
- Deleted scenes
- Behind the scenes
- 'Making of' documentary
- Interviews (FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: Ian Fleming: The CBC Interview)
- Commentary (DR. NO: Terence Young (Director) and Members of the Cast and Crew. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: Terence Young (Director) and Members of the Cast and Crew. THUNDERBALL: Terence Young (Director) and Others, Commentary Featuring Peter Hunt (Editor), John Hopkin (Screenwriter) and Others. LIVE AND LET DIE: Sir roger Moore, Guy Hamilton (Director), and Tom Mankiwicz (Writer). FOR YOUR EYES ONLY: Sir Roger Moore, John Glen (Director), Cast and Crew, and Michael G. Wilson (Writer). DIE ANOTHER DAY: Pierce Brosnan and Rosamund Pike. Lee Tamahdri (Director) and Michael G. Wilson (Producer))
- Other documentaries (DR. NO: '007 License to Restore', 'Dr. No 1963', 'The Guns of James Bond', 'Premiere Bond: Opening Nights', 'Mission Control: Exotic Locations', 'Inside Dr. No', 'Terence Young: Bond Vivant'. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: 'Inside From Russia with Love', 'Harry Salzman: Showman', 'Ian Fleming and Raymond Chandler'. THUNDERBALL: 'Declassified MI6 Vault: The Incredible World of James Bond', 'A Child's Guide to Blowing Up a Motor Car', 'On Location with Ken Adam', 'Bill Suitor the Rocket Man Movies', 'Thunderball Boat Showreel'. LIVE AND LET DIE: 'Declassified MI6 Vault: Roger Moore as James Bond, Circa 1964', 'Bond 1973: The Lost Documentary'. DIE ANOTHER DAY: 'Shaken and Stirred on Ice', 'Just Another Day', 'The British touch: Bond Arrives in London')
- Bonus tracks (FOR YOUR EYES ONLY: Sheena Easton Video)
- Image gallery
- DR. NO: TV Broadcast and Radio Communication
- Mission Control Search Function: 007
- Allies
- Villains and Combat Manual. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: Ian Fleming on Desert Island Disks
- Animated Storyboard Sequence
- Mission Control: Exotic Locations
- Mission Control Search Function: 007
- Allies
- Villains and Combat Manual
- TV Broadcast and Radio Communication. THUNDERBALL: Selling Bonds - Original 1965 Television Commercials
- MI6 Credits
- Mission Control: Exotic Locations
- The Thunderball Phenomenon
- The Secret History of Thunderball
- Mission Control Search Function: 007
- Allies
- Villains and Combat Manual
- TV Broadcasts
- Radio Communications. LIVE AND LET DIE: Live and Let Die Conceptual Art
- TV Broadcasts and Radio Communications
- Mission Control: Exotic Locations
- Mission Control Search Function: 007
- Allies
- Villains and Combat Manual
- MI6 Credits. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY: Bond in Greece
- Bond in Cortina
- Neptune's Journey. FOR YOUR EYES ONLY: TV Broadcasts and Radio Communications
- Exotic Locations and Opening Titles
- Mission Control Search Function: 007
- Allies
- Villains and Combat Manual. DIE ANOTHER DAY: MI6 Data Stream: Factoid Trivia Track
- Declassified MI6 Vault: From Script to Screen
- Location Scouting with Peter Lamont
- MI6 Credits
- Mission Control: Exotic Locations and Opening Titles
- Mission Control Search Function: 007
- Allies
- Villains and Combat Manual
