Watch out if you order whole series | James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 4 (Dr. No / You Only Live Twice /...

Pretty darn awesome | James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 4 (Dr. No / You Only Live Twice / Octopussy / Tomorrow Never Dies / ... | Bernard Lee, Joseph Wiseman

DVDs:


	• James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 4 (Dr. No / You Only Live Twice / Octopussy / Tomorrow Never Dies / ... Bernard Lee, Joseph Wiseman MGM (Video & DVD), 2006 average customer review:based on 47 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Bond. James Bond

As I watch these movies, I'll give them a review so, first thing's first:

Dr. No- Probably one of the best Bond films, next to OHMSS, FYEO & LTK, that doesn't use an excess of gadgets. CR (2006) was good but used too much flash & bang. Same thing goes for QOS, way too much bang and not enough story. Anyway, Connery's debut as the suave secret agent is a better outing for him than some of his later ones. His portrayal is tough yet sophisticated whereas Craig is just tough with little to no sophistication. An excellent Bond villain in Dr. No, who is not afraid to get into a fight if his plans go bad. Honey Ryder is your typical Bond girl but at least they don't make her to be an "equal" of Bond or cast the then unknown Andress as something outrageous like a nuclear physicist. The story of toppling missiles is good and doesn't seem dated. I wish they had hired John Barry for the music because that is department where this movie is lacking. 4 stars.

You Only Live Twice- From an action point of view, this is one of the better Bonds. The Little Nellie fight sequence is one of the most thrilling aerial assaults in cinema history along with the ninja attack as the climax. The casting is also to be commended, as this is probably one of the few films that I own with a large Japanese cast. Tanaka is a likeable character, played amiably by Tetsuro Tamba (and also one of the few foreign allies in a Bond film who doesn't get killed off). I do wish though that Aki's part was bigger and didn't get killed off compared to Kissy's. Bond had more time to develop a relationship with her before she was poisoned whereas, at first, Kissy doesn't want to be involved with Bond, stating their feigned marriage is "just business" and then all of a sudden she's all over him. Karin Dor's Helga Brandt is very reminiscent, though probably more the writer's trying to clone Fiona Volpe from the previous film, but Dor does the best that she can with a role that is pretty much a copy. Donald Pleascence does a good job as Blofeld but doesn't, to me anyway, come off as a real intimidating threat like Telly Savalas does in the next one. Maybe they should've held off the big reveal of Bond's arch-enemy until OHMSS. Japan is a beautiful setting, getting to see some of the local culture like sumo wrestling and, I'm not entirely sure on this one, a Japanese wedding. Contrary to many others saying this is one of his best (OHMSS being the best), I don't like John Barry's score for this one, nor is the title song one of my particular favorites, though some of my favorite bits are during the outer space sequences and the big attack on Blofeld's volcano. 3 stars.

Moonraker- James Bond in space! Despite this, like TMWTGG, being "rather silly" and not a favorite among fans, this is one of my favorites. Its just pure fun escapism. And its a little more believeable than an invisible car. Lois Chiles is a step up from Barbara Bach in the acting department (and better than most of the women Brosnan would deal with), but when it comes to showing emotion or a sense of urgency in a situation, she falls flat (which what her acting is in some scenes). Her character does handle the action very well, and like Back, doesn't try to steal the limelight from Moore (unlike Halle Berry, who I just plain don't like). Michael Lonsdale is more interesting a villain than Stromberg, despite both characters having the same goal of creating a master race/new world. Lonsdale just seems like a more legitimate threat in how he handles things and how he plans on disposing Bond. Richard Kiel has more of a comedic role in this one but is nonetheless threatening (like when he's walking down the alley dressed as the clown in Rio). Unfortunately, this is Bernand Lee's final film as M (he would die just before filming began on FYEO) and we do not get a decent actor in the role until Dame Judi Dench. The action sequences continue to get better (such as the opening free fall sequence and the gondola chase). Stated earlier, this is pretty much a rehash of TSWLM but at least goes about it in a different way. At least Drax comes closer to his goal than Stromberg did. And thank goodness they went with an original story for this one instead of the plot of the book (it was an interesting story, it just plodded along too slowly). John Barry gives us more strings in his score and his 007 theme is played for (for now at least) the last time in a more slower arrangement. And Shirely Bassey returns for her third title song, which like the movie, is one of my favorite themes; a beautifully sung ballad and not some piece of trash (here's lookin' at you Madonna). 5 stars.

Octopussy- A risque title. But nonetheless, one of my favorites. People tend to not like the Moore films because they're not as "serious" as some of the Connery, Brosnan and especially Dalton and Craig but like I've said before, movies, especially action movies, a form of escapism and not to be taken (too) seriously). Again, using a short story title and utilizing the basic plot of them; the Faberge Egg (Property of a Lady) and the backstory of Maj. Dexter Smythe (Octopussy), the main plot is original and very good. Moore is showing a little age in this one but loses none of his charm and grace and can still handle the action and love scenes. Maud Adams returns to the series as the titular character, and she is one of the more interesting Bond girls as she is a good yet bad girl and you can tell her morals collide during the circus scene whether she chooses to believe Bond about the bomb or listen to Magda. Louis Jourdan is suave as Khan and oozes evil but a kind of aristotic evil previously seen in Scaramanga, Blofeld and Dr. No. Unfortunately, Kabir Bedi's Gobinda is just a poor knockoff of Oddjob, right down to squeezing the dice into dust. But he does talk more and involved more in Khan's plans than Oddjob was with Goldfinger. The action scenes feature more great ones from the series. The pre-title Acrostar jet sequence is suspenseful and you can hardly tell that Moore is in front of a projection screen (which I must also commend on NSNA's scenes featuring the missiles and Connery and Casey in the jet-propulsion vehicles and the flying scenes in Superman III). John Barry returns to the franchise, giving a lush, exotic score. And despite what people say, I enjoy Rita Coolidge's title song (because lets face it, you could never get Octopussy into a lyric.) 5 stars.

Tomorrow Never Dies- 1997 was obviously the year for sinking ships. This is definitely more action packed than GoldenEye but the story in this is actually intriguing. A media mogul plans to manipulate two governments into a war just for ratings? Hm, sounds like a plan concocted by the diabolical CNN or Fox News, doesn't it? Not really, I'm giving those networks far too much credit. Brosnan is back as Bond and we get a little emotional glimpse into his past with his relationship with Paris Carver (played by Teri Hatcher of Lois & Clark fame at the time and was still looking very attractive). You can tell how pained Bond is when he finds her dead in his hotel room. Jonathan Pryce is one of my favorite Bond villains as you can clearly tell that he doesn't care who he ruins just as long as he gets the story first. My favorite scene with Carver is when he's showing off his headlines to Bond and says about his favorite; "I rather like the last one. It isn't even mine." Michelle Yeoh is a good Bond girl and, like the female agents of TSWLM, MR and LTK, Wai Lin doesn't completely overshadow Bond but still makes an impact as a character. Most of Carver's subordinates are bland, like Stamper (who's pretty much an acting block of wood) and Gupta (very, very bland and woodlike) but Vincent Schiavelli's Dr. Kaufman is a brilliant, evil but very humorous character. David Arnold becomes the regular Bond composer with this film and he does an admirable job but I have two complaints; one, he uses the Bond theme a little too much when compared to previous films and two, he doesn't know when to stop playing the music. I think I can count the scenes on one hand when there isn't any music. Sheryl Crowe's title song is one of my least favorite while k.d. Lang's version is far superior though regulated to the end credits and surprisingly used as orchestration when compared to the title song. 4 stars.

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Watch out if you order whole series

I ordered all 4 of these box sets recently from Amazon during one of their sales. There's nothing wrong with these discs if you get a good copy. But two of my sets were tainted with a defective disc - movie disc (haven't watched any of the bonus discs). I guess I should have done "20 Days of 007" like TBS used to do years back when there was only 14 or so movies. Bottom line is that if you order these, watch them quickly to be sure you don't have any defective discs and miss Amazon's short no-charge return window. I'm giving Amazon 3 stars, not the movies. I'd give the movies 5 stars.

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Pretty darn awesome

The special features are great. The movies even better. You can't go wrong with Bond.

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The Silver Collection

James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 4 (Dr. No / You Only Live Twice / Octopussy / Tomorrow Never Dies / Moonraker) are the movies in this collection. As a whole, the collection is wonderful mostly because of the bonus features. You get behind the scenes, interviews, tributes to various Bond family, documentaries, audio commentary from directors, cast and sometimes Bond (Roger Moore), music videos and much more!!

This collection doesn't excite me....its just there or okay. Dr. No is the very first Bond film and will end up being better than some of the latter Bond films. You Only Live Twice was exotic but pale in comparison to Sean's other Bond films. Octopussy is pretty good with Roger Moore as the lead. Tomorrow Never Dies is okay, but not memorable. Moonraker is the stupidest Bond of all time.

Get this volume if you want the first Bond film, or see Bond turn Japanese, or watch Bond fight and have sex in outerspace. If you're like me, get this volume only to add to your Bond collection!

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Fantastic!

Another awesome collection of classic Bond movies with all the special features you could possibly want!

*Dr. No Disc #1 -Movie with DTS 5.1 Surround and original mono/stereo -Language selections -Audio Commentary Featuring Director Terence Young and Members of the Cast and Crew

Disc #2 -TOP LEVEL ACCESS 007: License to Restore - Featurette Detailing the BOND Ultimate Edition Film Restoration Process -DECLASSIFIED: MI6 VAULT The Guns of James Bond -Premiere Bond -007 MISSION CONTROL Interactive Guide Into the World of Dr. No -THE COMPLETE SPECIAL FEATURES LIBRARY: MISSION DOSSIER -Inside Dr. No -Terence Young: Bond Vivant -Dr. No 1963 Featurette -MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA Original Trailers, TV Spots, Photo Gallery & Radio Communications

*You Only Live Twice Disc #1 -Movie with DTS 5.1 Surround and original mono/stereo -Language selections -Audio Commentary Featuring Director Lewis Gilbert and Members of the Cast and Crew

Disc #2 -DECLASSIFIED: MI6 VAULT Welcome to Japan, Mr. Bond Whicker's World - Highlights From 1967 BBC Documentary On Location With Ken Adam -007 MISSION CONTROL Interactive Guide Into the World of You Only Live Twice -THE COMPLETE SPECIAL FEATURES LIBRARY: MISSION DOSSIER -Inside You Only Live Twice -Silhouettes: The James Bond Titles -Plane Crash: Animated Storyboard Sequence -MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA Original Trailers, Photo Gallery, TV Spot & Radio Communications

*Moonraker Disc #1 *Movie with DTS 5.1 Surround and original mono/stereo *Language selections *Newly Recorded Audio Commentary Featuring Sir Roger Moore *Audio Commentary Featuring Director Lewis Gilbert and Members of the Cast and Crew

Disc #2 *DECLASSIFIED: MI6 VAULT 007 in Rio - Original 1979 Production *Featurette *Ken Adam's Production Films *Bond '79 Learning to Freefall *Skydiving Test Footage *Skydiving Storyboards *Circus Footage *Cable Car Alternative Storyboards *007 MISSION CONTROL Interactive Guide Into the World of Moonraker -THE COMPLETE SPECIAL FEATURES LIBRARY: MISSION DOSSIER -Inside Moonraker -The Men Behind the Mayhem - Special Effects Documentary -MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA Original Trailer & Photo Gallery

*Octopussy Disc #1 -Newly Recorded Audio Commentary Featuring Sir Roger Moore -Movie with DTS 5.1 Surround and original mono/stereo -Language selections -Newly Recorded Audio Commentary Featuring Sir Roger Moore -Audio Commentary Featuring Director John Glen

Disc #2: -DECLASSIFIED: MI6 VAULT Shooting Stunts: Crashing Jeeps & The Airplane Crash -Ken Burns On-Set Movie -On Location with Peter Lamont -Testing the Limits - The Aerial Team -James Brolin Original Screentests -James Bond in India - Original 1983 Featurette -007 MISSION CONTROL Interactive Guide Into the World of Octopussy -THE COMPLETE SPECIAL FEATURES LIBRARY: MISSION DOSSIER -Inside Octopussy -Designing Bond - Peter Lamont -Rita Coolidge 'All Time High' Music Video -Storyboard Sequences -MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA Original Trailers & Photo Gallery

*Tomorrow Never Dies Disc #1: -Movie with DTS 5.1 Surround and original mono/stereo -Language selections -Audio Commentary Featuring Vic Armstrong and Michael G. Wilson -Audio Commentary Featuring Roger Spottiswoode and Dan Petrie Jr.

Disc #2" -DECLASSIFIED: MI6 VAULT Deleted and Extended Scenes Introduced by Director Roger Spottiswoode -Expanded Angles Introduced by Director Roger Spottiswoode -Highly Classified: The World of 007 -"The James Bond Theme" (Moby's Remix) -007 MISSION CONTROL Interactive Guide Into the World of Tomorrow Never Dies -THE COMPLETE SPECIAL FEATURES LIBRARY: MISSION DOSSIER -The Secrets of 007 -Storyboard Presentation -Gadgets -Sheryl Crow 'Tomorrow Never Dies' Music Video -MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA Original Trailers & Photo Gallery

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