Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This review is designed to assist individuals who are on the fence about upgrading from the previously released Special Edition (SE) DVDs to the Ultimate Edition (UE) DVDs. I do not profess to be an audiophile or videophile, so I won't be bandying about terminology like compression and low-end frequency loss (I'm trying to help you, not impress you). On the other hand, I do comprehend technical terms and realize the importance of presentation and quality; however, this information is for the benefit of the average consumer. Like so many others, the first thought that came to mind following the announcement of the UE DVD project was 'corporate greed.' My perspective has since changed considerably. In the wake of Sony's acquisition of MGM/UA, there is no doubt that the new parent company is looking to exploit the series for maximum profit. But at least Sony has the resources to do it right. My waning interest in the Bond series was reinvigorated with the release of "Casino Royale" in 2006, an exceptional reboot which compensates for the disappointing Brosnan era. Given that event, I wanted to revisit the older films, only to discover that the SE DVDs looked less than impressive on a contemporary LCD television. At that point, I wondered if the UE DVDs might live up to the marketing hype. I always read product reviews on this website to help guide my purchases. I'm equally amused and annoyed by hardcore technophiles who point out 'mistakes' in the UE DVDs - 'Felix Leiter's pants are the wrong color,' 'reverb on the gunshot ricochet is too heavy,' etc. I'm quite certain that none of these amateur critics have ever been employed by EON Productions, United Artists, or MGM, and have never seen an original master film print. Thus they are not credible reference sources for interpreting the artistic vision of the filmmakers. While no one is perfect, I am convinced that the professionals at Lowry/DTS Digital Images went above and beyond to ensure that the finished products accurately reflect how the films should properly appear and sound. Another factor to bear in mind is that everyone's home theater setup is different, thus audio and video reproduction may vary considerably. Very few of those 'expert' reviewers describe their home theater configurations; however I expect that they all have high-end equipment with optimized settings. I also assume that none of them suffer from color blindness, hearing loss, or any other condition that might invalidate their comments. The average Joe can't distinguish between cerulean and cobalt, and doesn't have a basement that resembles the local Cineplex. For the record, I am viewing the films using a Samsung DVD R-120 directly connected to a Samsung LNR328W 32 inch LCD HDTV using Monster component cables, with sound directly output to Bose Cinemate speakers (2.1 channel stereo). IMAGE: The clarity, color tones, and level of detail are truly amazing, with the restoration giving an almost three dimensional effect to the picture. There is no absolutely no visible film damage or anomalies such as dust, scratches, hairs, etc. like that which plagued all previous releases. It's like watching a new print, only better. SOUND: While I don't have 5.1 channel surround sound, the Dolby Digital stereo output is just as revelatory as the restored image. Although I can't comment on surround sound effects and DTS output quality, I can say that the soundtrack (music, dialogue, and effects) is properly balanced for the first time on any video release. I find myself fully hearing and completely understanding many lines of dialogue for the first time. The stereo remixing on the earlier films is subtle but contributes exceptionally to the viewing experience. However, if you prefer the original mono soundtrack, that is an option in the setup menu. SPECIAL FEATURES: Almost all of the special features available on the SE DVDs have been transferred over to the UE DVDs ("Die Another Day" being the exception), and are joined by new content. Some of the new material is fascinating (period interviews and footage), while other segments are less than enthralling (storyboard sequences). I've not listened to any of Roger Moore's running commentaries, but I rarely watch any DVD in that manner. In short, the original behind-the-scenes documentaries carried over from the SE DVDs still make for the most enlightening viewing. PACKAGING: It doesn't take a high-paid marketing executive to figure out that if the films were released in four chronologically ordered box sets, the first two boxes would substantially outsell the latter two: this explains why the series was jumbled around. Considering that serious fans will want the entire series anyway, this frequently documented complaint seems petty. Regarding the storage devices (boxes and cases), I often read gripes that the individual movies can't be sequenced into the proper order because the boxes have the film titles printed on the spines. Again, this is a trivial grievance. Reviewers are split over the slimline double-disc cases, some preferring the space-saving measure, while others finding them cheap-looking and not as presentable (I agree with both sides). Because the cases can't hold the accompanying booklets, that paperwork is deposited into one side of the box. I've always found those booklets to be superfluous anyway, and they're not included with the single disc releases. TECHNICAL ISSUES: Some reviewers have reported experiencing freezing and pixeling during playback of some discs, beyond the usual shift between disc layers. May I suggest that it is not a defective DVD, but rather performance issues with one's player. I had similar problems with "O.H.M.S.S." and other non-UE discs played on my Samsung, however the discs played fine on another unit or my PC. Since the start of the home video market, the Bond films have been released in nearly every format: VHS (through CBS/FOX and then MGM/UA), Laserdisc, RCA SelectaVision (remember that one?), Pioneer VCD, and DVD (initial releases were THX in cardboard snap cases). To play devil's advocate for a moment, the specifications of Lowry's restoration and digital transfer process will allow for full 1080p high definition versions of each film. So expect yet another massive reissue campaign within the next three years or so to capitalize on the next generation optical disc format. Currently, there exists a competition between Sony's Blu-ray disc and Toshiba's HD DVD - a market struggle somewhat comparable to the VHS vs. Betamax battle of the early 1980s. To be honest, I don't know how much better the picture can get - with a decent LCD screen and an up-converting DVD player, the average viewer will be more than satisfied with the UE DVDs. By the end of 2007, each film will be available for individual purchase as a single disc releases with no additional features (except cast and crew commentaries as a secondary audio track). However, the box set bundle is a better deal, from both financial and entertainment perspectives. But if you still need additional convincing (as I did), buy the single disc "Goldfinger" for ten bucks - I was sold on the box sets even before the opening titles started. UPDATE (March 16, 2007): Just purchased a Sony DVPNS75H upscaling DVD player. There are no playback issues like those experienced with the Samsung DVD R-120. In fact, the picture is slightly better. Haven't tried the HDMI link, but the progressive scan output through component cables is beautiful. A word to the wise - any 'defective' discs you have may be just fine, however it could be time to upgrade your player. One more note - the player has this neat screen saver feature which displays a still frame from the menu along with the title of the film when you stop playback (many recent DVDs are encoded with this function). UPDATE (April 10, 2007): Having watched half the series in chronological order, I finally found a quality issue worth reporting - excessive edge enhancement (artificial image sharpening) during the first half of "The Spy Who Loved Me." The effect is characterized by the presence of black or white outlines around objects (like a halo), predominantly in medium and long shots. The effect is less obvious during the second half of the film. Thinking that I might have been tired while viewing, I perused endless posts on discussion boards dedicated to the UE DVDs to confirm. It's distracting and disappointing, but the UE is still preferable to the SE. Also worth noting is that the frame is cropped on the transfers of "A View To A Kill" and "Goldeneye." No integral image data is lost and the average viewer probably won't notice. Having read all those online threads, I'm amazed over how purists emphatically debate details, but even after digesting such intense scrutinies, I abide by my own evaluation of the UE DVDs - you WILL be impressed.