James Bond Blu-Ray, Volume Three – Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray Reviews, Reviews

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Bond was made for Blu-ray. This is a film series that demands high definition images to take the suave, sexy action to the next level. The explosions need to fill your eyes and rattle your gut. The missions of 007 are meant for small sets and low definition. This is a first class intelligence operation that needs all the space offered on a Blu-ray disc. James Bond Blu-Ray, Volume Three contains Goldfinger, Moonraker and The World Is Not Enough giving us three faces of the super spy.

Goldfinger (1964 – 110 minutes) is gold. This third entry of the Bond series quickly became a box office sensation. From Russia With Love kept the spy action on a small scale. The mission was simple with Bond merely smuggling a Soviet woman and a typewriter over the border. He didnt know the fate of the world was in his hands. Goldfinger lets us know that the stakes are high from the start. Bond gets knocked out and wakes up to find his recent sexual conquest coated in gold paint. Shes dead and he knows who did it: Auric Goldfinger (Gerte Frobe). The fate of the worlds gold supply is in jeopardy by this man. He has massive protection from Oddjob (Harold Sakata). The quiet giant flings a hat with a metal brim that can slice off the heads of statues. Goldfinger also has the wicked Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) as part of his plot. She knows how to break a man and fly a stunt plane. The film does an amazing job of colorful characters and outrageous gadgets without falling into the realm of camp. Sean Connery owns the moment since you can believe he can deactivate an atomic bomb and convert a lesbian.

Moonraker (1979 – 126 minutes) misses the target. This fourth film from Roger Moore goes completely camp. While Jaws (Richard Kiel) was effective in The Spy Who Loved Me as the metal mouthed henchman, his return is completely a let down. Hes no longer that imposing since Bond has already taken him down. Hes like the Washington Generals. We know the Harlem Globetrotters are going to fake them out. Thus theres no fear that Jaws is going to finally get Bond. The film was meant to cash in on the Star Wars craze. The ending sends Bond into space via the Space Shuttle. Theres a major fight in zero gravity. Moonraker is pure popcorn fluff with the tension being undercut by Moores quips. There are Roger Moore fans who will disagree since Moonraker was a major box office hit.

The World Is Not Enough (1999 – 128 minutes) is Pierce Brosnans third effort in the tuxedo. The film is a rebound from the lame script that hampered Tomorrow Never Dies. The action scenes are more intense than Goldeneye. The films best action sequence is a thrilling speed boat chase down the Thames River. Thats something you dont see every day. Bonds assignment is to protect an oil tycoons daughter (Sophie Marceau). Turns out the guy died inside MI:6s headquarters so M (Judi Dench) is rather guilty about the whole thing. Renard (Robert Carlyle) is a madman with a bullet in his head. Hes plotting to blow up a pipeline. Its up to Bond to keep the oil flowing to the West. The only lame part of the movie is having Christmas Jones played by Denise Richards. How are we supposed to believe the star of Denise Richards: Its Complicated is a nuclear scientist? This woman can barely boil water. At least we have the out of control Carlyle beating up Bond. Hes beyond savage when he bares his teeth before a fight.

James Bond Blu-Ray, Volume Three gives us the highs and the almost low of the series in this trio. Goldfinger makes this an essential purchase for fans who crave uncut and high definition transfers of Bonds exploits. Moonraker is dumb, but I know certain folks who a devoted to the intergalactic weirdness. The World Is Not Enough is a major rebound for Brosnans Bond after the stagnant Tomorrow Never Dies. The weight of Goldfinger boosts this into a fine collection.

The video for Moonraker and The World Is Not Enough is 2.40:1 anamorphic. The video for Goldfinger is 1.78:1 anamorphic. Goldfinger looks the best of the trio since the restoration makes the Technicolor shimmer. The 1080p images average about 32 Mbps. The audio is English 5.1 DTS Master audio. Youre going to want to crank this up to give your ears the full work out. The new mixes work well to heighten the visual action. Goldfinger has the original Mono mix. Moonraker gets a English Dolby Surround track. Theres also French and Spanish dubs in 5.1 Dolby Digital. The subtitles are in English, Mandarin, Korean, Cantonese and Spanish.

Goldfinger
Commentary Tracks have the original version along with a new talk. The first has director Guy Hamilton, actors Sean Connery, Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell, Michael Mellinger and Honor Blackman. The second has Bond historian John Cork, stuntman George Leech, optical effects supervisor Cliff Culley, stuntman, Alf Joint, draughtsman Peter Lamont, composer John Barry and crew members Joe Fitt and Burt Luxford. The various players all give details about bringing the action to the screen.
Sean Connery On The Set of Goldfinger (3:12) has a TV interview with Connery at the basement cell scene.
Screen Tests (5:50) for Theodore Bikel and Tito Vandis in the role of Goldfinger. Neither were right.
On Tour with the Aston Martin DB5 (11:43) is vintage footage of how they sent the car on the road to promote the movie. They really did have a few special effects built into the car. The car phone is really futuristic.
Honor Blackman Open-Ended Interview (3:58) allows local TV stations to fake their reporters into a chat with Pussy Galore.
007 Mission Control is a series of quick clips that are filed under “007,” “Women,” “Allies,” “Villains,” “Mission Combat Manual,” “Q Branch” and “Exotic Locations.”

The Making of Goldfinger (26:02) gives the skinny on how the third movie in the Bond series came together. Plenty of great stories about how you work with a villain that cant speak English.
The Goldfinger Phenomenon (29:14) gives a history of how Bond exploded after the release. Patrick MacNee (The Avengers) narrates.
Vintage Publicity Featurette (2:15) shows what the actor playing Oddjob could do with his hands and feet. Connery could have been injured.
Theatrical Trailer (3:08) tells us to stop and look because Bond is coming back.
TV Spots (1:46) gets the folks watching spy action at home to head down to the theater. They even offer us a double feature with Dr. No.
Radio Communication (31:08) includes the original “open end” interview with Connery and 33 commercial spots.
Photo Gallery gives us more views of how you paint a woman gold.

Moonraker
Audio Commentary Tracks give us two chances to hear about Bond in space. The first version has director Lewis Gilbert, producers Michael G. Wilson and William P. Cartlidge and screenwriter Christopher Wood. The second is Roger Moore going solo. He tells plenty of stories as if hes at your dinner table with a cigar and cognac in his hands.
Inside Moonraker (42:02) is deep probing of a light film. They explain why this film wasnt made in England.
The Men Behind The Mayhem (19:00) details the special effects crew. These guys have a lot of fun blowing up stuff.
007 In Rio (12:45) is a vintage promo short about the EON crew arriving in Brazil. Theres plenty of partying in the land of Pele.
Bond 79 (12:18) collects interviews done for the press while the cast was in Brazil.
Ken Adam’s Production Films (12:03) allows us to check out the legendary production designers home movies from the locations. Ken is a great host as he narrates the waterfall footage.
Learning to Freefall (3:56) is the sky diving test footage. This is what they shot to see if the stunt would work.
Sky Diving Storyboards (1:21) lets us see what the artists drew up to explain the free falling fight.
Circus Footage (1:19) they showed us what was going on inside the circus tent before Jaws hit it.
Cable Car Alternative Storyboards (3:33) is two different ways they drew up that scene.
007 Mission Control is a series of quick clips that are filed under “007,” “Women,” “Allies,” “Villains,” “Mission Combat Manual,” “Q Branch” and “Exotic Locations.”
Theatrical Trailer (3:41) promises to take us from Brazil to the moon.
Photo Gallery contains tons of images from the production.

The World Is Not Enough

Commentary Tracks feature a solo chat by Director Michael Apted and the second with production designer Peter Lamont, second unit director Vic Armstrong and composer David Arnold.
Deleted & Extended Scenes (12:49) have seven snipped moments with introductions by Apted. He explains how why things had to hit the cutting room floor in order to make the film work. The only shot that would have help was Bonds car arriving at the castle.
Boat Chase is Apted pulling out all the footage of the boat chase down the Thames. Its like being in the editing room. He splits screens so you can see what happens when all the cameras rolled. You can use your angle button to flip between cameras.
James Bond Down River (25:04) is the original promotional documentary about how the film was the first to have a boat chase down the Thames. You get a great appreciation for this opening sequence.
Creating An Icon: Making The Teaser Trailer (4:26) has people talking about what it takes to promote Bond. Pierce attempts to crack up the crew with non-Bond reactions.
Hong Kong Press Conference (9:46) gives highlights of Pierces answers to the journalists of Asia.
007 Mission Control is a series of quick clips that are filed under “007,” “Women,” “Allies,” “Villains,” “Mission Combat Manual,” “Q Branch” and “Exotic Locations.”
The Making of The World Is Not Enough (15:06) is an original special hosted by Leanza Cornett. This isnt quite as deep as documentaries on early Bond films.
The Bond Cocktail (22:52) dares to ask why the Bond films work? It comes down to gadgets, sex, action and exotic locales.
Tribute to Desmond Llewelyn (3:22) lets us remember the actor who played Q with clips from his 17 Bond films. He passed away in 1999.
The World Is Not Enough Video (4:01) has Garbage from their glory years. Singer Shirley Manson is now on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.
The Secrets of 007: Alternative Video Options (22:31) breaks apart the action sequence through the story boards and behind the scenes footage.
Theatrical trailer (2:13) reminds us that as the clock ticks down to the new century, we still have James Bond to protect us.
Photo Gallery is loaded with images from the production.


James Bond Blu-Ray, Volume Three keeps the 007 goodness coming. Its a rush to see Goldfinger in hi-def. Its all the glory of a Technicolor print without the wear and tear from decades of projectors. The bonus features will allow any fan of the series to become an expert. A worthy upgrade even if youre already triple dipped already.

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MGM & 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment present James Bond Blu-Ray, Volume Three. Featuring: Goldfinger, Moonraker and The World Is Not Enough. Starring: Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan. Boxset Contents: 3 Movies on 3 Blu-ray discs. Rating: PG. Released on DVD: March 24, 2009. Available at Amazon.com

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.