James Bond Ultimate Edition Vol. 3 DVD Review

Although all of the James Bond films to date are included in one of the four volumes of Ultimate Edition Bond, they made the interesting choice not to include the films in chronological order. This way in order to get all of the best films you must buy all of the four sets. Fans of Sean Connery will find themselves facing the dilemma of buying a package that could include a Timothy Dalton Bond or Denise Richards as a scientist. This method might be irritating if the packages weren’t so fantastic otherwise. Although each package is bound to have at least one sub-par Bond film, any collector will want all four volumes anyways. And who knows how they will be future packages will be released to include the films to come. Each of the films come in two-disc Ultimate Edition, which also includes booklets for each of the films with additional artwork and some great bits of information about each of the films individually. The films are set in slim disc and into a sleek cardboard case. From Russia With Love (1963) The second Bond film is certainly one of the better films for fans who prefer the suspense and action over gadgets, although there are poison-tipped shoes. Sean Connery is back as the martini drinking spy. This adventure takes Bond to Istanbul looking for a secret coding machine in order to stop an evil organization. The film includes helicopter attacks, boat chases and plenty other thrills, including a great opening sequence, but the pace is a bit slower than modern Bond fans might be used to. The DVD has a commentary track with director Terence Young and various cast and crew. The second disc has a number of new features including many focusing on Ian Fleming, the creator of this loved spy. There is also an animated storyboard sequence and many bonus features from the special edition Bond discs released in 2002-3.

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) Watching this film after the series had become so stubbornly defined makes it seem even more remarkable. The script takes Bond to places that he hasn’t gone to again. Although we are used to Bond as a womanizer, he usually never appears to be in love. On Her Majesty’s Secret service gives him a heartbreaking romance and much more complex drama as well. It is an intricately well written script that may have been the only thing to save the series from the widely unpopular new Bond, played by Australian Lazenby. It isn’t so much that he is a horrible Bond as much the fact that he was replacing Connery. Our favorite spy goes undercover in the Swiss Alps in this Bond film, which brings back the SPECTRE organization as villains and has some skiing action sequences. The DVD has an audio commentary by Director Peter Hunt and select cast members, some featurettes from 1969 and a few new featurettes, including one in which Lazenby is able to defend himself .

Live and Let Die (1973) This was Roger Moore’s first appearance as Bond, which proved to fans that Bond could still survive after Connery. There are plenty of gadgets and an incredible crocodile sequence when Bond travels from New York to the Louisiana bayou trying to stop the powerful drug lord with yet another plan to rule the world. There are some uncomfortable racial undertones as this film was made just after Shaft, and cinema seemed to be having some awkward growing pains when dealing with the issue of race. Otherwise it is one of the better Bond films, especially of the Moore films. The DVD has an audio commentary by Moore as well, which is one of the better in the package. There is also a less impressive audio commentary by Guy Hamilton and Tom Maniewicz, each recorded for the special edition DVDs. A number of other featurettes are included, with a lot of focus on Moore as he slipped into a tuxedo and the role of Bond for two decades of film.

For Your Eyes Only (1981) Several times in the series there has been a decision to pull back from the gadgets and ridiculous stunts which the Bond films naturally gravitate towards. The latest Bond film, Casino Royale, made this choice, but before that For Your Eyes Only decided that the gadgets had gotten out of hand and brought the series back to the roots. There are several well executes sequences, but the pacing may be a bit slower than fans would have liked, and there is a seriousness which weighs the film down quite a bit as well. John Glen directs for the first time, but he had worked second unit on many Bond films before this. The DVD has three audio commentaries, including a newly recorded commentary by Sir Roger Moore. The other two have Glen and actors and Michael G. Wilson with select crew members. There are also new deleted scenes and a number of featurettes. The music video by Sheena Easton is a humorous addition as well.

Goldeneye (1995) Timothy Dalton was thought to have killed the film series, but eight years later Pierce Brosnan stepped into the shoes with this successful return. Along with an incredible opening and plenty of action, this looked like a promising continuation of the series. Of course, they slowly began to get reduced down to the point where only gadgets are relevant, but this film is still on track with the true Bond, although hints of the future films can be seen in the long and noisy action sequences. There are a number of new featurettes created for the Ultimate Edition of this film, including one for stunts, pre-production, locations, and the director Martin Campbell, who also has an audio commentary with Michael G. Wilson. There are also many of the past special features including the television special on James Bond which was hosted by Elizabeth Hurley.