This is not the first time that Fox/MGM has combined disparate James Bond titles into multi-disc sets. Rather than go by a strict chronology or group by lead actor, the studio leaves us to ponder why these particular films are sharing a cardboard box. Let's see… Dr. No was the very first James Bond feature film, and Die Another Day was the 20th and final one before the seminal reboot of the franchise with Casino Royale. In between is Roger Moore's first Bond, Live and Let Die, eighth in the overall series. Hmm, reminds me of what Abbott & Costello called "a kangaroo straight."
The Films
These are the ongoing adventures of the British super spy, James Bond. Even from his rough-around-the edges beginnings in the dark Dr. No, audiences found a lot to like about the action-hungry character, and they kept coming back for more, for 46 years and counting now. Sean Connery would leave the role, which was eventually assumed by Roger Moore in Live and Let Die, who took the series in a more lighthearted direction. Pierce Brosnan brought an engaging balance of grit and smirk to Bond, but by his last outing, Die Another Day, almost every hint of substance had been replaced by style.
The Picture
The three films are preserved in their original aspect ratios, all different. The 1.66:1 Dr. No is simply a marvel, sharp and virtually grain-free despite its advanced age. Live and Let Die also rises above my memories of it on the big 1.85:1 screen circa 1973, and many TV airings afterward, with remarkable detail. These two were among those given extensive beyond-HD 4K transfers by Lowry Digital Images, and the benefits of their frame-by-frame restoration are undeniable. Also restored by LDI (although not at 4K resolution) was the recent, 2.35:1 Die Another Day. Despite its newness and higher budget, its mild artifacting and a dearth of the nuance flaunted by its older siblings makes this the least eye-popping of the bunch, but still a keeper.
Each movie packs a magnificently remixed, remastered DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. The mind reels at the amount of remixing required to make a believable digital surround version of a 1962 mono movie, but the results are well-suited to a good home theater. Live and Let Die is a celebration of George Martin's Paul McCartney-infused musical score, along with all of the usual action beats, while 2002's Die Another Day plays every bit as big and loud as we would expect from a modern multiplex rocker.
The Extras
All of the titles feature at least one MI6 Commentary, from the director, while some bring along cast and crew. Die Another Day boasts a pair of audio commentaries plus a text track, while Live and Let Die is most impressive, with separate audio commentaries by Roger Moore, director Guy Hamilton and screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz. The Declassified: MI6 Vault swings wide to reveal some extremely rare clips and featurettes, including "Bond 1973: The Lost Documentary" and "Roger Moore as James Bond, Circa 1964" on Live and Let Die and "Premiere Bond: Opening Nights" on Dr. No. Also on Dr. No is the informative, must-watch "007: License to Restore - Lowry Digital Images Rejuvenates James Bond." Mission Dossier featurettes share even more behind-the-scenes stories, while the 007 Mission Control feature takes us to any one of a number of listed topics within each film: 007, Women, Allies, Villains, Mission Combat Manual, Q Branch, and Exotic Locations. Almost everything is presented in standard definition, ported from the special edition DVDs.
Final Thoughts
This trio offers a fascinating sampling of three distinct stages of Bond, and perhaps their differences are what unites them: Would 007 from the early '60s or '70s even recognize himself in the new millennium? Probably not, and that notion makes this eclectic collection even more appealing.
Where to Buy:
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