James Bond on Blu-ray – Volume Two review

Six of the highest regarded James Bond movies debuted recently on Blu-ray Disc from MGM and Fox. Like most Bond fans, I am upset that Goldfinger wasn’t released in this first batch of films in HD. But it’s still fun to watch all of these classic action hits in the format.

All six of the movies have been restored and re-mastered for the highest picture and sound quality via the state-of-the-art Lowry process and digital frame-by-frame restoration, plus special features galore, including many original featurettes re-mastered in HD. Each is packaged with a movie ticket for the all-new Bond adventure Quantum of Solace. Additionally the films are available in two 3-pack Blu-ray Disc collections (the second set cover pictured) with two movie tickets inside.

The following are my reviews of the three films in the Volume Two collection; For Your Eyes Only, From Russia With Love and Thunderball.

For Your Eyes Only

Definitely one of Roger Moore’s best outings as Bond begins after a ship sinks off the coast of Albania, and the world’s superpowers begin a feverish search for its valuable lost cargo, a powerful nuclear submarine control system. James Bond joins the search, and suspects the suave Kristatos (played by Julian Glover) of seizing the device. The competition between nations grows more deadly by the moment as Bond finds an ally in the beautiful Melina Havelock (Caroline Bouquet), who blames Kristatos for the death of her parents.

Action thrills include automobile chases and an incredibly thrilling underwater battle. All of this is a prelude to Bond’s cliffhanging assault of a magnificent mountaintop fortress, alongside Israeli actor Topol as Milos Columbo.

Certainly the best of the features on the dics, is the audio commentary featuring director John Glen. I also enjoyed the animated storyboard sequences, which give filmmakers and fans an inside look at how thrilling action is accomplished on-screen.

• Audio Commentary Featuring Sir Roger Moore
• The Complete Special Features Library: Mission Dossier
  – Audio Commentary Featuring John Glen and Actors
• Audio Commentary Featuring Michael G. Wilson and Crew
• Declassified: MI6 Vault
  – Deleted Scenes and Expanded Angles
  – Bond in Greece, Bond in Cortina
  – Neptune’s Journey
• Expanded Search Content
  – 007 Mission Control – Interactive Guide Into the World of For Your Eyes Only (Refinished in HD)
  – Exotic Locations Featurette
• Mission Dossier
  – Inside For Your Eyes Only (Refinished in HD)
  – Animated Storyboard Sequences
• Sheena Easton’s For Your Eyes Only Music Video
• Ministry of Propaganda
  – Original Trailers, TV Spots, Photo Gallery and Radio Communications

From Russia With Love

James Bond’s second outing on-screen is considered by many critics to be his best. Russia is the movie that established the many standards of the entire series. It was the first to feature a pre-credit action sequence, which involved the startling murder of a James Bond look-alike, and it was the first time Bond employed his many gadgets thanks to Q (series regular Desmond Llewellyn). It also featured villainess Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya) who assassinated people with a poison tipped spike concealed in her shoe. From Russia With Love greatly broadened the scope of the James Bond series and features one of the greatest Bond villains in the series’ history in SPECTRE agent Red Grant (Robert Shaw).

• The Complete Special Features Library: Mission Dossier
  – Audio Commentary Featuring Director Terence Young and Members of the Cast and Crew
• Declassified: MI6 Vault
  – Ian Fleming: The CBC Interview
  – Ian Fleming and Raymond Chandler
  – Ian Fleming on Desert Island Discs
  – Animated Storyboard Sequence
• Expanded Search Content
  – 007 Mission Control – Interactive Guide Into the World of From Russia With Love (Refinished in HD)
  – Exotic Locations Featurette
• Mission Dossier
  – Inside From Russia With Love (Refinished in HD)
  – Harry Saltzman: Showman (Refinished in HD)
• Ministry of Propaganda
  – Original Trailers, TV Spots, Photo Gallery and Radio Communications

Thunderball

Thunderball was the first Bond film to be shot in CinemaScope format, in order to capture the exotic locales Bond ventured to as well as the amazing sets.  Adolfo Celi plays cutthroat SPECTRE agent Largo, number two man to Blofeld, who would be played by Donald Pleasance in the next Bond feature.

• The Complete Special Features Library: Mission Dossier
  – Audio Commentary Featuring Terence Young and Others
• Audio Commentary Featuring Peter Hunt, John Hopkins and Others
• Declassified: MI6 Vault
  – The Incredible World of James Bond – Original 1965 NBC Television Special
  – A Child’s Guide to Blowing Up a Motor Car – 1965 Ford Promotional Film On Location With Ken Adam
  – Bill Suitor: The Rocket Man Movies
  – Thunderball Boat Show Reel
  – Selling Bonds – Original 1965 Television Advertisements
• Expanded Search Content
  – 007 Mission Control – Interactive Guide Into the World of Thunderball (Refinished in HD)
  – Exotic Locations Featurette
• Mission Dossier
• The Making of Thunderball (Refinished in HD)
• The Thunderball Phenomenon (Refinished in HD)
• The Secret History of Thunderball (Refinished in HD)
• Ministry of Propaganda
  – Original Trailers, TV Spots, Photo Gallery and Radio Communications

Overall, these films are a must for diehard James Bond fans. The picture quality and refinishing of the featurettes will give you ample reason to watch and enjoy these fun and thrilling discs for hours.