Fun films all, and a pleasure to see in 4k with HDR / Dolby Vision, and tracks augmented with Dolby Atmos.
All are in color, although Dr. No was originally planned as a black & white production, as it was a quite low-budget affair (reportedly under one million dollars). Shot in 73 days. Make note of the entire lighting ensemble reflected in the windows of a passing vehicle in the opening sequence.
Here’s what you get in the first set. One must presume that there will be more.
The first three films look the best that I’ve seen them. More detail than original dye transfer prints.
But still with no imagery above 2k.
Everything is captured, but don’t think we’re losing 4k here, as there just isn’t any to replicate.
The latter three, all filmed in Panavision, look a bit better. You Only Live Twice a bit better than Thunderball, but again, don’t expect the look of a modern film, as once again, there is no 4k here.
Lovely imagery, especially You Only, and all six looking superb with proper grain, great color and superb blacks.
Where does the series go from here?
There have been 25 films over half a century, with the Bond character played by six actors. The final five films, all with Daniel Craig, are already available in 4k.
The four Brosnan films make a neat package. Ditto the seven Moores. If they stick with lead actors, that leaves two Daltons and a single Lazenby. And while the Brosnan titles may look superior in 4k, we may be getting the rest with and HDR and audio upgrade.
Remains to be seen.
For those who may consider a digital streaming purchase, I’m not seeing a downside here.
Image
The Spherical films
Forensic – 10
NSD – 10
The Anamorphic films
Forensic – 10
NSD – 10
Audio – 10 (Dolby Atmos and original tracks)
Pass / Fail – Pass
Plays nicely with projectors – Yes
Makes use of and works well in 4k – n/a
The Spherical films – 5
The Anamorphic films – 6.5
Upgrade from Blu-ray – YES!
Worth your attention – Indubitably
Slipcover rating – 2 / also available in Steelbook format
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.
His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.
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