James Bond in 4K UHD (1 Viewer)

[Worth]

I watched Diamonds Are Forever over 2 nights. The iTunes 4k looks great.

As long as the wait has been for 4k discs I wonder if new transfer works will be done before they come to disc.

I hope the redo that first Lowry batch - Dr. No through Live and Let Die plus Moonraker. I think the others are fine, though the colour grading could use some tweaks.

 

[cineMANIAC]

Are there any signs that the Bond films are finally coming to 4K? Their absence is mindboggling.

 

[Worth]

Are there any signs that the Bond films are finally coming to 4K? Their absence is mindboggling.

They didn't try to tie in to the release of either the last film or the 60th anniversary of Dr. No, so I can’t see anything happening soon. Maybe when the next film is released in however many years.

 

[Sam Favate]

Since there appears to be nothing in the works, let me just say what I'd like to see: 4k steelbook releases for each individual film (paired with a blu-ray for the voluminous extras), with original theatrical poster artwork on the cover.

Or, in the alternative, a box set of 4ks and blu-rays, similar to what we saw with the excellent Bond 50 box sets. Honestly, a box set of all the films is the only way I'm ever going to buy some of them again (cough cough Die Another Day).

It'd be a shame if there were no 4k releases for the early films. Those blu-rays (Dr No through The Spy Who Loved Me) are some of the best-looking blu-rays I have ever seen, and certainly the best those films ever looked (and I should know, as I bought them on CED, VHS (twice), and DVD, before getting the blu-rays). Once more, for old times' sake?

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Are there any signs that the Bond films are finally coming to 4K? Their absence is mindboggling.

They didn't try to tie in to the release of either the last film or the 60th anniversary of Dr. No, so I can’t see anything happening soon. Maybe when the next film is released in however many years.

Unfortunately, it actually makes perfect sense that they might never see the light of day on 4K disc since Amazon now owns MGM -- and it's not like there will likely ever be remotely enough demand (again) to entice Amazon afterall...

We at least do get the 4K digitals on other platforms, not just thru Amazon Prime streaming, so there's that...

I still haven't bought any of those 4K digitals myself (other than mainly redeeming the ones for the Craig films), but will probably before long...

_Man_

 

[Josh Steinberg]

MGM is still licensing to Kino, and there’s been a bunch of 4K in recent waves, so that doesn’t seem outside of the realm of possibility. If you want original poster art, slipcovers, etc, Kino doing the licensing is probably the best chance for that.

But also, as was just pointed out a few comments ago, they haven’t acted with any urgency yet. UHD as a disc format debuted in 2016, the year Spectre came out on disc, and they didn’t do it then. They didn’t do it in 2021 when No Time To Die was in theaters, or in 2022 when that movie came out on disc. The existing BD discs are all at least at a reasonable quality level with some being truly great, and for the most part, the digital 4K UHD editions correct the minor shortcomings present on some discs. That may be as good as we ever get.

 

[Keith Cobby]

4k disc will remain niche if the Bonds aren't released. I have the Craig's and would buy another half dozen (replace blu rays). The longer it takes to release them, interest will fizzle out, we may be there already.

 

[Osato]

Are there any signs that the Bond films are finally coming to 4K? Their absence is mindboggling.

No news but hope springs eternal.

I think 2024 makes a lot of sense for a release of the films but we shall see. Probably later in the year. September or October.

Goldfinger is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. As well as the 50th for the man with the golden gun.

Aside from the amazing soundtrack news it is very quiet on the Bond front.

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

4k disc will remain niche if the Bonds aren't released. I have the Craig's and would buy another half dozen (replace blu rays). The longer it takes to release them, interest will fizzle out, we may be there already.

Seriously doubt Bond 4K discs would make any real diff though re: 4K disc being/remaining niche -- it might slow down the descend toward uber-micro-niche-or-whatever I guess, if we're not already there, but there's no recovering from the current niche-within-a-niche status.

As Josh just noted, the old BDs are still pretty good (for the most part)... and probably plenty good enough for most (mainstream-ish) fans me thinks (w/ very few exceptions), especially since there are also 4K digitals... and the fan base for older Bonds aren't likely to grow any further at all...

MGM had plenty of opps to release them in recent years as already noted by various others, but didn't bother. And now, there will likely be a long lull w/ no new Bond film to (cross)promote coming anytime soon *plus* they're also now owned by Amazon to boot, so...

_Man_

 

[Tommy R]

Since there appears to be nothing in the works, let me just say what I'd like to see: 4k steelbook releases for each individual film (paired with a blu-ray for the voluminous extras), with original theatrical poster artwork on the cover.

This would actually be really awesome! My only concern would be how much it would all end up costing, as well as availability. If each film had its own release would I be able to splurge on each as they came out before they went OOP? I wouldn’t want an incomplete collection.

 

[JoshZ]

MGM had plenty of opps to release them in recent years as already noted by various others, but didn't bother. And now, there will likely be a long lull w/ no new Bond film to (cross)promote coming anytime soon *plus* they're also now owned by Amazon to boot, so...

Amazon also let another recent cross-promotion opportunity pass by with the Road to a Million TV series. At this point, I think it's safe to say they DGAF.

 

[cineMANIAC]

MGM will license anything...except Bond and, I believe, the Rocky series. The Bond franchise always had their own governance, meaning they make the rules, so MGM essentially has no say on things like physical media releases and promotions - that's all Eon Productions and the Broccoli family. My gut feeling is the Broccolis have lost interest in the property but still have no intention of offloading or selling off...maybe. This is what I glean from the relative inactivity and lack of fresh upgrades. No doubt the franchise was chief among Jeff Bezo's decision to purchase the studio but he can't really do anything with it except distribute the films. Seems like we're stuck between the quagmire. Indeed, the Blu-rays are very good and will have to tide us over for now.

 

[Sam Favate]

If Disney can be persuaded to release their Disney+ shows on UHD, anything is possible.

 

[ScottRE]

Because I have a warped mind...

Moonraker as a porno (Moonraper) - oh you can totally skip the end credits as soon as you have your fill of porn funk music.

Moonraker as a US sitcom (Moonrakers!)

 

[SwatDB]

If Disney can be persuaded to release their Disney+ shows on UHD, anything is possible.

Nice try, but MGM Studios, Inc. is owned by Amazon and merged as "Amazon MGM Studios"

 

[mskaye]

Because I have a warped mind...

Moonraker as a porno (Moonraper) - oh you can totally skip the end credits as soon as you have your fill of porn funk music.

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Moonraker as a US sitcom (Moonrakers!)

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Great music choice in the "adult version." And I think I know exactly which film that was lifted from - 1981's TSOAB.

 

[battlebeast]

I’d just like to have GOLDENEYE in OAR.

 

[Robin9]

I’d just like to have GOLDENEYE in OAR.

My Blu-ray disc says it's in 2.35:1. Is that not correct?

 

[JoshZ]

My Blu-ray disc says it's in 2.35:1. Is that not correct?

I believe what battlebeast may be referring to is that the "Ultimate Edition" DVD of GoldenEye was technically 2.35:1, but had been zoomed in a little and was missing picture on all four sides.

This was actually corrected, in a fashion, on the Blu-ray. However, the way MGM fixed it was by going back to an even older DVD-era master that had the right OAR and picture info, but was a sloppy DNR and edge-enhanced mess.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

The 4K UHD edition is in OAR and newly mastered.