Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection [Blu-ray]

The package was delivered promptly. The DVD set was in excellent new condition. I love the packaging. The retro-forties style albums for the discs are very nice. However, the DVDs have some real problems. I bought the Bond collection that was issued in 2008. Those DVDs played well until this year. Suddenly most of the discs either would not play at all, or stopped playing part way thru the movies. The first time it happened, I replaced Goldfinger with a new DVD that I purchased separately. It is the same vintage and had a blip in the middle of the movie where the picture broke-up for an instant. So many discs in that 2008 set had problems that I ordered this set as a replacement. These movies have the same problems. Some play well, some stop working part way thru the movie. The discs for the last three movies from Casino Royale on play just fine, as they were made after the 2008 set was manufactured. It is the movies that have a lead-in preview talking about Sonys great new digital process that have problems. We bought a new Sony DVD player to see if it would play the discs any better. It helped a little, but the only help was skipping past the trouble spots with pauses in the action rather than degrading into pixels as our old Panasonic player was doing. As a test we tried some of the discs from this set in our JVC TV with integral DVD player. It would not play them at all. With it they either stopped working after the opening MGM ad or had a terrible looking video image. Note that we have several hundred DVDs of all quality and vintage and these Bond films are the only ones with this problem. I plan to return these and see if I can find a low priced set just to have the album-style anniversary package. Then I will try to find old individual DVDs issued before the super-duper Sony digital process was used. That process produces unstable discs. I recommend avoiding discs made with that process.

The Blu-ray set arrived about a week ago and I have watched one disk each day since. No point in my re-telling the stories, please read other reviews for that. Rather, I want to address the quality and features of this specific set. The quality of the images (watched on an LG 47 Led tv via a Sony 3D/Blu-ray player and Sony sound bar) is absolutely fabulous! Each film has been meticulously converted from the ORIGINAL NEGATIVES to digital resulting in exceptional clarity with brilliant color. WOW! Great job! So far Ive watched all of the disks starring Sean Connery as Bond (Never Say Never Again is not included in the set as it was produced by another company). I first saw these films when they were originally released at the famous old grand theatres in downtown Chicago, and have watched them many times since on tv, VHS, and DVD. Short of viewing these films on a big theatre screen, this Blu-ray set is the next best thing - or possibly better - as I can watch in my jammies and the set includes hours and hours of bonus features. One fun thing I notice about the early movies is how current and stylish everything looks. As is said everything old becomes new again, since Mad Men has become so popular, mid-century modern decor is now considered chic as is the clothing of the 60s and 70s. Except for the cars and Bonds swim trunks, the films look as if they could have been filmed today! I like the album-style packaging and have no problem removing or returning disks to their slots. Plastic clamshells would have been an improvement, though they probably would have raised the cost of the set. I appreciate that a slot is reserved for Skyfall, due for November theatre release. Each of the disks Ive watched contain plenty of extras, some way more than others. All contain at least one or two optional commentary versions. So far they all appear to have been produced in the 80s or 90s. One disk contains a documentary on the process of converting the original negatives to Blu-ray format, each film taking hours and hours to convert. The results are stunning and the results even amazed the technicians. The sharpness and crispness at times made it seem almost like I was watching Dr. No and From Russia With Love in 3D. (Feel free to disagree, but thats how I saw them!) The bonus features include an incredible amount of additional content such as premier openings, deleted scenes, screen tests, documentaries on filming, special effects, martial arts training, casting, props, location scouting, as well as brief bios of Ian Fleming, Sean Connery and other cast members, original commercials and tv specials about the films (60s and 70s vintage so of poor quality), toys, collectibles and other Bond merchandise promoting the movies. Whew! I said it was hours and hours! One day I watched over six hours straight and still hadnt seen everything on the disk. The complete set includes 22 Blu-ray disks, one disk of bonus material (besides what is on each movie disk), stored in two albums that fit it into a slick slipcase and the 70 page hardcover book, James Bond 50 Years of Movie Posters. I was glad I pre-ordered this set months go. Amazon lowered the price after shipping my set so they refunded the $30 difference, plus as an Amazon Prime member, shipping was free. I initially hesitated pre-ordering the set when originally offered at almost $200.00. But after seeing the quality and all the features the set contains I now think it is definitely worth it, after all its less than $10 per disk. Once these sets are gone, it may probably be years or decades, before a new set is issued (or maybe never if everything actually goes to owning by downloading the file or watching via instant streaming!) As the Bond culture lives on, all items Bond go up in price on the secondary market. Every time a new film is released new Bond fans are created. I recently introduced my 14 year old granddaughter to Sean Connery as James Bond in Dr. No and she loved it so much she took home eight of the extra Flemming novels I had! The 14 Flemming Bond books have also been reissued for the anniversary, priced individually, not as a set. The last time a set was issued was in 2002 and I was fortunate to obtain a complete set via Amazons secondary market some months ago for about $150.00. If you are a Bond fan I think you will love this set as much as I do. Every fan has their favorite Bond movie, villian, woman and favorite Bond. Not every film is great, not every Bond actor acclaimed. But there surely is much great (and timeless) entertainment here for Bond to be alive and kicking for over 50 years! From this fan of 50 years: Thank you, Mr. Fleming - Ian Fleming!

All of the oldest Bond films that I have watched out of this so far (I am about to start in on the Roger Moore years) have been restored beautifully from the original film negatives in a way that brings a new experience to any Bond fan with an HDTV. The packaging is nice, but surprisingly space efficient considering how many discs it contains (unlike some collectors sets that may need an entire shelf of their own). The special features are one of the most interesting aspects of this package. Each movie (that I have watched so far) has a number of specials regarding that particular movie (or the Bond series as a whole) that actually aired around the time the movie originally came out, along with some other special features from more recent years. This is something that I am not used to seeing in Blu-ray and DVD releases of older movies, and is much appreciated. The art on the discs themselves and the menus on each movie all have the same template, which makes it feel much more like a collectors set than if they had just taken individual releases and thrown them together in the same box. I can only hope that the release of Skyfall follows the same template since they left a space for it. The disc menus are also simple and quick, without a bunch of annoying gimmicks; just your typical clicky noise when you select an item. Overall, this is definitely a quality product and the current definitive set of Bond films. I am glad that I had not previously purchased any of them on Blu-ray and have not regretted this purchase for even a second. It will be a part of my movie collection for quite some time - at least until the next big physical media format comes along with a more updated Bond collection.

All 22 Bond movies in high definition Blu-ray. Each move is on a single disc. Two albums, one dated 1962 to 1981 the other 1982 to 2012 hold two discs on a page. The left side page features the actor playing Bond in the movies with the villains. The right side page holds two Blu-Ray discs with the Bond Girl. No reason to tell you about the movies. You know about them unless you have spent the last 50 years on Mars. The restorations produced a clear picture. Doctor No has a special feature on how this was done. They show some pre/post clips illustrating the differences. The set has almost no information about the movies and special features. Title and some names are what is available. No movie length or what special features on the discs is given. There is a slot for Skyfall in the second album. However, that is not included in this purchase. This is the best Bond set to own in terms of quality and completeness. Each person has to decided if this is the set they want to invest in.

I can remember for the past few decades wanting to buy the Bond movies, but the prices were just too high for me - usually around $15 a disc. I was able to pick this up for around $80 used and it was one of the best purchases I made. The version I got came with all the movies up to and including Skyfall, and I was able to buy it for around $80 which works out for around $4 per disc - awesome! I enjoyed most of the movies, but Im not a big fan the way the last movies have gone (the new Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, and Skyfall). Let me explain: in the older movies there is a clear-cut villain, with a definite plot to do something evil; hardly any shades of grey - and that is what I have come to expect from a Bond movie - action scenes, a good hero, some beautiful women, maybe a nifty gadget or two, and an Evil Badguy with some far-fetched plot to take-over or destroy the world. You might find references to older Bond movies, but each movie stands on its own, and is easy to follow. The last three in this set are more of a who-dunnit, with hidden motives, that try to look more like todays action movie, and try to be more true-to life; it is a little hard for me to explain - but when I watched these movies I found them harder to follow. They still have nice action sequences, but some scenes I could do without, like Bond being smacked in the coconuts with a knot on the end of a rope. (And then miraculously walking down a beach a few scenes later with no apparent damage). And at the end of of these, like Quantum of Solace I wasnt sute it WAS the end - had anything really been accomplished?

It is awesome to finally be able to get all these Bond movies in one collection and in Blu-ray! Great price for the sheer amount of movies you get! and it has room for the new Bond film so that is sweet. The only surprising thing is it is missing one Bond film. One where Sean Connery reprises his role as Bond with Kim Basinger in Never Say Never Again. It has to do with the fact that a different movie studio other than MGM make that movie. They somehow had the rights to that specific Bond story and made it outside the MGM circle. So if you like that movie and want it, it wont be in this collection. A must have for all Bond Fans

This is a must have for a BOND FAN Just hours of special features back stories on all that is BOND The blu-ray HD is great then you get a Disk of all the Bond INTROS I put that on turn up the sound and enjoy all the movie are my favorite But what I will say I liked a lot what Timothy Dalton was with the Bond character to bad he made only 2 movies I would think once this is sold out you will never see it again I think I read there is only 3 lift I paid 198.00 for the one I have it now 220.00 still worth it I just pick up the new Bond movie Spectre now this is far out this Bond movie CHECK THIS STUFF OUT

Not much for reviews, but a huge Bond fan. Over the years I have purchased all the Bond collections 3 or 4 times. VHS, DVD twice and now the Blus. The picture is clearer, and with less artifacts than my Bond Ultimate Edition DVDs, although less so with some of the older titles. I really like the packaging, and it presents well on my shelf. The fore-thought of leaving a blank space for Skyfall is also greatly appreciated. I managed to get mine on sale for less than a hundred dollars, so excellent value, less than $5 a title. This helped convince me that the upgrade from the ultimate editions was worth it (my ultimate edition dvds were $75 each for 4 boxes = $300). If you are a new fan of Bond or just starting your collection this is an excellent start. If you have the ultimate editions its hit or miss on the upgrade aspect, although I would consider the packaging and improvement in picture quality a worthwhile investment if you arent replacing all the movies. Overall an excellent presentation and a good value.

I purchased this set as a Birthday gift to myself, Ive watched many James Bond movies since I watched Dr. No on Tv & Ive seen some of the movies in the theater, & I had previously purchased the VHS collection (used). But when I saw that this updated set was available on Blu-Ray & reading some of the details that the movies had been remastered, I figured Just get it & I decided to go the used route again as well & I purchased Skyfall & Spectre separately. The presentation itself is Astounding, 2 slipcases with 22 movies & a slot reserved for Skyfall (I personally am not keen on the slipcases themselves, but thats just a matter of personal taste, so I purchased a 5 pack, 6 disc Blu-Ray case). The set I purchased was $90.00 used & the set itself looks in superb condition, almost like new, as if someone bought it, didnt like it & either returned it or donated it. The outer box that hold the Blu-Ray cases has one slight blemish (big deal), but otherwise looks to be in a pristine condition, like the wrapper had just been removed & it still had the descriptive flap attached to the slipcase itself. I started out with Diamonds Are Forever (I hadnt seen this movie in years) I have a PS3 Gaming system that I also use as a Blu-Ray player that I have hooked up to my widescreen Tv via HDMI, so I get the full native 1080P & the tv is very well calibrated. I put the movie in, started it up & was very thoroughly Wowed. The remastering that they did is wonderful & seeing the movie in Hi-Def is a treat in itself. If youre a fan of James Bond like me, then this is the set for you. Very, very Impressed. 5 Stars.

The product is exactly as described and has left a space to complete the collection with Skyfall (which isnt included in the case). Each page comes with a photo or photos of the 2 movies that are on the right-page sleeve. A photo of the corresponding Bond girl is next to each movie. It is quite well made and worth the money, especially considering the extremely high resolution you get when you buy a blu-ray disc instead of a conventional dvd (I was watching one of the movies and in a close-up shot you could actually see a few stray hairs on Pierce Brosnans face that were probably missed when he was shaved - THAT is how clear the image is). And, the case looks a lot more expensive than it is, making it the perfect gift for a true Bond fan. And delivery was outstanding: ordered on Friday and paid to get it on Sunday but received it on Saturday.