SPECTRE
(2015/James Bond/Columbia/MGM/Fox Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: A- Extras: C Film: B-
Daniel
Craig has become the most commercially successful James Bond since
Roger Moore and as critically praised as any, save for those who are
not always happy with the so-serious take his four films so far have
offered, but that is a reflection of the times. Still, Casino
Royale
and Skyfall
are series classics, and I would argue Quantum
Of Solace
is a sometimes problematic, but underrated entry. Sam Mendes (for
the first time since John Glen in the late 1980s) becomes the first
Bond director in a while to make two films back top back. SPECTRE
(2015) is the first time the evil mega-organization has appeared in
the series since On
Her Majesty's Secret Service
in 1969 and the first time within the series (1971 or 1981, depending
on your interpretations) since the head of that cartel has shown up
(though both last appeared in the dated, somewhat underfunded 1983
Thunderball
remake Never
Say Never Again
(1983), made outside of the series in Sean Connery's last appearance
as Bond).
With
the rights to both back, Skyfall
the series biggest hit since Thunderball
(in adjusted dollars, et al) and a new record high $300 Million
budget (before tax breaks, versus $1 Million for the first Bond film
Dr. No
in 1962; that would be about $8 Million today), SPECTRE
seemed to be on its way to be a massive, unstoppable hit, but then
the real-life cyberleak and attack of distributor Sony happened and
the worst part was the screenplay had been hacked! Not taking any
chances and about to start filming, the Bond producers hired no less
than three separate writers to rewrite the screenplay so no one would
know what to expect. Unfortunately, this hurt the coherence of the
final script used, but so much of this film works so well, it was
still a huge worldwide hit and made its money back and then some.
With
'M' (Judi Dench) dead from the last mission, the new 'M' (Ralph
Fiennes) is doing a great job taking over, but Bond has just caused
an international incident that stopped a massive terrorist attack,
but was still not supposed to be out of the country to begin with.
The new 'M' is not pleased and further hates the timing as a new
hotshot (Andrew Scott) is leading the charge to close the 007 as
obsolete and replace it with highly questionable surveillance. A
ring Bond grabbed from one of his adversaries in the opening attack
leads him to uncover an organization deadlier than Quantum, SPECTRE
(the initials of its acronym are never revealed or discussed in the
film, but maybe next time) so Bond and the gang have to figure out
what is going on.
Ben
Whishaw is back as 'Q', as is Naomie Harris as Moneypenny and Rory
Kinnear as Tanner and we also get great casting in the stunning Lea
Seydoux as a young woman who may be more connected to the violence
than anyone realizes, the ever-amazing Monica Bellucci as a sexy
older widow who definitely is, Christoph Waltz as a mysterious man
with something to hide and Dave Bautista (Guardians
Of The Galaxy)
as one of the series' most formidable henchmen in a while. After a
break between Bonds, Mendes overcomes the hack crisis and keeps the
film moving, the money is definitely on the screen in a real
top-rate, high-class production that just keeps mowing over any
issues as it's record screen time never gets boring and leads to a
solid climax. Craig's still got it too.
After
Skyfall
and this film, Bond is back to full big budget form like nothing
since Moore's biggest and best Bonds (The
Spy Who Loved Me,
For
Your Eyes Only
and even Moonraker),
making it a remarkable artistic and commercial return to form for
what remains the most successful movie series of all time.
The
1080p 2.35 X 1 AVC @ 24 MBPS digital High Definition image transfer
has Bond returning to 35mm Kodak Vision 3 camera negative film stock,
but it looks great throughout even when some of it is stylized by
blowing out the image slightly and the like. Comparable to Skyfall
or Quantum
Of Solace,
the look is very consistent
and smooth throughout. Director
of Photography Hoyte Van Hoytema, F.S.F., N.S.C., continues the dark,
stylized look the series took on with Casino
Royale
without gutting the color in dumb ways. There are more than a few
demo shots as well.
Though
it was first reported the film may be issued in Dolby Atmos 11.1,
Auro 11.1 and IMAX 11.1, this is still the first Bond release with
more than 5.1 tracks. Thus, the DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 7.1
lossless mix takes total advantage of the multi-channel
possibilities, has an incredible soundfield and is so exceptionally
recorded, mixed and mastered that it is now one of my favorite sonic
demos for my home theater system to date. Though my theatrical
screenings of the film were good, nothing prepared me for how amazing
this would sound and it sets a new sonic standard for the series and
all action films. As a matter of fact, I only expect the latest Star
Wars
to be able to outdo it when it hits Blu-ray. This sounds better than
Skyfall
(though that Blu-ray, unreviewed, could use a little sonic upgrading)
and Quantum
Of Solace,
while older fans who liked the .1 LFE action of GoldenEye
will love what the makers have pulled off here. I liked Sam Smith's
main credits hit song ''The
Writing's On The Wall''
enough as something different and matching the return to a little
more humor for the film, but the title song originally intended for
the film by the brilliant British band Radiohead (catch it online
ASAP if you haven't heard it) I liked more and would have fit at
least as well if the film had been as dark as Skyfall.
Nice so much talent is still out there to make great, memorable
music.
Extras
include Digital HD Ultraviolet Copy for PC, PC portable and other
cyber iTunes capable devices, while the Blu-ray adds a series of nice
Video Blogs, a short high quality Photo Gallery and featurette
SPECTRE:
Bond's Biggest Opening Sequence.
They could have offered more, but this is not bad. All the Bonds
are now on Blu-ray and you can expect them all fir the new Ultra 4K
Blu-ray format. In the meantime, here's are Blu-ray coverage of most
of the films to date...
Dr.
No/From
Russia With Love/Goldfinger/Thunderball/Live
& Let Die/Moonraker/For
Your Eyes Only/The
World Is Not Enough/Die
Another Day/Quantum
of Solace
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10644/James+Bond+10-Pack+Blu-ray+Collection+(Dr.+No
The
Man With The Golden Gun/Licence
To Kill
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8598/The+Man+With+The+Golden+Gun+(19
Never
Say Never Again w/Quantum
of Solace
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8377/Quantum+Of+Solace+(2008/MGM+Blu-ray+++DVD
Casino
Royale
with a link to almost the whole series on DVD
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/5088/Casino+Royale+(DVD-Video+++Blu
-
Nicholas Sheffo
