007:
The Daniel Craig Collection 4K
(2006 - 2015 featuring Casino
Royale, Quantum
Of Solace, Skyfall
and SPECTRE/MGM/Fox
4K Ultra HD Blu-rays w/Blu-rays)
4K
Ultra HD Picture: B+/A-/B+/B+ Picture: B-/B+/B-/B Sound: B+ &
B/B+ & B-/B/A- Extras: B-/B-/B/C Films: B- (Royale
Uncut: B)
Daniel
Craig's run as James Bond has been the most commercially successful
since Roger Moore's record seven films in a row, while they have
often received even better reviews, depending on the film and films
compared. This might have happened to Timothy Dalton had he had a
chance, but Pierce Brosnan's run was dead by his third and
fourth/final film, my least favorite in the series. Though a few
minor points in each film have held them back for me slightly, the
Craig films have been the best golden period for the series in
decades. Now, the first four films have arrived in new 4K editions
and they are really impressive, all of them.
Dubbed
007:
The Daniel Craig Collection
like its regular Blu-ray counterpart also included in this new
release set, we have reviewed three of the four films and happily
take a second look at some of the best films of their kind in the
last 20 years...
Martin
Campbell's Casino
Royale
(2006)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/5088/Casino+Royale+(DVD-Video+++Blu-ray/James+Bon
Marc
Forster's Quantum
Of Solace
(2008)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8377/Quantum+Of+Solace+(2008/MGM+Blu-ray+++DVD
Sam
Mendes' Skyfall
(2012) is the one Craig Bond we never got to, so to summarize
briefly, Bond faces a new enemy (Javier Bardem as a very villainous
Silva in one of the great villain roles in and out of the series),
but he knows more about 'M' (Judi Dench) and the Double-O section
than anyone should. However, Bond has to stop him no matter what the
consequences as that section is due to merge with another in an
arrangement that does not sound too good and many lives are
threatened in the process.
With
the new cast of regulars in place (including Ben Wishlaw and Naomie
Harris joining Dench) and solid turns by Albert Finney, Rory Kinnear
and Benenice Marlohe among them), the film delivers and so much so
that everyone was stunned and the film was a huge hit and became a
classic of the series instantly. Adele's title song is a plus and
the action and smart writing is among the best in the series. Except
for very small items I cannot get into (or risk ruing the film for
those who still have not seen it), it is great work and will hold up
for a very long time to come.
Extras
for Skyfall
includes two feature length audio commentary tracks (one from
Director Mendes, the other by Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael
G,. Wilson with Production Designer Dennis Gassner), Premiere clip,
multi-part Behind The Scenes/Making Of hour-long Shooting Bond
program, soundtrack promo spot and an Original Theatrical Trailer.
Sam
Mendes' SPECTRE
(2015)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/14075/SPECTRE+(2015/James+Bond/Columbia/MGM/Fox
All
have the same extras the previous Blu-ray editions offered and we get
Digital Copy for this new set on all four films as well. You'll also
find links in the links for more Bond coverage.
The
2160p HEVC/H.265, 2.35 X 1, Dolby Vision/HDR (10; Ultra HD
Premium)-enhanced Ultra High Definition image on all four 4K discs
are terrific improvements over the still-decent regular 1080p
Blu-rays and all films were shot on 35mm film (save a few digital
effects), except for the equally stunning all-HD shoot on Skyfall
by the genius Director of Photography Roger Deakins, B.S.C., A.S.C.,
who used HD cameras between 2K and 4K, but still delivered a stunning
film that sets off with its style from frame one and takes it to the
limit all the way to the end of the film. He even had to hod back
those doing the transfer saying he did not want it too bright or
clear, totally knowing what he was doing and delivering nonstop.
Royale
and Quantum
were shot in the Super 35 format and still looks amazing, definition
still very much there and Quantum
has one shot using an HD camera experimentally, but that is the only
shot that offers any age or issues visually for the film. SPECTRE
is the most diverse and remarkable mix of formats on any Bond film to
date, using anamorphic 35mm Panavision, Super 35 and large frame
VistaVision (again with Kodak Vision 3 color negative film) plus HD
formats including some work on two Arri Alexa and one Red Epic Dragon
camera, so you get a diverse mix, yet it is edited in such a seamless
way, it is technically remarkable in ways serious filmmakers are most
likely to understand. In all this, Quantum
is the most improved in 4K for whatever reason and is worth
revisiting, even if you did not like the film before for whatever
reasons. I think it is very underrated. Remember, all the Bond
films before these were scanned for 4K for the Blu-ray releases years
ago, so it won't be long before they join these gems.
Though
Skyfall
and SPECTRE
were released theatrically in 12-track sound formats (like DTS: X,
Auro 3D, IMAX 12-track and Dolby Atmos), none of the films here offer
any such sound. Instead, the 4K upgrades are all in DTS-HD MA
(Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mixes save SPECTRE in DTS-HD MA (Master
Audio) 7.1 lossless, so the latter two films are mixdowns, but they
still sound great and Skyfall
is one of the best-sounding discs of any kind on the market. As you
can see from our original Blu-ray review, the first release of Royale
was PCM 5.1 when Blu-ray was a brand new format and studios were
still trying to decide on lossless Dolby or DTS (now using a mix of
both, often in the same package) and it was impressive in its time.
The
DTS-MA 5.1 on the Blu-ray was smoother still, but it is even more
clear and dynamic on the 4K edition, meaning it took all this time to
really get all the great sonics out of the soundmaster. The sound
mixed, recording and editing holds up really well. The difference in
the two versions of Quantum
and their DTS-MA 5.1 mixes are even more dramatic, with the 4K
version delivering impact most theaters at the time probably could
not deliver as well as it sounds here on the 4K edition. Skyfall
has DTS-MA 5.1 that is equally solid on both disc versions, as is the
case with SPECTRE,
but I will still wonder how the 12-track would even sound better in
both cases. Besides that, this is a must-have set that delivers the
goods and all serious 4K Ultra HD fans need to get it ASAP!
-
Nicholas Sheffo
