Fulvue Drive-In.com
Current Reviews
In Stores Soon
 
In Stores Now
 
DVD Reviews, SACD Reviews Essays Interviews Contact Us Meet the Staff
An Explanation of Our Rating System Search  
Category:    Home > Reviews > Spy > Espionage > Action > Thriller > Mystery > Drama > Terrorism > Crime > Gangster > British > 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)

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


Marketplace


 
 Copyright © MMIII through MMX fulvuedrive-in.com