Some of us physical media collectors are completists who need to own every movie of a particular franchise, even if one or two are bad enough that we probably wouldn't feel compelled to watch them ever again. For this guy, Mission: Impossible 2 comes immediately to mind.
Then there are the purists. For them, the Star Wars saga ended with the original trilogy, there’s only one Jaws and Sean Connery will always be the one true James Bond (which I concurred with until Daniel Craig came along). Those people are perfectly content without George Lazenby or Timothy Dalton in their lives.
The Sean Connery 6-Film Collection is one for the purists. More specifically, it’s one for purists who want the best picture and sound quality possible. I think they’ll be very pleased with this set, which features excellent transfers of Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever, all on 4K UHD for the first time.
At first glance, one might be initially put-off by perceived inconsistencies in the sharpness, grain and colors, but that’s mainly due to varying film stock used in the original productions. This collection reflects an effort to present the films as they originally looked when first released. While I haven’t seen any of them on Blu-ray, they look a lot better than the crusty ol’ DVDs collecting dust in my garage. Purists will also appreciate the two audio options available for each. There’s a brand new Dolby Atmos track that gives the sound a modern update, as well as the original mono, which isn’t without its nostalgic charms, especially if you’re like me and grew up watching these films in the 70s.
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| 007 gets stuck with the check. |
Thunderball (1965) was the biggest box office hit of Connery films, but also the most lumbering and takes a long time to get interesting. 1967's You Only Live Twice is often cited as the point where the series grew increasingly outlandish, but being the first Bond film I watched as a kid, I’ve always had a nostalgic soft spot for this one. Still, I’ll concede that certain thematic aspects have aged badly (especially regarding racial depictions and no-small-amount of misogyny). Finally, 1971’s Diamonds Are Forever is the goofiest of the lot. Though still entertaining, this one veers more toward the type of cartoon buffoonery that would sink some of the Roger Moore films.
The Sean Connery 6-Film Collection is obviously a great batch of classic, influential films, which Bond fans probably don’t need to be reminded of. If you’re one of those Connery purists seeking technical upgrades (and a great looking package), this set is a must-own. But be advised that all of the bonus features, while substantial, are from previous home video releases (meaning you’ve probably seen them before).
EXTRA KIBBLES
All films are accompanied by the following similarly-titled collections of bonus features, each of varying quantity and length:
DECLASSIFIED: MI6 VAULT - These are collections of vintage promotional segments made during filming or around the time of each film’s initial release.
MISSION DOSSIER - Lengthy, multi-chapter docs covering the making of each film and their cultural significance. All are carried over from previous home video releases and most are narrated by Patrick Macnee.
MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA - Collections of trailers, TV spots and radio ads for each film.
EXOTIC LOCATIONS - Brief segments on some of the shooting locations. Some are included as part of the Mission Dossier program.
AUDIO COMMENTARIES - Each film includes a commentary by the director, as well as various cast and crew. Goldfinger and Thunderball have two audio commentaries.
DIGITAL COPIES
Certain films include some of the following additional bonus features:
SELLING BONDS (Thunderball) - Vintage commercials selling Bond-themed merch.
DELETED SCENES (Diamonds Are Forever)
ALTERNATE/EXPANDED ANGLES (Diamonds Are Forever) - Alternate versions of five different scenes.%20(1)%20(1).jpg)
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