Jane Seymour Movie:

Beyond James Bond Ultimate Collection - Vol. 3

James Bond Ultimate Collection - Vol. 1

James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 2

James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 4

Stills from James Bond Ultimate Collection - Vol. 3 (click for larger image)

James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 3 (GoldenEye / Live and Let Die / For Your Eyes Only / From Russia With Love / On Her Majesty's Secret Service) Reviews:
James Bond is Back
2009-07-21 - As with the other sets, I'll review them as I watch them:

From Russia with Love: Arguably Connery's best outing as 007, giving, in my opinion, his best performance. The cast is astounding in this picture; Pedro Armendariz gives the best performances as one of Bond's allies. Lotte Lenya and Robert Shaw are icy cool as the villains (Grant is one of the best villain-henchmen). Of course making his debut amoung the regular Bond characters is the incomprable Desmond Llewelyn as Q. The plot is one of the best out of the Bond series, coming very close to the original novel with only slight alterations like SMERSH to SPECTRE and the name of the Lektor (which is actually the Spektor). Some of the best action sequences are to be found in this film, such as the attack on the gypsy camp and Bond's fight with Grant. This is John Barry's first film in which he provides the music, though some cues are lifted from the previous film. The rousing instrumental theme used during the titles is very effective as a romantic theme for Bond and the girl. Barry's own theme, 007, is introduced as well. The title song, though, is one of my least favorites (but definately not as bad as Another Way to Die). 5 stars.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service- People like to make fun of this one because of one-timer Lazenby, but I'm probably one of the few who actually enjoy his performance (except for when he's in Piz Gloria and his voice is dubbed by George Baker). I don't think he's copying off of Connery. Diana Rigg is one of my favorites, of course seeing her as Mrs. Emma Peel. She can do the same things, almost, as Bond, again like fellow Avengers alum Honor Blackman, and she doesn't eat up screen time (Halle Berry and Denise Richards can't compare to these two). Telly Savalas is my personal favorite as Blofeld. He just seems menacing, especially with that deep voice of his. One of my favorite lines is when he tells Bond that:
"I mean what I say, and I'll do what I claim."
I'd take him seriously.
The story is almost verbatim of the book except in a few places because the book comes before YOLT, which is how it should've been with the films. People complain that Blofeld doesn't recognize Bond when he's undercover but here's my explanation: Blofeld KNOWS its Bond. He recognizes him when when they're discussing his title as the Count. He just doesn't want to spoil the moment, he wants to toy with him until Bond slips up, which he does. A true villain who recognizes their oppenent would want to play with him until the moment comes to spring the trap. This Barry's best score for any of his Bonds. The theme is the best out of any of the others and is used perfectly during the two ski sequences. And Louis Armstrong's song, his last actually, is the best out of the vocal songs. It's touching and romantic and serves as great underscore for Bond and Tracy. My personal best and the best of the franchise. 5 stars.

Live and Let Die- Moore's first outing, it's not good but it's not bad either. Of course the plot is changed from Mr. Big being a Russian agent of SMERSH, but as the very popular (of the 70s) drug dealer. Moore does a great job in all seven of his films but his Bond did deserve a better introduction than just lying in bed with a woman. Yaphet Kotto is great as Mr. Big/Kananga, though many, from what I've read in some fan sites, complain he smiles too much for a villain. Well duh, villains smile, especially when they think everything's going their way. Jane Seymour plays Solitaire as an innocent young woman, who wants to be with Bond but doesn't want to make her boss angery, especially after she loses her powers (and becoming, to me anyway, more of a sex maniac than Bond). Geoffery Holder, next to Jaws and Oddjob, is one of the more intimidating henchmen. His stature, the mysticism of the character and especially that laugh is what makes this character great. They should bring him back or do a character like him but isn't a knockoff (like Gobinda in Octopussy). I hate when they do locations, except for Vegas in DAF, in America. It just looks bland but being an American, that is just my opinion. Since this is shown to different countries, they probably think its exotic. George Martin's score, like the film, can feel dated due to the 70s style funk that is used, especially in the reorchestrated Bond theme. And its a good thing Paul McCartney (though the Fab Four had broken up by this time) didn't sing the theme to Goldfinger (put earmuffs on), but in all seriousness it is one of the better songs in the canon. 3 stars.

For Your Eyes Only- Along with TSWLM, this is tied as Moore's finest. The plot incorporates the story of two short tales; Risico (Kristatos and Columbo) and For Your Eyes Only (The Havelocks). Though the inclusion of the ATAC system seems to tie the two completely different stories into one. Carole Bouquet continues the line of strong Bond women and probably the first since Jane Seymour to be a stunningly beautiful woman and can act (Bach and Chiles just never seemed to show any emotion when delivering their lines). Julian Glover (General Veers from The Empire Strikes Back) is, like Bouquet, plays a better villain than the previous two. He is not out to destroy the world but is a double agent playing the British. And Topol is absolutely charming as Columbo, who in many ways, reminds me of Pedro Armendariz's Kerim Bay. In fact, many parts of this remind me of FRWL, such as; the raid on Kristatos' headquarters, the Cold War story, etc. The music, though with influenced with some disco, doesn't seem dated compared to George Martin and Marvin Hamlisch's scores for their respective films. Some of my favorite pieces of music are the gunbarrel, Bond's attack on a familiar bald-headed, cat stroking villain, the car chase in Madrid, the ski chase, the underwater scenes, the romantic moments between Bond and Melina (wow, I didn't realize there were so many). And those with a keen ear will be able to pick up a snippet of John Williams' Jaws theme right before Bond and Melina are attacked underwater. And Sheena Easton's romantic title song remains a favorite of mine within the Bond canon. 5 stars.

GoldenEye- After six years of legal entanglement, James Bond returned to theatres in 1995. Dalton has left the role and is now played by Pierce Brosnan (Broccoli's original choice for The Living Daylights) of Remington Steele fame. Brosnan is/was a very good choice for the role, ably playing aspects of both Sean Connery and Roger Moore. The idea of a rogue Mi6 agent is a twist from previous villains as 006 would know everything that Bond can throw at him. In the opening, Sean Bean plays Trevalyn as a close friend of Bond's, willing to die for Queen and country. But once it's revealed that he is the mastermind behind everything, he's more than willing to kill his former friend and destroy the British government. Isabella Scorupco plays Natalya with a very realistic innocence and naiveté towards the espionage world after finding out that Boris is still alive. Famke Janssen is definitely one of the more memorable Bond girls as Xenia Onatopp, and gets a sexual kick out of putting the squeeze on her victims (and using a machine gun but I think that innuendo goes without saying). Desmond Llewelyn returns as Q, and is joined by Samantha Bond as Miss Moneypenny (who I enjoyed playing on 90s PC aspect on Bond's flirting) and Dame Judi Dench as M (my favorite actor to play the part). The title of the movie derives from Ian Fleming's Jamaican home while the rest of the story is original and is the only one of Brosnan's, in my opinion, to actually feel like a classic Bond film. Eric Serra provides a less than memorable score but the title song by Tina Turner is a favorite of mine. 5 stars.

James, James Bond
2009-07-17 - I love the James Bond movie series.' I purchased all four volumns and judge them to all be a high quality product which I expect to further enjoy in the future.


Paul

James Bond classic collection
2009-06-29 - What else can I say? It's a classic collection for my James Bond Fan boyfriend. He loves it.

The Red Set is the Best Set!
2009-04-15 - James Bond Ultimate Edition - Vol. 3 (GoldenEye / Live and Let Die / For Your Eyes Only / From Russia With Love / On Her Majesty's Secret Service)
As a whole, the collection is wonderful mostly because of the bonus features. You get behind the scenes, interviews, tributes to various Bond family, documentaries, audio commentary from directors, cast and sometimes Bond (Roger Moore), music videos and much more!!

This is hands down the best volume of the James Bond collection. GoldenEye is the best Bronson's outing as Bond and is exciting. Live and Let Die was fun and engaging (although a little outdated). From Russia With Love IS the best Bond film of all times!! On Her Majesty's Secret Service maybe long, but great character development and shows Bond with a heart. For Your Eyes Only is Roger Moore at his BEST!! He mixes his humor with hardcore toughness.

Get this volume...it is the best!

Which Bond do I Pick Tonight
2009-04-12 - I received the movies in excellent condition. Aside from the movie there is a special features cd which is fun to watch. The ultimate edition volume 3 is great. You have Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and George Lazenby to select from. I would recommend this set to anyone.