James Bond Update
 

I would think Fox would want to finish up the home video releases before it's contract expires at the end of the year, but maybe they think it's too risky without a "new" movie in theaters:

MGM close to "Bond" distribution deal with Sony

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – MGM appears to be nearing a deal with Sony Pictures to release its upcoming James Bond film after talks with Paramount broke down, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
But the situation remains complicated for MGM, struggling to rebuild after bankruptcy.
The studio had hoped to convince Fox to renew its video deal with Fox Home Entertainment, which expires later this year. But a source says Fox is uninterested in extending that agreement without the Bond film.
Though MGM's new chiefs Roger Birnbaum and Gary Barber are close to the top Paramount executives, Bond producer Barbara Broccoli is on good terms with Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal after the studio released the last two Bond films, 2006's "Casino Royale" and 2008's "Quantum of Solace."
According to a studio source, Paramount declined to go below an 8% distribution fee for the Bond film and also rebuffed MGM's request to partner on one of its summer films, such as the next "Transformers" installment, opening July 1, or "Super 8" from J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg. MGM was determined to get involved with an ongoing project to boost its depleted cash flow.
While it appears that Sony has met MGM's terms, it is unclear which of its upcoming films it will share with MGM. One possibility is the big-budget live action/computer-animated family picture "The Smurfs," set to release in August.
Still untitled, the 23rd Bond film, once again starring Daniel Craig, is to be directed by Sam Mendes with a targeted November 9, 2012 release date.

Re: James Bond Update
 

I hope they get this ironed out so they can re-release the single disc editions on DVD. I only need OHMSS to finish my collection, and that one sadly got a single disc right around the time the license was thrown into limbo and quickly went OOP.

Re: James Bond Update
 

As speculated, this probably means anyone who was hoping to collect the rest of the bond blus in the same package design is screwed. The good news is that since MGM controls the video rights to Q.O.S. once the contract with fox runs out Sony will able to release it along with ALL of the other films. With next year being the 50th Anniversary of Dr. No, I'm sure there will be some mega set for us to buy ;o)
Glad I waited to by any of the bond blus ;o)

Re: James Bond Update
 

I'm just resigned to the fact that my Bonds ain't gonna match. Between the Blu-ray steelbooks, the couple of Blu-rays that didn't have steelbooks released, and the new Craig films, it's kind of a cluster. The quality is top notch though, and will not be double dipping to have matching packaging.

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Not having matching packaging is a small price to pay for the ridiculously cheap Amazon deal that a lot of us got in on :)

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Honestly...I just want all the Connery films and Goldeneye...w/ QoS, which is something I'll get at some point.

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Thank you for being honest.

I knew the Roger Moore thing was a lie!

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I screwed myself with matching by buying the singles for the first wave and the box set of the second (the first reports were that it had individual cases) so whatever at this point. I also have the Best Buy special set so it's a hodgepodge of cases.

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As long as I have all the movies in high quality presentations with good special features, they could be packaged in brown paper bags for all I care.

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Amen. I'd love to see them try to match up the artwork though. I thought they looked pretty good. I sold my steelbooks from the first wave when Amazon had that crazy deal.

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Fixed.

Moore ftw.

But seriously, with MGM barely making it out of their bankruptcy situation alive, it's going to be awhile until we see the rest of these on Blu.

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I think this is the biggest piece of the entire article that went by unnoticed by everyone so far.

Fox has actually done a decent job at putting out MGM titles on Blu-ray. Who would've ever thought Last House on the Left, Poltergeist II and Troll II would have a HD release before most big catalog titles?

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hey! Troll II is a "modern movie classic" - don't knock it...

:D

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I own two of the three titles I mentioned! :D

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Fox has no say in what gets released. MGM still controls its own catalog and makes those decisions. Once MGM decides what it wants to release, Fox handles the actual distribution.

Re: James Bond Update
 

Here's the story from the L.A. Times

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is reportedly on the verge of signing a new deal with MGM to distribute the studio's films on Blu-ray, as well as all other digital mediums. The studio, which has just recently emerged from bankruptcy, currently has a distribution deal with Fox Home Entertainment which is set to expire in September. If the deal is approved, Sony will take over digital distribution of all future MGM films.

Also part of the proposed deal, Sony will co-finance the next two Bond films, providing 50% of the funding for "Bond 23" and 25% for a sequel, "Bond 24". MGM has also reportedly shown interest in co-financing some upcoming Sony films, including David Fincher's Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and possibly the upcoming Spider-man reboot.

Blu-ray historians will note that Sony originally had distribution rights to the MGM library when the studio was sold to a consortium of investors, including Sony, in 2005. Soon after, MGM's management terminated that deal due to slow sales of MGM catalog films. Sony also co-financed the Daniel Craig Bond films Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace as part of that acquisition, but up until now were not slated to be a major player in "Bond 23".

Sources close to the deal state that while an agreement is very close, a few more details need to be ironed-out before the deal can be competed.

Re: James Bond Update
 

Sigh...

I'll just have to accept the fact that none of the remaining Bond films will get steelbook releases to go along with the ones I've got...

Re: James Bond Update
 

Surprised no one has brought this up yet, but durring yesterdays Skyfall press conference a reporter asked about plans for next years BOND year exactly entail whether it will include theatrical re releases or dvd combo packs with new features.
and Michael G Wilson while not going into a lot detail does mention they are working on a new documentary
http://bcove.me/a5gxzj68
its a little after the 18 min mark

Re: James Bond Update
 

Pfft, there was nothing talked about in that!

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at around the 18 min mark, Michael G wilson while answering the question about what a "Bond Year" entails mentions they are working on a documentary on the 50 years of bond.

Re: James Bond Update
 

Hi,

I was just on Amazon and there was a brief ad for pre-release ordering of a Bond 50 collection - all 22 bond films in a blu ray collection. The ad was gone a minute later and there is no search result for such a collection, so I think they were just getting ready for the release. I wasn't able to get any further information...

Anna

Re: James Bond Update
 

supposedly there is going to be some Bond bluray news at CES tomorrow:

Via Digital Bits on Facebook...

"Fox and MGM set to announce Complete James Bond Blu-ray box tomorrow at CES event in Panasonic booth (to be telecast live on CNet - stay tuned tomorrow for details)..."

Re: James Bond Update
 

I hope they have some individual release news too... that would blow for anyone that bought the current ones and have been waiting for more.

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Yep!

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No way I'd buy a complete series set, after already buying 2/3 of the Bond catalog on Blu-ray.
I'll just wait for the individual releases.

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Yeah, fuck them if they don't release them singly at the same time.

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Well, I bet that you could make more in selling the singles right when the complete is released than the complete will cost.

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As long as they keep producing movies, there is no such thing as a COMPLETE collection. Unless it contains Skyfall, it's already out of date.

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I'd virtually guerantee that they will release these as they always have. In 3 or 4 box sets that mix classic Connery with 2 or 3 stinkers. Followed up 3 years from now with individual releases.

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Why don't we wait at least until Skyfall has been made before calling a release without it incomplete. It would be pretty tough, even for the best Blu-ray distributor, to include a movie that's still in the middle of principal photography.

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All I can say is thank God Paramount backed away...I can't imagine anything worse than them releasing Bond on Blu-ray - which would probably either be barebones, or archived non-HD extras.

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http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/mgm-...ms-on-blu-ray/

Coming this Fall. All 22 films that are currently on Home Video. Price is going to be around $240

Re: James Bond Update
 

Since I have none of them on blu, I welcome a full set, which is what I'd want anyway. By definition, it will probably be a decent sized box, but hopefully not a misshapen one that won't fit on my shelf. That will force my hand on only buying individual titles.

Re: James Bond Update
 

The complete box set is kind of tempting but I've got quite a few on Blu-ray already (Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Man with the Golden Gun, Casino Royale, and Quantum of Solace). Plus with Bond a complete set is probably never going to be complete since they keep making new ones and I assume will continue to for quite some time. Maybe if the price was right I'd consider it.

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The Blu-ray releases have always had the small box sets along with them available individually at the same time though. Not sure where your 3 years from now thing is coming from, unless i'm misunderstanding you.

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It's on blu-ray.com as well. Definitely happening.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8017

The missing titles are why I never bought any of them on BD. Heck, I still haven't gone through everything on the ultimate DVD sets.

The $240 price tag, if true, is not as high as expected considering the number of films.

When someone has it for around $160-$170, then I go for it.

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I wouldn't buy a complete set for $5 if that means I have to have Moonraker.

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I never bought any of the current Blu-rays, and I acquired all of the remastered DVD editions when Circuit City had that ridiculous sale on all 4 volumes at something like $15 a piece. I'd buy this set if I can get it for under $150.

Re: James Bond Update
 

13 Bond films already released on Blu ray.
If I buy the other remaining 9 films.

9 x $15.99 = $143.91 (just a guesstimate for the price for each film. It could be more or less.)

If I order this for £89.99. (The Price could go down by October).
http://www.amazon.co.uk/James-Bond-C...6236612&sr=1-3

It cost $120.88 USD at Amazon UK for all 22 films.

Re: James Bond Update
 

Not a bad price at all. The only thing is if the discs are region free or not. The packaging for that set is pretty cool looking though.