Hmm, feeling "Special" all of a sudden...

I realize there are other threads about the Bond Ultimate Edition sets, but my question isn't solely regarding those, and it's unlikely that a lot of the people who can help me would be reading those other threads.

My question is a simple one -- I am wondering about exactly how much bonus material has appeared on the various James Bond DVDs.

Specifically, I'm wondering if the currently-OOP MGM releases and the Ultimate Edition sets are the only Bond DVDs that have been released (plus of course the two Casino Royale DVDs and Never Say Never Again). I've rented a lot of the MGM ones, but I'm wondering whether there are different versions of those that might have different bonus material. The material on the ones I've rented looks like it came from Laserdisc releases, and I'm wondering if there were other DVDs released of the Bond films between the MGM ones and the new Ultimate Collection.

Also, in terms of the Ultimate Collection, does the second disc contain all the material from the MGM releases plus new stuff, is it some MGM stuff and some new stuff, or is it all new stuff? I understand that the current and upcoming single-disc releases are simply Disc 1 from the Ultimate Collection versions, but do they have the same commentaries as the OOP MGM discs, new ones, or both?

I realize that some of these questions might be answered in the Ultimate Collection threads, but not all, and my biggest question (were there other releases between the original MGM DVDs and the Ultimate Collection) probably wouldn't have come up in those threads.

Thanks in advance for any information my fellow Bond fans can provide.

All of the untimate edition bond dvds have all the bonus material ever created except the ultimate edition of Die Another Day which loses all the bones material from the previous 2 disc set. The commentaries on Die Another Day are the only extra carried over.

This thread in the HTF answers all your questions:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...d.php?t=240365

Hey Robert, THANK YOU! I am now waiting for the "James Bond Ultimate Edition Boxed Sets Bundle" from Amazon.com and was wondering if it would include everything. I only bought one box set way back in 1999 or whenever - and of course the suckers change the films which are in each box set with each re-release, so I decided that it was finally time to buy the entire thing at once, before this Ultimate Edition ALSO goes OOP and I still don't have all of the films.

Thanks again!

mgm also released bare bones edition way back when in snapper cases. nothing really to speak of. You might also want to track down the three bonus disc from the Die another Day release., Bond Girls are forever, 0 to 007 the driving machines of bond, and shaken not stirred.

also there are commentaries from the criterion laserdisc that were never ported over, but may be available in mp3 format from someone. There was a forum member last year who had made his own ultimate set of those films with the criterion commentaries.

I'll look for the snapper versions, but if they're bare-bones, they won't be useful. As for the bonus discs, one down, one pending a trade, and one to go.

Interesting. I'll look into those. Thanks for all the info!

Okay, thanks. I seem to recall reading on the back of the sets that there's some material that's new to those sets -- true? If so, is it any good?

Yeah, I'm sure it does -- all 29 pages of it. That's kind of why I started a new thread, because I don't really want every little tidbit of information and comment about the Ultimate Edition, just the answer to one or two questions that anyone who owns the sets can answer off the top of their heads.

I think I have most of the information I need:

...won't be losing anything, with the exception of Die Another Day

...there wasn't any other bonus material offered other than what's on the MGM discs I've been renting (outside of the UE sets, of course)

I'm sure before it's all said and done I'll have to go out and buy all the sets (hopefully used and/or at a hefty discount), but you guys have been very helpful.

Thanks!!!

Mike,

Do you know somebody with a Costco membership? The sets are $43.99 - $10 instant rebate + tax right now (w/ coupon sent in the mail). That is the cheapest I have seen them new (I guess they are $24.99 at Gamestop and/or EB but I haven't seen them at any of mine). Just a heads up!

Thanks, I appreciate that. I'll probably end up buying them used, because there are very few films I'm actually interested in, although I'd like to see all the bonus material. Unfortunately, we don't have a Costco in this area, but no biggie, used will work for me.