James Bond 007

From Russia with Love (1963)

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray, despite prevalent frozen grain

Best Audio:

1991 Criterion LaserDisc with end credits from 1992 MGM LaserDisc

Additional Info:

Criterion LaserDisc includes an exclusive commentary, which was later banned by EON and caused the release to be recalled.

Director: Terence Young

Best English-Friendly:

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray despite some frozen grain

Best Audio:

1992/1993 MGM LaserDisc

Additional Info:

Criterion LaserDisc includes an exclusive commentary, which was later banned by EON and caused the release to be recalled.

Goldfinger (1964)

Director: Guy Hamilton

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Best Audio:

1988 MGM VHS Hi-Fi, 1988 LaserDisc analog

Additional Info:

Criterion LaserDisc includes an exclusive commentary, which was later banned by EON and caused the release to be recalled.

Thunderball (1965)

Director: Terence Young

Best English-Friendly:

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray despite frozen grain

Best Audio:

UK mix: 1984 CBS Fox VHS Hifi but missing one scene
International mix: WB 4K Blu-ray though source origin is unknown

1995 MGM stereo remix: 1998 LaserDisc and 2000 DVD fix gunbarrel dropout

Casino Royale (1967)

Directors: Val Guest & Ken Hughes & John Huston & Joseph McGrath & Robert Parrish

Best English-Friendly:

You Only Live Twice (1967)

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray despite dated master

Best Audio:

Sony Columbia 1994 LaserDisc Mono

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Director: Peter R. Hunt

Video format: 4K Streaming

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Sources: 007homemedia.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Warner Bros Blu-ray is the best Blu-ray even though it has color and major contrast issues
4K SDR master on streaming seems to be from the same scan and looks like it has less tinkering than the Blu-ray
Caps of 4K SDR master: 007 on Home Media: On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Best Audio:

MGM 1991 LaserDisc

Director: Guy Hamilton

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Best Audio:

MGM 1990/1993 LaserDisc

Live and Let Die (1973)

Director: Guy Hamilton

Video format: 4K Streaming

Best English-Friendly & Video:

The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

Sources: 007homemedia.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

MGM Blu-ray is the best Blu-ray release
4K SDR master on streaming seems to be from the same scan and looks like it has less tinkering than the Blu-ray
Screencaps of the 4K SDR master: 007 on Home Media: Live and Let Die (1973)

Best Audio:

MGM 1991/1993 LaserDisc

Director: Guy Hamilton

Video format: 4K Streaming

Best English-Friendly:

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Sources: 007homemedia.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab)

Best Video:

4K Streaming SDR master on streaming seems to look quite a bit better than the Blu-ray

MGM Blu-ray is the best physical media release

Caps of the 4K SDR master: 007 on Home Media: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

Best Audio:

MGM 1993 LaserDisc

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Best Audio:

Original 4-Track Mix: MGM 1990 LaserDisc

General release mono mix: CBS Fox VHS Hi-Fi but time compressed
5.1 remix of 4-track mix: MGM Blu-ray (a lossless version of the remix from the Ultimate Edition DVD)

Audio Notes:

The 5.1 track on the earlier THX LD/DVD and SE DVDs is not the same as the later remix, and appears to be more faithful the original mix (likely a simple upmix). The UE DVD remix has a lot more surround activity.

Moonraker (1979)

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

For Your Eyes Only (1981)

Sources: 007homemedia.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab)

Best Video:

4K Streaming SDR master seems to be from the same scan and looks like it has less tinkering than the Blu-ray

MGM Blu-ray is the best physical media release

Screencaps of the 4K SDR master: 007 on Home Media: Moonraker (1979)

Best Audio:

Dolby Stereo: 1990 MGM LaserDisc

Director: John Glen

Best English-Friendly:

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray despite Lowry master issues

Best Audio:

1990 MGM LaserDisc

Octopussy (1983)

Director: John Glen

Best English-Friendly:

Never Say Never Again (1983)

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray despite Lowry master issues

Best Audio:

1990 MGM LaserDisc

Director: Irvin Kershner

Best English-Friendly:

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray despite dated master

Best Audio:

WB 1995 letterbox LaserDisc

A View to a Kill (1985)

Director: John Glen

Best English-Friendly:

The Living Daylights (1987)

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray despite Lowry master issues

Best Audio:

1990 MGM LaserDisc

Audio Notes:

All versions since 2000 use MGM’s heavily bass filtered remix

Director: John Glen

Best English-Friendly:

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray despite Lowry master issues

Best Audio:

1992 MGM LaserDisc

Licence to Kill (1989)

Director: John Glen

Best English-Friendly:

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray despite Lowry master issues

Best Audio:

Dolby SR US PG-13 cut Theatrical mix: 1993 MGM LaserDisc

Uncut version: 1990 Japan Pan and Scan LaserDisc

Audio Notes:

MGM 5.1 remix noticeably reduces elements of original mix

GoldenEye (1995)

Director: Martin Campbell

Video format: 4K Streaming

Best English-Friendly:

Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray: old DNRed video master

4K Lowry master on Streaming (better than DNRed Blu-ray) and Ultimate Edition DVD more detailed but heavily cropped on all sides

LaserDisc master: excellent LaserDisc video master ported to Special Edition DVD

Best Audio:

Theatrical Dolby Digital 5.1: LaserDisc and Special Edition DVD

Theatrical Dolby Stereo SR: LaserDisc

Theatrical DTS 5.1: DTS LaserDisc

Blu-ray 5.1 new transfer

Director: Roger Spottiswoode

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Best Audio:

DTS LaserDisc

Audio Notes:

This 5.1 mix is outstanding and all versions sound excellent. The Blu-ray HDMA is good but the DTS LaserDisc edges out over everything.

Showing 20 of 27 films

Dr. No (1962)

Director: Terence Young

Best English-Friendly:

From Russia with Love (1963)

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray, despite prevalent frozen grain

Best Audio:

1991 Criterion LaserDisc with end credits from 1992 MGM LaserDisc

Additional Info:

Criterion LaserDisc includes an exclusive commentary, which was later banned by EON and caused the release to be recalled.

Director: Terence Young

Best English-Friendly:

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray despite some frozen grain

Best Audio:

1992/1993 MGM LaserDisc

Additional Info:

Criterion LaserDisc includes an exclusive commentary, which was later banned by EON and caused the release to be recalled.

Goldfinger (1964)

Director: Guy Hamilton

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Best Audio:

1988 MGM VHS Hi-Fi, 1988 LaserDisc analog

Additional Info:

Criterion LaserDisc includes an exclusive commentary, which was later banned by EON and caused the release to be recalled.

Thunderball (1965)

Director: Terence Young

Best English-Friendly:

Best Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray despite frozen grain

Best Audio:

UK mix: 1984 CBS Fox VHS Hifi but missing one scene
International mix: WB 4K Blu-ray though source origin is unknown

1995 MGM stereo remix: 1998 LaserDisc and 2000 DVD fix gunbarrel dropout

Casino Royale (1967)

Directors: Val Guest & Ken Hughes & John Huston & Joseph McGrath & Robert Parrish

Best English-Friendly:

You Only Live Twice (1967)

Best Video:

MGM Blu-ray despite dated master

Best Audio:

Sony Columbia 1994 LaserDisc Mono

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:

On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

Director: Peter R. Hunt

Video format: 4K Streaming

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

Sources: 007homemedia.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Best Audio:

MGM 1991 LaserDisc

Director: Guy Hamilton

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Best Audio:

MGM 1990/1993 LaserDisc

Live and Let Die (1973)

Director: Guy Hamilton

Video format: 4K Streaming

Best English-Friendly & Video:

The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

Sources: 007homemedia.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

MGM Blu-ray is the best Blu-ray release
4K SDR master on streaming seems to be from the same scan and looks like it has less tinkering than the Blu-ray
Screencaps of the 4K SDR master: 007 on Home Media: Live and Let Die (1973)

Best Audio:

MGM 1991/1993 LaserDisc

Director: Guy Hamilton

Video format: 4K Streaming

Best English-Friendly:

The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

Sources: 007homemedia.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab)

Best Video:

4K Streaming SDR master on streaming seems to look quite a bit better than the Blu-ray

MGM Blu-ray is the best physical media release

Caps of the 4K SDR master: 007 on Home Media: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

Best Audio:

MGM 1993 LaserDisc

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Best Audio:

Original 4-Track Mix: MGM 1990 LaserDisc

General release mono mix: CBS Fox VHS Hi-Fi but time compressed
5.1 remix of 4-track mix: MGM Blu-ray (a lossless version of the remix from the Ultimate Edition DVD)

Audio Notes:

Moonraker (1979)

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly: