If anyone is interested, you can now buy the full 40 DVD set at HMV online for only £99.99!! I just ordered mine...

I would have liked I could download all the artwork and rear cover images of this Ultimate Edition, which I'm eagerly expecting... instead, and I sincerely hope that this Region 2 Ultimate Edition, would have included spanish subtitles. Regards.

GavSalkeld wrote: Well in my eyes, the original cuts would be higher rated (LTK would be an 18, GE and TND would be 15s). Since no higher rated versions have ever been released until now, it stands to reason that the original cuts are of course only now getting an release. Thats how I see it anyway.

Again, I think you're responding to something I never actually said! Better just leave it, I guess.

Quote: I didnt say TND would include the MPAA cuts, but it definitely includes some of what the BBFC originally took out So thats good news, I guess.

Sorry, I mistook your bemoaning of the MPAA cuts as being more relevant to the new release, my bad. Right, so we're getting the U.S. regular release cut, then.

In which case, I would indeed be interested in the differences - you can email me at sorkinfan@hotmail.co.uk if the offer still stands.

Quote: Quote: They're not saying you can't watch X or Y viloent moment in a 007 movie... they ARE saying that the material isn't suitable for younger viewers. It's the filmmakers' mistake, not the BBFCs - they made a film too violent for the certificate they wanted.

No, its the BBFC fault for having strict insane rules in the first place. So they ARE saying "you can't watch X or Y violent moment". Its the fault of the rules they draw up (which is done accordingly to public feedback - well gee, no one asked me). The 15-version of TND is a PG-13 in the US (more or less the same idea as 12A, but with 13 being the cut off limit). If the BBFC didnt have stupid rules, the films wouldn't need to be cut.

Okay, well, this one's gonna go round in circles. The BBFC's guidlines change with the times, and aren't just based on arbitrary public opinion. Indeed, I think you'll find they're a lot more lenient than a lot of people would prefer. (The "Ban this filth" crowd, mostly. But they're as much a part of society as we are.)

There's a lot of qualified personnel over there - psychologists and such, people who understand people. And a line has be be drawn somewhere. they have to pick SOME criteria. I say again, the alternative is studios whacking massive violence and then releasing under a PG certificate.

Comparing to America, though, is false reasoning. It's a different society. for all the similarites, it's VERY different to the UK. Gun laws, the power of the Christian right - a certification body has to regulate for its home viewers, and these things aren't interchangable across the Atlantic.

Quote: Quote: They didn't, Warners did. Warners made the cuts... the BBFC don't make cuts. They can advise, but it's up to the makers to make the changes work...

Not necessarily. Ive been into censorship for years and have frequent contact with the BBFC. Without sounding big headed, I do know a lot about how they work. The BBFC make cuts themselves, but the submitting company is free to do the editing themselves if they so desire (for artistic or technical reasons).

This has been totally contrary to my experience, and I guess we can't go any further on a public forum. Suffice to say that we have always made our own cuts, and that the alternative was never offered.

[/quote]Again, though, if the BBFC didnt have daft rules we would have had the full scene with unaffected music. And it doesnt matter who did the actual cutting, the music still jumps and the cuts only exist cos of the BBFC's rules. In the end, the fact that our films get cut all boils down to the BBFC's rules. I don't hear any stories of American kids nutting each other to death after seeing the uncut GOLDENEYE.[/quote]

No, but then they might have been a bit busy reporting the high levels of gun crime that week...

Look, you can't just say 'Leave unsuitable vilolence in a low-cert movie, becuase otherwise it'll make the score sound funny'. How abotu 'release two cuts', or even 'make a film suitable for your audience'.

You think volence-as-entertainment has zero impact on a society? You need to read up. of course films can't be blamed for the violence in our natures, but ask anyone with kids - imitatable behavior is a problem. Kids do go to school the next day and act like Neo. they do copy the martial arts. And a headbutt is a scarily easy thing to do damage with.

Of course the REAL reason you didn't hear about GE headbutts causing a spate of copycats is becuase it didn't happen directly - because so many headbutts appear in so many American movies viewable by kids that you could never pinpoint just one. Plus, as I say, it's a vauge influence on the culture, not a direct one - less "monkey see, monkey do" more "monkey see over and over again, monkey thinks is normal and acceptible".

Again, when your kid comes home from school with a bloodied nose from a headbutt, you really can't argue any more than any child should see any thing. It's what classification is there for - you think they WANT to cut films? Of course not. They just want them to be suitable for their audience. That's not a reason to hate them.

Quote: No, see, I'm not suggesting that everything isnt RATED, I'm saying that the daft rules/cuts compiled by the BBFC need changing. I'm all for protecting children from horrific violence and, sex, drugs and bad language. But a few punch sound effects and headbutts in a Bond movie? Whats the fuss, ya know?

Actually, you've answered your own question. You want the film left un-cut because the violence has more realistic impact., It has a more visceral effect on the audience. It has a stronger effect of heartrate, adrenaline; it burns into the brain better. That's all fine - again, I love a film that rocks you.

But all that extra impact could be impacting on minds which aren't ready to deal with it. And if you think America's system is better, you obviously haven't seen the violent crime statistics for that country lately.

Look, I know it ain't perfect. Age is an arbitrary means of judging someone's metal capabilities. Just like some people are fine to drink at 15 and some still shouldn't at 30. That's all true - but what else is there? What's the alternative?

Similarly, if someone can present a better list of definitive ways to classify films - what's acceptible for each certificate - I'd love to hear it. But you've got to have more to back it up than "It's probably not a big deal, and besaides, if we make cuts, it'll ruin the score."

Quote: Then show your support and buy uncut films! Lol.

I'm conflicted, mostly because I'll happily support uncut movies, but I don't want to support double-dip editions that give you 75% of the same again. It makes the industry this it's okay to keep doing it.

Also, I'd hate to give producers the impression that somehow an extra level of violence suddenly elevates 'X' movie to something better.

Quote: I do dislike the money element, yes. But if the BBFC were more lenient as the US censors are with PG-13 stuff (in particular), we would have more uncut stuff.

Again, though, that's a circular argument - I could just as easily say that if the MPAA were less free with letting kids see almost anything, filmmakers would learn to temper their films to their target audiences.

It's insane that, with the MPAA's system, a 8 year old could go see Robocop or Basic Instinct, just so long as his 18 year old cousin takes him.

If the BBFC were more lenient, PG movies would get even more violent more quickly. And society would be damaged. In small, incremental ways, but again I say - you seriously want to use America as an example of how a violence in the culture has zero relationship to the media?!

Quote: But its a good healthy discussion, so its cool. But my hatred of the BBFC is justified, believe me lol!

Um - no. See, I think my defesive of a body that has a near-impossible job that gets it right more often than they get it wrong is justified. They've got the 'let anyone see anything' crowd on one side, the 'ban anything but Merchant Ivory and Thora Hird' crowd on the other, and a whole bunch in the middle who think the line is the sand is in the wrong place - backed up not by qualifications in sociology or psychology, but by the fact that they wnat to see what they want to see. They're old enough, they can take it.

Yes, of course you are, But you're not the only one buying a cinema ticket.

Quote: Have you seen the 15 version of ERASER? Watch it compared to the uncut ( and also 15-rated) Aussie version and tell me if you still think its Warner's fault

I don't need to see it. It doesn't change my central argument, or yours. You would say the BBFC ruined a decent film. (Or, more accurately, a pretty awful one with ZERO defense to 'great artistry'.) I would say that a bunch of producers tried to make a violent Arnie film, knowing that Arnie doing violence makes for good box-office, then tried to get kids to see it. Even though it wasn't suitable for the average 15 year old in the UK.

The BBFC have a cause beyond money, Warners don't. So yes, of course I'll say it's still Warners fault. What was the problem with releasing it uncut with an 18 certificate? That's Warners' call. Because they want kids at school to see it and spread the word that the violence was cool; they want the money and have no interested in either the integrity of the film (*cough*), or the wellbeing of society.

If you've worked with the BBFC, you must know that their motivations are a hell of a lot purer than any studio's. It's not like they get a bonus if they make loads of cuts. They're patrolling a difficult border, and while they don't always, always get it right, I've yet to meet anything with a better solution.

Jeez, this is going on. The story's off the front page and we must be boring the c**p out of people. By all means continue this by email if you like - we're never going to change our minds and agree, but it's all good brain exercise!

Quote: But there have never been higher certificate releases of the cut films.

I think you've massively misunderstood my original post. I'm aware there's been no previous higher-cert cut. I never claimed there had been. Here's what I said in the first place: "I'm aware of the various UK and US edits, but not that the original cut was, for the first time, getting a release."

So, to say it again: when I posted, I hadn't heard that any pre-certification versions were being released to the public. Though I was aware of various BBFC/MPAA edits, the notion that these versions are based on SUBMITTED edits, rather than previously passed ones (i.e. that the UK wasn't just getting US editions of some films), was news to me.

Hape that clears things up!

Quote: GOLDENEYE's commentary on the Region 2 DVD had bits removed to fit the edited version (one of the reasons I HATE cut films; we lost two additional audio options on THE MATRIX thanks to BBBFC cuts!!!). So the commentary wont be recut, but it will be more complete. Martin Campbell and Michael Wilson discuss the problems with the censors on the disc.

*sigh*

I know the original track fit the US cut of GE...but actually you've answered one question at least - that GE won't be a new edit, just containing those moments the UK didn't get.

But what about LTK and TND, which, you're saying, HAVE been taken back to pre-censor cuts, including the MPAAs? Surely the tracks will be needing tweaks to fit, given they were recoded to the old, released edits of the films?

Quote: This is what annoys me about people who "dont mind" cuts. Yes, its the same film, but why should someone sitting in an office somewhere tell you what you can and cant watch?

I think you've jumped to a very peculiar conclusion about me based on this. Of course I want movies as filmmakers intend...but your dislike of certification bodies is a little misplaced.

They're not saying you can't watch X or Y viloent moment in a 007 movie Well, not often, but not for Bond anyway) - they ARE saying that the material isn't suitable for younger viewers. It's the filmmakers' mistake, not the BBFCs - they made a film too violent for the certificate they wanted.

As these editions seem to be proving, they filmmakers could put in whatever they liked so long as they accepted a higher certification. That's not censorship, it's clasification. They wanted a 12 cert because the film would make more money that way.

Quote: Why should we have to lose DVD extras like commentaries and isolated scores because someone has cut the film and rendered any audio sync useless?

Again, this is the fault of the makers. Listen, I produce for DVD for a living (as,you imply, do you). You and I both know that it's a relatively small cost - especially for a big film - to tidy audio tracks to fit. It's insanely easy...so long as you're prepared.

It's the arrogance of certain producers, and the cheapness and laziness of some DVD makers, that leads to the losses you mention.

Again, the Matrix flicks could have gone out uncut...if they'd accepted an 18 certification. It's up to the makers to keep the film suitable - and THEY make the cuts and changes, not the BBFC.

Quote: Why should we have to put up with fight scenes that lack impact due to missing sound effects? Why should we put up with cuts whereby the musical score jumps badly due to cuts (THE MATRIX showdown is a prime example, the BBFC ruined the score for this scene).

They didn't, Warners did. Warners made the cuts.

Quote: Why should someone be bestowing on us their views on whats right and wrong, affecting the filmmakers' artistic decisions? I'd never buy a film thats been cut by the BBFC. I only ever buy uncut films.

Again I say that the BBFC don't make cuts. They can advise, but it's up to the makers to make the changes work...or just accept that their film isn't suitable for the kids they want in the audience.

Why should someone bestow their views? Because the alternative is 10 years olds going out to the cinema to see the great Paul Verhoeven's latest sex-and-violence-fest, because there's no age restriction at the door. It's no different from smoking or alcohol laws.

But almost nothing is being censored - studios get money-grabbing and want the lowest cert they can get. Want an uncut film? Persuade the studios that an 18 film will bring in the same level of cash. And that may be true for some genres, thank God, but for 007...they want the kiddie buck.

Quote: I'm not having a go, but thats my view. Censorship, particularly of films, REALLY gets on my nerves. Especially when its something as innocent as Bond.

Hey, I hate bad, enforced edits as much as the next movie nerd. A stack of films have been ruined by them. But in this instance your blame is going to the wrong people.

Smart filmmakers, of which there are plenty, will work with the MPAA and BBFC, will take advice on how far they can push a certain certificate. Spielberg's a smart guy on this subject, he knows how do handle it, and he gets in early enough that suggestions can be incorporated before a final sound mix is done, before the score is recorded, before the cut is locked.

Don't hate the classifiers, hate the studios that put the dollar above artistic and creative integrity.

Man, this whole thing went off in a WAY different direction than I expected!

Quote: Well there's only been the previous releases, and as you know that was cut. So how else would it have been released in the past?

Video, DVD, cinema...? Not sure what you meant by this - a previous cut could have been released at any time, so long as the makers were happy with a potentially higher certificate. My point was I've seen nothing official that suggests that these versions feature anything more than a few reinstated trims...

Hopefully this info will come out soon. TND, the new version, is 17 seconds longer than the previous edition according to the BBFC. No new version of GoldenEye has been classified yet.

LTK's new cut seems to be a maximum of 19 seconds longer. This, too, bodes quite well - after all, the previous UK edition DID waive the previous cuts to release the American version. So if this has been further extended...well, there's 19 seconds of violence for ya.

For that matter, though, since when has nudity been permitted in Bond films anyway? And since when was bloody violence part of the series? Don't the cuts to these film, at least, suggest the team went a little too far given the certification they wanted?

Quote: Where's this info come from? Are you working on these discs and I'm just too out-of-the-loop to know?

Hehe, perhaps [/quote]

Oh. Okay. Which could also read 'or maybe not'. :-p

So have the commentary tracks have to be recut to fit the new runtimes?

Anyway, enough of this. I really wasn't looking to suggest anything about the new editions - either the transfers or the new cuts (though I still doubt these to be very different films for the sake of less than 20 seconds of extra footage and the odd sound SF improvement!).

My only real point was the lack of new and interesting bonus material. The bulk of what we get is the same stuff we already had. Only the deleted scenes (and, okay, maybe the new cuts) will sway me.

Kudos, though, for putting the releases out at a reasonable price. At least they KNOW they're giving us mostly the same product again...!

Well, I just sold my old Bond DVD Box Sets on eBay. Some sorry sap bought all of them for $300, so it looks like I will now be getting these scrumptious DVD's.

douglas shaw wrote:  John Barry's score for OHMSS..in glorious DTS..? Oh my. I own the previous MGM special editions and it looks like I'm going to have to change up. DTS mixes on the lot of them and all the original extras plus new ones and Lowery picture restoration...the only thing that could make these better would be poster art reproductions for the covers but that is such a minor quibble as to be mute...glorious news. This is a double-dip about which I cannot complain, I hope the R1 versions are the same(the attache case rocks). Big Kudos to Sony for including the previous supplements.

I really couldn't agree more!

SorkinFan wrote: Do new transers really justify forking out for the set all over again?

When you held off buying any of the other editions for this sole reason, it pays off big time I didnt buy the other versions, see.

Quote: I'm going to beg to differ. I don't think anyone was finding those scenes comical.

Im not saying people were falling around laughing, but when you know how its meant to looks and sound, they look DREADFUL. Even if you dont, its still obvious. You are meant to hear punches and kicks in a movie. If you cant, Id be asking questions! You can barely hear the kicks and punches in the cut scenes and it makes the sound mixing team look like idiots to anyone who didnt know about the censoring.

Quote: FX volume aside, only a few shots got snipped, right?

No, the cuts made to the film are rather substantial. There is a lot more cut out than just those shuriken-throwing shots.

Quote: Hang on - there's no mention of 'uncut' on these editions. And the cut used for the previous DVD reinstated various violent moments (meanign the UK got the US cut, I think). So is this new version any different to the previous DVD?

Yes, the previous DVD was still cut -- by the BBFC and the MPAA -- just less so than the hacked-to-pieces VHS version. Felix's shark scene was shorter, some sound effects were removed/toned down in fight scenes, Loti's shooting was cut, Krest's death is slightly trimmed, Dario's death was trimmed, and so was Sanchez's. All these cuts -- and more -- are reinstated on this Ultimate Edition of LICENCE TO KILL, i.e. it contains all the stuff the US and UK censors complained about back in 1989. None of this footage has ever been released on DVD before.

When a company releases an uncut version of a film with a higher rating (e.g. GOLDENEYE and TND), they have to put some text on the cover to show its not the same version as released before. I guess the reason there is no "uncut" on LTK is because its still got the same rating it has always had.

007 James Bond wrote: Also inside TLD is uncut with Sam Neil

Sam Neil and the TLD were never an issue. Its just a rumour.

Soooo...what's th RRP for the whole set?

YlowBstard wrote: Great news. When they come to North America, I`ll be picking up GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, License to Kill, From Russia with love, and For Your Eyes Only even though I have all of em on VHS.

Yeah, you never know, those VHS might be worth something some day. *puleez*

I for the life of me can't figure out why some people always use the "I have it on VHS" excuse for not buying a brand new fully restored version on DVD.  

That'd be like saying I have such and such album on 8-track, so I don't need to EVER buy the CD, SA-CD or DVD-A version of it.  True, I had a boatload of cassettes, and I've only replaced only a select few bands worth on CD, but I'd never use the excuse that I have the cassette version to justify not buying the CD.  

The main point is that VHS and audio cassettes wear out.  Digital discs of either, do not.  The only thing that makes discs unplayable is deep scratches or delamination (layer rot).

SorkinFan wrote: As to the DVDs - colour me indifferent. I'm sure the restoration's decent, but are these really much of an improvement over the (very good) first editions?

You bet your ass they are! DTS Digital Images did the restoration (they bought out Lowry and changed their name) and they're STUNNING to look at.

Quote: Not overly fussed about the 'Uncut' flicks, either - a couple of kicks in one, a headbutt and scuffle in ther other.

Well theres A LOT more to the uncut bits than that. The cuts to the films by the BBFC are horrid, and make the fight scenes look badly edited. In TOMORROW NEVER DIES the reduction of sound effects in the fight scenes makes them look comical and lacking in impact. As for LICENCE TO KILL, the bits that both the BBFC and MPAA cut out sure do make the whole film much grittier. They said they wanted to go grittier with Dalton, and this uncut version of LICENCE shows what they meant. It rules

About time we got all these uncut, I cant wait to go out and grab all these in July.

So, the subtitles in english for hard of hearing are only for the movie, but the normal english subtitles are available for the extras too, I suppose.

Can anyone confirm if the burnt in subtitles for locations and some spoken languages, (eg. Octopussy, Living Daylights, etc) and the cuts in OHMSS will be restored in this set?

These were reported problems with the previous region 1 special editions.

Thanks

Great news. When they come to North America, I`ll be picking up GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, License to Kill, From Russia with love, and For Your Eyes Only even though I have all of em on VHS.

From the older dvd´s is OHMSS the only dvd we share with England beside´s DAD and the movie is 136 minutes.

In The Netherlands all dvd´s where uncut like the earlyer VHS.
(The only mistake there make is that saying another time on the backside sometimes. For example Thunderball is 125,but it says 123 and OHMSS is 136 minute´s and it say 130 minute´s.)

The time of some movie´s are a litle bit under or over rated ,but not much:

YOLT isn´t 112 minute´s but 110 minutes
LALD is´t 117 minutes but 116 minutes
LTK isn´t 128 minutes but 127 minutes

Of course not exaly those minutes but with a couple of seconds.

Die Another Day (127) is with LTK the longenst movie after OHMSS,LTK is mabey a couple of seconds longer.

Also inside TLD is uncut with Sam Neil

Bit of a mistake on Die Another Day - 'From Script to Screen' (a fantastic documentary) WAS already released on DVD; it was a Region 2 exclusive, bought from ITV.

Plus 'Just Another Day' was another neat little docco that, also, has been out on DVD. It came as a giveaway from Woolworths when you bought The Sun newspaper.

Anyone wanna call Trade Descriptions? :-)

As to the DVDs - colour me indifferent. I'm sure the restoration's decent, but are these really much of an improvement over the (very good) first editions? Roger Moore commentaries? He's lovely, but interesting to the power of seven two-hour movies? Probably not.

Interactive guides? These should have been retired from DVD years ago. Archive footage? Well, now, aside from old adverts and chat show appearances, this, at least, might have been excellent...

...only, the new deleted scenes only kick in the 80s (Diamonds are Forever aside). Which means the only new stuff that might persuade me to buy again starts half way through the collection.

I'll wait for the reviews - if the deleted scenes are worth a look (and I expect they will be for the Brosnan era, at least; the archive's still warm!) I'll have to consider it. But damn, it's a thin straw for a fan to clutch at.

(Not overly fussed about the 'Uncut' flicks, either - a couple of kicks in one, a headbutt and scuffle in ther other. I'll cope without them - seeing as I forked out for the 007 boxed set the first time around.)

I am hoping they are going to release the full uncut O"n Her Majesty's Secret Service", all versions seem to have at least one cut, and England has three! Didn't see any mention of it on the new packaging.

To this day it remains Chris' goal to find a way to interject Star Wars into every thread, discussion, or review.

I had no idea that the first three Bonds were filmed in 1.66:1 (and LaLD in 1.85:1). That explains why they didn't look as badly cropped on TV.

I still don't own a single Bond film on DVD, and with the constant re-issues, I sure am glad that I don't! Though with the HD formats on the way, maybe these will be the *final* Bond releases on the format? I sure hope so!

Somewhat OTly speaking, I never understood why people bash Moonraker so much. I know it was done in the shadow of Star Wars, but it's still an entertaining romp. Though most of you would probably use it as a sufficient excuse to ignore me, since my favorite Bond also happens to be Timothy Dalton...

£ukasz D wrote: forgive my fruastration...but
WHY O WHY THE INCLUDE FINISH,DUTCH, DANISH, NORWEGIAN SUBTITLES...AND NOT POLISH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
WHY ALL THE SMALL COUNTRIES GOT THEYR SUBS..AND MY 40 MLN COUNTRY HAS NOT ?????????????????? OOO SCRUE you WARNER !!!!!
Something makes me think that subtitles wouldn't help you much.

It might do, I hardly check old versions of Firefox. Looks like some sort of memory bug to me, like it can't cope with that amount of images or content within the same box. Like I said, both Firefox 2 and 3 are in development, will try them later to see if it's fixed in either of those.

Edit - oh well, just checked, Firefox 2 and 3 have the same problem.

Mal - this web page is too long in my FireFox browser.

FYI the Region 1 versions are scheduled for November they've been shown on some R1 trailers, sorry I don't know which.

Yes Goldeneye and Tomorrow Never Dies have always been cut up until these DVDs in the UK BUT also "License to Kill" is going to be the uncut version for the first time ever.

It's currently cut on every DVD and Theatrical run in the world.

p.s - For those who it interests you will note the Original Mono has been dropped from all the relevant titles in place of 5.1.

Mal wrote: In case anyone is having trouble viewing the end of the news item, it's a Firefox bug that affects our pages when they get too long. To get around it just view the page in Opera or Internet Explorer.

Is it a Firefox bug, or one of yours?

I am a huge 007 fan, I bought them all on VHS and I bought them all on DVD, including Never Say Never Again. I really don't think I'll be spending another couple hundred on these though if they come out in the states no matter how tempting those DTS tracks are. The DTS-ES track on Die Another Day is quite explosive, I would love to hear the older ones restored. But it would cost soooooooooooo much!

In case anyone is having trouble viewing the end of the news item, it's a Firefox bug that affects our pages when they get too long. To get around it just view the page in Opera or Internet Explorer.

Carlin wrote: Great! I currently have them all on VHS.

I will certainly be looking to buy Goldeneye, The Spy who Loved Me and For Your Eyes Only. The three best IMO.

lol, me to. I own all 20 films on VHS and I am looking to update them on DVD. Its great that they are all getting new anamprohic widescreen frame by frame digital restoration transfers. I also cannot wait to go though all the new bonus material for each film. When is this coming out in R1?

Tomorrow Never Dies - Uncensored I think you'll find that the British version omits 2 shots from the final sequence.  One being Michelle Yeoh throwing a Shuriken at one of the Stealth Boats crew and the second being Bond kicking a downed guard in the face. These shots are complete in the US version. Here's hoping they do something about those subtitles at the beginning of the film 'Terrorist Arms Bazarr' - Awful fonts!

Lincoln6Echo wrote: But just one question...how does the anamorphic 1.66 transfers work?  Specifically on a 16:9 enhanced 4:3 TV when the 16:9 squeeze automatically squeezes to 1.78?

They're side-curtained.

That is AWESOME!!!  Probably my biggest long awaited release.  Hopefully they'll release them in the States around the time of the theatrical release of Casino Royale.  I'd hate to have to wait till the DVD release.  

Love to see Lowry Digital's work on the restoration.  The new DTS tracks to replace some of the old mono tracks should be cool.

But just one question...how does the anamorphic 1.66 transfers work?  Specifically on a 16:9 enhanced 4:3 TV when the 16:9 squeeze automatically squeezes to 1.78?

And I thought Sony's Ultimate Edition DVD's were rip-offs!