You Only Live Twice (DVD)

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But the plot seems more directionless than most Bond efforts, the emphasis on scenic beauty and stunning set pieces rather than on intrigue or suspense. There are death-defying escapades, naturally, but they appear more contrived than ever, like the villain tying Bond's hands, flying him up in an airplane, and then parachuting out, leaving our hero to figure a way to escape the downward-plummeting plane. But, of course, don't just shoot him. Then, there's a spectacular scene at the end of the film showing the inside of a volcano that is SPECTRE's secret hideout. But the conclusion plays out much as it did in "Dr. No," so again the whole production, start to finish, is quite derivative.

Video:
MGM's picture transfer is presented in a reasonably good and very wide 2.21:1 Panavision ratio. The image is a bit dark, however, with a small amount of grain, especially in secondary outdoor photography, and some occasional age specks prominent at the beginning. It's vaguely rough around the ages, too, but colors are rich, luxuriant, and brilliant. Diagonal and horizontal lines are stable, things like Venetian blinds held firmly in check.

Audio:
The sound is monaural, even though its immediate predecessor, "Thunderball," was in stereo. I found the sound somewhat forward, hollow, and metallic, with only sporadic deep bass, about the same as the first few Bond releases. It does its job, no more.

Extras:
Every Special 007 Edition has impeccable bonus credentials, and this one is no different. Among the welcome extras is a full-length commentary with director Lewis Gilbert and members of the cast and crew; Gilbert is now getting on in years but remarkably lucid. Then there's the usual 007 behind-the-scenes documentary, this one called "Inside You Only Live Twice," lasting thirty minutes, and narrated as always by Patrick Macnee; it chronicles the real-life near deaths that occurred during the filming as much as it talks about the film itself. Next, there's a twenty-three-minute documentary that's even more revealing, "Silhouette--The James Bond Titles." It tells us everything we've ever wanted to know about those sexy opening credits that have become such a hallmark of the Bond series. There are also thirty-two scene selections, an animated storyboard sequence, and various theatrical trailers, radio, and TV spots. English and Spanish are the spoken languages; French and Spanish the subtitles.

Parting Shots:
Funny how this film, despite its charismatic star, gorgeous locations, expensive sets, and multitudinous cast, left me cold. I remember reading the novel back in college around 1964 and thinking how disappointed I was when the movie came out a few years later because the filmmakers had changed so much of the plot. My discontent has not diminished. "You Only Live Twice" may be purchased separately or in a boxed set that includes "From Russia With Love," "Diamonds Are Forever," "Moonraker," "For Your Eyes Only," "The Living Daylights," and "The World Is Not Enough."

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