...more than a bit silly compared to its immediate predecessor.
Video:
MGM's picture quality is fully up to conveying the film's beauty in a wide, 2.21:1 ratio anamorphic screen size. The colors are somewhat soft, but they show little bleeding or blurring, and they are exceptionally vivid and bright. Soft and bright; I hope that makes sense. This combination doesn't take us far in the way of gritty realism, such as the more-recent Bond outings have tried to achieve, but it's supremely easy on the eyes. I noticed some few instances of minor pixel shimmer, however, especially in closely spaced crisscrossed lines like on the front grille of a Mercedes. Nothing to worry about.
Audio:
The sound is easy on the ears as well, a straight Dolby Stereo Surround with no 5.1 processing. As might be expected, the front channels display a lot of left-to-right signal spread, but there is not much going on in the rear. The whole production is rather laid back in the audiovisual department, particularly compared to things like "GoldenEye" and "Tomorrow Never Dies," with their more muted colors, darker tones, and incredibly well-focused and well-distributed five-channel soundtracks.
Extras:
As far as extras are concerned on this Special 007 Edition, the selection is typical. There are English and Spanish spoken languages and French and Spanish subtitles. There's the expected full-feature audio commentary by the director, John Glen, who had already done "For Your Eyes Only" and would go on to direct "A View To A Kill," "The Living Daylights," and "License To Kill." Then there's the customary behind-the-scenes documentary, "Inside Octopussy," thirty-five minutes long and, as always, narrated by Patrick Macnee. Did you know that one of the producers' biggest worries in 1983 was how to compete with Sean Connery's simultaneous release of his own Bond flick, "Never Say Never Again"? Turned out, there was room for both of them. After that, there's a twenty-one-minute documentary called "Designing Bond--Peter Lamont," self explanatory. A pair of animated storyboard sequences follow, one examining the film's taxi chase, the other Bond's rescuing of Octopussy. Next, expect a music video and get one. Of course, MGM include one of their famous informational booklet inserts. Lastly, there are thirty-six scene selections, three teaser trailers, and one major theatrical trailer.
Parting Shots:
"Octopussy" seems more than a bit silly compared to its immediate predecessor, "For Your Eyes Only," but it more than makes up for its script's lack of gravity in its visual splendor. It may be purchased separately or in a boxed set that also includes "Thunderball," "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," "Live and Let Die," "A View to a Kill," and "Die Another Day."
MGM's picture quality is fully up to conveying the film's beauty in a wide, 2.21:1 ratio anamorphic screen size. The colors are somewhat soft, but they show little bleeding or blurring, and they are exceptionally vivid and bright. Soft and bright; I hope that makes sense. This combination doesn't take us far in the way of gritty realism, such as the more-recent Bond outings have tried to achieve, but it's supremely easy on the eyes. I noticed some few instances of minor pixel shimmer, however, especially in closely spaced crisscrossed lines like on the front grille of a Mercedes. Nothing to worry about.
Audio:
The sound is easy on the ears as well, a straight Dolby Stereo Surround with no 5.1 processing. As might be expected, the front channels display a lot of left-to-right signal spread, but there is not much going on in the rear. The whole production is rather laid back in the audiovisual department, particularly compared to things like "GoldenEye" and "Tomorrow Never Dies," with their more muted colors, darker tones, and incredibly well-focused and well-distributed five-channel soundtracks.
Extras:
As far as extras are concerned on this Special 007 Edition, the selection is typical. There are English and Spanish spoken languages and French and Spanish subtitles. There's the expected full-feature audio commentary by the director, John Glen, who had already done "For Your Eyes Only" and would go on to direct "A View To A Kill," "The Living Daylights," and "License To Kill." Then there's the customary behind-the-scenes documentary, "Inside Octopussy," thirty-five minutes long and, as always, narrated by Patrick Macnee. Did you know that one of the producers' biggest worries in 1983 was how to compete with Sean Connery's simultaneous release of his own Bond flick, "Never Say Never Again"? Turned out, there was room for both of them. After that, there's a twenty-one-minute documentary called "Designing Bond--Peter Lamont," self explanatory. A pair of animated storyboard sequences follow, one examining the film's taxi chase, the other Bond's rescuing of Octopussy. Next, expect a music video and get one. Of course, MGM include one of their famous informational booklet inserts. Lastly, there are thirty-six scene selections, three teaser trailers, and one major theatrical trailer.
Parting Shots:
"Octopussy" seems more than a bit silly compared to its immediate predecessor, "For Your Eyes Only," but it more than makes up for its script's lack of gravity in its visual splendor. It may be purchased separately or in a boxed set that also includes "Thunderball," "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," "Live and Let Die," "A View to a Kill," and "Die Another Day."
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[release]5462[/release]