Coinciding with the release of CASINO ROYALE and Daniel Craig’s debut as the sixth 007, comes JAMES BOND ULTIMATE EDITION: VOL. 1 & 2 (Fox Home Ent./MGM, $89.98 each). Featuring five films each (not in order), these are the best looking transfers yet on DVD, thanks to Lowry Digital Images (the original STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES trilogies). Lowry scanned the original negatives at 4K and then digitally cleaned and corrected them. They have never looked this dazzling at home. Can’t wait for Blu-ray!

Vol 1 includes: GOLDFINGER, DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN, THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS and THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (with vfx by Cinesite, MPC and Smoke and Mirrors). Vol. 2 includes: THUNDERBALL, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, A VIEW TO A KILL, LICENSE TO KILL and DIE ANOTHER DAY (the most CGI-intensive with work from Cinesite, Double Negative, Framestore CFC, MPC and Mill Films).

The two-disc sets contain a Bondload of new extras, including BBC interviews with Sean Connery on the sets of GOLDFINGER and DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, an anniversary TV doc from ’87 hosted by Roger Moore along with assorted new and vintage featurettes, commercials, commentaries, trailers, galleries, music videos and other nostalgic goodies.

We’ll have to wait for the remaining 10 films due in Vol’s 3 & 4 on Dec. 12.