James Bond 007: Never Say McClory Again

November 22, 2009

I’ve seen this version before and I recall being very impressed by it. I have to wonder what could be done now – now that the Blu-Ray is available. Sharper source materials would seem to be a plus. I imagine software advances might make the adjustments of scenes requiring cropping/adjustment a little less jarring. Perhaps the creator might consider taking another crack at it. There’s always the possibility that the extras on the Blu-Ray such as the movie trailer and Irvin Kershner’s director’s commentary would help spruce up the disc value here. In addition, finding the appropriate music might be made easier now that sites dedicated to creating unauthorized extended soundtracks now exist too. A suggestion on where to start might be this site: http://thecrimelounge5.blogspot.com/

Blofeld’s Cat, any chance for a round two on this one?

8/10

March 11, 2008

You, sir, are a GENIUS ! This is the fist FAN EDIT I have seen. (I recently listened to an episode of the “The Hollywood Saloon” Podcast that was dedictaed to Fan Edits).

Whilst still an awful Bond film, at least now it does feel like a BOND film. I thoroughly enjoyed your version, and thank you for now enabling me to watch it without entirely hating it.

You should so have a go at Die Another Day, now.

Now choices, choices, what ones to go for next.

December 27, 2007

An absolutely incredible, professional edit. My basic pet peeve from the first time I ever saw this film was the lack of “Bond” music–and that was pretty much it. Blofeld’s Cat has gone the extra step of adding the gun barrel and pre-credit sequences! And all done seamlessly. Now if only someone would do the same quality job on “The Enforcer,” the only Dirty Harry movie with the wrong music. Thank you very much, BC.

May 27, 2010

I like the idea, and I like most of the new music selection used and the way it all developed (if some of it is not perfectly timed). Yet the technical quality of the DVD authoring was sorely lacking. A motion blur-like “effect” was present all through it, no doubt courtesy of Canopus ProCoder, and the end credits fail, interrupt, and mix themselves with a defective menu screen.

As for the video edit, pretty well done overall, but I felt that some character aspects could have been “EONized” as well. I mean, cutting the lines of “buddy” Q saying he missed Bond, or “dumb” Moneypenny’s “Ooh!” in her first scene (thankfully we lost her “be careful”), and the likes. Also, I detested what you did to the motorcycle chase, cutting back and forth from the car to the bike again and again and again. Looked like the work of a kid who had just discovered Windows Movie Maker and was trying to show off, sorry. Everything else, I liked fine.

With a better DVD, this might have been a 7, or even an 8. Due to technical issues, I can’t rate it higher than a 5.

May 10, 2010

WOW.
Well done. Bloody Brilliant, even! The idea of bringing this ugly duckling of a Bond film back into the fold is a fantastic one, and accomplished brilliantly. Much MUCH more enjoyable this way than the original. I also applaud the new titles and credit themes used, but first and foremost, the use of other Bond music throughout the film. Blofeld’s Cat did a great job synching audio cuts to scenes. That said, I can’t say I agree with his music choices; As much as I love David Arnold as John Barry’s successor, his music feels out of place in a Sean Connery Bond flick. Likewise some of the other cuts, such as cuts from Live and Let Die, For Your Eyes Only, and The Living Daylights to name a few. John Barry is THE Connery/Bond composer. Other than that, I had no real problems with the film editing itself, except that the motorcycle chase scene seemed a bit rushed to me. And, were there no shots of anyone/thing entering the water in the original? The missiles when they were hijacked, and Bond/Domino on the horse jumping out of the castle? Were there not shots of splashdown in either case?

But seriously, I’m being nit-picky. All in all, a first-rate effort. I certainly had less gripes about this version than any version of a “Bond Movie” starring Daniel Craig. Puh-lease. A blond, goofy-looking muscle-bound Bond? It’s obvious who’s controlling the property now.

Anyhew, Brilliant job, Blofeld’s Cat. 9/10. Loved it.