Blu-Ray Review:
James Bond:
Die Another Day
By Jason Gillard
*Screenshots are not from the Blu-Ray source.
Movie
A lot of people don't like Die Another Day, they think that James Bond has been reduced to something he shouldn't be - kind of an action hero going from ridiculous stunt to ridiculous stunt. I will admit this probably isn't the best movie, but for me my taste of James Bond started with Brosnan. This movie has tons of action, vanishing cars, lavish locations etc. So if you go into it with an open mind you might find something to like here. The story begins in the demilitarized zone where James Bond is sent in to investigate a renegade military officer in Korea named Col Moon. Bond is captured and spends 14 months being tortured. Eventually Bond is traded for a Zao which is Moon's second in command. Bond is now on a mission to find who set him up and he has to do this without his double O status. Bond tracks down Zao in Cuba and finds out he getting a genetic operation to change his identity. Bond finds diamonds on Zao which leads him to British billionaire Gustav Graves, who has set-up Icarus, a satellite which will provide light and energy to the Earth. With the help of an American secret agent played by Halle Berry and an undercover MI6 agent Miranda Frost Bond sets out to stop Graves who is working with Zao and using the satellite as a weapon. So there is the plot, kind of far-fetched. But in my opinion its still a fun movie and if you haven't seen it, at least give it a watch.
7.5 out of 10
Video
Die Another Day has been given the 1080p treatment and for the most part succeeds. The detail level is pretty good throughout the film and there is not a lot of grain either. Since this movie is newer I would suspect they didn't have to do much to clean it up. The black levels remain pretty solid. Scenes in Cuba pop with colours and everything looks as it should. There is a little edge enhancement throughout the film but it's only minor and doesn't really hurt the score here. Overall it's a pretty solid looking transfer.
8 out of 10
Audio
This movie simply rocks when it comes to the sound department. You get a 5.1 DTS Master Audio track that would have your house rocking if you turn up your speakers. The surround channels are really alive blanketing you in sound. Since the stunts are so spectacular the sound design would have to be amazing to sell this movie and luckily it is. There are explosions and gunfire coming from every speaker and it all sounds awesome. Dialogue comes through nice and clear as well. The LFE channel is alive and well and will shake the very foundation in sections. This is a fun track and is presented here for the first time the way it was meant to be heard.
10 out of 10
Extras
Here is what is included for the extras:
-"The Complete Special Features Library: Mission Dossier" - Audio Commentary Featuring Director Lee Tamahori and Producer Michael G. Wilson
-Audio Commentary Featuring Pierce Brosnan and Rosamund Pike
-"Declassified: M16 Vault" - From Script to Screen
-Shaken and Stirred on Ice
-Just Another Day
-The British Touch: Bond Arrives in London
-On Location With Peter Lamont
-007 Mission Control - Interactive Guide Into the World of Die Another Day
-MI6 DataStream
-Features: Madonna's "Die Another Day" Music Video "Ministry of Propaganda" Photo gallery
If you are a fan of the film you will want to listen to the Audio Commentary featuring Brosnan and Pike, they are really candid and give there experiences filming this movie. I also liked "Shaken and Stirred on Ice" which details the film's Icelandic shoot. I also liked From Script to Screen which goes over how this film fits into the Bond mythos. Overall though there isn't that much here.
7 out of 10
Overall
If you're a fan of the movie there is no reason why you shouldn't pick up this disc. It has a good transfer, outstanding audio and some decent extras. I only wish they could have produced some Blu-ray exclusive content for these movies.
7 out of 10
Die Another Day is available now from Amazon.com