James Bond Ultimate Edition, Vols. 1 & 2
20th Century Fox Home Video

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As new 007 Daniel Craig adapts to the cufflinks and martini glasses, it's a good time to look back at how Ian Fleming's fictional spy became both the world's most lethal lothario and one of its most profitable movie characters. The James Bond Ultimate Edition box sets make a compelling case as to why the gentleman spy's lifestyle, especially his love life, has been the ultimate male aspiration since hitting the screen in the 1960s. Each set of five Bond classics (there ultimately will be four sets) collects hits from the series' 50-plus years, which has seen numerous actors portray Bond, Thatcher-like bulldog M, office flirt Miss Moneypenny and gadget-obsessed Q, shopkeeper of his own personal (and more lethal) Sharper Image store.

Set One comprises the Connery fan favorite Goldfinger and his comeback Diamonds are Forever, Pierce Brosnan's Christmas Jones adventure The World is Not Enough,The Man With the Golden Gun and The Living Daylights. Set Two includes Connery battling SPECTRE in Thunderball, the final Brosnan film Die Another Day, License to Kill and a pair of Roger Moore pictures, The Spy Who Loved Me and A View to a Kill. Both sets are equally exceptional representations of the Bond franchise.

Outfitted with special features worthy of Q's lab -- each movie is packaged with an accompanying DVD of extras -- these Ultimate Editions will satisfy any Bond aficionado. Fanatics will appreciate the rare outtakes and interviews, including the first-ever audio commentaries by Sir Roger Moore and a candid TV conversation featuring midget assassin Hervé Villechaize (Nick Nack from The Man With the Golden Gun). Shorts about the main players behind the Bond films are scattered across both sets, including a look at Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, the suave American producer who kick-started the espionage franchise.

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for Volumes 3 and 4 »

Numerous behind-the-scenes bonuses look at how complicated, explosion-laden action sequences, like the boat chase on the Thames during The World is Not Enough, are meticulously planned so Bond always emerges unscathed. But more to the point, there are plenty of bombs and babes. Plus, the handy 007 Mission Control feature included with every movie allows viewers to hone in, like the iconic gun barrel in the opening credits, on a topic and watch a highlight reel drawn from each picture. Replaying the conveniently packaged clips of gorgeous, exotic women over and over makes any man feel like he has the golden gun. With such an exhaustive inventory of features, the only thing missing from these DVDs is clips of Darrel Hammond doing his Sean Connery impression on Saturday Night Live.

by Dwayne Hoover