LALD
Recalled LBX LD vs LD LBX reissue vs SE DVD vs UE vs BD:
Same print source used for all old copies. The LDs have a different look and feel, much more contrast but more filmmlike. A Blue and green look is felt in places. The older disc was recalled for audio dropouts and mistakenly placing the isolated M&E track on the digital. In comparison, it is much more smeary looking, faded and washed out. The LD reissue is outstanding, great definition coming from a later issue, better color and to be honest may be the best looking regular Bond title on disc--especially CAV Side 3. This reissue opens up the right side of the frame a bit over the previous issue.
Example: The opening torch flames of the main titles are washed out and almost pinkish on the 1st LD, and a proper red on the reissue.
The SE is closer to 1.78 and adds a great deal on top and left with a slight amount on bottom. Color is much richer and blacks are far deeper as part of whatever process was used in the THX mastering originally done for the abandoned LD SE reissue series.
The UE boosts the contrast to awful levels and attempts to smooth out the colors, resulting in a rather waxy, flat and undefined presentation. The contrast is so bad that the black titles are now infused with bright red. By taking a bit of the top and bottom of the SE, you get the UEs 1.85.
The BD attempts to correct all of this, resulting in far better color and a touch of the same higher level of brightness seen on YOLT-OHMSS-DAF. Part of the first wave, this was one quickly noticed to have been corrected or at least changed from the UE. Again, it seems that Lowry may have only done tinkering in 480p for the DVDs. (Remember the R2 discs came out first and many were even worse, having to be fixed for R1.)
The BD looks like the film should from all I can tell. Though perhaps too much grain was removed and the day for night shots are better but still off. Bond smoking on the glider was printed dark-but here is still bright and lit. The SE and better yet the reissue LD off a fuller representation of a release print, with the latter really nailing it for me. It just has that touch of 1973 that isn't quite there on the BD-much like how the original LP has a warmth and vibrancy mixed out of the 2003 expanded soundtrack CD.