Bond 007 Essential Film Vault Collection
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- Sean Connery originated the role of James Bond in Dr. No, released by Eon Productions in 1962.
- The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) was Roger Moore's tenth film as 007, directed by Lewis Gilbert.
- Timothy Dalton played Bond in only two films: The Living Daylights (1987) and License to Kill (1989).
- Skyfall (2012) became the highest-grossing Bond film to date, earning over $1.1 billion worldwide.
- Daniel Craig's five-film run as 007 spanned from Casino Royale (2006) to No Time to Die (2021).
- As of August 2026, Patina's preloved thriller collection includes rotating Bond DVDs from the Connery, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, and Craig eras.
007: You Only Live Twice — Sean Connery
Connery's fifth outing delivers peak 1967 espionage excess — volcano lairs, ninja armies, and that iconic Little Nellie autogyro. Lewis Gilbert's direction leans hard into spectacle, turning Ian Fleming's 1964 novel into a visual feast of Cold War paranoia and gadget porn. The plot — Bond fakes his death, goes undercover in Japan, and foils SPECTRE's orbital hijack scheme — feels delightfully bonkers by modern standards, but that's precisely the charm. This preloved DVD captures Bond at his most untethered from realism, before the franchise's grittier Daniel Craig pivot. Explore our current copy of 007: You Only Live Twice. Browse more Thriller books at Patina.
007: Thunderball Special Edition — Sean Connery
Connery's fourth Bond film remains the franchise's underwater action high-water mark — SPECTRE steals nukes, Bond chases them to the Bahamas. Terence Young's 1965 direction delivers extended scuba combat sequences that still look astonishing, thanks to Ricou Browning's underwater choreography. The plot hinges on Emilio Largo's yacht-based villainy and a ticking-clock ransom scheme, but the real draw is the film's commitment to practical stunts and location shooting. This Special Edition DVD includes behind-the-scenes material that makes you appreciate how insane 1960s stunt work truly was. Explore our current copy of 007: Thunderball Special Edition. Browse more Thriller books at Patina.
007: The Spy Who Loved Me Special Edition — Roger Moore
Moore's tenth Bond film is the franchise's most gleefully absurd entry — a submarine-swallowing supertanker and a henchman with steel teeth. Lewis Gilbert's 1977 direction leans into spectacle over Fleming's source material (which was basically abandoned), giving us Jaws as a villain and that Lotus Esprit submarine car. The pre-credits ski chase remains one of the series' best cold opens, and Barbara Bach's triple-agent Anya Amasova is a rare Bond girl who feels like an actual equal. This Special Edition DVD is the one to grab if you want Moore at his quip-slinging peak. Explore our current copy of 007: The Spy Who Loved Me Special Edition. Browse more Thriller books at Patina.
007: License to Kill — Timothy Dalton
Dalton's second and final Bond film is the franchise's grittiest pre-Craig entry — a revenge thriller that traded gadgets for visceral brutality. John Glen's 1989 direction pushed hard into R-rated territory (Bond feeds a man to sharks, torches another alive), which alienated audiences expecting Moore-era camp but feels prescient in hindsight. The plot — Bond goes rogue to avenge Felix Leiter's mutilation by a Panamanian drug lord — delivers genuine stakes and a Dalton performance that's all coiled menace. This preloved DVD is essential viewing for anyone who thinks Casino Royale (2006) invented serious Bond. Explore our current copy of 007: License to Kill. Browse more Thriller books at Patina.
007: Die Another Day — Pierce Brosnan
Brosnan's fourth and final Bond film is the franchise's most divisive entry — a Korean torture sequence gives way to invisible cars and CGI tsunami-surfing. Lee Tamahori's 2002 direction swings wildly between gritty realism (the pre-credits North Korea arc is genuinely brutal) and absurd excess (Madonna's cameo, the ice palace, that spacewalk finale). The plot involves diamonds, gene therapy, and orbital solar weapons, which sounds great on paper but plays like a fever dream. This preloved DVD is worth grabbing if you want to see exactly what pushed Eon Productions toward the Casino Royale reboot. Explore our current copy of 007: Die Another Day. Browse more Thriller books at Patina.
Skyfall — Daniel Craig
Craig's third Bond film is the franchise's arthouse pivot — Roger Deakins' cinematography meets a villain fixated on M's colonial sins. Sam Mendes' 2012 direction delivered the series' first billion-dollar box office while interrogating Bond's relevance in a post-Bourne, post-9/11 world. Javier Bardem's Raoul Silva is the franchise's most personal antagonist, and the Scottish Highlands finale strips away the gadget spectacle for a Home Alone-style siege. This preloved DVD captures the moment Bond became prestige cinema — Adele's theme song won the Oscar, Deakins was nominated for cinematography. Explore our current copy of Skyfall. Browse more Thriller books at Patina.
Spectre — Daniel Craig
Craig's fourth Bond film attempts to tie his entire arc into a single SPECTRE conspiracy — Christoph Waltz's Blofeld is revealed as Bond's adoptive brother. Sam Mendes returned to direct this 2015 entry, but the retcon-heavy plotting (every Craig villain was secretly working for Blofeld) felt strained compared to Skyfall's focus. The Rome car chase and Mexico City Day of the Dead cold open deliver peak Bond spectacle, and Léa Seydoux's Dr. Madeleine Swann anchors the emotional arc that continues in No Time to Die (2021). This preloved DVD is essential if you're watching the Craig era in sequence. Explore our current copy of Spectre. Browse more Thriller books at Patina.
The Bond franchise's six-decade evolution — from Connery's Cold War swagger to Craig's post-9/11 trauma — is best experienced through these essential entries. Each era delivers its own flavour of espionage, whether you're chasing Moore's camp excess or Dalton's brutal focus. Shop all Thriller books at Patina Paperbacks →
Where can I buy secondhand James Bond DVDs in Sydney?
Patina Paperbacks stocks rotating preloved Bond DVDs online, shipping Australia-wide from our Sydney warehouse. The collection includes films from the Connery, Moore, Dalton, Brosnan, and Craig eras — check the site for current availability, as secondhand stock moves quickly.
Which James Bond actor is considered the best?
Sean Connery is widely regarded as the definitive 007, originating the role in Dr. No (1962) and setting the template for suave, dangerous charm. That said, Daniel Craig's grittier interpretation in Casino Royale (2006) and Skyfall (2012) won over critics who wanted Bond to evolve past the Moore-era camp. Timothy Dalton's two-film run gets bonus points for anticipating Craig's serious tone by nearly two decades.
What's the best James Bond film for first-time viewers?
Start with Skyfall (2012) if you want prestige cinema and modern action choreography — it's standalone enough to work without prior context. If you prefer classic 60s espionage, Goldfinger (1964) remains the franchise's most influential entry, delivering the gadgets-and-girls formula that defined Bond for decades. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) is the sweet spot for Roger Moore's quip-heavy era.
Are James Bond DVDs still worth collecting in 2025?
Honestly, yes — especially for the special editions with commentary tracks and behind-the-scenes material that streaming services rarely include. Preloved Bond DVDs also capture the franchise's physical media era before digital compression, and secondhand copies cost a fraction of what they did new. Patina's rotating stock includes Special Editions from the Connery and Moore eras that are increasingly hard to find.
Which Bond film has the best action sequences?
Skyfall (2012) takes the crown for sheer cinematic craft — Roger Deakins' Shanghai skyscraper fight is a masterclass in lighting and composition. Thunderball (1965) remains unmatched for underwater action, with extended scuba combat that still looks astonishing. Casino Royale's (2006) parkour chase through a Madagascar construction site redefined modern Bond action, and The Spy Who Loved Me's (1977) ski jump cold open is peak 70s stunt insanity.