The argument about who was the best Bond will never be decisively settled. Never in the history of cinema has a character’s portrayal created so much division among film fans. Such is the popularity of the character that it usually boils down to individual taste. Some people prefer the more slapstick approach of Roger Moore, whose double-entendre-loaded wit drove the franchise through the late seventies and early eighties, while there are other people who prefer the violent no no-nonsense style of Daniel Craig or Timothy Dalton. Quite often, though, it comes down to nostalgia and is simply a case of the time frame in which you discovered one of literature and cinema’s greatest characters.

Sticking with the main movies, there are to date six people who have brandished a Walther PPK on behalf of the British Secret Service, but there is one actor who tends to stand out above the rest when fans are pushed to choose their favourite Bond.

And the favourite in question is almost always, without fail, Sean Connery.

His outings as Bond are faultless, timeless masterpieces that are still appreciated by fans all over the world. His rough all-action exterior is second only to his smooth tongue. Delivered in those silky Scottish tones, Connery’s 007 epitomised Fleming’s vision for 007.

It’s been over fifty years since Connery donned his tux for the role (do we even count Never Say Never Again?*), but for many, nobody did it better, which is why MGM have decided to put Connery’s Bond back in the spotlight with the release of the 4k Ultra HD Blu-Ray 12 disc box set – The Sean Connery Collection. This collection brings all of Connery’s finest 007 moments to stark and vivid life, and scenes like Bond descending into Blofeld’s volcano lair in You Only Live Twice, his watering brush with Goldfinger’s laser, and the car chase through Vegas in Diamonds Are Forever look magnificent in 4K. ,

Even though I’ve watched these films a thousand times over, with a little 4K magic added to the mix it feels like watching them for the first time all over again, and seeing Bond deliver the immortal line “Bond… James Bond” at the casino table in Dr No, feels like you’re sat next to him, playing craps and sipping a martini, that’s been shaken, not stirred

And then there’s the special features.

Each of the six films has a plethora of extras to get into, including a director’s commentary option, location information, deleted scenes, trailers, and featurettes. You could (and should) lose days, weeks, or even months with this set, which makes it an absolute must-have for Bond fans, regardless of their vintage

Even though Connery’s tenure as Bond was more than half a century ago, thanks to Warner Brothers and MGM, and this serious upgrade, his half a dozen outings as Fleming’s super spy have never looked better. Chris Andrews

*It might not be an “official” chapter in Bond’s cinematic canon, but as it’s a “loose” remake of ‘Thunderball’, it counts – Tim