Bluntchop
12-29-2003, 02:31 PM
In random order:
THE ADVENTURES OF INDIANA JONES. One of the last of the DVD holy grails, Indy finally came home and it was worth the wait. If the set lacked the overabundance of extras expected, it was still the classiest DVD of the year - reference-quality transfers and sound mixes, elegant documentaries that lovingly examined all three films, and some real surprises, including rare on-set footage, outtakes and screen tests. Fortune & glory, Dr. Jones!
THE ALIEN QUADRILOGY. Four films. Nine Discs. Over forty hours of bonus material. If The ALIEN Quadrilogy isn't the most gargantuan DVD box set ever, it is not for a lack of trying. But quality matched quantity, with two versions of each film, incredibly detailed commentaries and documentaries, and so many rarities that even the most diehard archivist couldn't help but be impressed. A new benchmark.
CASABLANCA. The timeless classic celebrates its 60th anniversary in grand style with this lavish two-disc set. Warner Home Video exceeded expectations with a stunning transfer and a varied assortment of supplements, including commentary, documentaries and rare archival footage, that shames DVD releases for films 60 years its junior.
DIE ANOTHER DAY. Bond is back for his twentieth adventure, with more gadgets, girls and stunts than ever. And his first two-disc set. Packed with multiple commentaries, nearly two hours of making-of material and the uber-hip "MI6 Datastream" branching feature, it is everything a 007 fan could want. Nobody did it better.
FINDING NEMO. The year's biggest hit, Pixar did it again with Finding Nemo, a wondrous fantasy that truly enchanted all ages. Sure, this two-disc set has plenty of fluff - although those fish-tank menus were a cute touch - but the cutting-edge video commentary was terrific, and who can argue with what is certainly the best-looking transfer of the year? If Santa doesn't bring you Finding Nemo for Christmas, make sure you leave the fireplace burning next year.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS - EXTENDED EDITION. It would have been enough just to match last year's landmark Fellowship of the Ring four-disc set, but The Two Towers surpassed it. Even more impeccably constructed and stylishly executed, this is one of the most detailed and in-depth documents ever on the making of a film. Only one year to go until The Return of the King...
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. Sergio Leone's classic western at last comes to DVD, and Paramount Home Entertainment pulled out all the stops to make this one of the best classic remasters of the year. Impeccable transfer, sharp remix, and reverent supplements that assembled a cavalcade of top filmmakers, all paying their respects to the undisputed master of the spaghetti western.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. Johnny Depp brought the humor, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly brought the beauty, and Jerry Bruckheimer brought the spectacle. It all added up to the impossible, a thrilling blockbuster based on a theme park ride about... pirates. And Disney brought the class, with a great two-disc set sporting no less than three commentaries, hours of making-of material and a batch of PC-enhanced extras pushed the envelope. A must-have.
WILLARD. This year's wild card slot goes to...Crispin Glover and a rat named Ben!? A flop during its theatrical release but an instant cult classic, this is a DVD that packs a surprisingly wallop - the most underrated documentary of 2004. "The Year of the Rat" is by turns heartbreaking, hilarious and frightening, and one of the most frank and informative looks ever created on the triumphs and tragedies of making a movie. A real sleeper.
X2: X-MEN UNITED. When was the last time a sequel not only surpassed the original, but actually enhanced it? X2 was the only follow-up of the summer that didn't suck, a top-flight Hollywood entertainment that mixed potent allegory with action spectacle and was all the better for it. And its two-disc DVD delivered in spades, filled with excellent documentaries, commentaries, an ia sharp history of the Marvel characters, and outtakes that were actually funny. Can't wait for X3.
Bubbling Under: The Lion King, The Matrix Reloaded, Terminator 2, Terminator 3, The Hills Have Eyes, Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life, Bad Boys II, The Hulk, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Final Destination 2.
THE ADVENTURES OF INDIANA JONES. One of the last of the DVD holy grails, Indy finally came home and it was worth the wait. If the set lacked the overabundance of extras expected, it was still the classiest DVD of the year - reference-quality transfers and sound mixes, elegant documentaries that lovingly examined all three films, and some real surprises, including rare on-set footage, outtakes and screen tests. Fortune & glory, Dr. Jones!
THE ALIEN QUADRILOGY. Four films. Nine Discs. Over forty hours of bonus material. If The ALIEN Quadrilogy isn't the most gargantuan DVD box set ever, it is not for a lack of trying. But quality matched quantity, with two versions of each film, incredibly detailed commentaries and documentaries, and so many rarities that even the most diehard archivist couldn't help but be impressed. A new benchmark.
CASABLANCA. The timeless classic celebrates its 60th anniversary in grand style with this lavish two-disc set. Warner Home Video exceeded expectations with a stunning transfer and a varied assortment of supplements, including commentary, documentaries and rare archival footage, that shames DVD releases for films 60 years its junior.
DIE ANOTHER DAY. Bond is back for his twentieth adventure, with more gadgets, girls and stunts than ever. And his first two-disc set. Packed with multiple commentaries, nearly two hours of making-of material and the uber-hip "MI6 Datastream" branching feature, it is everything a 007 fan could want. Nobody did it better.
FINDING NEMO. The year's biggest hit, Pixar did it again with Finding Nemo, a wondrous fantasy that truly enchanted all ages. Sure, this two-disc set has plenty of fluff - although those fish-tank menus were a cute touch - but the cutting-edge video commentary was terrific, and who can argue with what is certainly the best-looking transfer of the year? If Santa doesn't bring you Finding Nemo for Christmas, make sure you leave the fireplace burning next year.
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS - EXTENDED EDITION. It would have been enough just to match last year's landmark Fellowship of the Ring four-disc set, but The Two Towers surpassed it. Even more impeccably constructed and stylishly executed, this is one of the most detailed and in-depth documents ever on the making of a film. Only one year to go until The Return of the King...
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. Sergio Leone's classic western at last comes to DVD, and Paramount Home Entertainment pulled out all the stops to make this one of the best classic remasters of the year. Impeccable transfer, sharp remix, and reverent supplements that assembled a cavalcade of top filmmakers, all paying their respects to the undisputed master of the spaghetti western.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN. Johnny Depp brought the humor, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly brought the beauty, and Jerry Bruckheimer brought the spectacle. It all added up to the impossible, a thrilling blockbuster based on a theme park ride about... pirates. And Disney brought the class, with a great two-disc set sporting no less than three commentaries, hours of making-of material and a batch of PC-enhanced extras pushed the envelope. A must-have.
WILLARD. This year's wild card slot goes to...Crispin Glover and a rat named Ben!? A flop during its theatrical release but an instant cult classic, this is a DVD that packs a surprisingly wallop - the most underrated documentary of 2004. "The Year of the Rat" is by turns heartbreaking, hilarious and frightening, and one of the most frank and informative looks ever created on the triumphs and tragedies of making a movie. A real sleeper.
X2: X-MEN UNITED. When was the last time a sequel not only surpassed the original, but actually enhanced it? X2 was the only follow-up of the summer that didn't suck, a top-flight Hollywood entertainment that mixed potent allegory with action spectacle and was all the better for it. And its two-disc DVD delivered in spades, filled with excellent documentaries, commentaries, an ia sharp history of the Marvel characters, and outtakes that were actually funny. Can't wait for X3.
Bubbling Under: The Lion King, The Matrix Reloaded, Terminator 2, Terminator 3, The Hills Have Eyes, Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life, Bad Boys II, The Hulk, Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, Final Destination 2.