When all is said and done, we'll have reviewed exactly 300 DVD and Blu-ray titles released in 2013. Adding to that the handful of discs otherwise seen but not reviewed, the following releases represent roughly the top 10% of all of last year's physical home video output encountered. The list is obviously limited to what we covered, so a few things on our 2013 snubs list might or might not have cracked the list had we received them.
Without further ado, let's begin with ten titles that narrowly missed the Top 25 but still warranted mention.
Honorable Mention:
Cinerama Holiday & South Seas Adventure Blu-ray + DVD - These 1950s travelogues are dated and kind of corny,
but Flicker Alley's deluxe combo packs dazzle in numerous ways. Cinerama Holiday: Full Review, South Seas Adventure: Full Review
A Letter to Three Wives Blu-ray - Fox brought many catalog titles to Blu-ray this year with satisfying results. A stronger film and set of extras distinguish this one. Full Review
Monsters University Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - One of Pixar's lesser efforts, but still fun and a technical marvel full of good bonus features. Full Review
House of Wax Blu-ray 3D/2D - Warner put together a loaded disc for this 1950s 3D milestone, though I wish the film looked better. Full Review
Oliver! Blu-ray - You wouldn't expect this Best Picture-winning musical to get a limited run Twilight Time Blu-ray, but it suits it well. Full Review
Nashville Criterion Collection Blu-ray + DVDs - Everything you need to appreciate Robert Altman's contributions to 1970s cinema. Full Review
The Great Gatsby Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet - Baz Luhrmann's opulent adaptation got extras greater in quantity than quality, but this is still one of 2013's stronger movies and makes this section on that basis. Full Review
Cars Ultimate Collector's Edition Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - A strong set, but most of it has long been available. Full Review
Anchorman: The "Rich Mahogany" Edition Blu-ray - An exhaustive release of an eminently rewatchable comedy, but the general retail version of this 2010 Best Buy exclusive only added movie cash for the slightly disappointing sequel. Full Review
Twenty-five best Blu-ray and DVD releases released and reviewed in 2013:
25. Mickey's Christmas Carol 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - Overpriced and/or underfilled, but an hour of classic,
seasonal Disney animation is too good to pass up. Full Review
24. The Master Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - Though clearly not everyone's cup of tea, Paul Thomas Anderson's technically magnificent and fascinating character study is treated to a unique and memorably packaged Blu-ray combo. Full Review
23. My Neighbor Totoro Blu-ray + DVD - This fairly straightforward leap to Blu-ray benefits from the fact it holds perhaps Hayao Miyazaki's greatest masterpiece. Full Review
22. Warm Bodies Blu-ray + Digital Copy - Surprisingly, this winter release hasn't been topped by many subsequent 2013 movies, keeping its suitable disc near the top of the year's class. Full Review
21. Before Midnight Blu-ray + UltraViolet - Cinema's most artistic active franchise strikes more poignant notes in a fine disc. Full Review
20. The World's End Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet - One of the year's most loaded sets holds one of the year's most entertaining films. Full Review
19. Mad Men: Season 6 Blu-ray - Though it contains far fewer bonus features than past seasons, it's still one of the best shows around and a delight to experience on Blu-ray. Full Review
18. The Best Years of Our Lives Blu-ray - A great-looking presentation of an enduring Best Picture winner is enough to land this lightweight disc here. Full Review
17. From Here to Eternity Blu-ray - A straightforward but satisfying BD debut for one of the stronger yesteryear Best Picture winners. Full Review
16. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - Aspect ratio questions remain and Disney's back to treating this with kid gloves, but the movie is nonetheless a treasure. Full Review
15. The Imposter DVD - 2012's most powerful and gripping documentary and its subject matter aren't easily forgotten. Full Review
14. Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collection: Thrillers DVD - You probably own (or should own) at least half of these movies, so this DVD box set isn't too timely. Still, it's a terrific assembly of exciting cinema from over the years that's heavy on rewatchable '90s classics. Full Review
13. Rectify: Season 1 DVD - There's nothing out of the ordinary about this release, which was DVD only. This Sundance Channel series is just that good. (Creative packaging didn't hurt, either.) Hopefully, Anchor Bay bundles this short season with the second one on a Blu-ray. Full Review
12. Frances Ha Criterion Collection Blu-ray + DVD - A great release of a great filmmaker's great new film. Full Review
11. Halloween: 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray - Not the film's definitive set, but a stunning presentation, good extras, and fancy Digibook packaging distinguish this from other catalog reissues. Full Review
10. Wreck-It Ralph Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - 2012's best animated feature and Disney Animation's best effort in years was good enough to crack this list without getting an especially remarkable combo pack. Full Review
8-9. Wild Strawberries & Autumn Sonata Criterion Collection Blu-rays - These two films provided my long overdue introduction to Ingmar Bergman and I'm delighted by each's loaded, dazzling disc. Full Wild Strawberries Review, Full Autumn Sonata Review
7. On the Waterfront Criterion Collection Blu-ray - This unusually mainstream Criterion selection is definitely a contender for the year's best Blu-ray release. Full Review
6. Argo Blu-ray + DVD + UltraViolet - A sturdy release for a worthy Best Picture winner, but a better edition is already on the way. Full Review
5. Badlands Criterion Collection Blu-ray - Criterion's first ever licensing from Warner Bros. does not disappoint,
with Terrence Malick's masterpiece being celebrated while deliberately leaving the director a mystery. Full Review
4. Silver Linings Playbook Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - The best movie of 2012 was treated to a substantial and satisfying combo pack. Full Review
3. Mary Poppins: 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy - Doesn't add much, but it deserves credit for retaining the majority of the film's many valuable DVD extras, plus the film has never looked or sounded better. Full Review
2. The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray + Digital Copy - Disney's Muppet DVDs have raised more wrath than any of the studio's other releases, so the fact that this one was done right, with old DVD extras restored and some nifty minor ones added, is one of the year's great surprises. Full Review
 | 1. The Little Mermaid: Diamond Edition Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy
One of Disney's greatest animated features gets treated to a Blu-ray so satisfying you don't mind the lackluster DVD that joins it. Full Review |
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