Top 5 DVDs of the Year

[Jack]

Post your favorite releases of 2003 here!

5. Sleeping Beauty: 2-Disc Special Edition
One of the most inspirational films to me finally debued on DVD this year, and it looked and sounded spectacular. The transfer was eye-popping, the audio gave my subwoofer a good workout. The extras were meaty too, unlike another first-time-on-Disney-DVD movie you will not find on my list. My favorite feature: Walking through the castle to explore a virtual art gallery with commentary.

4. Casablanca: Two Disc Special Edition
One of my Top 5 Favorite movies was booted out of my collection (the one-disc that is) to be replaced with this baby. The restoration is shockingly pristine and the audio well-preserved. A second disc is packed with awesome extras, both old and new - not just things directly about the film, but even a TV episode spin-off too! My favorite feature: The new deleted scenes!

3. The Adventures of Robin Hood: Two Disc Special Edition
Yet another Warner title - my opinion of this studio's effort has only soared in the past year. One of the first Technicolor films, Robin Hood looks glorius beyond words. Again, the extras are top-notch, with a behind-the-scenes doc, rare home movie footage, a technicolor doc, and my favorite: A night at the movies, recreating the theatrical experience of the 30's.

2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Extended Edition
There's no need to explain why this is on my list really. Great transfer, great audio, overwhelming amount of extras – my favorite being the documentary on Gollum. Within this mass of material is a lot of great stuff, but I have to say that, even as a LOTR fan, it’s hard for me to really enjoy and savor every extra because of how tedious it is. That is why, despite the quantity & quality of this set, it’s my second favorite to . . .

1. Looney Tunes: Golden Collection
These are the toons I’d get up every morning and watch on Cartoon Network as a kid. These are the hilarious and fantastically-done shorts I haven’t seen in years. It was such a pleasure to revisit these characters, especially now that they are finally on DVD and have wonderful transfers – the colors pop out at you (literally, they popped out at me: it felt like Daffy dropped an anvil on my head ) Each and every extra is high in quality and sustains interest. To me, this is one of the best DVD sets yet: fully enjoyable in every aspect.

[mlsgr76]

My Top 5 DVD's of this year would have to be.

The Lion King
Its my all time favorite Disney movie and I couldn't wait for it to come out. I have to admit, I haven't watched all the extras and I don't like the new song added. But I can watch it over and over again.

The Adventures of Indiana Jones
How long have we been waiting for this to come out? A very long time. The picture to me is so crisp, its amazing. I love those movies.

The Matrix Reloaded
I absolutely love these movies. The car chase scene was great and thrilling. I can't wait to get Revolutions.

Those are my top 3 but I have a lot that I love and can't really make up my mind that I got this year.

Finding Nemo
Santa Clause 2
X2: X-men United
PCU-Very, very, very funny
Identity
S.W.A.T-Release Date of 12/30, can't wait to see this one. So I will have to hold off on adding that to my fav but I can tell it will be.

[2099net]

It's hard. Are we going for best film or best DVD content? I've mixed both criteria for my list.

The Alien Quadrilogy
It has to be number one. I've only spent time looking at the supplements discs for Alien and Alien 3 (plus a bit of the bonus disc) and I've already spent about 10 hours on the set.

Plus unlike certain DVD producers, not only do we get the proper Original and Alternative cuts of the movies, we also get all the trailers (including one that was made and never shown apparently).

The League of Gentlemen Series 3 (UK)
This is a stunning set for a UK TV programme. The 6 episodes are top notch, which not only reward repeat viewing, but encourages it. Add on to this a stunning 6 hours of supplements, including a wonderful commentary on all episodes and you have a winner.

Dr Who: The Curse of Fenric (UK)
Again, the attention that has gone into these 4 25 minute episodes is immense. Not only do we get the proper original TV transmissions but also a special extended reedited "movie" of the story made especially for the DVD. Plus a fair number of supplements, including a music only track (I already own the CD!).

The Brady Bunch Trilogy
No supplements. Not even trailers But I adore the Brady Bunch movies, and I'm pleased as punch the TV Movie - The Brady Bunch in the Whitehouse was released in Australia. Now I can proudly display the whole "trilogy"

The Phantom of the Opera (1925/1929) Ultimate Edition
As close to the original Phantom of the Opera we're ever likely to see. More than anything this DVD shows why revisionist filmmaking is wrong and original film presentations should be preserved for future generations.

Bubbling under: Hulk 3 Disc Set (misses out because no trailers on any of the discs ), Daredevil, Lion King French set with soundtrack CD (what is looses in poor supplements it gains in packaging), Amicus Boxset, Buffy Season 6 and Looney Tunes.

I also expect the following would be included on my list - but I haven't watched them yet: Pirates of the Caribbean, X2 and Lord of the Rings: TT (both the extended and theatrical sets)

[Jake Lipson]

This is too hard...so...here's a list of favorites, in no order (except LOTR, which is obviously #1.)

1) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Extended Edition
2) Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
3) Sleeping Beauty
4) Finding Nemo
5) X2

Honorable mentions: X-Men 1.5, Daredevil, T2 Extreme, Spirited Away Catch Me If You Can, The Lion King, The Color Purple SE, The Matrix Reloaded

I would have put Matrix Reloaded in the top 5, but I think the extras are a bit too promotional and not as in-depth as I'dve liked. I hope it's done better in the inevitable box set. Superb transfer though, and I'm glad to own it now, just not one of the year's best discs overall.

I'd expect Indiana Jones to make that list too, but I don't have it yet. Expecting it as a holiday gift.

[The Lizard King]

1. Once Upon a Time in the West
2. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Extended Edition
3. Finding Nemo
4. The Alien Quadrilogy
5. Scarface SE

Kind of a motley crew, but all VERY enjoyable.

TLK

[Jack]

It's hard. Are we going for best film or best DVD content? I've mixed both criteria for my list.

Yeah, same with my list. They're ranked according to both movie quality, transfer & sound quality, and extras quality.

[STASHONE]

word to LK...

Once Upon A Time & the Scarface Box Set definitely make my list!

Also: Looney Tunes, Fear & Loathing Criterion, Roger Rabbit: 15th Anniv. Ed. and I.J.

2003 was also a great year for WB classics and musicals.

# 1 pick - Looney Tunes: Golden Collection... than OUATIW... Fear & Loathing... R.R. & Scarface.

[The Lizard King]

Once Upon A Time & the Scarface Box Set definitely make my list!

It turns out the I bought the Scarface Box Set, because I wanted the original 1932 film, and so far, this is the only way to get it. It's amazing how many story elements were taken from Howard Hawks' film by Brian De Palma.

# 1 pick - Looney Tunes: Golden Collection... than OUATIW... Fear & Loathing... R.R. & Scarface.

I had LT:TGC on my top 10 list [including Sleeping Beauty, LOTR:TTT (theatrical), WFRR, and The Lion King], but I had to follow the rules and limit it to 5.

TLK

[Loomis]

I haven't picked up the Quadrilogy or the Looney Tunes box sets yet, so this isn't really a complete "best of" list for me. However, I don't know if I could include the Quadriliogy, as I'm starting to think it was a bit of overkill. 9 discs for a 4 film series? I'm all for a "complete collection", but maybe the makers of the Alien films are taking themselves a little too seriously....

Anyhoo, my list (of sorts)

The Two Towers I have barely watched, but it is certainly up there with so many supplements that I will probably never watch them all.

Certainly, as one of my fave films of all time, Once Upon a Time in the West was a "must-have" on my DVD list this year, and I wasn't disappointed. It was the first time I had seen the film in widescreen, and it was a fantastic addition to my collection I would recommened highly.

2099 tuned me into the League of Gentlemen, and as he said, LOG Season 3 was a corker of a DVD.

Don't have a top actually....
ok, that was a waste of a few minutes of typing...

[Satoshi]

Not counting TV shows...

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - Extended Edition (I've already watched the movie five times and most all of the supplements. best.dvd.ever.)
2. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (mainly because of the extras. I don't like the actual movie as much as...)
3. X2: X-Men United (great movie, great transfer, but the extras didn't interest me much)
4. The Lion King - Platinum Edition (great movie, great transfer, good [but not great] extras)
5. Daredevil (good [not great] movie, but I LOVE the extras on this one)

Runners-up: Sleeping Beauty - Special Edition and X-Men 1.5.

I didn't include TV shows because then those would top my list and I wouldn't be able to list many "normal" dvds.

As of Christmas my list is sure to change at least a little bit. I'm expecting both the Indy Trilogy (which will certainly make my top five) and LXG as gifts.