In "the" Indiana Jones Trilogy thread (they've all blurred into one at this point), the trilogy was referred to the as the most important release in the 6 year history of DVD's (paraphrased). It struck me that that was rather a bold statement, but I couldn't figure out what other release might be considered the most important DVD release to date. The Godfather Trilogy crossed my mind, but I can't decide if that is my choice.

Any thoughts on this one? The official question is: Which DVD release, to date, has been the most important and why (technical acheivement, availibility of the film, best use of technology, etc.). Note: While your choice might also be your favorite DVD, that is not what I am looking for. I am specifically looking for the importance of the release to the "movie world".

I'm a little suprised at myself for how mich I am looking forward to the responses to this post.

Maybe I'm just looking forward to a non-Indy thread.

The Matrix.

It was the first best-selling DVD and it further fostered the acceptance of this technology.

It also made me buy my first DVD player.

The first one (whatever it was), because it was the first.

(If you don't have the first, you can't have the second right? And then you have none? )

Goodburger, because it put all those jokes to rest.

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Whichever one has the clearest widescreen educational feature-maybe Die Hard (Five-Star)?

I agree with the Matrix. Like the movie or not, i think it was the first "must buy" movie, and showed how the popularity of a movie could grow from home video sales. It's special effects and memorable scenes gave a reason to show off a home theater system. Think how cool it was to skip ahead to the dojo fight between Morpheus and Neo for the first time... and watching it again and again.

Maybe Armageddon:CC, the first 2 disk set. It exploited the vast array of additional material that can enhance the home video watching experience.

Do you have to even ask?
It's self-evident......

...because it turned me on to the world of Bava.

I assure you, something else was a best-selling DVD before The Matrix.

Just for a different answer, I'll say The Simpsons Complete Season One set. Its runaway success really opened the floodgates for TV shows on DVD.

If you combine consumer demand for a film(s) and the wait to get it I would say that Indiana Jones trilogy is the most important release until the Star Wars trilogy of course.

I would not include the Godfather trilogy only because of the horrible video quality of the set!

I'm probably going to get beaten with sticks, but what about SW Ep. 1 for it brilliant use of the media? The menus are exceptionally detailed and interactive and it contains excellent examples of just about every possible extra feature that there is (including incorporated web features). Of the top of my head, I'm not able to think of any others that did this before SW did?

Plus it has the THX Optimizer, which I could play with for hours. I love the sound it makes when it tests my sub.

Well, being able to put the words "Star Wars" and "DVD" in the same sentence without the word "not" was important.

Malcolm X, because it's the one I'm watching right now, reminding me every second what a great format this is.

I'd say The Matrix. It was probably just a matter of timing, but in the early days of dvd, if people had a dvd player, they had to have The Matrix dvd.

And I can assure you that there were many successful TV shows on DVD before The Simpsons. If anything could claim responsibility for opening the floodgates of TV shows on DVD, it would have to be The X-Files. Before that series, it was widely believed that season sets of TV shows could not possibly sell well. BTW, I don't even own any of the X-Files DVDs, but I do own many of the series that followed after.

As far as non-TV DVDs, it would be almost impossible to choose, but if I really had to choose one and only one, I would have to say that Metropolis is the most important DVD released to date, not only because it is a profound piece of cinematic art, but because of the historical significance of having it available in such a remarkably restored form.

By far The Matrix

Made the movie larger than life once on DVD. And like it was said, if you had a DVD player you owned this movie.

Second is FOTR: EE.

RoboDad said it!

Actually . . . didn't own it, still don't, and don't plan on it until the boxed set comes out. But I have seen it and it is an impressive release. Still . . . I don't think I agree on it as "the most important".

first release yes, but not most important.

Indy is by far the most important. people have been waiting along time for this. if matrix and Indy were released Indy would be the no brainer pick. matric is a great movie and I have watched it many times but I have watched indy many more and will watch it many more times than matrix. I own both but and buy both but if it was a choice I wouldnt even notice matrix was sitting next to indy.

anyway star wars trilogy will blanket every dvd ever out there!

See sig.

While I was in college I worked in sales at Circuit City and more people came in to buy a DVD Player and the Matrix than any other movie...by far. People heard how great the DVD was from friends, and that movie alone was enough for them to buy a player. So if you are looking for a movie that is important not only for its techinical achievement, but also for it spreading DVD technology as a whole, then there is no doubt that it's The Matrix.

Matrix