Couldn't see that anyone else started this yet, so I will.

Where to begin .... very disappointed at the high placement of some double-dip DVDs. I mean Clerks (5th spot) ... Panic Room (4th spot) ... decent films but only meriting a small blip in their own right so now they get a 'piled higher and deeper' release and we should care? Please. Same things go for the Matrix Uber Collection .... not to pick on the films but top DVDs should come from terrrific films given outstanding DVD treatments - not one of the two.

Perhaps DVD Talk's chosen quote of "It's a fucking 3-disc DVD set, yo!" speaks volumes about those enamored by such marketing creations. However, what does it say about those individuals selecting these titles?

I also think they would have been wise doing separate categories for TV shows and films. While it is true that someone on a limited budget might have to choose between a TV show DVD or a film DVD I think that it is more likely someone will be choosing between one film and another than say The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection and Reno 911: The First Season.

On a positive note: Mr. Gross' list is always interesting reading as well as his involving readers in the process. Mr. Erickson's list is also interesting with a number of terrific choices such as his number one DVD: Eyes Without a Face. This is a lower price point DVD (for Criterion that is) and is a terrific film, terrific transfer with a couple top notch features. Bravo. Also a tip of the cap to Stuart Galbraith who admitted to an oversight in 2003 regarding the Mondo Cane Collection, stating (correctly) that no one has time to catch up with all the titles during the calendar year.

Unfortunately, the DVD Talk process for their top 20 list is not disclosed nor who was involved. Since that is the case, I am free to assume that it was the same crack bunch that decided that "Top Adult Asian DVDs" was a necessary category.

Your thoughts???

The double-dip DVDs are placed highly because they're amazing DVDs. This site is DVDTalk, not MovieTalk. If Criterion's highly anticipated Good Burger: CC comes out in 2005, it will surely be in the running for the Top 20 of 2005, because of its incredible splendor in full 3-disc with that awesome 80-page booklet including essays from film scholars. Just because the movie blows ass doesn't mean it doesn't deserve a spot. Panic Room is my least favorite Fincher film, and I don't think I'd give it higher than a 2.5/4, but it's an amazing DVD, and one that I've watched several times (more than I can say about alot of my discs).

The Station Agent in the The Most Rewatchable DVDs of 2004 is an excellent film. Happy to see it on the list as it is an independent film. But there is also many others.

outstanding release and agreed....terrific film.

Fans fought to get some version of Roswell on DVD. Like many shows it had to chop most of the music. Fans fought for it to come out and 2005 will complete the series in the summer of 2005

I just got my EW double issue wrap up for 2004. The ROTK EE did not even make their Top 10 for DVD of the year. Maybe for some people it doesn't deserve to be DVDTalk's #1 DVD. But it should at least have been in their Top 10. Even if the person who made the list was not a fan of LOTR; EW should at least acknowledge the work and the level of quality the filmakers put into these EE's. The EE are unparralled and sets new standards for DVD Editions and truly make them "Special". Thank you DVDTalk for bringing balance to the "Force"

I too was sort of shocked at that EW article regarding ROTK EE. Crazy stuff!

We say it every year: The main list is a consensus and because of that it's guaranteed to lean a little towards the middle. That said, while not every title on there would be a personal pick, I think it's a strong list with a mix of obvious stuff and less obvious stuff. Plus, this is the reason we provide so many alternative lists: To get a wide variety of views out there.

I love all the alternative categories that DVD Talk has for their Top DVDs. Great stuff!

Meh. Matrix, Panic Room and fucking Clerks on top of Gone With The Wind?
Boo.

There's a substantial number of fans for porn involving Asian women but it tends to be an either/or situation (meaning fans of Asian gals tend to be less enthused about other porn and vice versa). If we simply added a title or two from that genre, it wouldn't really address the genre all that well. Rob's done a great job over the last year and made the case that a separate list made as much sense as most of the mainstream lists did (that departed from the top twenty list you so hated) so he made a separate list of his own choosing. Next year, there might be several such lists (depending on what the other reviewers want to do) but if you don't like a themed list, you're always free to skip it in favor of reading a book.

all great lists! so fun and well put together. regardless if i disagree or not (really it isn't for me to judge) it is just fun seeing things i like (DVD's) in cool little lists!

every medium in the universe is doing their yeard-end lists and all, but DVD Talk's are actually ones I care about and am most interested in. They are succinct, informative, and entertaining.

Good Job!!

Well, IMHO, the quality of the film should not be a factor in determining the quality of the DVD. Therefore, I feel that the DVDs with the most discs generally will be the best DVDs, unless of course they have awful image quality/sound.

I'm not sure I agree with that. At least it's not how I purchase things. I may decide between a single TV series or 2 films instead of just 1, but I don't organize my purchases by TV vs. feature films. However, if you do like them separated, there is a stand-alone TV list (which I made certain to include at least 10 titles that were not seen on any other list); and while there isn't a stand-alone top feature film list, there are many individual lists that focus almost exclusively on films. I'm not sure what could be gained by separating the group Top 20.

As for quality of content vs. quality of DVD, I cannot speak for others, but my opinions were based on a combination of all factors. The only thing I didn't give much weight was MSRP (although it did factor in a couple of decisions). Quality of content was always the highest priority, but I also paid close attention to the presentation of the DVDs and the different additional features available. As noted, these were not Top Film or Top TV Show lists. They were lists to recognize great DVDs, which includes many different factors, and I approached it as such.

das

They have seperate lists for TV shows and for various sub-categories of films; the top 20 list is the overall best DVD releases, without factoring in "double-dip" (which also has its own category) and other stuff you mentioned.

Yeah, it makes *no* sense that movies where the entire cast and production team is still alive to talk about them would make for a better DVD than a movie where most of the people aren't around to tell stories.

I love that "Gone With The Wind" disc, but come on! It has a whole disc devoted documentaries about the actors involved. Talk about filler. It's cool, but 'Panic Room' [a far worse movie] has a better DVD, no question.

Have to agree that is a pretty sad list. And no more DVDs does not make a better release. But ahh well reminds me why I go directly to the forums and ignore the main DVDtalk page.

Seems about right. Its always debatable, though. The Most Rewatchable List, I have nearly all of them, which I thought was funny. I actually disagree with Cineschloker's list more. Monsturd?????????????????????????????????? Ice Cream Man, please? How about just in terms of value and extras the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2-D? Or Thriller: A Cruel Picture? Or the Creatre (from the Black Lagoon) Legacy collection? Numerous other horror/scifi/cult titles that are well worth mentioning than some of his choices. But again, all debatable.

Surprised to see Dawn of the Dead not mentioned here. Having three cuts of a film, three commentaries and two lengthy documentaries merits a place on my list. I only wish that Anchor Bay would've typed some subtitles, but such is their wont.

It's #17 on the Top 20, #2 on the double dips, #1 on the Schlock list, and it's in Savant's notables as well.

I'm surprised that 'Panic Room' didn't make the best packaging list; I think that's the best layout I've ever seen, it should've gotten some sort of honorable mention. Sure, the outside of the box isn't fancy (sidebar: I don't care what anybody says, those 'Star Trek' boxes look stupid, when I buy those sets, I will put the discs into regular cases), but I'm talking about the part that holds the actual discs.

Yeah, I didn't check out the lists yet, but was going just on what I saw here, but it certainly deserved those spots.
And I totally agree with you on those flimsy Star Trek cases

Wait, are you complaining because you don't like the movies or because they're double-dips? Because you say you're complaining about the double-dip (though you leave off 'Return of the King' and 'Gone With The Wind', which are both double dips for terrrrrrrrrrific films), but it doesn't sound like you'd be happier if there were only one release of 'Panic Room' which made it to #4.

Anyway, just because you don't like the movie doesn't mean the DVD is bad. I'd never buy these special edition 'Star Wars' movies, but I recognize the quality of the DVD release and, conversely, I love Woody Allen, but would never expect one of his DVD releases to be noted on any "Best DVD" list.

I am still wondering how Dick Van Dyke didn't make the top ten in TV Shows on DVD list when the work done on those were highly praised by a lot of people.


Paul

Panic Room shouldn't be on there because the movie itself sucks so bad. Master & Commander Collector's Set made the list for best packaging but not Top 10 of the year? Star Wars makes it because its Star Wars.

I was able to get some ideas for something to watch in the future so in my mind the lists were a success. Also, it is always nice to see genuine enthusiasm for films that aren't on everyone's radar. Nice work.

Thank you. That's precisely the spirit in which the lists were drafted.

It's amazing how some people get their panties in a bunch because the lists don't contain every random disc that they happen to be passionate about. A lot of DVDs came out in 2004. These lists are only 10 or 20 titles long each. Not everything is going to get mentioned.