LOTR extended editions, I think are my best. Also Titanic, Alien Quad and Ben Hur.

even though it was a marketing ploy for the sequel

Lions Gate has to given some credit for the recent

SAW - reissue

uncut print, DTS, commentaries, extras, kick-ass cover.

One of my favorite discs---even though it's the first one I ever bought, all the way back in 2001---is Three Kings. Great picture, sound and extras...and it's not even labeled as a Special Edition.

Other notable releases:

Blue Undergrounds
- Mondo Cane Collection - dual alternate versions, great transfers, documentary
- Blind Dead Collection - dual alternate versions, documentary

Definitely all Disney discs as of late. Incredible incredible transfers, especially impressive for the older titles.

I would think the defects on Titanic would exclude it from being exceptional.

Nobody's mentioned it yet so please allow me: North by Northwest.

Incredible picture quality.

Criterion's My Own Private Idaho, Slacker, Jules and Jim, Short Cuts, Knife in the Water, and Hoop Dreams are phenomenal releases. I also second (or third, or fourth) the special editions of Black Hawk Down, Dawn of the Dead, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. One that doesn't get much play around here is the Waking Life dvd - a brilliant transfer and truly fascinating extras for anyone interested in animation. Two other David Fincher SE's come to mind: Se7en: New Line Platinum and Panic Room.

Kudos as well to the creators of Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared, and Lost, who did such a nice job making it worth trading in old VHS tapes and reruns for box sets.

cheers,

-the Jesus

Wasn't this the result of the Lowry (now DTS) Digital Treatment? I've yet to check it out but understand the results are well worth seeing.

Just out of curiousity I rented another marketing ploy disc, the rerelease of The Transporter- just to see if there was any need to double dip. I've always thought the movie looks very good on DVD. Turns out they've added what IMO is an awesome DTS track, plus a commentary track with Stratham and the movie's producer......so I'll be buying it!

I would like to add the Seabiscuit: Ultimate Gift Set also.

Does this site have a list of "reference"-quality discs (both audio and video)? If not, anyone have a good link to one handy?

I'd like to add Band of Brothers to the list, excellent picture and DTS audio, especially for a TV mini-series. Plus the packaging is really classy and the extras are informative.

I don't believe so, though there are scads of great threads and there are likely lists similar to that.

I started the thread to get others' impressions as to what they feel are reference quality releases- they needn't be perfect; there are tons of really nice looking and sounding releases that the people with tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment might sniff at. What I may think is an exceptional disc when seen and heard on my setup might not be one in the eyes of someone with a 20 grand setup.

off the top of my head:

Dawn of the Dead: Ultimate Edition
LOTR: Extended Editions
Seven: Platinum Edition (2 Disc)
Band of Brothers

Lord of the Rings: Extended Editions are in my opinion the best releases ever. They are so in depth and so high in production value that they set the benchmark.

Black Hawk Down 3-disc
Alien Quadrilogy
Toy Story Toy Box

What DVD Releases Do You Think Are Truly Exceptional?

Any release by Universal that isn't botched up in some way

Seriously, and on a personal note as i think it would have limited appeal, 'By Brakhage' from Criterion - to have any of the late great Stan Brakhages work committed to a format such as dvd is a reason to rejoice.

You forgot Alien3...

I completely agree with the DOTD Ultimate Edition. Best $22 I've ever spent. (Got it used off wherehouse.com this past summer )

LOTR: Extended Editions
Star Wars Episodes II & III, IV, V, VI
Any Pixar: Toy Story I and II, A Bug's Life, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo
Passion of the Christ (One of the best Video ever seen)
Zorro Superbit (Love the video and sound)
Black Hawk Down: 3-Disc and Superbit
Cast Away: SE (plane crash really shows off the audio)
Fifth Element: SE/SB
Spiderman 1 & 2 Superbit
Matrix Movies
Minority Report
Saving Private Ryan: 60th Ann. Edition/best...dts....track....ever
T2/T3
Twister - amazing dts
Superman The Movie

Oldies but Goodies:
Singing in the rain
Gone With the Wind: 4 Disc Collector's Edition
Ben-Hur
Casablanca (Special Edition)
West Side Story: SE
Sound of Music (Not best video or sound, but it is a great DVD set and great family movie)

Yes, exactly. They did a tremendous job on this release.