What DVD Releases Do You Think Are Truly Exceptional?
#1
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What DVD Releases Do You Think Are Truly Exceptional?
Hi all- with alot of talk going on about the coming of the HD disc format, I'm curious to know what standard DVD releases people think are truly great ones to own in both picture and audio quality. Extras can count into your assessment as well, of course.
I look on my shelves and see some truly wonderful examples of how good the format can look and sound, and how far it has come from some truly horrible releases in it's early days-stuff I won't even watch because I know how crummy it looks. Some releases that may not be Superbit, may not be Criterions, but they still are excellent representations of standard DVD. Thanks in advance!
I look on my shelves and see some truly wonderful examples of how good the format can look and sound, and how far it has come from some truly horrible releases in it's early days-stuff I won't even watch because I know how crummy it looks. Some releases that may not be Superbit, may not be Criterions, but they still are excellent representations of standard DVD. Thanks in advance!
Last edited by nightmaster; 11-08-05 at 04:22 PM.
#2
DVD Talk Hero
The new Star Wars Ep. III DVD looks and sounds great.
Pretty much any CGI animated movie like Toy Story or The Incredibles look and sound fantastic as well. They'd be hard pressed to improve on them.
The 3 disc DVD of Black Hawk Down is my personal favorite DVD in terms of Audio/Visual and extras.
Edited for typo.
Pretty much any CGI animated movie like Toy Story or The Incredibles look and sound fantastic as well. They'd be hard pressed to improve on them.
The 3 disc DVD of Black Hawk Down is my personal favorite DVD in terms of Audio/Visual and extras.
Edited for typo.
Last edited by GoldenJCJ; 11-08-05 at 07:55 PM.
#3
DVD Talk Special Edition
I second the 3 discer black HAWK down release.
I love watching the docs and the A/V is superb.
Ep III is pretty outstanding.
I would also the T2 ultimate edition, the commentary is excellent along with the extras and I do not find the menus that boring either.
I love watching the docs and the A/V is superb.
Ep III is pretty outstanding.
I would also the T2 ultimate edition, the commentary is excellent along with the extras and I do not find the menus that boring either.
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I just got the Ultimate Matrix. My Matrix DVD was the first DVD i ever bought so i was needing a new copy The new transfer of the original matrix movie is fantastic. I was really impressed with it.
I will throw Fight Club out there - love the transfer and Audio on it. Has great extras too.
Star Wars III is great too and so is most of the Pixar stuff - the latest I have being the Incredibles.
I will throw Fight Club out there - love the transfer and Audio on it. Has great extras too.
Star Wars III is great too and so is most of the Pixar stuff - the latest I have being the Incredibles.
#5
DVD Talk Legend
The Alien Quadrilogy and the recent Titanic: Special Edition come immediately to mind. The last two Star Wars movies (Revenge and Clones) are great for A/V presentation of the films, but I think the bonus features on both aren't really that impressive.
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The Ultimate Edition of "Dawn of the Dead" belongs here as well. Anchor Bay does a bang up jobs on DVD's, namely obscure Horror titles, and this was no exception. All 3 versions of the film, commentaries, features never before released, DiviMax editions, the whole 9.
I'll 3rd the 3 Disc BHD as well. I got it for $10 at a pawn shop and will never part with it.
I'll 3rd the 3 Disc BHD as well. I got it for $10 at a pawn shop and will never part with it.
#8
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
The House of Flying Daggers has fantastic sound and picture. I frequently use the "echo game" sequence as a demo.
The relatively recent Battle of Algiers and Kagemusha Criterions are exceptional for the depth and breadth of subject matter. Battle of Algiers has some amazing interviews and documentaries and I love the booklet of painted storyboards by Kurosawa included in the Kagemusha dvd. I really felt I got my money's worth with these two.
The relatively recent Battle of Algiers and Kagemusha Criterions are exceptional for the depth and breadth of subject matter. Battle of Algiers has some amazing interviews and documentaries and I love the booklet of painted storyboards by Kurosawa included in the Kagemusha dvd. I really felt I got my money's worth with these two.
#11
DVD Talk Gold Edition
The Werner Herzog boxsets, Anchor Bays' Spaghetti Western collections, perhaps not premium editions, but their mere existence in this format is worth a mention. Regardless of your opinions of George Lucas and his shenanigans as of late, the Star Wars dvds are all quite enjoyable.
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There are so many, I'd like to see this thread grow and see many, many titles show up! There are alot of obvious titles out there but also some great looking discs that aren't always mentioned, and I'm glad to see those showing up as well; a guy has to have movies on his 'to buy' list, after all. As for movies on my list that many may not enjoy, hey, there's no accounting for taste
The Warriors Director's Cut- pretty good looking transfer, in spite of the silly comic book panel additions
Million Dollar Baby- super looking transfer
John Carpenter's The Thing CE- very, very good looking movie
The Chronicles of Riddick- not the best of movies but visually stunning
The Bourne Identity- very nice transfer (and I'm a sucker for a DTS audio track)
Terminator 3- lots of people talk about how great T2 looks and I agree- T3 looks and sounds awesome as well!
Blade II- maybe the best movie I can think of to show off one's home theater setup. Pristine transfer and DTS-ES sound makes for a great ride.
Sin City- I'm sure the director's cut will make the current barebones seem less attractive, but it sure is a clean looking transfer with a heck of a DTS track to me.
I'm also in agreement with the votes for the Alien Quadrilogy- I have the Region 2 Japanese version with DTS tracks for all 4 movies- as well as the LOTR EEs, Matrix box set, the recent SW releases, Black Hawk Down and The Incredibles, wonderful movie watching with all of these releases.
The Warriors Director's Cut- pretty good looking transfer, in spite of the silly comic book panel additions
Million Dollar Baby- super looking transfer
John Carpenter's The Thing CE- very, very good looking movie
The Chronicles of Riddick- not the best of movies but visually stunning
The Bourne Identity- very nice transfer (and I'm a sucker for a DTS audio track)
Terminator 3- lots of people talk about how great T2 looks and I agree- T3 looks and sounds awesome as well!
Blade II- maybe the best movie I can think of to show off one's home theater setup. Pristine transfer and DTS-ES sound makes for a great ride.
Sin City- I'm sure the director's cut will make the current barebones seem less attractive, but it sure is a clean looking transfer with a heck of a DTS track to me.
I'm also in agreement with the votes for the Alien Quadrilogy- I have the Region 2 Japanese version with DTS tracks for all 4 movies- as well as the LOTR EEs, Matrix box set, the recent SW releases, Black Hawk Down and The Incredibles, wonderful movie watching with all of these releases.
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Gladiator
the original two disc DVD is hands down one of the best releases out there. i remember when it first came out, the DVD player explosion (where affordability and quality finally met), had just started to happen.
i remember picking up the set for 14.99, and thinking to myself, "hmmm... i wished i had not missed this movie at the theatre, this set has a ton on it, it'd be a good one to break in my first player." i'd just received the player as a christmas gift from my boss, and the next day i'd gone and purchased gladiator and several other DVD's.
man what a set this was, commentaries, deleted scenes, great transfer, awesome sound, making of documentaries. what else could you want for fifteen bucks? 900 DVD's later, and this disc is still one of my faves, so much so, that i've had opportunites to buy the new extended edition for ironically the same amount, fifteen bucks, and i've passed, just because the original is everything i wanted to know about this movie.
i remember picking up the set for 14.99, and thinking to myself, "hmmm... i wished i had not missed this movie at the theatre, this set has a ton on it, it'd be a good one to break in my first player." i'd just received the player as a christmas gift from my boss, and the next day i'd gone and purchased gladiator and several other DVD's.
man what a set this was, commentaries, deleted scenes, great transfer, awesome sound, making of documentaries. what else could you want for fifteen bucks? 900 DVD's later, and this disc is still one of my faves, so much so, that i've had opportunites to buy the new extended edition for ironically the same amount, fifteen bucks, and i've passed, just because the original is everything i wanted to know about this movie.
#18
DVD Talk Legend
Leaving out the animated releases and those already mentioned, I would throw in Lawrence of Arabia (SB), Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Saving Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers.
#23
Master and Commander looks and sounds terrific. Plus the SE has a ton of features.
LOTR: Extended Editions
Star Wars Episodes II & III
Fight Club: SE
Toy Story
The Incredibles
Black Hawk Down: 3-Disc and Superbit
Blade Trinity had a great soundtrack
A Bug's Life
Cast Away: SE (plane crash really shows off the audio)
The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen
Fifth Element: SE/SB
Finding Nemo
The Fly (Cronenberg) + DTS!!!!
Freddy vs Jason - great video, very aggressive audio mix
Spiderman 1 & 2 Superbit
I, Robot
Matrix Movies
Minority Report
Saving Private Ryan: 60th Ann. Edition/best...dts....track....ever
Se7en: Platinum Series
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Platinum Series/great audio mix
The Thing: CE
T2/T3
Titanic: SE
Twister - amazing dts
LOTR: Extended Editions
Star Wars Episodes II & III
Fight Club: SE
Toy Story
The Incredibles
Black Hawk Down: 3-Disc and Superbit
Blade Trinity had a great soundtrack
A Bug's Life
Cast Away: SE (plane crash really shows off the audio)
The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen
Fifth Element: SE/SB
Finding Nemo
The Fly (Cronenberg) + DTS!!!!
Freddy vs Jason - great video, very aggressive audio mix
Spiderman 1 & 2 Superbit
I, Robot
Matrix Movies
Minority Report
Saving Private Ryan: 60th Ann. Edition/best...dts....track....ever
Se7en: Platinum Series
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Platinum Series/great audio mix
The Thing: CE
T2/T3
Titanic: SE
Twister - amazing dts
Last edited by Mr. Cinema; 11-09-05 at 07:37 AM.
#24
DVD Talk Godfather
I thought the DTS track in Man on Fire was outstanding.
What I have heard historically to be "demo" DVDs are Fifth Element, U-571, Enemy at the Gates, and Saving Private Ryan.
My personal favorite demo is the cave troll fight in Fellowship of the Rings.
What I have heard historically to be "demo" DVDs are Fifth Element, U-571, Enemy at the Gates, and Saving Private Ryan.
My personal favorite demo is the cave troll fight in Fellowship of the Rings.
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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: CC - This whole bundle is amazing never have i been so impressed with a release of such an odd american movie. Great all around
Starship Troopers - Feel like the 2 discer is a great way to enjoy this movie, plentiful amount of extras as well great audio and video.
as well more votes for Dawn of the Dead, Matrix Boxset, Alien Qaud.
Starship Troopers - Feel like the 2 discer is a great way to enjoy this movie, plentiful amount of extras as well great audio and video.
as well more votes for Dawn of the Dead, Matrix Boxset, Alien Qaud.