I just watched this HD DVD over the weekend and thought it was fabulous -- the film as well as the presentation. It was a blind buy for me.

+1

My fiancee actually wanted to see it more than I did, but I am glad I made the purchase, especially at 20.95 from Amazon.

I'm on the fence with Casablanca (mentioned in several "must-have" replies). I'd like to get it but I really hate 4:3 so I'm not sure I'd watch it much. I realize this is the original way it was filmed and the film is a classic, but call me a fuddy duddy --- I like my widescreen!

Equilibrium

Maybe La Haine too.

Just want to DRIVE HOME that point as well.

I just received Fletch. It looks fabulous. There is another thread, but WTF, I'll put down a few titles here anyway off the top of my head:

Fletch

The Thing

Battle Of The Bulge

Polar Express

The Deer Hunter (some debate this but I think it looks great most of the time)

Doom (even if you don't like the film too much, the blood and gore in HD is quite superb)

The Cowboys

Stardust

Pan's Labyrinth

Forbidden Planet (I said Goddamn!)

Enter The Dragon

Reds

Unforgiven

Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (reference for colors on your HDTV set)

Hot Fuzz (I think--maybe need to watch it again)

I have more, but those are just off the top. Hope this helps.

P.S. I have about 12 foreign HD DVD titles coming so I'll give my opinions on those when I get them (The Jackal, The Island, La Haine, T2 HD DVD Ultimate, King Kong (1976), and more)

Absolutely concur on Equilibrium - I haven't seen La Haine so I can't comment on that.

2001
Dune
Batman Begins
Casablanca

...in other words, nothing you haven't read here already

The Hulk
Blades of Glory

-Tek

I'm taking 'must-haves' to include titles that are exclusive to HD-DVD right now, or have a few features exclusive to HD-DVD. If I had to narrow to 5:

Batman Begins (impeccable transfer)
Pan's Labyrinth (features and transfer)
Children Of Men (features and transfer, and a combo to boot)
Transformers (features, but a Blu-Ray version waits in the wings)
Forbidden Planet tin (the only collectors set on HD-DVD worth getting)

I have to shoot down both Dune and The Deer Hunter, descent transfers, but no custom menus (they use a cookie-cutter Universal logo splash screen and generic title music - do any others use it? Those 2 are the only ones I own) and I thought the sound mix on each was terrible.

I would hope since 2009 is the 25th anniversary of Dune, that we'll see a Blu-Ray disc that will be a definitive edition (Universal - use the Blade Runner set as your benchmark.)

All the Kubrick stuff looks phenomenal (and Blazing Saddles, too, BTW) but the WB put all those titles to both sides of the fence, so you're good either side you pick.

Haven't heard much of it (if at all), but I really love "The Departed". On my TV, the contrast was excellent, not to mention it's just an excellent movie that gets better with every viewing.

Like many others, I would put "Hot Fuzz" up there as well.

Arizona Dream.