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 VOTERS' VOICES: -"Either Fantasia or Fantasia 2000 as stand-alones make great special edition DVDs, but packaged together and combined with the Fantasia Legacy supplemental DVD, make this Disney's greatest (and most overlooked) DVD output yet." |
30)
Fantasia & Fantasia 2000: The Fantasia Anthology Walt Disney's third full-length animated feature Fantasia holds up remarkably well, over six years after it was created. Even those who are left unimpressed by the simplicity of Snow White seem to be captivated by the bold marriage of familiar classical music and evocative, expressionistic animation. Unlike a lot of sequels, particularly those with "Disney" in the title, Fantasia 2000 delivers as a wonderful new production, created in the mold of the original feature. Running just 75 minutes seems to benefit F2K, which keeps a great pace, and avoids any "Pastoral Symphony" dullness. The two features together (with the original being presented in a mostly uncut Roadshow edition) provide a film experience unlike any other. In addition, the sequel boasts first-rate anamorphic digital video and resounding concert-like Dolby and DTS tracks. Two audio commentaries accompany each film, and a third disc of extras explore each segment in the two films with great detail. Similar in DVD design to The Ultimate Toy Box, Disney's 3-disc set is certainly one to treasure. |
| 1940, 2000, Disney / 3 Discs / DVD Release 11/14/00 / SRP $69..98 / LAST YEAR: 60 |
| 29)
Rushmore: Criterion Collection Witty and pleasing comedy/drama from Wes Anderson in a nice Criterion DVD, Part I... The quirky Rushmore struck a chord with audiences and critics with its originality and able blend of humor and drama. The film helped build the young director/co-writer Anderson an audience that wasn't quite formed following his debut effort Bottle Rocket. Criterion's pricey but potent DVD offers the only way to get an anamorphic transfer of this film, and a slew of creative supplements, on the side. |
 VOTERS' VOICES: -"In my opinion one of the funniest movies of all time, great disc extras too." -"The world can't be that bad a place, if DVDs like this get produced." -"Lots of interesting and eccentric extras." |
| 1999, Criterion/Touchstone / 1 Disc / DVD Release 1/18/00 / SRP $39.99 / LAST YEAR: 14 |
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28)
The Stanley Kubrick Collection The remastered Stanley Kubrick Collection DVD set, released in June 2001, is the realization of the Kubrick Collection set released in June of 1999. Where the first set lacked (audio and video quality), this re-release delivers. Eight films directed by the late Kubrick, considered one of the most ingenious film directors of any time, spanning four decades and countless genres, are all remastered and presented in this collection. While a number of Kubrick's films divided or bewildered audiences, his canon of works presented here offer something for the film fan in anyone, whether it's futuristic space journey, dark Cold War comedy, chilling horror, or riveting war drama. The ninth disc is Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures, the set's exclusive 142-minute documentary made by Kubrick's longtime assistant Jan Harlan. While there are no audio commentaries or documentaries on the individual films, the documentary disc, in which a number of Kubrick's collabators participate, provides a thorough look at the man and his career. A career which gave us these bizarre and calculated films, which wouldn't look out of place on any "Best of Film" list and together in this set, make for a diverse collection for those who appreciate Kubrick as a masterful artist. |
| 1962-1999, Warner Bros. / 9 Discs / DVD Release 6/12/01 / SRP $199..99 / LAST YEAR: NR |
| 27)
Pearl Harbor: Vista Series Director's Cut While all four of the films he's directed have gotten their share of critical scalding to some degree, Michael Bay has had success with audiences, namely audiences turning out to see his films. Even if Pearl Harbor underperformed in some way (and with a budget of $150 M, it had some high expectations to live up to), it nonetheless wound up as one of 2001's highest-grossing films. Fortunately as with Bay's three previous films, Pearl Harbor has been treated with a nice DVD re-release. The film itself is presented in an R-rated Director's Cut, with more bloodshed. But the highlight of this 4-disc Vista Series is the supplemental content. The movie, spread over two discs, is joined by three audio commentaries (yes, that will require you to watch the film 3 additional times, for a total of 9 hours). Discs 3 and 4 contain further information on both the film and the historical event. Nice touchs include a relatively low SRP (the same price as the two Criterion Bay films, and those are just two discs) and an awesome package. |
 VOTERS' VOICES: -"I know the movie wasn't too hot (I think of it the same as Bay's other movies - guilty pleasures) but this set was very nice." |
| 2001, Touchstone / 4 Discs / DVD Release 7/2/02 / SRP $39.99 / LAST YEAR: N/A |
 VOTERS' VOICES: -"." -"A |
26)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial It's pretty difficult to screw up the long-awaited DVD debut of one of the most beloved and highest-grossing films of all-time, but Universal did that with Steven Spielberg's E.T. First, they announced that the theatrical cut would only be available in a high-priced collector's gift set -- one would have to pay for a book, a soundtrack CD, and a senitype just to see the film in its true form. Then, Universal quietly changed their plans and decided to include the theatrical cut in the standard 2-disc release as well, apparently at the request of Spielberg. But out of a desire to get customers to not cancel their gift set preorders, Universal announced a No-Preview-Copies for Internet reviews policy (a policy that would apply ONLY to E.T. and websites), ideally to prevent this information from being disclosed. Oh, and to top things off, Universal had the brilliant idea to relegate deleted scenes and other extras to a DVD-ROM/Internet portal called Total Axxess. In the end, the 2-DVD Collector's Edition and 3-DVD Gift Set were different in rather small ways, certainly alike enough to list as one spot in the List. Ultimately, both cuts of the film (the theatrical cut and Spielberg's 2002 firearms-free edit) were available in both packages. More people voted for the Gift Set, but enough people voted for both releases to take up two spots in the Top 100. Treated separately, the Gift Set would be ranked in the 30s and the 2-disc set in the 50s. Oh yeah, and about the movie and DVD...well, the movie is still pretty good, but the 2-disc's supplements leave a bit to be desired. Nonetheless, after all this time, we have E.T. on DVD. Or do we? Apparently, they're out-of-print now and to be yanked out of stores, so if you were holding off buying, you might not want to wait too much longer. |
BUY
THIS DVD - 2-DISC CE |
1982, Universal / 2 or 3 Discs / DVD Release 10/22/02 / LAST YEAR: N/A |
| 25)
Saving Private Ryan Many consider Saving Private Ryan one of last decade's better films, and perhaps, Steven Spielberg's graphic drama is the definitive portrayal of World War II combat. Nonetheless, the film is just part of the reason so many voters ranked this DVD so high. The other part: the DTS soundtrack. Having the benefit of being made in a generation of technology, Saving Private Ryan's level of realism is elevated by packing a powerful punch in the sound department. DreamWorks' DVD features an engulfing DTS track, which many still consider the reference for unbelievable audio experience. While the DVD may not offer the extensive supplements some might be looking for, it does contain nearly three hours of hard-hitting war, with unbeatable picture and sound. And there are a few extras on the side as well. |
 VOTERS' VOICES: -"BEST. SOUND. EVER." -"The Normandy invasion is one of the greatest pieces of cinema ever, in my humble opinion. I truly felt like I was there and understood a little of what those men went through. As far as personal impressions, no other movie has so moved me." -"First 20 minutes rock." |
| 1998, DreamWorks / 1 Disc / DVD Release 11/16/99 / SRP $26..99 / LAST YEAR: 15 |
 VOTERS' VOICES: -"Another labor of love from and for the man who undoubtedly will go down as one of the best directors in film history." |
24) The Royal Tenenbaums:
Criterion Collection Witty and pleasing comedy/drama from Wes Anderson in a nice Criterion DVD, Part II... This time, the writer/director tells the story of a family of geniuses and their asshole father who is trying to make things right with his children twenty years after not being there to watch them grow up. Gene Hackman is a hoot as patriarch Royal Tenenbaum, and overall this ensemble hits several of the right notes, making it one of 2001's finest films. The 2-disc set (complete with appropriate booklike packaging) contains audio commentary from Anderson, galleries of the film's artwork, an extensive photo gallery, a "With the Filmmaker" documentary, cast interviews, a mock Charlie Rose-like featurette, and some very amusing easter eggs. Oh yeah, and first-rate anamorphic transfer and DD/DTS tracks. Makes for a perfect companion with Criterion's Rushmore DVD. |
| 2001, Touchstone/Criterion / 2 Discs / DVD Release 7/9/02 / SRP $29.99 / LAST YEAR: N/A |
| 23)
Lawrence of Arabia: Limited Edition Perhaps the finest of all David Lean epics is Lawrence of Arabia, 1962 Best Picture Oscar winner and hailed as the fifth greatest 'American' film of all-time by the American Film Institute. The sweeping desert visuals are presented here the only way they should ever be seen, in its original 2.20:1 widescreen aspect ratio. Naturally, fans of the film (and essentially that can read as "fans of film") will want nothing to do with the single-disc re-release. The two-disc Limited Edition comes in a classy book package. The film looks rather remarkable for its age (if not entirely faithful to Lean's wishes), as the full 227-minute production (complete with intermission and overtures) is spread across two discs. In addition to some worthwhile DVD-ROM extras (a virtual map of Arabia), the set features a great one-hour documentary, plus a conversation featurette with Steven Spielberg. Overall, a solid presentation of an irresistible classic. |
 VOTERS' VOICES: -"Arguably the best film ever made presented in a GORGEOUS transfer, great sound, and a superior documentary on the making of the film. The book-like packaging of the special edition is really classy and fitting as well." -"Excellent documentary." -"Gorgeous film, gorgeous transfer, gorgeous supplements." |
| 1962, Columbia/TriStar / 2 Discs / DVD Release 4/3/01 / SRP $39.99 / LAST YEAR: 25 |
 VOTERS' VOICES: -"Best Disney disc to date." -"Disney outdid themselves here, giving the one that started it all one of the best DVD releases of all time. Pacific Digital Imaging has given it a simply awesome digital restoration, and it honestly looks like it could have been made yesterday. The extra features presented here are so vast and truly immersive that I still haven't gotten through everything, and I've had it for over a year." |
22)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Platinum Edition Disney's first full-length animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs essentially created the mold for animated fairy tale, setting the trend for a formula which has remained effective and successful over the years for the studio. The studio's 2-disc Platinum Edition release of the film has likewise created the mold for their premiere line of animated classic DVDs. Featuring a stunning video transfer and several hours of extra features, Snow White's DVD has set a level of quality, which has become the standard for classic films being restored for DVD release. |
| 1937, Disney / 2 Discs / DVD Release 10/9/01 / SRP $29.99 / LAST YEAR: 9 |
| 21)
Singin' in the Rain: Special Edition Like North By Northwest, the praise to this DVD release of Singin' in the Rain has centered on the incredible restoration. Voters found it pretty remarkable how the colors could just leap off the screen for a film which is half-a-century old. To focus on the film's video quality would be to ignore the great supplements. These extras include an excellent audio commentary with cast members Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Cyd Charisse, and Kathleen Freeman, plus screenwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and co-director Stanley Donen, plus author/film historian Rudy Behlmer and Baz Luhrmann (who makes musical films). No fluff featurettes are to be found. Instead, there's the 96-minute documentary Musicals Great Musicals and a brand new half-hour documentary on the making and impact of Singin' in the Rain. Any one of those individual traits of this 2-disc Warner set would be impressive on its own, but together they make for one fantastic DVD release. Oh yes, and the movie happens to be arguably the most beloved musical of all time. |
 VOTERS' VOICES: -"A job well done by Warner on this classic." -"The best restoration I've seen. This movie has probably never looked better than this. The colors shout on the screen and no artifacting or edge enhancement. And it's one of the greatest movies of all time." -"This is why God invented color." -"The greatest Hollywood Musical in a fine special edition presentation." |
| 1952, Warner Bros. / 2 Discs / DVD Release 9/24/02 / SRP $26..99 / LAST YEAR: N/A |
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