The Best DVDs Ever Made
By Disco
Stu - Editor in Chief : 04.24.02
Mmm...
digital...
The
Digital Video Disc (or the DVD) has been the latest
revolutionary invention for home entertainment. Why?
Well, it allows you perverts out there to watch
clearer porn. Um... it also allows you to watch great
films higher quality images and sound. Another
advantage of the DVD is its loads of disc space: this
means not only can distributors put the actual movie
onto the disc, but can also include special features.
Certain
movies are meant to be put on the DVD format. For
example, films that are superior to others visually or
sound-wise fit into DVD perfectly. Below are the 5
DVDs that take full advantage of the freedoms the
format gives. Sorry, but I left out the porn
titles.
 5.
The Matrix
Why
is The Matrix on this list? Well, other than
being a great movie with excellent visuals, The
Matrix put the DVD on the map in terms of being a
viable format. The picture quality is high and the
sound is just as good. This disc also set the first
standards for extra features. With now thousands of
DVD releases out there, The Matrix still
remains one of the most influential.
Most
Memorable Scene: The first freeze frame moment.
You know what I'm talking about: when you think the
frame is still, the camera pans around and fluidly
shows Neo jumping in different angles.
Best
Extra Feature: The 3 making of documentaries.
Movie
Rating: 8 out of 10
DVD
Rating: 8 out of 10
 4.
Shrek
Since
Shrek is a completely computer animated movie,
I don't think anyone doubted that Dreamworks would put
out a good disc. But, expectations were surpassed with
the great practical and extra features: for example,
you may choose to view it in widescreen or pan and
scan, and the extra features appeal to both kids and
hardcore DVD fans. The video is absolute perfection
and the sound is nearly as good. Shrek has set
the bar for all other animated films to follow.
Most
Memorable Scene: When Shrek and Donkey first enter
Farquaad's palace. The very clever jokes here appeal
to both kids and adults, but for totally different
reasons.
Best
Extra Feature: The revoice studio, character
interviews, games, music videos, and goofs (which are
all directed at children) are excellent for the target
audience.
Movie
Rating: 9 out of 10
DVD
Rating: 8 out of 10
 3.
TIE: Terminator 2: Ultimate Edition and The Godfather
Trilogy DVD Collection
You
may not think Terminator 2 and The Godfather
Trilogy have anything in common, but you're wrong.
In both instances, we have a sequel equaling or even
eclipsing the excellence of the first film. With T2,
we not only have a better sequel, but also an amazing
special edition DVD with great picture and sound
quality. In fact, the sound quality is some of the
best in all DVDs. Also, extra features are plentiful
here (and that's pretty much an understatement). Along
with The Matrix, T2 helped set the
standards for DVD making.
And
don't forget to pick up The Godfather Trilogy
collection, too. The first two are without a doubt
some of the best films ever created, and that alone
would warrant picking up the DVD. But, the makers
didn't stop there and actually cleaned up the sound
and image and put in great features. For example,
there's a solid 72 minute behind the scenes
documentary, a glimpse at Coppola's notebooks, picture
galleries, and additional scenes. Simply excellent.
Most
Memorable Scene: In Terminator 2, you can't
beat the first time you see T-1000 (Robert Patric) get
shot and then re-morph his head back in shape. In The
Godfather, the most famous scene is probably when
the movie producer finds his prized race horse,
Khartoum, beheaded on his bed.
Best
Extra Feature: For Terminator 2, the "Data
Core" feature will keep you busy for hours.
For The Godfather Trilogy, you can't beat Francis Ford
Coppola's movie commentary.
Movie
Rating: T2 - 8 out of 10; The Godfather Trilogy -
10 out of 10
DVD
Rating:
 2.
Moulin Rouge!
The
standard for picture quality on DVDs quickly changed
after Moulin Rouge! was released. The image is
sharp, lush, and colorful--precisely what director Baz
Luhrman had hoped for when making this film.
Surprisingly, this excellent movie was snubbed for a
few major Academy Awards; while it was nominated for
Best Picture, Luhrman was snubbed for Best Director
and Ewan McGregor was snubbed for Best Actor. The
movie itself is ambitious and the DVD does not fail to
live up to the quality of the movie. In fact, this
disc rivals the Terminator 2 and The Phantom
Menace discs in terms of extra features. While it
may take you a while to appreciate the film (like me),
it may eventually grow on you. If you don't like the
film, Moulin Rouge! is still worth picking up
simply because of the standards it has helped to set.
Most
Memorable Scene: When John Leguizamo's character
first crashes into Ewan McGregor's flat. He agrees to
be in Lautrec's (Leguizamo) play and eventually
McGregor launches into his amusing rendition of
"The Hills are Alive" from The Sound of
Music.
Best
Extra Feature: This disc is loaded with
extra features and behind the scenes footage. But, if
I had to choose, I'd say the "Behind the Red
Curtain" feature (sort of like "Follow the
White Rabbit" on other discs) stands out above
all.
Movie
Rating: 9 out of 10
DVD
Rating: 9 out of 10
 1.
Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace
The
Phantom Menace is one of those films that is
perfect for the DVD format. It has amazing visuals,
superior sound design, a very interesting production
story, and a great cast and crew. The disc tries to
show this off through the DVD release. Like Moulin
Rouge!, the Episode 1 disc is absolutely loaded
with extra features. In this two-disc set, you get a
quality movie on one disc and another disc filled with
extra features. While the biggest movie of 1999 may
not have lived up to everyone's expectations, this DVD
has certainly set the gold standard for all DVDs to
follow.
Most
Memorable Scene: Probably a tie between the 10+
minute pod race and the fight sequence with Obi-Wan
Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Darth Maul. Both have become
classic Star Wars sequences.
Best
Extra Feature: Definitely "The
Beginning," a fabulous two hour 'making-of'
documentary made from hundreds of hours of behind the
scenes footage.
Movie
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
DVD
Rating: 10 out of 10
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