Support NeoGAF

[seismologist]

I'm just getting my collection started.

Mine:

^^
best movie of all time

 

[heavy liquid]

These are recommendations based on DVD presentation, as opposed to whether or not it's a good movie or not. Of course, I think these are all good movies, but there are many other movies that are good that don't have anywhere near the same great DVD sets that these have, which is what makes these stand out. These are just a few off of the top of my head, and there's a lot more which could easily be swapped out with any of the ones listed.

Fight Club 2-disc special edition. Five commentary tracks, deleted scenes, outtakes, Original sketches, Oil paintings, Storyboards.. This set is packed with amazing stuff.

Brazil - Criterion Editon. Three discs, with three versions of the film. The horribly edited "Love Conquer's All" version, theatre version, and Gilliam's director's cut. Tons of stuff, including "The Battle of Brazil: A Video History" and "What is Brazil?" documentaries.

Fanny and Alexander - Criterion Edition. FIVE disc set! Includes High-def transfers of both Bergman's original 188-minute international release, and the 312-minute version. Extras include an hour long TV interview that Bergman gave in 1984, a 40-minute documentary shot in 2004, and much more stuff such as costume sketches... etc.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

I couldn't sit through any of those... Cure to insomnia for real.

 

[demi]

My personal top 3 (in my opinion so please no flame/hating!):

And as a final runner-up:

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B0002PC2N6.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

 

[Chony]

 

[DaCocoBrova]

These come to mind almost immediately:
Drama:

_____

Sci-Fi:

Too bad the sequels are trash

 

[Cosmic Bus]

Fanny and Alexander - Criterion Edition. FIVE disc set! Includes High-def transfers of both Bergman's original 188-minute international release, and the 312-minute version.

Absolutely. This was unquestionably one of the best DVDs released last year, possibly even the best (mainly challenged by - surprise! - other Criterions).

It's not easy to pick just three discs out of everything in my collection that I'd consider to be essential, but personally, I don't ever want to be without:

The 2-disc director's cut of Amadeus. You need to own this movie. Period.

The Conversation -- Not an overly impressive disc, really, although there's a commentary with Coppola, but this is the quintessential paranoia thriller and one of the finest films of the '70s.

And finally, Scorsese's After Hours, which may not necessarily be one of top ten films or anything, but it's incredibly entertaining and infinitely rewatchable.

 

[Prospero]

Fanny and Alexander - Criterion Edition. FIVE disc set! Includes High-def transfers of both Bergman's original 188-minute international release, and the 312-minute version. Extras include an hour long TV interview that Bergman gave in 1984, a 40-minute documentary shot in 2004, and much more stuff such as costume sketches... etc.

I strongly second this one. Commentary track on disc 3 is a bit weak, but in my opinion I would take this set over even the four-disc LOTR sets.
One of the "extras" that heavy liquid forgot to mention is a two-hour making-of documentary, also directed by Bergman.

(I have that Criterion Brazil as well, by the way--excellent extras, but points off because it's not anamorphic. Right now I live in fear that Criterion is going to discontinue it and come out with a hi-def anamorphic transfer, since they've been doing that lately.)

I'll recommend another Criterion disc:

For sheer quantity of extras and interactive elements, no other DVD ever made beats this one--not one.

And something from Kino:

If you want to see what a miracle DVD can be, get this--one of the best digital restorations I've ever seen.

 

[The Interrobanger]

My 10 favorite DVDs, not nessesarily all my favorite movies (except Brazil, which is #2), but they are all awesome:

 

[Outcast2004]

My picks (in no particular order):

1: The Crow 2 disc edition.. love this movie
2: Clerks X If you don't find this funny, then you have no soul.
3: Seven Special Edition.. the ONLY movie that kinda creeps me out.

Honorable Mentions:
Robocop Criterion Collection.. wow... violence like you wouldn't believe
Saving Private Ryan. IMO no other movie captures the intensity of WW2 like this movie.
Beyond the Mat. If you are a wrestling fanm then this is a MUST own.
The Rise and Fall of ECW. See above. Compelling story of a fan made company.
An Evening with Kevin Smith. Just plain funny stuff, still kicking myself that I missed the Kent State taping.
Spider-man 2. Best superhero movie ever.

 

[Drozmight]

I don't really think they have much in the way of special features or anything, but I really like these movies.

Three Kings
13th Warrior
Boondock Saints
Death to Smoochy
Suicide Kings
Eternal Sunshine
Fight Club
Buffalo Soldiers

 

[seismologist]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'm missing alot of these from my collection. I might have to pick up Amadeus. I remember liking that movie.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Anyone notice the grainy video transfer in Fight Club? Was that for effect? Looks bad.

 

[border]

Are the extras on Clerks X worth seeing? What's the best bits?

 

[shuri]

I havent watched all 5 movies yet, i'm on disc 2 right now, but so far I like it. It's a very oldschool type yakuza series, so dont expect techno music, kungfu and dual uzis shootouts. Awesome presentation, kickass soundtrack, great interesting flick.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

 

[Prospero]

Anyone notice the grainy video transfer in Fight Club? Was that for effect? Looks bad.

That was done on purpose.

[anal-retentive DVD collector]
It's actually much rarer to see a digital remaster preserve the film grain than it is to see the grain cleaned up. That's why Disney's Snow White is one of my least favorite remasters--it's intended to show off your high-end home theater, not to preserve the image as it was originally intended to be seen. Not only do the colors look flat and, well, digital, but artifacts like stray pencil lines that the animators knew would be hidden by the grain are now visible. The Wizard of Oz has that problem as well--in many scenes you can now see the roots of Judy Garland's hair, where it hasn't been properly dyed.
[/anal-retentive DVD collector]

 

[Foreign Jackass]

Can't go wrong with the Godfather trilogy boxset, with commentaries by Coppola and extra stuff. The new Goodfellas DVD is great, too.

 

[Kola]

Yesterday I've seen "The Shawshank Redemption" for the first time. Can't believe I missed this gem for such a long time. Belongs into every good collection.

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

If I was stripped of all but three I'd have to pick these ones:

 

[seismologist]

Yesterday I've seen "The Shawshank Redemption" for the first time. Can't believe I missed this gem for such a long time. Belongs into every good collection.

Already got it. That was one of my first DVDs. It gets a little boring after the 10'th time through.

 

[Solid]

Troy
Signs
Gladiator

 

[SpoonyBard]

It's too hard to pick just 3 DVD's, so I'm going to cheat...

1. LOTR Extented Edition Trilogy
2. Indiana Jones Trilogy
3. Star Wars Trilogy

 

[DaCocoBrova]

That was done on purpose.

[anal-retentive DVD collector]
It's actually much rarer to see a digital remaster preserve the film grain than it is to see the grain cleaned up. That's why Disney's Snow White is one of my least favorite remasters--it's intended to show off your high-end home theater, not to preserve the image as it was originally intended to be seen. Not only do the colors look flat and, well, digital, but artifacts like stray pencil lines that the animators knew would be hidden by the grain are now visible. The Wizard of Oz has that problem as well--in many scenes you can now see the roots of Judy Garland's hair, where it hasn't been properly dyed.
[/anal-retentive DVD collector]

Interesting. Thank you.

 

[Bigfoot]

My personal top 3 (in my opinion so please no flame/hating!):

Can you get this in Canada (aka America)? I've heard it was good, and I liked Shaun of the Dead (except for the serious parts with the annoying old Harry Potter lookalike).

 

[Ronabo]

This is good.

So is this.

 

[Drensch]

1. LOTR Extented Edition Trilogy
2. Indiana Jones Trilogy
3. Star Wars Trilogy

Can't really go wrong with that.

I'd add:
Movies-
El Mariachi Trilogy-Good insight into his movies and they're all a good ride.
Donnie Darko-Great movie, with good extras, and you can pick it up cheap. There is a new edition on the way, but i'm not sure how much of the extras make it through.
Shrek-Good movie, reasonable extras, and it looks great.

Thre's an awful lot of good movies you can grab for less than 10 dollars do I'd keep on the lookout at places like the dvdtalk forums.

Tv: Any of the Simpsons. Popular-I can't recommend this show enough. Nip Tuck.

 

[Forsete]

Cidade de Deus or City of God in English.

Underrated Finnish movie about Finland during WW2, very good!

 

[Falch]

Best superhero movie imo. DTS on this dvd is incredible. Part one is very enjoyable also.

Perhaps the best tv-series ever made. Image quality is bad, especially in the first episodes. Didn't bother my enjoyment one bit though. I'm currently working my way through the second season.

 

[Mairu]

 

[Gek54]

Ronin
Fight Club
Snatch