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created: 2/18/03
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Outstanding
Achievements in DVD for 2002
back
to Editors' Top 10 Choices
| BEST
DVD - OVERALL |
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The
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - 4-Disc Special
Extended DVD Version
(New Line)
If this comes as a surprise, then you must be new here. Yes,
this IS the new gold standard in DVD. Much of what makes these
four discs so special will be discussed elsewhere, so let's
focus here on what's really extraordinary about this set: the
movie itself. Anybody who's a real movie buff has learned over
the past several years to approach films sporting keywords like
"extended", "special edition", or "redux"
with a great deal of trepidation. But Peter Jackson has done the
impossible. By adding nearly half an hour of footage to The
Fellowship of the Ring (which, let's face it, wasn't
exactly short in the first place), he's created a deeper, richer
movie experience. For the first time in the format's history,
DVD has allowed a good movie to become truly great. This is an
extraordinary achievement and belongs on the shelf of every
movie fan. |
|
2ND
PLACE
The Royal Tenenbaums
(Buena Vista/Criterion)
A movie must be pretty darn good to get the Criterion treatment
right out of the gate, and you'd best believe that Wes
Anderson's third film is just that good. The
Royal Tenenbaums is a modern classic - funny,
touching, smart and utterly unique. The two-disc set lives up to
Criterion's typically high standards and, thanks to the
cooperation of Buena Vista Home Entertainment, the Criterion
Collection finally got some much-needed exposure in mainstream
America.
3RD PLACE
Legend: Ultimate Edition
(Universal)
Finally, a two-disc set that actually lives up to Universal's
high-reaching "ultimate edition" designation. For
this, the last word on Ridley Scott's ambitious, much-maligned
fairy tale, Universal provides two substantially different
versions of the movie... and nearly everything you'd ever want
to know about what went on behind the scenes. And at long last,
the debate over whether the Tangerine Dream or the Jerry
Goldsmith score is better can be resolved without resorting to
expensive imports or poor quality bootlegs. |
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| BEST
DVD - SPECIAL EDITION |
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The
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - 4-Disc Special
Extended DVD Version
(New Line)
This year, we decided that this category was perhaps
indistinguishable from BEST DVD -
OVERALL, and that the only titles eligible for
consideration here would be movies that had received a prior,
movie-only release. So if New Line hadn't released the
theatrical version of Fellowship just months before the extended
version, this wouldn't have even been eligible for this
category. But they did, so this was kind of a no-brainer. |
|
2ND
PLACE
Pearl Harbor: Director's Cut - Vista
Series (Buena Vista/Touchstone)
Say what you will about the movie (everybody else has), there's
no denying that this four-disc extravaganza is a very special
edition indeed. With hours and hours of commentaries,
behind-the-scenes featurettes and multi-angle features, this
could be subtitled How to Make a
Summer Blockbuster. As if that weren't impressive
enough, the disc goes above and beyond by delving into the
history behind the melodrama. This may well be the most
respectful treatment ever given a movie that got no respect.
3RD PLACE
Pulp Fiction: Collector's Edition
(Buena Vista/Miramax)
Quentin Tarantino fans have learned that patience is a virtue,
whether they're waiting for a new movie or for decent digital
versions of Tarantino's first three. This year, that patience
paid off in spades. If Miramax's original bare-bones Pulp
Fiction disc seemed like a cruel joke, the two-disc
Collector's Edition more than made up for it. Interviews,
reviews and articles, and a top-notch documentary make this a
special edition that was worth the wait. |
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| BEST
DVD - STANDARD EDITION (TIE) |
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Koyaanisqatsi
(MGM)
Powaqqatsi
(MGM)
Just a few years ago, the rights to Godfrey Reggio's two
visionary films resided squarely in legal limbo. At that point,
it seemed extremely unlikely that we'd be seeing either of these
movies in any format any time soon. For that reason alone, their
appearance on DVD in 2002 is one of the year's most welcome
surprises. MGM deserves further applause for providing new 5.1
surround sound mixes and interviews with Reggio and composer
Philip Glass. These titles aren't exactly household names, so to
see them given affordable, respectable digital treatment by a
major studio is nothing short of astonishing. |
2ND
PLACE
Ghost World (MGM)
For at least a few of us here at The
Bits, Ghost World
was the best film of 2001. Would we have liked to see a special
edition? Darn tootin'! But as far as we're concerned, anything
that gets more people to see this under-appreciated gem is aces
in our book.
3RD PLACE
Mulholland Drive
(Universal)
The latest mind-bender from David Lynch demands multiple
viewings, making it a home video must-have in any format. But to
truly appreciate Lynch, you need something that will deliver the
highest possible sound quality. Universal's DVD, and their
commitment to DTS, brings it all home in style... blue boxes,
lip-synching Spanish singers and all. |
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| BEST
DVD - BOXED SET |
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The
Herzog/Kinski Collection
(Anchor Bay)
On the short list of all-time great collaborations between
director and star, there's Scorsese and De Niro and Herzog and
Kinski. And as great as the Scorsese/De Niro pictures are, their
off-screen relationship isn't even a tenth as interesting as the
one between Werner Herzog and the late, great Klaus Kinski.
Anchor Bay's outstanding limited edition set collects all of
Herzog's collaborations with the mercurial German star (Aguirre:
The Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo,
Nosferatu, Woyzeck
and Cobra Verde) and
tosses in Herzog's heartfelt documentary tribute, My
Best Fiend, to boot. Wrap these great films up in one
of the most gorgeously designed boxes we've seen and you've got
yourself a boxed set worth the money. |
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2ND
PLACE
Baz Luhrmann's Red Curtain Trilogy
(20th Century Fox)
It was Hands Across Hollywood as Miramax and Fox teamed up to
collect Baz Luhrmann's thematically linked über-romances.
Featuring the underrated Strictly
Ballroom, the divisive Shakespeare "interpretation"
Romeo+Juliet and last
year's Bitsy winner for
BEST DVD - OVERALL, Moulin
Rouge, this is a stylish, well-produced package that
actually makes sense. It would be exciting to see the studios
team up, or better yet, allow Criterion to produce a similar set
collecting Terry Gilliam's "Dreams" trilogy (Time
Bandits, Brazil
and The Adventures of Baron
Munchausen).
3RD
PLACE
The Alec Guinness Collection
(Anchor Bay)
The late Sir Alec gets his due with this fine box collecting
his comedic work for the legendary Ealing Studios (Kind
Hearts and Coronets, The
Lavender Hill Mob, The
Ladykillers, The Man in
the White Suit and The
Captain's Paradise). Not too many extras, but once
you see one of these classic comedies, you'll want 'em all. |
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| BEST
DVD - PSYCHOTRONIC |
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The
Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension! -
Special Edition
(MGM)
Calling all Blue Blaze Irregulars! Everyone's favorite
neurosurgeon/rocket-car driver/physicist/rock star/superhero is
back in high style. Possibly the first DVD ever produced with
the full cooperation of its main character, Buckaroo Banzai has
in spades the one element most discs completely overlook: a
sense of humor. A real cult classic and one of the most perfect
marriages of content, style and disc production to date. |
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2ND
PLACE
I Spit on Your Grave: Millennium
Edition (Elite)
Film snobs may raise their eyebrows at the need for a
definitive special edition of this exploitation classic, but
Elite Entertainment proves their own case with this disc. Is it
a bona fide feminist statement or is it offensive trash
masquerading as one? Elite admirably explores both sides of the
argument. Who knows? Maybe after spinning this disc, you'll
change your mind.
3RD PLACE (TIE)
UHF (MGM)
Mad Monster Party (Anchor
Bay)
Two forgotten gems resurface in digital versions better than
even their most ardent supporters could have dared hope for.
UHF shines in the extras
department, delivering a hilarious commentary, deleted scenes
and plenty of surprises (Supplies!). As for Mad
Monster Party, it boasts a spectacular transfer
that'll make you think it was shot last week, not over thirty
years ago. Sometimes, good things happen to little movies. |
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| BEST
DVD - VIDEO (FILM TO DIGITAL TRANSFER) |
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The
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - 4-Disc Special
Extended DVD Version
(New Line)
A film like this needs to look its best, and New Line pulled
out all the stops. Spread out over two discs, the astonishing
vision of Peter Jackson and Oscar winning cinematographer Andrew
Lesnie is beautifully captured in this set. Whether it's the
verdant Shire or the fiery pits of Moria, glistening Rivendell
or dire Gondor, Tolkien's Middle-Earth couldn't look any better
than it does right here. |
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2ND
PLACE
Memento: Limited Edition
(Columbia TriStar)
The best reason to upgrade from Memento's
original release to this two-disc set isn't the new extras, the
director's commentary, the vaguely irritating packaging or even
the new DTS track. It's the startling, crystalline new transfer.
Even after all of us here at The Bits
have become jaded and used to top-notch transfers, the
improvement in Memento
still caused us to murmur an impressed, "Wow."
3RD
PLACE
Sunset Boulevard: Special Collector's
Edition (Paramount)
This year's winner for Best Black &
White Transfer, this is another classic film that has
never looked so good. Literally... the image on this disc is
cleaner and sharper than could ever be achieved on film. Sunset
Boulevard is one of the all-time great movies and
this A-plus disc is a fitting tribute to director Billy Wilder
(who passed away in 2002 at the ripe old age of 95). |
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| BEST
DVD - VIDEO (DIGITAL TO DIGITAL TRANSFER) |
|
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Star
Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
(20th Century Fox)
As the TV ads for this disc trumpeted, this is the best DVD
we've ever seen. Period. If you have a high-end home theatre
setup and you want to make friends drool, this is the disc you
should spin for them. The first live-action movie to ever win
The Bitsy in this
category, Episode II is a
visual feast, outclassing every other DVD out there. The bar for
picture quality has officially been raised. |
|
2ND
PLACE
Monsters, Inc. (Buena
Vista/Disney/Pixar)
Ho-hum... another year, another first-class animated transfer
from the team over at Pixar. So what else is new? It's almost to
the point where we wish Pixar would drop the ball and release
something that looks awful, just so we'd have something
different to write about. Almost.
3RD PLACE
Ice Age (20th Century Fox)
20th Century Fox's first foray into computer animation became
their first real success story in feature animation, period. So
it's only fitting that the two-disc DVD boasts a high quality
transfer. |
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| BEST
DVD - AUDIO |
|
 |
Pearl
Harbor: Director's Cut - Vista Series
(Buena Vista/Touchstone)
Sometimes, if a studio squeezes a bunch of audio options onto a
disc, the quality suffers exponentially. That's not the case
with Pearl Harbor. Whether
you choose Dolby Digital, DTS or Dolby Headphone (an option more
studios should include), you're in for a sonically powerful
three hours. We've all been immersed in 5.1 battle sequences by
now, but nothing quite like this. |
|
2ND
PLACE
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the
Clones (20th Century Fox)
After The Phantom Menace,
we'd have been disappointed if Attack
of the Clones didn't blow us away. Fortunately, Fox
was up to the challenge, crafting a magnificent soundscape that
perfectly captures the work of sound magician Ben Burtt and
composer John Williams.
3RD PLACE
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: 2-Disc
Limited Collector's Edition (Universal)
Say what you will about Steven Spielberg and DVD, the man knows
how to remix his movies. Jaws,
Close Encounters and now
E.T. are all pitch-perfect
examples of bringing older films into the halls of 5.1 glory.
With these as forerunners, the possibilities for Raiders
of the Lost Ark on disc are very exciting indeed. |
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| BEST
DVD - MENUS |
|
 |
Monsters,
Inc.
(Buena Vista/Disney/Pixar)
Menus on Disney DVD's are usually pretty great, displaying the
same sense of wonder, humor and whimsy as the movies themselves.
Disc Two of Monsters, Inc.
is no exception. The bonus features are divided between Human
World and Monster World, two distinctly different and
wonderfully designed menu hierarchies. They're easy enough for
the kids, but clever enough to keep the grown-ups entertained. |
|
2ND
PLACE
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the
Clones (20th Century Fox)
Continuing the theme of The Phantom
Menace, Episode II's
menus take you to one of three planets in a galaxy far, far
away: Coruscant, Kamino or Geonosis. With original CGI work done
just for the disc, the Star Wars
menus continue to go one step beyond the ordinary animated menu
screen.
3RD PLACE
Legend: Ultimate Edition
(Universal)
The forces of good and evil dominate the main menus of this
two-disc set. Simple, elegant and beautiful to look at, these
menus are perfectly in keeping with the film itself. |
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| BEST
DVD - "MAKING OF" FEATURETTE OR DOCUMENTARY |
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The
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - 4-Disc Special
Extended DVD Version
(New Line)
After suffering through countless anemic, press-release-style
featurettes that last 20 minutes or less, it's gratifying, and a
little daunting, to confront the in-depth analysis that spreads
over two whole discs of Peter Jackson's magnum opus. The
behind-the-scenes crew had unprecedented access to the making of
these films and it shows. It also shows that Jackson himself
loves DVD, often grabbing a video camera himself with an
enthusiastic, "We've gotta get this for the DVD!"
Extensive interviews, an emphasis on preproduction rarely seen
in making-of features, and the good will of a crew who obviously
loves what they're doing combine to make The
Appendices the most fascinating and complete
behind-the-scenes feature DVD has yet to offer. |
|
2ND
PLACE
Jackie Brown: Collector's Edition
(Buena Vista/Miramax)
After proving himself with Reservoir
Dogs and Pulp Fiction,
Quentin Tarantino could afford to cut loose and have some fun.
That's just what he did with the underrated Jackie
Brown and Jackie Brown:
How It Went Down. This 45-minute documentary captures
that with new interviews and production footage. Is it a master
class in filmmaking? No, but it is awfully entertaining.
3RD PLACE
Legend: Ultimate Edition
(Universal)
Unfortunately for filmmakers everywhere, it's a sad truth that
the more tumultuous the production, the better the "making-of"
stories usually are. No wonder one of Ridley Scott's biggest
headaches results in a fascinating DVD documentary... Creating
a Myth: Memories of Legend. After hearing about
Scott's ambitions and hopes for the project, and the
interference and unavoidable catastrophes that befell it, you
might just come away with renewed appreciation for what's
captured on screen. |
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| BEST
DVD - PACKAGING |
|
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The
Evil Dead: Book of the Dead Edition
(Anchor Bay)
The best looking (and best smelling!) package of the year has
got to be this replica of the Necronomicon,
designed and sculpted by the prop's original designer, Tom
Sullivan. A great conversation piece and maybe the world's first
Coffee Table DVD... at least if your coffee table is in a remote
cabin in the middle of nowhere. With this release, Anchor Bay
has managed to create an Evil Dead
disc you must own, even if you've already got one (and at this
point, you probably do). |
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2ND
PLACE
Band of Brothers (HBO)
When Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg get together, HBO's
packaging department kicks into high gear. The elegant From
the Earth to the Moon set is given some stiff
competition by this gorgeous tin. And unlike the metal tins from
Anchor Bay, this one actually fits on a shelf with the rest of
your discs.
3RD PLACE
The Royal Tenenbaums
(Buena Vista/Criterion)
Slip cases are a dime a dozen anymore, but none are quite as
cool as this trompe l'oeil from the Criterion Collection. Viewed
from the top or bottom, you'll always be asking yourself, "What...
book did I leave stacked with my DVDs?" |
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| BEST
DVD - STUDIO |
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Buena
Vista
It's been a long, hard climb to the top for the House of
Mouse, but there's no denying that 2002 was a banner year for
'em. Disney continued to raise the bar for children's DVDs, with
stellar discs like Monsters, Inc.,
Beauty and the Beast and
Schoolhouse Rock. The
Touchstone and Hollywood branches blossomed with Vista Series
releases of Pearl Harbor,
Tombstone and The
Sixth Sense, and their ongoing collaboration with The
Criterion Collection. As for Miramax (and their fanboy little
brother, Dimension), just look at the titles! Pulp
Fiction. Jackie Brown.
Amélie. Strictly
Ballroom. The Others.
Great movies, great discs. |
|
2ND
PLACE
Anchor Bay
Who'd a thunk it? The studio whose logo was once a scarlet
letter of bad transfers and muddy sound has become a veritable
Seal of Approval for cult movie fanatics everywhere. The Bay is
now everything a small niche studio ought to be. They go after
the best and brightest cult movies around, they know what we
want to see on a disc, and they do their damndest to get it
there. While other, bigger studios are losing their touch,
Anchor Bay is a studio that gets it.
3RD PLACE
MGM
Of all the majors, MGM is the studio with the biggest
commitment to their back catalog. In 2002, the Lion released
dozens and dozens of discs, including some real obscurities
under their Midnite Movies, Avant-Garde and World Cinema labels.
Even better, they've begun to issue (and, in some cases,
reissue) their crown jewels, with outstanding special editions
of movies like The Last Waltz,
Blue Velvet, The
Usual Suspects and many more. As long as they can
maintain this level of quality, long may the Lion roar. |
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| BEST
DVD - MUSIC (NON-LIVE) |
|
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Singin'
in the Rain: Special Edition
(Warner Bros.)
Arguably the best movie musical ever made is given a breath of
fresh air with this top-notch, two-disc special edition. With an
eye-popping transfer and a revitalized soundtrack, this felt
like a brand-new movie. After that, the extras are just the
icing on the cake. Boasting a pair of terrific documentaries, a
deleted song, music cues from the original scoring sessions and
an all-star commentary, this is a glorious DVD. |
|
2ND
PLACE
U2: The Best of 1990-2000
(Universal Music)
It's been several years since Criterion showed the world how to
compile a music video anthology with their ground-breaking
Beastie Boys release, but the record companies still don't seem
to get it. This U2 package doesn't quite hit the same heights as
Criterion's two-disc set, but it's head and shoulders above most
anemic video packages.
3RD PLACE
Saturday Night Fever: 25th
Anniversary Edition (Paramount)
Most of Paramount's musical releases this year were major
disappointments, but at least they did right by the reigning
king of the dance floor. Looking and sounding better than it has
in ages, the 25th Anniversary disc assures that Tony Manero will
be stayin' alive for years to come. |
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| BEST
DVD - MUSIC (LIVE/CONCERT) |
|
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The
Complete Monterey Pop Festival
(Criterion)
Virtually every concert movie since 1969 owes a debt to D.A.
Pennebaker's Monterey Pop.
Now you can help repay that debt by picking up a copy of
Criterion's extraordinary, exhaustive three-disc set. The extras
are swell but it's the music that you'll remember. Hendrix,
Joplin, Redding, The Who and many more, all in room-rumbling
DTS. There's no better way to revisit the 60's. |
|
2ND
PLACE
The Last Waltz: Special Edition
(MGM)
Martin Scorsese directs The Band and a raft of very special
guests... Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and on and on it
goes. If you haven't seen The Last
Waltz, you're missing out on one of the best
celebrations of rock and roll cinema has to offer. MGM's special
edition gives it the respect and treatment it deserves. Play it
loud.
3RD PLACE
America: A Tribute to Heroes
(Warner Bros.)
An extraordinary collection of talent comes together to do
whatever they can in the wake of September 11. The production is
spare but the music is heartfelt and often devastating. A lovely
tribute to what we all hope is a once-in-a-lifetime event. |
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| BEST
DVD - AUDIO COMMENTARY |
|
 |
The
Last Waltz: Special Edition
(MGM)
The Musicians - Not to take
anything away from Martin Scorsese and Robbie Robertson, who
contribute their own commentary track, but the lineup on this
track provides an incredible mix of memories and criticism,
reminding us why The Last Waltz
is widely considered the greatest rock and roll movie of all
time. Levon Helm, Ronnie Hawkins, Garth Hudson, Dr. John and
Mavis Staples bring us on stage, cinematographer Michael Chapman
puts us behind the camera, and critics Jay Cocks and Greil
Marcus put it all in context. A brilliant track, seamlessly
weaving together the thoughts of more than a dozen contributors. |
|
2ND
PLACE
Kids in the Hall - Same Guys, New
Dresses (Music Video Distributors)
The Kids in the Hall & Special Guests
- Maybe the single funniest commentary track we've ever listened
to. The guests are great but it's the Kids' show, providing
hilarious insight into this documentary look at their reunion
tour. Best moment: Mark McKinney's horrified reaction to Scott
Thompson's rationale for becoming obsessed with a robot dog.
3RD PLACE
The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of
the Ring - 4-Disc Special Extended DVD Version (New
Line)
Seemingly Everyone in the World -
Hey, if nothing else, New Line was thorough when putting
together the commentaries for this set. You may never listen to
all four commentaries on these epic discs, but you can bet that
whatever you're interested in is probably covered here
somewhere. If you worked on Fellowship
and didn't contribute a commentary, you must have been out of
town that day. |
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| BEST
DVD - DOCUMENTARY |
|
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Hearts
and Minds
(Criterion)
We've seen all sorts of cinematic visions of Vietnam, but none
of them pack the punch of Peter Davis' Oscar-winning 1974
documentary. One of the best non-fiction films of all time,
Criterion's superlative DVD is must-viewing for anyone who wants
to understand this divisive, misguided conflict. |
|
2ND
PLACE
The Civil War: A Film by Ken Burns
(Warner Bros./PBS)
Like it or not, Ken Burns has become America's reigning
cinematic historian, covering everything from Mark Twain to the
history of jazz. The Civil War
brought him to national attention and it remains his best work -
an engrossing, detailed blow-by-blow of the War Between the
States. PBS and Warner present an outstanding DVD version that
would not be out of place on a scholar's bookshelf.
3RD PLACE
Dogtown & Z-Boys
(Columbia TriStar)
Not all documentaries are about wars! Stacy Peralta's look back
at the surf-and-skate scene in 1970's Venice is a wild and
exhilarating trip. Even if you think Tony Hawk is an elegant
bird of prey, Dogtown & Z-Boys
will leave you in awe of these risk-taking, groundbreaking
athletes.
HONORABLE MENTION (TIE)
9/11: The Filmmakers' Commemorative
Edition (Paramount)
The Space History Series
(Spacecraft Films)
Not documentaries per se, but thorough documents of recent
history. 9/11 presents the
footage of two filmmakers whose documentary about New York
firefighters got sidetracked by the horrible events of the day.
And through it all, they kept their cameras rolling. On the
other end of the spectrum, Spacecraft Films' Space
History Series presents one of mankind's greatest
achievements, the Apollo exploration of the Moon, in full and
complete glory. For anyone interested in the space program, this
is the next best thing to being there. |
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| BEST
DVD - ANIME |
|
 |
Grave
of the Fireflies
(Central Park Media)
When you think "Anime", most people conjure visions
of esoteric Sci-fi or seizure-inducing children's programming.
Forget what you know, because this couldn't be farther removed
from your standard Japanimation fare. A powerful and
heartbreaking tale of survival, Grave
of the Fireflies follows a brother and sister just
trying to make it through the end of World War II, while
seemingly the entire country of Japan burns down around them.
Given a stellar two-disc treatment by Central Park Media, Grave
of the Fireflies isn't merely a great animated film.
It's a great film, period. |
|
2ND
PLACE
Metropolis
(Columbia TriStar)
Any science fiction movie called Metropolis
has some pretty big boots to fill, thanks to the indelible
images of Fritz Lang's classic. But director Rintaro and
screenwriter Katsuhiro Otomo (creator of the seminal anime, Akira)
provide some unforgettable sights of their own in this visually
spectacular feature. Given a first-class transfer by Columbia
TriStar, Metropolis proves
that just when you think you've seen it all in anime, a
visionary creative team can always pull out a few surprises.
3RD PLACE
Escaflowne: The Movie - Ultimate
Edition (Bandai)
The feature version of the popular TV show receives a digital
treatment many major studio releases would envy. Two DVDs chock
full of special features plus a bonus soundtrack CD, all inside
a gorgeous big blue box. |
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| BEST
DVD - TV SERIES PRESENTATION (TIE) |
|
 |
Band
of Brothers
(HBO)
HBO's commitment to DVD is unquestioned, with outstanding box
sets of such series as The Sopranos
and Oz. But, just as they
did with the NASA miniseries From the
Earth to the Moon, they've kicked out all the stops
for the latest TV collaboration between Tom Hanks and Steven
Spielberg. A stunning tribute to "the greatest generation",
Band of Brothers looks and
sounds terrific on disc. Historical extras on the real heroes of
Easy Company make this more than just another World War II DVD.
As the saying goes, it brings history to life. |
|
2ND
PLACE
24: The Complete First Season
(20th Century Fox)
This time last year, 24
was the best TV show you weren't watching. Ratings are way up
for Season Two... and one big reason is the speed with which
Season One appeared on DVD. Extras are slim, but with a series
as compulsively addictive as this one, you'll barely notice.
You'll be too busy scrambling to put in another disc to see what
happens next.
3RD PLACE (TIE)
Star Trek: The Next Generation:
Seasons 1-7 (Paramount)
The Simpsons: The Complete Second
Season (20th Century Fox)
It's the tortoise and the hare of TVD. Even the most hardcore
Trekkies were surprised at the warp speed with which Paramount
got The Next Generation
out on disc. With Season Seven getting in just under the wire,
the complete series was in stores by the end of 2002. Meanwhile,
the best TV show ever (and you can quote us on that) continued
its slow march onto disc with Season Two of The
Simpsons. They're in no hurry, but as long as they
continue with commentaries on every episode, a handful of choice
extras AND keep producing the weekly show, we've got no problem
with that. |
|
| MOST
SURPRISING DVD |
|
 |
Frank
Herbert's Dune: Special Edition Director's Cut
(Artisan)
The last time we saw Dune,
it was taking home the non-coveted Bitsy
for MOST DISAPPOINTING DVD.
Looks like Artisan was paying attention. The director's cut is a
quantum leap in both picture and sound, totally obliterating the
sour taste left by that other disc. Add in the fact that the new
edit is actually a much better film and you've got yourself a
real winner, worthy to be added to any Herbert fan's library. |
|
2ND
PLACE
Frailty (Lion's Gate)
One reason people become horror movie fans in the first place
is the thrill of discovering a movie that slips under the radar
and just scares the bejeezus out of you. Bill Paxton's
directorial debut is that kind of movie. Packed with cool
extras, Lion's Gate turns a theatrical second-stringer into a
home video champion.
3RD PLACE
24: The Complete First Season
(20th Century Fox)
If you were already a fan of the show, you probably got
whiplash from the speed with which 24
jumped from the airwaves onto store shelves. And if you missed
it last year, you got to spend a day with Jack Bauer and
discover that, for once, the hype was right. 24
is REAL must-see TV. |
|
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| BEST
USE OF DVD FEATURES |
|
|
The
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - 4-Disc Special
Extended DVD Version
(New Line)
Back in the early days of DVD, we spent a lot of energy
describing to people the amazing capabilities of the format, but
didn't really have one single disc we could hold up and say, "This
is what DVD can do." Now we do. From commentaries to
multi-angle features, from great picture and sound quality to
DVD-ROM, this one has it all. So how do you single out just one
feature for praise on a set like this? Should we focus on the
storyboards and animatics from pre-production? Or the voluminous
design galleries? Maybe Elijah Wood's A
Day in the Life of a Hobbit? They're all great. But
for our money, we'll take the in-depth Editorial
Demonstration. It's an ideal use of the multi-angle
feature, and the "Council of Elrond" scene makes for a
perfect example. It's arguably the pivotal scene in the first
film. Understand how it's put together, and you understand a
great deal of what makes The
Fellowship of the Ring tick. |
|
2ND
PLACE
Monsters, Inc. (Buena
Vista/Disney/Pixar)
One of the wonderful things about Pixar DVDs is the amount of
original humor and animation that gets put into them. But after
Monsters, Inc., we're
forced to conclude that those guys at Pixar are just plain nuts.
I mean, we weren't too surprised to see the Oscar-winning short
For the Birds on here.
It's not unheard of to see a brand-new short on DVD (in this
case, the hilarious Mike's New Car).
And we're used to seeing Pixar produce "outtakes" for
their features. We can even take for granted seeing, in their
entirety, all the TV broadcasts and training films from the
movie. But actually seeing the company play, Put
That Thing Back Where It Came From (Or So Help Me)?
Sprung from one throwaway gag in the middle of the movie? Well,
that's just crazy.
3RD PLACE
From Hell: Directors' Limited Edition
(20th Century Fox)
It's almost become standard procedure for special editions of
movies with one toe rooted in history to take at least a passing
look at the facts behind the fiction. From
Hell does a little bit more than just peek behind the
curtain. The original documentary Jack
the Ripper: Six Degrees of Separation is engrossing
in and of itself, but Fox went one better. Thanks to a "White
Rabbit"-style branching feature, you can occasionally dip
out of the program and into excerpts from the vintage 1970s
documentary, Jack the Ripper: The
Final Solution. A lot of double disc sets we sink our
teeth into contain a lot of hot air, but there's meat on this
bone. |
|
| BEST
DVD EASTER EGG |
|
 |
Memento:
Limited Edition
(Columbia TriStar)
Man, considering how difficult it is to find anything on this
set (whether you know it's supposed to be on the disc or not),
any Easter egg had better damn well be worth the search. This
one is. Answering the critics who felt that Memento
was nothing but a gimmick that would fall apart upon close
scrutiny, the Chronological Cut reassembles the fragments of
Leonard Shelby's narrative into the "proper"
chronological order of events. And guess what? The movie holds
up just fine, thank you very much. |
|
2ND
PLACE
From Hell: Directors' Limited Edition
(20th Century Fox)
A lot of Easter eggs are over and done with before you even
realize you've found something. But the second disc of From
Hell contains a juicy surprise: the complete
45-minute documentary Jack the
Ripper: The Final Solution. This egg is better than
some disc's advertised features.
3RD PLACE
Gremlins 2 (Warner Bros.)
Real Gremlins fans will
recall that when Gremlins 2
made its VHS debut back in the early 90's, the great "technical
difficulties" scene (you know, the one where the film "melts"
in the projector) was replaced with one that made more sense for
home viewing. The DVD restores the scene to its original version
but, in true Gremlin style, there are surprises where you least
expect 'em. |
|
on
to Other DVD Awards for 2002 |
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