CHICAGO – For audiences increasingly accustomed to watching movies at home instead of at the multiplex, it was an interesting year for DVDs and Blu-rays.
In this list of top Blu-rays and DVDs of 2008, we cover “Tropic Thunder,” “Dirty Harry,” “The Last Emperor,” “Iron Man,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “Dark City,” “Mad Men,” “Spaced,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “The Godfather” and others including “Band of Brothers,” “Firefly,” “Star Trek,” “Transformers,” “The Wire,” “The Sopranos,” “Dexter,” “24,” “Lost,” “Deadwood” and “Casablanca”.
Of course, the biggest event was the end of the format war between HD-DVD and Blu-ray, but the impact of that Blu-ray victory has yet to fully be realized considering the incredibly small market share still being occupied by the next-gen format. With Blu-Ray players dropping in price by the day and the increasing popularity of HD TVs, it seems like only a matter of time before Blu-Ray supplants DVD in the same way the previous format took over for VHS.
Besides the horrendous economy and the notion that Blu-Ray isn’t significantly superior to DVD to force the change on a technological level, it seems to me that the next hurdle for Blu-Ray is that there just haven’t been enough must-own titles to spur buyers to make the upgrade. Imagine if [20] Blu-Ray had deleted scenes or special features unavailable on the standard version. Imagine the impact that would’ve had on a lot of people’s decision to trade up to HD.
And Blu-Ray wouldn't necessarily even have to resort to format-exclusive features. The more titles that hit the format that truly utilize its potential, the more people will go out and pick up a player. There were a few of those discs this year. "Game-changers,” if you will. They're in the top ten.
But, before we get to that, some honorable mentions. In the world of TV on DVD, the well went considerably dry in 2008. Not only have most of the classic shows already hit the market, but the strike-shortened season of '07-'08 made nearly every new release more lackluster than the season before.
Some of the most notable TV on DVD releases were re-issues of already available material. "Band of Brothers" and "Firefly" both hit Blu-Ray in sparkling sets, while fans of "Star Trek: The Original Series" can now own seasons two and three with remastered video and special effects on standard DVD.
One of the most consistent producers of quality TV on DVD this year was BBC Home Video, releasing excellent season sets for the first and second installments of the brilliant "Torchwood,” a great package for the first volume of "Primeval,” and one of the best mini-series in the history of the form, "State of Play.” HBO didn't lag too far behind with series sets for "Extras,” "The Wire" [21], "Deadwood" [21], and "The Sopranos" all warranting acclaim alongside 2008 gems like "John Adams" and "Generation Kill.”
The first season of "24" was finally given the special edition treatment (the initial release of the first bad day in Jack Bauer's life had been relatively bare-bones) and a few current shows - "Weeds,” "Dexter,” "Lost" [22] - did release above-average season sets. Finally, "Family Guy: Blue Harvest" is a must-own for any fan of the Griffin family, "Frisky Dingo: Season One" was the best Adult Swim title of the year and everyone worth knowing would smile at the third season of "The Muppet Show.”
As for classic movies released on DVD or Blu-Ray, early-year highlights included a great 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition of "In the Heat of the Night" and a Platinum Edition of "101 Dalmatians” and this month's collector's set for "Casablanca" [23] is a beauty. And, while the box set market was underwhelming compared to years past, "The Stanley Kramer Collection,” "The Frank Sinatra Collection,” "Rambo: The Complete Collector's Set,” "5 Films by Dario Argento,” and "The Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection" were all notable.
When it comes to current films, the stand-outs were few and far between. There are a couple in the top ten, but lackluster presentations and a dearth of interesting special features were more common complaints this year than in many past. Stand-outs include one of the best transfers in the history of home theaters for "The Transformers" on Blu-Ray, a sparkling gift set release of "Batman Begins" on the new format, and gorgeous sets for the two most successful animated films of the year, "Wall-E" and "Kung Fu Panda.”
Finally, Criterion had another impressive year, moving seamlessly into Blu-Ray at the end of the year with new releases for "Bottle Rocket" and "Chungking Express" along with reissues of some of their best work like "The Third Man" and "The Last Emperor.” Must-add Criterion titles of 2008 included "Blast of Silence,” "The Lovers,” "Before the Rain,” "Mafioso,” and "Europa.” [24]
THE TEN BEST DVD/BLU-RAY RELEASES OF 2008
10. "Tropic Thunder: Director's Cut"
The comedy Blu-Ray release of the year included not only a director's cut worth seeing but also special features nearly as funny as the movie itself. There are a few too many bite-sized featurettes (5-10 minutes before getting thrown back to a menu screen is just annoying), but they were more than balanced out by commentaries, perfect picture and sound, and the fantastic spoof documentary, "Rain of Madness.” Including a satire of a pretentious behind-the-scenes documentary on the release for a satire of pretentious war movies and their obnoxious actors was a stroke of genius.
9. “Dirty Harry: Ultimate Collector’s Edition”
The best DVD box set of the year includes hours of special features, a gorgeous collection of physical collectibles, and fantastic video and audio. What’s most unusual about “Dirty Harry” is that it may be the last time you ever read these words - pick it up on standard DVD, not Blu-Ray. The HD picture makes “Dirty Harry” look a little too plastic and clean. Harry needs to be a little dirtier. But the DVD gift set is remarkable. With new featurettes and interviews with the major players along with some previously available material, it’s a definitive set.
8. “The Last Emperor (Criterion Collection)”
The best Criterion release of the year is also the most extensive. If you’re just starting your Criterion collection, there’s no better place to begin than Bernardo Bertolucci’s multi-Oscar winning epic, now available in an exhaustive four-disc set. The breadth of the set is truly remarkable with the theatrical version of the film, a television version that runs 40 minutes longer, and two discs of supplemental features. The stunning, restored digital transfer would earn the set a spot on this list already but what’s even more remarkable that not one of the special features spread over two discs feels perfunctory. From a featurette that explores the geographic influences of the film to a BBC documentary about Bertolucci to a nearly 100-page booklet included in the packaging, “The Last Emperor” is a must-own.
7. “Iron Man: Two-Disc Ultimate Edition”
The best release of a 2008 film on the home market comes with one of the most beloved films of the year. A stunningly beautiful video transfer and an audio track that will wake the neighbors really amplify a film as technically accomplished as “Iron Man.” It’s easy to overlook the flaws of the film when you’re blown away by the crisp video and crystal clear audio. And director Jon Favreau clearly had the home release in mind during production because he allowed incredible access to the entire process. It would have been easy to hold back special features for an inevitable re-release edition to tie into “Iron Man 2” (like Warner Brothers did with “The Dark Knight”), but, to their great credit, Paramount didn’t do that. Movie-specific features, interesting deleted scenes, a 47-minute look at the history of the character on page and screen, and the great feature-length documentary “I Am Iron Man” are stand-outs in a perfect collection that satisfied millions of fans worldwide.
6. “The Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector’s Edition”
One of my favorite kids movies of the last twenty years, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” came home on Blu-Ray with an edition that included everything fans of the flick could possibly ask for and more. The movie itself looks and sounds perfect, but Disney didn’t stop there, including Tim Burton’s two early short films, “Frankenweenie” and “Vincent,” a poem that inspired the film read by Christopher Lee, and an all-new commentary track by Tim Burton, Henry Selick, and Danny Elfman. And that’s just the start of one of the most comprehensive collections of special features ever included on DVD or Blu-Ray. Concept art, storyboards, deleted scenes, a storyboard-to-film comparison for the entire movie, all the marketing materials, featurettes - there nothing on Earth (or in the land of holidays) that fans could possibly expect on a future release. The Collector’s Edition of “A Nightmare Before Christmas” pulls the remarkable trick of taking an already-beloved film and making it even better.
5. “Dark City: Director’s Cut”
The Blu-Ray version of this modern classic redefines the Alex Proyas film as much as the infamous director’s cut changed the historical reputation of “Blade Runner” and “Kingdom of Heaven.” Not only is this the only version of “Dark City” that fans should be watching, but it features one of the best video transfers in the short history of Blu-Ray. And the special features are spectacular. There’s a feature-length documentary that starts with basic production material but moves into interviews with critics and scholars about the film and becomes much more than the standard, talking-head junk that you usually associate with features like this one. The critical analysis in “Architecture of Dreams” and the commentary track by the excellent Roger Ebert (one of FIVE audio tracks) should be musts for anyone who writes about film. Most great movies eventually get the treatment they deserve on DVD. Sometimes it just takes ten years and a new format to get it.
4. “Mad Men: Season One”
The show with one of the most complete production design aesthetics in the history of the medium was a natural choice for the best TV on Blu-Ray release of the year. Matthew Weiner’s award-winning show is always keenly aware of how it looks and sounds. It has a better design team than most movies, and nowhere is that more apparent than in gorgeous HD. The picture and audio are flawless through all thirteen episodes, and the special features are the best for a TV release in 2008. Every single episode includes a commentary track and the behind-the-scenes material illustrates the incredible attention to detail that permeates nearly every shot in the series. Like “The Sopranos,” which Weiner worked on before “Mad Men,” it’s a show that’s truly difficult to express the quality of if you haven’t seen it. Watch it. You’ll believe.
3. “Spaced: The Complete Series”
The cult UK hit that created the trifecta of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Edgar Wright (who would go on to make the great “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz”) FINALLY came to Region-1 DVD in 2008, and it was worth the wait. Even if the show wasn’t brilliant (which it is), this would be one of the most impressive TV-on-DVD releases in the history of the format. To accompany this unique, quirky take on the romantic comedy, BBC went to famous fans of the show and asked them to comment on what they loved about “Spaced.” Commentary participants on the episodes include Kevin Smith, Quentin Tarantino, and Matt Stone, all of whom are accompanied by stars of the show itself. Audio commentaries are just the beginning. Outtakes, biographies, an “Homage-O-Meter” for a show filled to the brim with pop culture references, and a feature-length documentary about the history of the show with footage as current as a 2007 Q&A - you’ll spend days with complete series set for “Spaced.”
2. “Sleeping Beauty: 50th Anniversary Edition”
One of the true “game-changers” in the Blu-Ray format this year happened to be for a movie that also changed the form decades ago. With a jaw-dropping video transfer that makes the classic film look completely new, Disney sets a new standard for animation on Blu-Ray. But they don’t stop with presenting a beloved film like it’s never been seen before. Interactivity combined with features that can be appreciated by every generation in the household make “Sleeping Beauty” more timeless than ever. Walt Disney changed how movies were made, and “Sleeping Beauty” has the potential to do the same thing for the home entertainment market. It takes the concept of DVD or Blu-Ray and makes it something educational, historical, and interactive. It’s the kind of seminal release that you should buy even if you don’t have a Blu-Ray player. When you eventually get one, it’s one of the first titles you’re going to want to see.
1. “The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration”
The painstaking restoration of The Godfather trilogy for Blu-Ray is so flawless that it can bring a tear to your eye. No one has seen “The Godfather,” one of the best movies ever made, until they’ve seen this restoration. The visual detail is overwhelming. Even people who can quote these movies in their sleep will be blown away. The final disc of the four-disc Blu-Ray set includes nearly five hours of bonus materials, almost all in HD themselves. All of the featurettes from the 2001 release were imported along with great new ones like “The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn’t,” featuring interviews with people influenced by the series including Guillermo Del Toro, David Chase, Alec Baldwin, and Steven Spielberg. The history and impact of the film is expanded upon in the just-as-good “Godfather World.” Some movies stand the test of time but “The Godfather” has that very rare quality of moviemaking that just makes the film seem better every time you see it. People who don’t like “The Godfather” simply don’t like movies. And there isn’t a Blu-Ray player on Earth truly living up to its potential if “The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration” isn’t sitting next to it.
[25] | By BRIAN TALLERICO [26] |
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