Audio Video News

Over in the pages of the August 2005 Home Theater magazine, we just revealed our thoroughly refreshed picks for the top 100 DVDs of all time, a roadmap to assembling the ultimate DVD library, in a variety of categories. To keep the list from being too redundant from years past, and to give newcomers a sporting chance, we have instituted a new policy of purging the number-one-ranked winners from 2004, not as any sort of penalty, rather to retire them to this "best of the best" status:

Best Music DVD
The Beatles Anthology (Capitol)
Here quite simply is the ultimate collection of the ultimate musical group, their concerts, "videos," new interviews, and so much more in Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS, with an exclusive bonus disc.

Best TV on DVD
Freaks and Geeks Limited Edition (Shout! Factory)
Rescuing a snubbed A-list-quality show from obscurity, the six-disc Complete Series contains 40+ hours of extras (including 29 total commentaries) for the entire 18-episode run, while the L.E. here packs two additional DVDs that go beyond the beyond.

Best Extras
The Alien Quadrilogy (Fox)
Four movies each in two-disc sets with alternate cuts, commentary tracks, extensive, interwoven behind-the-scenes exposés and new interviews, plus an exclusive ninth disc just to remove all doubt who's the champ here.

Best Video
Finding Nemo (Disney)
Apparently exploiting every advance in computer animation and digital video mastering, Pixar's 2004 DVD is a masterpiece of clarity, depth of field, and vibrant color.

Best Audio
Saving Private Ryan DTS (Dreamworks)
The finest exploitation of five channels and subwoofer I have ever heard, Ryan uses audio as it should be used, as an essential storytelling tool.

Best Overall
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Special Extended DVD Edition
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Special Extended DVD Edition
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Special Extended DVD Edition (all New Line)
With greatly enhanced new cuts, astounding new extras, and impeccable audio and video, this trilogy of four-DVD sets makes good on Peter Jackson's promise to do J.R.R. Tolkien justice. Have these discs by now received too much praise? That just isn't possible.