1 The Adventues of Indiana Jones (1981-1989)

Anticipated for a long time, when these movies arrived on DVD they didn't disappoint. They're great and showed up at an interesting time. They have the element most adventure movies are missing these days - humour and fun. The Indiana Jones movies are the best of the best and do it without taking themselves too seriously. Neo and Lara, are you listening?

2 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2003)
Extended Edition

These movies keep making me shake my head in disbelief. How can anything this long be this good? I dunno ... but in the extended version, Peter Jackson and Co. get everything right. There are no adequate superlatives to do this movie justice.

3 8 ½ - Criterion Collection (1963)

A confusing film about a confusing process - creativity. That Fellini manages to capture it on film is remarkable. The disc package from Criterion is fabulous and altogether, film and features, are a perfect example of what a DVD presentation should be.

4 The Adventures of Robin Hood - Special Edition (1938)

For those who have forgotten how much fun a movie can be, this 1938 Errol Flynn classic can help to remind you. It is such an exuberent film - from Flynn's performance to its use of colour. I really was surprised at how joyful a movie can be.

5 The Three Colors Trilogy (1993-1994)
Criterion Collection

I don't really know how to describe these movies except to say that rarely do you watch films and come away with such a sense that you've been involved with a brilliant artist. You can watch and think about these films forever and still find new things to marvel at.

6 Metropolis - Restored Authorized Edition (1927)

Fritz Lang's 1927 look at the future in the most complete and clean version yet. There are still elements missing but it's not likely they'll ever be found. As it is, this looks and sounds fantastic. It also allows us to see where many of the visual ideas that informed movies like Blade Runner and The Matrix came from.

7 The Hours(2002)

Magfiicent script, exemplary performances. This movie is brilliantly constructed and is fascinating to watch and see how everything connects. It's also fun to watch if you're a student of literature (especially if you like Virginia Woolf).

8 Cinema Paradiso - The Newer Version (1989)

First of all, this film is beautiful to look at. There are some wonderfully composed images within it. But while some see it as film about a love of cinema, I think it is about the demands art makes on an artist and whether they are worth the sacrifice. (This is based on the 174 minute extended version).

9 Once Upon a Time in the West (1969)

A western. Sergio Leone. Henry Fonda as the bad guy. Claudia Cardinale. How could it be anything but great?

10 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

This is such a good, swashbuckling adventure movie it surprises you. Can Hollywood still make movies like these? Is Johnny Depp really that good? The answer to both is a resounding yes ...

The Honorable Mentions:

Murder by Decree (1979)
The Quiet American (2002)
Insomnia (2002)
Whale Rider (2002)
The Awful Truth (1937)
Finding Nemo (2003)
The Mark of Zorro (1940)
Man on the Train (L'homme du train) (2002)
To Have and Have Not (1944)
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
X2: X-men United

Note: Some links go to IMDB (Internet Movie Database)

© 2003 Piddleville Inc.