Comments: Regrettably omitted is The River (Criterion), Criterion’s Suzuki and Bresson titles, La Cienaga (HVE), Point Blank (Warner), The Narrow Margin (Warner), Unknown Chaplin (AE), several Artificial Eye titles (including their re-release of Werkmeister Harmonies which should be a model for DVD companies everywhere), Land of the Dead (Universal) and The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection. I confess that I still need to catch up with the entire MoC catalogue, and the Unseen Cinema Box Set. While on the subject of catching up, let me say that watching the Monteiro Box Set from Gemini (2004 release) was a revelation, and that set remains perhaps the most perfectly executed DVD release of any year. Paramount has become one of my new favorites with incredibly priced discs, featuring excellent transfers and superb bonus material. Their The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek, Danger: Diabolik, and the whole of their ‘Batjac’ releases are essential for any collection. As much as it pains me to admit, the year in DVD was quite possibly more impressive than the year in film.

Comments: Koch-Lorber's Wertmüller Collection gets in the list because of the great content, despite its lack of care given to original-ratio. The only notable features of my list is that it's certainly the year of great collections, and that I seem to be keeping Warner Brothers in business! I also love musicals and had to toss up between the new transfer of Oklahoma or Warner's Easter Parade with the great bonus doc on the life of Judy Garland.

Comments: Honorable mentions include: Tales of Hoffman (Criterion), Boccaccio '70 (NoShame), Danger: Diabolik (Paramount), The Blind Dead Collection (Blue Underground), Hoop Dreams (Criterion), Kung Fu Hustle (Columbia R3), L'Eclisse (Criterion), Career Girls (Fox), Secrets & Lies (Fox), Bob Dylan: No Direction Home (Paramount), Zero Patience (Strand), The Devil's Rejects (Lions Gate), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory SE (Warner), Cry-Baby (Universal), Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (New Video) and two films that bypassed US theatrical release and went straight to DVD : They Came Back (Wellspring) and The Life & Death of Peter Sellers (HBO). A mention should also be made for the excellent re-issues of Paul Morrissey's Flesh/Trash/Heat / Women in Revolt / Blood for Dracula / Flesh for Frankenstein (all Image), M (Criterion), The Fly (86, Fox) War of the Worlds (1953, Paramount), Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (Dark Sky), The Twilight Zone: The Definitive Edition Seasons 2-5 (Image)

Comments: 2005 was a good year to catch up on 2004 releases. I am looking forward to seeing some 2005 releases in 2006.

Comments: Honorable mention to Blue Underground’s release of Dario Argento’s The Bird With the Crystal Plumage. I bought little non-r1 fare since I can’t keep up with watching even limited r1 purchases. I saw almost 100 fewer films in 2005 than I did in 2004 with a final count around 320.

Comments: First of all, I finished building my home theatre with projector and 5.1 system in 2005. That, plus all the great DVDs released in the past 12 months make it a wonderful year. The DVDs on my list show films that I love presented in stellar quality in the digital medium. I did not include Vincent Gallo's wonderful The Brown Bunny because I already owned the Japanese version.
 

Comments: I’d be remiss not to register four items of dissent against Criterion, in spite of their general excellence: (1) This is the year that certain “supplements” should have been given equal billing with the main feature. I’m thinking of Letter to Jane on Tout va bien, and the “lost” Rohmer film on Boudu. (2) Criterion MUST stop “excerpting” from complete Jacques Rivette works (whether made for “mere” TV or not). A stand-alone Criterion release of Jean Renoir, le patron in all three parts would be enough to garner a DVD of the Year nod from me. (3) Neil Kellerhouse’s menu designs are often overelaborate, inappropriate, and gauche. Kellerhouse + Godard/Gorin = MTV. (4) Better to include no trailer at all, than a (n apparently) truncated black-and-white version of the F for Fake trailer; otherwise this release would have been a Top 3 of the year for me.

Comments: Special Mention:The films of Jean-Luc Godard: 3 Films by Jean-Luc Godard, Volume 2 (Pierrot le Fou; Made in USA; Prenom Carmen) (Warners; Region 2), Masculin Feminin (Criterion; Region 1), Two or Three Things I Know About Her (Nouveaux Pictures; Region 2), La Chinoise (Optimum World; Region 2), Weekend (Artificial Eye; Region 2) But not the New Yorker Weekend, though it contains some excellent extras, the transfer of the film itself is weak. I make this special mention because these editions are quite good (the Criterion Masculin Feminin is excellent), and I consider Godard the most important artist of the second half of the 20th Century (in any art form) and I consider those six films (Pierrot le Fou, Masculin Feminin, Two or Three Things I Know About Her, Made in USA, La Chinoise, Weekend) to be his greatest films. My other special mention is the 7 disc set Written and Directed by Preston Sturges (Universal; Region 2). That's also very well done, and if The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek and Unfaithfully Yours had been included, that would have marked the major works of Sturges's career (but Morgan’s Creek is available in an excellent edition from Paramount in Region 1, and Unfaithfully Yours available in a superb edition from Criterion in Region 1).

Dave Kehr (www.davekehr.com)

New York, New York

1. Buster Keaton Les Meilleures Années  (Various) Mk2; R2
2. Four Edgar Ulmer (37-40, 4 DVD) – The National Center For Jewish Film; R1
3. Alfred Hitchcock Les Premières Oeuvres (vol 1,2,3) – Studio Canal; R2
4. Boudu Saved From Drowning (Renoir, 32) Criterion; R1
5. L'Eclisse (Antonioni, 62) Criterion; R1
6. Whirlpool (Preminger, 50) Fox; R1
7. The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (Sturges, 44) Paramount; R1t
8. The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection (various, 7 discs) New Line; R1
9. Unseen Cinema – Early American Avant-Garde Film 1891-1941 –  (Various) Image; R1
10. Bringing Up Baby – (Hawks, 38) Warner; R1

Comments:  My deepest attachments are still stuck in the thirties through mid-sixties. I’m still at the stage where I’m trying to see the films I wanted to see but was denied seeing (at least often enough) as a kid. This is not a “best-of” list; too many important releases I’ve had no time even to open. But these DVDs I’m sure to return to, again and again. “Hara-kiri” was for me the discovery of the year: this and “Seven Samurai” are the greatest samurai films I’ve ever seen. The restoration of the problematic but brilliant “Tales of Hoffman” was better than I hoped. I wish I had room to include “The Bitter Tea of General Yen”, Hirokazu Koreeda’s “Dare Mo Shiranai”, Franju’s “Eyes Without a Face”.

Comments: Great to see the long overdue releases of Bresson and Mizoguchi films, but what happened to all Ozu films we were led to believe were just around the corner? It was very difficult to trim this list down to 10 films, hopefully I'll have the same problem next year.

Gary Tooze

Toronto, Canada

1. L'Eclisse (Antonioni, 62) Criterion; R1 - debatably flawed DVD but I find the film too important not to acclaim with a premium ranking.
2. Black Narcissus (Powell & Pressburger, 47) Network; R2 - a brilliant and superior transfer of one of cinema's pure masterpieces.
3. Coffret Bresson 3 DVD (Bresson, 59, 62, 83) MK2; R2 - certainly many cineastes most desired boxset for 2005.
4. Metropolis (Lang, 27) Eureka (MoC); R2 - the history of the film and its immaculate transfer put me in a virtual catatonic stupor. I was left speechless.
5. Alfred Hitchcock - The Masterpiece Collection (Hitchcock, var.) Universal; R1 - Even if it was only improvements in Vertigo, Rear Window, The Birds, Marnie and Psycho - it would still be the best deal in DVD history... but it's that AND 9 more of 'The Masters' films! Some flaws? sure - but what do you want for $6/disc.
6. The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection (various, 7 discs) New Line USA - our long wait for this talented and charismatic performers' work to surface in digital seems totally worthwhile now.    
7. Fury (Lang, 36) Warner; R1 - An incredibly impacting film experience that I can't seem to shake.
8. Love (Makk, 71) Second Run; R2/R4 - haunting, atmospheric and beautifully transferred film.
9. World Poker Tour - Best of Season 3 (Shout Factory, 2004) - the sociological impact of this new poker phenomenon is heightened by the eccentric characters who inhabit and succeed in its environment. The interpretations of human communication and miscommunication are beyond fascinating for me - riveting interaction.
10 (tie). Ozu Panorama's - Equinox Flower, Tokyo Twilight, There Was a Father and The Only Son - Panorama Region 3 Hong Kong - We all know these deserve better treatment but I am eternally grateful at having been introduced to much of Ozu through these imperfect DVDs where the films continue to formulate and alter my entire outlook on cinema.

Comments:
Regrettably, there is too much I have left off - King Kong, Criterion's Pickpocket, Ugetsu and Thieves Highway, BFI's Drunken Angel and The Bad Sleep Well, NY'er's Loving Couples, Fox's Kiss of Death, Eureka's Onibaba, The Idiot and much more from them, The Eric Rohmer Collection, Studio Canal's Hitchcock boxsets, MK2's Buster Keaton Collection to name a few and I LOVED The Hammer Horror Series as a great escape from everyday life. My reasoning is that I tried a balance of taking only one from each DVD production company as I found there to be far too many deserving releases. I should note how French production companies are continuing to soar above many US counterparts with very desirable classic ' inaugural ' (previously unreleased) issues sporting excellent transfers. One can't ignore all the classic TV shows either coming out and I enjoyed Columbo - Season 2 + 3, The Rockford Files and many more.  No individual can see all the years releases so I appreciate Adam's work to create this format and establish a decent consensus. Overall, it has been a bountiful year for DVD - the most extensive in its short history. 

Comments: I think that The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection has a huge historical significance by making these phenomenal movies available on DVD. In my opinion, this DVD set is an undisputed leader. My second choice was an easy one, too. Significance of 'King Kong' release on DVD cannot be overestimated.

Comments: Tough choices this year and pressed for time. My priorities are those titles which fill in large holes in the film canon on DVD. Although I wish there was room for Black Girl and the Wadja’s from Criterion and having a good transfer of the great Hari-kiri.

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago, Illinois

1. Unseen Cinema – Early American Avant-Garde Film 1891-1941 (Various) Image; R1
2. Rendez-vous à Bray (box set) (André Delvaux, 1971) Boomerang Pictures (Belgium; all regions)
3. Metropolis (Lang, 27) Eureka (MoC); R2
4. Coffret Bresson 3 DVD (Bresson, 59, 62, 83) MK2; R2
5. En rachâchant (Straub-Huillet, 1982) + Cézanne (Straub-Huillet, 1989) Cinéma 010 France (Éditions Léo Scheer)
6. Entuziazm (Simfonija Donbassa) – Dziga Vertov, 1930 Österreichisches Filmmusuem (Wien) Austria
7. Ugetsu (Mizoguchi, 53) Criterion; R1
8. Jules and Jim (Truffaut, 62) Criterion; R1
9. Not on the Lips (Resnais, 03) Wellspring; R1
10. Bitter Victory (Ray, 57) Columbia; R1
 

Comments: Interestingly enough, a few of the films on my list feature minute drawbacks in terms of their DVD presentations. For example, Le Samouraï is not presented in its "country-of-origin" OAR, and The Brown Bunny is lacking its original mono sound mix (as well as the infamous Gallo commentary). However, these flaws do not adversely affect one's viewing experience to the extent that one should not purchase the discs in question. On the contrary, the aforementioned discs should be treasured despite their prominent, yet ultimately inconsequential, flaws. On a more somber note, I must condemn Wellspring for releasing In the Realms of the Unreal without anamorphic enhancement. Moreover, I must also condemn MGM for releasing Me and You and Everyone We Know without the involvement of Miranda July.

Comments: My true winner is without a doubt the beautiful Unseen Cinema box Set, a wet dream for an avant-garde freak like me. Criterion did fall a little bit behind comparing with last year in truly spectacular releases, but overall their standard was as high as ever. MoC is closing in rapidly however and I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re able to rob Criterion of their number 1 status in the near future. In general, I feel it’s been a great year for DVD releases, with several films by important directors (Godard, Antonioni, Bresson, Mizoguchi, Welles, Roeg etc.) finally becoming available on DVD. But there is still a lot to do in 2006, such as: Everything by Kenneth Anger, Wavelength (Michael Snow), Celine and Julie Go Boating (Jacques Rivette), Satantango (Bela Tarr), and The Exterminating Angel (Luis Buñuel)

Comments: Time, time time. Where does it go? One thing’s for certain, most of mine didn’t—for once—go into watching a lot of DVDs, though the act of buying them certainly did. Nevertheless, the list I’ve composed represents the best, though not necessarily my favorite, viewing experiences of DVDs in 2005. My goal for 2006 is to actually sit down and watch what I’ve accumulated. I look forward to the 2005 End of Year results, and appreciate everyone’s participation!

Comments: It’s always almost impossible to nail down your ten favorites, and 2005 is no exception. A couple of my other 2005 favorites are Criterion’s Au hazard Balthazar and Sword of Doom, Warner’s The Big Red One – Reconstruction, Lars von Trier’s Europa Trilogy and Dogme 95 #1-4 Collection and let’s not forget Columbia/Sony’s release of the chop-socky masterpiece Kung Fu Hustle.

Comments: I obviously haven't voted for MoC titles but I'm very proud of Vengeance is Mine, Onibaba, Naked Island, and Humanity and Paper Balloons. I haven't seen everything I'd like to see this year --- not had much spare time --- but there are many things that have been recommended to me, which I hope to see next year... perhaps

Comments: And there you have it. Since we’re fast approaching the years end, may all your hearts be warm with pride, your lives be rich with the love and respect of family and friends and may the spirit of the season linger long after the tinsel and holly has come down. My sincere wishes are for the world to find peace, contentment and the even timber that we, at least in the past, have so often taken for granted.

Comments: Runners-up: Der Var Engang (Danish Film Instiute R2), The Complete Thin Man Collection (WB-R1), Anne of the Indies (MCONE R2 Germany), The Val Lewton Horror Collection (WB R1), The Band Wagon (WB R1), Burden of Dreams (Criterion R1), L'Eclisse (Criterion R1), Torment (Tartan R2), Late Spring (Panorama R3), Nightmare Alley (Fox R1), Somewhere in the Night (Fox R1), Kiss of Death (Fox R1).

Comments: It’s been hard – nothing really seemed to stand out compared to last year, and some of my possible “bests” are still unwatched, or haven’t arrived in Australia. Special mention to what some film archives are doing – I say this having just received two wonderful releases from the Belgian Archives (Malpertuis and Man Who Had His Hair Cut Short).

Comments: Of new films here could be Sideways and Before Sunset. Most probably also Errol Morris 3 disc set, but I don't have it! Five Criterions is fair. The list could be entirely their titles! I enjoyed a lot also For a Few Dollars More (MGM /R2), but it's a scandal not to include the original sound track! The Mei Ah DVD is included also because of their good effort. I can see good films years before they may end up in my country, if ever!

Comments: I've decided to pick one title from a given label rather than compiling a top 10 that could easily be filled with Criterion or Eureka/MoC etc. Promulgation of new less known labels is always welcomed, NoShame, Osterreichisches Edition Filmmuseum and especially Second Run (Best of 2005!). The newcomers are truly so exciting with their less known titles that even the creme de la creme companies wouldn't dare to touch nor their production schedule would allow. Film boundaries seem to dissipate, one can order a DVD from South Africa, Brazil or Philippines, allowing us to see films that normally we would have to wait for years or even a decade before well established label might consider getting DVD distributing rights. Looking forward to share the passion with the rest of the international DVDBeavers in 2006. HERE "Let's Save The DVDBeaver"

Comments: Some great films that qualify for approximately this year that do not have a top DVD release: Tropical Malady, Yes, Mondovino, Me and You and Everyone We Know, The Wayward Cloud, A History of Violence, Alexandra's Project, Not on the Lips, The World, The Models of Pickpocket
VHS, DVD-R's and others that slip through the cracks:
Filmmakers: Jean-Marie Straub & Daniele Huillet, Ritwik Ghatak, Gregory Markopolous, Guru Dutt, Bruce Conner, Mrinal Sen, Frederick Wiseman, Michael Snow
Films: Ma 6-T Va Cracker, A Brighter Summer Day, Make Way for Tomorrow, Chameleon Street, Outer Space, Pakeezah, Confessions of Opium Eater, Edvard Munch, Nathalie Granger. I dream of more available films from Carlos Reichenbach
2005 was a good year. Count your blessings.

Comments: My choices are personal, and not meant to represent a list of DVDs for their objective importance, influence, or technical quality. The value of DVD, to me, is its price, its ability to make available films that would otherwise receive little or no attention, or be exhibited only rarely, to a lucky few. These are the DVDs that I've gotten excited about in 2005, and if you haven't seen them, I can't say enough to go out of your way for them (subtitled or not).

Comments: These represent only the DVDs I've seen. I'm sure there are many other worthy contenders I haven't seen. After you've been bored stiff from watching some Bergman or Antonioni snoozer, (cue music) "Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again" with the timeless entertainment of Fred and Ginger.

Comments: 2005 – I find it very hard to limit myself to 10 choices. The truth is there were probably many DVDs that are equal to or even better than my choices but many are still in my closet or unordered. There is just not enough time to enjoy all the wonderful films that were released on DVD this past year. I look forward to another year of new releases, especially MoC (Twenty Four Eyes) and Criterion (Virgin Spring, Children are Watching). Still waiting for DE ZAAK ALZHEIMER to make it to DVD with English subtitles.

Comments: This year has been mainly buying some older titles, so not a lot of newer releases (Damn you student loans). But overall, a solid year of releases and what is shaping up to be yet another expensive year.

Comments: The list reflects my joy over seeing certain films released on DVD, rather than DVD production value per se.

Comments: Of course the MGM Disc of The Fugitive Kind is horrible. But my old VHS tape has been worn out completely, and I have been waiting for this for so long ! (Same goes for Mario Lanza, and where is he !!??) A lot of Criterion, even though they infuriated me with their re-releases of sloppy work (Wages of Fear)...

THE WINNERS

Comments: Akira Kurosawa's films were very strongly represented on DVD in 2005 (BFI's Drunken Angel and The Bad Sleep Well, Criterion's Ran, Master's of Cinema's The Idiot and Scandal) although, surprisingly, none reached DVDBeaver's Top 10. Michelangelo Antonioni achieved digital accessibility with two more strong, previously unreleased, films to acclaimed DVD transfers with Criterion's L'Eclisse and NoShame's Story of a Love Affair. Boxsets came into their own in 2005 with ample representation in our Top 50 and the extensive wait for Mizoguchi-to-DVD brought jubilation to cineastes with Criterion's magnificently packaged and transferred Ugetsu. Surely though this was the year of Robert Bresson with 3 selections in the Top 10; Criterion's Pickpocket and Au hasard Balthazar and MK2's Coffret Bresson 3 DVD containing Pickpocket (1959), Trial of Joan of Arc (1962) and L'Argent (83'). Hopefully a new trend of exposing highly under-represented directors to the digital medium has only started as we still await Mikio Naruse, more Mizoguchi, restored Ozu, Fuller, Ray, Boetticher and many more. It has never been a better time to be a film fan.

11. 36pts – 5 votes Humanity and Paper Balloons (Yamanaka, 37) Eureka (MoC); R2
12. 35pts – 4 votes The King Kong Collection (Schoedsack, 33) Warner; R1
13. 34pts – 5 votes Francesco, giullare di Dio (Rossellini, 50) Eureka (MoC); R2
14. 31pts – 4 votes Ran (Kurosawa, 85) Criterion; R1
15. 30pts – 5 votes Warner Bros. Gangster Collection (Various) Warner; R1
16. 30pts – 5 votes Le Samouraï (Melville, 67) Criterion; R1
17. 29pts – 5 votes Garbo – The Signature Collection (Various, 10 Discs) Warner; R1
18. 28pts – 4 votes Boudu Saved From Drowning (Renoir, 32) Criterion; R1
19. 28pts – 4 votes Metropolis (Lang, 27) Eureka (MoC); R2
20. 27pts – 4 votes Jules and Jim (Truffaut, 62) Criterion; R1
21. 26pts – 6 votes The Val Lewton Horror Collection (Various, 5 Discs) Warner; R1
22. 26pts – 6 votes Love (Makk, 71) Second Run; R2/R4
23. 26pts – 6 votes F for Fake (Welles, 74) Criterion; R1
24. 25pts – 3 votes The Wizard of Oz - Collector’s Edition (Fleming, 39) Warner; R1
25. 20pts – 3 votes Happiness /Le Tombeau d'Alexandre (Medvedkin, 32 & Marker, 92) Arte; R2
26. 20pts – 2 votes Buster Keaton Les Meilleures Années 10 DVD (Various) MK2; R2
27. 19pts – 3 votes Lars von Trier’s Europa Trilogy (4 Discs) Electric Parc; R2 DK
28. 18pts – 5 votes The Big Red One – The Reconstruction (Fuller, 80) Warner; R1
29. 18pts – 2 votes Rendez-vous à Bray (box set) (Delvaux, 71) Boomerang Pictures; R0
30. 18pts – 2 votes Ben-Hur: Deluxe 4-Disc Collector’s Edition (Various, 25, 59) Warner; R1
31. 17pts – 4 votes Night and the City (Dassin, 50) Criterion; R1
32. 17pts – 2 votes Harakari (Kobayashi, 62) Criterion; R1
33. 16pts – 3 votes Touchez Pas au Grisbi (Becker, 54) Criterion; R1
34. 16pts – 3 votes Laura (Preminger, 44) Fox; R1
35. 16pts – 3 votes Casque d’Or (Becker, 52) Criterion; R1
36. 16pts – 2 votes Seven Men From Now (Boetticher, 56) Paramount; R1
37. 16pts – 2 votes My Own Private Idaho (Van Sant, 91) Criterion; R1
38. 15pts – 3 votes Weekend (Godard, 67) Artificial Eye; R2
39. 15pts – 2 votes Onde Jaz O Sorriso (Costa, 01) Assírio & Alvim; R2
40. 15pts – 3 votes Thieves’ Highway (Dassin, 49) Criterion; R1
41. 14pts – 2 votes Nobody Knows (Koreeda, 04) Emotion; R2
42. 14pts – 2 votes Ivan’s Childhood (Tarkovsky, 62) Mk2; R2
43. 14pts – 2 votes Hammer Horror Series (Various) Universal; R1
44. 13pts – 3 votes The Man Who Fell To Earth (Roeg, 76) Criterion; R1
45. 13pts – 3 votes The Brown Bunny (Gallo, 03) Sony; R1
46. 13pts – 2 votes The Naked Island (Shindô, 60) Eureka (MoC); R2
47. 13pts – 2 votes Shoot the Piano Player (Truffaut, 60) Criterion; R1
48. 12pts – 2 votes Van Gogh (Pialat, 91) Artificial Eye; R2
49. 11pts – 2 votes The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (Sturges, 44) Paramount; R1
50. 11pts – 2 votes Classic Comedies Collection (Various, 6 discs) Warner; R1
51. 10pts – 4 votes Story of a Love Affair (Antonioni, 50) NoShame; R1
 

Best Production Design

Winner - Ugetsu (Mizoguchi, 53) Criterion; R1 – 14% of votes
 

Runners-up - Ran (Kurosawa, 85) Criterion; R1 – 10% of votes
King Kong (Special Edition) Warner; R1 – 10% of votes
 

For Your Consideration – My Own Private Idaho or The Barbara Stanwyck Screen Goddess Collection for its unique shelving box for keep cases it definitely deserves a mention (see image HERE)
 

Best Audio Commentary

Winner - Tony Rayns – Ugetsu (Criterion) & Vengeance is Mine (MoC) & Pitfall (MoC) – 40% of votes
 

Runner-up - Richard Peña - L'Eclisse (Criterion) – 8% of votes
 

For Your Consideration – In a rare exception, DVDBeaver would like to acknowledge a director commentary that, it appears, NO ONE was privy to prior to 2005, although officially The Brown Bunny (censored Japanese) DVD came out in very late 2004. The absolute candid openness and frank anecdotes of the production and subsequent panning at Cannes are discussed with practical awareness. His commitment to his artistic expression are so bold and forthright that it deserves an equally aggressive recognition. Vincent Gallo reminds us that the artists struggle continues to be a viable reality to all who are committed to an unfettered expression.
 

Best Budget Release

Winners – Fox Film Noir Series – Laura, House of Bamboo, Nightmare Alley – 29% of votes
 

Runners-up – The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (Paramount) – 16% of votes, The Palm Beach Story (Universal) – 10% of votes
 

For Your Consideration – When Paramount Home Entertainment announced that they had entered an agreement with Batjac productions ­- the production company founded by John Wayne and now run by the wife of his late son ­- to release a wave of beautifully restored John Wayne and Wayne produced films on DVD, there was no doubt reasons to cheer. One year later, after seeing such beautifully
produced DVDs like The High and the Mighty, Hondo, and Budd Boetticher's exquisite Seven Men From Now, each of which come with loads of extra features and a retail price of a mere $14.99, and you can why we¹re not just cheering, but cherishing these wonderful discs. On the horizon? William A Wellman's delayed release of Track of the Cat finally available in it¹s intended 2.55:1 aspect ratio.

­ Adam Lemke

Best Transfer

Winner – L'Eclisse (Criterion)
 

Runners-up – King Kong (Warner), Ran (Criterion), The River (Criterion)
 

For Your Consideration - I recall how many of us thought that RusCiCo's (Russian Cinema Council) DVD edition of Andrei Tarkovsky's Solaris could never be eclipsed... but eventually Criterion proved us all wrong and likewise this year the greatest DVD company in the world showed they too are imperfect having their Black Narcissus release look measurably weak next to Network's (UK) 2005 DVD edition. Network's transfer is off a new interpositive struck directly from the YCMs. The colors are brilliant. Special note should be made of Master's of Cinema's Humanity and Paper Balloons - an irreparably damaged film that saw the digital light of day thanks to commitment and diligence. As Jerry Gerber states 'given the obstacles, it’s a miracle'.  - Gary Tooze
 

Best Box Set

Winner - Alfred Hitchcock - The Masterpiece Collection (Universal; R1) 15% of votes
 

Runners-up – King Kong Collection (Warner; R1) 13% of votes, The Val Lewton Horror Collection (Warner; R1) 13% of votes, Unseen Cinema – Early American Avant-Garde Film 1891-1941 (Image) 10% of votes, Warner Bros. Gangster Collection – 10% of votes, The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection – 10% of votes
 

For Your Consideration - Released in December of 2004, we have allowed this set in our 2005 poll, mainly because a couple of our voters (including Jonathan Rosenbaum) felt so strongly about it, but also to illuminate something that hardly anybody got to look at during 2004. Part of owning a multi-region player means you are willing to take the occasional gamble on titles from obscure retailers, and
often wait a long time to receive your discs. Sometimes these gambles can be costly, but often times they pay off, as in the case of André Delvaux's Rendez-vous à Bray from Boomerang Pictures. Next year, our voters may encounter a similar situation with Gaumont¹s late December release of Histoire(s) du cinema.  

Best Extras

Winner – King Kong (2 Disc SE) Warner; R1 – 19% of votes
 

Runner-up – Ugetsu (Criterion; R1) – 18% of votes
 

For Your Consideration – DVDBeaver has never been the biggest fan of the lackluster transfers from Wellspring DVD. Over 2005 however, Wellspring has proven that despite releasing transfers that pale in comparison to their Asian counterparts, this Region 1 company can make their discs a worthwhile purchase by raising the bar on the special features. Their release of Tsai Ming-liang¹s
Goodbye, Dragon Inn was pushed into the must-own category for the inclusion of Tsai's fascinating short film The Skywalk is Gone. Fans will certainly want to check this short film out before seeing his latest work The Wayward Cloud. Another strong release from Wellspring in a similar vein is the recent Café Lumière DVD with its excellent documentary and interviews.
 

Guilty Pleasure

Winner – Danger: Diabolik (Paramount; R1) 15% of votes
 

Runner-up - The Adventures of Superman: The Complete First Season (Warner; R1) 10% of votes
 

For Your Consideration – With the passing of the unforgettable Russ Meyer in 2004, there is a renewed interest in the curvaceous 'body' of the late auteur¹s work. Arrow films in the UK have given these films the attention they deserve with sharp transfers and cool retro packaging. We highly recommend a late night viewing of Faster Pussycat, Kill! Kill! Please note that many of these movies are available in the US from Meyer¹s own production company RM films, but unfortunately these editions skimp over in practically every area of the DVD release. - Adam Lemke

Biggest Disappointment

Winner – Tristana (bfi; R2) 30% of votes
 

Runner-up – Everything from MGM – Burn, The Fugitive Kind etc. – 27% of votes
 

For Your Consideration - Jules and Jim – receiving both good and bad votes
Releases with forced ads condemning piracy:

That the otherwise excellent The Val Lewton Horror Collection on Warner Home Video didn't include all his RKO features – J. Rosenbaum

Release that Deserved Better

Winner – Scarlet Street (Kino; R1)
 

Runners-up: Facets Bela Tarr’s , New Yorker's Sembene’s (Mandabi, Xala, Black Girl), Studios leaving out the director involvement and commentaries (The Brown Bunny, Me and You and Everyone We Know)
 

For Your Consideration: Perhaps its is too obvious to even mention but Panorama's Ozu releases of this year (ex. Equinox Flower, Tokyo Twilight, There Was a Father and The Only Son) are the DVD editions in most need of attention and the ones that deserve a far better digital treatment. To complain about the Hitch masterpiece collection in comparisons is absurd. -- G. Tooze

Discovery

Winner – Love (Makk) + Second Run in general
 

Runners-up: The House is Black (Facets; R1), Films by Pedro Costa – Onde Jaz O Sorriso, Casa de Lava
 

For Your Consideration – Portrait of Jason Second Run; R0 - We are talking grassroots cinema here folks - Shirley Clarke's expose on a black male prostitute named Jason Holliday is the essence of the, then budding, cinema verite movement. How Second Run decided to expose this little marvella was a stroke of genius. This film is as pure a cinema as many may wish to venture. When the party gets a little dull, pull this baby out and slowly rivet the room's attention.

Best DVD Company

Criterion – 48%
Masters of Cinema – 22%
Warner – 16%
Second Run – 5%

2006?

Directors...
More Mizocuchi – 6 vote
More Ozu – 4 Vote
Naruse – 3 vote
Sam Fuller
Nicholas Ray
Charles Burnett (Killer of Sheep)
Robert Bresson – 2 vote
Budd Boetticher – 2 vote
Shohei Imamura
Yasuzo Masumura
Theo Angelpoulos
Ken Russell x 2 (The Devils)
Lindsay Anderson
Avant-Garde - Michael Snow, Kenneth Anger, Ken Jacobs, Stan Brakhage
 

Releases...

Peckinpah Box Set – 5 vote

The Passenger – 2 vote
Satantango – 3 vote
Four Flies on Grey Velvet – 3 vote
Astaire/Rogers 2  - 3 vote
Mr. Arkadin - 2 vote
Celine and Julie go boating (Jacques Rivette) – 2 vote
Ashes of Time (Wong) in a decent transfer
Exterminating Angel (Luis Buñuel)
Double Life of Veronique (Kieslowski)