Woodford, NSW, Australia

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases

1. Wagon Master (John Ford, 1950) Warner; R1

2. Rossellini’s History Films:  Renaissance and Enlightenment (Roberto Rossellini, 1972-74) Eclipse; R1

3. The Samuel Fuller Film Collection (Samuel Fuller, et al. 7 discs) Sony; R1

4. Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

5. Gervaise (Rene Clement,1955) Criterion Essential Art House; R1

6. Terence Davies Collection (Terence Davies, 4 Discs) BFI; R2 PAL

7. La Tëte contre les Murs (George Franju, 1959) Masters of Cinema; R0

8. Remember the Night (Mitchell Leisen, 1940) TCM Exclusive; R1

9. Man Hunt (Fritz Lang, 1941) 20^th Century Fox; R1

10. Gaumont Treasures: 1897-1913 (Various) Kino; R1

Runners up: Kokoro-Ichikawa (MoC), La Gueule Ouverte-Pialat (MoC), The Taking of Power by Louis XIV-Rossellini (Criterion), Mayerling-Litvak (Criterion Essential Art House), Herostratus-Don Levy (BFI), Film Noir Classics 1 (Sony), Claudette Colbert Collection (Universal), Icons of Screwball Comedy (Sony), The Human Condition-Kobayashi (Criterion), Wise Blood-Huston (Criterion).

  Tom Campo

New York, NY, USA

1. The Universal Cult Horror Classics (Dir. Various, 1933-45) Universal; R1

2. Not of this Earth (Roger Corman, 1956) Alive; R2 PAL -- German DVD release available via Amazon.de under title "Die Außerirdischen - Gesandter des Grauens").  Not perfect quality but best yet of this elusive classic. From an indie label rather than the (presumed) rights-holder Warner Bros. (which owns the Allied Artists library).

3. Blindfold (Philip Dunne, 1966) Universal; R2 PAL -- French DVD release available via Amazon.fr under title "Les Yeux Bandes").  An elusive Rock Hudson title now available via a package of Universal releases in France.  Hopefully a portent of more lesser-known Universal releases to come.

4. Buck Rogers (Ford Beebe, 1939) VCI; R1

Brooklyn, New York, USA

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases of 2009

1. Walden: Diaries, Notes & Sketches (Jonas Mekas, 1970) Microcinema; R1

2. The Exiles (Kent Mackenzie, 1961) Milestone; R1

3. Treasures IV:  American Avant-Garde Film (various, 1947-86) Image; R1 

4. Gaumont Treasures: 1897-1913 (Various) Kino; R1

5. Bardelys the Magnificent/Monte Cristo (King Vidor, 1926/Emmett J. Flynn, 1922) Flicker Alley; R1

6. Rossellini’s History Films:  Renaissance and Enlightenment (Roberto Rossellini, 1972-74) Eclipse; R1

7a. Nous Ne Vieillirons Pas Ensemble (Maurice Pialat, 1972) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

7b. La Gueule Ouverte (Maurice Pialat, 1974) Masters Of Cinema UK; R0 PAL

7c. Passe Ton Bac d'Abord (Maurice Pialat, 1979) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

8. Diary for My Children (Marta Meszaros, 1984) Second Run; R2 PAL

9. The Battle of Chile (Patricio Guzman, 1975-1976) Icarus Films; Region 1

10. A Grin Without a Cat (Chris Marker, 1977) Icarus Films; Region 1

Sacramento, CA, USA

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

1. Messiah of Evil (Willard Huyck, 1973) Code Red; R1

2. Ghost Story (Stephen Weeks, 1973) Nucleus; R0 PAL

3. Silent Scream (Denny Harris, 1980) Scorpion Releasing; R0

4. Footprints (Luigi Bazzoni, 1975) Shameless; R0 PAL

5. Gradiva (Alain Robbe-Grillet, 2006) Mondo Macabro; R0

6. The She-Beast (Michael Reeves, 1965) Dark Sky; R0

7. Hardware (Richard Stanley, 1990) Severin; R0

8. Stunt Rock (Brian Trenchard-Smith, 1978) Code Red; R0

9. Night of the Creeps (Fred Dekker, 1986) Sony; R1

10. Deadly Sweet (Tinto Brass, 1967) Cult Epics; R0

Comments: "Code Red has brought us a gorgeous widescreen (finally!) transfer of Messiah of Evil, a seventies sleeper of a horror film long in need of reassessment after years of cropped and pale unauthorized DVDs.  Stunt Rock did not look too interesting in the theatrical trailer featured on past Code Red releases but the film was unexpectedly entertaining and the extras are a labor of love that make it even more entertaining.  Likewise, after years and years as a tape-sourced pan-and-scanned PD eyesore of a DVD release and rumors of either the negative’s destruction or licensors demanding unreasonable fees, She Beast makes its debut in its original scope aspect ratio from Dark Sky with a commentary featuring the film’s stars and producer preserving their recollections of the film and – along with the commentary on the previous year’s restoration of Witchfinder General – of working with Michael Reeves who died young.  As its debut feature, Scorpion Releasing have given us the obscure slasher Silent Scream mastered from a gorgeous HD transfer with illuminating commentary from the film’s star and its writers/producers/uncredited co-directors revealing the otherwise seamless patch-up job done to the original 1978 feature.  Shameless Screen Entertainment not only brings Luigi Bazzoni’s enigmatic Footprints to DVD, right out of the gate they’ve presented the longest version available with only a few video inserts amidst an otherwise gorgeous transfer of Vittorio Storaro’s cinematography.  With Ghost Story, Nucleus Films’ did a great service to the film’s fans and to its underappreciated director Stephen Weeks with a good-as-available transfer (sourced from BBC’s digital master), a commentary track, several of the director’s short films, the rare trailer for the feature, and most welcome a 70 minute documentary featuring most of the surviving participants.  Mondo Macabro was able to release Gradiva as one of the few authorized Robbe-Grillet DVDs in a stunning transfer with some brief but satisfying annotation.  Cult Epics brought us DVDs of Tinto Brass’ The Howl and Deadly Sweet.  While The Howl looked pretty-bad transfer-wise compared to the more colorful Italian master, Cult Epics made use of Tinto Brass’ own elements which featured salacious footage censored from official versions.  Tinto Brass also contributed great commentaries for this and Deadly Sweet."

New Haven, CT, USA

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

1. 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her (Jean-Luc Godard, 1967) Criterion; R1

2. The Exterminating Angel (Luis Bunuel, 1962) Criterion; R1

3. Il Grido (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1957) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

4. Magnificent Obsession (Douglas Sirk, 1954) Criterion; R1

5. Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (Chantal Akerman, 1975) Criterion; R1

6. Lola Montes (Max Ophuls, 1955) Second Sight; R2 PAL

7. Dusan Makavejev - Free Radical (3 Discs)  Eclipse; R1

8. Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu (Hiroshi Shimizu, 1933-41) Eclipse; R1

9. My Dinner With Andre (Louis Malle, 1981) Criterion; R1

10. Nous Ne Vieillirons Pas Ensemble (Maurice Pialat, 1972) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

Comments: I would have placed Lola Montes much higher if didn’t anticipate putting the forthcoming Criterion release at the top of my Blu-ray list next year!

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. Playtime (Jacques Tati, 1967) Criterion; A

2. Last Year at Marienbad (Alain Resnais, 1961) Criterion; A

3. Wings Of Desire (Wim Wenders, 1987) Criterion; A

4. Raging Bull (Martin Scorsese, 1980) MGM; ALL

5. Pierrot le Fou (Jean Luc Godard, 1965) Criterion; A

6. The Last Metro (Francois Truffaut, 1980) Criterion; A

7. Kagemusha (Akira Kurosawa, 1980) Criterion; A

8. Repulsion (Roman Polanski, 1965) Criterion; A

9. A Christmas Tale (Arnaud Desplechin, 2008) Criterion; A

10. Monsoon Wedding (Mira Nair, 2001) Criterion; A

Comments: I upgraded to the Playtime Blu-ray from the same Criterion version in SD because it’s one of my all-time favorite films and among the films that benefits most from the clearest possible presentation. Pierrot Le Fou would be much higher if the already available SD-DVD weren’t so good.

  Thomas Friedman

Tallahassee, Florida, USA

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. The Seventh Seal  (Ingmar Bergman, 1957) Criterion; A

2. An American in Paris (Vincente Minnelli, 1951) Warner; ALL

3. The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary (Victor Fleming, 1939) Warner; ALL

4. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (David Hand, 1937) Walt Disney; A

5. Star Trek (J. J. Abrams, 2009) Paramount; ALL

6. North By Northwest: 50th Anniversary (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) Warner; ALL

7. Up (Bob Peterson & Pete Doctor, 2009) Disney/Pixar; A

8a. Star Trek: The Original Series - Seasons One (Various Directors, 7 Discs) Paramount; ALL

8b. Star Trek: The Original Series - Seasons Two (Various Directors, 7 Discs) Paramount; ALL

9. Dr. Strangelove (Stanley Kubrick, 1964) Sony; ALL

10a. The Prisoner (Patrick McGoohan, 1968) A&E; A

10b. For All Mankind (Al Reinert, 1989) Criterion, A

Comments:  "Concerning the finest release of the year, it is an impossibility to choose between the dark, yet surprisingly witty allegory of death, The Seventh Seal, and the brilliant, imaginative and daring American in Paris that ends in ballet that I believe is the high point of all American musical cinema.  Both have beautifully realized video and audio.  I was absolutely amazed by what could be drawn from the film on both of these as well as most of the other older films that have been carefully restored.  The true glory of the Blu-ray era may not be the new mega productions but rather the meticulous, great restorations of classics and not so classic but enjoyable entertainments such as Big Trouble in Little China which I don’t mind admitting that I enjoyed very much."

 Stuart Galbraith IV

Kyoto, Japan

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

(in alphabetical order)

Anvil: The Story of Anvil (Sacha Gervasi, 2008) VH1 Films; R1

The Damned (Joseph Losey, 1963) Sony; R2 PAL

Fireball XL5 – The Complete Series  (various, 1962) Network; R2 PAL

Forbidden Hollywood, Vol. 3 (William Wellman, 1931-1933) Warner; R1

Harlan Ellison: Dreams with Sharp Teeth (Erik Nelson, 2008) New Video; R1

Icons of Sci-Fi: Toho Collection (Ishiro Honda, 1958-61) Sony; R1

The Complete Steve Canyon – Volume 1 (various, 1958) Milton Caniff Estate; R0

The Complete Steve Canyon – Volume 2  (various, 1959) Milton Caniff Estate; R0

Gordon Scott Tarzan 6 DVD Collection (various 1949-60) Warner Archive; R0

Tora-san Collector’s Set Vol. 1 (Yoji Yamada, 4 Films) AnimEigo; R1

Our Heavenly Bodies (Hanns Walter Kornblum, 1925) Edition Filmmuseum; R2 PAL

Comments: "Despite a steady decline of DVD rental shops and SD-DVD retail space in America, the format’s future remains bright in other parts of the world, and in other forms (e.g., Warner Archive’s DVD-on-demand). In many ways this is an exciting time for film buffs, with more obscure titles being released than ever before, and all over the world, while the prices of many discs have become astonishingly affordable." 

Top Blu-ray Releases

 (in alphabetical order)

1. Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series (20 Discs, 2004-09) Universal; ALL

2. A Christmas Carol (Brian Desmond Hurst, 1951) VCI; ALL

3. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: The Complete First Season (various, 2000) Paramount; A

4. John Adams (Tom Hooper, 2008) HBO; ALL

5. The New York Ripper (Lucio Fulci, 1982) Blue Underground; ALL

6. Playtime (Jacques Tati, 1967) Criterion; A

7. Pride and Prejudice (Simon Langton, 1995) A&E; ALL

8. The Robe  (Henry Koster, 1953) 20th Century Fox; A

9. Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters Of Cinema; ALL

10. The Wages of Fear (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1953) Criterion; A

Comments: "Too few classic films are being released in the United States, with independents like Blue Underground and even VCI showing up some of the major labels. Blu-rays like ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ filmed in Super-16, and the Techniscope ‘New York Ripper’ exhibit just how good older titles in problematic formats can look in high-def given half the chance. Classic and current TV releases really came of age in 2009; choosing among so many worthy titles wasn’t easy."  

Chris Galloway

Website Admin

criterionforum.org

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases of 2009

1. Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu (Hiroshi Shimizu, 1933-41) Eclipse; R1

2. The Golden Age of Television (Various, 3 Discs) Criterion; R1

3. Nikkatsu Noir (Various, 5 Discs) Eclipse; R1

4. The Seventh Seal (Ingmar Bergman, 1957) Criterion; R1

5. 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her (Jean-Luc Godard, 1967) Criterion; R1

6. Made in U.S.A. (Jean-Luc Godard, 1966) Criterion; R1

7. Science Is Fiction: 23 Films by Jean Painlevé (3 Discs) Criterion; R1

8. Wings of Desire (Wim Wenders, 1987) Criterion; R1

9. Dusan Makavejev - Free Radical (3 Discs)  Eclipse; R1

10. The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Peter Yates, 1973) Criterion; R1

Comments: Sadly the only DVDs I really bothered with this past year were (again) mostly Criterion releases and this list pretty much represents what I feel to be the studio's best DVDs. They had a particularly strong year with their Eclipse release, with their Shimizu set coming out as my favourite release of theirs this year. The modestly priced 2-disc reissue of The Seventh Seal packed a wonderful new transfer and an incredible number of supplements (though it's the shorter version, the "Bergman Island" documentary is what really sells the set) was probably their best reissue. Their two Godard releases (Made in U.S.A. and 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her) both helped me appreciate the director's later work a little more. And while it's unfortunately slim in supplements, their release of The Friends of Eddie Coyle (previously unavailable) was a fantastic treat.

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. Comrades (Bill Douglas, 1986) BFI; ALL

2. Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters Of Cinema; ALL

3. The Seventh Seal  (Ingmar Bergman, 1957) Criterion; A

4. Zodiac (David Fincher, 2007) Paramount; ALL

5. Herostratus and Don Levy Shorts (Don Levy, 1967) BFI; ALL

6. Up (Bob Peterson & Pete Doctor, 2009) Disney/Pixar; A

7. Wings Of Desire (Wim Wenders, 1987) Criterion; A

8. Separation (Jack Bond, 1968) BFI; ALL

9. Pierrot le Fou (Jean Luc Godard, 1965) Criterion; A

10. A Christmas Carol (Brian Desmond Hurst, 1951) VCI; ALL

Comments: It was hard for me to choose my number one pick, but "Comrades", a film I was unfamilar with, was the best surprise I had this year (along with "Herostratus" and "Separation".) This fantastic film gets an unbelievably stunning Blu-ray release from BFI with a sharp transfer and an engaging number of supplements. Close behind was Master of Cinema's "Sunrise", the transfer of which completely exceeded my expectations. "Zodiac" was one of my favourite DVD/HD DVDs of last year and again I still think it's a great release, now on Blu-ray (and still looking great!)  Disney/Pixar's "Up" was probably the most charming childrens film I saw this year (well, next to "Fantastic Mr. Fox") and again their Blu-ray does not disappoint. And while it may not be a perfect Blu-ray release, the child in me jumped with joy when I threw in the VCI Blu-ray for "A Christmas Carol", which is now the sharpest and cleanest I've ever seen it

Jerry Gerber

New York, NY, USA

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

1. Murnau (Nosferatu / Faust / The Last Laugh / Tartuffe / The Haunted Castle / The Finances of the Grand Duke) (FW Murnau, 1921-26) Kino; R1

2. Frank Borzage Vol 1: Seventh Heaven, Street Angel (Frank Borzage, 1929) BFI; R2 PAL

3. Wagon Master (John Ford, 1950) Warner; R1

4a. Nous Ne Vieillirons Pas Ensemble (Maurice Pialat, 1972) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

4b. La Gueule Ouverte (Maurice Pialat, 1974) Masters Of Cinema UK; R0 PAL

4c. Passe Ton Bac d'Abord (Maurice Pialat, 1979) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

5a. The Exterminating Angel (Luis Bunuel, 1962) Criterion; R1

5b. Simon of the Desert (Luis Bunuel, 1965) Criterion; R1

6. Forbidden Hollywood, Vol. 3 (William Wellman, 1931-1933) Warner; R1

7. The Taking of Power by Louis XIV (Roberto Rossellini, 1964) Criterion; R1

8. Terence Davies Collection (Terence Davies, 4 Discs) BFI; R2 PAL

9. Philippe Garrel x 2 -- I Can No Longer Hear the Guitar, Emergency Kisses (1991, 1989, Philippe Garrel) Zeitgeist; R1

10a. Hunger (Steve McQueen, 2008) Pathe; R2 PAL

10b. Alexandra (Alexander Sokurov, 2007) Artificial Eye; R2 PAL

Comments: Picked by what I feel are the great directors/films missing from the catalogue in USA and UK. Kudos to MoC for their continued devotion to Pialat. Number 10 are two new films that we will consider great classics some day.

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary (Victor Fleming, 1939) Warner; ALL

2. Ashes Of Time Redux (Wong Kar-Wai, 2008) Artificial Eye; ALL

3. The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948) ITV; B

4. Playtime (Jacques Tati, 1967) Criterion; A

5. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Sergio Leone, 1966) MGM; ALL

6. Gone With The Wind: 70th Anniversary (Victor Fleming, 1939) Warner; ALL

7. Gigi (Vincent Minnelli; 1959) Warner; ALL

8. North By Northwest: 50th Anniversary (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) Warner; ALL

9. Belle de Jour (Luis Bunel, 1967) Optimum; B

10. Chungking Express (Wong Kar-Wai, 1995) Artificial Eye; B

Comments: I don’t believe I’m a blu-ray expert at this point. What I have purchased are those films that I feel will give me enhanced viewing by the new technology. I think that comes down to color and the quality of the film. I have purchased no films in b&W in blu-ray. So perhaps that tells you where I’m coming from at this point.

Jonathan Glover

Washington DC

USA

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases of 2009

1. Science Is Fiction: 23 Films by Jean Painlevé (3 Discs) Criterion; R1

2. Nikkatsu Noir (Various, 5 Discs) Eclipse; R1

3. The Joy of Sex Education (Various, 2 Discs) BFI; R2 PAL

4. A Grin Without a Cat (Chris Marker, 1977) Icarus Films; Region 1

5. My Dinner With Andre (Louis Malle, 1981) Criterion; R1

6. Blood (O Sangue) (Pedro Costa, 1989) Second Run UK; R2; PAL

7. The Human Condition Trilogy (Masaki Kobayashi, 1959-61) Criterion; R1

8. Careful (Remastered and Repressed) (Guy Maddin, 1992) Zeitgeist; R1

9. The Complete Fritz Lang Mabuse Box Set (Fritz Lang, 1922-60) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

10. The Complete Lone Wolf & Cub Boxset (Various, 7 Discs) Eureka; R2 PAL

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters Of Cinema; ALL

2. The General (Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton, 1927) Kino; ALL

3. Repulsion (Roman Polanski, 1965) Criterion; A

4. The New World (Terrence Malick, 2005) New Line; ALL

5. Herostratus and Don Levy Shorts (Don Levy, 1967) BFI; ALL

6. A Christmas Tale (Arnaud Desplechin, 2008) Criterion; A

7. The Seventh Seal  (Ingmar Bergman, 1957) Criterion; A

8. Zodiac (David Fincher, 2007) Paramount; ALL

9. Comrades (Bill Douglas, 1986) BFI; ALL

10. Up (Bob Peterson & Pete Doctor, 2009) Disney/Pixar; A

 Sean Greenwood

New Jersey, USA

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

1. The Human Condition Trilogy (Masaki Kobayashi, 1959-61) Criterion; R1

2. Il Grido (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1957) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

3. Last Year at Marienbad (Alain Resnais, 1961) Criterion; R1

4. Z (Costa-Gavras, 1969) Criterion; R1

5. Hobson’s Choice (David Lean, 1954) Criterion; R1

6. L’important c’est d’aimer (Andzrej Zulawski, 1975) Mondo Vision; R0

7. L’amour braque (Andzrej Zulawski, 1985) Mondo Vision; R0

8. Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

9. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Michael Bay, 2009) Paramount; R1

Comments: "Given that I had already made the transition to, and now almost exclusively purchase, Blu-ray, this year it became difficult for me to judge SD-DVD on its own, and in the end I was forced (largely by my own conscience) to mainly choose releases that did not appear on Blu-ray. This is why this list is so bloated with Criterion releases, of which, their long-awaited release of The Human Condition was the release of the year. The MoC Antonioni discs take spots two and three  [La Notte - Sean's third pick - was released in 2008 and did not qualify for this poll. – Ed.] as they are wonderful transfers of two marvelous films, and I was forced grudgingly to give the last spot to the Transformers sequel because of its technical quality."

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters Of Cinema; ALL

2. The Seventh Seal  (Ingmar Bergman, 1957) Criterion; A

3. The Prisoner (Patrick McGoohan, 1968) Network; B

4. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (Karel Reisz, 1960) BFI; B

5. Akira (Katsuhiro Ôtomo, 1988) Honneamise; ALL

6. The General (Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton, 1927) Kino; ALL

7. Zodiac (David Fincher, 2007) Paramount; ALL

8a. London in the Raw (Arnold L. Miller, 1964) BFI Flipside; ALL

8b. Primitive London (Arnold L. Miller, 1965) BFI Flipside; ALL

9. North By Northwest: 50th Anniversary (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) Warner; ALL

10. In Bruges (Martin Mc Donagh, 2008) M6/Warner FR; B

Comments: "2009 was a great year for Blu-ray and it shows. The top spot in my list goes to the MoC Sunrise disc for a few reasons. Firstly, it was the first silent film on Blu-ray, and though Kino’s Blu-ray of The General was released only weeks after, the MoC announcement was well before Kino’s. Secondly, the package, including the dual versions of the film, the technical quality of the hi-def video and lossless audio, and the abundant video extras/booklet make for a high-value purchase. Thirdly, this disc cemented in my mind Eureka’s commitment to releasing Region-free Blu-rays whenever possible, even going as far as encoding SD extras in NTSC format to make them playable on North American TVs. Therefore, they just edged out Criterion, who themselves had an excellent line of Blu-ray releases year round, of which The Seventh Seal was my favorite so far (I haven’t had time to watch them all—yet). The BFI also had a stellar year in high-def with a bevy of British classics and the introduction of a new imprint, BFI Flipside, that has brought out some incredible selections of previously neglected or lesser known British cinema, and I can’t wait for more. Finally, I will note that my tenth spot goes to M6/Warner France for being one of two distributors (the other being Scanbox) to bring out my favorite film of 2008, In Bruges, in a full 1080p presentation, something that the film’s US and UK distributors chose not to do."

 David Hare

Sydney, Australia

TOP 8 SD DVDs of 2009

1. Gaumont Le Cinema Premier, Vol.2 (Various, 6 Discs) Paramount; R0 PAL

This outstanding boxset of six discs must take top place for any number of reasons, but principally for the reintroduction of Jean Durand to a contemporary viewing public. Durand came to cinema in 1911 directly from the Circus and the Music Hall, and his status as a pioneer and a master of cinema is enshrined in the two discs he is given here which include shorts from 1911 to 1914 and end with a beautifully, lovingly compiled cine-biography by scholar, Francis Lacassin which is silent and composed entirely of title cards, frame stills and extracts. Durand I believe single handedly created screen Surrealism, even before Feuillade and the disjunction of the subconscious imagination with daily life is deliriously present in this set. The discovery of Durand is for me at least the high point of the year and I hope this set elevates interest in such a neglected and forgotten figure to his rightful place among the first masters of cinema. One only hopes Kino can see its way to reissuing this volume, as they did the Gaumont Vol 1, even if only in a truncated format.

2. Wagon Master (John Ford, 1950) Warner; R1

What can I say, Ford's greatest picture, in a gorgeous transfer, and - regrettably - virtually the only recent Warner full SD Classic dvd.

3. Summer Storm (Douglas Sirk, 1944) VCI; R1

Thank god for VCI, and regardless of the occasional weakness of their source elements, who else would have seen their way to releasing this masterpiece from Sirk's 40s period.

4. Wise Blood (John Huston, 1979) Criterion; R1

A fine, underrated late Huston from a fruitful period for the director and a gorgeous transfer (it looks to be identical to the Criterion) that, I only wish had been done in Blu.

5. Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu (Hiroshi Shimizu, 1933-41) Eclipse; R1

An introduction with high quality transfers to this little seen director - the very sort of mission the Eclipse label is so magnificently promoting, along with…

6. Rossellini’s History Films:  Renaissance and Enlightenment (Roberto Rossellini, 1972-74) Eclipse; R1

I feel compelled to rope in with the Criterion Le Prise de Pouvoir Par Louis XIV - a huge effort to begin redressing the absence of Rossellini to home video. And just as importantly, these discs are literally graced by the critical material created by Tag Gallagher.

7. Muriel (Alain Resnais, 1963) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

Simply Resnais' greatest film and a perfect tribute to Delphine Seyrig during the year in which she sadly died. Finally in a fine transfer, and in correct AR.

8. Man Hunt (Fritz Lang, 1941) 20^th Century Fox; R1

A great Lang and a missing link (among many) in the director's filmography on home video, for which Fox has gone to considerable trouble to remedy rather substantial damage to obviously compromised elements. And sadly, again, one of the very last Classic SDs (or Blus for that matter) to be released by Fox in an increasingly depressed market.

TOP 10 BLU RAYS FOR 2009

1. The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948) ITV; B

A personal top favorite movie, and a fabulous, beautiful restoration by the best people in the business - Schoonmkaker, Scorsese, Ned Price at Warner, and Lee Kline/Maria Pallazolla at Criterion.  A complete labor of love for a great picture. And, again in its own way a tribute to DP Jack Cardiff who also died this year, just before the restoration's premier at Cannes in June.

2. The General (Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton, 1927) Kino; ALL

The sign of things to come!  Fantastic work by Kino and a very very brave leap into the reissuing of silent cinema in the new format - a terrific job, equaled only by…

3 Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters Of Cinema; ALL

Another stunning package from this outfit - the image quality on the Czech print  - itself beautifully detailed - is just a flawless transfer into High Def and absolute proof to any doubters the whole format evolution is worthwhile. 

4. Pierrot le Fou (Jean Luc Godard, 1965) Criterion; A

Peter Henne

San Pedro, CA

USA

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

1a. Rossellini’s History Films:  Renaissance and Enlightenment (Roberto Rossellini, 1972-74) Eclipse; R1

1b. The Taking of Power by Louis XIV (Roberto Rossellini, 1964) Criterion; R1

2. Parade (Jacques Tati, 1974) BFI R2 PAL

3. Dodes 'ka-den (Akira Kurosawa, 1970) Criterion; R1

4. Summer Storm (Douglas Sirk, 1944) VCI; R1

5. Boom! (Joseph Losey, 1968) Second Sight; R2 PAL

6. Black Rain (Shohei Imamura, 1989) AnimEigo; R1

7. Empire of Passion (Nagisa Oshima, 1978) Criterion; R1

8. The King and Four Queens (Raoul Walsh, 1956) MGM; R1

9. 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her (Jean-Luc Godard, 1967) Criterion; R1

10. Anatahan (Josef von Sternberg, 1953) Films sans Frontieres; R2 PAL

Comments: "Anatahan" is missing about three minutes and the image quality of this Frontieres disc is only acceptable, but the brooding and shady atmosphere of the film from the knotted and languid jungle set it depicts survives. This forgotten and often censored film has been a long time coming to the DVD market, and hopefully an improved release based on a recent restoration will someday come along. In the meantime, the Frontieres will serve to give a worthwhile impression of the film.

Peter Hoskin

The Spectator, www.spectator.co.uk

London, UK

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

1. Daisies (Vera Chytilova, 1966) Second Run; R2 PAL

2. The Complete Fritz Lang Mabuse Box Set (Fritz Lang, 1922-60) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

3. Jerry Lewis Box Set (Frank Tashlin, Jerry Lewis, et al., 11 Discs) Paramount; R2 PAL

4. Wise Blood (John Huston, 1979) Criterion; R1

5. Of Time and the City (Terence Davies, 2008) BFI; R2 PAL

6. Wagon Master (John Ford, 1950) Warner; R1

7. Husbands (John Cassavetes, 1970) Sony; R1

8. The Battle of Chile (Patricio Guzman, 1975-1976) Icarus Films; Region 1

9. Une Femme Mariée (Jean-Luc Godard, 1964) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

10. Dusan Makavejev - Free Radical (3 Discs)  Eclipse; R1

Comments: Ok, so the Jerry Lewis set is a slight cheat: all the discs had been released individually before 2009, and there was already a similar box set in the US.  But this new UK package was just too cost-effective to ignore.  And, what’s more, it is one of the most crazily delightful – and delightfully crazy – collections I’ve ever passed my eyeballs across.  As for the others: Daisies is insuppressible, Wagon Master is Ford at his best, and the Mabuse set is everything I hoped for.

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters Of Cinema; ALL

2. The General (Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton, 1927) Kino; ALL

3. The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948) ITV; B

4. Comrades (Bill Douglas, 1986) BFI; ALL

5. The Magick Lantern Cycle (Kenneth Anger, 2 Discs) BFI; ALL

Comments: The MoC Blu-Ray of Sunrise is my favourite release of this, or pretty much any other, year.

Adam Lampe

Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases of 2009

1. The Complete Fritz Lang Mabuse Box Set (Fritz Lang, 1922-60) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

2. Inglourious Basterds -- Two-Disc Special Edition (Quentin Tarantino, 2009) Universal; R1

3. Repulsion (Roman Polanski, 1965), Criterion; R1

4. The Human Condition Trilogy (Masaki Kobayashi, 1959-61) Criterion; R1

5. Lola Montes (Max Ophuls, 1955) Second Sight; R2 PAL

6. Nikkatsu Noir (Various, 5 Discs) Eclipse; R1

7. Une Femme Mariée (Jean-Luc Godard, 1964) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

8. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (David Hand, 1937) Walt Disney; R1

9. Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics Vol. 1 (Dir. Various, 1949-56) Sony; R1

10. Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu (Hiroshi Shimizu, 1933-41) Eclipse; R1

Comments: A fully restored Dr Mabuse, the Gambler, sterling transfers of the two sequals and David Kalat's splendid commentaries on all three films makes the Eureka set my pick for 2009. Kudos should go to Eureka's Masters of Cinema Series, which had a superb release schedule this year, including the F.W. Murnau double set Phantom/Die Finanzen Des Großherzogs (including another wonderful Kalat commentary), Alain Resnais' Muriel, ou le Temps d'un retour. and of course Godard's Une Femme Mariée.

Jon Lanthier and Slant Staff

Slant Magazine

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

1. Gaumont Treasures: 1897-1913 (Various) Kino; R1

2. Walden: Diaries, Notes & Sketches (Jonas Mekas, 1970) Microcinema; R1

3. The State: The Complete Series  (Various, 5 Discs) Paramount/MTV; R1

4. The Samuel Fuller Film Collection (Samuel Fuller, et al. 7 discs) Sony; R1

5. It’s Garry Shandling’s Show (Various, 17 Discs) Shout Factory; R1

6. Repulsion (Roman Polanski, 1965), Criterion; R1

7. The Last Days of Disco (Whit Stillman, 1998) Criterion; R1

8. The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Peter Yates, 1973) Criterion; R1

9. Alexander Korda’s Private Lives (Alexander Korda, 4 Films) Eclipse; R1

10. Science Is Fiction: 23 Films by Jean Painlevé (3 Discs) Criterion; R1

Comments: Was 2009 the “year of cult” as far as DVD was concerned? It seemed like more long lost (and never-quite-found) favorites were being issued than ever before, making each month’s adjusted release schedule a veritable Pandora’s Box of memories, cinema-related or otherwise. Most of the above DVDs would be welcome releases in ANY quality, but Criterion, Kino, and Shout Factory all stepped up to the proverbial plate with aplomb—The Last Days of Disco was already one of my favorite films before its DVD debut and yet to screen the digital master was to rediscover its coruscating wit all over again.

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. In the Realm of the Senses (Nagisa Oshima, 1976) Criterion; A

2. Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters Of Cinema; ALL

3. The Seventh Seal  (Ingmar Bergman, 1957) Criterion; A

4. Repulsion (Roman Polanski, 1965) Criterion; A

5. Playtime (Jacques Tati, 1967) Criterion; A

6. The General (Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton, 1927) Kino; ALL

7. Wings Of Desire (Wim Wenders, 1987) Criterion; A

8. A Christmas Tale (Arnaud Desplechin, 2008) Criterion; A

9. The Last Emperor (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1987) Criterion; A

10. Wallace and Gromit: The Complete Collection (Nick Park, 1 Disc) Lionsgate; A

Comments: It’s still difficult to determine what one is supposed to look for in a blu ray that cannot be had from an upconverted standard definition disc – the difference to me has never quite been night and day so much as a choice between two distinct filmic textures (one always pays a cost for clarity). Which is what made Criterion’s release of In the Realm of the Senses such a shock – with a transfer glabrous, flattened and fluid, the film seems less pornographic and yet more assaulting than ever, and as such it’s one of the best arguments for 1080p on the market. The sharpness is as exhausting to observe as the perpetual copulation.

 Lynn Lascaro
Long Beach, California
U.S.A.

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009
1. Man Hunt (Fritz Lang,1941) 20th Century Fox; R1
2. Michael Powell Double Feature (Age of Consent, Stairway to Heaven) (Michael Powell, 1969) Sony; R1
3. Looking to Get Out (Hal Ashby, 1982) Warner Home Video; R1
4. Icons of Sci-Fi: Toho Collection (Ishiro Honda, 1958-61) Sony; R1
5. Walt Disney Treasures: Zorro Season One and Two (Norman Foster, 1957-61) Walt Disney; R1
6. Tales From The Darkside (Various, 3 discs,1983) Paramount; R1
7. Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (Marina Zenovich, 2008) Velocity / Thinkfilm; R1
8. Forbidden Hollywood, Vol. 3 (William Wellman, 1931-1933) Warner; R1
9. Pre-Code Hollywood Collection (Dir. Various, 1930-34) Universal; R1
10. Under Full Sail, Silent Cinema (Various, 1927) Flicker Alley; Region 0

Top Blu-ray Releases
1. Groundhog Day (Harold Ramis, 1983) Sony; RA
2. The Wages of Fear (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1953) Criterion; A
3. Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters Of Cinema; ALL
4 The General (Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton, 1927) Kino; ALL
5. Up (Bob Peterson & Pete Doctor, 2009) Disney/Pixar; A
6. Star Trek (J. J. Abrams, 2009) Paramount; ALL
7. Passion of the Christ (Mel Gibson, 2004) Sony; RA
8. Goldfinger (Guy Hamilton, 1964) MGM/Fox; RA
9. North Face (Philipp Stolzl, 2008) Metrodome Video; Region FREE
10. Powder Blue (Timothy Linh Bui, 2009) Image Entertainment; Region A

Comments: "The increase of black & white and silent classics on Blu-ray has made me giddy. With Criterion and Kino in the game, things are looking up! This year, many great films made it to Blu-ray and dropping titles from this list to include underdogs was difficult. Top 10 lists are for fun and amusement only."

Adam Lemke www.moviemiser.com

Syracuse, NY, USA

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases of 2009

1. Wendy and Lucy (Kelly Reichardt, 2008) Oscilloscope; R1

2. The Exterminating Angel (Luis Bunuel, 1962) Criterion; R1

3. Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics Vol. 1 (Dir. Various, 1949-56) Sony; R1

4. Viva: Unrated Edition (Anna Biller, 2007) Cult Epics; R1

5a. Martyrs (Pascal Laugier, 2008) Weinstein Company; R1
5b. The Coffin Joe Collection (José Mojica Marins, 5 Discs) Anchor Bay; R2 PAL

6. The Samuel Fuller Film Collection (Samuel Fuller, et al. 7 discs) Sony; R1

7. Treasures IV:  American Avant-Garde Film (various, 1947-86) Image; R1 

8. Parade (Jacques Tati, 1974) BFI R2 PAL

9. Mother (Bong Joon-ho, 2009) CJ; R3

10. Hunger (Steve McQueen, 2008) Pathe; R2 PAL

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. Ballast (Lance Hammer, 2008) Kino; R1

2. Embodiment of Evil (José Mojica Marins, 2008) Anchor Bay; ALL

3. Trick 'r Treat (Michael Dougherty, 2008) Warner; A

4. Tokyo Sonata (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2008) Masters of Cinema; ALL

5. Antichrist (Lars von Trier, 2009) M6; ALL

6. Last Year at Marienbad (Alain Resnais, 1961) Criterion; A

7. The New World (Terrence Malick, 2005) New Line; ALL

8. Repulsion (Roman Polanski, 1965) Criterion; A

9. Dead Snow (Tommy Wirkola, 2009) E1; B

10. Let The Right One In (Thomas Alfredson, 2008) Magnet; A

Comments: My collection grew more this year than any prior year. I believe I purchased every new release from Criterion, Masters of Cinema, BFI, Severin, and Blue Underground, as well as the majority of the other big releases. The problem has been finding the time to watch them all. Many of my favorite viewings from this year were actually releases from prior years as I struggle to keep up with all of the great stuff I’ve acquired. Film distribution in America continues to be a letdown and it is becoming increasingly harder to find a venue to see some of the more creative and edgy works on the big screen. As a result, my list highlights a wide array of powerful works that only are able to reach audiences through the home video market, as wide distribution was scarce or non-existant. Small American Indies like Ballast and Wendy and Lucy deserve to be seen by everyone, horror films that push the boundaries and attempt something new like Martyrs, and Embodiment of Evil, get pushed straight to DVD in favor of the latest remake. Please note that had it not been for the subtitle issue on the Magnet release of Let the Right One In, that would have most certainly taken my #1 slot.

 Tom Mahaffey

Troy, Michigan, USA

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

1. Synecdoche, New York (Charlie Kaufman, 2008) Sony; R1

A drug free acid trip.

2. The Silence of Lorna (Luc & Jean-Pierre Dardenne, 2008) New Wave; R2 PAL

Another fine film by the Dardenne brothers and another very good recommendation by Gary.  

3. Simon of the Desert (Luis Bunuel, 1965) Criterion; R1

About as perfect an example of surreal cinema that you will ever see.     

4. A Time to Love and a Time to Die (Douglas Sirk, 1958) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

Sirk’s WWII masterpiece is both beautiful and tragic and is delivered by MOC with great extras (as usual).

5. Pigs, Pimps, & Prostitutes: 3 Films by Shohei Imamura (Shohei Imamura, 1961-64) Criterion; R1  

All 3 films in this boxset (The Insect Woman, Intentions of Murder and Pigs and Battleships) were an absolute delight to watch.

6. Black Rain (Shohei Imamura, 1989) AnimEigo; R1

This horror story about the atomic bomb in Hiroshima should be required viewing by all human beings.

7. Michael Powell Double Feature (Age of Consent, Stairway to Heaven) (Michael Powell, 1969) Sony; R1

Who could pass up an opportunity to see Helen Mirren (totally) in her first feature film which includes a nice little extra with a 2008 interview with her about the film.

8. The Girl Cut in Two (Claude Chabrol, 2008) Artificial Eye; R2 PAL

Another dark thriller by one of France’s best directors, seen for the first at the DFI (Detroit Film Institute) and enjoyed it even more the second time on DVD.

9. Treeless Mountain (So Yong Kim, 2008) Oscilloscope; R1

Similar to Koreeda’s film “Nobody Knows” but this Korean story about 2 young girls from a broken home has a more positive ending.                  

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. El Norte (Gregory Nava, 1983) Criterion; A

Enlightening film and for those who have a harsh opinion about illegal aliens, it may soften your view.

2. Tokyo Sonata (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, 2008) Masters of Cinema; ALL

Easy to see why this won Cannes 2008 Jury Prize…Superb acting and story.

3. Let The Right One In (Thomas Alfredson, 2008) Magnet; A

Very original Swedish vampire tale.

4. Orphan (Jaume Collet-Serra, 2009) Warner; A

Psychological horror thriller with outstanding performance by child actress Isabelle Fuhrman.

5. Dead Snow (Tommy Wirkola, 2009) E1; B

Norwegian Horror Comedy, “Zombies, Nazis, Blood on Snow” 

6. The General (Clyde Bruckman & Buster Keaton, 1927) Kino; ALL

Seeing this classic silent film in HD is a real dream come true.

7. Le Mepris (Jean-Luc Godard, 1963) Studio Canal; ALL

2002 Sight and Sound named this Brigitte Bardot film among the best 10 films ever made.  

8. Coco Before Chanel (Anne Fontaine, 2009) Optimum; ?

An easy pick if you’re an ‘Audrey Tautou’ fan, film is loaded with her images.

9. North By Northwest: 50th Anniversary (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) Warner; ALL

One of my favorite Hitch/Grant films looking the best it’s ever looked.

Comments: "Although there were many other films as good and better than some of my choices listed here, it was very difficult to limit my picks and try to have a variety.  There were also a whole bunch of releases from 2009 I just have not gotten time to review, so forgive me for those great ones (ex. MOC Sunrise Blu-Ray) I left out."

 Gregory, Meshman

Atlanta, GA USA

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

1. Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics Vol. 1 (Dir. Various, 1949-56) Sony; R1

2. Death in the Garden (Luis Bunuel, 1956) Microcinema; R1

3. Tora-san Collector’s Set Vol. 1 (Yoji Yamada, 4 Films) AnimEigo; R1

4.  Michael Powell Double Feature (Age of Consent, Stairway to Heaven) (Michael Powell, 1969) Sony; R1

5.  Nikkatsu Noir (Various, 5 Discs) Eclipse; R1

6.  The Complete Fritz Lang Mabuse Box Set (Fritz Lang, 1922-60) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

7.  The Samuel Fuller Film Collection (Samuel Fuller, et al. 7 discs) Sony; R1

8.  The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Peter Yates, 1973) Criterion; R1

9.  Miss Mend (Boris Barnet/Fedor Ozep, 1926) Flicker Alley; R1

10a. Pre-Code Hollywood Collection (Dir. Various, 1930-34) Universal; R1

10b. Forbidden Hollywood, Vol. 3 (William Wellman, 1931-1933) Warner; R1

Leonard Norwitz

San Jose, CA

Gatineau, Québec, Canada

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

1. Man Hunt (Fritz Lang, 1941) 20^th Century Fox; R1

2. 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her (Jean-Luc Godard, 1967) Criterion; R1

3. The Complete Fritz Lang Mabuse Box Set (Fritz Lang, 1922-60) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

4. Death in the Garden (Luis Bunuel, 1956) Microcinema; R1

5. Il Grido (Michelangelo Antonioni, 1957) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

6. Il Generale Della Rovere (Roberto Rossellini, 1959) Criterion; R1

7a. The Exterminating Angel (Luis Bunuel, 1962) Criterion; R1

7b. Simon of the Desert (Luis Bunuel, 1965) Criterion; R1

8. La Tëte contre les Murs (George Franju, 1959) Masters of Cinema; R0

9. Lonely Are the Brave (David Miller, 1962) Universal; Region 1

10. Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (Marina Zenovich, 2008) Velocity / Thinkfilm; R1

Comments:  Man Hunt snags first place as an example of a lower-priced title that puts to shame many other prestigious issues: a nice restoration coupled with relevant and interesting extras.  The Godard is a wonderfully balanced transition title between his period of playfulness with the forms of cinema and the more political (and arid) phase that was to follow; it comes with an excellent commentary by Adrian Martin.  He provided another good one for an Australian edition of the Exterminating Angel and had Criterion included it with their issue of the title, it would have placed higher (along with its sibling title) in the list.  Instead, a less celebrated Buñuel edges them out because it got a better treatment.  Criterion did Rossellini proud in 2009, but De Sica's moving portrayal gave the selected title a definitive advantage over the fascinating Eclipse box set of Renaissance films and The Taking of Power by Louis XIV in the main Criterion line.  I am usually allergic to Kirk Douglas's clenched-jaw style of acting, but the David Miller western was a remarkable discovery.  The Antonioni title is rather neglected as compared to his more celebrated output from the 60s, but it is more affecting than these on many aspects.  MoC did us a big favor by choosing this and another lesser-known title from a famous director, Franju's story about conditions in a mental hospital. The Polanski documentary (and the generous supplementary material of this specific edition) makes us realize that even if his decision to flee may have been ill-advised, the legal circumstances of his case were far more complex and nuanced than either his attackers or defenders have let on in recent months.  Finally, the Mabuse set is certainly the best these movies will look for quite some time, and revisiting the often dismissed last title in the series is a much rewarding exercise.

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. Last Year at Marienbad (Alain Resnais, 1961) Criterion; A

2. Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters Of Cinema; ALL

3. Kagemusha (Akira Kurosawa, 1980) Criterion; A

4. Repulsion (Roman Polanski, 1965) Criterion; A

5. Pushing Daisies, Season 2 (Created by Bryan Fuller, 2008) Warner; ALL

6. Coraline (Henry Selick, 2009) Universal; ALL

8. The Robe (Henry Koster, 1953) 20th Century Fox; A

Comments: The Resnais is only one example of what the BR format can bring to B&W films that rely so much on the visual splendor of their cinematography to achieve the director's intentions.  The two versions of Sunrise on the MoC make for fascinating comparisons and the Czech version is astonishingly beautiful at times for a films so old.  Kagemusha makes us even sadder that Criterion lost the rights to Ran; the rendering of textures (the silk kimonos, the wood structures and the soil most notably) can only hint at what the other more accomplished Kurosawa title might have looked.  We can be thankful that older titles are not forgotten in the rush to BR reissues.  The quirky series Pushing Daisies was a bit cloying at times but its engaging premise and characters eventually won me over; the BR edition does full justice to its over-the-top visual style and color scheme.  The Robe is pure pseudo-historical religious hokum, but it does look superb on BR and comes with an abundant package of extras; and Thesiger and  Robinson are a hoot as the two emperors, compensating for the woodenness of the leads.  Repulsion and The 400 Blows are very contrasted titles, the former being quite consistent with its director's dark world-view while Truffaut avoids the sentimentality that would eventually overwhelm most of this later work.  The theatrical version of Coraline was spectacular in 3D and it's too bad the 3D disc version is mostly a wash; but the film is strong enough that even the 2D version is well worth the watch, both for the script and the visuals.

Austin, TX, USA

1. A Grin Without a Cat (Chris Marker, 1977) Icarus Films; Region 1

2. Joris Ivens Wereldcineast Collection (Joris Ivens, 1912-89) Just Entertainment (+12 other organizations); R2 PAL

3. The Taking of Power by Louis XIV (Roberto Rossellini, 1964) Criterion; R1

4. The State of Things (Wim Wenders, 1982) Axiom; R2 PAL

5. Pigs, Pimps, & Prostitutes: 3 Films by Shohei Imamura (Shohei Imamura, 1961-64) Criterion; R1

6. A Christmas Tale (Arnaud Desplechin, 2008) Criterion; R1

7. Nous Ne Vieillirons Pas Ensemble (Maurice Pialat, 1972) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

8. Of Time and the City (Terence Davies, 2008) BFI; R2 PAL

9. The Ister (David Barrison, Daniel Ross, 2004), First Run/Icarus/Black Box, R1*

*This can be ordered from the filmmakers directly at http://www.theister.com.  They'd undoubtedly appreciate your patronage (plus my guess is they'll see a larger percentage of what you spend if you order from them rather than through another online outlet).

Mikkel Leffers Svendstrup

Editor, Uncut.dk

Denmark

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

1. Sauna (Aj Annila, 2008) Another World Entertainment; R2 PAL

2. Dead Men Ride  (Aldo Florio, 1971) Koch Media; R2 PAL
Released under the title: Knie nieder und Friss Staub

3. Porcile  (Pier Paolo Passolini, 1964) Another World Entertainment; R2 PAL

4. Ill Met by Moonlight (Powell & Pressburger, 1957) NTC; R2 PAL

5. Jørgen Leth Collection # 6 – The Experimental Films (Jørgen Leth, 1963-2009) DFI; R0 PAL

6. Silver Saddle (Lucio Fulci, 1978) Koch Media; R2 PAL

Released under title: Silbersattel

7. Inger Christensen – Cikaderne Finds (Jytte Rex, 1998) Another World Entertainment; R2 PAL

Comments: "2009 has been mostly Blu on my part, so I missed out on a lot of potential winners in standard definition Danish distributors Another World Entertainment had another great year, with lots of rare films from Danish documentaries to Finnish horror. German spaghetti western masters Koch Media also impressed with high quality packages, and of course the Danish Film Institute should be saluted for finishing their astonishing Jørgen Leth Collection."

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. Antichrist (Lars von Trier, 2009) SF Film [Denmark release]; B

2. Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters Of Cinema; ALL

3. Belle de Jour  (Luis Bunel, 1967) Optimum; B

4. Last Year at Marienbad (Alain Resnais, 1961) Criterion; A

5. North By Northwest: 50th Anniversary (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) Warner; ALL

6. 2010: The Year We Make Contact (Peter Hyams, 1984) Warner; ALL

7. Easy Rider (Dennis Hopper, 1969) Sony; ALL

8. The Seventh Seal  (Ingmar Bergman, 1957) Criterion; A

9. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (David Hand, 1937) Walt Disney; A

10. Che (Steven Soderbergh, 2008) Scanbox; B

Comments: "2009 was a great year for high definition. Unfortunately I did not wach as many films this year as previous years due to heavy work overload. But some discs got through the machinery, and I’m rediscovering my love to cinema in 1080p as often as possible as well as contributing to the Danish Film Institutes forth coming Carl Th. Dreyer site – be sure to check it out mid February 2010. On the video quality site, I have to mention Braveheart – wow… sums it up, this is how a catalogue release is supposed to look. Other honorable 1080p mentions: Gone with the Wind, Wizard of Oz, Dances with Wolves, Monsoon Wedding, Playtime, Kagemusha, Watchmen, Howard’s End, Ashes of Time Redux, The Last Metro, Ran, The Elephant Man, Mammut, Fight Club, Star Trek, Monsters, Inc. – all are worth you time and money."

 Ed Taylor

Australia

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

Comments: I have not bought a DVD since 2007

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. Baraka (Ron Fricke, 1992) Beyond Home Entertainment; B

2. Akira (Katsuhiro Ôtomo, 1988) Bandai Japan; B

3. Fight Club (David Fincher, 1999) 20th Century Fox; ALL

4. Inglorious Basterds (Quinten Tarantino, 2009) Universal; ALL

5. Ran (Akira Kurosawa, 1985) Studio Canal; ALL

6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (David Ficher, 2008) Criterion; A

7. Gladiator (Ridley Scott, 2000) Universal UK; B

8. Terminator 2 Skynet Edition (James Cameron, 1992) Universal; B

9. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (Nicholas Meyer, 1982) Paramount; ALL

Gary Tooze

Toronto, Canada

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009
1. AK 100: 25 Films of Akira Kurosawa (Akira Kurosawa, 25 Discs) Criterion; R1
2. The Silence of Lorna (Luc & Jean-Pierre Dardenne, 2008) New Wave; R2 PAL
3. Lonely Are the Brave (David Miller, 1962) Universal; Region 1
4. Nikkatsu Noir (Various, 5 Discs) Eclipse; R1
5. The Samuel Fuller Film Collection (Samuel Fuller, et al. 7 discs) Sony; R1
6. Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics Vol. 1 (Dir. Various, 1949-56) Sony; R1
7. The Whole Shoot'in Match (Eagle Pennell, 1978) Watchmaker Films; Region 1, 2, 4
8. Man Hunt (Fritz Lang,1941) 20th Century Fox; R1
9. The Limits of Control (Jim Jarmusch, 2009) Universal; Region 1,4
10.Waterloo Bridge (Mervyn LeRoy, 1940) Warner; Region 1,2,3,4
Comments: For obvious reasons I didn't include any titles that elevated to Blu-ray. Warner's anamorphic Zabriskie Point was an huge oversight - it should be there - somewhere in the mix. The Kurosawa boxset is filled with so much excellence - after reviewing it was impossible for me to choose another number one. I continue to adore the Dardenne brothers work, my third pick is now my favorite Kirk Douglas film, I doubt I'll ever forget #7 and Waterloo Bridge was one of the first films that steered me onto this cinema passion - I cherish these DVDs... screw Blu-ray.     

Top Blu-ray Releases
1. The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948) ITV; B
2. Frozen River (Courtney Hunt, 2008) Sony; Region A
3. Star Trek (J. J. Abrams, 2009) Paramount; ALL
4. Repulsion (Roman Polanski, 1965) Criterion; A
5. Zodiac (David Fincher, 2007) Paramount; ALL
6. Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters Of Cinema; ALL
7. The Deer Hunter (Michael Cimino, 1978) Studio Canal; Region A/B
8. In the Electric Mist (Bertrand Tavernier, 2008) TF1; Region B
9. Powder Blue (Timothy Linh Bui, 2009) Image Entertainment; Region A
10. Bound (Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski, 1996) Summit Entertainment; Region FREE

Comments: I go through this constant inner battle with film value vs. transfer excellence repeatedly when making these lists. I've tried my best not to give a crap about anything but my personal enjoyment - so it doesn't surprise me if some of my choices are the lone picks in the entire poll. These discs gave me so much pleasure. If you aren't very careful the higher resolution can become an addiction - yes, it looks that good. Frozen River polarized me in all 3 viewings, Star Trek thrilled me with an intense nostalgia and The Deer Hunter has never impacted me more. Henrik may be right -> the greatest American film ever! I've lost all objectivism regarding Powder Blue - I am more enamored each viewing - <donning flame retardant suit>. I seem to gravitate to films in the deep south (US) and In the Electric Mist settled me into its deft charms with under-spoken zeal. Bound is a lotta sexy cool. The rest are all repeat viewings that altered my initial presentation perceptions with their improved visuals. Long live Blu-ray!

 Troy Weets

Fargo, North Dakota, USA

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

1. The Human Condition Trilogy (Masaki Kobayashi, 1959-61) Criterion; R1

2. Alone Across The Pacific (Kon Ichikawa, 1963) Masters Of Cinema; R2 PAL

3. Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (Chantal Akerman, 1975) Criterion; R1

4. My Dinner With Andre (Louis Malle, 1981) Criterion; R1

5. La Gueule Ouverte (Maurice Pialat, 1974) Masters Of Cinema UK; R0 PAL

6. Careful (Remastered and Repressed) (Guy Maddin, 1992) Zeitgeist; R1

7. Downhill Racer (Michael Ritchie, 1969) Criterion; R1

8. Blood (O Sangue) (Pedro Costa, 1989) Second Run UK; R2; PAL

9. M. Butterfly (David Cronenberg, 1993) Warner; R1

10. AK 100: 25 Films of Akira Kurosawa (Akira Kurosawa, 25 Discs) Criterion; R1

Comments: "I have really cut back on SD-DVD purchases lately, and usually what I do buy comes from Criterion or MoC, and my list heavily reflects that.  I was also ecstatic about M. Butterfly being released by Warner as it finally completed my Cronenberg on digital collection.  The Human Condition Trilogy if just unbelievable, and a true treasure in my collection.  The AK set would have ranked higher, but I already owned all of the previous Criterion releases, so it was a bit redundant in that respect.  It still gets points for the 5 new inclusions, and also what I would have to say is one of the most beautiful packages available on the format."

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. Comrades (Bill Douglas, 1986) BFI; ALL

2. Wings Of Desire (Wim Wenders, 1987) Criterion; A

3. Le Mepris (Jean-Luc Godard, 1963) Studio Canal; ALL

4. Ashes Of Time Redux (Wong Kar-Wai, 2008) Artificial Eye; ALL

5. Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) Masters Of Cinema; ALL

6a. Le Dernier Combat (Luc Besson, 1983) Gaumont; ALL

6b. Subway (Luc Besson, 1985) Gaumont; ALL

7. North By Northwest: 50th Anniversary (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) Warner; ALL

8. Election (Johnnie To, 2005) Panorama; ALL

8b. Election 2 (Johnnie To, 2006) Panorama; ALL

9a. Red Cliff 1 (John Woo, 2008) Mei Ah; ALL

James White.

Head of Remastering, BFI

London, UK

Top 10 SD-DVD Releases OF 2009

1. Husbands (John Cassavetes, 1970) Sony; R1

2. Man Hunt (Fritz Lang, 1941) 20^th Century Fox; R1

3. The Friends of Eddie Coyle (Peter Yates, 1973) Criterion; R1

4. The Complete Fritz Lang Mabuse Box Set (Fritz Lang, 1922-60) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

5. The Human Condition Trilogy (Masaki Kobayashi, 1959-61) Criterion; R1

6. Pre-Code Hollywood Collection (Dir. Various, 1930-34) Universal; R1

7a. Nous Ne Vieillirons Pas Ensemble (Maurice Pialat, 1972) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

7b. La Gueule Ouverte (Maurice Pialat, 1974) Masters Of Cinema UK; R0 PAL

7c. Passe Ton Bac d'Abord (Maurice Pialat, 1979) Masters of Cinema; R0 PAL

8. Miss Mend (Boris Barnet/Fedor Ozep, 1926) Flicker Alley; R1

9. Daisies (Vera Chytilova, 1966) Second Run; R2 PAL

Comments: Some wonderful releases this year, with some personal favorites finally seeing the light of day (Husbands, The Friends of Eddie Coyle), as well as exposure to new releases that demonstrate how much exciting stuff there is still to see (Miss Mend, Maurice Pilat, the ongoing BFI Flipside releases)

Top Blu-ray Releases

1. North By Northwest: 50th Anniversary (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) Warner; ALL

2. The Red Shoes (Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, 1948) ITV; B

3. Pierrot le Fou (Jean Luc Godard, 1965) Criterion; A

4. Dr. Strangelove (Stanley Kubrick, 1964) Sony; ALL

5. The New World (Terrence Malick, 2005) New Line; ALL

6. In the Realm of the Senses (Nagisa Oshima, 1976) Criterion; A

7. Soul Power (Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, 2008) Masters of Cinema; B

8. The Prisoner (Patrick McGoohan, 1968) Network; B

9. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (David Hand, 1937) Walt Disney; A

10. Mad Men: Season 2  (Various, 2008) Lionsgate; ALL

Comments: There were some great releases this year, although I'd like to see more black and white, silent, non-mainstream titles coming out, especially from the studios, who seem to be reserving the format only for their big titles.