Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers DVD New Releases Editor, Jeff Shannon Hello, dear Delivers subscribers! Yes, it's that time of year again--time to roll out the red carpet, sound the bugles, and call out the very best DVDs of 1999! This is a purely subjective selection based on editorial opinion (and a *lot* of DVD viewing), and as with any list of this kind, it's open to debate. But we're sure you'll find all of these DVDs as worthwhile as we did, and each one is guaranteed to make a valuable addition to anyone's DVD library. So, without further ado, here are our picks for the finest DVDs of 1999. Drum roll, please! 1. "Gods and Monsters: Special Edition" (1998) (R) widescreen anamorphic http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000IQVF/entertainmentsit Why, you may ask, would this modest though highly acclaimed drama qualify as the best DVD of 1999, when other contenders include such bestsellers as "The Matrix," "The Mummy," and "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me"? The answer is simple: artistic excellence, from start to finish. Bill Condon deservedly won an Oscar for his superb screenplay adaptation of Christopher Bram's novel "Father of Frankenstein," and the film is excellent on every level--notably in the performances of Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, and Lynn Redgrave. Better still, the DVD bonus features provide informative context for the film, offering in-depth study of the career and work of director James Whale (played in the film by McKellen) and adding to the viewer's appreciation of Condon's achievement. A gem of a movie that sheds light on a forgotten character from Hollywood's golden age, "Gods and Monsters" will be remembered long after more popular, less accomplished films have faded into obscurity. 2. "Babe: Pig in the City" (1998) (G) widescreen anamorphic http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0783232292/entertainmentsit No bonus features (apart from a theatrical trailer), no frills, no bells and whistles--just one of the most dazzling and entertaining family films ever made. That's "Babe: Pig in the City," the box-office flop that contributed (along with "Meet Joe Black") to Universal's financial woes of 1998 while garnering some of the best reviews of the year. (The late Gene Siskel named it the best film of 1998.) Yes, it's darker than "Babe," but just as warm-hearted, and director George Miller has created a fantasy world unlike any other--a booming metropolis where Babe the Pig must fend for himself against a variety of dangers. The joy of this film is the joy of pure imagination--of the possibilities of film when screenplay, direction, and technical achievement are raised to the highest level. Along with its joyous (and more successful) predecessor, this is an overlooked fable worthy of all-time classic status. 3. "Lost Horizon" (1937) (NR) full-screen http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6305416222/entertainmentsit Bringing out the best in DVD's versatile potential, this superior disc serves the dual purpose of preserving Frank Capra's 1937 classic in its best available condition and offering a valuable account of its history and painstaking restoration. The film itself ranks among Capra's finest, but it suffered from neglect that nearly destroyed it forever. The DVD presents the brilliant restoration efforts of UCLA's Robert Gitt (who provides commentary with veteran critic Charles Champlin), along with an alternate ending, deleted scenes, and a highly informative photo essay narrated by film historian Kendall Miller. For anyone interested in film history and preservation, this DVD is nothing less than miraculous. 4. "Brazil--Criterion Collection" (1985) (NR) widescreen anamorphic http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0780022181/entertainmentsit It's hard to single out one of the Criterion Collection's DVDs for specific praise--they're all so consistently excellent. But if you're a fan of Terry Gilliam's imaginative masterpiece--a dystopian vision that combines Monty Python madness with Big Brother paranoia--this is arguably Criterion's finest release to date. The three-disc set is a sight to behold--a veritable archive of all things "Brazil"-ian, including Gilliam's director's cut and the truncated version released by Universal in 1985. Supplementary materials are abundant and superb, including an in-depth documentary about Gilliam's fateful struggle in "The Battle of 'Brazil,'" which led to one of the most instructive controversies in Hollywood history. All in all, this may be the most comprehensive DVD tribute to a passionate filmmaker and his superior work. 5. "Out of Sight: Collector's Edition" (1998) (R) widescreen anamorphic http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0783229402/entertainmentsit Steven Soderbergh's stylish, highly entertaining thriller did not deserve its dismal fate at the box office, so it's nice to see the film get due attention as one of Universal's excellent Collector's Editions. Soderbergh's audio commentaries rank among the best available (he's joined here by screenwriter Scott Frank), and the behind-the-scenes documentary is almost as enjoyable as the movie itself. And while deleted scenes often point out the wisdom of their deletion, the deleted scenes from "Out of Sight" illustrate the difficult artistic decisions that must be made to maintain a movie's sharpest edge. One of the best screen adaptations of the fiction of Elmore Leonard, favorably comparable to "Get Shorty" and "Jackie Brown." 6. "Saving Private Ryan" (1998) (R) widescreen anamorphic http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001ZWUS/entertainmentsit It may have lost the Oscar to "Shakespeare in Love," but Steven Spielberg's masterpiece about D day and World War II heroism is a film for the ages--a tribute to American soldiers and a moving monument to their sacrifice. The DVD of this great film is simply one of the finest ever released, preserving the film with such immediate clarity of sound and image that it sets a new standard in DVD authoring. Befitting a film of such stature, the DVD screen menus are classy and graceful, and the accompanying documentary is informative without being self-promotional. The #3 bestselling DVD of 1999 (behind "The Matrix" and "Titanic"), it's also available (without documentary) in a DTS soundtrack edition. 7. "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut" (1999) (R) widescreen anamorphic http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6305627401/entertainmentsit Yeah, we know, how could we stoop so low? How dare we select a crude, potty- mouthed, outrageously nasty animated musical as one of the best DVDs of 1999? Are we sick? Well, the fact of the matter is "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut" is so obscenely funny--and so ruthless in its attack on hypocrisy and political correctness--that it deserves credit as one of the most subversively intelligent films of the 1990s. Don't think for a minute that creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker are just having a lark at Jack Valenti's expense; their attack on the movie ratings system is sharp, smart, and persuasive. No, this movie is *not* for kids, and frankly, the barrage of profanity does become a bit much to handle. But this is a brilliant musical with a pointed agenda, and if you understand what Parker and Stone are attempting, you'll know that they gloriously achieved their goal. 8. "Taxi Driver: Special Edition" (1976) (R) widescreen anamorphic http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0767830555/entertainmentsit One of the landmark American films of the 1970s and one of the purest, most unsettling artistic expressions of loneliness and alienation, "Taxi Driver" is a flawless crystallization of exceptional talent. It's quite possibly the most intensely personal collaboration between a writer (Paul Schrader) and a director (Martin Scorsese) ever committed to film. Certainly not for all tastes, but a masterpiece nonetheless, it's a film worthy of archival- quality presentation on DVD. As valuable as the film itself, the accompanying documentary features all the major players offering anecdotes, history, and insight into their extraordinary creation. Schrader's screenplay is included with interactive scene access, along with an extensive photo and storyboard gallery. 9. "Wallace & Gromit: The First Three Adventures" (1992, 1993, 1995) (G) full-screen format http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JSJ4/entertainmentsit One of the few DVDs that should be considered a must-have for any collection, this compilation of Nick Park's Oscar-winning "Wallace & Gromit" adventures is a pure delight from start to finish. Beloved around the world, these three shorts ("The Wrong Trousers," "A Grand Day Out," and "A Close Shave") are comedic masterworks of clay animation, and Wallace & Gromit are characters who've become more real to us than many flesh-and-blood characters in live-action films. Ideally, this DVD would have included some of Park's other films for Aardman Animation (particularly "Creature Comforts"), but the bonus features (storyboards, behind-the-scenes footage, and rarely seen "Wallace & Gromit" holiday promotions from the BBC) make this a fine showcase for Park's creativity. It's a perfect DVD appetizer for Park's upcoming feature film, "Chicken Run." 10. "A Bug's Life (Special Edition)" (1998) (G) full-screen and widescreen anamorphic http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001U0DR/entertainmentsit The animated-insect competition of 1998 was a win-win scenario for Disney, DreamWorks, and audiences alike, since Disney's "A Bug's Life" and DreamWorks' "Antz" were both well received by critics and moviegoers. But "A Bug's Life" was clearly the better of the two in terms of ingenuity and pure family entertainment, and the special edition is Disney's best DVD to date. Loaded with extra features including Pixar's Oscar-winning short "Geri's Game," this is a maximum-value DVD that properly honors one of the most enjoyable movies of 1998. All titles featured are NTSC format (VHS) and Region 1 encoded (DVD). ****** Looking for power tools? From screwdrivers to scroll saws, our brand-new Home Improvement Store offers the planet's best selection of tools and more. Home Improvement ****** You'll find more great DVDs, articles, and interviews in Amazon.com's DVD & Video store: DVD
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