Name Your Top 5 HD DVDs
by Pravin on August 26th, 2008 in movies.
Thanks to the fire sales, people have been busy building up their HD DVD movie collections, and some of you may have enough now to dispense some advice to the others who are still looking to add new titles to theirs.
Patrick, one of our regular readers, asked about having a “Top 5 HD DVD” call-out. Instead of putting words in his mouth, here’s what he said:
- Can we have a top 5 HD DVD post? I’d like to hear what other titles are out there that people like which I may not have considered.
I found out there is a dutch Reservoir Dogs HD DVD today…pretty sweet.
I was thinking the criteria should not just be your favorite movies of course, but HD DVD titles, factoring in quality of transfer and extras etc.
My top to 5 out of the 30 I own are:
1. Planet Earth
2. The Bourne Trilogy
3. Pan’s Labyrinth
4. King Kong
5. Serenity
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory really blew me away with the image quality, but I didn’t see the movie until the dvd so as a whole it didn’t make the list, but would be one of the tops in image quality.
How ’bout it? What are your favorite discs? We know what Patrick enjoyed, share in the comments about your Top 5.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
1. Transformers
2. Planet Earth
3. Beowulf
4. I am Legend
5. Feast
August 27th, 2008 at 4:41 am
I am Legend is on my list to see. I’ve heard the added footage in the dvd adds a lot to the story that makes it better than what it was in theatres…any comments on that Charles? And where is your list Pravin?
August 27th, 2008 at 6:27 am
Mine are:
1. The Fast and the Furious Trilogy
2. Transformers
3. The Bourne Trilogy
4. Tremors
5. Shrek the 3rd
August 27th, 2008 at 7:09 am
I’m still making my list, and it has a few of the same titles that you guys have come up with. I want to make sure that I’m not putting something on the list because I loved the movie, but because it was a good HD DVD experience. Gimme a day or something
August 27th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
mine are:
1. Transformers
2. V for Vendetta
3. Bourne Trilogy
4. Hott Fuzz
5. 1408 (Dutch Import)
August 27th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Mine are:
1. The 40 Year Old Virgin
2. Transformers
3. Shrek the Third
4. Resident Evil: Apocalypse
5. I Am Legend
6. ….Damn only Five! but if I could it would be Underworld: Evolution!
August 27th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
i only own 5 hd dvd compared to about 60BDs on the day of the demise of hd dvd because i always support BD (now i have 94BDs).
so my list is an easy list:
1. The Mummy (replaced by BD version)
2. The Mummy Returns (replaced by BD version)
3. Charlie and Chocolate Factory
4. Mr. Bean’s Holiday
5. Transformers
August 28th, 2008 at 4:36 am
My list consists of five movies that I felt had a really good HD DVD experience, and which wowed me when I saw them. It was either because of picture quality, or usually because of the extras, like picture-in-picture.
(not in any particular order)
1. Heroes: Season One – loved the bonuses
2. Planet Earth – made my HDTV and HD DVD player justify their existence
3. Batman Begins – great movie and the extras, like PIP, made me a bigger fan
4. Bourne Trilogy – the first Bourne on DVD got me hooked on extras long ago, and now I always need them on my HD discs
5. Shrek the Third – hey, I gotta keep my kids happy too, and the picture quality was amazing!
I liked many others, such as 300 and The Kingdom because I learned a few things from the history lessons in the bonus materials, but I was trying to remember the movies/experiences that made the biggest impact on me when I watched them. Having seen some cool stuff, it’s harder to impress me now.
I still have some unopened discs and several movies left in my Netflix queue, so it’s possible that some movie might still come along and make me want to reconsider this list.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:23 am
Pravin, would you say batman begins worth getting on HDDVD if I already have the double disc special edition on standard dvd? I’ve been wrestling with the double dipping on that title since it wasn’t too cheap to get the edition I have on sdvd when it first came out.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:42 am
1.) Batman Begins
2.) V For Vendetta
3.) 300
4.) Planet Earth
5.) Silent Hill (German Import)
Those are my favorite movies that I own. Not just on HD DVD, but in my entire collection of SD and HD DVD’s. They are highest on my HD DVD list too because of their picture/sound quality.
August 28th, 2008 at 9:24 am
@patrick – Things are always going to look much better in HD than up-converted from DVDs, and I think you can find Batman for under $10 nowadays, so double-dipping might ease some of the pain.
One reason not to double-dip is if you’re purple and might possibly wind up buying the inevitable collector’s set of Batman movies on Blu-ray.
I’ve learned in life that if you’re interested in something, and it’s cheap enough to get, then don’t overthink it and just get the thing. Just make sure it’s not becoming a habit, that’s all.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Here’s mine. My deciding date on which format to choose was July 30th 07 when 300 came out. HD DVD already had all of these out , so for me there was no question on which format to get. These are some of my favorite movies …
1. Batman Begins (rebought on blu – like a fool)
2. Hot Fuzz
3. The Big Lebowski
4. Shaun of the Dead
5. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Transformers and the Bournes were bonuses for me , theses 5 and 300 are why I love HD DVD
August 28th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Mine are
Batman Begins
Apollo 13
Mission Impossible 2
Transformers
Shooter
August 29th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
1. Transformers
2. 300
3. Shooter
4. U-571
5. Hot Fuzz
These are the 5 best looking HD-DVDs I’ve seen so far…
One of the worse?
Streets Of Fire. I couldn’t believe how awful the tranfer was…
August 29th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Based on A30 and A35 playback: 1080P 24 frame front projection set up:
My top five for overall blacks and video detail:
1) Beowulf
2) Chronicles of Riddick
3) Transformers ( although maybe biased by Megan Fox closeups)
4) Black Snake Moan
5) The Fast and the Furious Trilogy
August 29th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
This is useful info sharing on HD DVD, Thanks !!!
August 29th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
1) heroes season 1
2) harry potter years 1-5 chest
3) planet earth
4) transformers
5) disturbia
its hard to only pick 5 i have many more i would put on par with these including bourne trilogy, fast and furious trilogy,
batman begins and shooter
August 30th, 2008 at 1:35 am
My list keeps changing as I’ve been addicted to the sales and inventory at my local Frys (Anaheim, CA).
1. I Am Legend
2. Batman Begins (i did the double dip on this)
3. Transformers (double dip as well)
4. Letters From Iwo Jima (awesome movie)
5. Troy – Director’s Cut
Honorable mention:
Pan’s Labyrinth (another double dip)
Bourne Ultimatum
Star Trek TOS – Season 1 (thanks Pravin for the tip awhile back for AMAZON.CA)
Purple Rain — sorry..I’m a big Prince fan
I’m real tempted to do a double on Planet Earth and Matrix but I slated to buy on my next visit 2001: A Space Odyssey and Goodfellas (waiting for those to be reduced to $7.99 as well)
I’m surprised there is not much love for Harry Potter or Blade Runner….
August 30th, 2008 at 5:16 am
King Kong
Transformers
300
Beowulf
Harry Potter
August 30th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Movies:
Hot Fuzz – Had one of my most successful ‘guys nights’ thanks to this movie, also top notch demo material – and the movie’s amazing! This one is a must-own!
Transformers – A must-own if for demo material alone, since it can also be had for quite cheap. I enjoyed the movie enough – but found it better if watched with a group of people and a lot of popcorn. Just don’t forget to turn it up to 11.
Serenity – A favorite of mine to begin with, so obviously HD was a no-brainer. Even though it’s great on it’s own, it’s better if you watch Firefly first.
The Jack Ryan Collection (Red October if I was to pick only one, but liked Present Danger a lot too) – Hard to find for any reasonable price, unless you go Blu, but it makes for a great rainy day marathon!
The Matrix – A favorite on DVD, made only better in HD! Unfortunately it was not sold on it’s own in addition to the collection when it was first released…
Honorable TV Mentions:
Heroes Season One – One of my best blind buys, amazing season and stands well on it’s own (even more so when you consider it’s weaker second season)
Star Trek: TOS Re-mastered First Season (I wish Paramount would’ve at least finished these off as Combos instead of DVD-only for Seasons 2 and 3)
I echo Dave C in saying this is very useful, and want to add – great idea Patrick! Thank you also for making it happen Pravin.
September 19th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
1. Departed
2. Hot Fuzz
3. Shaun of the Dead
4. Dazed and Confused
5. Top Gun
October 1st, 2008 at 6:34 am
1. Batman Begins
2. Transformers
3. Shooter
4. Bourne Ultimatum
5. Top Gun
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:32 am
Most impressive movie experience (movie itself/immersion and HD 3D PQ):
(Not in any particular order)
1. Happy Feet
2. the Host
3. Planet Earth
4. Into the Wild
5. Stardust
(Batman Begins/Hot Fuzz/Bourne Ultimatum/Zodiac/Michael Clayton/I am Legend/Pan’s Labyrinth/
Manchurian Candidate/Being John Malkovich/Fear&Loathing in Las Vegas/King Kong/Prestige/
Out of Sight/Clercks II/Aviatior/Elizabeth/Heroes/Bladerunner/A Scanner Darkly/Big Lebowski/
NiN/Matrix: very good movies with impressive HD transfers that would be a shame not to mention)
December 5th, 2008 at 9:56 am
At the moment:
1. Dante’s Peak
2. Apollo 13
3. Backdraft
4. Pitch Black
5. Corpse Bride