dvdjournal网的2004年度十佳DVD榜

　　1. 游戏规则The Rules of the Game : The Criterion Collection (Released Jan 20, 2004)
　　Jean Renior''s The Rules of the Game was so despised when it first debuted in 1939 that somebody tried to burn down the theater, but over the decades it''s since become one of the crown jewels of cinema. With its intricate, multi-character tale of nobles and commoners at a weekend retreat, Renior''s deft script swings from drama to farce to tragedy with subtle brushstrokes. Criterion''s two-disc DVD release includes a restored print and good monaural audio, as well as numerous archival supplements. Of all discs released in 2004, our Disc of the Year cannot be overlooked by film buffs who still think DVD should be a videophile format.
　　　
　　2. 马克斯兄弟银色经典套装The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection (Released Nov. 9, 2004)
　　Most of The Marx Brothers'' essential films — The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, and , Duck Soup — were released by Image Entertainment under license from Universal in the earliest days of DVD, only to be withdrawn from circulation and climb the charts at eBay. But this year Universal put out their own Marx Brothers set with all five titles noted above, which offers (slight) video improvements over the Image editions and better audio. Not a lot of extras, but they''d be superfluous — and besides, Duck Soup is one of the funniest movies ever made.
　　　
　　3. 甜蜜的生活La Dolce Vita: Collector''s Edition (Released Sept. 21, 2004)
　　Most DVD watchers expected this 1960 Fellini masterpiece to arrive from Criterion, but Koch Lorber actually got it out on the street in ''04, and while its taboo-breaking reputation may threaten to date it, the film is still potent, expressing an ennui that remains contemporary. And besides, who can possibly forget Anita Ekberg''s famous wade in a Roman fountain — a bit of cinematic iconography rivaled only by Marilyn Monroe''s billowing white dress on the streets of Manhattan? Koch Lorber''s two-disc set includes new Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, commentary, archival elements, and a look at the restoration.
　　　
　　4. 天地无垠Open Range (Released Jan. 20, 2004)
　　Nearly overlooked by theatrical moviegoers, Kevin Costner''s Open Range proved that Dances With Wolves wasn''t a fluke — he''s a smart actor and director (given the right material), and with this self-produced title he once again resurrected the epic western genre, proving that a solid script and a good cast (including Robert Duvall and Annette Bening) can make up for a lack of funding. The DVD not only saved the film from obscurity, it also includes a fascinating behind-the-scenes documentary detailing just how demanding contemporary filmmaking can be — required viewing for anyone who''s thinking of moving to Hollywood.
　　　
　　5. 放大Blowup (Released Feb. 17, 2004)
　　Who do you believe in a world in which everyone is trying to seduce you? That''s Michelangelo Antonioni''s fundamental question in 1966''s Blowup — one of the most influential films of the decade. Antonioni''s pacing may be deliberate, but it''s purposeful and easy to overlook. And it''s also easy to get lost somewhere between the director''s leftist ethos and his simple, unnerving knack at capturing things seen and heard in life itself. Warner''s DVD offers a splendid anamorphic transfer with the original monaural audio, a commentary by Antonioni scholar Peter Brunette, and isolated audio.
　　　
　　6. 艾活传Ed Wood (Released Oct. 19, 2004)
　　First announced for DVD release more than two years before it finally arrived, Ed Wood still was worth the wait. Tim Burton''s affectionate 1994 biopic about the director who was so awful he became legendary isn''t just a silly comedy, nor it is meant to showcase Johnny Depp''s formidable talent. No, Burton actually admires Wood, if not for his expertise, then at least for his passion and ambition — two things that make life worth living. Buena Vista''s DVD includes commentary with Burton and co-star Martin Landau, behind-the-scenes footage, and more.
　　　
　　7. 冰峰168小时Touching the Void (Released Sept. 7, 2004)
　　One might suggest that Touching the Void can''t possibly be suspenseful — after all, Kevin Macdonald''s documentary on a disastrous Andean climbing expedition is narrated by the survivors themselves. But it''s not who survived as much as how, and Macdonald''s skillful recreation of one of mountaineering''s most legendary mishaps brings a sweat to the palms. MGM''s DVD does even one better than the theatrical release, offering nearly an hour of supplemental footage that reveals just how much psychological damage the mountain inflicted — even if the survivors would rather not talk about it 20 years later.
　　　
　　8. 浩气盖山河The Leopard: The Criterion Collection (Released June 8, 2004)
　　After a long wait, Lucino Visconti''s 1963 epic arrived from Criterion this year, and fans quickly devoured the three-disc set. Visconti''s tale of aristocratic struggles in Sicily is anchored by Burt Lancaster, with an unforgettable score by Nino Rota — and it''s hard to forget Claudia Cardinale''s singular, breathtaking entrance, which reminds us that this, after all, is what movies can do. Visconti cast off his Neo-Realist aesthetic in favor of vibrant Technicolor — the result was nothing short of a masterwork. Criterion''s release offers a restored transfer with the original monaural audio, commentary, a new documentary, and more.
　　　
　　9. M就是凶手M: The Criterion Collection (Released Dec. 7, 2004)
　　Among the most prominent of cinematic landmarks, Fritz Lang''s 1931 M has been available in numerous home-video permutations over the years as a public-domain title, and even Criterion''s original single-disc release came from modest source-materials. However, their 2004 two-disc reissue offers the best version of M yet to grace a television screen, with vastly improved picture and audio. In addition to the virtuoso direction and Peter Lorre''s dark leading performance, the set includes a scholarly commentary, archive materials, and an interview film with Lang directed by William Friedkin.
　　　
　　10. 邻家女孩The Girl Next Door (Released Aug. 24, 2004)
　　If DVD is meant to save good films from bad marketing, then Luke Greenfield''s The Girl Next Door was this year''s diamond in the rough. Pitched to audiences as a sex comedy about a high-school geek and an ex-porn star, audiences stayed away until word-of-mouth resurrected it on video — and we''d suspect many years from now this witty, bittersweet coming-of-age tale will be remembered with other high-school classics like Fast Times at Ridgemont High and its most obvious forebear, Risky Business. Fox''s 'unrated' DVD includes commentary, deleted scenes, and a fun trip to Vegas with co-star Chris Marquette.　
　　
　　转自MOV8