Have an HD DVD Christmas!

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No, this baker´s dozen doesn´t include the absolute best films available on HD DVD in terms of audiovisual quality, nor are they in every case the absolute best films in terms of overall film value. They are simply a few of many personal favorites I wouldn´t want to be without: John´s Short List of HD DVD Favorites, Suitable for Any Occasion but Christmas is as Good an Excuse as Any. I´ve listed them alphabetically, so don´t read anything into their order of placement.

"2001: A Space Odyssey": Simply the best pure science-fiction film ever made. Stanley Kubrick´s vision of space, time, evolution, and higher intelligences is beautiful to look at and a joy to think about.

"Batman Begins": Director Christopher Nolan reinvented and rejuvenated the "Batman" franchise with this intelligent action thriller. While it looks great in high-def, it actually sets a benchmark for HD sound.

"The Bourne Identity": For me, this first in the series is still the best in the series so far. Interestingly, it also looks the best in terms of high-definition picture quality.

"Casablanca": Could any list of favorite movies not include my favorite movie of all time? If you don´t think old black-and-white photography benefits from the high-def treatment, you haven´t watched "Casablanca" on HD DVD. It looks better than most new films in color.

"The Corpse Bride": Tim Burton took an old animation technique--stop-motion--and put it to good use in this imaginative fantasy tale. With first-rate picture and sound, it´s a delight.

"Letters from Iwo Jima": I didn´t expect a war film to move me as much as this one did, but "Letters" does just that. If ever a movie revealed the horror and stupidity of war, this one does. It also contains one of the best soundtracks you´ll find on any HD DVD of any kind.

"The Matrix": You know I´m only referring to the first movie in the trilogy here. It´s fun, it´s exciting, it´s creative, it´s everything the next two movies in the series weren´t. It´s also an audio-video treat.

"The Shining": For me, this is one of the best horror movies around. No, it never scared me as much as some other films, but it has a wonderful sense of mounting dread. It´s HD DVD incarnation is its best yet.

"Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow": The filmmakers based the plot and characters on old 1930s´ movie serials; they filmed the whole thing on a soundstage against blue screens; then they drained the color out of the final print and softened the picture. I loved every minute of it.

"Terminator 2": OK, this one is not available on HD DVD at the moment from any American studio. You´ll have to order it from a store specializing in foreign HD DVDs (Xploited Cinema, Amazon France, etc.). My copy is from Studio Canal in France, one of several companies producing it in Europe. The movie is a classic of its kind, Schwarzenegger's best film, a forerunner of things to come in CGI, a rock-em-sock-em sci-fi adventure, and a touching character study. The thing looks and sounds great in HD, too.

"Troy" (the Director´s Cut): "Troy" is among the few big-screen, sword-and-sandals epics I enjoy regardless of format, along with "Spartacus" and "Ben-Hur." It´s got sweep, it´s got spectacle, it´s got blood and guts, it´s got Brad Pitt in a loincloth, and, most important, it´s got Sean Bean as the best Odysseus yet. Nicely done up in HD picture and TrueHD sound, it´s fun to watch and hear.

"The Untouchables": I found this movie one of the best-looking HD DVDs yet made. Whether you take to this crime film´s somewhat corny theatrics or not, it´s hard to deny it looks realistic enough to reach out and touch the characters.

"V for Vendetta": This superhero movie split a lot of viewers, as DVDTOWN´s review of it proves. Some people, like me, enjoyed its sympathetic hero and its political élan. Other people found it boring and talky. Hard not to like the audio or video, though.

Finally, a few titles that will appear before Christmas and to which I´m looking forward: "Stardust," the "Harry Potter" series, "Pan´s Labyrinth," "Blade Runner," and "The Bourne Ultimatum."

Oh, and since this is a Christmas list, I suppose I shouldn´t forget to mention that "The Polar Express" and "A Christmas Story" are also available on HD DVD. Who doesn´t like "A Christmas Story"? Go to your room.

John

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