# What's your favourite DVD in your collection? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 28, 2002, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266 "2002-12-28T00:21:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Keith\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@Keith\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keith_Berry)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/21 "2002-12-28T21:53:55Z")
Fellowship Of The Ring: Extended Edition (I understand that this is in the running for DVD Of The Year) Fight Club Dawn Of The Dead: Dutchworks Version (2-disc set containing the Director’s Cut, the European/Argento cut, trailers, stills, and a 60-minute version of Document Of The Dead, the Roy Frumkes on-set making-of documentary) Toy Story Box Set ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2002, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/22 "2002-12-28T22:27:54Z")
I can’t narrow it down to one either. How about _Sweet Smell of Success_? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/23 "2002-12-29T05:57:47Z")
Three in particular – all with good or great extra features, and all terrific movies (which is the main thing, after all): **Withnail & I** – Bruce Robinson’s 1986 cult black comedy about a pair of chronically unemployed actors in 1969 London (based, in part, on his own sad years as same). Hysterically funny, although I recommend it as a rental first (it tends to provoke a love/hate reaction, although most people love it). No commentary track, but there is an entertaining and informative documentary (“Withnail & Us”) that profiles the film’s current cult status and sketches the autobiographical roots of Robinson’s tale (although it’s worth adding here that, if what I’ve read elsewhere is true, the aggressively amorous gay “Uncle Monty” character was largely inspired by Italian film director Franco Zefferelli, who directed Robinson in the ‘68 “Romeo and Juliet” and allegedly hit on poor Bruce repeatedly). This Criterion DVD is widescreen, digitally remastered, etc., restores a couple minutes’ footage deleted from the original U.S. video release, and comes with a cool mini-poster. This one’s worth its weight in gold – perhaps even Uncle Monty’s considerable weight. **Notorious** – the 1946 Alfred Hitchcock classic. Another Criterion. Many terrific extras on the genesis of the story, its screenplay, and its filming. Also included is the complete radio play version, starring Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotten (playing Cary Grant’s role of Devlin). Remastered and utterly wonderful. **This is Spinal Tap** – offers a unique actors’ commentary track, in the personnae of their characters (Nigel, David, and Harry Shearer’s bassist character) which is just as funny as the film itself. Great fun! ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/24 "2002-12-29T06:10:20Z")
My favorite DVD? Why, _ **Shallow Hal** _, of course! It is the greatest movie of this millennium, after all. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/25 "2002-12-29T06:42:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by notcynical \* > \*\*I can’t narrow it down to one either. How about _Sweet Smell of Success_? \*\* Ooh. I have that one. It’s good. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/26 "2002-12-29T06:55:43Z")
I, too, received a DVD player for Christmas and own two DVDs. One of them is a previously-viewed copy of Fellowship of the Rings that I picked up for $15 at Hollywood Video. How do I know whether it is the “extended version” or not - does it say on the box? (I haven’t looked at it too closely, or watched it yet, obviously.) I someday hope to own the entire Humphrey Bogart catalogue. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/27 "2002-12-29T07:03:28Z")
The extended version is on two disks and is 3.5 hours long. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/28 "2002-12-29T07:12:51Z")
The _movie_ is on two discs? This is a two-disc set, with the movie on one and the extras on the other… that much I remember… fooey, I should just dig it up and look at the box, shouldn’t I? If only I knew where my mother stowed it. (She has a tendency to squirrel away anything I bring into the house.) ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/29 "2002-12-29T07:29:19Z")
The movie is two disk in the extended edition, which has a total of four disks in it. The special collector’s edition has five. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/30 "2002-12-29T09:16:47Z")
My collection: [http://www.dvdprofiler.com/mycollection.asp?alias=Hastur](http://www.dvdprofiler.com/mycollection.asp?alias=Hastur) My favourite? Hmmn… The standouts are: Jackie Brown, Dangerous Liaisons, LA Confidential, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Dracula’s Daughter, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and the soon to be added: Sunset Boulevard. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/31 "2002-12-29T19:02:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Scrivener \* > \*\ ***Withnail & I** This Criterion DVD is widescreen, digitally remastered, etc., restores a couple minutes’ footage deleted from the original U.S. video release, and comes with a cool mini-poster. This one’s worth its weight in gold – perhaps even Uncle Monty’s considerable weight. > > \*\* As others have noted re: LOTR be aware of the Normal/Special Edition fakeout. I bought the crappy, pan&scan, muddy audio version of _Withnail_ before Criterion came out with theirs,then rented the Criterion. Oh, hosanna! Discernable dialogue! Widescreen glory! Alas, Criterions usually cost a boatload more than regular editions. I usually try to rent a DVD before purchasing now to see if the quality is part way decent. ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/32 "2002-12-29T19:21:18Z")
My favourite DVD is the only one I have: Sum of All Fears. It came with my PS2. I don’t have a DVD player other than that 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/33 "2002-12-29T19:42:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Annie \* > \*\*As others have noted re: LOTR be aware of the Normal/Special Edition fakeout. \*\* New Line was quite up front about there being two editions. Both editions were announced at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/34 "2002-12-29T20:00:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racinchikki \* > **How do I know whether it is the “extended version” or not - does it say on the box?** The Extended Version of _LotR:FotR_ is hard to miss. It’s in a **really** thick case that’s colored like an old leather-bound book, and contains a grand total of **four** – count 'em, **four** – DVDs. But even with the extra half an hour, it **still** doesn’t have Tom Bombadil in it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/35 "2002-12-29T21:35:44Z")
Fellowship of the Ring 4 disc version runners up are: Almost Famous bootleg cut Spinal Tap ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/36 "2002-12-29T22:56:50Z")
**A Hard Day’s Night**. Two disc set, lots of extras, fantastic sound. I love it. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/37 "2002-12-29T23:52:25Z")
Ah. I have the regular unextendy version of FotR (which I pronounce mentally as “Foder”), but it IS widescreen. For that much I’m thankful. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/38 "2002-12-30T00:52:17Z")
**Bridge on the River Kwai** is an excellent DVD, with one of the best picture “translations” (?) I’ve seen - the movie looks _great_. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/39 "2002-12-30T01:14:40Z")
My collection is new and small. But I really like \*\* The Shipping News\*\* with Kevin Spacey, Julianne Moore and Dame Judi Dench. My first order will be sure to include **Amelie** – probably the most _charming_ movie I’ve seen in years. The most visually stunning movie that I want to see on DVD is **Tango**. ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266/40 "2002-12-30T06:15:53Z")
A tie between **Waking Life** and **Memento** - you see something new every time with either of them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-dvd-in-your-collection/145266.md?page=3)