We review lots and lots of DVDs each year. Of the many many hundreds which we review, only a very small percentage attain a
perfect 5 out of 5 score overall. Below, for your viewing pleasure are the 31 DVDs which have attained our perfect 5 out of 5 score for the year of 2004.
This is not a "Top 10" of 2004. This is simply a
list of the best of the best of the DVDs that we've come across for 2004.
(The DVDs are listed in reverse release date order, not by the date of our review.)
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2010
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Saving Private Ryan: The World War II Collection (1998)
Paramount 
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This latest release comes with enough extras to stop a Panzer division in its tracks - a whole host of new extras, plus two full-length documentaries. Hours of informative stuff, particularly regarding the Pacific theatre of war. Well worth the time.
Released 9-Nov-2004
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Donnie Darko: Director's Cut (Madman Ent) (2001)
Newmarket 
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Think you've seen it all? Think again. The Director's Cut of this cult classic offers a lot more, and although I don't personally agree with all the changes, it is definitely worth a look. And the transfer will blow you away. Any self-respecting fan will want to own this 2-disc set.
Released 10-Dec-2004
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Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Focus Features 
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The spectacular romantic comedy that twists all the archetypes and makes a real movie out of what could have been just a clever concept makes it to DVD in an awesome release. Includes a 5.1 DTS soundtrack and plenty of extras. Highly recommended.
Released 15-Dec-2004
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Aladdin: 2-Disc Special Edition (1992)
Walt Disney Pictures 
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A landmark animated film which played a large part in the renaissance of animated film, bringing it back into the mainstream. It was also a major commercial success being the #1 box office film in 1992. Disc quality is excellent, extras are high quality. Great package all round!
Released 14-Oct-2004
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Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Special Extended Edition (2003)
New Line Cinema
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2004 has been the year of the DVD and what more fitting way to end it than with this release. Completing the trilogy that redefined the way films are released onto DVD, this extended edition of The Return Of the King is perfect in every possible way. Just buy it now.
Released 9-Dec-2004
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Warner Bros 
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third, and in my view, the best Harry Potter film yet. With a new director at the helm of the series, this is both the scariest and funniest Harry Potter film. Not content to churn out a mediocre sequel in a well-established franchise (which very easily could have happened — just ask George Lucas), we have been treated to a film which pays as much attention to the characters and plot, as it does to its awesome sound and visual effects. Something wicked this way comes.
Released 30-Nov-2004
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Hellboy: Director's Cut (2004)
Columbia Pictures 
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He's big, he's red, he looks like a demon and he loves kittens. It could only be Hellboy, and what a film debut for this popular comic character. Ron Perlman is so great in this role it's scary, and he is backed by an equally superb cast featuring Selma Blair and John Hurt. This three disc Director's Cut is literally bulging at the seams with extra material, most of it featuring the hilarious and talented director Guillermo del Toro. Trust me, you'll want this on your Christmas list this year!
Released 3-Dec-2004
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Day After Tomorrow, The: Two-Disc Special Edition (2004)
Fox 
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One of the best disaster flicks in years, The Day After Tomorrow is without a doubt one of Independence Day director Roland Emmerich's greater achievements. The film is at the forefront of visual effects and has certainly set a new benchmark. The DVD features reference quality video and audio with a DTS track that will push your sound system to the extreme. The extras are plentiful and of high quality. A tick in every box.
Released 5-Oct-2004
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Spider-Man 2: Collector's Edition (2004)
Columbia Pictures 
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With "Spider-Man 2", Columbia Tristar have provided us with yet another demo disc. The quality of the movie and its transfer, and the breadth of extras, easily make this one of the best DVD releases of 2004.
Released 17-Nov-2004
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To Be and to Have (Ętre et Avoir) (2002)
Palace Films
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Escape the cynical for an hour or two and step into the rural classroom of Georges Lopez. This low key film has taken the world by storm, and deservedly so. It examines the dozen children ranging in age from 4 to 10 who are being educated in a single room school, and are learning about life, trust and self-confidence along the way. Superb cinematography, exquisitely simple filmic style and a great transfer all coalesce to make this a wonderful retreat to a gentler place. Noble, joyful and utterly inspirational - I highly recommend this movie to you.
Released 5-Jan-2005
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Diana Krall-The Look of Love (DVD-Audio) (2003)
Verve 
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Diana Krall's hugely successful album The Look Of Love is now available on DVD-Audio and it features what I regard to be one of the finest MLP 5.1 audio transfers currently available. Never has the humble CD paled in comparison so much.
Released 1-Apr-2004
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Six Feet Under-The Complete Second Season (2001)
HBO 
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Indulge yourself in the ultimate guilty pleasure of watching all of these episodes back to back. Magnificent production, very faithfully transferred. A superlative viewing experience.
Released 12-Jul-2004
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Enter the Dragon: 2 Disc Special Edition (1973)
Warner Bros 
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This third release of Enter The Dragon is by far the best, with great new video and audio transfers and an extra 3.5 hours of bonus features over and above the comprehensive selection on the previous release. What a package!!
Released 4-Aug-2004
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Animusic: Special Edition (2001)
? 
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Imagine the perfect combination of music and computer animation, transferred to DVD at an awesome bitrate and presented on a well thought-out, impressive disc. This is it, and it makes for a great demo disc too. The video and audio are first rate and there are heaps of worthwhile extras, making this very highly recommended.
Released 6-Jul-2004
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Metropolis: Special Edition 2 Disc Set (1927)
Transit Films 
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The definitive DVD release of this silent classic, with exceptional picture quality, a superb score and a fine package of extras. Throw out your old copies and get this one. Highly recommended.
Released 23-Jun-2004
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Rahxephon-Volume 7: Crescendo (2001)
ADV Films 
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This is one mystical giant mecha series that comes to a truly satisfying ending, and this is that ending. This is a series to watch again, so it's one that makes sense to buy.
Released 19-May-2004
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Big Fish (2003)
Columbia Pictures 
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Tim Burton has made his best film to date. Big Fish stars Ewan McGregor and a very strong supporting cast in a mesmerising, funny and poignant film dealing with the relationship between a gregarious father and his journalist son. For fans of Burton's work, this is the best of his adult fairytales yet. Near perfect video and audio transfers are complemented by a carpet bag of extras, including a detailed and interesting commentary track from the director. This DVD comes very highly recommended indeed.
Released 16-Jun-2004
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Chobits-Volume 6: My Only Person (2002)
Geneon 
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The conclusion to a sweet anime series that raises some real questions, questions we might want to consider, given that we're on the verge of being able to create humaniform robots.
Released 19-May-2004
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Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World: One-Disc Edition (2003)
Fox
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This is the one-disc DVD edition of Peter Weir's film adaptation of Patrick O'Brian's famous series of historic novels. As I wrote originally, "apart from being a wonderful, escapist adventure, "Master and Commander" has also brilliantly brought a story of humanity, courage, and sacrifice to the screen."
Released 19-Apr-2004
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Cracker (1993) (Box Set)
Granada
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Robbie Coltrane as the big-hearted but personally flawed pyschologist Fitz. This box-set represents 1241 minutes of the very best television drama around. The ability to watch all ten Cracker episodes back-to-back over several nights has left us wondering if a drama series can ever possibly attain such a lofty standard again. Pure delight and five stars overall based solely on the plot.
Released 15-Mar-2004
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Looney Tunes Collection-Best of Daffy and Porky (2003)
Warner Bros 
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Now it's Duck Season (and Pig Season?) as this disc showcases the best of Daffy Duck and Porky Pig in some of the greatest cartoons ever made. Superb transfers and some useful extras round out an excellent package, though as in the companion Bugs Bunny release we do not get the documentary available in the Region 1 set. Still, this is sublime stuff and a compulsory purchase for fans of the Warners animation unit.
Released 31-Mar-2004
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Looney Tunes Collection-Best of Bugs Bunny (2003)
Warner Bros 
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Warners were responsible for the best short cartoons of the 20th Century, and the undisputed star of these clever and brilliantly made works was Bugs Bunny. This disc contains fourteen of his finest outings, in beautifully restored transfers that look as good as they must have looked when first released. A fine selection of extras makes this disc a compulsory purchase for animation fans. It's wabbit season!
Released 1-Apr-2004
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Noir-Volume 7: The End of the Matter (2001)
ADV Films 
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Our last look at the lethal lovely ladies of Noir. This is one series I felt quite ambivalent about seeing end: I really wanted to know how it ended, but I didn't want it to stop. Ah, parting is such sweet sorrow...
Released 19-Mar-2004
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Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World: Two-Disc Special Edition (2003)
Fox 
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Peter Weir's film adaptation of Patrick O'Brian's famous series of historic novels makes for a rousing, compelling, and exciting movie. Apart from being a wonderful, escapist adventure, "Master and Commander" has also brilliantly brought a story of humanity, courage, and sacrifice to the screen. I found the story absorbing, and the quality of the transfer, and of the discrete Dolby Digital and dts audio, make this DVD a real home-theatre gem.
Released 19-Apr-2004
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Love Actually (2003)
Universal 
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In my opinion, Richard Curtis' "Love Actually" was undoubtedly the best film of 2003. While there were many other movies in 2003 that I thoroughly enjoyed, I can't recall the last film that so expertly straddled the genres of drama and comedy as well. The cinema audience I watched it with laughed and cried throughout, and then spontaneously erupted into applause at its close (with more than a few cheers). I too found myself enthusiastically clapping. This is one of those very, very rare films that one can truly call art -- bravo!
Released 19-Apr-2004
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Chobits-Volume 5: Disappearance (2002)
Geneon 
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The fifth and penultimate disc of a gorgeous anime series. This series is raising interesting questions about whether having human-shaped robots around is a good idea - so it's challenging the brain, as well as being one of the most attractive shows to watch. Strongly recommended.
Released 11-Feb-2004
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The Lion King: Special Edition (1994)
Walt Disney Pictures 
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The Lion King is a simple story, made great by an incredible combination of stunning animation, perfect voice casting, and inspirational music and song. This DVD presents the movie perfectly, with sensational video and audio transfers, and would be a proud inclusion in anyone's DVD collection.
Released 21-Feb-2004
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Six Feet Under-The Complete First Season (2001)
HBO 
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Because life's too short to see just one episode at a time!!! This is the complete first season of this magnificent, outrageous series. With meaningful extras and a superlative transfer, you can revisit the Fishers and their associates in all their macabre and mixed up glory. A fantastic viewing experience.
Released 11-Feb-2004
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Finding Nemo (2003)
Walt Disney Pictures 
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The biggest and best release of the year (so far!). Finding Nemo is a marvellous movie, and this package really does it justice. We don't get exactly the same package as Region 1, but I happen to prefer ours.
Released 13-Jan-2004
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The Four Feathers (2002)
Miramax 
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"Four Feathers" (2002) is the latest adaptation of A.E.W. Mason's novel of the same name. It is a lavish, epic movie that tells a compelling story of courage, loyalty, friendship, redemption, and the triumph of the human spirit. If, like me, you love "Lawrence of Arabia", "Zulu", or epic movies generally, then this is definitely one for you (at least to rent). As a big-screen epic, I enjoyed this movie both on my widescreen television and with my projector. I must add that if you're fortunate enough to see this DVD projected in a home theatre you will not be disappointed. Apart from the excellent image, it also boasts one of the best surround sound experiences that I've enjoyed in a long time. I have reviewed over 150 DVDs for the site, and this is one of the very few that I've given 5 stars to!
Released 19-Apr-2004
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Tuck Everlasting (2002)
Walt Disney Pictures 
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A simple story, told fairly simply, that raises some deep questions. Originally a children's book, this has been made into a very good movie. One to watch with your children, and talk to them about; or to watch by yourself, and simply enjoy.
Released 29-Mar-2004
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