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 27 DVDs which have attained our perfect 5 out of 5 score for the year of 2005.
This is not a "Top 10" of 2005. This is simply a
list of the best of the best of the DVDs that we've come across for 2005.
(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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Animusic 2 (2005)
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Do you have a disc you use to show off your system? The Matrix? Maybe Mission: Impossible 3? Whenever visitors drop by and gawk at my HT room, this is the disc I reach for. A technically superb DVD, musically emotive and visually astounding. The sheer volume of replays it has had in my household cannot be understated. You need this DVD in your collection!
Released 6-Jul-2005
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Batman: Two-Disc Special Edition (1989)
Warner Bros 
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Finally, a version of Tim Burton's visionary interpretation of Batman is available on a DVD with all the trimmings. Excellent video and audio and an excellent collection of extras as well.
Released 19-Oct-2005
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Titanic: 2-Disc Special Edition (1997)
Fox 
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For those who don't want to drown in special features, there is also a 2-disc version of this landmark movie containing the amazingly good remastered movie and still with a whole raft of features to boot...
Released 28-Nov-2005
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Titanic: Deluxe Collector's Edition (1997)
Fox 
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James Cameron's epic masterpiece finally makes it to DVD in a version the distributors can be proud of. His last work for many years before directing the final episode of his TV show Dark Angel, anybody who watches all the special features on this disc will understand why he needed the holiday...
Released 28-Nov-2005
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Love My Way-Complete Series 1 (2004)
Southern Star
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The recent chatter in the media lamenting the death of Australian drama has been a little premature if this outstanding series is any indication. To put it quite simply Love My Way is one of the finest dramas ever produced in this country. Buy it now if you didn't manage to catch it when it was on Fox8.
Released 2-Feb-2006
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McLibel (2005)
Spanner Films 
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Forget your blockbusters with digitally transferred widescreen video and 5.1 dts soundtracks. This DVD package is one of the best released this year and it comes with vanilla 1.33:1 video and stereo audio. Burger giant McDonald's features heavily but you certainly won't get fries with this two-disc set.
Released 19-Oct-2005
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Looney Tunes Collection-All Stars-Volume 3
Warner Bros 
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A superb collection of cartoons sharing a musical theme, including several all-time classics. Beautifully restored and chock-full of extras, this is the best disc yet in this series.
Released 4-Oct-2005
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Gladiator: Extended Special Edition (2000)
Universal 
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Winner of a Best Picture Oscar, Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" is a visceral historical spectacle that delivered a type of sentimental sword-and-scandal extravaganza that movie audiences hadn't seen in decades. With an intelligent blend of exciting, classic heroism and moving human drama, "Gladiator" became both a monster commercial and critical success (and one of the top selling R4 DVDs of all time). Now a three-disc Extended Edition has been released on DVD, with about 15 minutes of footage inserted back into to the film, and plenty of bonus material for fans.
Released 4-Oct-2005
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Casino: Special Edition (1995)
Universal 
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Ten years after its initial release, "Casino" gets a long-awaited 'Special Edition' treatment on DVD, with the release of a fantastic Two-Disc package. A searing morality play about greed, excess, and self-destruction, both the film and the DVD are first rate.
Released 15-Aug-2005
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Ronin: Gold Edition (1998)
United Artists 
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A great action film given an excellent second release treatment with a new video transfer, stunning extra DTS track and a raft of extras. And all at a bargain price...
Released 15-Aug-2005
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Apollo 13: Special Edition (1995)
Universal 
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Arguably Ron Howard's best film to date, Apollo 13 is now a 2 disc Special Edition released to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the film's production. A superb DTS soundtrack and additional extras make this even more of a must-have in any collection.
Released 15-Aug-2005
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Suspiria (Umbrella) (1977)
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Suspiria is a true cinematic nightmare and a classic piece of baroque horror that is superbly presented in this two-disc collector's edition. The video transfer perfectly compliments the film's complex visuals. The audio transfer and the extras are also superb. Any fan of the macabre world of
Released 17-Jun-2005
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Star Trek: First Contact: Special Edition (1996)
Paramount 
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An outstanding re-release of one of the most popular Star Trek films, with a vastly improved video and audio transfer and a whole raft of extras. Just how good a transfer, you'll have to read inside to find out...
Released 18-May-2005
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Million Dollar Baby: 2-Disc Deluxe Edition (2004)
Lakeshore Entertain 
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One of the best films of 2004 and a four time Academy Award winner including Best Picture, Million Dollar Baby is so much more than a film about boxing, with superb performances, stellar acting and a climax that you will not see coming. It is available as a two-disc edition DVD with a small number of classy extras plus a dts soundtrack. One of the releases of the year.
Released 7-Jul-2005
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Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Lions Gate Films 
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"Hotel Rwanda" is a wrenching political thriller that tells the inspirational true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a mild mannered but stubbornly decent man, who risks everything, and goes to extraordinary lengths to save as many people as possible during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
Released 8-Aug-2005
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The General (1927) (AV Channel)
United Artists 
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The superb Buster Keaton classic gets a revelatory restoration in this wonderful release. With a second disc full of extras, this is an excellent bargain.
Released 25-May-2005
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Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Special Edition (2004)
Focus Features 
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This two disc collector's set of the best unconventional love story for many years includes a couple of interesting extras, particularly in the way of a new set of deleted scenes.
Released 5-Apr-2005
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Lost Horizon (1937)
Columbia Pictures 
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The classic fantasy of the idyllic paradise of Shangri-La, restored to the original length and in as good a condition as we are likely to see. A fine bunch of extras make this a must-buy.
Released 12-Jul-2005
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Bambi: 2 Disc Special Edition (1942)
Walt Disney Pictures
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A classic of animation given a magnificent release to DVD. The restoration of the video is magnificent and the 5.1 audio remix is very sympathetic. The original restored mono track is also available. A great set of extras round out a great package.
Released 2-Mar-2005
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Blade: Trinity (2004)
New Line Cinema 
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Welcome to my 250th review, and I'm happy to say that it's for an absolute corker of a film! Marvel's mutant, day-walking, vampire hunter Blade (Wesley Snipes) is back in the very explosive and fun third instalment in the Blade franchise, "Blade: Trinity". Okay, so "Blade: Trinity" isn't a movie for overly serious film critics or Academy voters - "Blade: Trinity" is an unapologetically fast-paced, showy, adrenaline-soaked, action/horror flick, and as far as this type of movie goes, it's wonderfully entertaining and exhilarating. Apart from a rockin' high-energy film, the two-disc DVD set is also sublime, with an excellent transfer, dts 6.1 ES audio, and a great collection of extras. Welcome to one of the best DVD releases of 2005!
Released 17-May-2005
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The Band Wagon: Special Edition (1953)
MGM 
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Perhaps the best musical ever made, this piece of classic entertainment featuring Fred Astaire gets better and better each time I see it. A stunning transfer and some fine extras are included in this two-disc set. A must-buy.
Released 27-Apr-2005
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Ice Age: Extreme Cool Edition (2002)
Fox
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This second edition of Ice Age released in Region 4 is better than the best Region 1 has to offer and includes DTS sound and some worthwhile new extras. Video and Audio are both excellent.
Released 21-Mar-2005
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The Fifth Element: Collector's Edition (1997)
Columbia Pictures 
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A fantastic science fiction film which is a whole lot of fun, given its third incarnation in Region 4. The video quality is excellent. The audio quality is awesome. The set has a really good selection of extras, perhaps only lacking a commentary or something focused on the director.
Released 7-Feb-2005
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Top Gun: Special Edition (1986)
Paramount 
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Top Gun has finally been released not only in the original 2.40:1 aspect ratio but with a huge DTS-ES 6.1 discrete track and an equally impressive extras package. This is the best DVD Paramount has ever released.
Released 8-Feb-2005
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Star Trek: Voyager-Season 5 (1999)
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The pinnacle of this show's seven year run, the fifth season has no bad episodes and some outright classics, not just for this series, but for the entire Star Trek canon. A virtually faultless video and audio transfer that is the best yet for a Star Trek DVD series makes this a must for all fans.
Released 12-Jan-2005
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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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The Hustler (1961)
Fox
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Paul Newman in one of his most famous roles as Fast Eddie Felson, pool hustler. A fabulous movie - don't let the fact that it's black-and-white deter you from enjoying this movie.
Released 22-Aug-2005
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