20 - Monty Python and the Holy Grail Special Edition (Columbia TriStar)
The new anamorphic remaster is sharper, with punchier colors, and the five surviving Pythons have a ball on the twin commentaries. The interactive Killer Rabbit feature is an obvious parody of The Matrix's White Rabbit branching option, by the way.

19 - Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace (20th Century Fox)
An abundance of special features, a cinéma vérité making-of documentary, fully post-produced deleted scenes, and a plethora of Easter eggs help you marvel at George Lucas and crew's technical wizardry, as well as learn about the new art of moviemaking in the digital age.

18 - Planet of the Apes (2001) (20th Century Fox)
This THX-certified DVD is nearly reference-quality, with DTS/Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. An enhanced mode provides pop-up windows and the occasional option to branch off to more-elaborate views. Disc two analyzes the cinematic simians and presents extended scenes and sophisticated multiangles.

17 - Superman (Warner Brothers)
This one and only DVD-18 version is not the theatrical cut but stuns with the deep, rich primary colors of the Supersuit and the strains of (arguably) John Williams' best score. Music is also isolated in a multichannel mix, and three documentaries finally divulge the closely held secrets of how a man can fly.

16 - North by Northwest (Warner Brothers)
The video quality of this VistaVision gem is one of those rare revelations of how good an old movie can look. The commentary by legendary screenwriter Ernest Lehman is a joy, and this is quite simply one of Alfred Hitchcock's most enduring thrillers.

15 - The Patriot (Columbia TriStar)
My favorite low-frequency disc, as not only the mighty cannon but every last musket used to fight the Revolutionary War packs a potent bass kick, which does a surprisingly good job of drawing viewers into this emotional, heroic tale.

14 - Men in Black Limited Edition (Columbia TriStar)
The art gallery morphs between creature concept designs, and you can study key scenes via multiple angles. A second, technical commentary track with director Barry Sonnenfeld and others complements his pairing with star Tommy Lee Jones in an exemplary running video commentary.

13 - Apollo 13 (DTS)
Apollo 13 Collector's Edition
(both Universal)
Take your pick of absolutely Earth-moving sound or a priceless block of extras. It helps when the subject is a genuinely enthralling bit of history, missed or forgotten by many, and also centered on one of the most powerful explosive devices designed for peacetime use. Subwoofers, beware.

12 - U-571 (Universal)
Submarine movies simply make for great home theater. Environmental and surround effects, crashing waves, and torpedo blasts are likely never more than a few minutes away. In your choice of Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS, the depth-charge sequence is a real nail-biter guaranteed to rock the house.

11 - Die Hard Five Star Collection (20th Century Fox)
Yippee-ki-yay, indeed. The widescreen remaster boasts a razor-sharp image that preserves the distinctive palette. The two big, bold 5.1 soundtracks, Dolby Digital and DTS, exhibit undeniable clarity in the complex and exciting soundfield, with abundant demo scenes. Top-notch extras round out the two-disc set.

10 - Saving Private Ryan (DTS) (DreamWorks)
No other motion-picture soundtrack is as totally engrossing or reproduces as well in the home as Ryan's D-Day scene—from thunderous breakers on Omaha Beach to the explosions, whizzing bullets, and even the moments of silence. This is the first disc I reach for to test any DTS-compatible gear.

9 - Moulin Rouge (20th Century Fox)
A passionately constructed DVD by writer/producer/director Baz Luhrmann himself, Moulin Rouge carries a dazzling widescreen presentation with Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS audio, as well as two commentary tracks and branching options. Disc two is downright mind-bending, examining the script, cast, music, and lots more.

8 - The Matrix (Warner Brothers)
Most home theater buffs love the movie, with its reference-quality picture and sound and not merely a long list of extras but highly interactive ones at that. The high-tech goodies are all appropriate to the subject matter, and they're all spellbinding. Fans must also pick up Warner Brothers' The Matrix Revisited follow-up disc, a vast interactive smorgasbord of all things Matrix.

7 - SE7EN Platinum Series (New Line)
Director David Fincher participates in all four of the accompanying commentary tracks, and you can even print the entire Andrew Kevin Walker screenplay from a DVD-ROM-enabled computer, if you dare. This SE7EN DVD also packs Dolby EX and DTS ES, and it was remastered from the original film negative.

6 - Gladiator (DreamWorks)
Who can deny that this best-selling DVD is a keeper? Amaze your friends with demo-quality DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and dagger-sharp widescreen video, in addition to your new knowledge of ancient Rome and Gladiator trivia, which you can access on the hefty second disc.

5 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Buena Vista)
The immaculate picture with bold, bright colors is the result of three successive restorations, at once a return to the animators' vision and a treat for today's demanding audiences. Let's hear it for the sound engineers, whose discretion put clarity over dazzle in their new 5.1-channel remix. Abundant bonus materials are accessible via an optional guided tour.

4 - Fight Club (20th Century Fox)
The films of David Fincher demand high standards for sound and video reproduction. Fortunately, he takes a very personal approach to DVD: The 2.40:1 anamorphic video and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio have been painstakingly tweaked, and both discs in this set are loaded with complex extras.

9 - Shrek (DreamWorks)
With many hours of assorted extras in support of a wonderfully clever movie in pure digital form, this is a difficult disc to stop watching. DVD-ROM content allows the computer-savvy to "appear" in newly refinished scenes, while lazy technophobes can simply enjoy the movie's anamorphic video and wide-open DTS soundfield.

2 - The Godfather DVD Collection (Paramount)
These timeless movies have been exquisitely remastered to look drastically sharper and sound far bigger. Francis Ford Coppola provides extremely forthcoming commentary for the entire trilogy, every known deleted scene is parked on disc five, and don't be surprised if HBO's celebrated crime family pops up with their own words of welcome.

1 - Toy Story: The Ultimate Toy Box (Buena Vista)
Still my pick for the best DVD yet: Perfect picture. Perfect sound. The ideal union of the computer and the soundstage, color and clarity strain the limits of your video system as the 5.1 channels are at once powerful and subtle. The original film and its sequel quickly develop an old-shoe feel, ideal for repeat viewing, and the many extras on these two platters spill over onto a third. This box truly represents the best that DVD has to offer on every level.