OTHER TECH

2 The Incredibles (widescreen collector's edition, Disney/Pixar)

The Picture This is the best-looking animated film ever made, and that's saying something. Its hyper-expressive characters and familiar settings are rendered in sparkling detail, from the spotty shave that gets Bob a lecture by his boss to the cracked paint job of his laughably tiny car.

The Sound Creating a convincing fantasy world calls for some intricate sound design, and nowhere does The Incredibles break the illusion. In one memorable example, we hear the wash of the ocean waves as Mom and the kids hit the water after their plane crashes, followed by a dull roar just before a huge piece of missile splashes down.

The Killer Demo Chapter 23, "100-Mile Dash." This excellent chase scene - with Dash pursued across leagues of jungle by soldiers in flying, bladed hovercrafts - is filled with the kind of spectacular stunts that only animation can deliver.

Standout Extra Check out the short sequence of "Incredi-blunders" on Disc 2, featuring wacky animations of hair gone crazy, the heroes smacking into pylons or being crushed by planes, and half-rendered faces, hands, and expressions.

This is the complete package, and even if you don't enjoy the humor, the action, or the characters, you'll still have the best-looking computer animation ever committed to disc. - David Katzmaier