OTHER TECH

4 The Empire Strikes Back (Star Wars Trilogy, widescreen edition, 20th Century Fox)

The Picture The crystal-clear look of the restored film on DVD is even more impressive when you remember the laserdisc or VHS version. The Imperial Star Destroyers, snow speeders, and walkers look hyper-realistic, putting the computer-generated ships in Revenge of the Sith to shame. And everything from the hurtling asteroids to Yoda's toad-like skin comes across with new vividness.

The Sound As you'd expect from the people who brought you THX, the restored soundtrack is amazing. John Williams's timeless score plays throughout the action-packed two hours, complementing the splat-splat of the blasters during the battles and establishing the spooky atmosphere of Degobah.

The Killer Demo Chapter 14, "Battle in the Snow." We get our first look at the awesome Imperial walkers during this 10-minute spectacle as Luke's speeder squadron hurtles over the snow toward their towering forms. Note how Lucas's portrayal of meteoric speed in the cockpits alternates with wide shots of intricately choreographed flight patterns.

Standout Extra The Birth of the Lightsaber is the best featurette. If you ever wondered how a sword could compete in a world of laser guns, this is a must-watch.

The best film from the original trilogy, Empire is stunningly restored on DVD. - David Katzmaier