So many good DVDs were released in 2003 that I find it difficult to choose the ten best. Nevertheless, I've compiled a list of ten of my favorites. Since 2003 was such a strong year for DVD releases of some of the true gems of the cinematic art form, this list is comprised entirely of masterworks of world cinema and classic English-language movies. Please note that the year in parentheses refers to the film’s original theatrical release. The movies are listed in alphabetical order.
"2001: A Space Odyssey" is one of my all-time favorites. It's one of the films that started me on a life-long love of the movies. To my mind, "2001" is one of a handful of quintessential large-screen movies, and so I was a little worried about seeing it on DVD. But after watching it on DVD recently, I was pleasantly surprised that much of its visual brilliance and grandeur still came through.
The "Apu Trilogy" is a beautiful, moving, and humanistic masterwork of world cinema, and every time I see it, I am reminded of film's potential as an art form. "Pather Panchali" (1955), "Aparajito" (1957), and "The World of Apu" (1959) are all works of great beauty and emotional power. The DVDs provide no special features except for scene selection, but the three movies are so great that simply having this trilogy available on DVD is a cineaste's delight.
I'm thrilled to own the DVD set of this great American classic movie. It truly is an unusual DVD set that enhances my enjoyment and understanding of a film I've loved all my life. "Casablanca" (1942) is beloved by a wide cross-section of Americans, and it's been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember. This seems to me to be one of the relatively few films that is highly regarded by both cinephiles and the general public alike.
I can’t think of another DVD box set that provides so much entertainment that will be enjoyed by almost anyone. Two of the films—"Lawrence of Arabia" (1962), and "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957)—are great, and the third—"A Passage to India" (1984)—is very good indeed. All three films are absorbing stories set against spectacular backdrops, but they are more than mere spectacle—all three are thematically rich, exploring character, politics, society, and history.
"L’Atalante" is a cinepoem that is infused with an evocative mood of lyrical, bittersweet romance, and I think it is one of the greatest movies ever made. Jean Vigo brings everything to a kind of cinematic life that still looks innovative today. Every time I see the film, I find the motif of looking for one’s true love underwater deeply moving. For me, the magic of this movie lies primarily in its visual images and catchy music.
This DVD has an outstanding restored version of this landmark silent film. "Metropolis" is generally considered to be the first full-length science-fiction film ever made, but what I like best about it is the way it draws on ideas from Jung, Freud, Marx, the Bible, and Norse mythology and wraps them all in visually dazzling imagery. I give this spectacular film my highest possible recommendation, not because of its great historical importance, but because I find it spellbinding.
Kieslowski's "Three Colors” trilogy—"Blue" (1993), "White" (1994), and "Red" (1994)—consists of three interconnected stories about peripherally related lives. To my way of thinking, the trilogy is a cinepoem with superb acting, evocative music, and stunning cinematography. I think Kieslowski's "Three Colors" trilogy is an innovative masterpiece of world cinema that works both intellectually and humanistically.
Universal in theme, humanistic, and accessible, "Tokyo Story" is one of the greatest masterpieces of world cinema. To my mind, this movie’s incredible power comes from its seeming simplicity, which allows emotions to build slowly and subtly, much as they do in real life. It's a mark of Ozu's genius that by the time the film reaches its end, it moves me with a power that feels more like reality experienced than make-believe.
"Trouble in Paradise" is a sophisticated romantic comedy that, although made at a major Hollywood studio, has an auteur feel to it. That’s because it’s directed by the legendary Ernst Lubitsch. "The Lubitsch Touch" became the catch phrase for the feeling the great director was able to impart to his movies. I think "Trouble in Paradise" perfectly embodies that catch phrase. I rate this film as one of the handful of greatest comedies ever made. This DVD is a must-have for the serious cinephile.
I loved the hypnotic and poetic mood in the predominantly German-language film "Wings of Desire," an unusual movie that kept me spellbound from beginning to end. The story unfolds from the point of view of angels watching over Berlin, and the film is a richly textured, fable-like, and moving valentine to that city. To my mind, a major theme is how mankind needs both spirituality and sensuality. I think the ending of the film provides insight into the meaning of love and life's meaning.
