AFI's top five films on DVD

With a last-minute surge of patriotism as July Fourth ebbs away, I feel the need to salute the American Film Institute's updated list of the greatest 100 films.

OK, I cannot tell a lie: I'm not a big fan of this list, nor of any of these best-ever movie roundups -- outside of maybe the Library of Congress' wildly eclectic national film registry. Or the Criterion Collection catalog. But then I think the Oscars are rubbish, so take it from there.

Maybe I'm just bitter because the AFI's list has my all-time No. 1 movie at No. 15 ("2001"). Yours most likely is buried in there somewhere. Roger Ebert is endangering his health by fuming over the exclusion of "Fargo." Of the handful of new films added from the past decade, we have "Titanic" and "The Sixth Sense," decent enough popcorn pics, but the word "great" doesn't quite come to mind.

Here are the AFI's top 5 films, along with a quick take on the best available DVDs. Buy with confidence.

1. Citizen Kane. DVD released in 2001 by Warner/Turner as a double-disc set. The 60th anniversary restoration using "best available" elements. Includes the acclaimed 1995 docu "The Battle Over Citizen Kane." Roger Ebert and Peter Bogdanovich do separate commentaries. Go with Ebert.

2. The Godfather. DVD released in 2004 by Paramount, although it seems identical to the disc released in "The Godfather DVD Collection" (2001). Dark, grainy, soft but still quite handsome. Time for a new set of "Godfathers." (The greatest sequel ever by acclaim, "The Godfather II" ranks 32nd. Huh?) Great commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola.

3. Casablanca. DVD released by Warner in 2003 as a double-disc set. Who better to provide commentary on the populist masterpiece than Roger Ebert, the people's film reviewer? Four-plus hours of extas. The movie looks amazing, digitally scrubbed of almost all wear while retaining a fair amount of contrast and original grain.

4. Raging Bull. DVD released by MGM in 2005 as a double-disc set. All of the key participants give blow-by-blow accounts of making the movie. Extras dig deep into Martin Scorsese's methods and motivations, drawing heavily on the observations of Thelma Schoonmaker, his longtime editor. The widescreen anamorphic images (1.85:1) look sensational, with concussion blacks and silky grays across a distinct scale.

5. Singin' in the Rain. DVD released by Warner in 2002 as a double-disc set. Dazzling transfer has the Technicolor images leaping off the screen. A dancing-on-the-ceiling 5.1 soundtrack. Plenty of extras, including a new documentary about the musical's making; a BBC piece on Arthur Freed; and a curious collection of Arthur Freed/Nacio Herb Brown songs used in earlier films.

Check out the AFI list and various reactions.
Want more? A lot more? How about the Guardian's top 1,000 (thanks, Howard). Update: Wait a sec, my pal Ray Bennett has just posted a goof on The Guardian's list.

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Comments

[Andy]

Citizen Kane (1941) and Casablanca (1943) look pretty sensational, two good reasons why I hope young movie fans will pay more attention to black and white movies. I also urge people to check out MPI Home Video's The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939), the best Sherlock Holmes movie ever. Made by 20th Century Fox it stars Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. Again, a black and white classic that has been given an amazing picture and sound restoration by UCLA Film & Television Archive

[Glenn Abel]

Hey Andy:

Great picture, great series. I reviewed the UCLA revival a few years back (sitting in a hotel room in France, typing away).

MPI released a couple of box sets from this project. Some films are definitely better than others in this wartime series. "Baskervilles" is the best.

"Baskervilles" remains one of the most famous and fondly remembered Holmes films, but it is largely Dr. Watson's tale. Nigel Bruce's Watson quickly became a buffoon in the series, but here he is not to be trifled with.

Here's some trivia: Incredibly, the first Holmes film with Basil Rathbone and Bruce gave neither man starring credit. That honor went to the romantic leading man, Richard Greene.

Folks, please check out Andy's site via the hot link on his name.