First Place: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition) (New Line Home Video)

Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy was concluded with this epic DVD release. This director’s cut, 50 minutes longer than the theatrical release, runs four hours and ten minutes. The images are immaculate, both the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX and DTS-ES soundtracks will test and demonstrate a good audio system to the max, and there are enough extras in this four-disc set to keep one happy through many cold winter nights.

Second Place: Star Wars Trilogy (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)

The Force has not been with George Lucas in critical circles as far as his most recent Star Wars movies go, but fans still love the first three movies, and rightly so. This handsome box finally makes it possible to take these beloved films home on DVD. The picture and sound exceed THX standards, and a fourth disc contains a comprehensive two-hour documentary.

Third Place: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (Miramax Home Entertainment)

Uma Thurman scores big points as The Bride, a woman who learns martial arts and sets out to kill Bill, the man who shot her and left her for dead on her wedding day. Director Quentin Tarentino blends motion, music, and intelligent dialogue to create mesmerizing scenes. The DVDs are first-rate, with sharp images and a singularly involving 360-degree soundfield. The incorporation of music is especially good.

Fourth Place: The Triplets of Belleville (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)

Sylvain Chomet’s quirky animated film is a charmer. It’s impossible to resist its colorful characters or its final chase scene, reminiscent of the Keystone Kops. The DVD contains a razor-sharp video transfer and very effective 5.1-channel sound. Extras include a few production featurettes and one of the strangest music videos ever made.

Fifth Place: Shrek 2 (DreamWorks Home Entertainment)

The return of the lovable ogre and his donkey sidekick proves even better than the original. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s highly entertaining and very, very funny. Included are a special ending sequence produced especially for this DVD edition, as well as production featurettes, outtakes, and games. A clean, crisp picture and totally involving surround sound make this a good reference disc, too.

Sixth Place: Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)

A seafaring yarn that seems totally authentic, with battle scenes that will seem to occur right in your home theater, thanks to the use of exceptionally realistic surround sound. The picture is clean and clear, too. A rollicking good adventure all around.

Seventh Place: Looney Tunes Golden Collection: Volume Two (Warner Home Video)

Sixty great cartoons on four discs, including the all-time favorites "One Froggy Evening" and "What’s Opera, Doc?" Nearly half of the cartoons have commentaries, and there are documentary featurettes on the cartoons’ creators and characters. The picture and sound have been digitally remastered, and it shows. We hope that’s not all, folks. Bring on Volume Three!

Eighth Place: The Last Samurai (Warner Home Video)

Tom Cruise cuts a gallant figure as a US Civil War hero sent to Japan to fight the rebel Samurai. He ends up fighting for them and becomes a noble hero. The spectacular battle scenes look good on this DVD; the video transfer has a lot of detail. The sound is impressive, and there is a whole second disc of extras.

Ninth Place: Hellboy (Director’s Cut) (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)

Far better than most superhero movies, this film actually explores characters in depth. The special effects are spectacular, and the video definition is about as good as it gets. The sound is awesome, with extreme dynamic range. Two additional discs provide enough extras to get you through until spring.

Tenth Place: Super Size Me (Hart Sharp Video)

This is the saga of a man who ate nothing but McDonald’s food for a month, with predictably disastrous results. This documentary is sassy, peppy, and as entertaining as most sitcoms. The many extras include a shelf-life test of various food from McDonald’s; after weeks of being out on display, the French fries don’t appear to have changed in appearance a bit. If you like fast food, skip this one; after seeing it, you’ll never eat that way again.

Honorable Mentions

• Spider-Man 2 (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Fifth Season (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)*
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Complete Sixth Season (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)*
• The Fog of War (Sony Pictures Classics)*
• The Rules of the Game (The Criterion Collection)*
• Field of Dreams (Anniversary Edition) (Universal)*
• Touching the Void (MGM Home Entertainment)
• Ken Burns: America Collection (PBS Home Video/Paramount)*
• City of God (Miramax Home Entertainment)
• Mystic River (Warner Home Video)*
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Warner Home Video)

* Reviewed on HTS; check the 2004 archives for specifics.