First Place: Batman Begins: Deluxe Edition (Warner Home Video)

Legions of Batman fans have been hoping for a movie that would portray their superhero with reverence, not as a camp object. This summer, with Batman Begins, they got their wish and then some. The DVD transfer is filmlike, clean in even the darkest scenes, and the surround sound totally involves the viewer in the action onscreen. Though there are also a single-disc release and a two-disc Special Edition, this two-disc Deluxe Edition adds a classy comic book to all the cool extras found in both two-disc sets. The book makes the few extra bucks worth springing for. Go deluxe.

Second Place: The Incredibles (Walt Disney Home Entertainment)

Pixar’s latest animated feature presents the story of a superhero couple, Bob and Helen Parr, and their family. Following a string of heroic crime-fighting escapades, the Parrs have spent the last 15 years forced to live as civilians, and are grateful to be called back into action to rescue the world. The action is fast, the pacing breathless, the spoofs of James Bond and other action heroes hilarious. Add to that a state-of-the-art video transfer, surround sound that works the entire 360-degree soundfield, and an entire second disc of significant extras, and you have a release that gives a lot of entertainment for each dollar spent.

Third Place: Sin City (Miramax Home Entertainment)

Innovative director Robert Rodriguez didn’t just make a film version of Frank Miller’s graphic novels. By using black-and-white photography, blue screens with digital postproduction, and graphic spots of color, he re-created Miller’s drawings and brought them to life. This razor-sharp DVD makes it all incredibly clear, and the active surround-sound design (in Dolby Digital and DTS) completely involves the viewer in the action. This edition’s extras consist only of a brief behind-the-scenes featurette; a new, expanded edition will be released about the time this is published. If the picture is as crisp, it might be wise to consider that new edition, which adds another half hour of footage.

Fourth Place: Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)

After mucking around with the mediocre Episodes I and II of his mammoth six-part series, George Lucas found himself again in the last third of this final film, which tells how Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader. This THX-approved DVD -- especially the accurate video representation -- is of reference quality. Extras include deleted scenes, production featurettes, documentaries, and much more.

Fifth Place: The Wizard of Oz: Collectors Edition (Warner Home Video)

This time-honored classic has been released in many laserdisc and DVD versions, but this is the best of them all. A new transfer has been constructed from the original three-strip Technicolor elements, and the Yellow Brick Road and those famous ruby slippers have never looked better. The soundtrack also belies its age in a new 5.1-channel transfer. There is a veritable video encyclopedia of extras, including earlier filmed versions of the story. The set is beautifully packaged, and includes packets of promotion photographs and a reproduction of the premiere program booklet.

Sixth Place: Ray (Universal)

Ray is Ray Charles, and Jamie Foxx memorably portrays the charismatic, groundbreaking performer. The clear video transfer lets one see fastidiously executed period details without strain, and the surround mix is just right at every point. The disc includes two versions of the film; in one, deleted scenes are inserted. But since the difference in quality is liable to distract, better stick with the original. Extras include a commentary and musical numbers.

Seventh Place: Million Dollar Baby (Warner Home Video)

An excellent script, powerhouse performances, and Clint Eastwood’s earnest direction make this heavy drama work as do few others. The video transfer is a triumph for a film with many very dark scenes and deep shadows. The image has perfect contrast, with a lot of detail in the shadows -- it’s not just mud. Extras include a roundtable discussion with the actors and director, a documentary about real-life boxer Lucia Rijker, on whose life the film is based, and behind-the-scenes featurettes. All of this is found on both the two- and the three-disc editions (the third disc is a CD of the soundtrack).

Eighth Place: Crash (Lions Gate Home Entertainment)

Crash deals with racism in Los Angeles, and follows a handful of plots that crisscross each other until they converge. US film critics were polarized: they hated it or loved it, praising it as insightful or dismissing as kitsch -- and everyone seemed able to support his or her opinion. Our critics were no different. Though our original reviewer didn’t care for it, Crash was voted to the top-ten position by other writers. You’ll have to make up your own mind, but there’s little doubt that the audio and video are first-rate.

Ninth Place: The Polar Express (Warner Home Video)

This magical holiday movie looks like no other. Director Robert Zemeckis used "performance capture" techniques; the result is neither live action nor animation but something in between that looks like a living illustration. The video transfer shows every bit of it clearly, and the Dolby Digital surround tracks are singularly good. Here surround is used as it should be: to complement the onscreen action. The extras on the two-disc version are largely fluff; unless you want to know a little bit about the performance-capture system, you might consider the single-disc edition. A Gift Set edition includes the two-disc version, a snow globe, and a toy!

Tenth Place: The War of the Worlds (Paramount, 1953)

Newer is not always better. Steven Spielberg’s recent version of H.G. Wells’ story might be noisier and have Tom Cruise in it, but this tried-and-true version, produced by George Pal and directed by Byron Haskin, is still the best storytelling experience. To say this Technicolor film is "in color" is almost an understatement -- the new transfer has uncovered myriad hues. A stereo soundtrack has been rediscovered, and there is a fine group of extras, including a nifty historical commentary, a featurette on Wells, and Orson Welles’s infamous radio broadcast of the story.

Honorable Mentions

• Hoop Dreams (The Criterion Collection)*
• Kingdom of Heaven (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)*
• House of Flying Daggers (Sony Home Entertainment)*
• Friday Night Lights (Universal)
• Hotel Rwanda (MGM Home Entertainment)
• The Astaire & Rogers Collection: Vol.1 (Warner Home Video)
• King Kong: Special Edition (Warner Home Video)
• Millions (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)*
• The Val Lewton Collection (Warner Home Video)*
• Brian Wilson Presents Smile (Rhino Video)
• Closer (Sony Home Entertainment)*
• Laura (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)*
• Short Cuts (The Criterion Collection)*

*Reviewed on Home Theater & Sound. Check the 2005 archives for specifics.