The year 1998 was the birth of the DVD format. It was
in late '98 that i got my DVD player, a Panasonic A-110 which stills works
out great today.
That was the beginning of a great journey and a new addiction! I compiled
a list of the 10 best genre DVDs released in 1998.
The rating is based on the quality of the image, audio, extras, packaging
and new availability of the film.
Lots of very good DVDs were released that year but most of them being re-released
of LaserDiscs so with that in mind, these re-released received a lower score.
Sure the format has evolved a lot since '98 but all of these discs are must
have for horror fans.
 |
 |
Columbia/Tristar went all out on their release of Paul Verhoeven sci-fi horror flick. The film is presented in a nice 1.85:1 aspect ratio with great colors, no compression or artifacts. It feature an aggresive 5.1 Dolby Digital English track along with a Dolby Surround English and French tracks. The menus are statics but nicely done. There's loads of extras such as a commentary track with the director, trailer, documentary, behind the scenes footage, screen tests of some of the cast, additional scenes and more! Unlike some disc out there, these are interesting bonus and nicely put together. The film is separated in 28 chapters, comes in a keep case with a nice 8 page fold out booklet. The only bummer about this disc is that its a flipper disc with the film on one side and the extras on the other. STARSHIP TROOPERS was re-released on DVD by Columbia/Tristar in 2002. |
 |
 |
Elite Entertainment re-issued their LD for this DVD release of George A. Romero's classic. This THX approved transfer from the original negatives looks simply amazing for a 1968 film! The film is presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio in stunning black & white. The newly remastered Mono Dolby Digital audio track sounds great. We get two very good commentary tracks; one with Romero, John Russo, Karl Hardman and Marilyn Eastman. The second one with Bill Hinzman, Judith O'Dea, Keith Wayne, Kyra Schon, Russell Streiner and Vince Survinski. There's also the cool theatrical trailer, tv spots and the short film parody 'Night of the living bread'. The menus are statics and a little too cartoonish. The film is separated in 31 chapters. This DVD came in various package such as jewel case, keep case and others. Elite re-released NOTLD as part of their Millenium Serie in 2002. |
 |
 |
This is Pioneer re-issued of their infamous LD now on DVD. The film is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio remastered from a Digital Superscan transfer supervised by Tobe Hooper himself. The film has never looked so good, sure the colors are a little bland and soft but it is still better then i expected it would be. A good new stereo surround audio track and the original mono track are available. We get a good commentary track with Hooper, Daniel Pearl and Gunnar Hansen. There's some deleted scenes, alternate footage, blooper reel, the original theatrical trailers and tv spots. Wait there's more, we also trailer for the TCM 2, the very unique teaser for TCM 3 Leatherface and a promo for TCM 4. There's a still gallery with photos, posters and collectibles. The film is separated in 17 chapters, comes in a keep case and features one of the coolest menu with the saw cutting the screen or Leatherface running at you if you do nothing. |
 |
 |
Another Elite Entertainment re-issued of one of their LD. Still today this is the best edition of Sam Raimi's classic. The Book of the Dead edition released by Anchor Bay years later features a matted widescreen even if the original aspect ratio of the film is 1.33:1 which is the ratio on this disc. The image looks great. We get a very good remixed 5.1 Dolby Digital track along with a 2.0 DD track. There's load of extras like a commentary track with Raimi and Robert Tapert and another one with Bruce Campbell which is the better of the two. There's a huge still gallery with around 150 stills, 20 minutes of behind the scenes and alternative footage and the theatrical trailer. The menus are animated and with sounds, the film is separated in 16 chapters, comes in a keep case and with an inlay card with liner notes from Campbell. |
 |
 |
Yet another re-issued of an Elite Entertainment LD. Why this one rates higher? Before the days of DVD, MANIAC was harder film to find then the previous 3 that's why. The film is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Sometimes the image is a little grainy but i've never seen the film look so good. We also get a brand new remastered 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track which sounds good. There's also a new Dolby Surround 2.0 track. A very good commentary track with William Lustig and Tom Savini. There's the Unrated and Rated theatrical trailers, tv spots. Italian, French and German trailers. Promo footage for the never produced sequel MANIAC II MISTER ROBBIE and the deleted "Date" scene. The disc comes in a keep case with an inlay card. The film is separated in 29 chapters and features animated main menu of dripping blood from the knife. Anchor Bay released MANIAC on DVD in 2002 with a new transfer and extras. |
 |
 |
Universal went all out on this superb edition of Alfred Hitchcock's classic. The film is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. For a 1960 film, the image is simply incredible. We get an English and French audio tracks in mono,which both sounds very good. This disc is loaded with extras; The Making Of Psycho is over an hour long and goes into all the little details of the film. The original and re-release theatrical trailers, Newsreel footage, an indepth look at the 'Shower Scene', Archives on the film, Behind the Scenes, Storyboards of the 'Shower Scene. At look at Lobby Cards, Posters and Ads. Production notes, cast and crew bios and film highlights, whew! The film is separated in 26 chapters, comes in a keep case and with a very nice and informative 8 pages booklet. |
 |
 |
Warner Bros. 25Th Anniversary Special Edition of William Friedkin's classic is the edition to get. The film is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The image looks great and features rich and vibrants colors. We get a very good remastered 5.1 Dolby Digital English track along with a French mono track. There's the 75 minutes BBC documentary 'The Fear of Good: making of The Exorcist' which pretty much covers everything about the film. Commentary tracks with Friedkin and William Peter Blatty. Special sounds fx test, interviews, the original ending, sketches and storyboards, theatrical trailers (yeah the awesome 'demon figure' trailer is there!), tv spots and more! The film is separated in 47 chapters, features animated menus and comes in a snap case. This was later released as Limited Collector's Edition and as the VERSION YOU'VE NEVER SEEN edition which you should avoid. |
 |
 |
To pretty much everyone's surprise, New Line released this under rated gem as part of their Platinum edition thus giving it a superb treatment. The film is available in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio which features an awesome looking image, free of compression or artifacts and with beautiful blacks and rich colors. The film is also available in a Pan&Scan version. We get two very good 5.1 Dolby Digital tracks, one in English and the other in French. Both makes good use of the 5.1 capabilities. There's two commentary track, the first one from film critic Roger Ebert and the second one with the director, writers, director of photography and production designer. Both are very interesting from two different point of view. There's an interesting interactive game called 'Find Shell Beach', cast and crew bios, theatrical trailers, a look at set designs, a comparaison to Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS and Neil Gaiman talking about the film. The film is separated in 16 chapters and comes in a snap case. |
 |
 |
This is the first DVD i bought and the reason i jumped in the bandwagon. Universal gave the royal treatment to John Carpenter's classic. The film is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio and features a flawless transfer with rich and vibrant colors. The newly remastered 5.1 Dolby Digital English track sounds great, Ennio Morricone' score shines. There's also a good French Dolby Surround track. We get a very good and fun commentary track with Carpenter and Kurt Russel, they have a good chemistry together. THE THING: Terror Takes Shape is a superb 80 minutes documentary taking a look at every details from the film. There's also the theatrical trailer, outtakes, behind the scenes photos, storyboards, conceptual arts and production archives. The menus are static and could have been better. The isolated score is available as an easter egg. The film is separated in 37 chapters, comes in a keep case with a nicely made 8 pages booklet. |
 |
 |
With their Platinum Series, New Line set the standard for quality transfer. The film is presented in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The image looks simply amazing. We get a kick ass and pounding 5.1 Dolby Digital track along with a Stereo Surround track. There's a very good commentary track with Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, David S. Goyer, Theo Van De Sande, Kirk M. Petruccelli and Peter Frankfurt. There's the isolated score with commentary by composer Mark Isham. 'La Magra' is a cool documentary taking a look at the evolution of the process of making the film, deleted scenes and the original ending.'Designing Blade' is exactly what it says it is so is 'The origins of Blade'. 'The Blood Tide' takes a look at vampire mythology. There's also pencil sketches through production designs, cast and crew bios, theatrical trailer, DVD-ROM features and more! The menus are superbly done with animation and morphing. The film is separated in 38 chapters and comes in a snap case. |
|
|
There were other DVDs released that year that are worth mentioning and owning that almost made the top 10 list and here they are: Criterion's release of David Cronenberg's DEAD RINGERS is a very good DVD. The film was remastered with a new digital transfer approved by Cronenberg. It is presented in its original 1.66:1 aspect ratio. It features a Stereo audio track. There's a commentary track with Cronenberg, Jeremy Irons, Ronald Sanders, Carol Spier and Peter Suschitzky. There's the original designs for the opening title sequence, 'Mathematics in metal' and 'Instrument for Operating on Mutant Women' are two still gallery of drawings and photos of the sculptures and medical instrument used in the film. We also get to see how the "Twinning" effects was done. The electronic press kit, trailer and featurette. The menu is static and doesn't look too good. The film is separated in 43 chapters, comes in a keep case and with a 4 pages booklet. MGM's release of Clive Barker's LORD OF ILLUSIONS features the Unrated Director's Cut which contains footage not seen in the theatrical version or as part of the Director's Cut VHS. The film is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio which looks pretty good. There's a well mixed 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track. Barker's provides an interesting commentary track, we can listen to the score as an isolated track and there's the theatrical trailer. The menus features animation and music. The film is separated in 32 chapters, comes in a keep case and with a very nice 8 pages booklet. Artisan gave Darren Aronofsky's PI a very good treatment. The film is presented in its original 1.66:1 aspect ratio. The image has a grainy look but it was intended to be that way. The 2.0 Dolby Surround track sounds good. There's two good commentary track, one with the director, the other with lead actor Sean Gullette). We also get behind the scenes montage, lost scenes, music video, theatrical trailer, production notes, cast and crew bios. The menu features animation and music and looks ok. The film is separated in 36 chapters, comes in a keep case and with an inlay card. Roger Corman's New Horizons release of their "classic" PIRANHA is another must have disc. This is the 20th Anniversary Special Edition which present the film in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. The colors are a little bland and soft but this is by far the best the film has ever looked. The remastered Dolby Stereo track sound good but nothing spectacular. We get some never before seen footage of the making of the film, bloopers, outtakes, the theatrical trailer and an audio commentary with director Joe Dante and producer Jon Davison. We also get a nice 16 pages reproduction of the original theatrical marketing guide and an 8 pages booklet on the history of Roger Corman. The film is separated in 24 chapters, comes in a keep case and features very cool menus where a piranha attack the screen when you make a choice. Another very good DVD from Criterion released in '98 is for Paul Verhoeven's ROBOCOP, presented here uncut with more blood and violence! The film is presented in its original 1.66:1 aspect ratio, the colors are right on. The remastered Dolby Surround track sounds pretty good. There's a very good commentary track with the director, co-writer Edward Neumeier, executive producer Jon Davison and Robocop expert Paul M. Sammon. There's a film to storyboard comparison, storyboards, an illustrated essay on the making of the film, theatrical and teaser trailers. The film is separated in 27 chapters, comes in a keep case with a superb looking silver cover, the main menu has some animation and looks good and there's a nice 4 pages booklet. But wait there's some! Some titles were released that year that went Out Of Print (OOP) making them must have, while others became hard to find and are also must own. So here's a few more DVDs that you must own that were released in 1998: BLOOD FOR DRACULA So there you have it, soon i will be taking a look at the Best DVDs of 1999, then 2000, 2001 and 2002. Kim Dubuisson. |