Unlike conventional DVDs, no celluloid film of any kind was used the create the disc's video transfer. Instead, the film was transferred directly from Pixar's computer system onto digital tape. The result was an image of unparalleled clarity, devoid of the hairs, nicks and scratches visible on even the best conventional transfers.

The disc's searing, razor-sharp images, incredible colour saturation and staggering fine detail reproduction were an eye-opening demonstration of DVD's capabilities, and an open challenge to all other DVD producers. In addition to exceptional picture quality, the disc also included a finely crafted Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, producing a unique, fully enveloping audio experience.
 

This re-composing process is a first for any DVD. Using the original digital templates, the 2.35:1 image was selectively altered, with characters repositioned within the smaller 1.33:1 television aspect ratio. Although an interesting feature, I trust you will choose to use only the 2.35:1 version, as this is the aspect ratio in which A Bug's Life was presented theatrically, and the only version to offer the enhanced resolution of an anamorphic transfer. This package set a new benchmark, both in terms of Collector's Edition content and picture quality. A Bug's Life: Collector's Edition should be a part of every DVD owner's collection.

 

Pleasantville is an unusual comedy set in the imaginary sitcom world of Pleasantville, USA. Two '90s teens (Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon) find themselves transported through their television set to the fictional town of Pleasantville, in the heartland of 1950s white-bread America. Slowly, the teens' modern sensibilities begin to affect the lives of the local townspeople, with amusing and interesting results.

As usual, New Line have done a superb job with this disc. The transfer itself is flawless, with a very high level of detail and no visible compression artefacts. Much of the film is shot in black and white, with progressively more colour used as the film unfolds. By digitally removing all colour from black and white scenes, this disc offers a more accurate black and white picture than that possible from film. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, while not of the pyrotechnic variety, is remarkably clean, with open dynamics and natural sounding dialogue. If only more soundtracks sounded this good!
 

Star Trek: First Contact is the seventh Star Trek feature film, and the second to star the crew of The Next Generation.

Although among Paramount's first batch of DVDs, this disc offers truly superb picture and sound quality. The film itself revolves around the Enterprise crew's attempts to prevent the Borg (bad guys of choice in the Next Generation universe) from sabotaging the historic event (the maiden flight of a faster-than-light spacecraft) that led to the first human contact with an alien race (hence 'First Contact').

By altering the course of human development, the Borg hope to more easily conquer a technologically ill-equipped Earth of an altered 'future'. This requires that the Borg travel to the past (with the Enterprise close behind), another staple of the Star Trek universe.
 

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is also excellent, with dramatic split-surround effects, solid bass and dialogue that is always intelligible, even during the loudest scenes. Star Trek films have a reputation for excellent soundtracks, and Star Trek: First Contact is no exception. My only complaint is the almost total lack of extras. A few theatrical trailers are included, but that's all. Other than that, in terms of video and audio performance, there's nothing much to complain about here.

 

The Iron Giant was one of 1999's biggest surprises. This animated film opened with little in the way of fanfare or hype, and quickly disappeared from cinema screens. Despite its short run in theatres, the film received unanimous acclaim from both film critics and viewers alike, and later became a breakout home video success. Set in small-town America at the peak of 1950s Cold War paranoia, The Iron Giant tells the story of an enormous (50 foot tall) robot that crashes to Earth just outside a sleepy coastal American town.

A young boy named Hogarth Hughes stumbles upon the robot one night and quickly develops a friendship with the seemingly innocent and friendly machine. Together with the town's resident beatnik/artist, Hogarth attempts to keep the robot's presence secret, both from the town and an FBI agent hot on the heels of this 'alien invader'.
 

The soundtrack's musical score is particularly well recorded, combining with the film's story to create a truly enchanting and uplifting movie experience. The disc's supplemental materials are rather sparse, including only a making-of featurette, music video and theatrical trailer (I wouldn't be surprised to see a feature-laden Special Edition of this film in the not-too-distant future, considering the film's new-found popularity on DVD). Despite this minor complaint, this disc's presentation of the film itself is outstanding and deserves to be seen. 

 

Steven Spielberg's gut-wrenching vision of war follows a small group of soldiers through the 1944 D-Day invasion of Normandy and their subsequent mission to find and retrieve a young Private (Ryan), the sole survivor of four sons sent to war. DreamWorks have released Saving Private Ryan in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen on a single DVD-9 RSDL dual-layered disc, allowing the highest picture quality possible. The result is a truly superb video transfer.

Much of the film was shot using low-definition 8mm cameras to mimic archival footage shot at the time by military cameramen, and as a result the picture often has a grainy, dark appearance, with extremely low colour saturation. In an attempt to produce a less theatrical, 'grittier' picture, Spielberg also added artificial light-halos, streaks, processing imperfections and blurs to the film. All of these elements combine to create an extremely difficult image to transfer to DVD. Despite this difficulty, the film looks remarkably good on DVD, with no visible artefacts. In fact, this is a suberbly cinematic-looking DVD, appearing more like film than video.