Best LOOKING 2.35:1 and Wider Aspect Ratio DVDs Ever??? (1 Viewer)

I recently went to a 'constant height' set up and wanted some recommended reference DVDs.

So far, I've been happy with the majority of cinemascope (2.35:1 or wider) DVDs in my collection, but a few really stand out.

The best looking so far:

The Fifth Element (SE Superbit)
STAR WARS: Empire Strikes Back (updated version)
The Haunting (Anamorphic Signature Collection)

Please let me know what you consider to be the best transfers on DVD visually.

Thanks in advance!

Paul

From the thread title, I thought you were talking about actual CinemaScope movies from the 50s and 60s, but you only mean movies shot in 2.35:1 as the titles you mention were Panavision and Super-35 movies.

So I probably shouldn't mention my picks for great-looking "CinemaScope" DVDs. Oh hell, why not!
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
A Star is Born (1954)
The High and the Mighty
The Tall Men
The Spirit of St. Louis.

Thanks for the reply, and you are correct, I meant 2.35:1 and wider aspect ratio DVDs. I should have been more specific.

If you want to go wide get Lawrence of Arabia and Spartacus.

I have the "Fifth Element" on superbit, just awesome.

The Ben-Hur: Four Disc Collector's Edition has a beautiful 2:76:1 transfer.

The DVD of "Ryan's Daughter" is stunning. At times you'd think you're watching HD.

Edit: Forgot you specified 2.35:1 in your thread title. "Ryan's Daughter" was shot in Super Panavision, with a 2.21:1 aspect ratio. So it's a bit more narrow than what you asked for, but I'd say go for it in any case.

Those films have a 2.20:1 aspect ratio.

Those are great films, but I'm looking for the best 2.35:1 or wider DVDs.

I just keep watching "Fifth Element" because it looks so good!! I wish more DVDs looked that smooth and clean!

I'm going to buy "Dances With Wolves" and "Terminator 2" today. Hopefully, they'll look okay.

I remember Star Trek: Nemesis being praised for it's picture and sound.

Be sure to get the T2-Extreme Edition. The transfer is so clean you can eat off of it!

My personal picks...

The Pink Panther (2.35:1, 16x9 remaster version, Technirama)
The Return of the Pink Panther (2.35:1, 16x9 Universal remaster, Panavision)
Ben-Hur (2.76:1, 4-disc SE version, MGM Camera-65/Ultra Panavision)
The Hustler (2.35:1, CinemaScope)
The Incredibles (2.35:1, PixarVision) [obvious]
Terminator 2 (2.35:1, Extreme Edition, Super-35)
Dark City (2.35:1, Super-35) [Still holds up extremely well!]
The Iron Giant (2.35:1, SE remaster, Panavision)
Lawrence of Arabia (2.20:1, Superbit, Super Panavision) [Not without faults, but it looks fantastic for the most part]
My Fair Lady (2.35:1, 2-disc SE, Super Panavision) [Sides opened up wider than 70mm prints to allow 2.35:1]
Moulin Rouge (2.35:1, Panavision) [It didn't win the HTF DVD of the Year 2002 award for nothing!]
Blazing Saddles (2.35:1, SE version, Panavision)
The Elephant Man (2.35:1, Panavision)
Blue Velvet (2.35:1, SE version, Panavision)
Zulu (2.35:1, MGM version, Technirama)
THX 1138 (2.35:1, Techniscope)
American Graffiti (2.35:1, Techniscope)
Around the World in 80 Days (2.20:1, Todd-AO)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (2.55:1, CinemaScope)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (2.55:1, CinemaScope)
Amadeus (2.35:1, SE version, Panavision)
Doctor Zhivago (2.35:1, Panavision)

I think Minority Report has a quite beautiful 2:39:1 transfer. And Revenge of the Sith is flawless.

Probably this one...

Rebel Without A Cause:SE
1776
Scrooge

Ben Hur is probably the absolute best title for what you're looking for. At 2.76:1, it is one wide mother, and it's also one of the best films ever made.

Tony Scott's Man on Fire is an acquired taste, but if you're at all into photography and aesthetics, you just might love it.

Regards,
Nathan

Is that a joke? It's been well established long ago that the Lord of the Rings DVD's are over - filtered.

The Rock Criterion get's my vote. Just a breathtaking transfer.

I'd go with some slightly older Cinemascope films:

THE ROBE
THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS

I think X-men 2 looks pretty awesome.