The Best DVD Player Protection 2024

1. Darkman (DVD), Universal Studios, Action & Adventure

Creepy sci-fi melodrama about a horribly figured scientist who uses his own invention to transform him into a revenge seeking super hero. Starring Frances McDormand and Liam Neeson. Running time: 96 minutes.

DARKMAN Action & Adventure Universal Studios R

2. CB4 [DVD] [1993]

Stream mediaTRILUMINOS colourDolby TrueHD and DTS-HDBlu-ray Disc, DVD, CD and USB

Tamra Davis directs Chris Rock in the rap comedy CB4, which comes to DVD with a pair of transfers. The widescreen transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and is preferable to the standard full-frame image. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. Spanish and French subtitles are accessible, and the soundtrack is closed-captioned. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence. This Universal release is solid and should please fans of the film as well as those unfamiliar with this hip-hop Spinal Tap.

3. Dragnet [DVD] [1987]

Stream mediaTRILUMINOS colourDolby TrueHD and DTS-HDBlu-ray Disc, DVD, CD and USB

This comic update of Jack Webb's classic deadpan police drama gets a fine presentation for its release on DVD. Dragnet has been given a letterboxed transfer at the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and the image has been enhanced for anamorphic playback on 16 x 9 monitors. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Surround and viewers have a choice of three different sound tracks: the original English version and dubbed tracks in Spanish and French. The disc also features optional Spanish subtitles. Bonus materials appearing on this edition include the original theatrical trailer, notes on the film's production, and biographies of the key cast and crew members.

4. Fear (DVD), Universal Studios, Mystery & Suspense

Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, William Petersen. A pretty teenager falls for a charming, mysterious man who turns out to be a psycho determined to take revenge on her and her family when she stops seeing him. 1996/color/97 min/R/widescreen.

FEAR (1997) Mystery & Suspense Universal Studios R

5. Clockers [DVD] [1995]

Stream mediaTRILUMINOS colourDolby TrueHD and DTS-HDBlu-ray Disc, DVD, CD and USB

Based on Richard Price's grim best-seller, and directed by Spike Lee from a screenplay co-written with Price, Clockers takes the structure of a police procedural to build a chilling portrait of despair, hope, and the unanswered problem of black-on-black crime in an urban housing project. The film's haunting themes are vividly visualized during the opening credits, which run over police photos of dead young black men, shot and sprawled on sidewalks, in streets, and hanging over fences. Strike (Mekhi Phifer) is a 19-year-old African-American "clocker" -- the lowest link on the drug dealing chain -- who hangs around park benches and street corners selling small amounts of druges at all hours of the day. Strike drinks chocolate milk to soothe an ulcer and plays with model trains in his apartment, dreaming of a way out of his dead-end life. Drug kingpin Rodney (Delroy Lindo) asks Strike to kill another clocker, Darryl, for skimming money, saying that this will be Strike's ticket to a higher post in Rodney's organization. Darryl is indeed shot, and suspicion immediately falls on Strike, but a weary cop named Rocco Klein (Harvey Keitel) thinks there's more to the case.

6. The Chamber (DVD), Universal Studios, Mystery & Suspense

Chris O'Donnell stars as a young lawyer who tries to save the life of his racist grandfather played by Gene Hackamn, who is imprisoned for murdering a Jewish lawyer's sons. Based on the John Grisham's dramatic novel. Also starring Faye Dunaway. Featues production notes, talent bios and film highlights. Anamorphic widescreen version. (1996) Running time: 111 minutes.

CHAMBER Mystery & Suspense Universal Studios R

7. Rollercoaster [DVD] [1977]

Stream mediaTRILUMINOS colourDolby TrueHD and DTS-HDBlu-ray Disc, DVD, CD and USB

The thriller Rollercoaster comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include biographies of the cast and crew, and the trailer. This is a fine release from Universal that will please genre enthusiasts.

8. Idlewild [DVD] [2006]

Plays DVD, CD, EVD, VCD, CD-RW, DVD-R, VOB, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG3, MPEG4, DIVX, MP3, WMA, JPG and JPEG formats; up to 2.5 hours of playback; headphone jack

Tamra Davis directs Chris Rock in the rap comedy CB4, which comes to DVD with a pair of transfers. The widescreen transfer preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1, and is preferable to the standard full-frame image. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. Spanish and French subtitles are accessible, and the soundtrack is closed-captioned. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence. This Universal release is solid and should please fans of the film as well as those unfamiliar with this hip-hop Spinal Tap.

9. Bowfinger [DVD] [1999]

Stream mediaTRILUMINOS colourDolby TrueHD and DTS-HDBlu-ray Disc, DVD, CD and USB

Employing a novel premise and utilizing the comic skills of Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy, Bowfinger remains one of Hollywood's wittiest and most enjoyable attempts at self-satire. Universal's DVD edition is a superb realization of the film's strengths, delivering excellent sound and picture quality and a host of worthy extra features. Director Frank Oz is not known for his visual flamboyance, but the Tinseltown settings do look appropriately glossy on this anamorphic disc. The sound quality is equally high and features both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Surround Sound audio tracks. It is the special features on this disc that make it unusually impressive, and they can be accessed from a clever and likeable menu screen. The "Spotlight on Location" featurette is a useful background to the movie, lasting around 24 minutes. Other basic features include the original theatrical trailer, production notes, and some very thorough cast and filmmaker information. Although they total only eight minutes between them, the two best additions are the deleted scenes and outtakes footage. The deleted scenes include an entirely different version of the cast and crew meeting which takes place early on in the film, as well as a funny revelation as to how Martin's character gets the address of Murphy's reclusive movie star. The outtakes include some amusing mishaps on set and some brilliant ad-libbing from the two stars. Director Oz provides the feature commentary, and surprisingly, he concentrates on the technical side of moviemaking, revealing several tricks of the trade when it comes to filming comedy. All in all, this amounts to an exceptional DVD, one that should further enhance Bowfinger's reputation as a first-class comedy.

10. Daylight [DVD] [1996]

Stream mediaTRILUMINOS colourDolby TrueHD and DTS-HDBlu-ray Disc, DVD, CD and USB

Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, Daylight looks about as good as DVD pictures are going to get. All the colors are even and bright with black levels solid. No imperfections of any kind are present during the film. This transfer looks beautiful and will please fans looking for the best possible way to watch Daylight. Audio is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and is also as well done as the transfer. This 5.1 audio track packs a very nice punch and sounds excellent. Speakers are utilized on all sides, with the bass low and rumbling. All effects, music, and dialogue sound perfectly even with no distortion present. Also included on this disc is a Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track in Spanish, as well as English captions and Spanish subtitles. 
Although Daylight may not be packed to the brim with extra features, it does include a good batch of supplemental materials. Featured on this disc is an audio commentary by director Rob Cohen that tends to be a bit dry but informative; an hour-long documentary ("The Making of Daylight"), featuring interviews with the cast and crew; a music video for the song "Wherever There Is Love" by Donna Summer and Bruce Roberts; a still gallery; and some theatrical trailers and teasers. While opinions may vary about the quality of the film itself, Daylight nonetheless proves to be a worthy DVD edition for action film fans.