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Getting an HDTV and/or a Blu-ray player for Christmas? Here’s my list of BDs you should buy.  I used a complicated ratio to come up with the rankings.  It involved lots of integers and calculations and stuff.

10. Assault on Precinct 13

Not only is it a great movie from John Carpenter, but the restored transfer is one of the best I’ve seen from an older movie.

09. I’m a Cyborg (UK)

It’s movies like this that Blu-Ray was made for.  Great to look at and a sweet, touching movie.

08. Hot Fuzz

An almost flawless presentation of one of the best recent comedies.  Packed with fun extras, too.  Shaun of the Dead is also well worth getting.

07. Serenity

The Firefly guys return for a theatrical movie.  Not only is this one of the best sci-fi movies, but it’s a visual treat on BD.  Get Firefly, too.  The quality of the show makes up for a merely decent audio/video quality.

06. Mad Detective (UK)

A top quality release of a great Japanese detective mystery.

05. The Thing

One of the best horror movies of all time, presented in a superb audio/video package.

04. The Fall

This is another of those “This is what Blu-ray was made for” visual treats. Simply amazing to look at and a strong enough story to keep the rewatchability high.

03. The Third Man

One of the best movies of all time, Criterion give this one a great Blu-ray release.  It’s OOP so if you see it for a reasonable price, snap it up.

02. Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

A feast for the eyes and a great movie to boot.  Definitely worth your time.  And time again.

01. Band of Brothers

It’s like 10 of the best war movies in one high quality box set.  Well, 8 and a couple of decent episodes.  Picture and audio of the highest quality and some great extras.

And a few other that almost made it.

The Mist and Zodiac were two I overlooked.  Both deserve a spot high in the top 10, but ‘m too lazy to shuffle the list round.  Zodiac is one of the best pictures I’ve seen, and the movie’s great, too.  The Mist the same. Although I’ve only watched the B&W version so far.

Halloween

From Hell

Kingdom of Heaven

Man of Violence (UK)

The Road Warrior

Pan’s Labyrinth