The Movie: I was in the process of writing out a long thing about this film. Then I stopped when I realized there's nothing I can say about this film that hasn't been said already, so I'll just keep it very concise. #1 - As a citizen of the 21st century, it is unlikely you, as a casual observer, will understand the full impact of this film, the reason being that all of the parts that were so revolutionary in 1941, have inspired virtually every other motion picture to come after it... in many cases these elements are borrowed or even just straight ripped off.

So that brings me to #2 -- if you want to just try and grasp the full importance of this film, watch it with the understanding that it was released in 1941. That's a good decade before television really took hold as a viable mass medium. Many homes still didn't even have electricity... that's how long ago this film was made. And if you keep it in that context, I don't see how you can't be amazed by this film.

And even if you don't put it in all that context... it's still a pretty darned good movie, even if all of its once-revolutionary techniques have been turned into film clichés after so many decades of being used in everything else we've seen since. So check it out, if you haven't already.

But despite being called the best film ever on so many lists, I'm gonna have to give this one a rating of "4" -- Although I have the deepest respect for just how important this film is... I just don't think most people who are seeing this film for the first time today would consider it the best film they've ever seen... I don't. But certainly in its time it probably was the best film ever made, and it continues to be one of the most important films ever made.

The DVD: The video transfer on this two-disc set is simply amazing. It's hard to believe how good they've made it look, even after all these years. Shadow detail is amazing, and the highlights are nice and bright as well, bringing out all of the details in the sometimes quite complex lighting situations in this film. Audio was also pristine... better than what you'd expect from a film even half the age of this one.

Special features... well, there's a lot. I'll just leave it at that :)