Thanks to the writer's strike, not many films came out this year aside from films already nearly-completed. So you can imagine how scarce a good DVD or Blu-Ray disc was, though surprisingly, there were quite a few pleasant exceptions:

Best Blu-Ray Surprise: Disney's Sleeping Beauty. While many movie companies are "warming up" to Blu-Ray, it's as slow as it was for DVD. Remember how long we had to wait for Star Wars, or E.T., or any of the big blockbusters of yesteryear? Yet Disney really surprised fans, by daringly releasing a digitally-restored, high-definition classic to Blu-Ray, and what's even better: they chose the most frequently under-appreciated "Disney princess" of all. Disney's Sleeping Beauty on Blu-Ray was a thrill not just for little girls everywhere, though for their parents as well (plus a few adults too "hip" and "cool" to admit they love it too). Yet the biggest thrill of all; the Blu-Ray purchase includes the DVD version at no additional price. With extras that truly befit a Blu-Ray disc, this might very well have been the "Blu-Ray of the year" if there was such a category. Now where's our E.T. and Star Wars Blu-Ray discs, hmm?

Best "Featurette": "I Am Iron Man" (Iron Man S.E./Blu-Ray). For the purposes of this award, a "featurette" is any sort of short documentary or the like included exclusively with purchase of a DVD (most often a special edition or Blu-Ray version). The best featurette of 2008 would have to be Iron Man's "I am Iron Man," found on either the special edition DVD or the Blu-Ray disc. In a nutshell; there's not one stone left unturned during this featurette, which shows the production of this movie from every possible angle, and then some. To be honest; many featurettes are slopped together and seem like just "filler" to excuse a higher price for the DVD. Not in this case (pun not intended; the dvd case, in some "cases," is shaped like Iron Man's helmet). This featurette is just perfect.

Most FUn Commentary: Robert Downey Jr.'s "Mock" Commentary, Tropic of Thunder. It's been done before though the jokes still works; on the Tropic of Thunder DVD, Robert Downey Jr. gives his commentary as though he is the film's faux star, Kirk Lazarus. If you ever wondered why Robert Downey Jr.'s career has come back in a big way lately, you need to listen to this commentary.

Most Fun Extras: Wall-e, Blu-Ray edition. The movie was good enough, and the extras are good enough. Though on the Blu-Ray edition, there are some really fun interactive games that salute the 1980's home game consoles of yesteryear. What makes these games so fun is how unlike most so-called disc-based "games" on other discs; both an adult and child alike can play and enjoy these games. It sounds like a simple addition though it's the addition that makes this disc's "extras" best of all.

"The Best DVD You Didn't Buy": Solty Rei: The Complete Series. To be brutally honest; I'm not much of a fan of anime, so even I'm surprised by how much I loved this one-season story about a Blade-Runner style future with a paternal edge a la The Professional. The story's male lead, Roy, is a man who lost his only daughter in a citywide calamity known as the blast fall. The tragedy hit him hard and turned him into an emotionless bounty hunter, only to one day come across a seemingly super-powered little girl with no knowledge of who she is or where she came from...and who suddenly sees Roy as her "dad." It's a really imaginative, emotional story with a definitive beginning, middle, and end. I will spoil not one plot twist aside from the following: do not stop watching after episode 13, or you'll regret it. Yes, this episode makes "The Empire Strikes Back" look like a happy fairy tale. That's no reason to stop watching...and are you sure that everything you saw in that episode is as it appears? That's the sort of mind tricks this "series" plays on the viewer...and I truly loved it.

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And Last Though Not Least...The Year's Most "Special" Achievements!