What are currently your favorite special edition only DVD’s ?  

None.

That's great bobblemonkey, thanks for that. Way to input (trying to get your post count up or what?).

To the topic in hand: I'd say (and these will all be R2, given my geographical status), you could do a lot worse than -

Fight Club - Awesome commentary from Fincher, Pitt and Norton, with additional info from Helena Bonham Carter at a different session; good archive of promotional material that most haven't seen before; the best practical effects moment ever, when one of te crew shouts "My jism works!".

Oldboy - the British release (2-disc) is pretty exhaustive, with excellent deleted scenes, Q & A with the fan club and a dissection on the score, with commentary by Park and the composer, plus a whole bunch more. Plenty for any fan.

Magnolia - if you get the 2-disc box, you get an hour and a half on-set diary from pre-production meetings and screenings, through to the end of post, all the while guided by the affable P.T. Anderson. There are other extras (the gag reel is surprisingly good) but for my money, this is one of the best, early making of docs out there.

Batman Begins - was highly impressed with not just the level of content (pretty much anything you could want to know about the production process of the film) but the layout (its all hidden inside several pages of a comic book) of the special features. Short of a commentary, this disc has everything covered and gives you a greater appreciation of the film's craftsmanship.

The Abyss - As well as both cuts of the film (theatrical/extended), there is an incredibly impressive doc on the making of the film and the double-whammy hardship of working underwater with James Cameron. Glorious, terrifying and hilarious anecdotes and a real glimpse at the complexities of working with the elements. NB: Michael Biehn is one tough dude.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy: Extended Editions - the new watermark as far as DVD presentation goes. Anything you could ever want from the making of the movies, from commentaries (filmmakers, cast and crew are all covered), to goofs (the creation of Gollum and the hard work therein is often hilarious) and beyond (each film's genesis, restructuring, shooting, editing and reception is covered), these discs are absolutely essential, whether you love the films or not.

The DAWN OF THE DEAD boxset (as reviewed here). Also, the SE7EN Platinum Series disc and the ALIEN quadrilogy.

Shaun of the Dead- Great extras

Alien Quadrilogy- Got the Region 1 release of this although I'm in the UK - prefer the box and also there are two different commentarys for Alien aparently, one with comments on the extra scenes? - havn't had time to delve itno the set as much as I'd like:-(

Dawn of the dead:Ultimate edition (reg 1)- Awsome set (still haven't watched the Argento cut yet though)

Can't think of any more at the momment...

Maybee we should also add our list of shitty "specia edition" DVDs which have crappy extras?

Nah, I actually like a great deal of "SPECIAL EDITION DVD's" and would like to "elaborate briefly", but not as a list such as this. I just didn't want to waste any time on what seemed quite obviously like a marketing shill. Too late now, I suppose. Chill out.

The Ultimate Matrix Collection, THX 1138 2-disc, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Clerks X

And currently, the Batman Anthology is proving itself rather formidable.

I've mentioned before that I won't buy a DVD twice. I'll wait patiently for a special edition if the film's worth it. (Still sitting around twitching with impatience on Kill Bill). Here's a few that were definitely worth the wait, or the extra money if they came out the same day.

Almost Famous: Untitled - Definitely my favorite SE. I much prefer the director's cut of the film, and the Stairway to Heaven deleted scene alone is worth paying for this DVD.

I love my Criterion edition of The Rock. I got this yesterday, actually. I wanderend in to a trade-in video game shop and they had movies as well. I spotted this and knew that it was out-of-print and going for 40 dollars online. The transfer isn't very impressive, but I was very happy with the extras. Plus it feels nice to have found this OOP for 15 bucks. It was even in pristine condition. I actually found the OOP $50 Platinum Edition of Snow White for 15 dollars as well, and grabbed that. 'twas a good day.

I bought the Batman and Batman Returns special editions, and was completely suprised by how great the extras on Batman were, especially the "History of Batman" documentary.

Saving Private Ryan: 60th Anniversary D-Day - I actually didn't wait around for this one. I bought it because I didn't have any other edition of SPR, and it was in Wal-Mart's 9.99 section. I don't know what docs were on the original edition of Saving Private Ryan, but the ones on this edition are fabulous.

Regardless of opinions on the sequels, the amount of extras in my Matrix box set is unbelievable.

All of the Disney Platinum Editions should be a template for DVD SE's. They have all been 100% terrific, minus the obligatory music videos for covers of classic Disney songs by whichever Hilary Duff is big on the Disney Channel that year.

I definitely second some that were previously mentioned: The Seven Platinum DVD, Lord of the Rings Extended (of course), Fight Club, Batman Begins.

Honorable mentions that I own: the Back to the Future trilogy, Moulin Rouge (another expensive SE that I found for SIX DOLLARS at my local PX. It was mislabeled in their stock as the single-disc!), Tarantino's SE's (Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Reservoir Dogs), Scarface, Dogma, Incredibles.

On a semi-related note, I'd like to mention that Dazed and Confused was the first and LAST time I was suckered by Paramounts "______ Edition!" What an absolute insult to the customer. I've since learned to stick with the cheaper orignal prints of Paramount's movies, unless they aren't anamorphic.

So you wasted your time posting for what reason?

And if this "shill" means we end up getting better DVD special editions, I'm all for it.

I still can't believe Fox deleted the amazing 2 disk Fight Club in region 1.

Can't believe nobody has mentioned Se7en. From a technical and educational standpoint, that set is hands down the best I own.

And Spaced out of region 2 is fantastic. Best TV show presentation on DVD ever.

I'm with the earlier poster. I never double dip. I did buy Kill Bill though in full knowledge there was a bigger version coming.

Fear and Loathing - Criterion. Great packaging, great commentaries.
The LOTR Extended Editions are to me the most watchable, insightful, and classy releases I've yet seen. It saddens me that Lucasfilm didn't even bring forth half as much effort with the release of the Star Wars and Indy trilogies, future editions be damned.

It's quite amazing that the Se7en Platinum Edition came out several years ago and is still my favorite disc. Talk about extras with substance and A/V that is just top-notch...

The Battle of Algiers: CC, Straw Dogs: CC, Dawn of the Dead: UE, Citizen Kane, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: CC, Fight Club, The Rules of the Game: CC, Singin' in the Rain, Halloween - 25th Anniversary Edition, 8 1/2: CC and Videodrome: CC all deserve extra special recognition in my opinion.

When taking in to account box sets Toy Story: The Ultimate Toy Box, Lord of the Rings, The - The Motion Picture Trilogy, John Cassavetes: Five Films - The Criterion Collection, and Godfather, The - DVD Collection should also be included as essential special editions...

All the extras on Se7en detailing the color correction process, the sound editing etc... are just extraordinary. Watching the color correction in real time is amazing.

For it's failings as a movie, Pearl Harbor is a great special edition as well.

Well, here's my third post for this thread so start warming up your synonyms for "hypocrite" if you feel you must continue to bait me. My original intent was to discourage said shill from using these forums for such dubious ends. I like talking shit about DVDs, but more to folks who wish to reciprocate or discuss, not those who'll copy and paste findings to some person/s who will SURELY give us the bestest future discs. I'm not trolling or upping my postage or trying to piss you off. Yet.

I'm a little curious as to how in God's name this thread seemed like a shill. Just because it was a first post?

Because it was a first post and the question was asked without any context. The OP gave no examples of his own favorites and asked almost exclusively about things that could be used it a marketing context. It seemed a lot like a mall survey.

Magnolia – as stated above, for all of the pre and post prod materials, not to mention PT Anderson's frustration at the studios and his venting to Fiona Apple "it's no Boogie Nights!".

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – great commentaries and the truly bizarre accounts of Depp's communications with Thompson.

Lords of Dogtown – really thorough behind the scenes materials on every aspect of the film, from writing & developing to shooting & editing to all the training & skating the actors had to do.

The Criterion Collection edition of Brazil, if for nothing else than the disc with the "Love Conquers All" edit.

Cj6 = Pm1111???

Bingo.