Where to begin...it's been nearly eight years since dvd/authority has started. Since then, the format (DVD, of course) has come a long way. The site started as a way to showcase my web skills and give my two cents worth on what I thought these little discs were all about. Before long, people (and "People" being studios) started sending me these to review and would let me keep them after I was done. I thought, "Hey, this is pretty cool". Going from HTML to ASP (essentially, using a database) has made working on the site much easier and has allowed us to write over 4,000 original DVD reviews.

Like other DVD sites, no we're not the only ones you know, we try to keep an open mind when reviewing titles. If someone were to come up to me and say "Why do you do the site?" or "Why should I visit it?" I would tell them that if they wanted an unbiased opinion as to buy or not buy a DVD, then odds are we'd have a review of it. Granted, we watch these on our own televisions and the reviews are just that - an opinion. So if you read a review of "Fight Club" and feel that it's worth buying based on our review, then that's good. We gave that disc the highest scores as the video/audio and supplements are all at the top of the scales. On the other hand, some might not find it that technically enjoyable as we did (however, the concensus is that it's one of the best DVD's around).

The plot of the movie is something that we do just to give the reader a good idea as to what it's all about. We try not to divulge any major plot points (though it happens from time to time) and we don't grade a movie based on the subject matter. If the movie sucks, we'll say so. But what we will also put that aside when it comes to both how it looks and sounds. These scores are what we think as compared to a standard. We don't placate our reviews to the studios who send them to us.

Now, with all of that being said...this site has come a long way. Tens of thousands of people visit the site daily and we're flattered. And as High Definition DVD (HD DVD) comes up on the horizon, look for dvd/authority to be there as well.

Dan Pulliam - DVD Reviewer

How did you end up at DVD Authority?
I've been a movie fan ever since I can remember. I was motivated out of the archaic practice of watching VHS tapes when I saw my first 2.35:1 letterboxed movie ("Star Wars") back in the early nineties, gained an appreciation for aspect ratios and discovered that my favorite film at the time ("Speed") would not be coming out on VHS in widescreen any time soon. This prompted me to buy my first laserdisc player. Ever since, I've been a video and audiophile, helpless against the marketing ploys of the latest and greatest home theater toys. Only the limitations of my finances keeps me from delving even more deeply into what has gradually and decisively become an obsession.

In 1997, I began writing reviews for independent films for the Georgia State Signal newspaper and, in 2002, began writing essays for the official Cameron Crowe website. I decided to combine my love of writing essays, of film and of critiquing and apply to dvdauthority. Since joining the team, I've been exposed to films I never would have seen and learned a lot about both film and writing about film. It's been a very rewarding experience and I'm hopeful that I'll keep writing here for quite some time. I would like to thank everyone who's written in with any feedback, something I gratefully welcome.

My favorite thing about this website is its simplicity. Concise opinions, at-a-glance video and audio scores by people who know what they're talking about, and a streamlined approach that excises a lot of the needless overhead usually present on other sites. Reviews and reviews only for people who get their news (as I do) from all over the web instead of relying on one source. We don't try to replace news sites, and I like the specialization of this approach. It's like getting DVD's at a department store rather than a specialty store: you may find what you're looking for, but the obscurities get lost in the commercialism. This is my kind of site because it sticks to one thing and does it right.

Questions or comments? drop me a line.

Christopher Bligh - DVD Reviewer

How did you end up at DVD Authority?

Initially, I didn't expect to be reviewing for this site until a big rush of sites looking for reviewers hit me during the summer of 2003. I had given my speech and it came with mixed results until a gentleman by the name of Matt Brighton answered my e-mail after almost perfecting rejection acceptance to a T. He heard me out, I submitted and I'm proud to say I have been here since.

I've been writing about movies since I was a junior in HS and outlets to let out your cinematic voice were few and far between. I've written for both my HS and College newspapers as their film critic and I had not only reviewed a film but injected some knowledge about those and other films in general.

I am an avid maker of cine-lists, some of which I have used during my time here at the site. I've had the pleasure of chatting with some of the occasional visitors of the site and see that there is a growing passion of cinema amongst many of us. No matter what known company I fall into or what hustle and bustles come into my life, I owe a lot to Matt and the Funky Bunch here for taking a chance and including me as part of this great site.

From the days that I started looking at ads in the newspaper for films at the tender age of 2 (thank you doggies for doing your business), I have always had an interest in film. It has creeped up in my younger years little by little and came bursting out at me after the opening of a multiplex in Staten Island, NY that I was opened to another world to experience more when, for years, big screen experiences came to me a few times a year.

My first big one came with a little movie in the summer of 1985 named "Back To The Future" that introduced me to the effective tool known as the big screen experience. But as years went by, viewing technogies spanned three times, from VCR to my old Laser Disc player being the only refuge to watch widescreen movies. Some looked at me as if I was crazy, but I felt it was a sign of things to come.

At first I was skeptical to DVD in the beginning with the poor framing and middle of the road visual quality, but it wasn't until two great friends of mine introduced me to "Young Frankenstein" that I was sold to the format known as DVD and for the next years, I went through 3 DVD players and a whole lot of experiences with older and newer films along with unbelievable extras, some of which carried over from the days of LD (Ridley Scott, thank you for GI Jane).

I never would've thought I would be reviewing for this great format but I am glad to say that I am a DVD reviewer and what better widespread audience to share my experiences with than the online audience that have viewed our site many times. What's even better is being part of this great team known as DVD Authority that I was welcomed into and I have loved every part of it and I hope that in the coming years (unless a better deal comes around that I can balance 2) I want to continue the fun times, the great experiences and the new challenges that await DVDs and opening all of us to newer films as well as re-discovering some older ones all of us forgot existed with this great outlet.
I am the author of the "Charly' Petition" that successfully made a planned pan-and-scan release change to a widescreen release of a film on DVD. The award winning 1968 film is scheduled for release on March 8th, 2005 and I am also an author of a few upcoming book projects including the autobiographical film experience book "Everything I Learned about Movies I Learned From WHT".

Questions or comments? drop me a line.