Hey,
With the second "Best Intro" thread doing so well I thought I'd ask something I've been wanting to for awhile. To understand this question you must understand one thing: I love cinematics.
I liked Diablo 2 as had cinematic and thought Titan Quest was a bit "meh" as there was not cinematics to reward progress.
Now the question. What are the best cinematics out there? I'm currently in love with the various Dragon Age Trailers - they are awesome.
I'm after interesting, exciting, exploding trailers or in-game movies (even using the game engine if they're good)...
Karl

Xenosaga had some pretty awe-inspiring cinematics (I only have experience with the first one though).

can i mention shogun total war...
it had those little cinematic featuring your ninjas assassinating your enemies.
one especially comes to mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndsw3l79c2Y
if that's not badass i don't know what is.

ESPECIALLY the ones in the GC remake of Solid, Twin Snakes...oh man that game is unbelieveably cool (emphasis on unbelieveable)

Yep. Also, I've always found EA's FMVs to be compelling, especially with the new Command and Conquer cut-scenes. I also found Need for Speed: Most Wanted had an untouchable blend of cheese. It had me shouting "FIVE GRAND!" often.

You said it yourself: Diablo 2. No game has ever completely blown me away with its cinematics as Diablo 2 did, although StarCraft came close. But you really have to add "for the time they were made" to the question, otherwise it's a rather unfair competition. And back then at least, Blizzard was miles ahead of the competition when it came to cinematics.

Final Fantasy VII?
Haha, just kidding. They look worse than Playstation 2/Xbox/Gamecube real-time graphics.

Dunno.... Delphine's Flashback, maybe?

I always liked the opening FMV of Resident Evil: Code Veronica, but it's a little silly looking back on it.

TIE Fighter
Hating the vile rebel loving traitor Admiral Harkov, flying under the command of the legendary Vice Admiral Thrawn, being named Hand of The Emperor...
Yeah I don't think any game will be beating that for a long while

Diablo 2 without the cinematics would be half a game (and wouldn't have made anywhere near the same impression on me).
Not quite the same, but the comic book parts of Max Payne were/are amazing for me.
Even less the same, Baldur's gate's voice-overs for each act. Dunno who that bloke is, but he had just the right tone of voice to carry it off.

Final Fantasy VIII. I have basically played the game because of them.
And Warcraft 3.

WoW: Wrath of the Lich King...
WoW indeed. :)
(and anything else from Blizzard)

If we're talking about Delphine, then I think Another World beats Flashback with regard to cinematics. Loading up Another World for the first time on my Amiga is something I remember to this day.