As for DVD performances, which is JP's best

[The Trooper]

To me Budokan. Don't want to do a poll. Just asking. Pulled out Budokan today and it never gets old.

[chaossystem]

The "Chaos in Motion" version of "Surrounded!"

[Skeever]

Live Scenes, maybe?

For me at least, that was the first time I saw him and my jaw dropped because I realized he was so much more than a shredder.

[DerekTheater]

He's been consistently on fire since...their first gig. Has he ever had an off night? I can't possibly choose a favorite Petrucci performance.

[Sycsa]

His tone was by far the best on Budokan and since I can't separate it from the performance, it would get my vote as well.

[fischermasamune]

Hard to decide between Budokan and LSFNY. Maybe Budokan.

[BlobVanDam]

JP has such a high standard that it's all good, but my vote goes to Budokan.
I love his improv solos on Hollow Years and ITNOG, it has a good balance of some of his shreddiest solos along with some of his most emotional and rockin' solos, and it's my favourite guitar tone he's had on a live recording.
LSFNY is another great choice, but I don't think the performance is as tight on that one.

[adamack]

I like different aspects of JP on various DVDs:

Execution/Flawlessness: Score, Fourth Wall

Tone: Budokan

Stage Presence: LSFNY....He shows so much emotion, even more aggression and passion than usual. See Spirit solo and end of Finally Free for examples

Improv: Budokan

Mix: Score. Probably only my second favorite tone, but I really liked his levels in the mix. Not too loud like in LALP, but not too separated like in Budokan. Most likely a post-production thing.

Appearance/Look: Budokan and LSFNY. The clean cut look in Budoken looked cool, and so did the long hair, stache and beard in Live Scenes

Song Selection: LSFNY, Score (Only because of Octavarium solo), BTFW

Background Vocals: From what I can remember, probably Score. I remember him sounding good on Sacrificed Sons, so I'll roll with it.

[wolfking]

Live Scenes, maybe?

For me at least, that was the first time I saw him and my jaw dropped because I realized he was so much more than a shredder.

This was the concert video that made me fall in love with him too.

It's definitely between Scenes and Budokan though.

[lucky7]

Budokan and Scenes get my vote as well.

I do love on the chaos in motion dvd where he makes the error and shakes he head....he shows he is human after all! 

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Budokan, hands off. JP at his technical peak.

[mikeyd23]

Yeah I'd go with Budokan, but really like others have said, JP is just so consistently great its like trying to pick your favorite kid. The reason I'd go with Budokan is a combination of tone, performance, improv, stage presence, etc... Overall Budokan wins out, but JP is always sooo good.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Also, JP's appearance back then did give DT a certain air of much needed "coolness", IMO (and I say needed because DT got bigger than its usual and trustworthy prog audience). Back in times of MSN Messenger, I used to have a picture of Petrucci from Budokan as my "contact" picture because I was hardcore fan and shit. I remember a couple of female friends of mine asking who that "good looking guitar man" was, so there you have it 

[DerekTheater]

I&W Live in Tokyo was the first one I ever saw. I don't think I'd ever been that wowed by a guitarist before.

[OsMosis2259]

He is great on ALL DVDs. Like mentioned earlier, it really is like picking a favorite kid.

I gotta go with Budokan. The tone, the appearance, the improv stuff. His is def the MVP of that show.

Score and Live Scenes are really close as well.

[FracturedMirror]

Of the "real" releases I have to go with Chaos in Motion or Budokan. 

Including official bootlegs Bucharest would be right up there.  The talkbox solo for Lines In The Sand is one of my favorite solos, and TGP and Killing Hand are on there.

[TAC]

I&W Live in Tokyo was the first one I ever saw. I don't think I'd ever been that wowed by a guitarist before.

Those were great days.