Top 10 DVDs of 2007

Josef Krebs's Top 10 DVDs of 2007

1. Sawdust and Tinsel (The Criterion Collection). A gorgeous picture and a brilliant analytical commentary make this DVD of Ingmar Bergman's incisive masterpiece a must-have.

2. Breathless (The Criterion Collection, 2 discs). One of the most enjoyable and revolutionary films ever, in a stunning transfer and accompanied by in-depth extras.

3. Heroes: Season 1 (Universal, 7 discs). TV as it should be — with engaging characters, a smart and original story, and impressive special effects — on the DVD set it deserves. Smooth, film-like images with warm colors and very deep blacks are ably supported by crisp, clear 5.1 sound and hours of entertaining and informative extras.

4. Ratatouille (Disney/Pixar). It's Pixar.

5. Planet Earth (BBC/Warner, 5 discs). A surprising hit DVD and, at the time of its release, the biggest-selling HD title. You can still hear people talking about it in awe.

6. Lost: Season 3 — The Unexplored Experience (Touchstone, 7 discs). Mystery piles onto surreal mystery without things ever seeming murky or blurred. And the extras are just as luminous and illuminating.

7. 300 (Special Edition, Warner, 2 discs). Incredibly detailed images and a pounding sound mix make for a great home theater experience. The documentary on the real Spartan civilization is intriguing, too.

8. Casino Royale (Sony). Nobody does it better: Bond is the best, and this is the best Bond. And, being so Royale, its DVD has the kind of picture and sound you'd hope for.

9. Hot Fuzz (Universal). A wonderfully entertaining low-budget comedy-thriller comes in a surprisingly stunning transfer and with an equally impressive soundtrack. And the extras are well worth your time.

10. Doctor Who: Series 3 (BBC/Warner, 6 discs) One of the most enjoyable British series comes in a DVD set with great transfers, highly active sound mixes, incredibly kick-ass special effects for TV, and tons of varied extras.