1. ZODIAC - DIRECTOR'S CUT (A/B+/A)
For me and many other film buffs, every new David Fincher film is an event. 2007's Zodiac lived up to expectations with a tight, gripping thriller that revisited the serial killer territory of Se7en but never felt like a rehash. This Director's Cut release packed excellent visuals, very good audio, and a strong collection of extras to become the best DVD of the first quarter of 2008.

2. BEE MOVIE - VERY JERRY 2-DISC EDITION (A/A-/B)
2007's Bee Movie came to screens with a great deal of hype. Though it didn't quite live up to its advance billing, it did provide a delightful and funny flick that works for adults and kids. The DVD provides excellent picture quality along with solid sound. The extras are a little disappointing but still pretty good. The movie never excels, but it succeeds.

3. SHOOT 'EM UP (A-/A-/B+)
A movie as self-consciously stylized and ironic as Shoot 'Em Up should've annoyed and bombed. However, somehow it overcomes its own pretentions to become a lively, fast-paced and thoroughly entertaining action flick. Add to that excellent picture and audio plus some good supplements and the DVD becomes a winner.

4. THE MIST (B+/B+/A-)
No one will ever mistake The Mist for a classic Steven King adaptation, as the movie comes with too many flaws. However, it does maintain a creepy atmosphere and it stays with you long after it ends, so I regard it as a success. The DVD gives us very nice picture and audio, but it excels in terms of extras due to a worthwhile audio commentary and a black and white version of the film. The latter is an intriguing addition that helps create a nice release.

5. 101 DALMATIANS - PLATINUM EDITION (A-/B-/B+)
As long as Lady and the Tramp exists, 1961's 101 Dalmatians can never claim to be more than Disney's second-best dog movie. Nonetheless, it charms and entertains - and gives us perhaps Disney's most amusing villain via Cruella De Vil. This new DVD boasts excellent picture quality and acceptable sound along with some reasonably good supplements. I regret the absence of an audio commentary, but the release still satisfies.

6. THE LAST EMPEROR - CRITERION COLLECTION (B/B/A)
Every year I find myself forced to put some movies I don't like on my early Top Tens. I prefer to only list films I enjoy, but some DVDs are too good to ignore, and the early months of each year come with such slim pickings that the Top Ten presence of some flicks that don't work for me becomes inevitable. I don't honestly dislike 1987's Oscar-winning The Last Emperor, but I think it's a bit of a bore. The DVD suffers from an altered aspect ratio and otherwise only good - not great - picture quality, but audio seems fine for its era, and the abundance of extras makes this a Top Ten-worthy package.

7. THE ICE STORM - CRITERION COLLECTION (B/B/B+)
Maybe I should've put this Criterion release of The Ice Storm above their release of Last Emperor since I much prefer Storm as a movie. The superior supplements on Emperor give it the nod, but I still find a lot to like about the DVD of Storm. It's a subtle, evocative film that draws in the viewer with its quiet drama. The DVD comes with good picture and audio and the usual array of interesting extras.

8. RENDITION (B+/B+/B+)
Like I said earlier, my initial Top Tens always include some movies I don't like. At least I have some respect for Last Emperor; it's a quality flick but just not a great one. Rendition, on the other hand, is essentially a dud, a long editorial only sporadically come to life. At least the DVD looks and sounds really good, and the extras inform and entertain. Too bad the flick itself disappoints.

9. GROUNDHOG DAY - 15TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (B+/B+/B)
The Top Ten bounces back here with a movie that I really enjoy: 1993's Groundhog Day. After 15 years and multiple viewings, the flick still holds up as funny, clever and warm. The DVD provides very good picture and audio plus a smattering of pretty interesting supplements. It doesn't soar as a DVD, but it's good enough for this initial Top Ten.

10. IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT - 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (B+/B/B)
The Top Ten concludes with another movie that shouldn't have won Best Picture. At least Last Emperor benefited from fairly weak competition. On the other hand, 1967's In the Heat of the Night topped classics like The Graduate and Bonnie and Clyde. Heat is actually a decent movie, but it doesn't compare to some of its competition. This new DVD treats the flick well, though, with very nice picture quality, good audio and a few useful extras. It's enough to round out this early Top Ten.