The Best DVDs of 2003

Last year saw dozens of outstanding DVD releases. We asked our staff to pick the ten best. The top three choices make one thing clear: Our reviewers are into good audio! Each of these films has an outstanding soundtrack, showing just how far DVD has come in bringing great sonics to home theater. We also noticed that Disney family titles copped the greatest number of listings, just as we noticed the absence of any Criterion listings. Criterion used to be the front-running label for great-looking DVDs, setting a standard that has now apparently been equaled by the majors. We also noticed that TV shows on DVD have become more popular.

The envelope, please:

• First Place: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Platinum Series Special Extended Edition) (New Line Home Video)
• Second Place: Finding Nemo (Buena Vista Home Entertainment)
• Third Place: Chicago (Miramax Home Entertainment)
• Fourth Place: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Four (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)
• Fifth Place: 24: Season Two (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)
• Sixth Place: Road to Perdition (DreamWorks Home Entertainment)
• Seventh Place: Who Framed Roger Rabbit (Vista Series) (Touchstone Home Entertainment)
• Eighth Place: The Adventures of Indiana Jones: The Complete Movie Collection (Paramount Home Video)
• Ninth Place: Punch-Drunk Love (Superbit Edition) (Columbia TriStar Home Video)
• Tenth Place: Winged Migration (Columbia TriStar Home Video)

Honorable Mentions:

• The Adventures of Robin Hood (Warner Home Video)
• Back to the Future: The Complete Trilogy (Universal)
• Casablanca (Special Edition) (Warner Home Video)
• Gangs of New York (Miramax Home Entertainment)
• The Looney Tunes Golden Collection (Warner Home Video)
• NYPD Blue: Season Two (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)
• The Producers (MGM Home Entertainment)
• Rabbit-Proof Fence (Miramax Home Entertainment)
• Three Colors Trilogy (Blue/White/Red) (Miramax Home Entertainment)
• X2: X-Men United (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)

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