Loaded with original supplements (if not that elusive director's commentary track), the DVD of L.A. Confidential makes its mark as one of the better DVDs in the early development of the format, but leaves something to be desired in the age of the two-disc special edition. Warner DVD made a valiant attempt at a feature-loaded DVD and presented the film in anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen and Dolby Digital. Present are three documentaries (all which fall under the half-hour mark), trailers, TV spots, and a music-only track for Jerry Goldsmith's score. The first documentary, Off the Record, focuses primarily on the task of translating James Ellroy's novel to the screen, but also includes some rare screen tests. Second is a video version of the original photo pitch that Curtis Hanson gave the producers, conveying through pictures of L.A. in the '50s the movie he wanted to make. Lastly, there is a feature that allows the viewer to take a virtual tour -- narrated by the director -- of the Los Angeles of the film by selecting a location from a map menu. While not an authoritative edition of the film, the L.A. Confidential DVD remains one of the best early special edition discs.

One of the most important World War II films of our time and winner of five Academy Awards, Saving Private Ryan is a seemingly routine DVD, but it packs a big punch. In addition to standard DVD extras such as production notes, cast and crew bios and the theatrical trailer, this disc includes "Into the Breach", a 25-minute making-of featurette that is both an informative history lesson on D-day and a story of Spielberg's fascination with war. "Into the Breach" includes interviews with D-day survivors as well as of Spielberg and his father and spotlights his early student war films Escape to Nowhere and Fighter Squadron. The film itself receives a great transfer in widescreen 1:85, and Dolby Digital or 5:1 Surround.