DVD extras make top-shelf 'Zodiac' a killer

"Zodiac" (two-disc director's cut) -- With "Zodiac," David Fincher leaps from talented showoff to accomplished filmmaker. This based-on-fact movie -- a stunning mixture of horror story, police procedural and character study -- follows three men on the trail of the Zodiac killer, who terrorized San Francisco and surrounding communities during the late 1960s and early '70s. Fincher abandons the look-at-me pyrotechnics of his previous films (see "Se7en" or "Fight Club") in favor of a classic narrative style that reminded me of "The Conversation"-era Francis Ford Coppola. The story begins with the Zodiac's murder of two teenagers parked in a lover's lane. He sends a coded letter to the local papers taking credit for the killing. Two men at the San Francisco Chronicle -- hard-drinking crime reporter Paul Avery and straight-arrow cartoonist Robert Graysmith -- start to investigate the case, as does celebrity San Francisco cop David Toschi (who served as the inspiration for Dirty Harry). The investigation soon takes a toll on all three men as months go by, bodies pile up and the Zodiac remains frustratingly out of reach. Fincher does a fantastic job re-creating 1970s San Francisco for "Zodiac," and he exhibits a master's control of pacing. A mood of simmering, sometimes unbearable dread permeates every frame. (One scene, when Graysmith visits the house of a creepy informant, will make you squirm with fear.) The lead actors -- Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo and Jake Gyllenhaal -- are superb, and Elias Koteas and Brian Cox supply great supporting turns. "Zodiac" is, quite simply, a must-see.

The theatrical cut of "Zodiac" appeared on a bare-bones DVD last summer. This director's cut is just four minutes longer, and to be honest, I couldn't tell what the additional scenes were. Where this new DVD delivers, though, is in the extras. On board are two commentaries, one by Fincher and the other by the actors and famed crime novelist James Ellroy -- a real treat. The set also includes a fascinating making-of documentary and an exhaustive look at the real Zodiac case that's as scary and fascinating as the film. (Paramount, $36.99)

"3:10 to Yuma" -- Genre-hopping director James Mangold, who helmed the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line" and the criminally underrated Sylvester Stallone/Robert De Niro crime epic "Copland," proves himself to be just as skilled with Westerns in "3:10 to Yuma," a remake of the 1950s classic. Christian Bale plays Dan Evans, a down-on-his-luck rancher who agrees to help accompany famed murderer Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to the train that will take him to Yuma Prison. Wade's buddies, a motley crew of low-life killers, try to stop the party, leading to a final showdown between Evans and Wade. Bale and Crowe are terrific in the movie, and Peter Fonda shines in a juicy supporting role. The ending is a tad unconvincing, but overall this is a solid Western that manages to avoid the cliches of the genre and make the story relevant to a contemporary audience. The DVD includes a Mangold commentary and a slew of behind-the-scenes featurettes. (R; Lionsgate, $29.95)

"Sunshine" -- "Sunshine" is a strange, uneven but fascinating film, a mix of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Alien." It's set in the near future, when the sun is growing weaker, leading to harsh winterlike conditions on Earth. Before the sun goes completely dark and kills all life on the planet, a group of scientists heads into space with a nuclear bomb they hope will jump-start the sun back to full strength. Their ship, Icarus II, is the second one to attempt the mission; the first one never made it. As Icarus II nears the sun, it picks up a distress call from its predecessor. A divided crew decides to change course and rendezvous with the first Icarus to see if any survivors remain, a decision that has horrific consequences for everyone involved. "Sunshine" is an entertaining, thoughtful bit of sci-fi with some stunning images from director Danny Boyle ("28 Days Later"). The "Alien" half of the movie derails it a bit, but "Sunshine" remains a startlingly original film. The DVD is packed with solid bonus content, including a Boyle commentary and deleted scenes. (R; Fox, $29.98)