DVD Reviews

Do The Right Thing (Criterion Collection)

For his third film, director Spike Lee wanted to produce a film that was more personal, that hit closer to home, and that had a strong message that would make everyone think.  That film became Do The Right Thing, which is still considered as Lee’s best film.  Do The Right Thing takes place in the Bedford-Stuyvesant, or “Bed-Stuy”, area of Brooklyn, and is about racial tension and miscommunication on the hottest day of the year.

This is a symbolic, powerful, vibrant, and controversial film that is both comedy and drama, has a powerful message and fascinating characters.  It is probably one of the most under appreciated and underrated films of recent memory and is an excellent conversational piece.  If you are looking to own the film on DVD, it is only appropriate that you get the two-disc special edition from Criterion approved by Lee himself, which means you are getting a quality DVD set.

Presented in a 1.85:1 widescreen format, the image looks solid, thanks to a brand new transfer.  With very little grain remaining the image is sharp and absolutely beautiful.  Its strength is the colours, and the colours in this picture are very lively and dazzling as the way it is supposed to be.  The disc also offers two robust audio tracks, which are Dolby Digital Surround and PCM. While these formats may not be as elaborate as one might hope they are really all you need.  With the right setup, the film can sound excellent.  The mix is good and clear and has no real flaws.

 A good collection of extra features has been compiled for this DVD.  The first disc contains an adequate commentary with Lee and members of the cast and crew.  The second disc contains the rest of the supplemental material, including an excellent documentary on the making of the film, which also focuses on the community’s involvement during the production.  Other features include behind the scenes footage, footage from the Cannes premiere, an interview with the editor, a music video the storyboards of the riot sequence, a revisit to the shooting location, trailers, and essay on the film, and video introductions by Lee. 

It is one of the best and most underrated contemporary films today.  It has a strong message that makes everyone think, plus it is an entertaining movie all around.  But it has never really gotten the respect it deserved until now with this phenomenal Criterion set.  This is one of the better DVD’s ever release and is a must-have for any film buff!  This is an important film and now an important DVD that should not be ignored.

Review By Chris Emery