NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Universal Studios - Region FREE Blu-ray - June 09': It appears as though Criterion's 2-disc DVD from 2001 is certainly bested by this new Blu-ray package from Universal.

Starting with the image - the Criterion has a decidedly orange/yellow hue to it that dulls the overall color balance and alters skin tones - but this is probably intended. We have been informed, that it is intentional (thanks Nick!) - the warm color filtering representing the hottest day of the year. Detail greatly benefits from the move to hi-def and there is even a marginal amount of additional information available in the frame. Contrast is superior and you can even see some healthy grain in the new Blu-ray transfer. Depth is also more apparent in the less-expensive Universal 1080P edition despite that the Criterion SD-DVD had their transfer approved by cinematographer Ernest Dickerson. Aside from Universal removing the filter, it seems as though all visual facets are improved in the Blu-ray - perhaps even more than I was anticipating. The consistently textured Universal release looks quite impressive especially with the livelier colors and improved sharpness.

NOTE: Despite another site stating this was VC-1 - I can assure my Blu-ray was encoded with MPEG-4 AVC.

Criterion's PCM track was a more unique feature 8 years ago but the Universal DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 3890 kbps is pretty sweet. There is a lot of perfectly cued music utilized in Lee's film beyond Public Enemy's frequently played "Fight the Power" and it all sounds that much crisper in HD. This includes Bill Lee's original score for his son's film. The track hints at an explosive quality with police sirens, boom-boxes and spiraling violence keeping the film's latter anxiety-pace at a tense and effective pitch. Both editions offer optional English subtitles but the Blu-ray adds French and Spanish. My Momitsu tells me this release is region FREE!    

As far as supplements go - both editions are stacked and the Blu-ray has many (most) of the 2-disc Criterion extras as well as adding even more. The new hi-def edition includes the older audio commentary by director Spike Lee, Dickerson, production designer Wynn Thomas, and actor Joie Lee - as well as St. Clair Bourne’s 60-minute documentary The Making of “Do the Right Thing”, the 42-minute 1989 Cannes Film Festival press conference with Spike Lee, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, and Joie Lee. Also repeated from the 2-disc DVD set are Spike Lee’s hour-long behind-the-scenes footage, from rehearsal to wrap in 6-parts, the original storyboard gallery for the riot sequence and the 10-minute video interview with editor Barry Brown in 4-parts. What you lose are intros that mention 'Criterion' specifically and their liner notes essay by Ebert. New to the Blu-ray is a second commentary (entitled 20th Anniversary Feature Commentary) with only Lee - albeit with some gaps - and in HD are 14-minutes of 11 'newly discovered' deleted and extended scenes and the almost 40-minutes of Do the Right Thing: 20 Years Later documentary retrospective with cast and crew. Whewww!

Okay - so the Universal Blu-ray is vastly superior but not supporting the original theatrical look and the lone hi-def disc is jammed to the brim with over 49 Gig filled of feature and supplements. Considering the price (less than $20) and film value - this amounts to quandary on purchasing. You may decide for yourself.

Gary W. Tooze