I'll be brief - the NTSC version is superior because:

1) It is anamorphic (the PAL is not - see below).

2) Although still single-layered it takes up 4.27 Gig of space (superior, although hardly optimum, compression)

After that everything else is about the same - both 1.66, similar audio and subtitle options and neither have any supplements. I would have thought this, Spike Lee's first full-length feature, deserved better but so be it. Super cool little film - competent bare-bones DVD.

On the PAL EDITION: Well, good ol' MGM are up to there frugal-production tricks again. Many Spike Lee fans have awaited this film to come to DVD for quite some time - existing on an old Laserdisc until now. Unfortunately, our friends at MGM have decided to invest very little in the transfer - it is an accurate 1.66 ratio (as was the Laserdisc) but it is non-anamorphic. It also sports zero extras and they couldn't even spring for a chapter menu to go along with the standard one that we saw on Yellowbeard. Who is running this outfit?

It uses only 3.35 Gig of the 4.75 available on a single-layered disc.

On the positive - it is progressive and image quality is certainly acceptable in the areas of sharpness and contrast. There are some minor artifacts but it seems to hold up to a decent standard throughout the film. During my viewing I listened to the mono track which showed the limitations of a gritty Indie-based production. I only briefly tried the 5.1 track and don't really have an opinion on it yet.

Even a minor label might have found some extras to include or at least paid for some artwork for a few menus. Anyway, She's Gotta Have It looks better than I remember my last viewing of the Laserdisc and the film is marvelous - but the DVD is not what it could have been. After such a long wait - it is kinds of disappointing.   

Gary W. Tooze