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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Spike Lee
USA 1989

 

The hottest day of the year explodes on-screen in this vibrant look at a day in the life of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Featuring a stellar ensemble cast that includes Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito, Robin Harris, Samuel L. Jackson, Bill Nunn, Rosie Perez, and John Turturro, Spike Lee’s powerful portrait of urban racial tensions sparked controversy while earning popular and critical praise.

***

It's the hottest day of the summer. You can do nothing, you can do something, or you can... Do the Right Thing. Directed by visionary filmmaker Spike Lee, Do the Right Thing is one of the most thought-provoking and groundbreaking films of the last 20 years. The controversial story centers around one scorching inner-city day, when racial tensions reach the boiling point in a tough Brooklyn neighborhood.  

Posters

 

Theatrical Release: June 14th, 1989 - France

Reviews                                                                                                                More Reviews                                                                                           DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Criterion (2-disc) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Turbine (DE - Steelbook) - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray

 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP vs. Universal Studio LEFT

2) Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Turbine - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

Box Cover

 

 

Available on Blu-ray from Criterion in the UK on August 26th, 2019:

Distribution Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray Turbine Steelbook (DE) - Region FREE - Blu-ray Criterion Spine #97 - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime 2:00:00 1:59:53.436 1:59:53.769 2:00:09.202
Video 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.4 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 49,131,274,027 bytes

Feature: 33,247,156,224 bytes

Video Bitrate: 28.70 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 45,214,968,372 bytes

Feature: 29,423,025,984 bytes

Video Bitrate: 27.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 49,936,079,074 bytes

Feature: 36,516,126,720 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.58 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Bitrate:

Criterion DVD

Bitrate: Universal

Blu-ray

Bitrate: Turbine

Blu-ray

Bitrate: Criterion

Blu-ray

Audio PCM 2.0 stereo and Dolby Digital 2.0 surround, Commentary: English (Dolby 2.0) DTS-HD Master Audio English 3890 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3890 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DUBs: DTS Audio French 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Spanish 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
Commentaries: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

DTS-HD Master Audio German 1509 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1509 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1509 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentaries:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3635 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3635 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -31dB

Subtitles English (SDH), None English, French, Spanish, None English, German, None English (SDH), None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Criterion

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.85:1

Edition Details:

• Transfer approved by cinematographer Ernest Dickerson
• Audio commentary by director Spike Lee, Dickerson, production designer Wynn Thomas, and actor Joie Lee
• New video introductions by Spike Lee
• St. Clair Bourne’s 60-minute documentary The Making of “Do the Right Thing” (1:00:56)
• Spike Lee and line producer John Kilik revisit the film’s Bed-Stuy locations
• Public Enemy’s video for "Fight the Power,” directed by Spike Lee (3:40, 7:13)
• The 1989 Cannes Film Festival press (42;16) conference with Spike Lee, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, and Joie Lee
• Spike Lee’s behind-the-scenes footage, from rehearsal to wrap (6-parts - 56:00)
• Original storyboards for the riot sequence
• New video interview with editor Barry Brown (4-parts - 10:00)
• Theatrical trailer and TV spots

Spike's Last Words (6:23)

DVD Release Date: February 20th, 2001

Double thick Keep Case
Chapters: 16

Release Information:
Studio:
Universal

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 49,131,274,027 bytes

Feature: 33,247,156,224 bytes

Video Bitrate: 28.7 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Edition Details:

• Do the Right Thing: 20 Years Later (35:47 in HD!)
• Deleted and Extended Scenes (14:14 in HD!)
• Feature Commentary with Spike Lee, Director of Photography Ernest Dickerson, Production Designer Wynn Thomas, and Actor Joie Lee
• 20th Anniversary Edition Feature Commentary
• Behind the Scenes (57:59 in SD)
• Making Do the Right Thing (1:01:01)
• Editor Barry Brown (9:38)
• The Riot Sequence
• Cannes, 1989 (42:01)
• Theatrical trailer
• Two TV spots

Blu-ray Release Date: June 30th, 2009
Standard
Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 12

Release Information:
Studio:
Turbine

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 45,214,968,372 bytes

Feature: 29,423,025,984 bytes

Video Bitrate: 27.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Edition Details:

• Audio commentary by director Spike Lee, Dickerson, production designer Wynn Thomas, and actor Joie Lee
• Commentary with Spike Lee
• Do the Right Thing: 20 Years Later (35:47 - 2009)
• Making Do the Right Thing (1:01:50)
• Behind the Scenes (57:59)
• Deleted and Extended Scenes (14:14)
• Cannes Press Conference, 1989 (42:22)
• Editor Barry Brown (9:38)
• On Location Interview Spike Lee (4:49)
• Storyboards (Intro - 1:03 - 14:45)
• Opening Dance Sequence (3:46)
• Trailer (2:12)
• TV Spots (1:02)

Blu-ray Release Date: December 14th, 2018
Steelbook
Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 12

Release Information:
Studio:
Criterion

 

1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 49,936,079,074 bytes

Feature: 36,516,126,720 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.58 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Audio commentary from 1995 featuring director Spike Lee, Dickerson, production designer Wynn Thomas, and actor Joie Lee
• Introductions by Lee
• Making “Do the Right Thing,” a documentary from 1989 by St. Clair Bourne, in a new 2K digital transfer (01:01:02)
• New interviews with costume designer Ruth E. Carter, New York City Council Member Robert Cornegy Jr., writer Nelson George, and filmmaker Darnell Martin
• Three programs from 2000 and 2009, featuring Lee and cast and crew members Barry Alexander Brown, Chuck D, Dickerson, Richard Edson, Frankie Faison, Jon Kilik, Kevin Ladson, Steve Park, Rosie Perez, Luis Ramos, Monty Ross, John Savage, Roger Guenveur Smith, and John Turturro
Music video for Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” directed by Lee, with remarks from rapper Chuck • Cannes Film Festival press conference from 1989 featuring Lee along with actors Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Edson, and Joie Lee (42:06)
• Behind-the-scenes footage (57:59)
The Riot Sequence (16:59)
• Deleted and extended scenes (14:14)
Original storyboards,
• trailer, and TV spots (03:14)
• The one and only DTRT (31:46)
• Barry Alexander Brown, Editor (10:00)
• Costume designer Ruth E. Carter (16:34)
• Back to Bed-Stuy (04:49)
20 years later (35:46)
PLUS: An essay by critic Vinson Cunningham and (on the Blu-ray) extensive excerpts from the journal Lee kept during the preparation for and production of the film
New cover, featuring a mural painted by Danielle Mastrion


Blu-ray Release Date:
July 23rd, 2019
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 26

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' Blu-ray - July 19': Criterion bring Spike Lee's classic, "Do the Right Thing" to Blu-ray in an absolutely jam-packed 2-disc (2 Blu-ray) set. The film is housed on a dual-layered disc with a maxed-out bitrate. This is advertised as an all-new 4K digital restoration, approved by cinematographer Ernest Dickerson. The framing is ever-so-slightly different than previous releases, most likely due to being scanned from (what I assume is) the original negative. That red/yellow tint looks even lovelier than it did on the turbine disc, showing a wider range of colors. A more evident film grain-like texture now appears as well. Skin tones especially benefit from this new 4K restoration, as does the robust contrast. Just look at that last comparison capture, with the late great Bill Nunn (the Love/Hate image), and notice how his skin tone no longer matches the background buildings like it did on the Turbine Blu-ray. Now he is front and center, without losing the generally correct color timing. Each frame shows slightly more decipherable information, enhancing clarity, when compared to the Turbine disc. This is a beauty of a transfer.

The film is given the DTS-HD Master audio treatment here, in 5.1 24-bit surround. Though only perceivable when comparing back to back, I would give the Criterion disc the edge here over the Turbine. The 24-bit track shows a beefier range, especially when Public Enemy's 'Fight the Power' kicks in. There are optional English subtitles on this Region 'A' / 'B'
Blu-ray from Criterion.

Aside from the previously available commentary, disc one features the following bonus features; "Behind the Scenes", "Deleted and Extended Scenes", "The Riot Sequence", and the film's trailer and two TV Spots. "Behind the Scenes" is a 58-minute piece featuring footage that Director Spike Lee and his brother Cinque Lee shot during preproduction on "Do the Right Thing" and at the block party celebrating the film's wrap in the summer of 1988. It is preceded by a brief introduction by Spike, recorded in 2000. "Deleted and Extended Scenes" is 14-minutes of extra footage, available either by scene, or in a play-all function. "The Riot Sequence" features storyboards for the film's riot sequence, alongside the scenes as they appear in the film, showcasing Lee's talents. The video is preceded by an introduction from the director, recorded in 2000. Rounding off disc one are the aforementioned trailer and TV spots.

Blu-ray disc two's features include; "Making 'Do the Right Thing", "The One and Only 'Do the Right Thing", "Cannes Press Conference", "Barry Alexander Brown", "Ruth E. Carter", "Back to Bed-Stuy", "Twenty Years Later", "Fight the Power", and "Spike's Last Word". Some of these extras have appeared on previous releases. "Making 'Do the Right Thing'", the hour-long documentary from 1989 by St. Clair Bourne, is presented here in an all-new 2K digital transfer. "The One and Only 'Do the Right Thing" is an all new 32-minute program from 2019, produced by Criterion. New York City Council member Robert Cornegy Jr., writer and director Nelson George, and filmmaker Darnell Martin discuss the influence and continued relevance of Spike Lee's iconic film. "Cannes Press Conference" is 42-minute press conference from the world premiere at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. Featured here are Spike Lee and cast members Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Joie Lee, and Richard Edson. "Barry Alexander Brown" is a 10-minute interview with the Editor of the film. "Ruth E. Carter" is an all new 16-minute interview with the costume designer. "Back to Bed-Stuy" is a 5-minute piece from 2000 showing Spike Lee and line producer Jon Kilik revisiting the block in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhoos where the film was shot. "Twenty Years Later" is a 36-minute piece shot in 2009 for the 20th anniversary screening in NYC. Director Spike Lee conducted a series of interviews with members of the cast and crew. This features words from Richard Edson, Frankie Faison, Steve Park, Rosie Perez, Luis Ramos, Roger Guenveur Smith, John Savage, John Turturro, propman Kevin Ladson, co-producer Monty Ross, line producer Jon Kilik, and Public Enemy's Chuck D. In 1989 Spike Lee directed two music videos for Public Enemy's "Fight the Power", the main anthem for the film. One of those videos is presented here with a Spike intro, recorded in 2000. Also here are photographs from the video's production set to two tracks of remarks by Public Enemy's Chuck D, recorded in 1995. "Spike's Last Word" previously appeared on the Criterion DVD and is also shown here on the Blu-ray. Also here is an essay by critic Vinson Cunningham and extensive excerpts from the journal Lee kept during the preparation for and production of the film, not to mention a new cover, featuring a mural painted by Danielle Mastrion.

"Do the Right Thing" is just as powerful as it was when it was released in the late 1980's. Criterion's new
Blu-ray package is absolutely loaded to the brim with extras, and a killer 4K restoration with boomin lossless 5.1 surround makes this a must-own disc.

Colin Zavitz

***

ADDITION: Turbine - Region FREE Blu-ray - January 19': Wow - almost a decade. Turbine offer the film with the correct yellow/warm tints - intended by the filmmakers (as in the Criterion DVD - approved by cinematographer Ernest Dickerson). Finally. The film has a robust 1080P transfer via the Turbine - it looks amazing on my system - high bitrate - solid detail and those luscious yellow-orange-bathed visuals that suit the film so well. There might be some very minor edge-enhancement, also seen on the Universal, but it didn't affect my viewing.

DTS-HD Master in both English 2.0 and 5.1 surround (only 16-bit) and a German DUB. It sounds very good if lacking the depth of the Universal Blu-ray. There are optional English and German subtitles available and the disc is Region FREE.

This Turbine Steelbook has all the extras of the previous releases (that I can tell) including the two commentaries and extensive Making of..., Behind the Scenes and Cannes Press Conference (2 3/4 hours just for those) with optional German subtitles.

The film remains so impacting - I hadn't seen in almost a decade myself. Are the tints important? immensely in my opinion - it changes the film experience. I LOVE the Steelbook case too - very classy - what a keepsake - Amazing job Turbine - keep'em coming!  

***

ADDITION: Universal Studios - Region FREE Blu-ray - June 09': 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 intentional!! We have been informed, that it is accurate (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 although there are hints of edge-enhancement. 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

 


DVD Menus - extras


Disc 2

 

Turbine - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Sample

 

Turbine - Region FREE - Blu-ray TOP vs. Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Turbine - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Turbine - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Turbine - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Turbine - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Turbine - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Turbine - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Turbine - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Turbine - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Turbine - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC TOP

2) Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Turbine - Region FREE - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Criterion - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


 

Box Cover

 

 

Available on Blu-ray from Criterion in the UK on August 26th, 2019:

Distribution Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC Universal Studios - Region FREE - Blu-ray Turbine Steelbook (DE) - Region FREE - Blu-ray Criterion Spine #97 - Region 'A' / 'B' - Blu-ray




 

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