Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Do the Right Thing Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 16, 2019

Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" (1989) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include vintage promotional materials for the film; archival audio commentary by Spike Lee, cinematographer Ernest Dickerson, production designer Wynn Thomas, and actor Joie Lee; footage from Cannes Film Festival; exclusive new video interview with costumer designer Ruth E. Carter; and more. The release also arrives with a 106-page book featuring an essay by critic Vinson Cunningham and extensive excerpts from the journal Spike Lee kept during the preparation for and production of the film, as well as technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

In the United States Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing was first released on Blu-ray by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. For an in-depth analysis of the film, please see my colleague Casey Broadwater's review of the first release here.

Do the Right Thing Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the book that is provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This new digital transfer was supervised by cinematographer Ernest Dickerson and was created in 16-bit 4K resolution on a Lasergraphics Director film scanner from the 35mm original camera negative. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, splices, and warps were manually removed using MTI Film's DRS, while Digital Vision's Phoenix was used for jitter, flicker, and small dirt. The 5.1 surround track was remastered in 2009 by NBCUniversal StudioPost Audio Operations from the original 35mm four-track stems. It was supervised by sound designer Skip Lievsay and approved by director Spike Lee.

Transfer supervisor: Ernest Dickerson, Lee Kline.
Colorist: Gregg Garvin/Roundabout Entertainment, Burbank, CA."

The new remaster that was created for this release is magnificent. All of the key areas and qualities that we address in our reviews are very strong. For example, delineation and depth are so good that at times it almost looks like the visuals are in native 4K. (Of course they are not, but if you upscale to 4K and then do some comparisons you will be surprised to see that the difference between the 1080p and upscaled material is extremely small). Density levels are outstanding as well, so even on a very large screen you will see some spectacular visuals. The precise color grading also gives the film an incredibly fresh and vibrant organic appearance. Lastly, the entire film is literally spotless. Great remaster. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Do the Right Thing Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The dialog and music sound great to me. Clarity, depth, and overall fidelity I think are outstanding. During the group scenes balance and separation are also excellent. I don't have the Blu-ray release that Universal Pictures Home Entertainment produced a few years ago but I have Criterion's DVD release and the bump in quality is pretty significant. There are no encoding anomalies to report.

Do the Right Thing Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• Behind the Scenes – presented here is vintage footage which Spike Lee and his brother, Cinque, shot during the pre-production of Do the Right Thing and at the block party after shooting was completed. Also included is a vintage introduction by which Spike recorded in 2000. In English, not subtitled. (58 min, 1080i).
  
  1. Introduction
  2. The read-through
  3. Developing character
  4. Rehearsals
  5. Improvising with the corner men
  6. Block party

• Deleted and Extended Scenes – presented here is a large collection of deleted and extended scenes. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Mookie Delivers Pizza
  2. Fried-Egg Cadillac
  3. Rooftop
  4. Dancin' on the Rooftop
  5. Jade and Smiley
  6. Don't Curse in Sal's
  7. Jade and Vito
  8. Jade Oils Mother Sister's Scalp
  9. Jade and Mother Sister Talk of Da Mayor
  10. Delivery for Mister Senor Love Daddy
  11. Sal and Mookie Finale

• The Riot Sequence – presented here are storyboards for the riot sequence from Do the Right Thing, plus an introduction by Spike Lee tat was recorded in 2000. In English, not subtitled. (17 min, 1080p).

• Trailer and TV Spots – in English, not subtitled. (4 min, 1080i).

• Commentary – this vintage audio commentary features Spike Lee, cinematographer Ernest Dickerson, production designer Wynn Thomas, and actor Joie Lee. It was recorded in 1995 and initially appeared on Criterion's LD release of Do the Right Thing,.
  
  1. Chuck D/"Virgin territory"
  2. "How do you express heat?"
  3. Playing with air molecules
  4. Whip pans and rain
  5. The sausage reflection
  6. A Fire hydrant and Frank Vincent
  7. Racial tension
  8. "My first union picture"
  9. "No drugs in this film"
  10. Revisionist history
  11. The Night of the Hunter
  12. Growing up in Brooklyn
  13. Improvised, one-take dolly shot
  14. "Giancarlo loves glasses"
  15. The red wall
  16. Misconceptions about the Lees
  17. Tawana Brawley
  18. "I met Rosie in LA…"
  19. Injecting humor into serious matters
  20. The N-word
  21. The title of the film
  22. "He imploded"
  23. Joie's deleted scene
  24. Role models
  25. Wim Wenders on Mookie
  26. "A sunthesis"

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• Making "Do the Right Thing" (1988) – this archival documentary chronicles the production history of Do the Right Thing. It was directed by St. Clair Bourne and produced by Spike Lee. It is presented with an introduction that was recorded by the director in 2000. New 2K remaster. In English, not subtitled. (61 min, 1080p).

• The One and Only "Do the Right Thing" – in this new program, New York City Council member Robert Cornegy Jr., writer and director Nelson George, filmmaker Darnell Martin, and assistant camera operator Darnell Martin discuss the period in which Do the Right Thing emerged and some of the key themes that define the film. The program was produced exclusively for Criterion in 2019. In English, not subtitled. (32 min, 1080p).

• Cannes Press Conference – presented here is footage from the press conference that took place after Do the Right Thing was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 1989. The footage features Spike Lee and cast members Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Joie Lee, and Richard Edson. In English and French, with imposed English subtitles where necessary. (43 min, 1080i).

• Barry Alexander Brown – in this archival interview, editor Marry Alexander Brown recalls his first encounter with Spike Lee and their collaboration on Do the Right Thing. Also, there are some very good observations about the unique structure of the narrative. The interview was recorded in the summer of 2000. In English, not subtitled. (10 min, 1080i).

• Ruth E. Carter – in this new video interview, costumer designer Ruth E. Carter recalls Spike Lee's descriptions of the look he wanted Do the Right Thing to have and how it was defined by the clothes that the various characters wore. The interview was conducted exclusively for Criterion in 2019. In English, not subtitled. (17 min, 1080p).

• Back to Bed-Stuy – in this archival program, Spike Lee and producer Jon Kilik return to the block in the Brooklyn neighborhood where Do the Right Thing was shot. The program was produced in 2000. In English, not subtitled. (5 min, 1080i).

• Twenty Years Later – this archival program was created after a twentieth-anniversary screening of Do the Right Thing in New York City in 2009. Spike Lee conducted a number of interviews with cast and crew members, including cinematographer Ernest Dickerson, actors Frankie Faison, Steve Park, Rosie Perez, and John Turturro, line producer Jon Kilik, and Chuck D (Public Enemy), amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (36 min, 1080i).

• Fight the Power – presented here is the original music video that Spike Lee directed for Public Enemy's hit Fight the Power. Also included is an introduction by the director from 2000, as well as a gallery of photographs.

• Spike's Last Word – this message from Spike Lee was recorded Criterion's DVD edition of Do the Right Thing in 2000. In English, not subtitled. (7 min, 1080i).

• Book – a 106-page book featuring an essay by critic Vinson Cunningham and extensive excerpts from the journal Spike Lee kept during the preparation for and production of the film, as well as technical credits.

Do the Right Thing Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I think that Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing is a bit like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One part of it is enormously attractive and funny, a wonderful time capsule that has effectively preserved the pulse of a unique place at a unique moment in time. I like it a lot. The other part, however, is very dark and manipulative, even dangerous because it attempts to convince that violence is a legit form of social protest. It is not, and it should never be excused and encouraged -- under any circumstances. Violence can never heal and stimulate progress; it can only widen division and give wings to the wrong people. There is only one bonus feature on this release -- the original press conference from the Cannes Film Festival -- where this very point is brought up and quickly discussed, and I find this quite unfortunate. (If you remain unconvinced that this is a big issue that needs to be put under the spotlight, consider viewing Italian director Stefano Sollima's more recent film A.C.A.B., where two equally frustrated sides find all sorts of 'legit' excuses to justify their use of violence and then crash and burn in the anarchy that engulfs their divided city). Criterion's upcoming release of Do the Right Thing is sourced from a brand new 4K remaster that was supervised and approved by cinematographer Ernest Dickerson. I think that it looks magnificent. RECOMMENDED.