Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video | | 4.0 |
| Audio |  | 4.5 |
| Extras |  | 3.5 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
Gangs of New York Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 25, 2021
Occasionally, a title that has been out for some time will enter my review queue unexpectedly, often due to things like either re-releases and / or
sale prices and the like, and I'm assuming maybe both of those are at play with regard to this recent (re-)release of Gangs of New York,
which
looks to me to simply
be a repackaging of the Gangs of New York release
from several years ago, down to some decidedly old school verbiage about loading times due to "newfangled" Blu-ray technology and some seriously
out of date "coming attraction" trailers (anyone remember Surrogates
?). That said, there are some arguably very slight differences in presentation on this release which I'll speak to in the technical
comments, below.
As mentioned above,
Gangs of New York has actually had
several previous releases on Blu-ray. For a plot recap, I refer you to
Ken Brown's
Gangs of New York Blu-ray review. I'm
repeating Ken's comments on the supplements, with a few additions of my own, since both releases share that content, and I'm also repeating some
of Ken's technical observations on that disc in the appropriate sections, below.
Gangs of New York Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
Gangs of New York is presented on Blu-ray (this time) courtesy of Paramount Pictures and Miramax with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in
2.35:1. I refer you again to Ken's excellent Gangs of New York
Blu-ray review for his thoughts on that presentation, since this one looks very similar, though perhaps not identical. This release looked
just slightly darker to my eyes, though only barely. Compare screenshot 1 in Ken's review with screenshot 1 in this review, for an idea of the
admittedly
very minor differences, which are also evident in perhaps lesser amounts when comparing screenshot 5 in Ken's review with screenshot 6 in this review.
That said, Ken gave that release a 4.5, while I'm scoring this a 4.0, which may understandably make some wonder "what
gives?" My old mantra of "different reviewers, different opinions" factors in, of course, but it's been over a decade since that particular remaster was
done, and I'm frankly wondering if a re-do might improve things even more.
Gangs of New York Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
Gangs of New York features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that was to my ears identical to the track on the disc Ken reviewed. Ken's Gangs of New York Blu-ray review is once again
recommended, and about the only thing I'd add in response is those quiet moments Ken mentions perhaps only tend to point out how wide the
expressive dynamic range on this track is.
Gangs of New York Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
I'm repeating Ken's original list of supplements below, though I'm adding the resolution and actual timings for each of them when relevant. This
release also comes with a digital copy.
- Audio Commentary: Anyone who questions director Martin Scorsese's passion for filmmaking or his command of his craft need only
listen to one of his commentaries. Scorsese plows through the history, influences, stories, firsthand accounts, and research that made Gangs of
New York the film it is, all while putting each scene, each directorial decision into perspective. He juggles thoughtful analysis, technical details,
and production anecdotes with ease, delivering a rousing lecture that suggests Scorsese could have been a fascinating college professor. There are
lengthy gaps of silence -- the track's lone fault -- but for a three-hour movie, Uncle Marty's pauses amount to little more than a minor distraction.
- History of the Five Points (480i; 13:33): An all-too-brief overview of the history of the era, and the realities of the commercial
conflicts, racism, rivalries, and dangers that plagued 19th Century New York.
- Set Design (480i; 9:07): Scorsese and production designer Dante Ferretti discuss the film's massive sets, the attention to detail
that went into every building and cityscape, and the benefits they reaped by staying true to the grit, grime, and atmosphere of the time.
- Exploring the Sets of Gangs of ew York (480i; 22:31): Ferretti and Scorsese host an absorbing (albeit slightly chatty) tour
of the streets of Gangs of
New York, dissecting the work and craftsmanship that went into the cobblestone roads, dilapidated buildings, and toppled walls that dot the city.
- Costume Design (480i; 8:12): A fitting companion piece to the disc's "Set Design" short, this featurette touches on the details and
personalities of the film's costumes.
- Discovery Channel Special: Uncovering the Real Gangs of New York (480i; 35:13): Plucked from the Discovery Channel,
upbeat narration intact, this television
special boasts additional insight into the many gangs that ran New York in the 19th Century. The only downside? It occasionally retreads ground
covered elsewhere on the disc.
- Music Video (480i; 4:41): U2 performs "The Hands That Built America."
- Teaser and Theatrical Trailers (480i; 2:32 and 2:34)
Gangs of New York Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
The disc Ken reviewed is currently going for over $20, so if the slight brightness difference on this disc doesn't bother you (and it's my considered
opinion it shouldn't), this bargain priced disc should be a no brainer for those who love the film and never picked it up in any of its now many previous
releases. Technical merits are solid and the supplementary package well done (if in standard def). Recommended.
