The Spike Lee Joint Collection Vol.2 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Spike Lee Joint Collection Vol.2 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown June 1, 2014

With Disney's two-volume, four-movie Spike Lee Joint Collection, three additional films from the prolific director make their Blu-ray debut. Both sets are something of a mixed bag, albeit for different reasons. Vol. 1 features masterfully written and performed, low-key character study 25th Hour (2002) and the mismatched but compelling He Got Game (1998), each of which showcase a distinct side of Lee's talents and vision. Easily the most tempting of the collection, Vol. 1 may be an odd pairing, but it's one that represents the filmmaker at an interesting intersect in his career; before the likes of Oldboy (2013) -- an abysmal remake in every conceivable way -- left viewers questioning whether Lee still, erm, got game. Vol. 2 is the trickier collection, with excellent but oft-overlooked period piece Summer of Sam (1999) dragged down by misguided war drama Miracle at St. Anna (2008), a late career misfire first released in high definition in 2009 (the only film previously available on BD). Completests will no doubt want to acquire Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, while other longtime Lee fans will lament the fact that the films haven't been granted individual releases (particularly for those who already own Miracle and are only looking to pick up Summer). Thankfully, notable AV presentations and newly recorded audio commentaries will help ensure almost everyone get's their money's worth.

Disc One: Summer of Sam

During New York City's infamous summer of 1977, friends in a small Italian neighborhood become convinced that the notorious Son of Sam killer is someone close to home as the madman's reign of terror sparks a wave of distrust that tears several relationships apart. The film stars John Leguizamo, Mira Sorvino, Adrien Brody, Jennifer Esposito, Michael Rispoli and Anthony LaPaglia.

Very few Spike Lee films go unnoticed. Yet Summer of Sam is just such a rarity, largely underrated upon its release and nearly forgotten in the fifteen years since. While Lee had already proven himself a craftsman of inner-city dramas set in the midst of cultural upheaval, the film wasn't greeted with the instant-classic welcome afforded the still-engrossing Do the Right Thing; a consequence of less dynamic subject matter perhaps, but, more to the point, that of a less socially substantive and relevant film. (Released in July of 1999, no less. A benchmark year in modern cinema, and a crowded summer at that.) In many ways, though, Summer of Sam is a companion piece to Do the Right Thing, with another powder keg of racial, political and socioeconomic tensions that present a very real danger to those caught in its blast radius; small neighborhood working stiffs and nobodies whose paranoia and deep-seated fears are a greater threat to the community -- and each other -- than any killer. Zodiac, this is not. The rhythm of it all is wonderfully realized, the early and mid-70s music suitably cool, and the actors uniformly terrific, even with Lee's flair for hyperstylized characters and stereotypes inching nearer and nearer to distraction. It only helps that Lee and co-writers Victor Colicchio and Michael Imperioli's sizzling, carefully seared script is satisfying, filling and seldom hard to swallow.

Disc Two: Miracle at St. Anna

This untold story of courage and brotherhood in World War II is based on the celebrated novel by James McBride. Stationed in Italy, four members of the U.S. Army's all-black, 92nd Infantry Division, the Buffalo Soldiers, are trapped behind enemy lines after one of them risks his life to save a traumatized young boy. The film stars Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso and Omar Benson Miller.

In his 2009 review, Martin Liebman writes: "Inside Miracle at St. Anna is a great movie, a classic even, yearning to be loosed and remembered with the greats of the war genre, if not as one of the better films of any genre. Unfortunately, the movie feels incomplete and unpolished, awaiting those final touches that turn it from ordinary to extraordinary. Much like the Primavera statue that serves as the focal point of the film, Miracle at St. Anna is a thing of beauty in its own right, worthy of praise and affection, but it is absent the remainder of the finished product, lost to unforetold tragedy and leaving its viewers with only a glimpse as to what may have been. Director Spike Lee tells a tale worth being told. Unfortunately, the project meanders all over the map, at times playing as a straight war picture, at others as a commentary on the racial makeup of the era, and at still others as a sort of religious experience that discusses ideas such as fate and perseverance in the most difficult of circumstances. Each and every one is a noble effort. Lee simply tries to cram in too much, which bogs down the film and whatever primary theme he was aiming for, and the entire experience suffers as a result."

The Spike Lee Joint Collection Vol.2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Summer of Sam's low-key, man-on-the-street visuals embrace the feverish paranoia that runs rampant through the film, and Disney's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation follows suit. Even though the image is inherently softer, grainier and more washed out than some might expect, it's all in step with Lee and cinematographer Ellen Kuras' intentions. Primaries are diluted, black levels are muted, and skintones only reasonably well-saturated, yes. But it's important to note that the more stylized flashes of the Son of Sam investigation and crime scenes don't suffer the same fate. (Revealing the culprit in most instances to be Lee's film stock and Kuras' photography.) However, while detail is typically sacrificed for the director's artistic choices, a small degree of noise reduction and minor ringing are also at play. Fortunately, much of the grain field seems to have survived any polishing. Other than some general dulling and intermittent examples of smearing, neither issue takes much of a toll. Significant macroblocking, banding, aliasing and other anomalies are held at bay, and little else is cause for concern. The subsequent presentation falls short of "definitive," and would certainly benefit from a newer remaster, but it's a far cry from its DVD counterpart.

Read the full review and view additional screenshots here.



Miracle at St. Anna was originally released on Blu-ray in 2009 and it holds up well. Of its 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer, reviewer Martin Liebman writes: "The film features two distinct looks -- those that take place in the United States (regardless of time) and those that take place in 1944 Italy. Those stateside shots sparkle in high definition. They feature first-class clarity, detail, and color reproduction; no shot may look quite as vibrant as the most colorful of Blu-ray discs, but it offers a quality lifelike look that sports a natural, perhaps slightly subdued, appearance. Most of the film takes place in 1944 Italy, and such scenes present viewers with a gritty, washed out, dull, and very grainy image. Detail remains impeccable for the look the film presents during these wartime sequences. The finest details on the uniforms stand out, from the rank patches on the sleeves to the ridges and wear on the hand grenades attached to their shirts. Even the netting on the helmets stands out with excellent texture. Again, the transfer doesn't equate to high definition eye candy; instead, and more importantly, it represents, and faithfully recreates, the intended look of the film brilliantly. In both cases, flesh tones appear spot-on and black levels are impeccable. No matter the scene, Miracle at St. Anna looks fantastic."

Read our full reviews and view additional screenshots here (2009) and here (2014).

The Spike Lee Joint Collection Vol.2 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Summer of Sam's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track simmers with the suspense and tension -- racial, social and sexual -- boiling just beneath the surface. The fully immersive soundfield is all at once convincing and hyper-realistic, bustling with cleverly agitated directionality and frayed sonic nerves courtesy of every channel. Rear speaker activity is relentless and arresting, broadening the soundscape and creating a fully enveloping experience. LFE output is equally impressive, lending a weight and ferocity to the slow-build chaos that promises to erupt by film's end. Moreover, dialogue is naturalistic but intelligible throughout, holding its own in the flood of Lee's style and substance. And the music? Meticulously balanced to reflect the raw, threadbare sensibilities of the narrative without undermining the fidelity of the '70s classics and more obscure gems showcased.

Martin Liebman continues his AV assessment of Miracle at St. Anna, turning to its DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack: "As expected, the highlight of the soundtrack comes during the action sequences. Bass thumps with each explosion and gunfire crackles from every direction. Artillery shells scream around the soundstage, and listeners will be able to feel both the ground rattle under the power of the high velocity projectiles and rumblings of the subsequent explosions. The score swells nicely around the soundstage, and atmospherics -- the rolling water, the breeze, and gunfire and explosions in the distance that pop sporadically in every direction -- fill the soundstage with these sounds with vigor and accuracy. Nevertheless, much of the film is dialogue-driven, and in that regard the track is also first-class. Dialogue is crisp and intelligible, coming across even better than most discs. Whether the way it was recorded or simply a new high in soundtrack presentation, the recorded spoken word has rarely sounded as natural as it does here. Also, the track enjoys a nice bit of atmosphere during the middle sections of the film. Much of it plays out through the front, but the results are consistently impressive. Like the video quality, this lossless DTS soundtrack impresses no matter the situation."

The Spike Lee Joint Collection Vol.2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc One: Summer of Sam

• Audio Commentary: Director/co-writer Spike Lee and "main man" John Leguizamo are old friends, and the two are still enthusiastic about all they were able to achieve with Summer of Sam. Discussion encompasses the extensive research Lee required from his cast, the film's visual style and chapter structure, the events that led to Michael Imperioli bowing out of the lead role (which went to Adrien Brody), the authenticity of the production design, costumes and audio cues, the script and story, and, really, every aspect of the production a filmfan could hope to see explored. An excellent, engaging track from start to finish.

Disc Two: Miracle at St. Anna

• Audio Commentary: An excitable Spike Lee and passionate author/screenwriter James McBride detail the early stages of the project, McBride's motivation to investigate and write about the 92nd Division, various aspects of the history brought to the screen, casting and the performances, and a dissection of the story, themes and characters. Sadly, for all the information and production tidbits it offers, those who don't already enjoy Miracle at St. Anna will find Lee and McBride's commentary to be quite frustrating, as it rarely addresses any of the problematic aspects of the script or Lee's questionable filmmaking choices. The movie the duo describe is more involving and fascinating than what made it to screen, and the gap between what they envisioned and the end result is either ignored or missed entirely. Still, it's worth a listen, if only to gain further appreciation for what Lee was able to accomplish in spite the film's glaring flaws.
• Deleted and Extended Scenes (HD, 21 minutes): Nine scenes are available, including "Co-Workers," "Joe Louis!," "Extended Bar Scene," "Extended General Almond," "Extended Lodovico's House," "Extended Eichholz," "Stamps Plans," "Fabiola" and "Dead Villager Montage."
• The Buffalo Soldier Experience (HD, 22 minutes): Lee, McBride and numerous veterans and historians discuss the history of the Buffalo soldiers, the origin of the name and its use through WWI and WWII, the 92nd Division, racial divides of the WWII era (particularly public reaction to the 92nd Division), and the history and events surrounding the drama depicted in Miracle at St. Anna.
• Deeds Not Words (HD, 17 minutes): An overview of the development of the film and more on the history of the period and the 92nd Division, as told by Lee, McBride and a captivating roundtable of WWII veterans.

The Spike Lee Joint Collection Vol.2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Summer of Sam is strong enough to stand on its own, outside of a two-movie collection, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers. The simple fact that it's even available on Blu-ray is something of a small home-theater miracle, neglected and underrated as it tends to be. A solid AV presentation and newly recorded audio commentary make it that much more worthy of its high definition debut, even if fans will need to add one of Lee's worst films, Miracle at St. Anna, to their collection to enjoy and experience what so many others before them have tragically overlooked. At least St. Anna boasts excellent video, stirring audio and a solid selection of special features, including a newly recorded audio commentary. So give Summer of Sam a shot. Chances are you won't regret it. May as well sample Miracle at St. Anna too. Who knows? You might find an appreciation for it that runs deeper than its flaws.