The DVD for Spike Lee's poignant, subdued 25th Hour is as good as the movie itself. The 2.35:1 anamorphic image is excellent all-around. Grainy here, vividly clear there, it's a faithful representation of the theatrical print. Detail is very strong, and the color scheme envisioned by Lee and director of photography Rodrigo Prieto is a real strong point. Reds and blues, in particular, stand out vibrantly. The 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack is equally good. While the dialogue is centered up front, the surrounds are very aggressive at the right time, creatively enveloping the viewer, especially during a club scene late in the film. At times it's actually a bit startling, but thoroughly effective. A number of worthwhile supplements have been included. Most important are two commentaries, one from the director and the other from the author/screenwriter David Benioff. Both offer, from their own perspective, a wealth of information about making the film and the challenges involved. Equally important, though maybe showing a little conceit, is a 20-minute featurette on the career of Lee. He's praised by all, including Halle Berry and Martin Scorsese, as one of the finest filmmakers of our time. Finally, along with a montage of Ground Zero shots edited together, are a handful of deleted scenes, most of which wouldn't have added anything to the film.

The Universal Studios DVD of The Hurricane nicely frames the story of Rubin Carter's personal and social redemption, with a lovely anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfer highlighting the superb work of cinematographer Roger Deakin (Shawshank Redemption, Fargo), and Dolby Digital or Surround Sound options (all the better for listening to the timely, eclectic soundtrack music of Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Etta James, and Gil Scott Heron). In the "Audio Commentary" feature, director Norman Jewison answers the controversy surrounding the film by saying, "Truth is a moving target. You'll never get it right." He points out the historical facts and dramatic license between the film and actual events. He also comments on the more technical details -- film locations, lens size, and the need for different angles when forced to use the same location over and over (e.g. the prison visiting area). A 20-minute featurette, "The Making of The Hurricane," gives the audience a glimpse of the real-life Rubin Carter and Lesra Martin discussing their experiences. The "Deleted Scenes" section includes five brief scenes, with introductions by Jewison. Along with the usual DVD extras of a theatrical trailer, cast and crew background, production notes, and DVD-ROM links, these features provide a thorough and intelligent DVD package.