Blu-Ray Review: Spike Lee’s Amazing ‘Do the Right Thing’ a Must Own

CHICAGO – I can still vividly remember seeing Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing”. For a teenager just becoming interested in the world of film, it was life-changing. And it still resonates as one of the best films of the ’80s and a searing commentary on the state of race relations in the big city. The 20th Anniversary Blu-Ray Edition of Lee’s amazing film is a must-own.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

It’s almost hard to believe that people born the year that “Do the Right Thing” came out are in college already. What’s most remarkable is how little the film has aged. Perhaps it’s a sad commentary on civil rights, but does anyone think that “Do the Right Thing” wouldn’t be just as relevant and powerful if it came out in 2009 instead of 1989?

Do the Right Thing was released on Blu-Ray on June 30th, 2009.
Photo credit: Universal

Still Lee’s best film, “Do the Right Thing” is about one scorching day in Brooklyn. As temperatures rise, so do tempers and the final act of the film remains one of the most effective in the history of cinema. Watching it again, it’s amazing how much “Do the Right Thing” both feels like a statement on the end of the ’80s but also resonates for modern audiences. Many great movies are both products of their era and timeless. “Do the Right Thing” is a great movie.

Universal’s excellent Blu-Ray release comes with not only a remastered video and audio transfer but a wealth of special features that run over four hours. Many are imported from the excellent Criterion DVD release but they’ll be new to audiences that never picked up that edition and the new features are spectacular.

Special features on “Do the Right Thing” include a new commentary track by Lee and the new and fantastic “Do the Right Thing: 20 Years Later”. Other special features include the previously available commentary with Lee, Director of Photography Ernest Dickerson, Production Designer Wynn Thomas, and Actor Joie Lee, 11 Deleted and Extended Scenes, “Behind the Scenes,” “Making Do the Right Thing,” an interview with Editor Barry Brown, “The Riot Sequence,” and “Cannes, 1989”. It is more complete and comprehensive a collection of special features than ninety percent of the Blu-Ray releases to date.

“Do the Right Thing” will always hold a prominent place in my personal history of film and it’s always satisfying to see your own beloved classics given the Blu-Ray treatment they deserve. Universal has done just that with “Do the Right Thing”.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com