Malcolm X [2 Discs]

"Spike Lee's epic biopic of Malcolm X gets a superb two-disc special edition release from Warner Bros. that offers a handful of appealing extras. A full-length commentary featuring Lee, cinematographer Ernest Dickerson, editor Barry Alexander Brown, and costume designer Ruth Carter (who earned an Oscar nomination for her work in the film) touches upon seemingly every conceivable aspect of the film's somewhat troubled production. Especially entertaining are Lee's stories about fighting with the bond company once they had taken control of the filming. There are a handful of deleted scenes introduced by the director. A second disc offers a 1972 documentary about Malcolm X that offers a healthy amount of footage of the man. This film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary, and it offers the viewer the chance to appreciate how Denzel Washington fully captured the man in his performance. The transfer is presented in a widescreen image that preserves the original aspect ratio. Lee's film offers an English soundtrack mixed in Dolby Digital 5.1, and a French soundtrack recorded in Dolby Surround Stereo. The documentary's soundtrack has been recorded in Dolby Digital Mono. This disc offers a first-rate presentation of what is arguably Spike Lee's best film."