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DVD Video Review
American Gangster (R1) in February
16-01-2008 12:28 | 4389 views | Dave Foster | Show Backlinks
Universal Studios Home Video have announced the Region 1 DVD release of American Gangster on 19th February 2008. Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe team with director Ridley Scott for this epic gangster story. Armed with ruthless, street-wise tactics and a strict sense of honour, crime boss Frank Lucas (Washington) rules Harlem's chaotic drug underworld. When outcast cop Richie Roberts (Crowe) sets out to bring down Lucas's multi-million dollar empire, it plunges both men into a legendary confrontation.
Available in 2-Disc ($29.98 SRP) and 3-Disc ($34.98 SRP) editions (the latter is "available for a limited time only"), features are detailed below…
2-Disc Edition - Includes both the Theatrical Cut (2hrs 38mins) and Unrated Extended Cut (2hrs 57mins) with an alternate ending on Disc 1 plus a second disc of bonus material…
Disc 1: Main Feature (Theatrical & Extended)
Disc 2: Extra Features
3-Disc Collector’s Edition - As above plus a third disc of bonus features and special packaging, a 32-page collectible book and a downloadable digital copy of the unrated, extended film. This one is "available for a limited time only".
Disc 3: Extra Features
The 3-Disc Collector’s Edition will also be available as part of Gangsters: The Ultimate Film Collection which is released the same day. This 9-Disc set includes American Gangster 3-Disc Collector’s Edition, Scarface Platinum Edition, Casino Anniversary Edition* and Carlito’s Way Ultimate Edition** in premium packaging which consists of 4 digipacks inside a highly collectible faux-velvet lined box. Retail is $69.98 SRP, and the set also includes the national booklet from the American Gangster 3-Disc Collector's Edition.
*Casino is now a 2-Disc release, instead of the original DVD18 format.
**Carlito's Way is now a 2-Disc release, instead of the original DVD14 format.
Available in 2-Disc ($29.98 SRP) and 3-Disc ($34.98 SRP) editions (the latter is "available for a limited time only"), features are detailed below…
2-Disc Edition - Includes both the Theatrical Cut (2hrs 38mins) and Unrated Extended Cut (2hrs 57mins) with an alternate ending on Disc 1 plus a second disc of bonus material…
Disc 1: Main Feature (Theatrical & Extended)
- 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
- English DD5.1 Surround
- French DD5.1 Surround (Theatrical Cut only)
- English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles
- Commentary with Director Ridley Scott and Writer Steven Zaillian (Theatrical Cut only)
Disc 2: Extra Features
- Deleted Scenes: "Alternate Opening" and "Frank and Eva's Wedding"
- Fallen Empire: Making American Gangster:
- Tru Blu: The Real Story: An in-depth look at the true story that inspired the movie and the long road to developing the film. Featuring interviews with the former real-life Harlem crime boss Frank Lucas and now retired detective Richie Roberts
- Killer Threads: A look at how the world of the 1970’s was brought back to life
- Crime War: Follow production from the streets of NY to the jungles of Thailand
- Rhythm of the Streets: Look into the film’s music, featuring tracks such as “Do You Feel Me” performed by Anthony Hamilton
- Into the Arena: Ali vs. Frazier: Setting up the infamous Ali-Frazier fight
- Case Files:
- Setting Up the Takedown- Be on the set as Ridley Scott directs the climactic drug bust and watch this master director at work
- Script Meeting: A look into the production office where director Ridley Scott, writer Steven Zaillian, and detective Richie Roberts discuss the script and break down of the scenes.
- Drug Test: Ridley Scott receives information on the preparation of heroin from a New York detective
3-Disc Collector’s Edition - As above plus a third disc of bonus features and special packaging, a 32-page collectible book and a downloadable digital copy of the unrated, extended film. This one is "available for a limited time only".
Disc 3: Extra Features
- Hip Hop Infusion- Featuring popular rap artists Common and Tip “T.I.” Harris discussing their roles
- Music Videos:
- Do You Feel Me (Remix) Performed by Anthony Hamilton featuring Ghostface Killah
- Blue Magic From Jay-Z’s album “American Gangster”
- BET Special- The Making of American Gangster
- Dateline NBC: American Gangster First Look
- Digital Copy of the Unrated Extended Movie For Your PC
The 3-Disc Collector’s Edition will also be available as part of Gangsters: The Ultimate Film Collection which is released the same day. This 9-Disc set includes American Gangster 3-Disc Collector’s Edition, Scarface Platinum Edition, Casino Anniversary Edition* and Carlito’s Way Ultimate Edition** in premium packaging which consists of 4 digipacks inside a highly collectible faux-velvet lined box. Retail is $69.98 SRP, and the set also includes the national booklet from the American Gangster 3-Disc Collector's Edition.
*Casino is now a 2-Disc release, instead of the original DVD18 format.
**Carlito's Way is now a 2-Disc release, instead of the original DVD14 format.
Comments
Member
Posts: 209
i wonder if the 3-disc set is like the Universal Jarhead ,Munich and Cinderella Man collector's editions...meaning, i wonder if they will go OOP in the first week just like the ones i mentioned.
Member
Posts: 186
That's a pretty good set of options there, which for once seems to work in the favour of the fans. That said you'd have to really like the film to want to get the 3 discer, as apart from the "Second Session Digital Files" (only because I don't know what is exactly) a couple of music vids, some tv promo making-ofs, and a glossy booklet don't warrant the extra in my opinion.
It will be interesting to see what difference Scott can make with the extended cut though, as I thought while AG was pretty good, it lacked a feeling of freshness. I can't see how an extra 20 mins can really fix that. That said if Scott can turn Kingdom of Heaven (an incoherent turkey) into an very good and effective epic with an extra 50 mins, then who knows what he can do!
Member
Posts: 31
Extended cut and not Director's Cut? Ridley usually does DC's for all his films and this Extended Cut makes me think that Universal just added a bunch of material back in the film without involving him.
Contributor
Posts: 1651
Originally Posted by BillWatkins:
Extended cut and not Director's Cut? Ridley usually does DC's for all his films and this Extended Cut makes me think that Universal just added a bunch of material back in the film without involving him.
Yeah, I said something similar on the thread for the HD DVD/DVD combo release, where the HD side features the theatrical cut only. The fact that the audio commentary has been recorded by Scott for the theatrical version, in addition to the "extended cut"/"director's cut" naming conventions, would seem to support this theory.
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Administrator
Posts: 2301
Updated with a more detailed description of the extras.
Administrator
Posts: 2301
Originally Posted by animatedude:
i wonder if the 3-disc set is like the Universal Jarhead ,Munich and Cinderella Man collector's editions...meaning, i wonder if they will go OOP in the first week just like the ones i mentioned.
Another quick update to the news piece, noting that this one is "available for a limited time only" - so yeah, it'll probably be sold out after a week if Universal's previous LEs are anything to go by.
Member
Posts: 40
Thanks Dave.
I really hope we get that American Gangsters collection in the UK. I also see we're not getting the 3 disk edition, though Amazon have a Steel Book Edition?
Member
Posts: 144
Originally Posted by BillWatkins:
Extended cut and not Director's Cut? Ridley usually does DC's for all his films and this Extended Cut makes me think that Universal just added a bunch of material back in the film without involving him.
At least they're including the original version in high quality. That gets big points in my book.