Robert Harris

A few words about...™ American Gangster -- in Blu-ray

Ridley Scott's American Gangster is a beautifully crafted film about a business man whose business just happens to not fit into the 9 to 5 commuting norm. While not a great film, it is a good film.

Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe lead a cast representing the two sides of the tale, crime and the law, each working professionally against the other, but with a certain mutual respect.

Universal has released the Blu-ray version of American Gangster eight months after their original HD offering, and have created a better package, correctly at least one major oversight.

American Gangster has been available since original DVD release in two cuts, the 158 minute theatrical version, and an extended unrated 177 minute cut.

While the HD offering was inclusive of both cuts, it strangely had the longer cut in standard def -- the extra disc from the SD version.

This has been corrected on the new Blu-ray BD-50, with both versions now in high definition and DTS HD Master Audio.

This is a quality disc of a quality film, now done correctly.

Recommended.

RAH

PaulDA

Re: A few words about...™ American Gangster -- in Blu-ray

So far this is the only HD DVD I have any inclination to "upgrade" to BD--because of what you describe. It remains a mystery to me, though, why the original HD DVD did not do the same. Ah well, at least the HD DVD is a combo, so I have no shortage of people to whom I can "gift" it.

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes time, and it annoys the pig.

Bleddyn Williams

Re: A few words about...™ American Gangster -- in Blu-ray

This is one of the few Universal discs where it actually seems to clearly improve on the HD DVD. I won't be double-dipping though, as I thought the film was only so-so considering the talent involved.

PaulDA

Re: A few words about...™ American Gangster -- in Blu-ray

Well, it's not high on my list of BD priorities. I'll likely keep the HD DVD as it's a combo and can be played in many places (my research field is historically based feature films and while I can think of a reason, at the moment, for showing this film in its entirety to a class, I think it has "film excerpt" potential so while I may eventually get the BD to have the "extended cut" in hi-def, I'll live with what I have for now).

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes time, and it annoys the pig.

Loregnum

Re: A few words about...™ American Gangster -- in Blu-ray

I never picked this up on hd dvd (I was able to borrow the hd dvd though) so I am glad to hear it offers up an overall improvement and I will pick it up specifically for the extended cut in high def.