Although Spike Lee has long since lost his touch for making socially relevant original movies, there was a time when his creative mojo was working like mosquito in August. "Do The Right Thing’s" opening credit sequence alone, with Rosie Perez dancing her ass off to Public Enemy’s anthem "Fight The Power," is a call to action that sets the film’s seething tone and slice-of-life urban reality. The film shows a Brooklyn community grappling with ideas and ideologies in personal terms against a background of great music. It’s an essential classic full of terrific ensemble performances by a great cast including Ossie Davis, Giancarlo Esposito, Spike Lee, John Turturro and Danny Aiello. Special features include a making-of documentary, Spike Lee’s rehearsal-to-wrap footage, Public Enemy’s "Fight The Power music video (directed by Lee), the 1989 Cannes Film Festival press conference, original storyboards, video interview with editor Barry Brown and more. Aspect ratio is 1.85:1 widescreen, with sound reproduction in Dolby Digital Surround. (Movie — Five Stars, DVD features – Five Stars) Rated R, 120 mins. (The Criterion Collection)
