Given that Martin Scorsese has been nurturing this gangster epic since the 70s, you might expect a more overblown DVD release. What you actually get is low-key, although well presented.
TECHNICAL FEATURES
Picture Both rich and sharp, this is a beautiful transfer of a film that trades heavily on spectacle.
Sound A choice of Dolby or DTS mixes are on offer, but both are drenched with atmosphere. The surround speakers bristle with detail.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Disc One Special Features
Audio Commentary So here we have it, a Martin Scorsese commentary... Marty clearly doesn't believe in small talk, keeping his clipped comments to a minimum. He is on hand for the important scenes, though, and along the course of the film talks about the phenomenally long process of getting script to screen.
Scorsese's love of New York is in evidence as he talks us through the rich history of the city, and what - in his filmic "impression of the time" - is actually real. The 'Five Points' are often referred to as Marty considers the impact of the various migrant groups that fought for control of New York.
Disc Two Special Features
Set Design Dante Ferretti has worked with Scorsese as a set designer on many of his movies. When Scorsese made "The Age of Innocence", he handed Ferretti five books of notes on "Gangs of New York". In this featurette, Ferretti shows us some of the conceptual drawings which inspired the sets he built for this movie.
Exploring the Sets Scorsese and Ferretti take a slow amble through the massively impressive sets of the movie, talking amongst themselves about design and what historical accuracy has been incorporated. Every now and again a 360 logo will appear on screen allowing you to rotate fully around the part of the set they're on.
Costume Design If this featurette holds any surprise for you, it may be to learn that clothes of the time were very colourful, especially amongst the criminal underworld.
History of the Five Points Get to know a little more about this dangerous flashpoint through this short featurette where Scorsese talks about the draft riots that tore the city apart.
Five Points Study Guide This is for you keen people out there with comprehensive notes and a vocabulary guide for you to study about the Five Points.
Uncovering the Real Gangs of New York There's a lot that's good about this Discovery Channel special, like old footage and quality historians to fill you in on this fascinating period of history. The problem is the cheesy presentation, which really starts to grate after a while.
Additional Extra Features Also on the DVD is a music video, short making of featurette, and a trailer.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Chapters: 24
Ratio: 2.35:1 (anamorphic)
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1
Audio Tracks: English
Subtitles: See Captions
Captions: English
Menus: Animated, with music
Special Features Subtitles: None of the special features come with subtitles.
This DVD was reviewed on a JVC XV-N5 DVD player.
