Gangster Victor Rosas (John
Leguizamo) is determined to escape his criminal past and free
himself of the trappings of easy money on the violent South
Bronx streets. Hoping to find the American Dream and make a
legitimate life for himself and his new family, Victor partners
with a powerful Wall Street investment banker (Peter Sarsgaard),
only to discover that the price he must pay for his new
lifestyle is much more than he bargained for.
EMPIRE appears in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 on this
single-sided, double-layered DVD; the image has been enhanced
for 16X9 televisions. EMPIRE proved to be consistently positive
in respects to it’s video transfer. Sharpness was solid. The
film looked crisp and detailed. I noticed no signs of softness
or fuzziness through out the presentation. Jagged edges offered
no concerns, and I noticed no signs of edge enhancement.
In regard to print flaws, I saw a couple of spots but they were
small and pretty inconsequential. Color of was accurate. All
tones were clear and natural. Black levels and shadow detail was
appropriately thick but not overly deep. Ultimately, EMPIRE
presented a very satisfying picture.
The
Audio
EMPIRE is presented in a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. The track
offered an active event that used all five speakers to a
sufficient advantage. Music displayed solid stereo -
reinforcement from the rear played out well as effects cropped
up from all around. Audio was fine and dialogue sounded natural
with no signs of edginess. The whole track packed a good punch.
Ultimately, EMPIRE offered a very decent soundtrack.
The
Extras
Feature Commentary with
Director Doug Liman
The Making of The Bourne
Identity
Extreme Ways Music
Video by Moby
Exclusive Alternate Ending
Explosive Deleted Scenes
Theatrical trailer(s)
Production notes
Overall
EMPIRE accomplishes something extraordinary; this is an urban
drug premise that tells it like it is in a startling and
absorbing conclusion; people will undeniably take note of this
film. The blazing presence of John Leguizamo keeps the film
focused through his loyalty and long-winded awareness of finding
the American Dream.
The
DVD provides terrific picture and sound plus some very nice
extras. Fans of Leguizamo and its genre should take note of this
film; you won’t be dissatisfied. This film comes highly
recommended.
