COLUMBIA TRISTAR has released Spike Lee's 2nd feature film, "SCHOOL DAZE" on dvd.  It's actually one of Lee's better films. This isn't to say it's terrific as "none" of his films have been that good.  His films suffer in tems of quality more than the "oppressed" characters he feels deserve our sympathies.  While he is always ranting about social injustices and racism, his scripts express their own equally disgusting voices of racism and this film is another example. 

The opening credit sequence is actually the most visually interesting thing about the film.  In it, we view various black&white photographs from various points in history, some depicting average black Americans, others featuring such famous figures as Marcus Garvey and Frederick Douglas.  The most compelling one, however, is the Pulitzer Prize winning one of a Black man in Boston.  While the image seems to show him about to be hit with an American Flag, we're not sure "that" is what actually transpired.  Still, it "looks" as if it's going to happen, and Lee loves the sensationalism that the photo creates by itself.  We can't forget the ridiculous opening he created for "MALCOLM X."  In that one, the actual footage of the Rodney King beating played out as if to suggest "it" was the most horrifying thing to happen in terms of race relations and injustice since his death!   The last photograph
shown in the credits of "School Daze" is equally ludicrous, as the film
takes place at a black college over Homecoming Weekend, and as much as Lee would like the audience to believe it, the "injustice" of the photo, is nothing more than a device to "incite" his intended audience, as the story that follows is not related to the type of event shown in the photo at all.

The cast is great, and Laurence Fishburne has always been worth watching, even in films much worse than this.  The film tries to make its own point about racism "within" the black community, focusing on the fact that lighter skinned blacks, at least in Lee's opinion, are treated "unfairly" that is, better than they should be.  One of the truly interesting things that the film has going for it, is its depiction of the black fraternities.  As Lee points out in the great audio commentary offered on the dvd as an extra, "It always amazed me of the amount of abuse and punishment that people would put up with just to belong to a group, to any organization.  The film's musical numbers vary in terms of effectiveness.  Some are uninspired, and some are terrific.  This is really a mixed bag.  For those viewers, not partial to Lee, as I am not, this film serves to show he has "some" talent.  For those who are real fans of his, this may be the most re-watchable of his films. 

The visual quality of the transfer  is great.  Fleshtones appear natural
throughout. Color values are solid.  The original 1.85:1 aspect ratio is
intact with 16:9 enhancement.  The contrast could be better as the blacks and grays aren't as well defined as they've been in many other COLUMBIA TRISTAR releases.  There's no oversaturation.   

The Dolby Surround sound is fine and while it's limited in terms of
directional effects, it comes into good use during the various dance/music sequences, as evidenced in Chapter 20 during the "step" number.  The musical environment is really enhanced due to the separation here. 

An audio commentary with Lee is offered as a bonus feature.  "This" is
really the best thing that the dvd has to offer! While this reviewer
obviously doesn't like Lee's work, he's fun to listen to, even when he's
wrong!  He states he hasn't seen the film in ages, and it's entertaining to
hear how proud he is of it, not in an arrogant way, but a rightfully proud
way.  He doesn't lend as much insight into the art of filmmaking as he has in general interviews, but he does offer some interesting things in
relationship to what he intended to do with this film.

Two theatrical trailers are also offered:  Boyz 'n' the Hood and Poetic
Justice are offered in full frame.