Man on Fire:
All-Access Collector's Edition

The first DVD of Man on Fire was almost completely bare-bones, leaving me with a terrible decision. On one hand, I had a feeling there would be a stacked edition somewhere down the line. On the other hand, I knew I could get the first version for only ten bucks, many months earlier. Four days before I was going to buy the old version, this "All-Access Collector's Edition" was announced. There is justice in the world.

Man on Fire will eventually be remembered as one of Tony Scott's very best. He's managed to make a film with two distinct identities and both of them are relevant. The kidnapping that the narrative revolves around doesn't take place until nearly an hour into the movie, providing a convenient dividing point for the film's two disitnct halves.

Washington turns in yet another masterful performance and Dakota Fanning gets a rare opportunity to do something other than scream, cry, and exhibit the symptoms of neurological disorders. Don't get me wrong, she does all three in Man on Fire but not to the usual extent. Marc "Mr. J. Lo" Anthony fits his part well, as does Mickey Rourke, but the real gems in the supporting cast are Giancarlo Giannini and Christopher Walken. Walken is particularly good and gets the best (and most quotable) line in the film.

The best reason to pick this disc up is the added value of the extensive features. This double-dip release was definitely worth the wait. The commentary by Tony Scott is an engaging listen, though the second with the film's producer, screenwriter, and Dakota Fanning isn't essential. It mostly consists of Dakota being cute and adorable, with a few nuggets dropping here and there. Most of this is repeated in other features on the disc.

Disc two holds the extremely informative "Vengeance is Mine" documentary, following the production of the movie from twenty years ago -- when the original was made -- through the present day, as well as the change in focus from Italy to Mexico. Surprisingly, the alternate ending is worth your time, as are the alternate/deleted scenes, emphasizing minor subplots that were dropped for muddling the plot.

Also included is a multi-angle analysis of the abduction sequence that allows you to see all the separate angles individually or all at once, via split-screen. Lastly, we get an unnecessary music video of "Oye Como Va," trailers, and TV spots that revolve around Walken's killer ("he's about to paint his masterpiece"). If you're a buyer, buy it. If you're a renter, rent it. If you haven't seen it, for God's sake, do either. -- Moises Chiullan