Michael Mann's Heat is one of those special crime movies. Outside of the stylish visuals and powerfully violent gun battles, there's an emotional substance that transcends the genre. The DVD shines, bristles, and consistently impresses. Heat is filled with beautiful photography and excellent audio flourishes. Mann and cinematographer Dante Spinotti infused the film with high-contrast scenes in broad daylight, moments where the screen is awash in blues or whites, and pitch-black night scenes. Over the movie's three hours, there is ample room for the DVD to show any flaws in the transfer, but there are none to be found. Sound-wise, both film and DVD are a tour de force. Explosions, gunshots, and dialogue (Al Pacino in full, caffeinated glory) flow passionately from one's audio system. The musical soundtrack, with songs by Lisa Gerrard, Michael Brook, Einsturzende Neubauten, and other artists known for their mood-setting sounds, is stunning here, though the volume must be turned relatively high to appreciate the more ambient moments. There are really no special features to be found, outside of three separate but quite similar theatrical trailers. Sadly, the great TV spots for the film are not included. "Jump to a Scene" is the scene access menu system, where viewers can easily choose from all 52 chapters and the theatrical trailers. Lack of supplemental material aside, Heat is an impressive DVD.

A phenomenal cast, including Tom Hardy (THE DARK KNIGHT RISES) and James Gandolfini (THE SOPRANOS), leads this gritty crime thriller from writer Dennis Lehane (MYSTIC RIVER) and director Michael R. Roskam, writer/director of the Oscar-Nominated film Bullhead. Lonely bartender Bob Saginowski (Hardy) and his hardened employer Cousin Marv (Gandolfini) run a bar that is used as a 'drop' - a covert scheme that funnels cash to local gangsters. But when they find themselves caught in a robbery gone bad, and on the hook for a debt they can't repay, both men have to make the dangerous choice between loyalty and survival.

This extensive release for fans of movies about Dr. Frankenstein's legendary monster includes eight feature films such as 1931's Frankenstein, 1935's The Bride of Frankenstein, 1942's The Ghost of Frankenstein, and many more.