Sony and three other studios exclusively supports the Blu-ray format, Universal is the only studio that is providing exclusive content to the HD DVD format (Warner Brothers and Paramount also provide content). While some studios straddle the fences, for now, there seems to be a sharp divide in the home video market. As the first generation of Blu-ray players comes to an end with the upcoming release of Playstation 3, HD DVD players have begun their second generation. After early strong buzz, it seems that the field is leveling, but for now the format war continues.

(Just for technical reference, the upcoming HD DVD is reviewed using an Xbox 360 external HD DVD player, in 1080i with a Sony Bravia LCD HDTV and with a Nexxtech surround sound system.)

THE MOVIE
There is no better word to describe this DVD and this film more than commemorative. For once, the tagline to a two-disc DVD set could never be more fitting. Nor could it be more applicable to the film itself.

Oliver Stone is a man who has built his career on controversy. Despite his concern with the individual, Stone’s films always become remembered for their radical political viewpoints and conspiracy theories. Incredibly critical, Stone is not simply a director but a man with a message. Although many disagree with his words, none can take umbrage with his work in World Trade Center. Simultaneously moving and thought provoking, World Trade Center asks you to wonder about your life, about love and about how everything changed on 9/11. By following the story of two port authority cops, Will Jimeno (Michael Pena, Crash) and John McLoughlin (Nicholas Cage), Oliver Stone plunges the audience into an emotional story of courage and survival.

Jimeno and McLoughlin were first responders, arriving at the World Trade Centers before collapse. Joined with a crew of four, the two were just about to help evacuate the building when the unthinkable happened. As Tower 2 came down, Jimeno, McLoughlin and Dominick Pezzulo (Jay Hernandez) raced toward the elevator shaft.

After the thousands of tons of steel and concrete settled, Jimeno, Pezzulo and McLoughlin were miraculously alive. Despite being pinned, the three men keep each other strong, braving darkness, the frightening unknown and horrifying sounds that were unclassifiable. Despite the numbing pain, the three kept each other together, until Pezzulo freed himself and struggled to free his partners. After tragedy struck, Jimeno and McLoughlin were left to fend for their lives. Unable to move, the two bonded by keeping each other alive. They spoke of life, family, friends and everything they could to keep themselves focused on living. Able to see an opening above, Jimeno used all of his might to call for help and attract attention, but hope was bleak.

It was also bleak for their family. After hours of confusion, Donna McLoughlin (Maria Bello) was resigned to the worst. Her husband was gone, lost in the horrific tragedy, just another of the thousands of lives lost. But soon there was a glimmer of hope. Donna struggled to keep her family together, hoping and believing that the love she shared with her husband would keep them together, would keep him alive.

The same can be said for Allison Jimeno. (Maggie Gyllenhal) A young mother with another baby on the way, Allison struggles throughout the day for any word about Will. Going through various stages of guilt, Allison finally relies on her family for the last ounce of strength and hope that she can muster.

Eventually, all of these people’s lives become intertwined. Love takes a hold and emotion is hard to contain. As EMT Scott Strauss (Stephen Dorff) and account by profession, military reservist at heart David Karnes (Michael Shannon) do all they can to find, rescue and save the lives of two of New York’s finest.

Told with painstaking attention to detail, World Trade Center is Stone at his most earnest. Everything rings true, and emotion becomes the core to a film so centered on geopolitical nightmares. This story is not about the politics, its not about the entire event, but it is about people. It is about John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno’s struggle to survive. It is about their family, who wouldn’t stop believing that their loved ones were still alive. It is about the men and women who risked their lives to go into the wreckage of the World Trade Center and pull out these two critically wounded men. The towers may have collapsed on 9/11, but Oliver Stone has revealed the good that came out of it. With a deft touch, Stone highlights the goodness of humanity and hope that shined bright until the morning of September 12th. This is unbelievable filmmaking at its finest.

HIGH DEFINITION VIDEO & AUDIO
The 16x9 Anamorphic Widescreen presentation of World Trade Center is stellar. The video is some of the best yet on HD DVD, as is the audio. After some initial flecks and grains, the video transfer of World Trade Center truly shines. The dark colors of Ground Zero stand out, the imagery incredibly crisp. The stunning subtleties of the performances are beautifully captured, despite the fairly dark cinematography. Although the morning shots at the beginning of the film feature a bit of a coarser image, the rest of the film is almost too stunning to be real. The way the smoke billows, or the rubble settles looks almost too good. The quality of the footage sometimes outshines the original film itself, resulting in a phenomenal video with deep colors and even finer detail.

The audio for World Trade Center is the best of any HD DVD I’ve encountered. The Dolby Digital Plus surround sound is loud and clear, the dialogue crisp and the soundtrack incredible stirring. Everything blends nicely, the audio from within “the hole” nicely transferred so as to simulate the claustrophobic effect so stunningly accomplished in theaters. Simply a fantastic audio transfer, one of the best available on HD DVD.

PACKAGING & LAYOUT
Paramount continues to use the second of three different HD DVD cases. Although all look very similar, they each have their own unique touches. The first style features a softer plastic, is a bit wider and bulkier and has obtrusive “feet” on the bottom to aid with standing. The most recent style is used by Universal and features harder plastic, a slightly darker maroon color and a squarer, slimmer case with a latch. Paramount uses my personal favorite, a slimmer, modified version of the original case. There are no feet, the plastic is just a tiny bit harder and the case is just a bit sleeker. The same case as MI:III’s 2-disc set, World Trade Center has an area to house one disc on each side of the case. This is nice, simple and keeps the overall package design of HD DVDs very similar so that they look great lined up on a shelf.

World Trade Center’s package features a modified version of the Two-Disc Standard release’s artwork. Standing in the shadows of the two towers, Jimeno and McLoughlin look out on the open sky. A subtle sense of hope comes out of this touching and understated theatrical artwork. This artwork is replicated on the two discs of the set. Both discs feature the same image, with just a small bit of text to denote which contains the movie and which the special features.

Paramount has also included really stunning menus for this release. Both discs feature the same basic design and the same video playing in the background. A montage of moments from the film set to Craig Armstrong’s moving score, these menus are perfect to get one in the mood to view the film. As with all HD DVD releases, there is an in-film menu that enables access to the scenes, commentary and other settings while the film is playing. Yet, unlike other releases, this menu does not allow for the special features to be accessed while the film is in progress. A minor anomaly to the relatively phenomenal DVD presentation.

SPECIAL FEATURES
Available in the 2-disc standard definition release, these special features are not HD DVD exclusives. Nonetheless, they are composed in HD quality and are incredibly sharp and nice to look at. The overall quality is superb, but what is more impressive is just how perfect these special features are. Every featurette captures the completeness of the film, the scope of the project and the respect that it deserves. It quickly becomes clear that this project was less about money and more about passion and memorial.

The special features are incredibly emotional and very moving, but only to great effects. The movie is nicely supplemented by each and every special feature, and more than deserving of a Best DVD release of the year award. These are certainly some of the best special features on HD DVD thus far.

Disc One
• Deleted/Extended Scenes with commentary by Oliver Stone – There are nine scenes in total, all with the option to be viewed separately or under a “play all” banner. They each are bracketed so that one would understand where they exist in the film. Oliver Stone’s commentary nicely explains the purpose of each scene, also indicating why they were cut. A nice inclusion that’s only real problem is its quality. Although it is presented in anamorphic widescreen, the deleted scenes are incredibly grainy, and clearly standard definition. One lengthy, but great deleted scene is the “Original Hole 2 through Allie making Lunch.” Be on the lookout for it.
• Audio Commentary with Oliver Stone – Stone is always incredibly comprehensive and interesting in his commentary. Despite a sedate manner, Stone speaks intelligently and eloquently about the film, the process and the remarkable story of these two men. A great commentary.
• Audio Commentary with WTC survivors Will Jimeno, Scott Strauss, John Busching and Paddy McGee – An incredibly revealing commentary, this is a great track that offers a different perspective on the film. Strauss has some nice insights regarding Stone and development, but it is Jimeno who shines with his infectious personality and charisma. A bit difficult for some to sit through, this is the true emotion of the film.

Disc Two
• The Making of World Trade Center (53:38) HD – This is a phenomenal and comprehensive featurette that goes in depth into the stages of development the film went through. Stone does not dominate, but yields the floor to different individuals involved in the collaborative process, from the screenwriter to John McLoughlin and his wife Donna. This is intimate, revealing and just all around stellar. Broken up in three parts, these all flow seamlessly together to craft a gripping DVD featurette.
• Common Sacrifice (54:31) HD – Although World Trade Center tells the story of John and Will, “Common Sacrifice” lets the men speak in their own words. The filmmaking quickly gives way to the remarkable story in this two-part featurette. Broken into “Rescue” and “Recovery,” these two flow seamlessly to create a comprehensive look at the lives, the struggles and the hope that John and Will brought back with them to the world. This is about these two men and those around them, and it could have not been done any better.
• Building Ground Zero (25:10) HD – Production design is the key focus here in this revealing technical featurette. The different technology used to render a painstakingly accurate glimpse of Ground Zero is highlighted. The work of the entire crew is nicely given its due to great effect. It is remarkable what these creative minds could do to tell this story so accurately and with such heart.
• Visual & Special Effects (12:50) HD – Pretty self-explanatory, this details all the different graphical choices that were made throughout the film. Although this type of discussion and reveal has been done with many different recent DVD releases, there is something unique about seeing Ground Zero discussed in such a way.
• Oliver Stone’s New York (24:30) HD – Charles Kisyalek, director of “Oliver Stone’s America,” adds more to his work about the director in this intimate discussion about Stone’s life in the Big Apple. Stone talks about growing up on the Upper East Side, the family problems centered around the city and what New York means to him. Nice and effective, this could have been even longer.
• Q&A from BAFTA’s David Lean Lecture Series (13:07) – On September 6th, 2006, Oliver Stone had this informal Q & A with host Mark Kermode. Stone is nice and frank about the film, about New York and about 9/11, but ultimately reveals nothing incredibly power. The featurette is a bit slow, and the weakest of an incredibly strong series of special features.
• Theatrical Trailer HD – A great trailer that is even nicer in high definition.
• TV Spots HD – A collection of six or so TV spots from around the time of the film’s release. Always nice to see included.
• Photo Gallery – A series of production photos.

FINAL THOUGHTS
With 2006 coming to a close, World Trade Center arrives as one of the best HD DVDs available on the market. Although there is no exclusive content, the special features are so strong and so emotionally effective that one can’t help but watch. Filled with information and respect, this HD DVD perfectly honors those who survived the tragedy of 9/11, as well as those who did not. A great film that has been given a phenomenal HD DVD release, this is my top DVD/HD DVD of the year.

Overall
Film: A
HD Visual: A
HD Audio: A+
Packaging and Layout: A-
Special Features (non-exclusive): A+
HD Exclusive Content: N/A
Overall HD DVD Rating: A+