Captivating performances by legendary rappers Nas and DMX propel director Hype Williams’s gritty, visually dazzling urban crime-thriller now presented in this 25th anniversary edition. As gang leader Tommy (DMX) looks to expand his turf by dealing a new form of heroin, his friend Sincere (Nas) dreams of escaping the gangster life with his girlfriend and baby daughter. After a drug house operated by Tommy is raided, he and Sincere — now pursued by both the police and rival gangs — each find themselves on a course that will either lead to redemption or ruin.

For thoughts on Belly, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/EZXKpYBBKKY?t=319]

Video Quality

Lionsgate presents Belly with a really striking 2160p/Dolby Vision transfer that easily prevails over any previous release of the film. The ancient Blu-Ray release from 15 years ago is not a major disappointment, but this upgrade in format allows the film to be seen as it was intended. Director Hype Williams brings his eye for visuals to this feature presentation with an intentionally stylized look that makes it stand apart from many discs on the market. The improvements are vast, but those unfamiliar with the film should be aware that the picture is not intended to deliver pinpoint clarity.

The greatest benefit to this viewing experience is the implementation of Dolby Vision/HDR. This technology really makes a difference, as it translates the hyper-saturation into an experience with rich nuances in the visual palette. The stylistic intention of Williams seems well represented as each setting appears to be in command of its appearance. The opening ultraviolet sequence is a killer in the best way as the disc balances the intense light with the dark. White levels offer great stability without veering into blooming. Black levels maintain a tremendous amount of depth and detail in darker environments, although even the Dolby Vision cannot pull out shadow detail in all shots. Skin tones look natural to their intended look. The color saturation on this disc is a thing of beauty.

Most viewers will not spot even the most minor specks of damage, as the print appears to be well maintained. Detail and clarity stands out as a major positive along with the natural film grain which remains intact. There are thankfully no signs that any grain reduction has been applied, as you get a pretty fine sheen that mostly resolves well. The texture revealed in the outfits, within the environments and in the makeup are much appreciated. Facial details such as stubble, perspiration and even some blood makes an impression. This film has never looked so good on physical media, so Lionsgate has our respect for treating this title well.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a terrific Dolby Atmos track which handles the material effectively. Anyone familiar with the film knows that the soundtrack is an essential element to the experience, and this track treats it as such. The score and other music is used perfectly to establish the mood of the story, and this track handles it without issue throughout the duration of the film. The film implements a very layered and specific sound design which places emphasis on different elements from scene to scene. While there is rarely a moment where it overshadows competing sounds, there are a few points when the dialogue can take a backseat and be hard to decipher. The environmental sounds are delineated effectively alongside everything else.

The track engages the front channels consistently with the gritty dialogue, but the surround sound and overhead channels further showcase the sound design of the film with precision and perfect fidelity. The overhead channels specifically make the world feel more three dimensional with great support with discrete sounds. The low end response is a powerhouse when it needs to be, providing some welcome texture to not only the songs but other essential elements. There does not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear to this one. Lionsgate has given this film a top tier audio presentation that serves the movie well There are optional English, Spanish and English SDH subtitles provided.

Special Features

Lionsgate has provided Belly with an optional sleek new SteelBook available exclusively at Best Buy that is truly lovely in person. The case comes with a removable white slipcase with a translucent depiction of Tommy and Sincere. The front and back artwork underneath is a scene from the ultraviolet club. The interior sports a picture of Tommy against a blue graffiti wall. Videos of the SteelBook can be found at the beginning of this review.

Audio Commentary: Director Hype Williams delivers a really enlightening commentary track in which he discusses his reasons for wanting to tell this story, his collaborations on set, his favorite moments in the movie, his grander ideas behind some of the aesthetic choices, working with the artists and more. This is really worth seeking out if you want to appreciate the film even more.

Spoken Word: A 39-minute archival piece in which various poets perform pieces based on quotes and themes from the film.

Deleted Scene: A three-and-a-half minute unused scene is provided here at a strip club.

“Grand Finale” Music Video: A four-minute music video is provided here with clips from the film included.

Final Thoughts

Belly is a quintessential blending of hip hop culture with the classic crime drama which has been a mainstay of cinema since the earliest days. The former element allows the genre to shake some cobwebs off of it, especially when you have a visual maverick like Hype Williams guiding the creative vision with so much style. With such a strong aesthetic flavor, you might guess that the story might lack substance, but the film does not really falter in that regard either. The only criticism that really sticks with this film is that many of these musicians are not seasoned enough as actors to deliver truly great performances. While not an embarrassment, there are several moments that break the illusion of the film with a wooden delivery that lands flat. Lionsgate has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray with a stunning A/V presentation and a couple of legacy special features all in a gorgeous SteelBook package. If you are a fan of the film, this new release is a no-brainer. Recommended

Belly is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray in a Standard and Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook edition.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Lionsgate Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.