The story of Navy diver Carl Brashear, the first African-American to achieve the rank of Master Diver,
Men of Honor
comes to DVD in an excellent Special Edition package. As DVDs pile up on the shelves, that phrase often gets tacked on to even the most sparse discs. Here, however, the title is richly deserved. Boasting a stellar transfer -- a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen picture -- this is another good buy to show off the visual attributes of the medium.
isn't the kind of film that absolutely requires Dolby Digital Sound, but the 5.1 treatment puts the underwater action center stage. These are fine additions, to be sure, but the special edition moniker usually refers to one thing -- extras. Here, viewers get a great commentary from director George Tillman Jr., star Cuba Gooding Jr., and the producer and writer. There is also a bevy of deleted scenes, including an alternate ending. These are available with or without a commentary track from Tillman. Also included are a pair of featurettes, including a look at the real Carl Brashear's life. In addition, this DVD also offers an animatic storyboard, a music video for the film's theme song, and the usual trailers and TV spots. All in all, Men of Honor is a solid release and the excellent extras make it worth owning.