A combo disc, both SD-DVD and HD-DVD versions of the film are included. 16 Blocks doesn't look bad at all on the new format. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a lot of "wow" factor behind it either. Clarity is stunning and detail is unmatched, while grain is nearly non-existent.
However, the film is muted in shades of gray, and the color fails to come through. It's not a flaw of the disc, but if you're looking to show the format off to friends, this is not the movie to do it with. It's certainly a step up from the standard version (especially when it comes to black levels), though you'll have to find many of the reasons why. It's not worth upgrading if you're looking for flashier video performance. 
Audio follows the same path. Bass is mixed quite low and at times is hard to hear. The surround channels are more active when compared to the SD-DVD side and positional audio is consistently noticeable. The entire experience comes off flat, exactly like the video.
Extras are contained on SD side of the disc, and are pulled straight from the standalone SD-DVD version. Around 20 minutes of deleted scenes are included, and they feature a forced commentary from the director and writer. They occasionally pop up via picture-in-picture as well. While informative, watching the scenes without the talking would be a nice option as well.
An alternate ending becomes a toss up between the one used in the theatrical cut. The alternate is unquestionably emotional, though its effect on the film as a whole is debatable. There's the option to watch the film with this additional ending attached. Oddly, that's only true for the standard definition presentation. 
Comparisons to Clint Eastwood in The Gauntlet from 1977 are fair. Both have similar set ups, with the lead character escorting a witness with enemies preventing nearly every move. The difference is the amount of character written into the script, and 16 Blocks is the obvious winner.
![16 Blocks [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QMrtSDbdL._SL120_.jpg)
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