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Category:    Home > Reviews > Sports > Baseball > Games > Football > Documentary > TV > Anaheim Angels 2002 World Series Collector’s Edition (MLB/A&E DVD Box Set)/Angels Memories (MLB/A&E DVD)/Fall Classic At Fenway Park (MLB/A&E Blu-ray/all 2011)/4th & Goal (2010/First Run DVD)

Anaheim Angels 2002 World Series Collector’s Edition (MLB/A&E DVD Box Set)/Angels Memories (MLB/A&E DVD)/Fall Classic At Fenway Park (MLB/A&E Blu-ray/all 2011)/4th & Goal (2010/First Run DVD)

 

Picture: C+/C+/B-/C     Sound: C+/C+/B-/C+     Extras: D/C+/B-/C-     Main Programs: B+/B-/B-/B-

 

 

The MLB/A&E relationship continues with three more solid releases, plus First Run has a new documentary about football.

 

 

First we have another great full length World Series box set from MLB and A&E that is turning into one of the most extensive box set DVD series of all time.  The Anaheim Angels 2002 World Series Collector’s Edition offers the entire game uncut over no less than 7 DVDs and offers two soundtracks in which to enjoy it.  One is the original TV audio which is a little weak and the other is the fuller, warmer radio broadcast audio which I liked more in this case.  There are no extras, but with this much material, you will not notice much, plus you can always also get…

 

Angels Memories: The Greatest Moments In Angels Baseball History which tells the amazing story of how singling cowboy Gene Autry co-founded the team and how it had many up sand downs over the decades (including switching city names a few times) adding up to 50 years and counting.  With more tragedy than expected, it is one of the most interesting and often untold stories in franchise history, but one nicely told here.  Extras include feature pieces on the team in 2007 & 2008, plus on Rod Carew, Garret Anderson, Tim Salmon, Chone Figgins, Fred Lynn and Darin Erstad.

 

Fall Classic At Fenway Park tells of the rare victories for the Boston Red Sox in2004 and 2007 that runs over 2.5 hours combined and is a look at one of the most fabled teams in baseball history; one which we have covered more before on this site.  Denis Leary and Matt Damon narrate the respective programs which is more than about the game, but the people and the place.  Extras include a 2004 section with a Tony Francona Hiring Press Conference, David Ortiz ALCS Walk-offs, ALCS Final Out, ALCS Celebration, NLCS Final Out, World Series Final Out, World Series Celebration, Postseason Pre-Game Sound and “The Storytellers”.  The 2007 section adds the AL East Clincher, ALDS Final Out, J.D. Drew’s ALCS Game 6 Grand Slam, Red Sox Win ALCS, Dustin Pedroia’s World Series Game 1 Leadoff Home Run, Josh Beckett K’s The Side In World Series Game 1, Final 3 Outs Of World Series & Celebration, World Series Trophy Presentation and World Series MVP Trophy Presentation.  A nicely loaded Blu-ray all around.

 

Finally we have Nina Gilden Seavey’s documentary 4th & Goal (2010) following several young men who against the odds want to play professional football in the NFL and just how hard it is to both make it and stay there.  The best documentary on the sport since Blood Equity (reviewed elsewhere on this site) reminds us of how this is one of the toughest sports to participate in, roughest on the body and whose popularity just makes it all the tougher to get involved.  Eight prominent, promising players are followed with less predictable results than you might think, which makes it good viewing and a must for all serious sports and football fans.  Two additional text sections on the film are the only extras.

 

 

The 1.33 X 1 on the World Series set can be watered down, but clean, though I would rate it lower if it were any weaker.  The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 on Memories is a little better, but bit enough to outdo the big box, as it also has its share of older analog NTSC video.  It is better than the anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image on Goal which has all kinds of aliasing errors, softness and older monophonic video, yet is very watchable.  Beating them all just enough is the 1080i 1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image on Fenway which has some nice HD footage to go with its various kinds of analog NTSC video and some of the best color, detail and depth at its best as expected.  There are still flaws along the way.

 

The PCM 2.0 Stereo sound on Fenway is the best sound of the four with some Pro Logic like surrounds in some cases and a warmer presentation all around.  Goal actually has a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix better than its image, but that cannot overcome the Dolby 2.0 on the Angels DVDs because it is just spreading around location audio even when music is added.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo


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