Muhammad Ali – Made In Miami + African
American Lives 2 (PBS Home Video DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C+/D Main Programs: B
Not
letting Black History Month stop it as an occasion for releasing materials
about African Americans, PBS Home Video has issued two impressive volumes
charting the lives of key achievers in many fields. Muhammad
Ali – Made In Miami gives us a new, more detailed angle on the rise and
challenges of one of the most famous men on the planet, while African American Lives 2 (we missed
the first one) covers the lives of some very famous people who reflect on their
lives, success ands situations for better and worst in the U.S. and beyond.
The best
thing about the Ali show is its
minimalizing of his celebration and giant reputation just long enough to tell
us more than we usually get in profiles of one of the greatest boxers of all
time. It also does not get too lost on
his battles with the now-defunct draft board over the troubles in Vietnam, one
of the few non-parallels between then and the Bush 2 debacle in the Middle
East, but we learn more intimate things and this constitutes a better profile
of the man than the many (and often good) productions before this one. This runs an hour.
AAL2 features Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
with an intertwining profile of everyone from Don Cheadle, Chris Rock, Tom
Joyner, Maya Angelou, Morgan Freeman, Tina Turner and Jackie Joyner-Kersee to Bliss
Broyard, Linda Johnson Rice, Peter Gomes and Kathleen Henderson in four parts
adding up to four hour-long programs.
Both are
enlightening and very well done.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image for both releases is documentary-like
with new and old footage mixed, though the Ali
disc is heavier in this respect. The
new footage in both cases is shot in HD but is softer than expected in the new
programs, though editing is good on both.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 on Lives and 2.0 Stereo respectively in each case
is simple stereo at best with some stereo music and mono sound moments. Only Ali
has extras in a preview for the show and interview with he producers and
how they came to make this show.
- Nicholas Sheffo