The Matador (2008/City Lights Entertainment/Blu-ray)
Picture: C+ Sound: B- Extras: C Film: C
Not to be
confused with the failed Pierce Brosnan, Richard Shepherd comedy, The Matador (2008) by Steven Higgins
and Nina Gilden Seavey is a documentary about David Fandila and his quest to be
the world’s best bullfighter at a time when it is being considered a bad idea
more than ever to be killing any animal for sport.
However,
there is a glorification to it all and it is more popular overseas than in the
U.S., where it is seen as something of the past and maybe nostalgic. Well, this runs 75 minutes and I was never
much interested in what happened. I kept
rooting for the bulls and thought Fandila should try to do something else with
his life. I also found the final cut
here uneven and with little new to say or offer. It feels like a relic on arrival and even
boring.
The 1.78
X 1 1080p digital High Definition image was shot in digital High Definition
video and you get plenty of motion blur, detail issues and color limits. The PCM 5.1 mix is a little better, but this
is loaded with location audio that is not always recorded well. Extras include stills, mini-documentary
introduction to bullfighting and full “Corrida” fight sequence as shot on location
in Spain.
- Nicholas Sheffo
