3 Games to Glory V Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

3 Games to Glory V Blu-ray Movie Review

Falcons fans, just close this browser window.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 21, 2017

Ho-hum. They did it again. And they didn't just do it again, they did it again in spectacular, historic, unbelievable, and for Atlanta Falcon (and many football) fans, heartbreaking fashion. The New England Patriots just don't know how to lose, and no matter what cast of characters they assemble around their franchise quarterback and head coach, there's just no slowing them down, unless the New York Giants are in the picture. For the Patriots this year, with various scandals supposedly behind them after four games, Tom Brady out to prove himself to the commissioner and the world (and hopefully not while concussed), and the Giants nowhere to be seen, it was, seemingly, an open road to another Super Bowl, this one for the thumb and still one less than the Pittsburgh Steelers, though the apparently ageless and invincible Brady no doubt has it in his mind to continue going so long as his body, and the league, allow.

The story is well known: The Patriots, with a 14-2 regular season mark and the top seed in the AFC, cruised past (and crushed) both AFC playoff opponents, the Houston Texans and longtime rival Pittsburgh Steelers, to reach the franchise's ninth Super Bowl with "one for the thumb" on the line against the Atlanta Falcons, the NFC's second seeded team and victors over the three-seed Seahawks and four-seed Packers for the privilege of facing the New England juggernaut in the big game. The Pats may have been the favorites to win the game, but the Falcons, a franchise without a Super Bowl win to its name, were the favorite with many football fans eager for new blood to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. The game remained scoreless during the first quarter, but the scoreboard exploded -- in Atlanta's favor -- in the second. The Falcons scored touchdowns in three different ways: on the run, on the pass, and off an 82-yard interception return. The Patriots chipped into the lead with a field goal in the waning seconds of the half, but with Lady Gaga taking the stage for the halftime show, the game seemed all but a formality. When the Falcons added another seven points off a Matt Ryan touchdown pass partway through the third to give the club a 28-3 lead, the city of Atlanta was likely already planning the parade route. The Pats would again score late in the quarter, this time adding a touchdown, but missing the extra point, to pull to within a seemingly insurmountable 19 point deficit.

But the New England defense would clamp down. The offense would heat up. With a key turnover the central play in the fourth, the Pats would add a field goal, followed up two touchdowns and two two-point conversions, the last, again, with under a minute left in the game, to knot the score at 28. The Pats would win the coin toss and march the ball down the field, capping off the unprecedented, but seemingly inevitable, comeback. Final score: Patriots 34, Falcons 28.

For fans looking for a dramatized recap of the Pats' postseason run to and through the Super Bowl and the record books, this is that release. This is that release, too, and it came out back in March. But this is a much more playoff focused program, devoting much more time to each of the playoff games but leaving off everything prior to them. It's a comprehensive postseason recap, not a full-season recap. The film features game action, shot in that unmistakable NFL Films style that plays with awe-inspiring slow motion shots that capture the beauty, skill, violence, intensity, determination, and the human emotion behind each catch, run, and tackle. There's no shortage of in-game and on-field audio, sometimes intermixed with play-by-play commentary. There's also some candid moments on the sidelines, while action is captured from some terrific, unorthodox angles that show the game, at varying speeds, from most every perspective imaginable. It's a shame the full broadcast games aren't included, too, but this a stellar, if not very typical of the style, presentation. It draws the viewer in and doesn't let go, and football fans, no matter their response to the games' outcomes, will find this a wonderful watch.

3 Games to Glory V Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

3 Games to Glory V generally looks good-to-gorgeous. Between sharp details and rich colors, the image proves consistently agreeable, even at its worst. All thee games are super-sharp. Slow motion shots are particularly stellar, revealing even the leathery football texture in flight and spiraling. Uniform textures are well defined, helmet paint and team logos are sharp, and the playing surface reveals its finest complexities even in medium-distance shots. The image is stable and maintains sharpness for the duration. Colors are beautiful. The palette is deep, nuanced, and well saturated. Patriot blue is a standout, but so too is Falcon red and, of course, the green turf. The image is very filmic, but light source noise and aliasing occasionally creep in. No serious compression issues are apparent. Football, presented in this manner, sure does look good on Blu-ray.

3 Games to Glory V Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Though 3 Games to Glory V offers only a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack, it's plenty potent and pleasing. Width comes effortlessly. Music's well spaced, clear, and features a positive low end sensation, even without added subwoofer engagement. Throughout the range, and considering the different styles that accompany any given scene or play, there's no wanting for improved clarity or vigor. Hits on the field, crowd cheers, and other assorted effects come through with positive distinction and pinpoint placement, even just across the front. Some of the play-by-play doesn't quite make it directly to the imaged middle of the soundstage, lingering just a little in no-man's land between the speakers and the TV screen, but more often than not, particularly in basic voiceover narration, all dialogue is centered.

3 Games to Glory V Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

3 Games to Glory V contains bonus features across all three discs.

Disc One:

• Wired for Sound: Jullian Edelman (1080i, 6:17): Hear the Pats' wideout talk it up, and get hit, during gameplay.
• All Access: Behind the Scenes (1080i, 4:03): Watch the Pats prepare for their first-round opponent.
• Belichick Breakdown: Divisional Playoff (1080i, 6:02): The Pats' head coach analyzes key moments from the Texans game.
• Post-Game Interviews (1080i, 4:46): Interview clips intermixed with game footage.
• All-Access: Offensive Line (1080i, 5:17): The O-Line sits down for a tasty-looking meal and discusses the life of a line.
• Super Bowl XXXVI Reunion Party (1080i, 5:39): Take a peek inside one of the Pats' reunion parties.

Disc Two:

• Wired for Sound: Edelman and Ryan (1080i, 8:42): The Pats players chat it up during the AFC Championship game.
• All-Access: Behind the Scenes (1080i, 4:19): The Special Teams coaches prepare for Pittsburgh.
• Belichick Breakdown: AFC Championship (1080i, 6:18): The head coach goes over some game footage from the AFC Championship game.
• Post-Game Interviews (1080i, 4:36): Interview clips intermixed with game footage.
• All-Access: Defensive Backs (1080i, 4:59): A few of the Pats' backfield defenders discuss their game.
• All-Access: Running Backs (1080i, 4:49): The backs talk up their games and one another.
• NFL Films Presents: The Slater Family (1080i, 8:58): Katie Nolan introduces viewers to the "ultimate football family."
• NFL Films Presents: The Boston Lobsters (1080i, 4:48): Katie Nolan looks back at Pats owner Robert Kraft's life before football.

Disc Three:

• Wired for Sound: The Super Bowl (1080i, 16:35): A number of Pats player are mic'd up for the big game.
• All-Access: Behind the Scenes Part 1 (1080i, 3:51): Pats coaches prep for Atlanta and players get their tickets for friends and family.
• All-Access: Behind the Scenes Part 2 (1080i, 4:19): The Pats practice at the University of Houston before the game.
• Belichick Breakdown: Super Bowl (1080i, 7:08): The coach breaks down some big moments from the game.
• Post-Game Interviews (1080i, 5:44): Interview clips interspersed with game footage from the second half.
• Super Bowl Celebration and Parade (1080i, 4:06): Highlights of the victory celebrations.
• 4th QTR & OT of SB LI from Fox Broadcast (1080i, 50:18): The game's fourth quarter and OT. With optional commentary by Host Bob Socci and players Trey Flowers and James White.
• Patriots "Best Super Bowl" Roundtable (1080i, 10:13): Bob Socci, Scott Zolak, Tom Curran, Matt Chatham, and Mike Reiss discuss which of the Pats' five Super Bowl victories are the best.

3 Games to Glory V Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

3 Games to Glory V is geared towards Patriots fans, and it makes for a great keepsake that New England fans will certainly cherish. But considering the quality and entertainment value of the Super Bowl and its historical significance, it would make a great buy for general football fans, too. With a large assortment of supplements and solid enough video and audio, this release comes recommended.