3 Games to Glory VI Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

3 Games to Glory VI Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 6, 2019

How in the world do they do it? Perhaps the better question is how in the world does he do it? Tom Brady, New England's 42-year-old quarterback, doesn't just keep playing like a man 20 years his younger but he also keeps winning at a frequency unprecedented in professional football and in most any other sport. With the Patriots' victory in Super Bowl LIII, the seemingly ageless and apparently unflappable quarterback pocketed his sixth, and probably not final, Super Bowl ring. It was a fairly typical run for the Pats, amassing a respectable, though perhaps by New England standards less than ideal, 11-5 regular season record, good for the AFC's second seed and a first-round bye. It was then a steamroll over the Chargers at home, an overtime victory in Kansas City, and a tight, low scoring affair with late heroics to beat the Rams in the Super Bowl. There's just no stopping them, or him, and Brady seems capable of, and comfortable in, rising to any challenge on any stage to ensure he and his teammates walk away winners.

For fans looking for the full playoff games, this isn't it. Like its two Blu-ray predecessors, this three-disc collection offers a compelling, narrative-driven telling of each playoff game's story. It's disappointing that there's not a release for fans who want to simply watch the games from start to finish on Blu-ray, but with each of the three games earning significant runtime there's really no stone left unturned in any of the recaps. Each of the three game recaps offer incredibly detailed and insightful constructs that offer the typical NFL Films-style dramatic presentation, overlaid with quality music and perfectly cadenced narration. Richly detailed slow-motion and full-speed footage is included and players and personnel are wired for sound. The content is every bit the cinematic excellence fans have come to expect. And, in many ways, it's better than just watching the same old boring TV broadcast presentations. Key plays are presented in rapid-fire fashion but from rarely seen angles and perspectives and edited to breakneck pace. It's a full access, compelling program with plenty to offer both Patriots fanatics and anyone passionate about football alike.

The following games are recapped in this collection:

Disc One: AFC Divisional Playoff vs. LA Chargers 1/13/19

Following the Chargers' 23-17 road win over the Baltimore Ravens, a divisional round date with the defending champion New England Patriots loomed. And so did the prospects of returning home to Los Angeles while the Patriots would move on to play the Chiefs in the AFC championship game. New England opened the scoring on a short yardage Sony Michel run, but the Chargers would tie the game at 7-7 after a long Phillip Rivers touchdown pass. New England would respond with another rushing touchdown and a passing TD to end the first with a commanding 21-7 lead. Two more trips into the end zone would put the Patriots comfortably ahead by a score of 35-7 heading into the second half. Los Angeles would hold the Patriots to only a pair of field goals in the second and rally to score three touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to overcome the lopsided first half. Final score: New England 41, Los Angeles 28.

Disc Two: AFC Championship at Kansas City 1/20/19

A would-be classic began unassumingly with the Patriots scoring two first-half touchdowns on a Sony Michel short yardage run in the first quarter and Tom Brady TD pass in the second, all while the defense blanked the Chiefs to go to the half up 14-0. The Chiefs would quickly get on the board in the third by way of a Patrick Mahomes touchdown pass. The Pats would answer with a field goal and the Chiefs would in kind respond with another Mahomes touchdown throw to end the third down only 3 points by a score of 17-14. Then the game would go into overdrive. Mahomes would connect with Damien Williams for a 23-yard touchdown, but Brady and the Patriots would quickly answer with a touchdown of their own to regain the lead, 24-21. Williams would run the ball into the end zone on the next Chiefs possession. Kansas City's regained 28-24 lead was short lived, however, when on the following possession Rex Burkhead would run the ball to pay dirt to give New England a 31-28 edge. A late Chiefs field goal knotted the game at 31-31 heading into overtime where New England would score on another Rex Burkhead running touchdown for the 37-31 win and a trip to Super Bowl LIII.

Disc Three: Super Bowl LIII vs. LA Rams 2/3/19

The Super Bowl game would be very much unlike the Pats' AFC title game and unlike the Rams' NFC title game, both high scoring affairs that needed overtime to settle. This defensive-minded game featured a Pats missed field goal in the first quarter and a made field goal in the second for a 3-0 New England halftime lead. The Rams would answer with three points of their own in the third to take the game to the decisive fourth quarter knotted at 3-3. The tie would be broken midway through when Sony Michel would rush for another short yardage TD. New England would tack on a late field goal to secure the 13-3 victory and the franchise's sixth Super Bowl victory.

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

Though the video is encoded at a resolution of 1080i, the 1.78:1-framed presentation is no worse for the lesser specification. In fact, it's doubtful most anyone would be able to tell just by watching. The image is pleasantly firm and stable. It finds a healthy, film-like image that is the beneficiary of high resolution that allows superb clarity across the field and throughout the sidelines and crowds. Clarity of turf, meshy uniforms and patches, helmet decals and paint sheen, and facial features and hairs are exceptionally sharp and detailed across all three games. Colors are a standout on this Blu-ray. Green turf is a constant and the various team uniforms shine, particularly Chief red and Ram yellow and blue. These are stout, tight, natural, and accurate colors that leap off the screen. The image shows no signs of any serious source or compression issues. It's clean and healthy looking across all three games.

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

The included DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack plays just about a big as its specifications allow. It squeezes every bit of range and detail as it can out of the speakers and the source. Music dominates with impressive front-end width and very good clarity through the range. It sets a dramatic tone that perfectly compliments the on-field action, only made better by the track's strict attention to detail, even in limited output opportunities. There is fine clarity within the range of atmospheric elements, from more lower end prominent on-field hits to higher pitched whistles. Crowd din is effectively wide and plays with balance to the other elements. The spoken word -- narration, play-by-play, on-field chatter -- presents with good clarity and prioritization. Spacing could be slightly better; imaging is not always perfect to the center with a feel for slight placement to the left and right sides of center.

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

3 Games to Glory VI contains bonuses on all three discs. No DVD or digital copies are included. This release does not appear to ship with a slipcover.

Disc One:

• AFC Divisional Playoff: Behind the Scenes (1080i, 2:53): A quick look at how the team spent the bye week and prepared for the Chargers, the team flying across the country for the divisional playoff game.
• Do Your Job: Nancy Meier (1080i, 13:12): The Pats' Director of Scouting Administration shares the story of her long career with the team and how her position has evolved over the decades. This is the sort of less glamorous but more rewarding true behind-the-scenes piece that soars far above the usual supplementary fluff.
• Do Your Job: Scouting Department (1080i, 14:44): Another rewarding piece that looks deeply inside the scouting process and the job responsibilities and rigors of those who help build the team.
• Wired for Sound: Julian Edelman (1080i, 4:28): The Patriots wideout is wired up for both game play and sideline banter. San Diego's Joey Bosa is also wired.
• Belichick Breakdown: AFC Divisional Playoff (1080i, 3:26): The Pats' head coach analyzes key moments from the Chargers game.
• Postgame Interviews (1080i, 1:42): Interview clips intermixed with game footage.

Disc Two:

• AFC Championship: Behind the Scenes (1080i, 2:53): The club practices and prepares for its meeting with the Chiefs.
• Do Your Job: Equipment Staff (1080i, 8:48): As with the Do Your Job supplements above, this piece follows some of the more unheralded of the team's inner-workings and personnel, this one following Equipment Manager Brendan Murphy, the youngest such individual to hold the position in the NFL, and how he helps the team on the road to Super Bowl glory.
• Wired for Sound: Julian Edelman & Devin McCourty (1080i, 8:26): The Pats' wide receiver and free safety, respectively, are mic'd up for the AFC title game against the Chiefs.
• Belichick Breakdown: AFC Championship (1080i, 3:50): The Pats' head coach analyzes key moments from the Chiefs game with focus on overtime.
• Postgame Interviews (1080i, 2:50): A few words from the players amidst clips from the game and scenes from the locker room celebration.

Disc Three:

• Super Bowl LIII: Bye Week Behind the Scenes (1080i, 1:59): The coaching staff huddles in preparation for the Rams.
• Super Bowl LIII: Behind the Scenes in Atlanta (1080i, 3:42): The Pats practice and prepare for the game at Georgia Tech University and in the hotel conference room.
• Super Bowl Send-Off Rally (1080i, 4:00): Fans pack into Gillette Stadium to wish the team the best of luck.
• Do Your Job: Super Bowl Travel (1080i, 7:59): A fun look at what it takes to get the Patriots -- players, their families, and equipment -- to their destinations.
• Wired for Sound: Bill Bellichik, Julian Edelman, Devin McCourty and James White (1080i, 25:09): Listen to several Pats players and coaches as they participate in the big game.
• Belichick Breakdown: Super Bowl LIII (1080i, 12:10): The coach breaks down the big game's biggest plays.
• Super Bowl Celebration (1080i, 2:30): The players share their emotions over winning the game, interspersed with on-field celebration highlights.
• Trophy Presentation (1080i, 8:04): Vince Wilfork, Joe Namath, and Commissioner Roger Goodell present the trophy to the Patriots.
• Championship Parade (1080i, 1:45): Too-quick highlights showing the team and the fans celebrating back in Boston.

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

3 Games to Glory VI tells the story of New England's three-game journey to Super Bowl Glory. The program is compellingly assembled and packed with high quality bonus materials. Video and audio presentations are very good, too. Highly recommended.