Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D Blu-ray Movie Review

Sports in 3D -- what could be better?

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 20, 2010

A simple game. A beautiful game.

For 31 days in the summer of 2010, the eyes of the world shifted from the pains of war, the struggles of fledgeling economies, and the uncertainty of the future, instead turning a collective gaze to South Africa, the host nation of the FIFA World Cup, an event that at once both brings out the highly-charged partisanship of dedicated national fans and the unity of one world coming together for a once-every-four-years event that defies boundaries and is, along with the Summer and Winter Olympics, truly one of the great multinational sporting events of modern times. A test of endurance, skill, teamwork, dedication, and determination, the great game of soccer (or football as it is known outside the United States) is a game of individual skill but won and lost on the shoulders of the entire team playing as a collective whole; it's a game of inches, bounces, and luck, with amazing feats of athleticism controlling the game but those subtle, almost mystical, happy accidents or, maybe, events driven by destiny that can change the course of a game, forever alter a player's future, or shape the sporting fate of a single nation. It often seems like the true heroes and villains of both the best matches on the biggest stages and the least meaningful scrimmages on the dirt lots played by young men and women with a leg and a dream are not necessarily the players themselves, but what the game can give and take away in a blur, a slightly off-centered pass, a kicked ball that ends up scraping the side of the post or bouncing off the top crossbar, or an untimely yellow or red card pulled by overzealous referee. Skill, fate, and everything in between was on full display in South Africa, with as many surprises as expected outcomes, as many heroes as goats, and too many great moments to count. This is soccer. This is the FIFA World Cup 2010.

With no 2D option available, pictures of the packaging are substituting for screenshots in this review.

31 Days, 32 teams, 64 games. That was what South Africa, soccer fans, and the world had to look forward to for one month between June 11 and July 11, 2010. Nations both big and small and with talented rosters and relative unknowns alike competed on the world's largest stage for one prize. The games commenced, appropriately enough, with the host nation's team taking on Mexico, resulting in a 1-1 draw with the South African team almost scoring a late goal to secure the victory. Also of note and in attendance was the defending champions from Italy, an upstart team from the Netherlands, a powerhouse roster from Spain, and an American squad looking to make a name for itself in world competition and, just as important, bring national attention to the world's sport to an extent that hadn't been seen since Brandi Chastain famously removed her shirt when the American team defeated the Chinese at the 1999 Women's World Cup.

The games began in the non single-elimination "group play" stages that pitted eight groups of four teams one against another in a six-game series, with the teams collecting the most points across the six games awarded a trip to the second round. Notable results early on was a Spanish team loss to Switzerland and an exciting game between the United States and England that resulted in a 1-1 final score. Spain would rebound and the United States would squeak into the round of 16, the former polishing off the "Ps" -- Portugal and Paraguay -- by scores of 1-0 in each match to reach the semi-finals and the latter falling to Ghana 2-1 in extra time. Meanwhile, the 2006 champs, Italy, failed to make it past the first round, while the always dangerous Brazilians lost to The Netherlands in the quarter-finals, . Germany ousted a strong Argentinian team by a shocking 4-0 score to advance to the final four, while Uraguay defeated the U.S. nemesis, Ghana, in a shootout to reach the same select stage. With the final four set, the surprising Netherlands team defeated upstart Uruguay 3-2 while Spain won yet another 1-0 game over Germany, and it seems only fitting that Spain would win the title with another 1-0 victory of the Netherlands.

The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D is a well-produced film that's no doubt made for a niche audience, but general sports enthusiasts -- particularly American audience members not normally interested in soccer -- might very well still find value here as the film offers a nice overview of a major world event. Yes, the World Cup is a big deal; it might not wind up in a general history textbook, but flip back through some archived magazines or check the event's history on the web and see the incessant coverage it earned both in the U.S. and around the world, and not only on ESPN. Like the Olympic games, the World Cup is pretty big deal, and Sony's Blu-ray release does justice to the importance of the event -- particularly to South Africa -- and the actual game play on the field, but it could use a bit more in terms of further exploring the scope and history of World Cup play. Nevertheless, the film is exciting and captivating for its 64-minute duration; American audiences familiar with the grandiose style of NFL Films presentations should instantly take a liking to this production. No, there's no Steve Sabol, but Narrator Ian Darke does a fine job with what is a well-written, informative, and engaging script. The film covers everything from the big plays in many of the big games while also taking the time to look at the social impact of the World Cup on South Africa, notably the racial unity evident in the host country during the games. If there's a fault, it comes not necessarily with the film but with what's not included with this release. Full games of some of the Cup's most crucial match-ups -- the opening game that pitted South Africa against Mexico, the incredible opening round tilt between England and the United States, or the final matchup between Spain and The Netherlands -- would have been most welcome additions. Here's hoping that there's a 3D release of the Cup's best games in the future.

The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Never mind that The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D arrives courtesy of Sony with only a 720p Blu-ray 3D transfer; this feature looks great and sports some fantastic 3D imagery. Although some of the opening footage looks a bit pale or washed out, things brighten considerably when the action shifts to World Cup play. Even through the obvious video sheen, details range from good to exceptional. The grassy turf never looks too clumpy but it never takes on a lifelike texture, either. However, close-ups of players reveal the intricate detailing in their jerseys. Colors are wonderfully vibrant through most of the film; the various flags and multicolored jerseys offer plenty of exciting colors that allow the image to shine brightly in most places, and never do the hues seem over-pumped or unnaturally bright. Even better, the transfer rarely suffers through any perceptible anomalies; aliasing and jagged edges are rarities and not regular visitors to the screen, and the image generally retains a crispness that gives it a polished and complete look.

Viewers won't be disappointed with the transfer's 3D capabilities. The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D fares infinitely better than DirecTV's 3D presentations of the full matches over this past summer, here obviously free of the stuttering and chunky blocking that took all the excitement out of the satellite broadcasts. The image here is practically seamless, offering fantastic depth, crisp edges, minimal "ghosting" when viewed through Panasonic's first-gen 50" plasma, and an overall pleasurable viewing experience. The seamless depth and the way the transfer so often seems to transport viewers to the various locations is its best asset. Look at the 4:00 mark (and at several additional junctures through the film) as former RSA Captain Lucas Radebe sits down for an interview in the stands of one of the local stadiums; the way the rows of seats behind him extend upwards and outwards is, in a word, amazing, and viewers will be awed by the sensation that practically has them standing in front of the ex-footballer for the interview clips. Such striking depth is evident throughout, and some of the best shots involve watching incoming shots on goal from a camera somewhere behind the net; watching the ball come into the living room makes for an amazing experience that seems to place the viewer in the front row of the stands. Unfortunately, a few distant shots -- such as those from high above the middle of the field that represent that generic televised camera angle -- make it hard to follow the true trajectory of the ball in 3D; just when it looks like a shot is right on net, it actually goes far off to one side of the goal or another. Otherwise, this is a strong presentation; graphics seem to float above the screen and a Vuvuzela even appears to stick out of the screen in one shot. Soccer fans and Blu-ray 3D enthusiasts will watch this one over and over again.

The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D delivers a strong but not particularly memorable DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Narration is perfectly centered up the middle, with Ian Darke's voice offering an authoritative and knowledgeable, but still amicable, delivery. The track handles the film's upbeat and powerful music well, allowing it to make full use of the front half of the soundstage and play with a good bit of clarity and lifelike details. Sound effects are spread around the entire 5.1 configuration; cheering crowds engulf the listener at several points while a formation of jets buzz overhead from front to back to mark the beginning of the games. Best (or worst?) of all, the constant droning of the symphony of Vuvuzelas are heard quite a bit throughout the film, with that familiar "rrrrrrrrrrrrr" sound coming out with probably too much clarity. Then again, it wouldn't be a 2010 World Cup film without that sound, so good on Sony for making it, and the rest of the track, an immersive, all encompassing experience and high-quality presentation.

The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D contains no program-related extras; only special 3D sneak peaks of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (1080p, 1:32) and Open Season (1080p, 1:29) are included.

The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D is the perfect marriage between the world's most beloved sport and the world's hottest home video technology. Not only can fans relive the excitement of the 2010 World Cup, they can do so in 3D, and in a much better quality than was seen on the 3D broadcasts provided by DirecTV. It's unfortunate that this set doesn't include some of the premiere games and important match-ups from the 2010 World Cup in their entireties, but this is a nice archival piece that hits all the right notes and captures all of the important highlights. Sony's Blu-ray 3D release of The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Film in 3D delivers a strong picture quality (never mind the 720p label), a good lossless soundtrack, but no extras. Even considering the absence of bonus content, soccer and Blu-ray fans alike who are 3D ready will want to purchase this release. Recommended.