Ultimate NFL Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Ultimate NFL Blu-ray Movie Review

Slow down and take a look.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 21, 2014

Remember a few years ago, during a Major League Baseball playoff series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants, when there was a Hunter Pence at-bat in which replays showed his bat struck the ball, broke, and struck the same ball two more times? That's probably the single most awesome high definition slow motion replay in the sports world right now. Some of the images in Ultimate NFL come close. Though not strictly a display of slow-motion goodness, the film presents its fair share if incredible high speed, slowed-down photography that captures every muscle twitch, fabric move, and football spiral. It's amazing technology that doesn't redefine the game but that instead redefines how people see it and understand it, providing a greater appreciation for the amazing skill, finesse, and speed involved in the game as it is played in real time, not slowed down to where it looks far easier than it really is.

Superman.

The film begins with a glimpse back at week eleven of the 2009 season, showing a few highlights from a handful of games but focusing primarily on Detroit's last-second comeback over Cleveland off the strength of an injured Matthew Stafford last-second touchdown pass. Here, viewers will enjoy more than a handful of incredible slow-motion shots that set the pace for the program's remainder. The film's middle stretch introduces audiences to the physics of football, offering basic classroom-style presentations on the science behind spirals, punts, and player collisions. The film additionally highlights the athletic Reggie Bush and takes viewers inside two playoff games: Packers-Cardinals and Saints-Colts.

For as cool the program can be, it never feels complete. At around 45-minutes long, there's not much time to put on a dazzling display of slow-motion artistry, particularly as time stands almost still when it takes moments, not milliseconds, for a football to complete one spiraling revolution or for an athlete to leap into the end zone. The supplementing material about football physics is just as, if not more so, interesting, yet it feels randomly inserted, sort of like a teaser for what would make for a much more interesting full-on program about the science of football. But witnessing the flow of the game at a speed and resolution previously thought to be the work of science fiction makes for a dazzling display of athleticism meets technology that will more than please hardcore football fans and tech junkies alike.

Ultimate NFL Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ultimate NFL generally looks great. The imagery, most of it photographed on film (NFL films goes through more than 379 miles of 16mm film every season), maintains a moderately grainy appearance that enhances fine detail and offers a beautiful cinematic texture that screams to be watched on a large display. It also makes for a nice change-of-pace from the detailed but otherwise flat HD pictures networks show every Sunday. Viewers will be pleased with the fine detail revealed in most every shot, from sweaty faces to lightly frayed uniform edges and sewn-on-patches. Grasses look magnificent in slow motion, and the football's leathery textures are readily visible in close-up shots. Colors are bold and exciting, whether Chiefs red, Lions blue, Packers green, or Steelers yellow. Green grasses and blue skies look marvelous. Black levels are deep and flesh tones appear accurate. There are no major instances of noise, banding, or other unwanted video visitors. Overall, this is a marvelous effort from NFL Films.

Ultimate NFL Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Ultimate NFL features a big DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that's up to the challenge of matching the majesty of the visuals. The track presents listeners with a big, spacious sound field. Crashes and grunts and other football action sounds are wonderfully immersive and expertly spaced all around the listening area. Music plays equally big, with excellent clarity and an immersive presence from every speaker. A barrage of gunfire at a New England Patriots game explodes through the listening area with wonderful authenticity. The track produces some amped-up elements as jets and helicopters fly overhead during a few shots. Narration is bold and center-focused.

Ultimate NFL Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Ultimate NFL's supplements are a tech-head's dream come true.

• PiP Commentary: Steve Sabol appears in an overlaying box to share the details behind the film's construction.
• Trivia Track.
• Ultimate Behind the Scenes (HD): "An interactive virtual tour of NFL Films." Users can take a guided tour of NFL films with Steve Sabol (6:10). Afterward, fans can watch one of four plays from four different angles: the network broadcast, two NFL Films cameras, and the "Phantom Camera." The supplement provides critical technical details, such as camera model and lenses used, for each clip. Next, users can visit one of several departments: Camera Department (4:43), Film Lab (3:23), Telecine (4:21), Producers (5:02), Graphics (3:08), Final Edit (2:40), Game Day Sound (3:44), Orchestration (4:13), and Sound Design Mix (4:57). Finally, users can assemble their own scene using several included tools (following the Producers segment) and add audio to a sequence (following the Sound Design Mix segment). These are also available independently under the "Production Tools" tab. If anyone remembers a similar editing suite on the Criterion Dracula LaserDisc they will be familiar with how this works.

Ultimate NFL Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ultimate NFL is smartly written and nicely narrated. The footage is stunning, but there's just not enough of it. The film is piecemeal at best, entertaining for sure but seemingly a sampling of at least three other films: a 2009 season overview, a tech demonstration, and a "science of football" special. Consider that the total runtime is just a tick north of 45 minutes, and it's easy to see the disappointment in the end product. Still, witnessing some incredible feats of slow motion is a treat for the eyes and mind, even if such things are becoming more and more commonplace in sporting event replays and HD broadcasts. Still, NFL fans would be missing out not to give this one a look. Solid video and audio are present in addition to several great supplements which, truth be told, represent the real reason to pick this one up. Recommended as a purchase if found on-the-cheap.