8.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
For more than a decade, Bret Hit Man Hart and Shawn Michaels engaged in perhaps the most storied rivalry in the history of sports entertainment, from their teams (the Hart Foundation and the Rockers), through battles for the Intercontinental Championship and the richest prize in the business, the WWE Championship. Their enmity spilled out of the ring, and led to the most infamous incident in the history of professional wrestling, The Montreal Screwjob. More than a decade later, the two men buried the hatchet as both are now WWE Hall of Famers. Now, for the first time ever, the two sit down together and rehash their intertwined destinies in Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart. These new, never-before-aired, interviews will shed new light and insight on issues and controversies fans have speculated about for years.
Starring: Shawn Michaels (V), Bret Hart, Jim Ross, Marty Jannetty, Stu HartSport | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1, 1.33:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1, 1.33:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
None
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
There are great wrestlers, fan favorite wrestlers, talented wrestlers, entertainment-oriented showman wrestlers, big wrestlers, small wrestlers, flashy wrestlers, and movie star wrestlers. Then there are wrestlers, the few legendary combatants who make an immediate impact and leave an indelible mark on the world of professional wrestling, true superstars who embody every aspect of sports entertainment, who have it all -- the raw skill, the look, the attitude, the showmanship, the personal appeal, the longevity -- and become the best of the best, the sport's most widely-recognized and cherished athletes who absolutely define the art of professional wrestling. Names like Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Steve Austin, and John Cena fall into the category as do longtime friends and rivals Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels, two A-list superstars who dominated an era and whose off-the-mat squabbles turned a fascinating rivalry into something more, a deeply personal and hurtful feud that would last until the men each met halfway, changed their personal lives, and rocked the landscape of professional wrestling with a reconciliation years after the fact that remains one of wrestling's most incredible moments. Fueled by a passion for the sport, an eagerness to succeed, a drive to reach the top, and a mix of similarities and differences that would bring them together before tearing them apart, it's easy to see why Michaels and Hart dominated the world of professional wrestling before experiencing a legendary falling out that would leave the sport shaken to its core both during their reign at the top and long after they gave way to the next generation of stars. WWE Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart is their story, retrospectively told as they recount their careers, their feud, and their reconciliation in a two-hour program sure to enthrall the most dedicated WWE fan and the greenest newcomer alike.
Legends.
WWE: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart arrives on Blu-ray with a quality 1080i, 1.78:1- and 1.33:1-framed transfer. The image is split into two categories: standard definition archival footage and high definition interview footage. The former is sometimes presented in a 1.78:1 ratio, but never appears unnaturally stretched. Of course, it lacks the detail, color clarity, and stability of the HD footage, but fans might be surprised at how well it translates to larger displays, anyway. It definitely won't be mistaken for HD material, but it's a safe bet that most of this material has never looked better. The HD interview clips -- which comprise the bulk of the program -- do look quite good. Clarity is superb, and detailing is strong, even if all there really is to see are facial and clothing close-ups. Colors are fine, whether Michaels' denim jeans or Ross' black suit and hat. Shadow detail is strong, and the image yields little in the way of blocking and banding. It's not challenging material, and WWE's Blu-ray handles it about as well as can be expected. Note that the standard definition clips do not factor into the final video score.
WWE: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart features a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. No lossless option is included, and frankly the material doesn't need it (and it probably doesn't need the 5.1 mix, either). This is primarily a back-and-forth interview piece. Dialogue is king, and it's handled expertly by the center channel. General music can be a bit crunchy, and older archival footage sounds front-heavy and shallow. Musical interludes do deliver fair clarity, good spacing, and a fairly heavy low end accompaniment. There's really nothing else to this one. It could have easily gotten by with a two-channel presentation -- only music occasionally makes use of the surrounds -- but at least the 5.1 track adequately conveys all that's required of it with relative ease.
WWE: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart contains plenty of extras, chief among them a large number of full length Shawn Michaels/Bret Hart
wrestling matches.
Disc One:
WWE: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart is a quality release that chronicles the in-the-ring and real-life feud between two of the sport's most famous personalities, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart. Though the program lacks much in terms of raw wrestling action, the narrative provides an invaluable insight into the world of professional wrestling that delves deeply into its politics and business and the affect both have on its stars both in the ring and out of it. Michaels and Hart are well-spoken, knowledgable, and willing to share all in what is a must-see for any dedicated WWE fan, and it makes a strong starting point for newcomers, too, if only for the breadth of modern wrestling history it conveys. WWE's Blu-ray release of Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart, like most WWE releases, features fair video and audio to go along with hours of full-length matches billed a supplements. Fans will get their money's worth, and then some. Recommended.
1983-2010
2011
2010
2011
2011
2011
2011
2-Disc Collector's Edition
2011
2012
2009
2012
2011
2010
2011
2010
2010
2012
2012
2010
2008