7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
WWE Royal Rumble 2012 Pay-Per-View.
Starring: Stephen Farrelly, John Cena, Phil Brooks, Randy Orton, Bryan DanielsonSport | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: LPCM 2.0
None
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The most difficult, grueling, exhausting event in all of WWE.
The Royal Rumble may not be the showcase event in the annual WWE Pay-Per-View lineup (that is, of course, reserved for WrestleMania), but it sure may very well be the most fun. Here's an even that,
before the last match, lines up with pretty much everything else in the WWE universe: various big-name wrestlers do battle in largely-hyped matches,
made of intense and
entertaining drama, wrestling at its peak efficiency, and a few surprises. All's well and as it should be in the land of professional wrestling, until the
evening reaches the title event, a one-of-a-kind climactic extravaganza of skill, stamina, and the luck of the draw. The event pits thirty wrestlers one
against the other, the match beginning with two in the ring and a new combatant entering the fray every ninety seconds until the entire roster has
been depleted. The rules are simple: no pinfalls, no submissions, no way to lose unless both feet land outside the ring, and no way to win except to
be the last man standing. A Royal Rumble win is viewed as a major milestone, a slingshot to propel a career to new heights, and it of course
guarantees a spot in a title match at WrestleMania. High stakes, big action, and the world's finest wrestlers in an all-out frenzy. What could possibly
be better?
Let's get ready.
Royal Rumble 2012 looks great. The image features very strong clarity and wonderfully crisp details, with only a few random shots appearing slightly soft and only along the edges of the frame. The texture of the ropes and the apron, facial details, and clothes -- including the fine lines and textures of Michael Cole's wrestling headgear -- are all strong. The fine clarity allows viewers to enjoy with much precision the faces in the first handful of rows in the crowd and electronic signage both large and small around the entrance and throughout the arena. Colors are vibrant, probably the finest element of this release. Kofi Kingston's neon-green shorts and leggings, The Great Khali's blinding red pants, Foley's red-and-black checkered shirt, and the orange Royal Rumble ring apron all appear natural and consistent. Blacks are strong, the darker upper levels of the arena appearing accurate and never too dark or too light. Blocky backgrounds are present, usually visible on those darker surfaces, sometimes clearly evident, sometimes difficult to spot, representing the biggest single issue with the disc. The glossy HD video texture is rather flat, but the bonus is that sharp clarity and brilliance. This is certainly one of the best-looking WWE releases to date.
Royal Rumble 2012's WWE Blu-ray-standard Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack satisfies, generally, offering a fairly involved, convincing, and somewhat natural experience that serves the material well enough. General music enjoys a good, spacious presence, whether pumped through the arena or overlaid for the broadcast/Blu-ray presentation. It can sound a hair unkempt at higher volumes, but for the most part, it's solid and immersive, the fronts and backs seamlessly blending together and carrying the beats nicely, effectively transforming the listing area into St. Louis' Scottrade Center. Music also enjoys a strong low-end thump, even as heard on those tunes handled by arena speakers; Mark Henry's intro music in particular delivers a powerful, even, and deep bass line. Crowd ambience is positive and enveloping, and the sounds of wrestling -- wrestlers being tossed around up against a steel cage or hard onto the mat -- come across precisely. Ringside commentary is generally clear, only coming across as too sharp or too lost under music on a few occasions. In-ring dialogue, picked up by directional microphones -- CM Punk yapping at a distracted John Laurinaitis -- comes across clearly, if not with a slightly shallow feel. All told, this is a quality lossy track, reflective of the typical newly-minted WWE releases. Like the video, it could stand improvement, but as it's basically a rehash of broadcast elements, the Blu-ray pretty much reflects the quality of the original source. Also available is a two-channel Spanish language track.
Royal Rumble 2012 contains two interviews from after the Royal Rumble event, as well as a handful of matches and moments
leading up to Royal Rumble.
Home Video Exclusives:
Royal Rumble 2012 is one of the best WWE events in recent memory. It delivers some fantastic action, featuring wrestlers performing at peak efficiency alongside some of the more interesting story lines to come along in the past few months. The Diva and McIntyre/Clay matches are throwaways, but the rest of the show showcases the WWE's best going at in several memorable clashes leading up to the main event, where the sport's biggest names, a few lower-rung wrestlers, and several surprises all pop in for a shot at WWE glory. There's not a better release on the market today for newcomers or those returning to wrestling after a lengthy absence to catch up and see most of the biggest stars of today in action and in prominent roles, and it's of course a must for diehard wrestling fans. WWE's Blu-ray release of Royal Rumble 2012 features quality video and audio and some fair extra content. Recommended.
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