6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A chronicle of WWE's history.
Starring: Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan, Robert Remus, Steve Austin (IV), Muhammad AliSport | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
What a main event we have for you tonight!
The WWE may take a lot of flak for its lack of realism -- the scripted events, the low- to no-contact punches and kicks, the "safe" tossing about of
opponents in and around the ring, and the perception that it's more about marketing a product than it is entertaining a fan base with real sporting
prowess -- but for an entity that has so long been the black sheep of the "legitimate" sporting community, it's earned quite a massive following,
made tons of money, and made superstars out of plenty of folks who truly understood the art of sports entertainment, who looked the part, who
sounded the part, and who were blessed with the athleticism to pull it off as convincingly as "fake" allows. It's found not just a staying power but a
constant growth, certainly experiencing the ups and downs of seasons of success and times of turmoil and competition, but Vince McMahon's
professional wrestling brand has withstood the test of time and become a profitable force and, more, an icon, a slice of Americana, and home to a
storied character roster that's nearly the rival for any of the other major professional sports. The names "Sammartino," "Hogan," "Austin," "Rock"
and "Cena"
are as recognizable as "Jordan," "Ruth," "Gretzky," "Rice," and "Woods." The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment attempts to
funnel all of that history into a two-hour program, plus a handful of influential and defining matches. Does the program pull off the impossible?
It's come a long way.
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment arrives on Blu-ray with a good quality WWE presentation. It's typical for the WWE compilation piece, split into two primary elements: newly minted HD video and vintage standard definition footage. The HD video interview clips are satisfyingly sharp and well defined, showing intimate skin and clothing textures with ease. Light banding interferes at times, but not to a severely distracting level. Additionally, newer HD material from matches over the past few years appears robustly colored and precisely defined, a far step up from even the footage from the first years of the 2000s. The picture also features a host of vintage programming, dating way back to the black-and-white era and pushing forward to the months before the switchover to HD. The quality understandably varies a good deal across these scenes, though all are certainly acceptable for historic viewing. Note, however, that SD material has been reformatted to a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. In short, the film features quality HD video and a collection of dated footage of varying quality that's par for the course for a WWE release.
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment features the WWE-standard Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. The main ingredient is Keith David's deep yet soothing voice. It's usually presented firmly and clearly in the center, though there are some instances when it unnaturally echoes around the stage. Otherwise, the presentation is solid, with much of the audio reflecting the era in which it was recorded, meaning newer ringside commentary, interviews, etc. will sound cleaner and more naturally accurate than older material. Overlay music plays with solid definition and presence. There's not a lot here beyond the spoken word, and for the most part the track handles dialogue well enough.
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment contains the following bonus features on disc one:
The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment offers an absorbing and informative, but somewhat piecemeal, history of the WWE. It's all good information, yet it feels like a compilation of highlights, part of a bigger, better, meatier narrative. It's a solid overview, no doubt about it, but with a history as rich as the WWE's, it's a bit disappointing that a two-hour program is all WWE Home Video could muster. A nice selection of classic bonus matches helps smooth things out, but fans will likely be left wanting a more comprehensive presentation for such an ambitious project. WWE's Blu-ray release of The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment features the average quality WWE video, audio, and supplements. Recommended with the caveat that many will want more by the end.
2012
2012
2011
2014
2012
2011
2013
2011
Wrestlemania 28
2012
w/ Limited Edition 'Mr. Socko' sock puppet
2013
2012
2012
2013
2012
2014
2013
2012
Collector's Edition
2003
2010
1981-2011