6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
In this WWE Network “Reunion” special, all five notorious Kliq members (Triple H, HBK, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, X-Pac) reunite! Plus, get an exclusive documentary on the history of the Kliq, including “The Curtain Call”.
Starring: Paul Levesque, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Shawn Michaels (V), Sean WaltmanSport | 100% |
Documentary | 12% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1, 1.33:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
News flash: wrestling isn't real. On-screen relationships -- friendships between wrestlers or rivalries between wrestlers -- aren't necessarily reflective of real life. Does anyone really think that Kevin Owens truly despises everything John Cena stands for or that The Undertaker really wants to send Brock Lesnar to hell, to reference a couple of current feuds? Of course not. It's all part of a story, hence the term sports entertainment. It's not a blending of reality and fiction, it's completely fiction. It's not like in, say, baseball, where brushing a guy back can lead to a guy hit between the numbers can lead to one thrown at a player's head can lead to a bench clearing brawl can lead to years of animosity between two clubs. Wrestling feuds are scripted; real-life friends can be in-ring enemies and vice versa, but what's required to sell the illusion is to remain in-character, or kayfabe to use the technical wrestling term, in all phases of public life. If Owens and Cena are seen out together laughing and sharing a beer and patting one another on the back after a hard night's work on RAW, the illusion is suddenly broken and wrestling becomes just another form of scripted entertainment, not a magic trick of human athleticism blended with soap opera drama. Back in the day, one of the greatest in- and out-of-ring friendships was between a group of guys known collectively as "The Kliq," a group defined not only by its star power but a single, defining moment in which the men -- scripted as, sometimes, enemies in the ring but remaining close friends outside of it -- broke the illusion and redefined the line between truth and fiction forever on the professional wrestling landscape.
The moment.
WWE: The Kliq Rules delivers a basic 1080i, 1.78:1 viewing experience. The new HD interviews are scattered in terms of quality; the opening Michaels interview looks great -- strong facial textures, pinpoint clothing lines, natural colors -- but others can be anywhere from a step to a plummet downward in quality. In the middle, the HD segments are completely flat and yield rosy flesh tones. At their worst, blacks crush, blocking creeps in, and even bad green screen effects leave participants outlined. Older SD material is stretched out to 1.78:1 to stay in-line with the interview segments. Fortunately, the included standalone matches retain their original 1.33:1 aspect ratio.
WWE: The Kliq Rules features a serviceable Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Not much is asked of it, and not much is provided. Dialogue, narration, and vintage sound bytes represent the bulk. Generally, all forms of spoken word are presented nicely enough, with good clarity and center presence. The group interview, however, suffers quite a bit. Not only is it a bit low in volume but it competes with a constant background sound, something similar to a running air conditioner, that only increases the strain to hear it clearly, even at reference level. Bits of music enjoy satisfactory definition and spacing. That's about all there is. This is a straightforward listen that satisfies requirements but offers nothing more.
WWE: The Kliq Rules contains several extra matches on disc two under the "Blu-ray Exclusives" tab.
Fans who have seen previous WWE retrospectives know exactly what to expect here. While more group banter could have made this a stellar release, it instead only merely satisfies. There's a good bit of general access and some quality new interviews with individual members. The narrative is enjoyable and the history covers a fairly wide swath of the era from which The Kliq hails. Imperfect though it may be, it's an enjoyable release and, with a couple dozen matches (and, of course, the famous MSG curtain call), it should please fans looking for some wrestling nostalgia. WWE: The Kliq Rules offers typical WWE Home Video picture and sound qualities. Extras are comprised of four additional matches. Recommended.
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