Like most individual-based sports, boxing is defined by its stars - those men and women who can dominate their opponents with a combination of flawless technique and debilitating power. Somewhat unique to boxing is the need for the stars to win the hearts and minds of multiple governing organizations in order to hold a unified and "undisputed" title. Of the relatively few who have held such a title, Mike Tyson is easily the most controversial, and as the Blu-ray release of '
Tyson' shows, sometimes rightfully so.
Like many boxers, Mike Tyson's skills as a boxer were born on the streets where fighting was a means of survival. A self-admitted man of excesses, he struggled with success, serving time in jail for rape and losing his winnings to people he calls "leaches". What makes this documentary unique is that it shows a strength of his that is greater than anything seen in the ring - his love for trainer and father figure Cus D'Amato, and his dedication to his family. To watch a visibly shaken Tyson talk about D'Amato helps define a man who has struggled to rebuild his life after leaving the sport he loves.
Sony's Blu-ray presentation lacks the punch that high definition video usually translates to Blu-ray, but the video is sharp enough to call it a strong transfer. Audio too is strong, but for a film centered on interviews with Tyson, it would need little help from encoders to obtain perfection.
Overall, 'Tyson' is a very raw documentary that boxing fans and history fans can unilaterally enjoy. The recent accidental death of his daughter will no doubt shine more light on Tyson, and in turn this film, but that will hopefully allow more people to see the man as he really is, outside the ring.
Criterion releases Akira Kurosawa's '
Kagemusha' and Jacques Tati's '
Play Time' on Blu-ray today, and not surprisingly, they represent some of the best releases ever to grace the high definition format. Like many Criterion releases, these films have already been released on DVD, but as Staff Reviewer Svet Atanasov says in his review, "Frankly, I cannot think of a single reason why you should not upgrade."
Before jumping head-first into the action genre, director Doug Liman (‘
Mr. & Mrs. Smith') gave us ‘Swingers', the ultimate story of a struggling actor trying to make it big in Hollywood while simultaneously trying to find himself after breaking up with his longtime love. His follow-up film '
Go', which is out on Blu-ray today, definitely lacks the charm found in Jon Favreau's now famous story, but it does make for a fun Sunday afternoon flick. The Blu-ray presentation is strong but not perfect, with a dark video transfer but outstanding out representation.
TV fans get their choice of '
Dexter: The Complete Third Season' or '
Sons of Anarchy: Season One', while horror fans get '
The Last House on the Left'. And finally, '
Hannah Montana: The Movie' gets on Blu-ray today as a Disney Combo Pack.
For a complete listing of all the Blu-ray titles released today,
click here.