Review of Manchester Unitied Beyond the Promised Land

Introduction

It`s probably worth noting at the beginning that this is one of those `you get what you expect` discs. Your average Arsenal or Leeds fan, or someone who has absolutely no interest in football, is highly unlikely to really enjoy this disc. However, for anyone who supports United (guilty as charged) or enjoys a entertains a neutral enjoyment of the Gentleman`s sport, "Manchester United Beyond the Promised Land" offers an insight behind the facade of the worlds largest football club.

Video

Presented in a non-anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen ration, the picture is good without ever reaching theatrical excellence. Footage from various sources are mixed in, and when this happens both the aspect ratio and the quality is variable. Generally, the picture is crisp and clear, although I wasn`t that impressed by the colour depth. While the richness of the colours was okay, it reminded me more of a lower budget documentary, rather than the 1h30 high quality filmic experience this disc is being marketed as.

Audio

The audio quality was surprisingly good. The soundtrack entertains some pop classics, and for the most part dialogue (even from the inimitable Mr Ferguson) was clear and understandable - quite a feat ! This is impressive, because footages comes from all manner of places, from the dressing room to the terraces (via the golf course !).

Features

The extra features on this disc at first appear a little sparse, but when examined further actually offer quite a large amount of material which redeems matters somewhat. The interviews on offer when viewed together total a lot of footage, which while I didn`t time it must have been almost 45 minutes or more. These interviews - Bobby Charlton, Ferguson, Giggs, Beckham and Keane, offer additional insight into the club and personalities, although some of the footage is duplicated from the main feature which is a bit disappointing and annoying - especially if both are viewed together.

A Director`s commentary is also available, but unfortunately once listened to, it becomes clear that this is not all it`s cracked up to be. The Director remains silent for large portions of the presentation, and at the risk of stirring up claims of descrimination, is American. Please understand, this is not a comment about our American cousins, or their ability to understand football, but this particular Director drones on without ever demonstrating any passion or verve about the sport, or the club. I`m sure he was brought in for his cinematographic skills, in which case, someone else should have been brought in to record a commentary - Alex Ferguson ? A collection of the team ? This was a lost opportunity indeed.

There are not really any other extra materials to speak of - an `exclusive` introduction to the DVD amounts to an extremely sheepish (he looks embarassed to to carrying out such blatant commercialism) Ferguson welcoming you to the DVD. It lasts about 4 seconds. Scene access, menus and a web link are not what I would describe as extra features, more like basic requirements.

Conclusion

There - you knew I was right. If you`re a United or a football fan you might like it. If you`re not then watching this disc will probably be two of the less enjoyable hours of your life. The movie offers some insight into the backroom character of the club, but it is very corporate orientated. We don`t see much in the way of training sessions or changing-room banter. We don`t see the players at their homes, or leading lives outside the club. It`s more sponsorship than insight. We do get to follow the lives of a number of fans as the support United through last seasons downfalls (let`s face it, they weren`t going to do the triple again). Some are interesting, while some are downright annoying. For me, a Leeds supporter steals the show following a Manchester victory when with a crestfallen face he looks into the rain and says "that`s not rain, it`s God crying [at the injustice]" !!.

One for the fans, featuring the fans then, but actually far better than the marketing fluff that it could have been.