Plot: What’s it about?
The performances of Cirque Du Soleil have been delighting audiences for some time now, with a deft mixture of aerial excitement, feats of strength, dazzling displays of speed, and of course, some comedic antics as well. This specific production is titled Dralion and as usual, it is a visual feast and a real pleasure to watch. All aspects of this production are top notch and in Dralion, each sequence seems to hit the mark, no duds in this mix at all. The performers are nothing short of amazing in Dralion, as each one works to perfection and showcases a wonderful talent. If you think you’ve seen juggling, jumping rope, balancing, or leaping through hoops before, you will be in for a surprise when you sit down with Dralion. Within each act there is a sense of time, rhythm, and style, as each performer works to dazzle the audience, time and time again. In between some of the traditional sequences are some comedic bits also, which were hilarious and offered some superb comic relief. All of the individual acts seem to blend together here, which gives the production a fluid and complete nature, very cool indeed. If you’re looking to be amazed and entertained to no end, then Cirque Du Soleil’s Dralion is a perfect choice.
As you can tell, I really liked this release and I couldn’t have been more entertained here. I know filmed editions of stage productions don’t always work, but Dralion does and seems to capture the essence of the production. This presentation moves between cameras a lot to provide the best perspective, but thanks to some solid editing work, the transitions are smooth. We usually watch a broad angle of the stage to take in the action, but as needed, we come down closer to focus on a performer or action. In the end, Dralion is very well produced and makes for a pleasing home video presentation. As for the show itself, I found no slow spots present and enjoyed this from start to finish. Dralion is visually complex and very stunning, from the colorful and elaborate costumes to the various backdrops and props used, all of which add a lot to the atmosphere of the production. I loved the comedic sections of Dralion to death, but the real stars are the other performers, who simply amazed me. In the end, Dralion never fails to entertain and dazzle, so I give this release a very high recommendation. A rental is in order if you’re new to Cirque Du Soleil, but fans will want to purchase this disc, as to watch it time and again.
Video: How does it look?
Dralion is presented in a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a great transfer that allows the intense visuals to shine, but remember this is not a feature film, so don’t expect this to look like film. I saw no real problems here though, this looks as good as you can expect from a taped version of a stage production. The colors are drenched across the screen in Dralion and thankfully, the hues look rich and bold here, but never bleed in the least. The lighting scheme works to perfection here also, no color complaints at all to make on this one. No problems with the contrast either, as detail is on task and black levels are well defined also. This is a superb treatment for this production, kudos to Columbia/Tristar for their work here.
Audio: How does it sound?
Not to be outdone, the audio also impresses and thanks to the included Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, immerses the viewer from start to finish. The main audio element is the musical soundtrack, which comes off in very rich form here, no thin elements here in the least. The instruments are crisp and distinct, while the vocals have a sense of separation, but still blend well within the music also. As far as other elements, you can hear the audience at times and also some on stage sounds, though no too many. This track provides a full and expansive audio treatment, which allows the production to be as effective as possible. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround track, in case you’ll need it.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a promotional trailer for this production, as well some cool multi-angle options. You can watch four of Dralion’s acts with this option and as you view each one, you can switch between three different angles. So in essence, you can edit your own versions of these performances, or simply check to see what you might have missed in the main feature. You can also watch a twenty-two minute behind the scenes featurette, which gives us a peek into the training and such needed to make Dralion so darn impressive.
