Plot: What’s it about?
Upsets & Underdogs is a look at some…well, famous upsets and underdog stories in the NBA, from personal victories to team related efforts. This feature is hosted by former hoops star Bill Walton, who is also involved in one of the stories told, when he and his fellow Portland Trailblazers challenged for the league’s championship. But Walton’s tale is just one of the many told within Upsets & Underdogs and while I won’t spoil them all, I will provide an overview of what to expect. In other team based stories, you’ll see the rise of the 1999 New York Knicks and their race to the finals, where they clashed with the San Antonio Spurs. Also watch as Dikembe Mutombo leads his eighth seeded Denver Nuggets into battle against the Seattle Supersonics, the top ranked team in the Western division. This program also has segment on Scottie Pippen, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, and others as they overcame the odds to reach the professional level of the game. In addition to footage from the games and such, this program also offers exclusive interviews and behind the scenes shots, which add a lot to the presentation.
This is another release in the NBA’s line of home videos, so if you’re a fan of the hoops superstars, then this is a disc you’ll want to check out. I’m not a rabid fan of basketball by any means, but I liked this program a lot and could see myself watching it again down the road. As usual for the these pieces, the clips have been themed and edited together very well, so the production has a real polished feel, very cool indeed. Unlike some sports compilations I’ve seen, this one has been put together with real care and that adds to the enjoyment, at least to me it does. The stories explored were good ones and I was taken in by most of them, especially the more personal ones. I think we often overlook the personal tales of athletes, so I was pleased to see some of that covered here. I liked the segment devoted the Denver Nuggets the best however, as I remember when it all unfolded at the time. This piece runs about fifty minutes and is a real pleasure to watch, so I recommend it to fans of the sport. While a rental is good for skeptics, the low retail price warrants a purchase from hardcore fans, to be sure.
Video: How does it look?
Upsets & Underdogs is presented in a full frame transfer, which is how the piece was intended to be shown. Some sequences feature 1.66:1 non anamorphic widescreen, but this is more for style than anything, to be sure. The game footage is shown full frame and looks better than on television, which is about all you can ask for, I think. Some of the footage looks better than other parts, but I was pleased in the end, even if not overly impressed. There was some edge enhancement also, but that’s to be expected with a release such as this one.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track adds some fire to this program, as the crowd cheers and slam dunks have never sounded so powerful. In the game footage, you’ll feel right in the middle of the action, as noise comes from all directions and angles. But the interview clips and more conservative pieces also sound terrific, with no real problems to report. The dialogue is clean and sharp at all times, while the music is immersive and adds depth to the audio atmosphere, very cool. This disc also includes a Dolby stereo track, in case that better suits your home theater needs.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes video profiles of Bill Walton, Allan Houston, and Dikembe Mutombo, all of which are well made and worth a look.
