BUY IT

General		Extras
Category	Music	Theatrical Trailer(s)	None
Rating		Other Trailer(s)	None
Year Released	1998	Commentary Tracks	None
Running Time	79:51 minutes (not 90 minutes as stated on packaging)	Other Extras	Menu Audio Scene Selection Animation Cast Interview (Mark Knopfler)
RSDL/Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Language Selection, then Menu
Region	1,2,3,4,5,6	Director	Various
Studio Distributor	Polygram	Starring	Dire Straits
Case	Super Jewel
RRP	$34.95	Music	Dire Straits

    This is music that has meaning, this is music that has something to say, unlike the derivative Top 40 pap of today. Take, for example, the story of the Sultans Of Swing or the compellingly sad libretto of Romeo and Juliet. The economical use of words by Mark Knopfler is just breathtaking to listen to, as is his great, understated guitar work.

    The actual videos are a mix of live concert footage, music videos, and videotape of their appearances on TV or in the studio.

Video

    The transfer is presented at an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. It is not 16x9 enhanced. Some of the later videos are in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1.

    The transfer is variable in its sharpness and clarity. The earlier videos suffer considerably from a lack of definition, particularly Private Investigations, but conversely, the later concert videos are quite crisp and clear. Black level is a little variable, with the black level being set a little high for some of the earlier videos but becoming much better as the disc progresses. Shadow detail is generally poor, but variable, with the worst examples being earlier videos. Low level noise is intermittently present, once again particularly in the earlier videos.

    The colours were variably rendered, though generally were passable. Some colour bleed and chroma noise was apparent, especially during the earlier videos.

    No MPEG artefacts were seen during the main program, but there were a few during one of the extras (more on this later). A good variety of video artefacts and film-to-video artefacts are variably present. Of particular note is Tunnel Of Love which exhibits a most unusual jerkiness in its video which appears to be as a result of converting 24 frames per second film to 25 frames per second video by repeating a frame once per second. Film artefacts were present in some of the clips that were sourced from film.

Audio

    The words to the songs were as easy to make out as they could be given that Mark Knopfler does tend to mumble a little. Some audio distortion was present during Sultans of Swing.

    Audio sync was variable. Live footage was fine, but some of the lip-synched music videos were a little problematic, however nothing was so far out that it was disturbing.

    The music has been commented on previously, so I will merely reiterate that this is great music, with great meaning.

    The surround channels were not used.

    The .1 channel was not used.

Menu

Booklet

Audio Interview - Mark Knopfler

    The video quality is variable, with the earlier videos being quite ordinary in quality whereas the later videos are much better in quality.

    The audio quality is variable, but generally satisfactory.

    The extras are interesting but not copious.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Michael Demtschyna
24th January 2000