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PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Yogalates-Total Body Toner (2002)

Yogalates-Total Body Toner (2002)

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Released 18-Nov-2003

Cover Art

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Yoga Menu Animation & Audio
Additional Footage-The Energy Booster
Rating Rated E
Year Of Production 2002
Running Time 89:55
RSDL / Flipper No/No Cast & Crew
Start Up Menu
Region Coding 4 Directed By Lyndal Davies
Studio
Distributor
Momentum Pictures
Universal Pictures Home Video
Starring Louise Solomon
Case ?
RPI $34.95 Music None Given


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame Full Frame English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio None
16x9 Enhancement No
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles None Smoking No
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

    This is a follow up to the Solomon Yogalates disc previously reviewed here. Yogalates was developed by the presenter, Louise Solomon, and is a fusion of yoga - which concentrates on muscle tone, flexibility and circulation - and pilates, which builds strength and definition in the deep muscles.

    Like the original, Yogalates: Total Body Toner  is a series of workouts with Louise Solomon instructing the viewer and a number of students demonstrating the techniques along with her.

    There are four workouts covering different areas of the body on this disc:

    Workout 4 is described by Louise as advanced and she recommends practicing the other workouts for 3 months prior to attempting this one. Judging by the pain I felt just watching the positions they used, I tend to agree. In the first three workouts, any advanced position is mentioned before being performed, and an alternative position is suggested for beginners. One of the co-demonstrators performs the beginner routine so those less flexible can still follow. The one criticism here is that sometimes the camera moved away from the beginner routine too quickly.

    In addition to the workouts there is a brief introduction and explanation of Yogalates at the start and a relaxation segment at the end.

    The set for the workouts is stark white, with Louise and her students on dark yoga mats and wearing dark leotards. There is no background music, only a commentary on the exercises by Louise. The introduction was filmed outside with images of Byron Bay and the relaxation segment is a series of calm, nature scenes.

    Sorry guys, this is not a disc to buy your wife so you can watch cute girls doing aerobic style work-outs to up-tempo music. Yogalates is more sedate in nature, concentrating on dynamic tension and stretching to achieve its results.

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Transfer Quality

Video

    The video is 1.33:1 and is, naturally, not 16x9 enhanced.

    I would guess that it was originally video taped, as sharpness was a little lacking in some scenes. Nothing serious, just a video style softness to the image. Like the previous disc, the harsh contrast of the all white set and the dark leotards mean that shadow detail is lost as the camera struggles to find a balance. This doesn't really detract from the programme, however.

    The transfer was clean with no MPEG artefacts or low level noise present.

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    English Dolby Digital 2.0 is the only audio available but, as the audio is predominately just Louise talking you through the workouts, only the centre is really used. The mains do see some activity during the introduction and relaxation sections when there is background music present.

    The audio is very clear with no hiss or drop-outs, and the commentary is always intelligible.

    The music used is the pan flute new age type and is only used in the introduction and relaxation segments.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

Menu

    An animated menu is provided. Choices are to play the feature, play the extra or scene selection. Scenes are sensibly divided into each workout.

Energy Booster (9:57)

    This is a short workout that is aimed at those who are on their feet all day or for helping to recover from jet-lag.

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

     Both a Region 1 and a Region 2 version are available. There seems to be no difference between them, aside from the obvious NTSC encoding for Region 1.

Summary

   The disc is clearly aimed at women, although some of the co-demonstrators in Workout 4 were male. If you are interested in toning up and getting fit using pilates or yoga, this is probably a good disc to get you started.

    The production has obviously been made on a budget, but is quite acceptable.

    Video and audio are both good.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Glen Randall (If you're really bored, you can read my bio)
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Review Equipment
DVDToshiba SD-1200Y, using S-Video output
DisplayGrundig M84-210 80cm. Calibrated with Ultimate DVD Platinum. This display device is 16x9 capable.
Audio DecoderBuilt in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Ultimate DVD Platinum.
AmplificationYamaha RX-V596
SpeakersRichter Wizard fronts, Richter Lynx centre, Richter Hydra rears, Velodyne CT-100 sub-woofer

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