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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.
The Burly Man Chronicles (2004)

The Burly Man Chronicles (2004)

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Released 6-Dec-2004

Cover Art

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Documentary Main Menu Introduction
Main Menu Audio & Animation
Featurette-The Burly Man Chronicles
Featurette-Pre-production (7 Featurettes)
Featurette-Alameda Shoot (4 Featurettes)
Featurette-Australia Shoot (10 Featurettes)
DVD-ROM Extras-Web Links
Rating ?
Year Of Production 2004
Running Time 176:18
RSDL / Flipper Dual Layered Cast & Crew
Start Up Menu
Region Coding 4 Directed By Josh Orech
Studio
Distributor

Roadshow Home Entertainment
Starring Steve Skroce
Geof Darrow
George Hull
Kym Barrett
Owen Paterson
Robert Galotti
Clay Pinney
R.A. Rondell
Daniel Bernhardt
Anthony Zerbe
Dr. Cornel West
Peter Robb-King
Ian Bliss
Case ?
RPI Box Music Various


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 English Smoking Yes
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

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

Plot Synopsis

    When you think that the wealth of information on this series of films has been exhausted, there's more. With this disc, you go even deeper into the production of the films, most specifically Reloaded and Revolutions. This disc features behind the scenes footage and interviews with those in front and behind the camera. From Daniel Bernhardt (Agent Johnson) to Mary Alice (The Oracle) to Anthony Zerbe (Councillor Hamann) to Robert 'Rock' Galotti (Weapons Coordinator), we get the full tour.

    Using the original 'Follow the White Rabbit' feature of the first Matrix release, we have the option to view several breakouts (21 in all) that take the viewer even deeper into the rabbit hole. Never in my time as a DVD reviewer (or DVD watcher for that matter) have I seen such an exhaustive package of extras. Only the Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Trilogy comes close. This package, coupled with the original releases, provides the viewer with every conceivable extra covering every facet of the production of the three films. The only thing missing is any real direct contribution by the directors of the films, the Wachowski Bros.  Now, if only George Lucas would do the same thing with the Star Wars films...

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Transfer Quality

Video

    The video transfer is completely consistent with what we've seen on previous discs in this series.
 
    The video is transferred (and filmed) full frame with the occasional 2.35:1 film footage presented in a 4x3 frame, not 16x9 enhanced.

    The quality of the footage varies here, from pristine completed footage to rough and ready handy-cam footage. As with other discs in the series, the vision here is totally watchable, but it's a bit frustrating to have such a wealth of 4x3 material in this age of 16x9 displays. Still, the content is interesting for fans of the series. Sharpness of the image varies, but it is reasonably clear for the most part, considering the method of image capture. Shadow detail is adequate. You'll get a bit of low level noise from time to time, but it isn't a real problem here.

    Colour's use during the feature is fairly natural and its committal to disc is fine, without any major problems.

    I didn't have any issues with the compression rate of this disc, with enough space afforded the material to provide an MPEG artefact-free image. There are some video transfer issues, such as aliasing, cross colouration and edge enhancement, but these are not out of control considering the material.

    There is only one subtitle option here, that being an English stream. It is of reasonable accuracy, though not word for word.

    This disc is formatted dual layer. I got the impression that the main feature was on one layer, whilst the 'Follow the White Rabbit' break-outs were on the second layer.

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

Audio

    The audio present on this disc is adequate.

    There is only one audio option here, that being an English Dolby Digital 2.0 mix running at a basic 192 Kb/s. It is enough to serve the material.

    I thought that the dialogue quality here is quite good with the spoken word easily understood throughout the programme. Sync was also reasonable throughout.

    Though music doesn't play a huge part in these making-of featurettes, there are several musical artists credited. These include John Bourke, Encoder, DJDM, Skycabin, Charles Graef, Cube, Matthew Frauman, Fingertwister and others.

    As this is a 2.0 sound mix at 192 Kb/s, we aren't going to get much in the surround sound stakes. Your surround sound amp will have to derive what information it can. LFE is also fairly light on.

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

Extras

    This disc is 100% extras.

Menu

    After the normal distributor's logos and copyright warnings, we are taken to the disc's Main Menu which offers us the following:     The menus are 16x9 enhanced and feature audio from the film's soundtrack.

    Selecting the Follow the White Rabbit feature offers us:

    There are 7 White Rabbit breakouts for Pre-Production, 4 for Alameda and 10 for Australia. Unlike the White Rabbit feature on the original Matrix disc, this feature is not selectable to be on or off. You can choose to select the White Rabbit or not, but you can't turn off the feature itself. You can also select any of the White Rabbit breakouts on their own by selecting any of the 3 options (Pre-Production, Alameda Shoot or Australia Shoot) and selecting directly the featurette that you want.

Follow the White Rabbit   -   21 Breakouts   -   81:39 Total Running Time

1. Steve Skroce (Key Storyboard Artist)   Breakout at 3:34, Duration 2:36
2. Geoff Darrow (Conceptual Artist)   Breakout at 3:46, Duration 7:43
3. George Hull (Art Director)   Breakout at 4:06, Duration 2:20
4. Pre-Production   Breakout at 5:06, Duration 6:15
5. Kym Barrett (Costume Design)   Breakout at 7:44, Duration 2:33
6. Owen Paterson (Production Designer)   Breakout at 10:16, Duration 4:54
7. Rock On (Robert 'Rock' Galotti, Weapons Coordinator)   Breakout at 10:54, Duration 6:00
8. Ringmaster (Clay Pinney, Special Effect Coordinator at Alameda)   Breakout at 15:28, Duration 2:19
9. Ronumentary (R.A. Rondell, Supervising Stunt Coordinator)   Breakout at 17:11, Duration 5:27
10. A Day in the Life of Agent Johnson (Daniel Bernhardt)   Breakout at 25:16, Duration 5:30
11. Anthony Zerbe (Councillor Hamann)   Breakout at 32:59, Duration 2:14
12. Tribute (September 11, Aaliyah, Gloria Foster)   Breakout at 38:17, Duration 4:45
13. Roy Jones (Captain Ballard, World Champion Boxer, Actor)   Breakout at 40:09, Duration 3:13
14. Dessert of the Real (On Screen Food)   Breakout at 45:16, Duration 2:27
15. Mary Alice (The Oracle)   Breakout at 50:21, Duration 3:02
16. Peter Robb-King (Special Make-Up)   Breakout at 54:46, Duration 3:38
17. Upgrades (New Agents)   Breakout at 75:51, Duration 2:10
18. A Day in the Life of Dr. Cornel West   Breakout at 78:36, Duration 8:07
19. Ian Bliss (Bane, Bane/Smith)   Breakout at 79:10, Duration 2:12
20. Publicity Shoot   Breakout at 85:04, Duration 2:09
21. The End   Breakout at 89:29, Duration 2:05

R4 vs R1

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

     We receive the same package here in Region 4 as that afforded our Region 1 cousins, with the only differences being Region coding and language options.

Summary

    For the die-hard fan of this series, this disc continues the in-depth look at the production of the trilogy, especially the second and third instalments. With almost 3 hours of footage, this is in some ways better than the Revisited discs combined. If you're a fan, you'll wanna watch it.

     The video is adequate.

     The audio is adequate.

     This disc is 100% extras.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Sean Bradford (There is no bio.)
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Review Equipment
DVDPanasonic DVD RP-82 with DVD-Audio on board, using S-Video output
DisplayBeko TRW 325 / 32 SFT 10 76cm (32") 16x9. Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL). This display device is 16x9 capable.
Audio DecoderYamaha RX-V2300 Dolby Digital and dts. Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL).
AmplificationYamaha RX-V2300 110w X 6 connected via optical cable and shielded RCA (gold plated) connects for DVD-Audio
SpeakersVAF DC-X Fronts (bi-wired), VAF DC-6 Center, VAF DC-2 Rears, VAF LFE-07 Sub (Dual Amp. 80w x 2)

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