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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.
Brum-Soccer Hero and Other Stories (2001)

Brum-Soccer Hero and Other Stories (2001)

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Released 27-Mar-2006

Cover Art

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Childrens None
Rating Rated G
Year Of Production 2001
Running Time 81:23 (Case: 78)
RSDL / Flipper No/No Cast & Crew
Start Up Ads Then Menu
Region Coding 1,2,3,4,5,6 Directed By None Given
Studio
Distributor

Roadshow Home Entertainment
Starring Toyah Willcox
Robert Berk
Steve Murphy
Merlyn Rice
Rosie Wilde
Case Handle
RPI $19.95 Music None Given


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame None English Dolby Digital 2.0 (256Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
16x9 Enhanced
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio 1.78:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles None Smoking No
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits Yes

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

Plot Synopsis

    Title of Show : Brum

    Title of Disc : Soccer Hero and Other Stories

    Year of Production : 2001

    Country of origin : UK

    What's included? : 8 episodes (two or three more than previous Brum releases).

    Episode Length : 10 minutes each

    Details of episodes : 

      1. Brum and the Soccer Hero - Brum helps the big town soccer team in their big game.
      2. Brum and the Rampant Robot - A home made robot goes berserk and Brum must save the day.
      3. Brum and the Mobile Phone - A dog steals a businessman's mobile phone.
      4. Brum and the Birthday Cake - The baddies steal a birthday cake.
      5. Brum and the Runaway Statue - A new statue of the Mayoress rolls away on a trolley and Brum must get it back.
      6. Brum - Bushes on the Run - The baddies disguised as bushes steal the flower seller's takings.
      7. Brum and the Skateboarding Bride - A bride accidentally gets carried off by a runaway skateboard.
      8. Brum and the Diamond Dog - The baddies steal a diamond dog collar off a lady's dog.

    Style of Production : Live Action

    Premise of show : Brum is an English children's show which features a small vintage car named Brum. He is a superhero who defeats crime by himself in Big Town. He is a great favourite of the people in the town and a scourge of the baddies. The action is accompanied by music and a voiceover by a child. The characters do not speak and act like they are in a silent movie.

    Age Group : 2-8

    Related to any other children's shows? : Not really

    Adult's view : Fun show which has no menace or nastiness in it. The episodes mostly involve Brum chasing something or someone. No issues from a parent's perspective.

    Child's view : Appeals strongly to young boys who love the chases and the little car. My sons both respond strongly to it.

    Other Releases of this show available? : There are seven volumes of this show now available locally.

    Overall : Highly Recommended.

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Transfer Quality

Video

    The video quality is very good.

    The feature is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio 16x9 enhanced which is probably the original aspect ratio.

    The picture was clear and sharp throughout, with no evidence of low level noise.

    The colour was wonderful, rich and solid throughout.

    The only noticeable artefact was some mild aliasing on grilles and other spots.

    There are no subtitles.

     

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

Audio

    The audio quality is good.

    This DVD contains an English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo soundtrack encoded at 192 Kb/s.

    Dialogue was clear and easy to understand and there was no problem with audio sync.

    The music is jaunty and the theme song is catchy.

    The surround speakers and subwoofer were not used.

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

Extras

    None.

Menu

    The menu is still and silent allowing for episode selection only.

R4 vs R1

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

    This disc seems to be the same in all regions but may contain less episodes. I can't find any specific information. May as well buy the local product.

Summary

    Another release of the Brum series, this time with extra episodes.

    The video quality is very good.

    The audio quality is good.

    No extras.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Daniel Bruce (Do you need a bio break?)
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Review Equipment
DVDPioneer DV667A DVD-V DVD-A SACD, using Component output
DisplaySony FD Trinitron Wega KV-AR34M36 80cm. Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL). This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 576i (PAL)/480i (NTSC).
Audio DecoderBuilt in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Video Essentials.
AmplificationPioneer VSX-511
SpeakersMonitor Audio Bronze 2 (Front), Bronze Centre & Bronze FX (Rears) + Yamaha YST SW90 subwoofer

Other Reviews NONE