Backyard Blitz: Memories, Madness & Makeovers (2007)

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General		Extras
Category	Documentary	Main Menu Audio Menu Animation Featurette-Popular Plants Featurette-Don Burke's Launch Outtakes
Rating
Year Of Production	2007
Running Time	95:00
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	1,2,3,4,5,6	Directed By	None Given
Studio Distributor	CTC Productions Sony Music	Starring	Jamie Durie Scott Cam Jody Rigby Nigel Ruck
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI	$29.95	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
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	No

   Backyard Blitz: Memories, Madness and Makeovers is not the DVD series collection that some fans were hoping for; rather, this is a retrospective best-of from across the series run, featuring interviews with the host and team sharing their favourite memories and favourite makeovers, as well as some of the bigger hurdles and problems faced across the popular series. Aside from some enjoyable special features, the main feature here is the documentary bookended with titles from the DVD name - Memories focuses on how the show came together and the best times shared by the team, Madness reveals some of the more difficult times faced by everyone, and Makeovers focuses on some of the better individual gardens, looking at their plans and how the team did creating their masterpieces. This also includes some of the happy footage of recipients seeing and celebrating their new gardens.

   For fans, this is a must-own DVD, though it's a shame that this feels more like a special features disc to a collection than a DVD by itself; because of the format of the show, it isn't in any way topical and thus can be still enjoyed even years after the series was aired, which makes Channel 9's decision not to release a collection baffling - more so with the insane popularity of the show - but annoyingly in line with Channel 9's general approach to DVD releases. With this in mind, if you're a fan, you owe it to yourself to check this out to see how it was behind the scenes and to relive some of your favourite memories of the series.

Video

   The original TV series was shot in HD and looks very good here. Despite minor issues with interlacing and some grain, colours remain very bright, the picture remains very sharp and there are no artefacts throughout. Being shot in HD allows for a lot of detail particularly on the excellent gardens and plants, as well as the landscaping, perfect for the show. Occasionally there will be the problems that come with shooting outside in very bright light, but this is not to do with the transfer, rather the way the show was shot.

   This is a single-layer disc.

   There are no subtitles.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
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Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

   Exactly as you'd imagine from a TV release as such, this is a no-frills stereo audio track identical to the experience you'd have watching the show on TV. The dialogue is clear and audible, the music is great featuring all the themes and effects from the show, and everything is spot on. There's no real need for a full DolbyHD surround here, and I doubt the experience would be any better for it.

Audio Ratings Summary

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

Featurette - Popular Plants (8:51)

Featurette - Don Burke's Launch (2:31)

The Goof Reel (13:49)

   The video and audio transfers are both very good.

   The extras are fine, although not plentiful and would easily insert back into the main feature.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall