Kylie Minogue-In Your Eyes (DVD Single) (2001)

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General		Extras
Category	Music	None
Rating
Year Of Production	2001
Running Time	20:00
RSDL / Flipper	No/No	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Programme
Region Coding	1,2,3,4,5,6	Directed By	Dawn Shadforth
Studio Distributor	Parlophone Festival Mushroom	Starring	Kylie Minogue
Case	C-Button-Version 2
RPI	$12.95	Music	Kylie Minogue

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/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

    You may wonder why I am reviewing a Kylie Minogue DVD single after a rather unfortunate encounter with her live concert DVD. Simple really - I am just proving to myself that she is not as bad as her live performance suggests. Whilst it is often said that the true stature of an artist can only be determined by how well they perform live, Kylie Minogue really is a video type of performer, which means that what we get here are two excellent video performances and two acceptable remixed audio-only tracks (played over a single still photograph of the lady - a different one for both tracks).

    Both songs are by modern standards quite good, and the videos are very good examples of just how music is promoted nowadays. Plenty of high energy movement, with tantalising sexuality thrown out there to make sure you keep watching. Hey, I am not complaining! The only real downer here, apart from the fact that there is no timing information encoded on the DVD, is the format itself. I am not convinced of the merits of an estimated 20 minute DVD featuring two video tracks and two audio tracks, all for about $12 retail I guess. Whilst it might be an indication of how mainstream DVD Video has become, is this the right way for the format to be heading and does this sort of presentation represent value for money? (Ed. Seems like good value to me.) The question is raised as I recall a recent CD single I bought running close to 40 minutes that set me back the grand cost of less than $7.

    Kylie fans will probably be wise to indulge in this excellent DVD as soon as possible. Others? Well, I am glad to confirm that Kylie is better here than in her live performance, but I don't quite know how often I would be giving this a view.

Video

    We are talking a seriously good quality video transfer here and one that is quite rightly presented in a widescreen format: 1.78:1 to be precise. Unfortunately, that good decision has been marred by the fact that this is not 16x9 enhanced.

    Straightforward review this one: excellent sharpness and definition throughout, with nary a blemish to be found. Superbly clear, no hint of grain or low level noise and nothing to worry about as far as detail is concerned.

    The colours are your typical vibrant display of bright, at times almost garish, colours. They have a decidedly steely look to them at times, but this is entirely intended. There is nothing hinting at oversaturation or bleed.

    There is nothing in the way of artefacts at all, barring some very minor aliasing (most notably in In Your Eyes).

    There are no subtitle options on this DVD, somewhat limiting usability for hearing impaired viewers.

Video Ratings Summary

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

Audio

    There is just the one soundtrack on the DVD, being an English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. It is a superbly engineered effort: very, very nicely balanced with plenty of low end bass to delight the neighbours when this gets cranked up.

    The music and vocals come up extremely well in the transfer, and there are no audio sync problems in the transfer.

    Whilst the rear surround channels could have done with a bit more use, the overall surround balance is really excellent and the bass channel is mixed in the overall soundscape almost perfectly for this sort of music. The higher bit rate certainly gives the sound plenty of air in which to work and the result is a really nice, open sound that hides nothing at all. If only more music DVDs had this sort of soundtrack as the standard....

Audio Ratings Summary

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

    Nothing, barring a menu that is not really used since the DVD starts straight into the videos.

    As far as I can ascertain, this is not available in Region 1.

    If Kylie Minogue or modern dance music is your current bent, this is right up your alley and should be snapped up (it is billed as a limited edition, but no mention is made of just how limited) (Ed. 7,500 copies have been pressed). An excellent video transfer is matched by a superbly mastered audio transfer. The only problem I have with the package, apart from the general philosophical one, is the presentation of the audio-only tracks is a tad dull. Would it not be possible to have a selection of photographs of the lady that change automatically throughout the tracks? At least the visual aspect of the DVD would be enhanced. Mind you, maybe I best go check the DVD out again, just to make sure on that point.....

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall