MTV 20-Jams (2001)

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General		Extras
Category	Music	Main Menu Audio & Animation Biographies-Cast Informational Subtitles-Fast Facts and Short Stats Easter Egg-4 x MTV Promos
Rating
Year Of Production	2001
Running Time	74:16
RSDL / Flipper	RSDL (41:03)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	None Given
Studio Distributor	Warner Vision	Starring	None Given
Case	Soft Brackley-Transp
RPI	$39.95	Music	None Given

    MTV20: Jams is the second release celebrating the launch of the MTV cable network in the US twenty years ago.

    Like the previous release, Pop, this disc contains fifteen different video clips that have aired on MTV over the last twenty years. These clips are separated by short interview segments with some of the featured bands and a number of MTV promotional clips.

    The bands featured on this disc are as follows: Run-DMC featuring Aerosmith, Eric B. & Rakim, De La Soul, Digital Underground, Jodeci, Digable Planets, R. Kelly, Montell Jordan, Method Man featuring Mary J. Blige, Deborah Cox, Erykah Badu, Brian McKnight, Usher, Monica and Juvenile. Many of these videos are clearly light R&B tracks and their inclusion, on a disc purporting to be an over-the-top compilation of groundbreaking jams videos, is puzzling.

    One annoying issue with the disc is that viewers are unable to just watch the video clips. Each clip is separated as a single chapter but this chapter also contains interview segments or MTV promos. An option to play just the music videos would have been appreciated by most viewers.

    If you really enjoy the songs included on the disc then I would suggest that you take a look at it, but I feel that most viewers would have expected more from a collection of the best jams from the last two decades.

Video

    Due to the range in source materials, the quality of the transfer does vary considerably throughout.

    Each of the videos appears to be presented in their original aspect ratios with the majority of the transfer presented at a ratio of 1.33:1. The videos for Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat), This Is How We Do It, and You're All I Need are all presented at an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1. The video for Sentimental is presented at approximately 1.78:1. None of these videos are 16x9 enhanced.

    The sharpness varies throughout this transfer and may be directly linked to the age of the clips. Some of the oldest clips are quite soft but by the end of the feature the modern clips are significantly sharper. Some low level noise may be seen constantly during the first nine clips and during the final track, Back That Thing Up. This constant low level noise is due to the video source material and is moderately distracting.

    The colour presented varies throughout the transfer. Most clips display a muted colour palette with only the latest clips displaying a highly saturated natural image. The colours for all clips appear to accurately reproduce the original material.

    No MPEG artefacts were detected during this transfer.

    A large number of aliasing artefacts are visible throughout this transfer. Some examples of these artefacts may be seen at 56:30, 56:42, 57:08, 58:19 and 59:22. These artefacts vary in severity and are moderately distracting. Numerous moiré artefacts may also be seen during the transfer with examples visible at 8:07, 10:02, 44:03, 55:37, 57:19 and 60:10. These artefacts are moderately distracting to the viewer.

    Numerous film artefacts are visible throughout the transfer. Some examples of these slightly distracting artefacts may be seen at 9:32, 10:44, 18:44, 19:43 and 20:53.

    A number of NTSC to PAL conversion artefacts may be seen throughout the transfer. Some examples of these may be seen at 6:18, 8:10, 41:25, 50:52 and 51:48. These artefacts are only slightly distracting.

    A cross colouration artefact may be seen at 47:16.

    Six subtitle streams are included on this disc. The first is a series of comments about the tracks and is presented like the comments seen in MTV's pop-up videos. The second subtitle stream contains no information. The remaining streams are French, Italian, German and Spanish tracks. These yellow foreign language subtitles provide translations only for the short interview segments placed between videos.

    The layer change occurs at 41:03 at the start of Chapter 9 and is not disruptive.

Video Ratings Summary

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

Audio

    The lyrics are always clear and easy to understand.

    As with many music video clips, there are often very slight problems with audio sync but this is expected by the viewer and easily overlooked. No dropouts were detected at any stage during the transfer.

    The surround channels are used extensively by the 5.1 mix. Some tracks, such as Forever My Lady and My Way are provided with a very aggressive surround mix while others are more front-focused. I personally found this track to be distracting but many viewers will enjoy the aggressive mix.

    The subwoofer is used extensively throughout the transfer.

Audio Ratings Summary

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

Menu

    The minimally animated menu is presented at an aspect ratio of 1.33:1.

Biographies

    This is a collection of biographical information, given in point form, and selected discographies for each of the featured artists.

On-Screen Trivia

    Selecting this option will allow the viewer to activate the first subtitle stream containing short trivia items, such as a song's time in the charts or specific details about an artist. This set of subtitles may also be selected by the viewer via the remote.

Easter Eggs

    By pressing the up arrow on the remote when the Extra Features item is highlighted on the main menu, the viewer is presented with one of four different clips. These clips are short MTV promotional items and they appear to be chosen at random. The clips may also be viewed as Titles 3 to 6.

    There is censorship information available for this title. Click here to read it (a new window will open). WARNING: Often these entries contain MAJOR plot spoilers.

    Both versions of this disc appear to be identical and I therefore would have no preference for either version.

    MTV20: Jams is a collection of music videos that will surprise many viewers by their selection. If you enjoy these clips then this disc would be worth getting but I feel that many viewers will be disappointed.

    The video transfer is acceptable but it does emphasize the original low production values of the early clips.

    The surround mix will be enjoyed by some viewers but I feel that most viewers will prefer the straight 2.0 mix.

    The biographies and trivia are quite interesting for viewers but it would have been nice to seen some background information on MTV itself provided.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall