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Click above to purchase "NBA Now!" at amazon.com
NBA Now!
Showmen Of Today
review by Zach B.
Studio: USA
Running Time: 50 minutes
Retail Price: $19.95
Features:
Specs: 1.33:1 Full Frame, English 5.1 Dolby Digital,
English 2.0 Dolby, Chapter Search
I'm a big basketball fan, but I'm always kind of
skeptical when it comes to reviewing sports DVDs. I like to
play basketball, I like to watch basketball but so many of
these types of things in the past end up trying too hard to
achieve some kind of fun, documentary style sort of deal.
DVDs like "NBA Now" are not for the casual fan, but if you
like basketball and sit down to watch this, you'll probably
get into it and gain some very good information about the
players. However, if you're into the players already and are
curious about who they are as well as their history, than
this is for you without question.
"NBA Now" focuses on a good amount of noteable NBA
players. The little profiles are intercut with interviews,
stills a variety of assorted clips, behind the scenes
footage and basketball clips. While these can be
entertaining and pretty interesting to watch, the way its
all set up really makes it like a marketing tool of sorts.
The profiles are narrated with an easy going attitude, and
again, the way they are you can just sit down and watch,
you'll be sucked right into it. Basically, it's mass market
appeal. It's not complex, it's well structured and offers
some insight onto the players.
What players are featured on "NBA Now"? Good question.
Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Allen Iverson, Shaq, Kobe Bryant
and Jason Kidd just to name some. Players have some sort of
nickname, as a chapter focuses on their talent and whatnot.
For example, "Showstoppers" focuses on Magic Johnson and
Kobe Bryant. And what is a showstopper exactly? Someone "who
either through exceptional physical talent, ingenious
innovations, magnetic personalities or a combination of all
three, have changed the game forever"
I guess what's likeable "NBA Now" is that you can watch
one segment, stop and get into it another time. It follows a
good flow, with good info and can be pretty cool to watch.
So basketball fans... check it out.
Presented in 1.33:1 full frame, the quality can vary.
Since there are filmed interviews, video clips and old film
footage, it can range from decent to good. Sometimes
interviews are in widescreen too. I noticed some shimmering
and a little deteriation with some of the video, and a
nitpick here and there. Not bad at all.
"NBA Now" has been mixed in 5.1, and as far as it goes,
its a pretty decent mix that surprised me. The crowd cheers
and the music bring a nice punch to the mix, it sort of
gives it a more real edge. Dialogue is clear and easy to
hear as well, so you get a pretty nice 5.1 track that has
good surround use. There's also a 2.0 English track.
"NBA Now" has a few little goodies to boot. Showmen
Above The Rim is an eight minute segment that has a few
interviews with players and clips. It pretty much showcases
more showmen. Showmen Below The Rim is another
segment that focuses on a little more natural side, what the
segment calls, "playground roots" It focuses on some older
players with clips and interviews, but also talks about a
style developed from playing on concrete outside. So if
you're into some unique, older style of play... knock
yourself out. Finally, "The Doctor" Julius Earving,
focuses on the amazing Julius Earving. A slew of interviews
and old clips bring Earving into perspective. There's a lot
to Earving as some of you may know, and some may consider
him legendary. This is a good, though short piece that will
give you a good knowledge about Dr. J. All of these seem to
be a few years old, so I'm wondering if they were from older
NBA programs and just stuck here... why not include them in
the actual program? They'd fit somewhere if edited. Oh well,
there here...
Good sound, good transfer and the extras are more like an
extension of the actual of the main program. But the price
is right, so if you're into basketball or want to learn
about some hot players, look no further than this disc.
 (3.5/5 - NOT included in
final score)
(3.5/5)
(3.5/5)
 (1/5)
 (3/5,
NOT an average)
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