Customer Reviews:
 Highlights of American Medalists ONLY November 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I just recieved this in the mail and had missed much of the actual broadcast. I was hoping to get a good representation of the games here. Well make no mistake there is some good footage here. But sadly this whole DVD seems to be about American participation and medal winners. There are a few clips of the Jamaican runners.
But you'd be forgiven if you never knew that any other team but America mattered or won medals. I'm told that people in other countries get to watch much more balanced coverage than we do. On the basis of this DVD I'd guess that there was no boxing, no weightlifting, no boating events, no rhythmic gymnastics, no marathons, etc.
The actual highlights program is about 110 minutes. Not nearly enough to give anyone, except folks who need to chant U-S-A, an idea of the proceedings. Fortunately there are a couple of hours worth of actual NBC feed, mostly US medalists winning their events. There was also no critcal perspective whatsoever.
What would be nice would be something that gives us an idea what the athletes of the world were doing in Beijing in 2008. I miss the days when you could cheer the Kenyan runners or feel the political tension of the Ukrainian gymnasts. Instead we get the most isolationist vision of the world I've ever witnessed.
 Decent October 2, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
So, not a lot of info online about this item. I picked this up and it is surprisingly decent. The main programme would be the actual highlights including the name-brand sports but they also mentioned the "scrubby" ones like shooting, archery, swords, etc. This section is hosted by Mary Carillo, not sure if she would be the best host but that's what NBC decided on, I guess.
On to the bonus features.
It has several track and field events, all finals, both of Usain Bolt's wins, and the US 1-2-3 finishes as well.
There are about 6 swimming events I think, it does not have all of Phelps' because they are all on the Phelps DVD, but this has the 100 relay that the US barely won, and a couple women's.
They also have all of Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin's all around performances and also both of the girls' beam final.
I also noticed that they have the gold medal women's beach vollyball match, it is supposed to be the entire match but I did not even watch it, maybe only the first minute.
And of course, the torch lighting ceremony is included in the bonus features.
The only gripe I have is that it is full screen and not HD, but it will do. It's a decent memento for anyone who did not DVR the events.
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