Search - 2008 Olympics: Beijing 2008 Highlights - The Games of the XXIX Olympiad on DVD

Highlights of American Medalists ONLY

Lacrimatorium | Alaska USA | 10/09/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"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."

What a Joke

aharnisch | Scottsdale, Arizona United States | 11/28/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"If your idea of a "highlight" is to see runners crossing the finish line with their arms in the air, swimmers hugging after their race or athletes standing on the podium waiting to receive their medals then this DVD is for you. If you are looking for something a little more substantial....like actually seeing the race (or event) you will be very disappointed."

Bad idea

l2 | California | 11/13/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Trying to compress many hundred hours of Olympic events into a 2 hour DVD is a foolish project. The main program on the DVD is a long music video, showing a few seconds each from many different events. That is barely worth watching, but the special features are a little more interesting. The special features do show a couple of dozen short events in their entirety, including all the Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt world record events.



The fantastic Olympic opening ceremonies are not included on this DVD, but there is a separate 3 hour DVD set for the ceremonies. That set is much more interesting than this one."