Archive for January, 2005
“Michael’s Record Year” (2002)
2002 was not a stellar season. Ferrari walked it and rubbed salt into the wounds by fixing the finishing order in Austria and the United States, to the outrage of many fans.
The production of this video does nothing to improve matters. Yes, the picture quality is very good, but we can take that for granted [...]
“Michael does it again” (2004)
It’s taken a while for FOCA to get their act together with F1 review DVDs – too long, really – but the 2004 DVD delivers the goods.
The picture quality is as good as we’re going to get until HDTV becomes the norm, and the sound quality is similarly high.
A shame, then, that 2004 was such [...]
“Michael & Co. The Dream Team” (2003)
Although there are DVD reviews available for the 2000 and 2001 season, FOCA took until 2003 to start putting their own DVD reviews out.
At least they chose a decent season to start with, and did it justice with this comprehensive 145 minute review.
It’s not flawless, though. The commentary in particular is a weak link: flat, [...]
“How to Win a World Championship” (1989)
Quite a few of these videos have perplexing titles, and this is a good example.
Alain Prost won the ‘89 title when he drove into team mate Senna in the Japanese Grand Prix – “How Not To Win a Championship”, surely?
By 1989 turbo engines were banned. Mansell had arrived at Ferrari and the McLaren rivalry had [...]
“Honda… All Fired Up!” (1988)
The 1988 season review video boasts a strong commentating line-up: F1 legend Stirling Moss and top pundit Tony Jardine. They bring an enjoyable balance of appreciation and wistful nostalgia to an absorbing season.
On the face of it, 15 of 16 races being won by the same team might not sound like thrilling viewing, but the [...]
“He Did It His Way” (1995)
Schumacher’s fairly untroubled second championship win did not make for rivetting viewing, with the exception of a few controversial clashes with Hill (Britain, Italy) and a couple of good races (Belgium, Europe).
The 1995 video, like the 1994 one, represents a significant step forward in the level of detail provided by the FOCA reviews, especially in [...]
“Flying Finn First at the Finish” (1998)
The 1998 season video suffers from the same irritating commentary that spoils the 1997 review. Again, all the races are covered in the same bland fashion, yet delivered as if the action is occuring live.
However, there’s good race footage and extra material in abundance, including plenty of driver and team principal interviews, mini-features and plenty [...]
“Fantastic Fernando” (2005)
The Formula One season review DVDs are in desperate need of some development.
The fundamental components have gone unchanged for several years: Ben Edwards is a fine commentator, but he talks as if the race is happening live which sounds ridiculous several months on, not to mention a couple of years.
As usual, the best bits of [...]
“Down to the Last 30 Minutes” (1997)
A case study in how to spoil good material with sloppy production.
The 1997 season was a wall-to-wall corker, with plenty of different winners and a tense championship battle that exploded into acrimony in the final round.
Plus, this was the first year that FOCA TV’s digital service provides the footage, which is absolutely first-rate.
But the appalling [...]
“Deservedly Prost” (1985)
Now this is an unusual one. The concept is fabulous – rather than having an F1 pundit commentate on each race, get one of the drivers to do it.
And so a host of mid-eighties major names including Senna, Prost, Mansell and Piquet talk alternatively through each of the races.
Fine in principle, yes, but in reality [...]
