Janson Media // 2007 // 81 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Judge David Johnson // June 12th, 2008
Climb aboard for the ride of your life.
Well, this is going to be a quick one. In fact you can read the following question and if you answer "yes" then guess what -- get this disc. Okay, are you ready? Here goes:
Have you been waiting for a DVD that will give you a behind-the-scenes look into the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird stunt team?
Did you answer "yes" or "you betcha!' or "hellz yeah"? Great! I have good news for you. America's Team is the disc you've been waiting for. Jam-packed with candid footage, thrilling shots of the airplane pilots doing their thing, cockpit tours and plane walkthroughs and a musical photo montage, this bad boy delivers the content that Thunderbird fans yearn for.
And it's cheesy.
But whatever, there's a specific audience for this release and they -- you know who you are -- will eat it up. The documentary's main focus is on the first female member of the Thunderbird squad, as she embarks on the season-long tour, grapples with the enormous amount of fan mail, signs autographs of young fans and lauds the opportunity for women to penetrate typically male-dominated enclaves like fighter jet exhibit crews.
Buttressing her story is a boatload of behind-the-scenes stuff including visits to the veterans' hospital, the inter-team softball game and the hard-core training and tactics these pilots have to nail.
The DVD is actually not too bad, sporting a solid 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and a decent stereo track. Extras: an F-16 walk-around and cockpit tour and a still gallery.
There you go, that's your disc. Enjoy.
Review content copyright © 2008 David Johnson; Site layout and review format copyright © 1998 - 2008 HipClick Designs LLC
Scales of Justice
Judgment: 80
Perp Profile
Studio: Janson Media
Video Formats:
* 1.85:1 Anamorphic
Audio Formats:
* Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (English)
Subtitles:
* None
Running Time: 81 Minutes
Release Year: 2007
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distinguishing Marks
* Cockpit Tour
* Plane Walkaround
* Photo Gallery
Accomplices
* None