Customer Reviews

The 2002 Olympic Winter Games - Figure Skating Competition [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

.. with the many hours of footage, and the availability of the DVD platform, NBC could have done a lot better.

As with all figure skating events, the commentary gets a bit annoying. You can tell that the commentators (Scott Hamilton et al) REALLY wanted Michelle Kwan to win the gold, and their bias is a bit annoying, if heartfelt. All of the short programs for all events were shown in bits and pieces, rather than in full form. In previous CBS-produced videos (92, 94, and 98) the short programs for most of the medalists were shown in their entirety, at least the American skaters.

Buy the combination competition/exhibition package for a better deal, both in terms of price and content.

Note to NBC - WHERE IS THE DVD?

Please don't buy this product. I made the mistake of purchasing it, hoping to view Shen and Zhao's long program.

NBC's bias was enough to keep me from viewing the tape more than once. The American pairs team (Ina/Zimmerman), who placed FIFTH, were incorporated into the video. However, Shen and Zhao of China, who were awarded the BRONZE medals, were not included. Only brief comments were made about their programs and certain maneuvers which were a few seconds in length were shown.

It does not bother me that Ina and Zimmerman were shown. If they had included Shen and Zhao's long program and the American pair IN ADDITION to the medalists, that would have been fine with me. I was upset because the Americans were included INSTEAD of the Chinese team. As an Asian immigrant, I find this particularly offensive. Please don't waste your money.

I watch this video once a week! I love so many of the programs: Jealousie (Sale and Pelletier-Short Program), Love Story (Sale and Pelletier-Long Program), Timothy Goebel-Long Program, The Man in the Iron Mask (Alexei Yagudin-Long Program), and Sarah Hughes-Long Program. The movies also gives good information on the pairs' controversey and the rivelry between Alexei Yagudin (men's gold medalist) and Yevgeny Plushenko (men's silver medalist).

I loved this video!the mens and pairs freeskates are a must see.
though it is edited to center mostly on the Russians and the Americans,this video does have clips of other skaters.I highly recommend this!

Just a spectacular show in vibrant colors, and great detail. A wonderful tape to own if you were there, missed taping on tv, or didn't get a good signal. This tabe is clear and perfect! There is also a companion volume "Figure Skating the Exhibition Salt Lake 2002" that is even better!

I do not agree with some of the comments made by some of the reviewers of this tape. The controversy over the win by the Russian pair was warrented. Anton stepped out of his double axel,Elena leaned forward on the throw triple,the Russian death spiral was nowhere near the Canadians and the Russian lifts only covered half the ice surface while the Canadians covered the full length of the ice.The Canadians connected with the audience better as well as connecting to themselves. The program drew you in and ranged from new found love to the total depths of despair in losing a loved one, as in the movie Love Story.I think Sale and Peltier gave one of the all time great figure skating performances. They deserved 6's.But don't take my word for it. The commentators of this event,who are themselves figure skaters, said the Canadian performance was perfect and were shocked, as I was when the marks came up.Sale and Peltier finally received a gold medal, but there marks will remain the same for history. What a shame!!!!

This VHS video was sent to me in April 2002 and it never arrived. Perhaps it was unwise to order it because there was a possibility that due to system differences in the US and in Europe I may not have been able to view the contents in any case. But now, it wasn't even possible to try it out! So, I can provide no ranking with the stars, and will stick to just one (but not because I think it bad, I just haven't been able to view it).