Customer Reviews

Victory By Design: Complete Set, 6 DVDS - Porsche, Ferrari, Maserati, Aston, Alfa and Jaguar

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

 

 

This set of DVDs is without a doubt the best documentary I have ever seen or could imagine on the selected marques. That you get to see and hear these historic cars actually driven at speed is an achievement in itself. The video and audio quality is superb. I watched them on a large Plasma High Def TV and the quality was stunning. The color was magnificent and the audio near perfect. If you are a fan of any of these makes, a historic racing car buff or just like to see and hear the most outstanding historic examples of these marques then these DVDs are a bargain.
The racing history for each marque is shown by progressing from the earliest examples through the latest. Nearly all being driven so that the beautiful sounds of some of the greatest engines in racing history can be heard. The fact that the owners of these cars allowed them to be transported to an appropriate setting and then driven demonstrates the confidence in the producer and in De Cadenet's driving ability that the owner's had. Many of these cars are worth in the millions each!
Unlike most auto television shows and documentaries where the announcers will not shut up so you can hear the engines, De Cadenet and director Tony Maylam did the opposite and let the engines speak for themselves. Hearing an Alfa Romeo or Ferrari 12 cylinder engine on the throttle is music to my ears.

I gave this to a friend without viewing it but I know this DVD series so it's probably at least good. I had previously watched the Ferrari DVD and it was excellent. Seller was excellent - - sent immediately and received without delay.

I had seen this series in standard definition before I bought it, and was impressed. So I bought the set on the basis that it was remastered, improved, redone or what-have-you. The audio quality is very good, although the discs provide the option of 5.1 or surround from the top menu, which I'm not sure of the difference because the boxes state "recorded in 5.1". Nevertheless, I'm writing this review because of my disappointment with the video. It varies from somewhat acceptable to poor depending on the scene. I'm playing the DVDs on a PS3 via HDMI to a high-end Yamaha receiver via HDMI to a top of the line 58" Samsung Plasma. The setup is stunning for Blu-rays and pretty good for most DVDs. Victory by Design is barely acceptable overall. Oftentimes when the narrator is doing his walk around, you can't make out his facial features very well, and there are compression artifacts evident everywhere, especially all around the edges of cars etc. The best quality video seems to be in-car when directed at the driver while talking. I assume the video capture was done very well originally, but the transfer and subsequent compression to DVD is sub-professional level quality, and shameful for the asking price. In any case, they remain enjoyable but the video is too weak. In fact, I got a bad feeling as soon as I received the discs. They had a bargain basement, I-printed-these-on-my-home-bubble-jet printer sort of feel. Bottom-line is, I should have sent them back, but the content is just so good, it's enjoyable nonetheless. They belong in the $19.95 special bin at Walmart, not for $130 on Amazon.

Hmmm, where should I start without wasting much of yours and my time?! Amazon sent me an email link asking for my opinion.

1: I ordered the full set but was shipped in the sealed shipping carton ONLY the Porsche, Ferrari, Alfa and Jaguar DVD's but the Aston Martin DVD was missing but yet had the sleeve and further the Maserati sleeve and DVD was missing! I know there is a problem with education in the USA but when people are unable to properly count or package such a simple order, they have no right to be working. So I said it and now whoever packaged and approved my shipment, please go back back to school. ZERO stars.

2: For the trouble, an Amazon representative was very understanding and promptly arranged for the return, and kindly said they would give me a $20.00 credit or gift amount to be used on my next order. Not that it matters, but since they offered it, I never received it. ZERO stars.

3: At this moment, I'm between a commercial while watching an F1 race and getting a laugh at how far and ridiculous some of these big companies think they rule the marketplace. Screw it, I'll buy my DVD set from a nice small business owner in Downers Grove, IL called the Motorsport Collector. Check his website out. Until then, I'll be able to review the DVD's.

Final review score is ZERO stars but they won't allow that. Amazon is just like fleaBay. Products are second hand, factory rejects and or many returned merchandise. Warehouse shippers not up to standards.

Back to the race.