Pumping Iron Blu-ray - Arnold Schwarzenegger

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

directed by George Butler and Robert Fiore
USA 1977

In 1977, an independent documentary movie shone a light on the world of bodybuilding, becoming a huge box office hit and creating an international sensation. It launched one man's multi-million dollar career and changed the world of bodybuilding and physical exercise forever: PUMPING IRON. Starring five-time Mr. Olympia, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the movie followed the 28-year old bodybuilder as he competed for his 6th title.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger gained his first real notoriety outside body-building circles with this documentary about a group of men training for the Mr. Olympia contest. Arnold had already won the title six times before, and was training for his seventh victory before retiring to fully pursue his acting career (which began to catch fire with his likable turn in Stay Hungry, released the same year) when this was shot. Here he displays an easy charm and wicked sense of humor as he plays mind games with his competitors and explains how getting pumped up for competition always reminded him of sex (which might explain why he seems so cheerful). And what is Arnold smoking in his dressing room after the contest? Future Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno is also on hand, and his fierce determination as he goes through a brutal weight lifting regimen shouting "Arnold! Arnold!" speaks both to his own desire to win and how strong a presence Schwarzenegger was in body-building at the time. You don't have to be a body building fan to enjoy Pumping Iron, though Arnold is the one contestant who shows obvious star quality.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger works the crowds, plots strategies for defeating multiple opponents, shares his parents' values with the press, and inspires legions of admirers with his resolute optimism about the future. And all of this long before he decided to run for governor of California, in 1977's hit documentary, Pumping Iron. Larger than life, though not necessarily larger than his rivals for the Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia bodybuilding titles (especially a young Lou Ferrigno, hot on Arnold's competitive trail but much less interesting), Schwarzenegger still comes across, at age 28, as a consummate politician, smart, likable, and crafty about exploiting others' psychological weaknesses. The film still feels redundant (there's only so much beefcake the human eye will tolerate), but the emotional dramas--the unrewarded hard work, the unanswered hopes--are compelling. Complete with a revealing 2003 interview with Schwarzenegger and a reunion of the film's bodybuilders and director.

Excerpt from Tom Keogh's review at Amazon located HERE

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Theatrical Release: August 26th, 1977

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Comparison:

HBO - Region 1 - NTSC vs. KSM - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

1) HBO - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT

2) KSM - Region 'B' - Blu-ray RIGHT

Box Cover		There is also a Region FREE Blu-ray by Madman (Australia):
Distribution	HBO Video - Region 1 - NTSC	KSM - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:25:30	1:25:57.443
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.48 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 19,232,063,309 bytes Feature: 14,435,927,424 bytes Video Bitrate: 17.45 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Bitrate:
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1669 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1669 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DUB: DTS-HD Master Audio German 1743 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1743 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, French, None	German, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: HBO Video Aspect Ratio: Full Frame 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Iron and Beyond--new featurette looking at the impact of the film (15:00) • Raw Iron--The Making of the film including outtakes (42:00) • New interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger (14:00) • Video bio of Arnold Schwarzenegger DVD Release Date: November 11, 2003 Keep Case Chapters: 16	Release Information: Studio: KSM 1.78:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 19,232,063,309 bytes Feature: 14,435,927,424 bytes Video Bitrate: 17.45 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Still Pumping (9:34 - German DUB over English audio) • Hard Science (12:50 - German DUB over English audio) • German Trailer (1:39) • Gallery (1:32) Blu-ray Release Date: April 19th, 2018 Slim Blu-ray Case Chapters 14

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: KSM - Region 'B' Blu-ray (January 2019): They have cropped the image to 1.78:1 - it is not a very robust transfer but it is in 1080P and you can see the benefits of the higher resolution in grain texture support and richer deeper colors.

Audio offers the English track and is lossless in 24-bit and sounds quite good - notably the Michael Small Pumping Iron theme song played at the beginning and ending. There is an optional German DUB and removable German subtitles. The KSM Blu-ray disc is Region 'B'-locked.

I prefer the DVD extras - the Blu-ray has a couple of featurettes with only German DUBs over the English; Still Pumping and Hard Science plus a German trailer and a stills gallery.

Pumping Iron is still a fascinating documentary - not just because of Arnold - but the entire community of body builders, their mutual support, discipline and drive to achieve. I think the DVD should suffice for most but either way this film has merit and should be seen to be appreciated.

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This DVD is a little soft in the image department and the colors are not very bright or accurate. I think there is a greenish haze to many of the indoor shots. They have a bumped sound option of 5.1 but most of the film audio is talking so there isn't much that exports the rear speakers. There are some good extras on this DVD (Iron and Beyond and Raw Iron). This is still an interesting film that works in repeat viewings.

Gary W. Tooze

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KSM - Region 'B' - Blu-ray