Manchester United - Beyond the Promised Land [2000]

Amazon.co.uk Review

It may be stating the obvious, but if you are a fan or in any way interested in Manchester United the football team or global brand then you will love this video and any critical appraisal is largely an irrelevance. If, however, you share the antipathy of most other football fans and see them only through a red mist, it is unlikely to bring much joy. After an opening celebration of the last-minute treble-winning triumph in the Champions League and a brief tribute to the victims of the Munich air crash, the film settles into a fairly sedate account of the 1999/2000 championship season. Scenes from the United backroom are interspersed with various supporters providing a more passionate perspective on following the team for whom success has become almost a given in recent years. These include the bartenders who travel all the way from New York to attend the game in which Real Madrid ended United's hopes of successive European titles (which is not in the least bit hilarious).

Among the more corporate elements of the club's set-up on display are a forum encouraging sponsors to develop traditional and new markets (China will be huge) and various meetings with Vodafone to explore their newly agreed partnership (look out for ringing tones based on your favourite terrace chants). Given the inherent excitement usually generated by what happens on the pitch, the overall tone of the film is surprisingly flat with what little action that remains being reduced to very brief goal highlights and largely divested of its significance. Such episodes as Beckham's supposed fracas with the manager, the mysterious disappearance of Mark Bosnich, and the press conference fiasco that marked the non-arrival of Ruud Van Nistelroy are touched upon, but potential controversy is subsumed into the general glorification of the club's march for glory. One memorable scene where successive players' teams fail to answer any questions correctly at a pub-style quiz and are trounced by the management, will not do anything to reverse the common perception of footballers' acumen off the pitch. Bitter and twisted? Not this reviewer: altogether now "1-0 to the Arsenal, 1-0 to the Arsenal". --Steve Napleton

Customer Reviews:

Disaster Movie........2007-12-06

As a lifelong United fan, I recall the anticipation of this 'movie'. It falls flat!
There is very little football action. The interviews with the players are banal in the extreme. I also will never understand for who's benefit the scenes with then chief executive Peter Kenyon and the Vodafone people are.
If you want anything United, buy the official history DVD or a season review. Avoid this one.

A real good watch.......2005-11-30

After such a memorable season, expectations were high, and Beyond The Promised land manages to capture the highs and lows of an event filled season, starting witha brief look at "that night" in Barcelona.
From David Beckham being axed for wrongly judging his "main priorities" - that being reporting to training, not looking after his ill son (this is captured in much detail), to exploring the new shirt sponsours Vodafone, the DVD is really packed with every detail of the season itself - not just performances on the pitch. The clips of what the players were up to off the pitch are really captured well, from a nice scene watching Beckham play football with some young kids, to great editing as United win the Premiership.
Its very enetertaining and, suprisingly doesn't get boring or predictable. This is probably because of the editing - it doesnt seem like a review of 1999/2000, it feels just like a movie. Top Marks!
(p.s, regarding reviewer who slagged off the irish bartender, and his purpose in this DVD, hes just a working class man who supports Man Utd. No-one special.. thats the idea!)

Not worth the penny.......2004-01-24

This title is miles away from titles like 2002 review, champions again x3.... not worth the penny and surely not recommended for purchase.. trust me... most ppl wants to see action on field and not footage outside fields and interview..

great movie.......2001-01-16

This movie is great, funny and intersting A must for united fans show you things that you never knew about ferguson. If you united fun BUY IT!!!!

Terrible.......2000-12-15

The sheer god awfullness of this DVD is too much to handle. The Irish bartenders that are in the movie, are just typical Man Utd fans. They have probably only just started to like Man Utd when they were successful. I wouldn't be surprised if one of them supported another team before Man Utd. Avoid this DVD at all cost.

Manchester United - Beyond The Promised Land [2000]

Average customer rating:

Manchester United - Beyond The Promised Land [2000]
Starring: Manchester United FC
Manufacturer: Icon Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000X4ZGPW
Release Date: 2008-03-31

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