Hell On Wheels DVD - Complete Season Collection | Western Action Series for Movie Nights & TV Show Enthusiasts

Its not often nowadays that we get a chance to see the Tour de France without complete focus on the exploits of Lance Armstrong, rider extraordinaire, triathlete, marathoner, etc. etc. While I respect and admire Armstrong's accomplishments as much as the next fan, this movie isn't about Lance.Likewise, its not about Phil and Paul and their increasingly tiresome OLN coverage.So what is Hell on Wheels all about? Its a German film (yes, in German but with clearly visible English subtitles) that follows the Telekom boys during the 2003 Tour de France, an epic battle between the fore-mentioned Lance and Jan Ullrich (who incidentally rode for Bianchi that year). Lance and Jan appear frequently but not as principal characters. Tyler Hamilton (who rode the entire race with a broken collarbone) and Andreas Kloden (who rode a few stages with a broken coxyx also figure as side characters. The primary characters are Rolf Aldag, Erik Zabel (roomates) and their masseuse/assistant Eule, a grizzled old guy who looks like he's seen his share of riders come and go. In between race footage, we hear from an older gentleman who appears to have spent a little too much time in the Tour archives as he narrates great black and white footage from the very first years. Although he's a little out there, he lends a French flair to the film.In between exhilarating takes on the TdF stages, from beginning to end, we see the riders recovering, musing the day's performance, and suffering the fallout of daily crashes, mountain stages, etc. We often hear Erik and Rolf talking over the race as Eule works out the kinks on the massage table. Zabel in particular is in for some soul searching as he just can't seem to come up with that sprint win. Aldag takes the mountain jersey, but the next day cracks, showing us just how fleeting victory can be in the TdF - and how phenomenal the winners really are. Be prepared for stunning footage of the mountain stages where we see just how tough these stages and bikers can be.Camera work is magnificent - integrating fixed television-style feed with hand-held shots that give the viewer perspectives we never get on OLN or any other TV coverage. My favorite scene is in the Alps when Armstrong, Ullrich, and Mayo flash by at arm's length - showing how incredibly fast these riders go up mountain passes.While non cyclists may or may not enjoy the drama of the Tour, cyclists will definitely groove on the racing footage. The euro-pop sound track with plenty of solid bass sounds great and the Dolby surround is all class. I've watched the video as a movie and used it while on the trainer - either way its a great buy! Gte it for yourself or for your favorite cyclist - they'll love it!