Oversized Giants

By now, chances are you’ve already heard the story of the New York Giants’ dramatic push and victory over the then-undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Many counted this vulnerable team out of any chance of being successful. This all changed on Feb. 3, as they solidified their place in football history.

The commemorative DVD, featuring the widely known Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin and Michael Strahan, focuses on the story behind the climactic ending of the Giants’ glorious season. The DVD’s main feature depicts the season from a week-by-week standpoint. The highlights of the tribulations during the beginning of the season, as well as the epic rally at the end with a title that served as the icing on the cake.

This whole feature just embeds the feel of The NFL Network, with its overdramatic narration and an anthem-themed score that sounds like a summer blockbuster, besides a simple highlight reel.

This rather overstretched feature is far overshadowed by the bonus material that is added to the DVD. In fact, the two highlights of the whole disc are in this portion. The much-talked-about Super Bowl halftime show that featured Tom Petty and the NFL’s media day convey the true entertainment aspect of the Super Bowl. No wonder Warner Home Video decided to release only the halftime show and the media day in its own disc.

This comparative liveliness on the bonus disc doesn’t exist because the main feature is completely tedious but because the amusements that will keep anyone’s attention lie within the extra content. Tom Petty has the ability to captivate anyone with his performance. A game whose outcome you already know? Not so much.

It’s not that the Giants’ epic trip from trials to fame doesn’t carry any weight. People will still remember how the Giants were able to stop the undefeated Patriots in the Super Bowl. As far as the public is concerned, though, that’s all the Giants’ season was – a glamorous win over the heavily favored opponent. Frankly, Tom Petty and that E-trade baby created about the same amount of buzz the next day.