Michael Jordan to the Max [Blu-ray] by Lions Gate

Editorial Review

The greatest basketball player of all time gets an appropriate clip reel in this 45-minute documentary, which was originally released in the IMAX format. While you can't simulate IMAX's 80-foot-high screen in your living room, you can still get the thrills and awe-inspiring footage of this tribute to one man's talent and endurance. Much of the original footage was shot during the 1997 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. With great behind-the-scenes footage and terrific game material, the film gets close to Jordan in practice and on the court. And the film includes a number of greatest hits, including his commercials and most memorable dunks. Still, while there are intriguing interviews with everyone from former Bulls coach Phil Jackson to professional Jordan hanger-on Bob Greene, this film seems a little self-serving at times (Jordan's company coproduced it). Also, some key voices from that team are conspicuously absent, including Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Ron Harper. In the end, however, it's all about the highlights–and Jordan's career (and his NBA finale) was one long one. –Marshall Fine