Living With Lions - The Complete Story (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Fantastic look at the old - style touring mentality
Disadvantages:	Some of the filming is amateur due to the players filming themselves

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

The original of the behind the scenes reviews for rugby, its follow ups have been distinctly poor by comparison. The first tour of the professional era is charted from the initial team bonding sessions in an English hotel all around South Africa on the most mesmerising tour to happen in the past twenty years. Despite being far weaker on paper, the Lions managed to record a 2-1 win in the test series, and some impressive results against the traditional names of provincial rugby.

From the very beginning the players are given the opportunity to film themselves meaning that what the viewer sees is the real life of touring, rather than contrived media speak. From Bentos' reaction in the early hours of the morning on test selection, to the medical room mere seconds after Will Greenwood almost died on the pitch there are many genuine heartwarming moments. The lack of focus on the actual rugby could be viewed as strange, but it enables the viewer to see international athletes as real people.

There are also moments from the support crew surrounding the team, such as the ability of Dr Robson to switch from dry humour to complete seriousness and sympathy when having to tell players they are too injured to continue on tour.

Action from games is limited to major incidents, but this only adds to the majic of a must own DVD for any sports fan, not just those with an interest in union.

There are no features, due to the age of the original feature and the fact is was originally released only on video. At three hours long, it's not a quick view, but it is easy to dip in and out of due to the nature of a rugby tour. There is little action from the last week of the tour after the test series was won, this was originally put on a seperate video, and due to the length of the dvd, it is impractical to put more action in.