After recently looking through a family photo album, something dawned on me: for every picture of me from the 1990s, there was roughly a 95% chance I was wearing a Bulls (or Michael Jordan) t-shirt or jersey. In fact, against all better judgment, here's some proof (circa 1993, and linked for your protection). Although I'm sure I wasn't the biggest Bulls fan of the decade, I would faithfully watch most every game that aired...and this is coming from someone who doesn't regularly enjoy watching professional sports on TV.

Even so, it was hard not to be a fan of the Bulls during that decade. Plain and simple, they owned the better part of the 1990s, and racked up six NBA Championships in all (two separate "three-peat" runs, from 1991-93 and 1996-98). During those years, they proved to be one of the most dominant teams in sports history, and it was easy to get lost in all the excitement. I'll admit that to some extent I was simply "riding the bandwagon", but you've got to start somewhere, right? After all, it's always great to feel like you're part of something special...and the 1990s Bulls dynasty certainly qualified. They were truly a special team.

Of course, any team is only as good as its players, and the Bulls were a perfect example of this. The franchise itself began in 1966, and became the first expansion team to make the playoffs in its first season (1968). However, they didn't make it any further until the next decade, when the team won the Midwest Division Championship in 1975, but was eliminated in the Conference Finals shortly thereafter. It was a young team that had a lot of growing to do, and became a little more anxious with each passing year. Needless to say, it must have been very frustrating.

Things took a turn for the better in 1984, when a young man by the name of Michael Jordan was drafted by the Bulls. Jordan was a hungry competitor from the University of North Carolina, and his talent was immediately obvious: he was a natural born leader, and a formidable opponent. During the following years, the Bulls' chances at a World Championship increased, but they still weren't ready. For lack of a better term, Jordan needed a strong supporting cast.

Soon, the pieces began to fall in place as new players arrived: John Paxson (1985), Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant (1987), Bill Cartwright (1988), B.J. Armstrong (1989), and Toni Kukoc (the 1993-94 season, during Jordan's first retirement). With this strong lineup of young players---headed by Coach Phil Jackson, who joined earlier in 1989---the Bulls looked to be more ready than ever. Victory would arrive as quickly as many had predicted, as the Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1991 NBA Championship Finals. It was the first Championship for the 25 year-old franchise, and history shows that it certainly wouldn't be the last.

This four-disc collection is entitled NBA Dynasty Series: Chicago Bulls (The 1990s), and collects a nice cross-section of the team's multiple roads to success, and even a brief glimpse of Bulls history. Each of these four discs is double-sided, bringing the massive collection of footage to over 900 minutes in all---quite a compilation indeed. From a number of documentaries to a handful of games in their entirety, this release attempts to capture the true spirit of the dominating franchise.

But does it succeed? Yes...and no.

While newer fans may not have seen this footage firsthand, die-hard Bulls fans just might walk away disappointed. In short, there's not much that any respectable Bulls fan hasn't seen before (the only new supplement is the brief "History" segment on Disc One), so the value of this release depends solely on your willingness to upgrade from worn-out VHS tapes. Still, the footage and nostalgia factor make for an exciting experience, as this compilation includes a great number of the Bulls' most thrilling moments. Below is a quick rundown of everything included on this four-disc set, and the technical portion of the review will follow shortly after. NOTE: The documentaries are divided equally on both sides of the first disc, and the subsequent three "bonus" discs contain one Finals game on each side. Anyway, enough with the pre-game show...here's your starting lineup:

The content itself is great from top to bottom. Each of the six documentaries---though largely promotional in nature---provide a nice look at the team through a series of interviews, game footage, and a bit of team history. Learning To Fly (1991) is perhaps the most interesting documentary, as it showcases a much broader sense of well-earned accomplishment. The games are also top-notch, and feature arguably the Bulls' greatest moments. From a spectacular performance by a flu-ridden Jordan (vs. Utah, 1997) to one of basketball's most thrilling games (vs. Phoenix, 1993), this is a collection of contents that have truly earned a spot in sports history. The 1992 game vs. Portland is also noteworthy, as it includes color commentary by Magic Johnson, whose Lakers were defeated by the Bulls in 1991. It's an all-star lineup, and an excellent package for any fan of great basketball...but it's certainly not a perfect package.

As mentioned earlier, I felt that this collection could have dug a little deeper. While it's a high-quality lineup, this footage has already been available to Bulls fans for many years (with the exception of the previously-mentioned "History" segment, which is too brief to make a real impact). In any case, this four-disc collection comes to us from the good folks over at Warner Bros., and includes a decent technical presentation to boot. Let's see how this compilation stacks up:

Unfortunately, my main complaint lies with the bane of DVD fanatics: the double-sided disc (aka the DVD-18). I don't like flippers in general, as they're more prone to fingerprints and scratching, and they're a cheap substitute for the more common single-sided disc. Although using these would have put the number of discs up to eight in all (undoubtedly bringing up the cost), I'm sure many fans would have made the financial sacrifice. Additionally, the packaging itself could have been a little sturdier as well, as my lightly-used copy already shows a few signs of wear. Last but not least, there are no subtitles provided, and they should always be part of the presentation.

This release is a fantastic package on paper, but there's no doubt in my mind that it could have been more thorough. With that said, it contains a great amount of footage for the price, and this aspect of the release makes it a great choice for Bulls fans (or fans of great basketball in general). From a series of unforgettable NBA Finals games to a collection of classic documentaries, Warner Bros.' NBA Dynasty Series looks to be off to a decent start. Also available in the series is a five-disc compilation of the Los Angeles Lakers' Complete History, and I'd assume a Boston Celtics release is also in production. Still, all things considered, this four-disc look at the 1990s Chicago Bulls dynasty is a reasonably successful release, and it's well worth looking into. Recommended.