Understand that this is not a documentary. It is more art than journalism, meant to embellish myths and help create athletic heroes. And that's all right. Its ambition is to allow fans an opportunity to relive, maybe even heighten, the euphoria. In that quest, it touches all the bases.

The opening - in which various players and manager Charlie Manuel read Inquirer columnist Phil Sheridan's elegant day-after composition against a background of quick-cut images - and the ending - in which random fans thank various players and the team for ending the city's championship drought - are inspired.

In between are a quick recap of the regular season, a more detailed examination of the NLDS win over the Brewers and the NLCS win over the Dodgers and an in-depth look at each of the World Series games.

The most startling vignette reveals an agitated Jimmy Rollins coming out of the indoor batting cage, where Pat Burrell is taking some swings, late in the resumption of Game 5.

"That's what's missing. You," Rollins sneers. "I don't know who this guy is. I don't know who you are. I want to see No. 5 show up."

The scene is meant to illustrate Rollins' leadership, especially since Burrell then went out and led off the seventh inning with a double that set up the winning run in the clincher. But there is little doubt from the edge in his voice that the shortstop was legitimately peeved.

Thankfully, many players were either oblivious to the notion that they were being watched so closely or reveled in the opportunity to ham it up a little. Either way, it makes for enjoyable viewing.

There is Howard pretending to be overcome by emotion with the score tied in the bottom of the ninth in Game 3. "I can't feel my legs! I'm going to faint!" he says, standing on the top step of the dugout, using feigned nervousness to help defuse the tension of the moment.

There is Howard again, chatting with Rays outfielder B.J. Upton at first base. "How do you like those shoes?" Howard asks.

Heck, there's a whole bonus track of Shane Victorino's caught-on-tape comments.

There are also some wonderfully subtle touches. After Victorino homered to tie Game 4 of the championship series against the Dodgers, the camera zeroed in on third-base coach Steve Smith giving the Hawaiian thumb-and-little-finger-out "Hang Loose" gesture as they shook hands when the hitter passed by.

Disclaimer: I had a bit part in the film, one of a handful of Baseball writers whose recollections were included in this compendium.

What makes this effort even more impressive is the brutally short time the crew had to put it all together. Still, there are a couple of quibbles.

One of the most emotional aspects of the LCS was Manuel finding out that his mother had died before Game 2 and Victorino learning after the game that his grandmother had passed away. That didn't make the final cut.

Matt Stairs' hilarious postgame comments after his home run against the Dodgers were far more colorful than the restrained remarks he made in the sit-down interview included here.

There is no mention of Tim McGraw, country music superstar and son of former Phillies closer Tug (Ya Gotta Believe) McGraw, scattering some of his father's ashes on the Citizens Bank Park mound before Game 3 . . . and the way everything seemed to go the Phillies' way after that.

The controversy that surrounded the decision to suspend Game 5 in the middle of the sixth inning and resume play 2 days later was largely glossed over.

The fact that the storyline had to be structured to appeal to the largest audience possible means there is a fair amount of Rays material included in the early part of the World Series section that Phillies fans may find to be a bit of a slog.

Ultimately, though, this is a thoroughly satisfying 115-minute almost-instant replay of the sights and sounds and events that culminated in the parade down Broad Street, which allowed the citizenry to shed 25 years of sporting angst. The film is narrated by Academy Award-nominated actor Terrence Howard, an area resident.

It is, in short, a tribute that more than measures up to the memories it so lovingly preserves. *

Send email to hagenp@phillynews.com