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December 07, 2007.
SUPERB!.
Rating: 5
Of all the music videos in my collection this is the one we turn to most often. The ability to see and hear INXS as they progressed from the beginning to the end of Michael Hutchence's career is worth the price many times over.
December 20, 2007.
awesome.
Rating: 5
I thought this was an awesome DVD. I have alot of their videos and this was the best to me. I started listening to INXS when i was 13 years old and that wasn't long before michael passed away. When your watching searching you can tell that Michael had things on his mind at this time.
December 02, 2007.
Not Complete but Good .
Rating: 4
The live version of Searching really shows the true beauty of Michael Hutchence. Some of their videos were commercially overproduced. If they had just paired it down to the rawness of his voice and the band's funk they could have even been better. But the early videos especially from Listen Like Thieves show the band's high energy chutzpah. I liked INXS as a kid, they were Asian, Australian, and British. Unique, not too pretty like Duran Duran. But bold and vibrant. The critics really attacked their later albums. Which is a great shame, I truly believe Michael was just beginning creatively. To a more an intimate sound, perhaps jazz/blues and away from top 40. Watching them performing Searching live on the awards show, that clip really shows what a powerful band they could be. It's too bad they are remembered as just another lost 80's dance band. There was something else there.
December 20, 2007.
I'm Only Looking - The Best of Inxs.
Rating: 4
This is the ultimate collection for any Inxs fan. I love them as much now, as I did in the eighties. Some videos I have never seen before, so that makes it all the better. The video for kiss the dirt stands out to me,because it was filmed in the Australian Outback. What you need and Listen like thieves are also unique videos. Before they show each video, one of the members of Inxs tells you about it, which I thought was neat. There are also live performances on here which are great. If you like Inxs at all, then you should definitely buy this.
December 15, 2007.
for all to see.....
Rating: 5
i have been a die hard inxs fan for many many years. this is the best DVD of their best videos to watch...especially taste it!! buy it!!
December 10, 2007.
Wrong Verve!.
Rating: 1
I haven't even listen to this. I wanted the Verve from England. And I got some group I never hear of shipped from Brazil. I really feel cheated out of my money.
December 01, 2005.
Early videos are hideous but the later ones make up ....
Rating: 3
ok so im a verve addict. i can listen to slide away for like 3 hours on repeat no problem, so when i saw this weird ass video for slide away that starts off cool and ends up bezerk, it wasn't hard to figure out why the verve never caight on until their thrid and final album urban hymns. a good band still needs great videos, or at least decent ones for people to want to pay attention. the verve obviously had the tunes from the minute they were formed, they're all classic, but the early videos are totally weird, but not in an interesting cool way, like in a "we're an indie band that ran out of money and ideas" way. and like i said im a huge verve fan, but most of these videos are lunacy. the video for history is like a mini compilation of all those horrible early videos rolled into one. the true value on this album comes from the urban hymns videos, which are remarkable. bittersweet symphony is such a life affirming video where richard ashcroft takes a stroll down a busy street while feeling a bit down. and the way the band joins him at the end to symbolize he isnt the only one who feels this way was so touching. the videos for lucky man and sonnet are gorgeous as well. by the way, if you google the verve and go to their official website, you can see all these videos, well not the early ones from storm in heaven, but trust me thats to your favour there. i would suggest this for anyone who really likes the verve and wants to see this as a refernce point of how they were.
December 12, 2005.
Superb Music, Great Videos!.
Rating: 5
Except for the truly terrible video for "History", this is a great collection of videos, showing why The Verve are contenders for Best Band of the 1990's. They not only had a terrific sound, they had *The Look*. U2 and Oasis just pale next to these guys in both departments. "History" aside, the best videos are from the albums, "A Northern Soul" and "Urban Hymns". They are so good, they make up for the somewhat lesser real early videos. A MUST for fans of The Verve!!
December 20, 2005.
If you area real fan, it's worth it..
Rating: 4
A nice keepsake if you are a diehard fan like myself. But... I distinctly remember a different video for "Slide Away" as it was the first time I ever saw or heard of this band. (waaaaay back in 93' on 120 minutes. Does anyone else remember this? Anyway, the video looked alot like the cover of "A storm in heaven" not the borderline campy video on this. But don't other more recent videos make up for that, along with including the rarity "All in the mind." Dang... I wish they were still together and making great music.
December 26, 2004.
great music - terrible videos.
Rating: 2
As a long time fan of The Verve, I was excited the see the release of this DVD, and it immediately went on my Christmas list. Now that I have it, I am very disappointed. Never having seen videos for many of the early Verve singles, I had high hopes, but many of these videos should never have seen the light of day. Cheap effects, and home movie quality are par for the course on much of the this DVD.
One particularly jarring example was the video for "Slide Away" from A Storm in Heaven, one of my favorites. Like seeing a terrible movie version of your favorite book, I now fear that I may forever have terrible grainy images of the band frolicking with. . .I'll spare you.
Later videos are of better quality technically, but it would seem that it was really not until Urban Hymns that the visuals could hold their own with the music. Too bad.
A MUCH better bet is the the Verve 96-98 video. As far as I know, only available on VHS. Live concert footage, fantastic videography, a few videos that also appear here, plus the backstage/tourbus stuff. The Verve 96-98 is on a level with Radiohead's "Making Friends is Easy" movie. This recent release is much too much rubbish. COME ON GUYS! COME ON! COME ON!
December 22, 2007.
Fascinating performances, grainy pictures .
Rating: 4
Watching Gyorgy Cziffra play the piano is a mind-boggling experience. He not only had perfect two-hand coordination, but could use all ten of his fingers interdependently of each other, so that in the most complex and technically baffling passages, such as Liszt's "Grand Trop Chromatique," watching him is not only interesting but almost scary - at least, to those of us who have played piano!
Benno Moisewitsch is superb in the filler, a performance of Liszt's transcription of the "Tannhauser" Overture, but not as digitally dextrous as Cziffra.
My lone complaint is of the video quality, grainy, sometimes washed-out black and white that apparently could not be restored too well digitally. But this is still a must-see video for piano enthusiasts.
December 05, 2006.
Playing with power and might.
Rating: 4
I thoroughly enjoyed watching Georges Cziffra play. He demonstrates incredible power and a technique which is quite awesome. His octave playing and chord playing in parts is quite unorthodox with very high held wrists. The quality of the DVD is somewhat lacking, but nevertheless to see him playing is well worth the cost of the DVD.
Paul Copeland
December 08, 2005.
Excellent!.
Rating: 5
Flawless Playing. Technically unbelievable musician. Video and audio quality is older and therefore not 100%, but still good. Some concert footage and some in-house (literally). Probably the most difficult piano pieces I've ever seen. Must See!
December 24, 2004.
CZIFFRA plays poetic FRANCK ,CHOPIN and phenomenal LISZT.
Rating: 5
GEORGES (Gyorgy) CZIFFRA is remembered as the flame-throwing,tightrope-walking virtuoso par excellence. But there was another side to Cziffra's volatile temperament witnessed here in this 1965 INA archive film of a 'live'performance of Franck's Symphonic Variations. An affectionate smile from a 22 year old Gyorgy Cziffra Jr.to his father, seated at a Pleyel grand piano, heralds a beautifully reflective and poetic account of Franck's tenderly questioning score. Seeming at times to be deeply communing with himself, Cziffra, in the penultimate variation and with eyes closed, ruminates, as if in a dreamlike trance, pianissimo piano figuration against the cello theme, casting a magic spell over his adoring audience. In contrast, riveting archive film from a recital Cziffra gave in the Theatre des Champs-Elysees in 1961 demonstrates Cziffra at the height of his tremendous powers. Delivering the A flat Polonaise Op.53 of Chopin with virile masculine strength and exuberance its rapid left-hand octaves are enveloped in what can only be described as a white-heat haze of vibrating reflexes. The semiquaver roulades that lead back to the main theme are genuinely improvisatory and it is this quality that impresses in the studio film (Bernard Gavoty's Les Grands Interpretes of 1963) of Cziffra's lyrically rippling playing of Chopin's B flat minor Scherzo and Impromptu in G flat. In Liszt's Sixth Hungarian Rhapsody from the 1961 recital, Cziffra abandons himself totally to his inner fire and recreative forces. He adds improvisatory cimbalom effects to the cadenza passages and tears up the keyboard for the final octave onslaught. In the 'Appassionta' Etude in F minor, Cziffra takes a slower tempo than usual, but plays with such yearning, soaring passion, its coda so frenetic that one expects pianist and piano to spontaneously combust. Needless to say, the audience roars its approval while Cziffra admits exhaustion. Cziffra's studio account of Liszt's Valse Impromptu is full of old fashioned caprice and charm the added final glissando style arpeggios a delight while his astounding playing of Gnomenreigen and Grand Galop Chromatique demonstrates that Cziffra remains a 20th century keyboard phenomenon.
The substantial bonus here is Moiseiwitsch's magnificent 1954 BBC studio account of Liszt's impossible transcription of Wagner's Tannhauser Overture. He plays with his usual full-toned grandeur, and if the final torrent of double octaves that envelop the 'pilgrims theme' aren't the equal of Jorge Bolet's 1974 Carnegie Hall or Cziffra's EMI account, the effect is still breathtaking. Presentation, booklet notes and rare photographs of the artists are superb. This DVD has been awarded the Prix de l'Academie Charles Cros. Encore!
December 14, 2004.
A Virtuoso as well as A Poet.
Rating: 4
People used to associate Cziffra with a virtuoso instead of a poet. This DVD proves otherwise: he is quite a poet. And this is not just evident from his superb Chopin pieces, it is also evident from his Franck and his Lizst. And partly because of his interpretation , his sense of drama is never too strong and his touch is generally light: Even his choice of piano (Pleyel and Gaveau etc) suggests that he is a pianist more poised to delight than to impress. Nevertheless, his playing is quite modern, and he is quite a structuralist.
The sound here is acceptable and the films are not too grainy. There is a lot of depictions of his hands from a perfect point of view. But the camera doesn't particularly cover his hands when we come to the more difficult passages. Moreover, the speed of some of the films is not fast enough to give us a clear view of his hands in action in the fast passages. And yet, his hands and fingers moves even faster than Kissin. Even though that is done without compromising any music at all, but that is done at the expense of blurring the images of his hands for a whole passage a number of times! Fortunately, that consists of only a small proportion of the films only.This DVD is rather short with a running time of only 78 minutes and we have Moiseiwitsch playing Tannhauser as a bonus. Perfect phrasings and articulations with a beautiful tone: with a tiny bit of Hofmann's spontaneity or else Friedmann's originality, EMI would sure issue a solo album for this great artist of the Golden Period of Pianists.
December 11, 2007.
tina turner simply the best.
Rating: 5
I love tina turner and the way she sing the songs is very beautiful.
December 07, 2006.
Good except....
Rating: 4
I would give this a much better review, especially since I am a big fan. But, they left out WAAAYY to many good videos (i.e. We Don't Need Another Hero, One Of The Living, Two People, etc.) Oh well, maybe someday a reissue.
December 27, 2006.
Surprises... but better than the VHS if you own a 5.1 receiver..
Rating: 3
Nice selection of 80s videos from a diva of soul!
I was happily surprised to see a 5.1 stereo option. While not as "full sounding" as the only other DVD music video I have that uses 5.1, it's still Grade-A in sound quality. The audio is crisp and clear. Just not as 'full sounding' with the bass as I'd have liked; but the other 5.1 disc I have set my standards up waaaaaaay too high.
Video quality isn't perfect, but it looks like some restoration was done on the video. No real complaints here.
DVD compression artifacting is very prevalent (so HDTV owners won't be happy).
But the worst aspect was the video for "Nutbush City Limits". I was pleasantly surprised to read this on the cover as it's one of my favorite songs. Why she had to remake it, I have no idea. What's wrong with the original 1975 version??! Seeing this new lame electronica version (and I usually like electronica!) is bad enough, but intermixed with video and film clips; half of which are poor quality but the only part of the disc that has anything pre-1983 on it... :O
It's still worth it. Quite the time warp. But best if purchased for under $18.
December 13, 2004.
Love the long lost videos.
Rating: 4
I got this one from my sister because she knows I love Tina so I was excited to see the track list. I was glad they had put the Nutsbush, Break Every Rule and many others on this DVD. What I wasn't glad with was the live versions. They are good but some had videos that could've been put on here instead. Another thing was the Private Dancer video was edited. I remember seeing a longer version of this video on the web and so i thought this is where they got it from but no. Oh well i'm no one to diss so I love this DVD and will cherish it as long as I live. And if another one comes out then I'll get that one too. i am happy with this DVD not only because it's Tina but because my sister drove all the way to another town to get it for me. Now that's love.
December 02, 2003.
Simply the best? I don't think so ....
Rating: 3
The whole idea of DVD's is their capacity to accommodate more material. But this DVD is no different to the VHS release although it does have 5.1 surround sound as well as the traditional dolby digital 2.0.Firstly, do not expect any special features, this is a bare bones release. The track listing is acceptable, yet fails in some ways. As many reviewers have stated, several of the videos have been replaced with concert footage (a big 'no no' for a video collection). What's annoying to me is, the songs that have been replaced are personal favourites so I am a bit cheesed off. Let's run through them: We Don't Need Another Hero - a 1985 video does exist out there, but we get a lacklustre concert performance instead with Tina screaming rather than singing. Typical Male - do you remember the excellent video for this? Well it aint included on the DVD. We get a concert performance again. I Can't Stand the Rain - concert footage again. Perhaps a video was not made for this song. It basically means that someone at EMI liked the concert footage more than the videos and decided we would all agree with him/her. Not so. There is other concert footage on the DVD but it's okay because that was the way it was originally filmed (eg. Tina's live cover of "Addicted to Love"). One obvious ommission is "One of the Living", the second single from the "Mad Max 3" soundtrack. Perhaps copyright reasons prevented the use of this track. Also missing are videos from the 1970's including "River Deep Mountain High" or "Proud Memory". I assume this is because the DVD focus on the 1980's (why not say so on the cover?). Still, the DVD could have been updated to include hits from the 90's - one can assume that a Volume 2 DVD must be in the works. One inclusion that is a good selling point is the alternative video version of "What's Love Got to Do with It" (which was scrapped), as well as the version that got used worldwide. Overall Summary:
An acceptable DVD which has been given a nice 5.1 surround sound remix. Picture quality varies throughout. Menus are nothing special. A DVD for fans in general, but die-hard fans will be somewhat disappointed.
December 03, 2007.
Blur- The Best of.
Rating: 4
For many, blur were the band of the nineties. Not many, at least not in America, but theirs is still a devoted following. The DVD is a very nice collection of all their videos up until No Distance Left to Run, with top-rate film transfer and sound quality throughout. The early videos are fun to watch because they're so unbelievably dreadful. The later ones are fun to watch because they're occasional great, frequently entertaining videos. I recommend it to slightly-more-so-than-average fans of blur, but not really to anyone else.
December 27, 2006.
A good sense of humor.
Rating: 5
I like bands with a good sense of humor, bands that don't take themselves too seriously. Blur is one of them, most of the time. Some of the earlier ones are kind of silly, but the later videos are pretty good. I especially like Parklife, Charmless Man, Beetlebum, On Your Own, M.O.R. and Tender. If you like Blur, you'll like this.
December 10, 2005.
Blurry (!).
Rating: 5
Yeah, I don't know why I used that as my title, but anyway. This DVD, which I bought a few days ago really grows on you. When I got it, all I knew was....
* 'Country House'
* 'Girls And Boys'
* 'The Universal'
* 'Parklife'
... but watching this is fantastic! The video for 'Coffee + TV'... no wonder it won best video of the year! And, probably most people don't know this but, you know that song? "Wooo who!" It's called 'Song 2' and it's on here! I didn't even know it was a proper song!
The DVD itself doesn't have any special features or even a decent booklet, but what it does have is great lil' music videos. Some of the songs are a bit naff, but even they have good videos! 'Bang' is a good one, so is 'Charmless Man' and the classic 'The Universal'.
Overall, this is a DVD ANY music fan should have. Everybody, no matter what age, must've heard or know a Blur song!
December 03, 2005.
These videos are so bad, I would just use them to....
Rating: 1
From boorish to just plain bad, Blur does it all. In Stone Roses banked baggy like "She's So High", "There's No Other Way", and "Bang!" all swirly lights and additive dissolves, Damon Albarn manages to make a utter fool of himself with a ridiculous haircut and even more ridiculous smug lip synching mug.
Other videos come off as cheap, cheesy, under funded, art school schlock. The Damien Hirst assisted "Country House" is bad. Just plain bad down to its brainless bimbos in dress up and pancake lighting. "Boys and Girls" is a green screen tragedy. "For Tomorrow" mixes one of the few admirable moments of film with strobing, low frame rate video.
I must sing the praises, however, of "The Universal" one of the worst Blur songs with one of the best videos. The lush beauty of Clockwork Orange gang Blur in heaven preaching their inane gospel to a 1984 mass through a 2001 bubble speaker is the only saving grace that makes the DVD worth the plastic it's printed on. The case and booklet remain excess baggage.
This DVD makes me sad. Pretensions and ego abounds doing nothing for aesthetic. A few of the videos are just live concert footage dubbed over with studio tracks, the lowest of the low. Others may look okay but concepts are hackneyed or art house rip-offs. Even the talented David Mould couldn't save this blundering boat from sinking. Ugly, cheap, and painful to look at, Blur may not be the worst band to ever exist but they certainly have some of the worst videos.
December 03, 2005.
Homebrewer.
Rating: 5
I Was Amazed The Day I Ran Into This DVD! I Have Been One Of, If Not The Biggest Fan Of Blur! I listened To Blur, When No One Had Even Heard Of Blur. I Used To Tell People, That Blur Was Going To Be The 'Next Beatles'. Well They Didn't Become The Next Beatles, But They Put Out Some Incredible Music Over The Years! I Have Almost Every CD Blur Ever Produced (Except For Some Of Their Imports And Rare CD's That Were Only Available In Europe). When I First Heard The CD 'Leisure', With Songs Like 'She's So High', 'There's No Other Way', 'Bang' & 'Birthday'. I Just Knew We Were In For A Real Treat With Blur And I Knew They Were Going To Be Around For Awhile (And They Have Been, Since They Produced 'Leisure' In 1991 & 'Think Tank' In 2003).
On This DVD You Get The Following Track List:
1) She's So High - From The CD 'Leisure' & It Made Chart Position #48
2) There's No Other Way - From The CD 'Leisure' & It Made Chart Position #8
3) Bang - From The CD 'Leisure' & It Made Chart Position #24
4) Popscene - From Their Single CD & It Made Chart Position #32
5) For Tomorrow - From The CD 'Modern Life Is Rubbish' & It Made Chart Position #28
6) Chemical World - From The CD 'Modern Life Is Rubbish' & It Made Chart Position #28
7) Sunday Sunday - From The CD 'Modern Life Is Rubbish' & It Made Chart Position #26
8) Girls And Boys - From The CD 'Parklife' & It Made Chart Position #5
9) To The End - From The CD 'Parklife' & It Made Chart Position #16
10) Parklife - From The CD 'Parklife' & It Made Chart Position #2 & It Won Best Music Video(Brits Awards '95) & Best Video(NME Brat Awards '95).
11) End Of A Century - From The CD 'Parklife' & It Made Chart Position #19
12) Country House - From The CD 'The Great Escape' & It Made Chart Position #1 & Was Nominated For Best Video (Brit Awards '96)
13) The Universal - From The CD 'The Great Escape' & It Made Chart Position #5 & Was Voted The Top Ten Videos Of '95 (The Chart Show)
14) Stereotypes - From The CD 'The Great Escape' & It Made Chart Position #7
15) Charmless Man - From The CD 'The Great Escape' & It Made Chart Position #5 & Participated In The Edinburgh Film Festival '96.
16) Beetlebum - From The CD 'Blur' & It Made Chart Position #1
17) Song 2 - From The CD 'Blur' & It Made Chart Position #2 & Was Nominated Best Group Video (MTV US '97) & (NME Brat Awards '98).
18) On Your Own - From The CD 'Blur' & It Made Chart Position #5
19) M.O.R. - From The CD 'Blur' & It Made Chart Position #15
20) Tender - From The CD '13' & It Made Chart Position #2
21) Coffee And TV - From The CD '13' & It Made Chart Position #11 & Was Winner's Of Best Music Video (MTV Europe '99) & (NME Carling '00).
22) No Distance Left To Run - From The CD '13' & It Made Chart Position #14
Since This DVD Was Made In 2000, It Doesn't Have Any Videos From 'Think Tank'. But It's An Amazing DVD Either Way, For Any Fan Of Blur (Actually I'm Amazed If Everyone Doesn't Already Own This DVD!) I Have Watched This DVD So Many Times, That I Will Probably Go Ahead & Purchase A Couple More Copies, In Anticipation Of Wearing This One Out. If You Are Still Reading This Review, Stop! Click On The 'Purchase ASAP Button', So You Can Watch Blur The Way Blur Should Be Watched! If You Didn't Know It, Blur's Frontman Damon Albarn When On To Create 'Gorillaz' The Creators Of The Smash Hit 'Clint Eastwood'. As Always Folks, I'm Leaving You With Some Lyrics From The Band.
Sitting In A SDT, Waiting For An Underground Trail. To Rumble Undemeath my Teeth. Bang Goes Another Day, Where It Went I Could Not Say. Now I'll Have To Wait Another Week. When All Is Said And All Is Done. What Was Said Was Never Done. Don't Panic! It's Not Really Worth Your While. Bang Goes Another Year! In And Out Of One Ear. Everybody's Doing It, So Do It Too!
I Got My Head Checked, By A Jumbo Jet. It Wasn't Easy But Nothing Is. No. When I Feel Heavy Metal, And I'm Pins And I'm Needles. Well, I Lie And I'm Easy. All The Time But I Am Never Sure, Why I Need You. Pleased To Meet You.
You Got To Get It Together, You're Shooting At Me. You're Just A Teenage Industry, Why Are The C.I.A. Having Fun? They Think You're Clever 'Cus You've Blown Up Your Lungs. But I Love To Hear That Crazy Beat (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!) Gets The People Dancing On Their Feet (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!) And I'd Love To Live In Paradise. I Love My brothers On A Saturday Night Yeah. Crazy Beat, Crazy Beat, Yeah Yeah. I'm On My Mobile And I'm Talking To The President. I Got To Get Him For The Money I've Spent. Trying To Get Him To Party With Me. And Even Offered Him Ecstasy!
December 10, 2007.
On a 1 to 10 scale, this collection is rated: 3.5.
Rating: 2
MAXIM MEDIA's "Pendulum Pictures" low-budget horror films are distributed exclusively by MILL CREEK ENTERTAINMENT. These movies are a throwback to the early '60s type of Drive-In theater gorefests that were once popular with teens. If you're looking for state of the art special effects and top rank actors, this series may not be right for you.
Users of a cinema-related website rated these films. On a 1 to 10 scale, their average was 3.5.
Program list includes individual ratings, original names (where applicable) year of release and principal actors.
(3.3) The Bewitching (2006) - Beverly Lynne/Tezz Vancey/Steve Reaser
(3.4) A Candle In The Dark (2002) - Alexandra Ackerman/Shelby Barendrick/Trish Christensen
(2.4) Catholic Ghoulgirls ("Catholic Ghoulgirls") (2005) - Mark Brown/Ally Melling/James Hudnall
(4.5) Cutting Room! (2005) - Lyla Sullivan/Noelle D'Amato/Shaun O'Rourke
(3.0) The Parasite (1997) - David Gaffney/Julia Matias/David Akin
(4.1) Up For Rent (2006) - Sharon Savene/Shania Patricia/Daniel Cohn
December 08, 2006.
Guilty Low Budget Pleasure.
Rating: 5
Great collection of totally indie low budget horror. And we're talking LOW budget. Get out the handycam and call your cousins to be in a movie budget but alot of fun to watch. I laughed until I cried. My fav? "Cutting Room". Lots of little nods to past horror flicks as well as a cameo from the King of low budget indie himself...Mr. Lloyd Kauffman. The more I watch this one, the more I love it. Definitely will become a cult classic.
December 03, 2006.
A lesson from the old (and dead) masters.
Rating: 5
These are outstanding performances of classics. I bought this DVD for the Walton concerto, a piece I have played myself and feel deeply about. However, the other performances were an excellent surprise. Piatagorsky interprets the piece commissioned for him with authenticity, passion, and the appropriate grace. Heifetz's Mendelssohn is always a joy to hear.
One must note that these are HISTORICAL performances and should not be judged by their age and picture quality. You are getting performances that may be older than yourself, in my case certainly. (For more of that rant, see my review on the page for Rostropovich's performance of Shostakovich and Prokofiev, also on EMI.) In any case, these are easily ignored by those seeking authentic interpretations and an opportunity for a lesson from masters.
December 08, 2006.
Almost the worst DVD in the world.
Rating: 2
Amazon did a number on its advertising. The picture of this album on the internet leaves off the note that Heifetz plays only the 1st movement of the Mendelssohn. Which may have been a blessing, though I was mad as hell. The sound of the Heifetz was shrill and piercing and unnatural and unpleasant and ugly. This was recorded in 1949. Studios were making deluxe motion pictures at that time (even The Wizard of Oz made in 1937 sounded good). So what's their excuse? Only the Rubinstein (and it was my reason for the star)was worth listening to. It was beautiful and Rubinstein must be the most perfect loveable little man I've ever seen. I wish I had his numbers on a different, good DVD. I'm going to throw this one away. I can't return it because I bought it from a seller, not from Amazon. Instead of saving $6 I lost what was it, $20. Finally the Walton. I'd never heard of Walton before (and hope to god I never do again). It's modern. That means it's all disonance and tuneless crap. I didn't finish it. Oh. And the photography in the Walton (in case you're interested in this drivel) stinks. Made in 1957. Movies were in their infancy then, don't you know, so what more can you expect. A piece of garbage and a rip-off.
December 10, 2004.
Three Titans--Athletic, Authoritative, Incomparable.
Rating: 5
These three superstars performed and recorded together in various combinations and permutations from the 1930s into the 1960s, and it was during their joint appearances at the Ravinia Festival in the fifties that some whizzbang reporter headlined them as "The Million Dollar Trio." Their performances here, however, are solo turns. Decked out in a white dinner jacket, Heifetz recorded his three contributions in 1949 before a studio audience on the Bell Telephone Hour. At times the picture is smudged and grainy, and you'll hear a fair amount of strident, wavery sound (plus some rough, tough low notes that are Heifetz's own doing). But don't ask questions -- this is one of comparatively few videos by this undisputed 20th century phenomenon, and all of his trademark virtues are here in force: bright, firm tone, athletic bowing, dashing fingerwork. The result is a rousing, high-octane chase through the Mendelssohn first movement plus two choice encores -- though, in a hokey popularizing touch during Debussy's "Girl with the Flaxen Hair," the camera overlays shots of an actual hairbrushing cutie. Did it play well in Peoria?
Piatigorsky's outing is more soberly conceived, being a straightforward document of the 1957 London premiere of Walton's cello concerto -- which the performer himself had commissioned. Despite some edge blurring, the picture is improved over the Heifetz entries, ditto the recorded sound, though there are occasional fadings, burbles, and split-second lacunae -- but Piatigorsky's authority and the video's historical value are incontestable. (All the same, admirers of both this great cellist and this haunting concerto will automatically want to acquire the official studio recording of the piece, recorded just a fortnight earlier with Munch and the Boston Symphony and still available as RCA 61498. The CD features tidier intonation from Piatigorsky in the middle movement plus pioneering stereophonic sound that is startlingly vibrant, spacious, and airy throughout.)
Finally we get Rubinstein, arguably the ultimate performer -- for his astonishing stamina, huge sound, technical durability, and magical ability to deliver the goods year in and year out, he was the greatest big-hall pianist of them all. He's in his 80th year here, yet the mechanism is still in miraculous shape: fleet tempos, note-perfect running passages, incomparable mezza voce playing, and his unique use of the una corda pedal not merely to soften the tone but to alter its timbre -- cantabile passages gleam like sudden shafts of moonlight. Finally, thanks to his matchless command of natural weight principles, we not only hear a robust, sweeping line throughout (just right for middle-period Beethoven), but there are marvelous special effects -- such as the comic surprise of Rubinstein's deep, reverberent octaves at the outset of the 3rd movement cadenza. No living pianist comes close to approximating this kind of mastery. In short, you'll never hear a more engrossing Beethoven 4th, and both the picture and the monaural sound (class of '67) have clarity and range. Which is also true of Rubinstein's signature encore, the Chopin A-flat Polonaise: its performance here has the most majesty, technical control, and legato detailing of the four different versions (!) currently available by this performer on DVD.
December 08, 2004.
Poor quality of picture and sound.
Rating: 2
I had previously purchased 4 EMI classics DVD's and was satisfied with all. Thus I was very disappointed by the poor sound and picture quality on this DVD and have returned it. The Heifetz Mendelssohn is the worst. The Rubinstein Beethoven is better, but the muted sound of the orchestra in the Beethoven is not good. The Piatigorsky Walton has some bad picture problems near the beginning, but overall the picture is OK (not great, however), while the sound varies. There is no point in buying any of these DVD's just for the sound, in my opinion. If the picture is bad, don't buy. And if the sound is bad, too, then definitely don't buy.
December 11, 2003.
Heifetz's Fans may well be disappointed, but....
Rating: 5
I was attracted by Heifetz and also by Piatigorsky: I have a Rubinstein DVD conducted by Andre Previn which was dull and one just doesn't feel like going back to it. To my surprise, my rating is almost the other way round. Runbinstein played this concerto rather beautifully, even poetically albeit the culmination of the climax is not quite forceful: it's more like blank verse than anything else. His touches are well depicted by the photographer and the sound is nice. His Beethoven Concertos were the ones which I used to listen most often after all. Piatigorsky is very musical. He was so involved when he played, totally inspired by the music that he was playing. I prefer him to Rostropovich. The recorded sound of Heifetz here is totally distorted particularly his Mendelssohn and Debussy: worse than most historical recordings and simply far from appealing. The vision is much better though and at one point there is even an aeriel view which shows exactly his fingering/vibrato. His Hora Staccato made up quite a bit. Here we see a palette of colours and Heifetz certainly played with a lot of emotions. As far as Heifetz's footage is concerned and particularly Piatigorsky, we don't have much choice. Hora Staccato and Walton alone are worthy of your money and then you will also have Rubinstein's Beethoven # 4 the beauty of which comes really as a surprise.
December 17, 2007.
Its NOT Closed Captoned .
Rating: 1
Yes this is plenty reason to flunk this dvd. I have dvd's 10 years old that have CC.
As you hit the "not helpfull" button, understand, that it was not long ago someone like Ben would not even be able to play the places he does now, because he is black.
If you dont think both of these are the same issues, your ignorant. Not stupid, ignorant.
December 18, 2007.
Great!.
Rating: 5
This is a great DVD with quite a bit of insight as to what goes into Ben Harper's music. The interviews with him interacting with his family are especially interesting. The best though was Ben playing guitar with his Mom. AWESOME! BUY THIS!
December 04, 2005.
Simply Ben.
Rating: 5
If you are unfamiliar with Ben Harper and his music this DVD is where you should start. Forget the albums and music, just know the man, and the music will come on as no surprise to how vital Ben is in today's music scene. Many people don't know of him, and that is for good reason. Throughout Pleasure And Pain Ben reveals the reasons for the lack of notoriety; conviction and pride, a pride to never be told what music to create and always being true to his roots and influences. His life story is told here throughout and intertwined with footage from his Will To Live world tour. The story is narrated and explained beautifully by Ben of how he was influenced so greatly at a young age by his mother, father, and growing up in his grandparents music store. This is also a creative project from a film medium. Danny Clinch does a great job, highlighting the many feelings that the viewer is experiencing with different types of film stock and effects. Buy this, learn about Ben, and then the music will follow.
December 06, 2003.
5 Star Choice!!.
Rating: 5
It details the life and living of one of the most talented artists of this century. From his childhood through the time he realized his talent. This DVD showcases the amazing person and personaltity that is Ben Harper, match that with the awesome talent of one of the most versatile and incredible bands, Pleasure and Pain is an amazing experience.About Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminal: Ben Harpers style cannot be catergorised because there is no one style to his music. His amazing knowledge and capabilities on a huge variety of instruments and a band from a variety of different backgrounds you get a sound that has elements of jazz, funk, blues, latin etc the list goes on and on. If you havent heard of Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals take one look at Pleasure and Pain and you will be captivated by an artist millions of people have grown to love.
December 10, 2002.
Excellent documentary, decent live footage.
Rating: 4
If you are already a fan or on the path of becoming one, then this DVD is a great addition to your collection. The primary piece on the disc is the 90 minute documentary Pleasure + Pain which is a surprising, humorous, and entertaining collection of behind the scenes and biographical footage of Ben Harper and his merry band of Innocent Criminals. Be warned, there is a very limited amount of live concert or studio segments in the documentary. However, there are a handful concert, studio, and bootleg tunes on the DVD that can be accessed separately including Faded, Gold to Me, Fight for Your Mind, Waiting on an Angel, I Shall Not Walk Alone, Strawberry Fields Forever, and an excellent version of Give a Man a Home featuring the Blind Boys of Alabama. I would have given it five stars if there was more footage capturing Mr. Harper's extraordinary live performances.
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