Mahalia Jackson - Give God the Glory Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Dear Fans of Mahalia Jackson:
I would like to inform you that there was nothing wrong with this video in my opinion. As for the color on the film being poor - what do you expect people? The footage was shot between 1969 and 1972 cameras were not as high tech as they are today!! The original documentary that was filmed by Allen Miner in the summer of '69 for the US State Department was not filmed as intended because he met opposition from a lot of the promoters of Mahalia's concert that year. But he put together the footage from the concerts, her press conferences, her rehearsals and even her wake and funeral on this tape after her passing, to give fans a glimpse as to who Mahalia was; her beliefs; her faith and her dedication to singing the gospel. I loved it. Having seen Mahalia perform years ago we never really got to see the human side of her much. You know, the everyday hardworking Mahalia. It also gives you a glimpse of the Holy Ghost filled singer who could make the most convinced of atheists shout amen. If you don't believe me, watch the video and watch her sing "Great Gettin Up Mornin'" or "I Thank God" or even "Just A Closer Walk With Thee"...Mahalia Jackson does not deliver a testimony...she is a testimony...a living witness to how God can take someone small and insignificant and make her great!! And she brings out her gratitude in every song she has ever sung...this video is no exception to that fact. Buy the tape folks!!!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mahalia Jackson - Give God the Glory

Shortly before her death, Mahalia Jackson embarked on a triumphant European tour. This film is not only a record of that historic tour, but also a captivating portrait of a gifted artist and warm, sincere woman. Includes performance footage of many of Mahalia’s greatest songs including Come On Children, Didn’t It Rain, We Shall Overcome, He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands, Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho, Just a Closer Walk with Me, and many others.

Get 10% OFF

Click here for more information about Mahalia Jackson - Give God the Glory

Hanson - Tulsa, Tokyo & the Middle of Nowhere (1998) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a really good, movie/ documentary. It shows concerts, and what they do on their spare time. The are serious and wacky. They go to places like L.A., NY, Australia, Jakarta, France and many more!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hanson - Tulsa, Tokyo & the Middle of Nowhere (1998)

Click here for more information about Hanson - Tulsa, Tokyo & the Middle of Nowhere (1998)

Uncensored: Motley Crue Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you are a big fan of the Crue and are wondering if you want this tape - my advice is go for it.
What you get: The whole program is 45 minutes in length which is partly filled by the five videos. The rest is very amusing staged footage shot after the Theatre of Pain tour and before recording Girls, Girls, Girls. Many of the images are used in the Crue's VH1 Behind The Music, so it will look familiar, but it is cool to see it without the dumb voice over. This isn't ground breaking stuff here but it is worth it to hear Tommy's story that begins with how he had to take a huge piss and to hear Vince's brief impression of the landlord who owned the place he, Nikki, and Tommy lived in and destroyed when the band first formed. Furthermore, you and your fellow Crue Heads can spend endless hours debating what is real and what is staged.
However, do not pay more than 20 bucks for this thing. I paid $13 or so. I'm pleased with my purchase, but there is not a whole lot here (especially if you already own the Greatest Videos DVD) and we all hate paying too much and getting too little.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Uncensored: Motley Crue

Click here for more information about Uncensored: Motley Crue

KISS: Unauthorized (1988) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this tape being a true kiss fan and was very disappointed. It was something I could have lived without seeing. If you love their music, this tape IS NOT for you. They don't even play KISS music throughout the video. The only music you hear is a ridiculous guitar jam (on and on and on). I know that Kiss did not give permission for this tape and that is a good thing. I feel that they wouldn't ruin their magic with the fans by putting out this Piece Of Junk. My recomendation is to save your money, wish I did.

Click Here to see more reviews about: KISS: Unauthorized (1988)

In this fantastic program, we will take you behind the scenes with one of the most memorable rock bands of all time. With never-before-seen interviews andbehind-the-scenes footage, fans around the world are sureto love this one of a kind tribute to one of the world's greatest bands.

Click here for more information about KISS: Unauthorized (1988)

Bob Dylan - Don't Look Back (1967) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Don't Look Back is the best documentary about a musician on tour that I've ever seen. I can't say enough good things about it, and it is all I can do to imagine how D. A. Pennebaker simultaneously made himself so ubiquitous and so unnoticed as to capture the remarkable footage that he got on Dylan's British tour. From the incredible sequence of Joan Baez warbling the then-unreleased "Percy's Song" even as Dylan is pounding out the lyrics on his typewriter, to the revealing moments where Dylan manager Albert Grossman quite literally strong-arms the BBC into a high-paying deal for a tv appearance, to Dylan himself, at the most accessible he would ever be in his long career, alternately jousting and jesting with the British press, most of whom seem completely ignorant as to which is the jest and which is the joust. Dylan again, talking with a fan who doesn't like "Subterranean Homesick Blues" because "it just doesn't sound like you," (which was the whole point of the song), and Dylan's gritted-teeth reply: "Oh, I see what kind of person you are right away." Dylan yet again, in an astonishingly unguarded moment, bawling out everyone in his hotel room over a wineglass Alan Price dropped out of the window, acting like the only responsible adult in a kindergarten class...and when a drunken Price admits the deed, Dylan lets him have it with both barrels and finally kicks him out, despite Price having been Dylan's best friend in England throughout the entire film. In fact, a lot of this movie is about Dylan shedding elements of his persona, entourage, and his music. Bringing it All Back Home had just been released when Don't Look Back was being filmed, and the album served as a harbinger of the rock and roll shift Dylan's music was about to take. It's far more noticeable in hindsight, of course, but in this film you see Dylan breaking his ties with his folkie past. "Subterranean Homesick Blues" being shown right up front is a dead giveaway, but you may miss some of the more subtle signs: His growing disenchantment with being pegged as a folkie, evidenced by both the abovementioned reaction to his fans and his jests/jousts with the press, both harbingers of the surreal "anti-interviews" Dylan would give over the next few years. Then there is the slow disintegration of his relationship with Baez -- there is a moment about midway or 2/3 of the way through Don't Look Back where Joan walks out of Dylan's hotel room...and though she appears later in the film through the judicious use of editing, Baez has since admitted that that was the moment she walked out of Dylan's life. Another folk-music tie broken, as much by Dylan as by Baez (his near-indifference to her through much of the film is chilling...). There is also Dylan's discomfort with the "Donovan issue", both in being compared to Donovan and in meeting the guy. You can see the uncertainty all over Bob's face during this sequence, and the nicer he tries to be to Donovan -- who quite honestly sholdn't even be in the same room with Dylan -- the funnier the whole thing gets. Then there is Dylan's meeting with the President of Dylan's British fan club -- the bespectacled weedy fellow who looks like he just stepped whole and breathing out of the nightclub scene in A Hard Day's Night. Dylan's conversation with this guy is polite on the surface, but again, there are undertones of discomfort, even dislike, so palpable that they make you want to cringe. Dylan is so clearly disenchanted with some aspects of his career, even though he puts on a game face and acts satisfied with what he's doing, that it's a wonder he didn't completely telegraph his shift to electric music. (Actually, he did -- it's just that most people were too blind to see it coming at the time.)
As I said above, the footage in this film is incredibly revealing. Never again would Dylan be so accessible, so honest and forthright, as he was in Don't Look Back -- and even here, as I've said, you can sense his withdrawal from that accessibility begin. How Pennebaker managed to capture all this intense, remarkable, human footage of Dylan and co., without his subjects noticing or caring about how they came across, is beyond me. Few music documentaries, before or since, have had such verve, or such nerve, as to show their subjects in such a potentially-unflattering light (the only two I can think of that come anywhere close are Gimme Shelter, the Maysles Brothers' astonishing Stones/Altamont document, and Let It Be, the Beatles' on-film disintegration (and final live performance) which stupidly remains out of print). Don't Look Back does all that and more, never cheating, never prevaricating or retreating, always telling the truth. It was a rare achievement for its time, and a film that could never be made today.
(FINAL NOTE: All right, Messrs. Dylan and Pennebaker -- now that Don't Look Back has been remastered and rereleased, how about doing the same with the long-missing and much-missed 1966 followup, Eat the Document? It's no less raw, revealing, and astonishing than its predecessor, and is richly deserving of a rerelease. Here's hoping!)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Bob Dylan - Don't Look Back (1967)

When acclaimed documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker (Monterey Pop, The War Room) filmed Bob Dylan during a three week concert tour of England in the Spring in 1965, he had no idea he was about to create one of the most intimate glimpses of the rock legend ever put on film.Wanting to make more than just a concert film, Pennebaker sought both the public and private Bob Dylan.With unobtrusive equipment and rare access to the elusive performer, he achieved a rare fily-on-the-wall glimpse of one of the most influential musicians of all time.Hailed as one of the best documentaries about a performing artist ever created, DONT LOOK BACK is more than a view into an extraordinary concert tour - Bob Dylan’s last as an acoustic performer.It is a window into the 60s, its spirit, and one of the poet-musicians whose words and songs defined it.

Click here for more information about Bob Dylan - Don't Look Back (1967)

Walk the Line (Full Screen Edition) (2005) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)A dilemna here. I loved the movie- think the performances are just terrific. The sound and video are really top-notch and the music really enjoyable. I also enjoyed the deleted scens on the first disc and really to think this is a movie worth adding to the personal collection. The problem I have is the features added to the 2-disc collection. They just are not very good. An example- a special on the Folsom Prison concert- clearly one of the most important steps in Cash's career. The special, though it has interesting excerpts of interviews from people who were there, does not have any footage or stills of the actual concert. I found the same to be true of the other specials on the disc as well. Lots of shots of the two stars but very little of the "Man in Black" himself. I would encourage people to buy the movie but to skip the special edition. It just is not worth the extra money, unless you really need five postcards of the stars from the film.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Walk the Line (Full Screen Edition) (2005)

Singer. Rebel. Outlaw. Hero. With his driving freight-train chords, steel-eyed intensity and a voice as dark as the night, the legendary ?Man in Black? revolutionized music?and forged his legacy as a genuine American icon. Golden Globe winners Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon star (and sing) as Johnny Cash and June Carter in this inspiring true story of one man?s unwavering devotion to his sound, his message and the greatest love of his life.

Get 17% OFF

Click here for more information about Walk the Line (Full Screen Edition) (2005)

The Jacksons - An American Dream (The Complete Miniseries) (1992) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)"The Jacksons - An American Dream" was very enjoyable to watch, although those of us who grew up with the Jackson 5 know that there was a LOT left out and several inaccuracies in the script. But perhaps the things that were hinted at or weren't mentioned at all in the movie is what made the biggest impression. It isn't necessary to get into all of the scenarios that were missed, but I will say this movie did well to give you a very general understanding of just what Michael, Marlon, Jermaine, Tito, Jackie, and later on, Randy Jackson went through on the road to fame and during the height of their popularity. IMO, the reason Papa Joe Jackson (played excellently by Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) worked his kids so hard is because he himself was an unsuccessful musician, and wanted a better future for them. Now I absolutely do not condone the harsh methods he used to discipline his children - but I do understand it.
Now on to the movie...The beginning, which concentates on the life of the young Katherine growing up in Chicago, drags a bit. But it's after the kids are born when the story starts to get interesting. Angela Bassett is effective in her role as the family matriarch, Katherine Jackson, but I've seen Angela in much stronger roles and being cast as the long-suffering wife of Joe Jackson didn't really suit her. But given the material she had to work with, she did a fine job.
The rest of the cast was alright - worth noting are Billy Dee Williams as Motown founder Berry Gordy; Vanessa L. Williams as Berry's protege Suzanne dePasse; Bumper Robinson and Terence Howard, who both played oldest brother Jackie but at different ages; and the son of the real Jermaine Jackson, Jermaine II, playing his father as a teenager - however, who had the horrendous idea of casting Holly Robinson as Diana Ross?! Ugh. She was totally unconvincing and almost laughable. The kids, who were mostly unknowns, were pretty much on point, especially the talented Jason Weaver as the pre-teen Michael (he gives a dead-on performance in this role); the late Wylie Draper, who played the adult Michael; and the actor who portrayed the adult Jermaine, Colin Steele. Their performances were among the best in the film.
I would like to address a couple of remarks that some previous reviewers brought up: WHEN was it implied that Joe Jackson was having an affair with Suzanne dePasse? That must be something I missed, because nothing like that was ever even hinted at. Joe did have a mistress, but it was NOT Ms. dePasse. Also, this was supposed to be the story of the Jackson 5, NOT Janet or Latoya Jackson, so this is why they were barely mentioned...and that suited me just fine. Overall, this is a good film to sit back and enjoy on a Sunday afternoon, although there were parts that were a bit corny, like the constant mention of getting to California being the measure of success in Joe and Katherine's eyes. But Jackson fans are sure to love it and will definitely want to make it part of their collection.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Jacksons - An American Dream (The Complete Miniseries) (1992)

The saga of the musical Jackson family, from the family's beginnings in a midwestern steel town to present.No Track Information AvailableMedia Type: DVDArtist: JACKSON 5Title: JACKSONS: AN AMERICAN DREAMStreet Release Date: 12/11/2001

Get 23% OFF

Click here for more information about The Jacksons - An American Dream (The Complete Miniseries) (1992)

AIR: Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is one quirky film. It had me puzzled at first but by the end I was laughing out loud. Yes, this is a documentary about Air's (The French band) first world tour with their album 'Moon Safari'. It contains playful interviews with the artist themselves, band members and average people on the street! The only complaint is that I just wished it contained more concert footage of the show itself. (But maybe that because I missed their tour.) All four music videos are included especially 'Kelly Watch the Stars' which sounds incredible! Overall, a fun documentary trying to capture and understand the insanity of touring.

Click Here to see more reviews about: AIR: Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing

Click here for more information about AIR: Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing

Life & Works Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)"Life & Works" is an excellent telling of the life of Mozart that primarily uses his letters, the letters of his family and friends, and his excerpts of his music. It is a rich combination that avoids many of the cliches of other biographical pieces (such as not ending with the Requiem)and gives a freshness and vibrancy to his life. The narrator was charming and quite entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed "Life & Works" and recommend it to Mozart lovers and those new to his work!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Life & Works

Click here for more information about Life & Works

Pearl Jam - Touring Band 2000 (2001) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Having seen Pearl Jam live twice, and one of those times having been the summer of 2000, I was awaiting "Touring Band 2000" with mixed feelings. On the one hand, Pearl Jam play longer than any other band around, with sets routinely running 2.5 hours, and even then you want more. So it is only natural that a fan would want to recapture some of this experience at home. At the same time, though, there is so much energy at a PJ concert, I was worried that the DVD would seem flat.
I need not have worried, because the DVD is superb. There is a great mix of old and new, fast and slow songs. The transitions from one venue to the other are seemless, and the sound is outstanding (note, I'd recommend not using 5.1 channel surround, it sounds a little too processed that way). There is also the unique "Matt Cam" angle, which gives you the view from Matt Cameron's drum riser with a heavier percussive mix.
Where the DVD really shines though, is in the cinematography. It consists exclusively of hand held footage shot by the roadies. As a result the DVD presents a rough, in your face viewing that matches perfectly with the band itself. The mixture of wide shots covering the whole stage, close-ups on individual band members and pans of the crowd almost mimic the view of someone sitting in the front rows. I promise, if you crank this DVD loud enough, you'll feel like you're at a show.
As for the remaining features, the European montages are interesting, and the instrumentals they are set to are pretty cool; it's always nice to hear something new from PJ. Of course, it's nice to have a clean copy of the "Oceans" and "Do the Evolution" videos with decent sound. My personal favorite, however, were the outtakes from the North American Tour set to "Smile". Aside from the fact the song is one of my favorites, and aside from the fact the Pearl Jam dressed up as The Village People is worth the price of the disc, it really captures the essence of the band. They're genuinely having fun; they aren't in it for the money, they're in it because they love the music and they love their fans. In this day and age that's pretty special...and so's this DVD.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pearl Jam - Touring Band 2000 (2001)

The first Pearl Jam full-length DVD features three hours of live and montage footage from the band's 2000 U.S. and European tours.The main body of the DVD program is comprised of 28 full song performances filmed in various cities on the band's 2000 48-city U.S. tour, reflecting the time and composition of an actual concert set list. The DVD was filmed by Pearl Jam crew members Liz Burns, Steve Gordon, and Kevin Shuss without directors or producers. An additional 50 minutes of special bonus features includes footage from the band's 2000 European tour, backstage footage, previously unreleased music, special consumer-chosen camera angles, the previously unreleased video for "Oceans," and more. Edited by Steve Gordon. Recorded and mixed by Brett Eliason and engineered by John Burton.Track list: Long Road, Corduroy, Grievance, Animal, Gods' Dice, Evacuation, Given to Fly, Dissident, Nothing as It Seems, Evenflow, Lukin, Not for You, Daughter (into "It's OK" by Dead Moon), Untitled, MFC, Thin Air, Leatherman, Betterman, Nothingman, Insignificance, I Got Shit, RVM, Wishlist, Jeremy, Evolution, Don't Go, Parting Ways, Rocking in the Free WorldSpecial bonus features:Stationary "Matt-cam" footage is available with a heavier percussion mix for two of the songs featured on the main body of the DVD: "Evacuation" and "Even Flow" and also for "In My Tree." (The "Matt-cam" is a special camera positioned behind drummer Matt Cameron that the consumer can switch to while viewing the DVD.)European montages: City, band, and fan montages from the European tour with "Yellow Ledbetter" live and previously unreleased instrumentals recorded by Pearl Jam during early Binaural sessions. Instrumentals titled: "Thunderclap," "Foldback," and "Harmony."Outtakes of band on U.S. tour, set to the song "Smile""Do the Evolution" video--animated by Todd McFarlane"Oceans" video--never before released in the U.S. directed by Josh Taft

Get 8% OFF

Click here for more information about Pearl Jam - Touring Band 2000 (2001)