Led Zeppelin
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Movie Reviews of Led Zeppelin
Movie Review: Simply a must-have DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
In the year 3003, (if we haven't blown ourselves up or been rounded up and sold as pets on the Galactic Live Commodities Market,) someone looking up the phrase "Rock and Roll" in their supercomputer the size of a sugar cube will get something like this on their holoscreen:"Rock and Roll - a late 20th century phrase describing music created by small groups of mostly male musicians, played on percussive and amplified-electric instruments with vocals, and the lifestyle which accompanied that music, characterized by an idealistic belief in world peace, and in love shared freely and without commitment. Examples of rock and roll bands: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin."
Searching further, the student of late 20th century music will likely be able to download and experience the material on this DVD - it's so good, that it's going to become part of the planet's cultural heritage. This review, however, will likely be lost to obscurity sometime in the next 1000 years, so read it now while there's still time.
Here it is in a nutshell - this two DVD set gives Led Zeppelin fans everything we've ever wanted and more. The sound, the images, the production, the choices made, are all nearly perfect. The material is pure live performance - no "creative content" or "dramatic embellishment" of any kind - just film, film, film of rock, rock, rock being played live, live, live. (If only some of our other great heritage bands would take a hint and give us more DVD's full of the same type of footage!)
The second disk in this two disk set would be the greatest rock and roll you ever saw - if it weren't for the first disk. I am a hardened, veteran, tough-to-please lover of classic rock DVD, and I can say that, without any exception whatsoever, disk one of this set is THE GREATEST ROCK AND ROLL FOOTAGE OF ALL TIME.
I know, Muhammed Ali said something like that about himself - but he backed it up with his fists against Sonny and George, and Led Zeppelin will back it up as well on Disk 1. Pop disk 1 in your DVD player, crank up the surround sound system, and if you are a real music fan, a half-hour later you'll be sitting there with an untouched beer on your coffee table, your jaw hanging slack, your phone ringing and you not getting up to answer it because that would mean pausing this and you aren't about to do that, no matter who it is on the line.
It's actually quite possible that Led Zeppelin never sounded as good on their studio albums, either technically or otherwise, as they do on Disk 1 of this set, in the Royal Albert Hall. The sound is perfect, the video is perfect, and the performance is beyond perfection, into the realm of the supernatural.
Enjoy. Easily worth twice as much as it's selling for.
Movie Review: Finally... the magic of Led Zeppelin and the DVD medium!
Summary: 5 Stars
This DVD is a mindblowing release and an incredible value for anybody remotely familiar with Led Zeppelin's music and mystery. I finally found a store where I could purchase it on the May 27th release date (it was sold out the first three places I looked), and I have not been able to turn it off for the last three days. Highlights are too many to note, but here are some of the features and moments that Shook Me, left me Dazed and Confused, and took me on the Stairway to Heaven: 1.)The progression of the band from the 1970 Albert Hall performance to the 1979 Knebworth show (their last as a band - you are watching history of footage that only a few hardcore fans ever even knew existed!)truly documents their progression as a band... the early performances strike me as raw and outerworldly... the later performances are more refined and charismatic - true rock gods strutting their stuff; 2.)The sound and audio quality FAR exceed my expectations. 3.) These performances once and for all prove that Zep (when they were on like they are here)were a devastating live act. Most of the songs played live in these performances, especially many of the songs from Physical Grafitti on, are far superior to the album cuts due to the incredible interplay and improvisation of the band. 4.)The oddities and extras -- some of the TV performances are fascinating and bizarre. The audiences at these shows just didn't know what to think of this band. 5.) My favorite cuts are the "White Summer" guitar solo spot from Albert Hall, the entire segment from the black and white Danish TV special, "In My Time of Dying" from the 1975 Earl's Court show, and the reworked version of "Whole Lotta Love" from the Knebworth show. When DVDs debuted in the 1990s, the possibilities seemed endless for what this new medium could do in terms of sound and content, but the promises have been largely unfulfilled (in my opinion) by the movie and music industries. Huge credit goes to the band and the engineers for not teasing us with incomplete material and hoping we would settle for [for less than the best]audio, but instead creating a DVD crammed full of 5+ hours of great entertainment and quality. I just hope the rebirth of Led Zep this product will surely inspire does not result in a misguided "reunion tour." Even with the best intentions, Plant, Page, and Jonesy could never come close to recapturing the magic of these performances... not to mention that no drummer could provide the 20 ton whallop of Bonzo's drum kit so majestically on display on this DVD. This DVD is what I've been waiting for for over 20 years, and the most amazing thing is that I didn't even know I've been waiting for it. What a gem!
Movie Review: "Thanks for 11 Years."
Summary: 5 Stars
Up until 2003, the only official footage of Led Zeppelin in concert was the 1976 concert film "The Song Remains The Same", an intriguing but flawed retrospective of their 1973 tour. For years, many feared this subpar representation would be the only memorabilia of the band in concert.
In 2003, things were rectified, when Atlantic released an eponomously titled two dvd set of over five hours of Zeppelin in concert. You heard me right: 5 hours of nothing but Zeppelin live.
The concerts span from 1970 to 1979 and were filmed at various different venues. Included is some footage from the 1973 Madison Square Garden show that didn't make it into "The Song Remains The Same".
The firts disc is a 1970 concert from The Royal Albert Hall. Even at this early stage in their career, Zeppelin had already solidified themselves as one of the greatest live acts ever. This is over an hour and a half of pure, unledded Zeppelin. Hihlights include an amazing "I Can't Quit You Baby", Page's lengthly instrumental "White Summer", the live favorite "Dazed And Confused" and Bonham's old standby "Moby Dick".
Disc 2 kicks off with a promo of "The Immigrant Song", before we quickly jump to the 1973 Madison Square Garden show. Kicking off with a rip roaring "Black Dog", this is the show that proves why Zeppelin is so well regarded. Robert Plant is in particularly fine form here. Just listen to him wail on "Since I've Been Loving You".
Next comes the Earl's Court gig from 1975. The show kicks off with a fantastic acoustic set of "Going To California" (where John Paul Jones shows off his masterful mandolin skills), "That's The Way" and "Bron Yr Aur Stomp". The show really takes off when the band plugs in and launches into a thrilling version of "In My Time Of Dying". Next comes an electrifying "Trampled Underfoot", before the show ends with a bkazing "Stairway To Heaven" that proves why the song is regarded as the greatest rock song ever.
The last batch of performances is from Knebworth in 1979. For all the great performances on the disc, this one is probably the highlight. Kicking off with a heartpounding "Rock and Roll", Zeppelin performs as if it were the last time on stage together (and indeed, the end was nearing). The band is simply on fire. Especially thrilling is "Achilles' Last Stand", the epic track from their 1976 album "Presnece" that is made even better live. The best is the finale, as "Whole Lotta Love" goes under a complete transformation that is absolutely breathtaking.
The extras are also a keeper, but even without them, this dvd would definitely be worth the price of admission.
Movie Review: Been a Long Time....
Summary: 5 Stars
For anyone who really likes Led Zeppelin this is a must have. The sound is beyond expectations and is great. To actually see them on the screen and in action thru the 70's is both interesting and redeeming for long time fans and finally shows what they were like to the rest for the rest of the world to see... The extras on the DVD: Amusing to sum up but good stuff...particularly the Communication Breakdown promo...with Bonzo doing the drumstick twirl and Robert Plant going up to the camera all wide eyed making silly faces while they all lip synch the words in a small studio room...in what could have passed for an amusing Led Zeppelin Music Video..
When you hear and see Zeppelin one must be reminded that Jimmy Page is always the master and controls all aspects of Zeppelins sound and how its to be presented...its his baby you might say and who can blame him when he knew back in '68 the band formed were a truly tight and powerful band..that he was onto something big and would take it as far as it could go...
With that in mind of his creative control, he edited the NYC news press conference and not shown in its entirety but a clip of it to make a point (a vaild one nevertheless about what Led Zep were about vs. The Beatles)..and the Old Grey Whistle Test interview was a swipe at Robert Plant when the interviewer asked if Robert Plant would ever go solo...
Anyone into rock music BOTH old and new knows that many of todays bands and previous bands emulate their sound and image but cannot possibly capture the whole package that was Led Zeppelin who were in a different era that cannot be recaptured which made it all special as evidenced on this DVD. This finally is a lasting testament to what Led Zeppelin is and will always be...
Best video footage quality has to be Earls Court 1975 the close ups of the band and intimacy of the Led Zep III songs on stage is next best thing to being there...
Knebworth was a worthy addition and interesting to see the transition from Earls Court 1975 to Knebworth 1979...seeing Robert Plant older, the entire band looking older..still great stuff but felt like they were performing as a stadium act and not the imtimacy seen in the other performances on the DVD but still good nontheless...there was tension in the band and Robert was getting restless and bored and times were changing in '79...Robert saw the writing on the wall unfortunatly the band didnt see it soon enough in 1980...
Lets hope the Zeppelin members fly again now that Jimmy, Robert AND Jonesy have patched things up...the Stones are full steam ahead today...we may see Zeppelin fly again or a Page/Plant/Jones trio win the west once more...
Movie Review: Been a Long Time....
Summary: 5 Stars
For anyone who really likes Led Zeppelin this is a must have. The sound is beyond expectations and is great. To actually see them on the screen and in action thru the 70's is both interesting and redeeming for long time fans and finally shows what they were like for the rest of the world to see... The extras on the DVD: Amusing to sum up but good stuff...particularly the Communication Breakdown promo...with Bonzo doing the drumstick twirl and Robert Plant going up to the camera all wide eyed making silly faces while they all lip synch the words in a small studio room...in what could have passed for an amusing Led Zeppelin Music Video..
When you hear and see Zeppelin one must be reminded that Jimmy Page is always the master and controls all aspects of Zeppelins sound and how its to be presented...its his baby you might say and who can blame him when he knew back in '68 the band formed were a truly tight and powerful band..that he was onto something big and would take it as far as it could go...
With that in mind of his creative control, he edited the NYC news press conference and not shown in its entirety but a clip of it to make a point (a vaild one nevertheless about what Led Zep were about vs. The Beatles)..and the Old Grey Whistle Test interview was a swipe at Robert Plant when the interviewer asked if Robert Plant would ever go solo...
Anyone into rock music BOTH old and new knows that many of todays bands and previous bands emulate their sound and image but cannot possibly capture the whole package that was Led Zeppelin who were in a different era that cannot be recaptured which made it all special as evidenced on this DVD. This finally is a lasting testament to what Led Zeppelin is and will always be...
Best video footage quality has to be Earls Court 1975 the close ups of the band and intimacy of the Led Zep III songs on stage is next best thing to being there...
Knebworth was a worthy addition and interesting to see the transition from Earls Court 1975 to Knebworth 1979...seeing Robert Plant older, the entire band looking older..still great stuff but felt like they were performing as a stadium act and not the imtimacy seen in the other performances on the DVD but still good nontheless...there was tension in the band and Robert was getting restless and bored and times were changing in '79...Robert saw the writing on the wall unfortunatly the band didnt see it soon enough in 1980...
Lets hope the Zeppelin members fly again now that Jimmy, Robert AND Jonesy have patched things up...the Stones are full steam ahead today...we may see Zeppelin fly again or a Page/Plant/Jones trio win the west once more...