Shine a Light
|
List Price: Our Price: $3.95 You Save: $16.04 (80%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $2.00 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Shine a Light
Movie Review: A can't-miss show you can easily not miss
Summary: 5 Stars
I do love me some Stones, but I admit I didn't see this in the theatres, nor was I entirely certain what it was about. I knew it was Scorsese and that there would be plenty of concert footage, but that's true of the Last Waltz too, and that was much more than a concert film. "Shine a Light" is the gem that answers the question, "How much would I like to have the best seat in the house at a Stones club concert?" The boys may have been a lot more relevant when they made "Gimme Shelter," but you simply can't deny the quality of concert filming possible these days, with advanced audio recording, multi-cameras on tracks, digital film editing, 5.1 sound... getting copies of these even at full retail is just a ridiculous steal for the experience.
Plenty of other reviewers talk about the performances, which are fantastic, and prove that unlike athletes, musicians never really get too old to do their thing. This film illustrates better than ever how hard Mick Jagger works when he gives a concert. That man is relentless.
But I want to move on to technical comments. The sound is very interesting and beguiling. The first thing you notice is that the overall blend sounds great. The second is that it is the most pro-Keith live audio I've ever heard. He clearly has his own channel in the master tapes, and you can clearly hear everything he plays and sings. Thanks to the wonders of home theatre these days, you can also always get a clean read on the bassline. But every other instrument seems subject to whether or not Scorsese wants you to hear it. It's like outside of Mick and Keith he's constantly moving around the volume to the featured notes and then mixing them back down. You can't hear Ronnie Wood half the time. And the person who gets the worst treatment is Charlie Watts, who you can barely hear the whole time, and what you can hear is not miked well. Overall, I like it better than most Stones audio, but it has its oddities.
Visually, I don't know how he does it, but Scorsese's concert film technique is fantastic. He's got the same look as the Last Waltz again... sharp light that manages to never be harsh, spotlights through the smoke creating art in the air. The film editing is amazing, flipping from one angle to the next on the same person but perfectly synced and not jarring. It's better than a front-row seat... it's a constantly moving best seat in the house.
Great stuff. No wonder people rave.
Movie Review: BEST FILM EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Summary: 5 Stars
SIMPLY PUT, I LOVED THIS FILM AND ITS SOUNDTRACK!!!! You can not treat yourself to a better experience than this! From the opening introductory vignettes to the dazzling ending, I was just mesmerized. I'm not the world's biggest Rolling Stones fan, though I am a fan of their music (not so much their lifestyles), and I have never been able to see them live, but this has to be the next best thing! I was completely wowed by the stunning visual angles used in this movie, and felt that the soundtrack was an incredible overview of an amazing career. I saw the movie four times, including in two different IMAX theatres and each time saw and heard new things!
The Rolling Stones are quite an amazing group of people and watching their chemistry onstage was just awesome. I've seen a lot of rock concerts up close, and this one compares most favorably! What charisma these guys have, even in their sixties!!!! Everyone knows their musical and songwriting talent which spans decades, but watching this birds-eye view of their performing skills will knock you out. Every member of this group seems to have such a unique and interesting performance personality, and their intriguing on stage relationships with each other only add to the excitement. Buddy Guy, Jack White and Christina Aguilera were also amazing, each in his or her own right, providing clever and unusual foils for Mick jagger and Keith Richards. I will never forget the trancelike expression on Buddy Guy's face as he traded guitar exchanges with Keith and vocal lines with Mick. Even Keith Richards was clearly moved, as he gave Guy the guitar he had just finished playing at the end of the song. Maybe my favorite moment though, was the explosive introduction of Mick Jagger into the theatre during the introduction to Sympathy for the Devil. Gives me goosebumps thinking about it!
Even the backing members of this band were a true joy to watch and hear. Each an accomplished musician/vocalist, they added a depth and range to this experience that I don't think I've ever seen in a live performance before. Even if it is too late to catch this masterpiece in IMAX, see it on the big screen if you can. See it more than once if you can!!!! You will be amazed at the details you may have missed the first time around. I think I am first in line for the DVD and will watch it many, many times.
Movie Review: Satisfaction Indeed
Summary: 5 Stars
This film begins with a farcical look at preparations for the upcoming Beacon Theatre show in New York but once the Stones storm the stage it's all about the music. From the opening notes of Jumping Jack Flash it's clear this music is in their blood. Whether it's Ronny's machine gunning the audience with the neck of his guitar. Or, the anger in Mick's face when he burst on stage ripping into Jumping Jack Flash, everything about this band says "let's go!"
While it's mostly lesser known '70's era songs, there are the '60's classics as well. Sadly, the most recent release is '83's "She was Hot", with Ms. Lisa Fischer and Mick gyrating wildly to this song. It's much better live.
The three cameos are good. Jack White is adequate. But it's Buddy Guy and Christina Aguilera stealing the show. During Guy's cameo, "Champagne and Reefer", we see Keith and Buddy's duelling guitar act. Then, Ronnie on third guitar and Mick on harmonica, all four legends standing in a circle, toe to toe tearing the house down. Ms. Aguilera surprisingly belts out the duet on "Live with Me" that should make any queen of soul proud.
The Beacon Theatres' intimacy is magnified during "Far Away Eyes", when Keith botches the lyrics and a fan ribs him. He laughs back "Shut up". Fans should watch for several instances of clever reworking of some lyrics. The preacher in Far Away Eyes now asks for twenty dollars, up from ten. Inflation I guess.
Martin Scorese's best known rock documentary is "The Last Waltz". It was the final performance of Dylan's former touring band, "The Band" in 1976. His latest foray into rock documentaries is a resounding success. He does a wonderful job interweaving obscure ancient clips of interviews and performances of the Stones, bringing perspective to their amazing longevity.
The last song of the encore is "Satisfaction". Near the end it sounds as if Charlie is about to lift the song onto a new level and continue to rock on, but it turns out to be a classy way to end a classic. Satisfaction indeed.
Movie Review: The Living Embodiment of the Spirit of Rock and Roll !
Summary: 5 Stars
Just saw the movie in IMAX. What an amazing and phenomenal experience ! So much energy, so much joy, such incredibly vibrant music. Anyone who thinks they are too old, is missing the point. Yes they are scary looking, but their music, performance and soul has aged perfectly. Like fine wine that only gets better the older it gets.
As I watched them I felt I was watching the living embodiment of the spirit of Rock & Roll. Forget the Plastic Four and any other recent contenders, they can't hold a candle to the Stones.
What came across was their enjoyment of the music, the audience and each other. They were having fun, and as simply the best at what they do. They have such musical depth, as well as talent and skill: jazz, blues, country, as well as rock. You could listen and watch forever.
The film was done so well. The concert footage was exciting, and made you feel that you were there. You were also up close with the band. The sound was great, the movie brought the concert into the movie theater.
The movie was mostly focused on the concert in NYC, but there were also clips of past concerts, TV appearances and interviews. It was so funny and it brought out their sly wit and wry outlook very well. The clips were seamlessly integrated and complemented their musical presence. Great job Marty !
Even though I have just seen it, I want to go again, and I can't wait for the DVD. Hopefully it will have all kinds of background goodies. Oh, and I can't wait for the Stones to hit the road again. If you get a chance, go to see them in concert. Its the best show you will ever see (and Marty has captured it).
My only complaint is that they waited until the end to use the song, Shine A Light, it was played over the start of the credits. But it stopped in the middle of the song. Boo. It should have kept playing until it was done (the credits were long enough).
Movie Review: The Harley Davidson of Rock 'n' Roll
Summary: 5 Stars
Several years ago, when the Rolling Stones were scheduled to come to town, The Wife suggested we should go to a Stones concert just once before we die. While that is a great item for a bucket list, the prospect of vast crowds and traffic, late hours, and music too loud was too much for me.
Last year we fulfilled this dream after all. Sort of. There were no crowds or traffic, the show was just before one in the afternoon, the music was loud but not painful, and and it was better than any concert I've ever seen.
*ANY* concert.
After 5 or 10 minutes of setup footage on Scorsese, Mick Jagger comes on. At the first notes of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" I felt a thrill rush up my spine and into my head. It didn't stop for two hours, it just went on and on. I had tears on my cheeks - it was that good.
There were so many details so incredibly well done; it was exhausting. Every time Keith Richards would hit a certain chord for emphasis, the camera would single him out of the chaos just then: you'd hear it and see it as if it were the only thing on the screen; then the chaos again. The camera angles were amazing. The closeups unbelievable. The cutting and moving was fast but linear and clean.
There were calm moments as well. Like at the end of one set, when - almost unnoticed - Richards gives away his guitar to Buddy Guy. What a thing to see.
All the music I've heard hundreds of times over 45 years seemed like it was new again. And powerful. For the first time, I imagined musical instruments could be lethal weapons.
Even the final shot left me gasping - How did they DO that?!"
It's one of the top 4 theater experiences of my life. ("Jaws" is #1. You had to be there. And "Psycho" -- when you don't know what's coming -- is #3.)
"Shine A Light" (IMAX) - Grade: A+
== PT