The Beatles Anthology
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Movie Reviews of The Beatles Anthology
Movie Review: Quite unbelievable!
Summary: 5 Stars
So much to say, so little space. Of course, I bought the VHS version when it came out in 1996, and it was great. I thought, even back then, that the sound was a bit disappointing, a bit thin. When I found out it was coming out on DVD, I was somewhat apprehensive. After all, A Hard Day's Night was a tremendous disappointment, sound wise. It was hyped to be in 5.1 Surround, but was actually mono, and hollow, thin mono to boot.So I started with the bonus disc, and I was absolutely blown away. You get extensive footage of the three together, talking, reminising, playing (WOW!). You got a bit of that in the original anthology, but just in snippets. Now, you really get a sense of their time together on this, and of them working together on the two new songs. Plus, you get, for the first time, the Real Love video mixed in 5.1 Surround. Absolutely incredible!!!
This is 81 minutes of pure heaven for the Beatles fan, and this DVD alone is worth the price of the set. There really are no words that can do it justice. One can't help but imagine what it would have been like had John Lennon still been alive when they did this.
Then I worked my way through the original Anthology. Over the years, I've watched the Anthology a number of times, so I'm fairly familiar with the material, and the sound, which, as I mentioned, I thought a bit thin on the VHS version. As I put on the first DVD, I told myself not to overexpect, that they probably just took the sound from the VHS and transferred it to DVD.
Well, I was wrong!!! Almost all of the music has been remixed in true 5.1 Surround. I couldn't believe it!! Of course, the picture quality is outstanding, but I expected that (however, there are segments where certain cuts of video are very dirty, and I don't really understand that).
But it's the music that really blew me away. Some of the biggest surprises:
1. A TRUE surround stereo remix of I Am The Walrus, FROM BEGINNING TO END!!! I always thought that in the middle of the song, where it switches to rechanneled stereo on the original, it was impossible to ever get a stereo mix becuase they took sounds from a live radio broadcast during mixdown. But even the radio broadcast is panned from left to right in the rear speakers. Also, the strings and horns are in stereo, and believe me, I've heard things I've NEVER heard before...and I bet I've listened to that song a thousand times.
2. At the very end of the Anthology, there is a short snippet of Sie Liebt Dich, IN TRUE STEREO, with one guitar in either channel. Maybe there's still a chance we will get to hear a decent stereo version of She Loves You.
3. A sadly too short edit of Got To Get You Into My Life. Any audiophile Beatles fan knows that on the original stereo version, Ringo drums are pretty much buried in the left channel. On this remix, Ringo's drums are FRONT AND CENTER and MUCH LOUNDER!!! I got goosebumps on the tom roll that I always struggled to hear. As I said, such a pity it is so short.
I'm only giving three highlights of an unending parade of Beatle songs, mostly edits, that surprise with the Surround remix. It's an unbelievably wonderful experience.
I'm not neccessarily advocating releasing all the Beatles' music in 5.1 Surround, but what this shows is that the quality of the sound we've been hearing on the old CDs is woefully inadequate. All the songs from Revolver that are featured here are simply an incredible upgrade in sound from the CD; there is no comparision.
As great as this DVD set is, in the final analysis, what the Beatles were really about is the music. Capital/EMI, it is time that you stepped up to the plate and give us Beatles fans what we deserve: the absolute best stereo sound that is now available. We now know, thanks to this DVD, how much better our precious Beatles albums can sound. We are counting on you to finally deliver it.
For the fans, if you thought that paying one hundred bucks for the VHS version of the Anthology was enough, think again. The amazing clarity and detail of both the video and audio on this DVD set makes it well worth the investment. Buy it, watch it, listen to it on a good home audio system, and I'm sure you will agree.
Movie Review: The official documentary of the legendary Beatles
Summary: 5 Stars
Many Beatles fans who own the three double-disc Anthology CD's,and of course the original releases of their albums,own VHS or DVD copies of the official documentary of this rock 'n roll legendary band. Paul McCartney,Ringo Starr and George Harrison tell all their fans about how they made it big in their native Liverpool,the rest of England,America and other countries as well. When they came along,it was Goodbye,Elvis. Too bad John Lennon didn't live to tell stories also. Here is the life histories of all four Beatles. Well,until the band broke up. Many believe that Lennon's widow Yoko Ono and McCartney's first now-deceased wife Linda Eastman broke up the Beatles. George and Ringo were married men themselves at the time of the break-up. This is definitely a revision and update of the 1964 Capitol Records album THE BEATLES STORY. Ringo became the Beatles drummer after Pete Best was fired. Previously,Ringo was the drummer for Rory Storme and the Hurricanes. John,Paul and George performed together under several different names such as John & The Moondogs and Silver Beatles and then The Beatles. John told a story about how he and Paul met in the 1988 Warner Bros. documentary IMAGINE-THE DEFINITIVE PORTRAIT OF JOHN LENNON. The Beatles became teen idols just like their American Capitol Records labelmates The Beach Boys. Their fame and fortunes led to a short film career,making the films A HARD DAY'S NIGHT,HELP! and MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR. Controversy arose in 1966,when Lennon told an audience that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus Christ". This outraged many fans,inspiring a bonfire in Alabama. Fans placed their Beatles memorabilia into the bonfire and saying things like "The Beatles are dull and ordinary.". Lennon later apologized for the outrageous comment. Lennon meant no harm in saying that. So the Beatles quit touring and spent all their business time in the studio,experimenting with new sounds. Harrison,joined forces with an Indian man named Ravi Shankar and studied the sitar. He developed an interest in Indian music and culture. Hey,he took an Indian woman to be his second wife. His first wife,Patti Boyd dumped him for his best friend Eric Clapton. Lennon married his college sweetheart Cynthia Powell and had a son,Julian now aged 42 and a rock star himself. In '68,John and Cynthia divorced and John romantically hooked up with Tokyo-born Yoko Ono(John and Yoko first met in '66 when Yoko was married to her second American husband). In '69,John and Yoko married several days after Paul and Linda Eastman tied the knot. Ringo married now-deceased Maureen Cox in '65. They were divorced long before Ringo married actress Barbara Bach in 1981. Ringo is an actor also,appearing in a few films over the years. The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein died of a drug overdose in 1967 and the band were negotiating on who will replace him. Paul McCartney suggested his father-in-law manage the group and the other three Beatles suggested Allen Klein. George Martin continued to produce the band's music through 1970 when the band broke up. Since the break-up all four Beatles have had successful solo careers. Paul formed Wings with Linda and some new people. John,who was murdered in 1980 at age 40 in New York City where he last lived,has formed a short-lived Plastic Ono Band,with Yoko of course. George co-founded the Traveling Wilburys with Jeff Lynne,Bob Dylan,Tom Petty and the late Roy Orbison. Ringo formed his All-Starr Band with various musicians joining and leaving. Harrison succumbed to lung cancer in 2001 at age 58. I dedicate this item to the memories of Lennon and Harrison. Lynne,formerly the frontman for the Electric Light Orchestra,produced the two most recent Beatles' songs,FREE AS A BIRD and REAL LOVE. Those songs were both 75% original,with Lennon's previously recorded vocal,circa 1977. Also,many Beatles fans own the literary "coffee table" counterpart,authored by all four Beatles.Movie Review: Very well done by people who care: Paul , George and Ringo
Summary: 5 Stars
Different people have different favorite Beatle 'periods'. Many early Beatlemaniacs in the U.S. (Feb 9, 1964+) fell out when the band went Rubber Soul/Revolver. Too weird for them. That was probably true in other parts of the world as well. Some couldn't take "I am the Walrus" and "Strawberry Fields". Some didn't (re)discover The Beatles until Sgt Pepper. Others didn't accept them as rockers til the White album. So many mourned and cursed their demise as a band in 1970. Many fans weren't born until after they broke up. Many fans are yet to be born. A whole country (England) and many parts of Europe made them superstars before North America had any inkling they even existed. A relative handful (Liverpool) raved on them before all the hoopla started anywhere else. Other early, pre-fame fans (Hamburg, Germany) banged on the stage in appreciation when The Beatles were leather-clad hard rockers, pounding out 50's rock n' roll, high on beer and speed. Later, many innocents who had known them as cute pop-stars were shocked to discover The Beatles had this 'rough and rude' history. Some people never realized (or will realize) how profoundly The Beatles and their studio hands changed the record and recording industries, in so many different ways. They were the ultimate music industry revolutionaries, playing a large role also in changing the culture of large parts of the planet, their impact still reverberating to this day.
This DVD covers all that and more, in very much detail. And for that reason it serves well as a true historical document (albeit filtered somewhat through the Beatles self-serving filters). John was oftentimes cruel and would rag on Beatles manager Brian Epstein, but as quickly turn around and write him..."you know I love you". Paul was very ambitious and could be pushy and smarmy, but he was the best musician and most creative Beatle. George was sarcastic, paranoid and preachy, but introduced the band, and the West to Indian music and culture. Ringo did not like to be challenged as a drummer, but was the glue that held the band together. Together, their efforts threw hot sparks of powerful, creative energy into the minds of countless people of varied backgrounds all over the world.
In Anthology you don't get the entire '64 Washinton DC, or '65 Shea, or '66 Budokan concerts, or all of all the other shows, or every last unseen video, but you get well more than enough to satisfy: many, many excellent quality films/videos, and you see much, much newsreel footage, some of it rare, all in one place. Heck, I even noticed a couple scenes of their '66 visit to my hometown stadium. And of course you get the band members themselves in interviews from past and current times(minus John, of course for the current interviews).
If you're looking for 'just the tunes' look elsewhere. But if you want the tunes and the story behind the phenomenon of the Beatles, from the Beatles themselves, this is it.
Unless you have read some of the better, noteworthy Beatles biographies, these DVDs will fill you in on the Beatles' story. Especially noteworthy, to me anyway, are the scenes in 94/95 when "The Threetles" hang out and we see how they personally relate to each other. It seems possible towards the end that George may be experiencing health issues and there is genuine emotion glimpsed. And Ringo opens his heart before the cameras and Paul and George and just plain states that he loves them and loves being with them. (He gets a little noogie and inside-joke from Paul). The recording of "Free As a Bird" is in so many ways sad, in tone, in execution and simply because John is not really there. Maybe in spirit he is. His loss is reflected in the ghostly quality of the recording and just leaves you to wonder...what if?
Movie Review: TOTALLY AWESOME!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Not many people my age like the Beatles, but I happen to love them. I have the VHS Anthology, but I have watched one of the videos every night for a few months now! These videos rock (literally) and the viewer really gets to see the personality of each Beatle in the interviews; George always says the truth (he rocks!!!), John is serious about mostly everything (after they broke up, anyway!), Paul sees the funny side of things, and Ringo does too. Most of my family enjoys their music, and I got it from my mom! They're pretty much the only music we listen to.
Anyway, in my opinion, the most interesting videos in the set are numbers 2, 5, 7 and 8 (even though #8 is so sad!). If you watch the difference of the members (especially John) between video 2 and video 7/8, it is absolutely crazy how different they seem! My mom and I think that if John hadn't found Yoko, he would never had left the Beatles, but that's just what we think!
Video 1 is mostly about the very beginning of the band, when John was pretty much the leader and George got barely any credit. Poor George! (He is my absolute favorite out of the four of them.) It's also about George, Paul, John, and Ringo's family and childhood.
Video 2 is about their early songs; Please Please Me, Love Me Do, Do You Want To Know A Secret, Twist And Shout, etc. It is very funny because there are tracks of mess-ups in the songs (mostly made by John.)! It cracks me up!
Video 3 is about the other early-ish songs; All My Loving, that kind of thing. It includes the premiere of A Hard Day's Night (the film).
Video 4 is when the songs are nearly all the ones they write, not some other songwriters! Finally, George gets more songs and credit! Also includes Yesterday and Help!
Video 5 is very interesting, and my favorite; it includes videos of Day Tripper, We Can Work It Out, and at the end it has the videos for Rain and Paperback Writer. They really begin to change in this video!
Video 6 is another interesting one, in which they play Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane, with odd, wierd videos to suit them. In this they almost buy a Greek island. Who knew?!
Video 7 is one of my favorites. It talks about the movie Magical Mystery Tour (Note: Crazy movie!), and has a video from of I Am The Walrus. It also talks about when they went to India for meditation. (I like this video because in that time, George had a lot of songs!) Some of the songs include Across The Universe (Love it), Dear Prudence, etc. Kinda sad, though, because they are about to break up in about a year. :(
Video 8 (so sad!!) is.....very sad. But in a good way, somehow! It begins with the White Album songs (sad even then!), and then talks about their many arguments, and fighting and whatnot. Then it gets really sad; they begin to break up as John meets Yoko/ brings her to every recording session, and even George and Paul argue! How rare is that?! It seems like George and Paul and Ringo (maybe) wouldn't had minded if the band stayed together, but John left and there were lots of recording sessions without him.
The saddest part has to be the Free As A Bird video (made recently), or just how they present the songs from Let It Be and The White Album. Noooo! I really extremely wish they never had broken up. Even so, they will ALWAYS be better than any band in the past, present, and future. I guarantee you!!! This video/dvd set is the same; it will ALWAYS be better than any other one in the past, present, or future!!!
Believe me; if you like the Beatles, BUY IT!!! I have watched it (literally) one hundred times and still are not bored with it! Thank you, and have a very Beatle-filled night.
Movie Review: The Greatest Documentary of any Band
Summary: 5 Stars
This is by far the greatest documentary on any band, that I've ever seen, and for ten plus hours it better be. Most people may think that this is too long, however, when watching this the time just flies by. Although there is a seemingly endless amount of information, The Beatles Anthology is very enjoyable. It gives the most detailed look at the greatest band in the history of rock n' roll, from their perspective. Nobody could tell the story better than the Beatles themselves, and finally the world gets to see them. For those who saw this when it was on T.V., the DVD's have over 4 more hours of extra footage. Much of this stuff is great clips of Beatle performances and extension of topics that were already mentioned on the T.V. version. Some of the new footage is an entirely new topic altogether, which makes the DVD's all that much better.
The Beatles Anthology has everything a fan could ask for. From Ringo's birth in 1940, to the end in 1970, the remaining Beatles (along with George Martin and others) talk about pretty much everything they could remember from those turbulent years. And lets not forget the music. Not only does the band talk about the songs we also get to hear them, isn't that UNBELIEVABLE. Well not really, but it is cool, and we get to see them perform many of their most famous ones along with countless others. For me, episode five does the best job of this, and it's also what I believe to be the best episode. It takes place during the height of Beatlemania, and starts off with the famous She Stadium performance in 1965. From here, the performances just keep on coming. Throughout the entire episode there are great performances of classic songs, along with detailed of accounts events and the making of their albums. My only real big gripe about the whole set actually happens to be in episode five, and it is about Revolver. Lately this has been considered one of the greatest albums of all time, and all that is really mentioned about it is just two or three of the songs. Otherwise, everything's good. The other episode I found to be very good, was the first one. I didn't expect to really like this one too much, but it is very good. In the other episodes the Beatles were stars, but in this one, they are just beginning and it is interesting to see the types of things they went through in trying to make it.
The Beatles Anthology is perfect for a big fan of the Beatles. For the casual fan that would like to know their story, I would probably think about getting the Complete Beatles first, if you can find it. However, for the person who thinks it is time to really get into this remarkable band, this is definitely needed. Once you get this, you shouldn't be surprised if you spend all day watching it. The Beatles are classic in just about everyway; from the way they worked their way to the top, to the music they made, this is their story.