Amazon.com

After more than a decade of false starts and several potential directors, the popular Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical finally made it to the big screen with Alan Parker (The Commitments) at the helm and Madonna in the coveted title role of Argentina's first lady, Eva Perón. A triumph of production design, costuming, cinematography, and epic-scale pageantry, the film follows the rise of Eva Perón to the level of supreme social and political celebrity in the 1940s.Like Madonna, Perón was a material girl (she was only 33 when she died); she was instrumental in the political success of her husband, Juan Perón (Jonathan Pryce). But Eva was also a supremely tragic figure whose life was essentially hollow at its core despite the lavish benefits of her nearly goddess-like status. The film has a similar quality--it's visually astonishing but emotionally distant, and benefits greatly from the singing commentary of Ché (Antonia Banderas), who serves as a passionate chorus to guide the viewer through the elaborate parade of history. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (168)

A great adaptation of the stage musical
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's and Tim Rice's musical telling of the life of Eva Peron successfully makes the leap from stage to screen. Alan Parker ably directs a fine cast, which includes Antonio Banderas as Ché, Jonathan Pryce as Juan Peron, and Madonna as Eva Peron. The acting and the voice work are very good, and Madonna surprises you with her talent.

The music is equally wonderful, keeping the rock opera feel of the original stage show. Also, the new song "You Must Love Me," written by Sir Andrew and Tim Rice, flows nicely with the original music and won a deserved Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Costumes, acting, sets, visuals and music all combine to create a great movie experience. A note of caution to some, though: this is sung through with very little spoken dialoque. I remember seeing this in the theater and listening to some people complain about it and walk out of the movie. Stick with it, and you will definitely enjoy it!!

Flawed, but still excellent, adaptation.
Watching the movie of Evita was my first real experience with the musical, and that puts it in a different light for me, I suppose, than with many others. The points I make, though, I still think are valid.

The casting of this movie was quite good...the stars of the show pulled off their roles magnificently. Antonio Banderas, in the lead as the narrator, Ché, sung surprisingly well. He also acted out the part superbly. While he's no Colm Wilkinson, there's an undeniable charm to his portrayal. Even with the abbreviated material he's given to work with, he pulls it off with style, which says something for a role with magnificent performances by Colm and by David Essex. He's not vocally better than either, but he plays the part to a T, and his songs seem HONEST. Also, he's a better Ché than Mandy Patinkin, but I suppose anybody who tried to actually play the part would be.

Madonna is the surprise of this movie. She sings quite well, and given the rock feel of the show, is fairly appropriate for the part of Eva Peron. She's also visually very similar to photographs of Eva, and looks very convincing after the scenes where she is supposed to be young. However...the point of the musical is that Eva Peron is a manipulative (rhymes with witch). Madonna scared me here by seeming VERY sympathetic to her character. Still, her performance is excellent, if not up to Antonio Banderas's. Jonathan Pryce put in an outstanding performance as Peron, too.

A caveat emptor: the musical was actually made less harsh for the movie version, so that it could be filmed in Argentina. It was very nearly worth it...not entirely, mind you, and the addition of "You Must Love Me" seemed entirely out of place in a musical about a man and a woman who mutually USE each other. Still, her "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" was manipulative to the audience just as the speech was meant to be to the crowd. And the two Ché tours de force, "Oh What a Circus" and "High Flying, Adored" are more or less in tact, and done wonderfully. The re-adaptation of "The Lady's Got Potential" was excellent, and "And the Money Kept Rolling In" was toned down a lot, but Banderas had a LOT of fun in the number.

The movie's worth seeing if you like Evita, or are thinking you might be getting into it. Don't watch for Madonna's big numbers, watch for her and Banderas performing, for once, like they really mean it.

Madonna did fine...admit it!
Don't Cry for me Argintina was the song that got me into musicals and so I have always loved Evita. In my opinion Madonna did quite an excellent job playing Eva. Most of you have a problem with her because she is Madonna. I am not a fan of what she does outside this movie, but I will defend her performance in this movie. She was not off-key at all and I have never heard Elaine Paige or anyone else sing "Don't Cry for me Argintina" with such emotion and clearness. She was Eva standing up singing that song. "You must Love Me" was another beautiful song that I have never heard been done better. When I heard Elaine Paige wailing these two songs on PBS I had to shut it off, she wasn't bad and she is a good singer, but when it comes to Evita no one can top Madonna. This movie was unfotunately hammered by critics and got a bad wrap.

Don't Cry For Us at the Ocars
Now first let me state that this one of my favorite movies. I have also researched into the life of Eva Peron. The movie is about 95% true. Madonna stars in movie as the title role of Evita. This movie is the story of Argentina's former first lady, Eva Peron. This film starts from the end and then goes from beginning to end. It shows how she went to Buenos Aires with a tango singer. It shows hows Eva took on lovers to get jobs, and even helped her husband, who is played by Jonathan Pryce, get the presidency for 2 terms. She and her husband did have 2 weddings, one was in a church and one was a civil ceremony. Eva also traveled while she was first lady. She got woman the right to vote. She also did start a foundation. She did help build houses, hopitals, and schools. When her husband went for his 2nd term as president, the people rallied for her to be vice-president. Eva Peron did had many Christain Dior, over 100 furs, and a jewelry collection comparable to Cleopatra's. Sadly, Evita died when she was just 33, of uterine cancer. This movie won some Acadmeny awards and a gloden globe, I believe

Wonderful to watch but unfulfilling
One of the interesting sidelights to this movie is the fact that Oliver Stone wrote part of the screenplay. While watching it I kept wondering what part? Stone, whose edgy, over the top indictments of oppression, corruption and especially military stupidity, wouldn't seem to be one to celebrate the elevation of Eva Peron to something close to sainthood, which is what this movie does. Maybe all his work ended up on the cutting room floor. Or maybe it was obscured by Andrew Lloyd Webber's music. Certainly we do not see the decamisados (Peron's version of his friend Mussolini's Blackshirts) torturing anyone, and although the "disappeared" are mentioned in passing, there is no retrospective that allows us to see just how widespread and horrific were the murders committed by the Peronists.

Anyway, Madonna, who certainly fits the part like a glove, stars as Evita, and she gives the performance of her life. Yet somehow it is unconvincing, or I should say, somehow the film doesn't really get to the essence of the woman who rose from poverty to the pinnacle of power in Argentina, a woman extravagantly loved by the common people of Argentina even while she was a party to the fascist oppression. I don't think this is Madonna's fault. Her voice is good, not great, of course, but her dramatic skills are very much in evidence, skills that have always been underrated, although I'm not sure why. If you watch her in this and in Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) you can see that she has a range easily exceeding that of most actresses. I think that ironically it is the very quality of common origin and common appeal that the Argentines so loved in Evita that the critics hold against Madonna.

Antonio Banderas plays Che, who narrates and attempts to objectify the events while symbolizing both Evita's alter-ego and the man who would really be her proper mate were it not for her rapacious political appetite. Che's character and his dramatic role (from the play by Tim Rice) is perhaps the most important artistic achievement of the musical after Webber's beautiful and inspiring music. Banderas is winning and enormously vivid in the part, and he sings well and expressively.

Jonathan Pryce plays Peron with more dignity and humanity than history might allow. His sensitivity as an actor combined with a modest demeanor seemed to me so unrealistic as to be almost a miscasting. Yet he is perhaps as compelling as anyone on the screen and he certainly looked the part. Interesting is Jimmy Nail as the cabaret singer Magaldi. He combines sleazy good looks with a kind of vulnerable persona that seems exactly right.

Well, what can be said about the music except that it is one of Webber's great triumphs and so very typical of his work. It is beautiful, stirring, moving, enchanting and memorable. Who can forget the haunting, plaintive refrain of "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" or the gorgeous simplicity of "You Must Love Me"? While Madonna's voice would not fill up a concert hall or take her by itself to the Broadway stage, she does an outstanding job with Webber's songs. A natural performer (Madonna's key talent), her expressive interpretations range from the ordinary to the transfixing. I very much enjoyed her efforts and predict that critics in the future will be kinder to her than today's critics.

The ending seemed too drawn out and then when the screen faded to black and the credits began to run it seemed almost abrupt and without resolution. I also did not like the way that Madonna (38 at the time) seemed no younger in the earlier scenes with her hair dyed pitch black. I think director Alan Parker should have given us more of an illusion of youth, perhaps spared her some of the closeups and fuzzed out the lines under her eyes. Strange how the golden blonde hair and exquisitely applied makeup in the remainder of the film made her look younger. All directors should know what Madonna learned many years ago: blonde hair usually makes a woman look younger because those with naturally light-colored hair are their blondest as children. Like big eyes and relatively big heads, blonde hair is a signal of youth that arrests our eyes.

Despite the flaws this is an engrossing cinematic experience, and for Madonna fans, Banderas fans, and in particular fans of Andrew Lloyd Webber, it is a film not to be missed. ... Read more

Reviews (92)

All in all, pretty lousy
Only the most die-hard Tim Roth fans will want to sit through this whole movie. Too bad the last two segments (I think they're the last two, anyway) are the only ones even remotely worth watching; that means you have to sit through the first two to get to them. Thank God for fast-forward!
The one with Madonna in it is about witches, and the only thing you can say about it is that it makes witches look like the most boring possible subject matter in the universe. Plus it stars Madonna. 'Nuff said.
Then there's one about a wife and her husband, with one of them tied to a chair or something. This one was so bad, I can't even remember anything else about it. And I only watched it three days ago! What does that tell you?
Thankfully, just when you're begging for someone to shut it off, along comes the third segment, a hilarious little film about two naughty children and the bellhop (Roth, who appears in each segment) who is bribed to keep an eye on them. When the source of the mysterious odor in the room is discovered, Roth's reaction almost justifies the whole movie's existence. I was still laughing hours later.
The last segment, by spoiled Hollywood wonderchild Quentin Tarantino, is okay. It has his trademark crackling dialogue (of course), and Q.T. has some fun with his own image. But too bad the entire segment itself is just one long, sick, unfunny joke.
Making this movie was not a very good idea, and the results were predictably foul. Even the always-enjoyable Roth seems out of place and you kind of feel sorry for him. But at least the "Misbehavers" segment, all by itself, redeems the experience. Almost.

Definitely not for everyone
If you are a hardcore Tarrantino fan, you'll probably like this. If you are a reserved, serious person, you probably won't. Pretty simple huh? Maybe not...

I'll break it down room by room. The first room is sort of just to give us the happy "Ted scored" feeling. Sometimes I'd really rather fast forward through this, as the script is sort of silly in this room. But overall, I've seen a lot worse, and remember, we're not taking this film seriously right?

The second room is the mistaken identity room that really shows off Tim Roth's ability to act. I have read other reviews that say he is horrible in this. I disagree completely. You can see every emotion the character feels pass across his face, which makes it very humorous. Jennifer Beals does a good job in this section, but like a lot of dialogue in Tarrantino films, you get the strict, rigid scripted feeling. In other words, the actors spit out this long line of gibberish that noone would really say in real life. People have to take the time to come up with these types of speeches.

The third room is probably the best, if not a little bit disturbing. I think everyone did a good job in this section, especially Tim Roth when he was aggravated by the children.

The fourth room seems to be plagued by bad acting. In my opinion, only Willis and Roth do a good job. Tarrantino is frightfully bad in his dialogue, and that scripted feeling comes back stronger than ever. Meanwhile, you'd be hard pressed to believe that anyone besides Willis is drunk. I think it was a bad case of overacting on the part of the others. Overall, its still worth watching, and the movie is great if for no other reason than Tim Roth (who is terrific in everything he is in -- See The Muskateer, as his acting is the only thing making the movie worthwhile).

Pulp Fiction(downtoned) + Kill Bill(downtoned)=Four Rooms
i love this movie i thought it was quite enjoyable.Tim Roth cracks me up when i watched this(his performance reminded me a lot of charlie chaplin) especially when he just walks and talks its quite strange but it was a great movie that i think any tarintino viewer would enjoy.

Not bad, and stop blaming Madonna!
With 4 directors and a cast of over 20 actors {all talented}, this movie was bound to flop. Antonio Banderez makes a great appearance and Madonna and Quentin Terentino {and} Bruce Willis were good too. The script seems confusing, the directors all have completely different views and styles, so it's confusing. But it is still funny, the bellhopper was excellent, really funny guy. Madonna, who was only in the first fifteen minutes, was blamed for the badness of the movie, stop hating just because she's one of the only people in this movie who don't cuss up a storm and stay fresh and to the point! And as for Quentin, it was a nice cameo, but you're a lot better behind the camera...

rather keep your good money
The more this Tarantino guy attempts to be sophisticated, the worse he fails. This inexplicably overrated, clumsy effort is even worse than Pulp Fiction. Packed with violence and poor taste, it sticks out like a sore thumb for its total lack of talent, humour, ideas. The film equivalent of a crapburger with 200 chili peppers (expired, too), it lets the amazingly childish ego of its director transpire from its every pore. And I don't tolerate such yobbo in my private living room. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Penny Marshall's popular 1992 comedy sheds light on a little-known chapter of American sports history with its story of a struggling team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The league was formed when the recruiting of soldiers during World War II resulted in a shortage of men's baseball teams. The AAGPBL continued after the war (until 1954), and Marshall's movie depicts the league in full swing, beginning when a savvy baseball scout (Jon Lovitz) finds a pair of promising new players in small-town Oregonian sisters (Geena Davis, Lori Petty). The sisters are signed to play for the Rockford Peaches near Chicago, whose new manager (Tom Hanks) is a former home-run king who wrecked his career with alcoholism. They're all a bunch of underdogs, and Marshall (with a witty script by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel) does a fine job of establishing a colorful team of supporting players including Madonna and (in her movie debut) Rosie O'Donnell. It's a conventional Hollywood sports story (Marshall's never been one to take dramatic risks), but the stellar cast is delightful, and the movie's filled with memorable moments, witty dialogue, and agreeable sentiment. And just remember: there's no crying in baseball! --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (114)

A League Of Their Own (1992)
What an amazing movie! This has to be my favorite Madonna movie, other than Body Of Evidence. It features an all star cast: Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Lori Petty, Rosie O'Donnell, Jon Lovitz, Garry Marshall, and Bill Pullman.

Geena Davis stars as Dottie Hinson and Lori Petty stars as Kit Keller, two adult sisters who play baseball on a minor team in Oregon of 1943. Dottie is a married woman, whose husband, Bob Hinson (played by Bill Pullman) is overseas fighting in the war that was going on at the time. Dottie is an excellent ball player. Kit is a bitter person who is always being treated like crap. After a game, the two are in their barn milking cows, where a scout by the name of Ernie Capadino (played by Jon Lovitz) walks in and offers them a to try out for the All American Girls Professional Baseball League (A.A.G.P.B.L.). Dottie wants nothing to do with it, but Kit knows that this could be big chance for the both of them, so Kit talks Dottie into going. While on the way to Chicago for the try outs, they pick up Marla Hooch, who is an excellent batter. The three finally make it to Chicago. While getting ready to try out, they meet gal pals Doris Murphy (played by Rosie O'Donnell) and Mae Mordabito (played by Madonna). They all are chose to a team: The Rockford Peaches.

Tom Hanks is in the role of Jimmy Dugan, who is a washed up ball player, who is called by Walter Harvey (played by Garry Marshall) to coach the Rockford Peaches.

The Peaches become a smash, winning every game there ever is, all because of their most popular play, Dottie. Kit is angered at this and is traded to another team: The Racine Belles.

The Peaches finally make to the last game of the season. Their opponents: The Racine Belles. Dottie and Kit are up against each other for one final time. Who will win the championship? The Peaches? Or The Belles? Watch this amazing movie, based on the actual events of the A.A.G.P.B.L. This is a movie that is guaranteed to make you watch it over and over again.

My Absolute Favorite
This has alway been my all time favorite movie! I remember my mom and I were in Blockbuster Video store when I was nine, and she and I couldn't find anything. Then, she saw "A League of Their Own," she told me that I would love this movie. And boy was she right. I have seen this movie over 50 times, I know the entire dialogue, the songs, every moment, I can rehash line for line right now if I wanted to. I think this movie had the most well-rounded cast in over a decade. Geena Davis was amazing as Dottie Henson; a person who loved the game very much, although she tried to pull off that she didn't. Lorri Petty's best role to date, as Kit Keller, Dottie's younger sister, whom is always stuck in Dottie's shadow. The chemistry between Petty and Davis is amazing, they work so well together, they were extremely believable. Tom Hanks was fantastic as the alcoholic, ex-baseball star Jimmy Dugan, which of course, his classic urinating seen is a total laugh. Madonna and Rosie had made the laughs of the film, they were wise cracking and hilarious.

I can go on and on about this film, and the problem is, I can't quite articulate how much I love this film, and why I love it so much. I've cried many times, especially the scene with Betty "Spighetti" and at the end of the World Series. I love this film, Penny Marshall is a Goddess. She chose the perfect actors, and the perfect score, especially Madonna's "Playground" which still makes me cry at the ending sequences. This movie observes a part of history that is ignored. Many to this day, have no idea about the professional baseball league, grant it, this movie "idealized" what really happened, but it made you proud. I think this is still a must-see of a movie, it is still my all-time favorite movie, and it has been for 11 years.

Brilliant film!!
This is one of my favourite films, it made me want to watch it again and again. With an all star cast including Geena Davis, Lotti perri and Tom Hanks, who give brilliant and funny performances. This film is funny,tear jerking and an all round good film. The storyline is brilliant and what more can i say....its definately worth buying!

Good movie but......
Who in the world in Tom Hanks supposed to be. I know he wasnt a real baseball player b/c he said he hit 487 homeruns for Mr Harvys ball team, i have never heard of the guy. Was his name chaged or something? Oh yeah and Harvy Field????? Can u say Wrigley Field. But besides the little things that only people who love baseball would find it is over all a good movie.

I think this is a great movie!
Well I'm biased because my cusin is in this movie. He dances with madonna in the bar sceen.. But I still think that it's a good movie. ... Read more

Product Description

This DVD compiles 14 Madonna videos from throughout the '90s. Track listings: Bad Girl * Fever * Rain * Secret * Take a Bow * Bedtime Story * Human Nature * Love Don't Live Here Anymore * Frozen * Ray of Light * Drowned World /Substitute for Love * The Power of Good-Bye * Nothing Really Matters * Beautiful Stranger. ... Read more

Reviews (137)

An incomplete "Collection"
This second video collection from Madonna only confirms that Ms. Ciccone is indeed the Queen of Pop and of the Music Video. The videos featured here are absolutely spectacular. From the motion picture quality of Bad Girl, to the gorgeous cinematography of Rain, to the out of this world bizarreness of Bedtime Story, to the hyper energy of Ray of Light, this is indeed a special collection. Unfortunately, it is also an incomplete collection. Among the glaring omissions are EROTICA, DEEPER AND DEEPER (both left off presumably due to their sexual content and innuendo), THIS USED TO BE MY PLAYGROUND, I'LL REMEMBER, YOU MUST LOVE ME, DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA (all left off presumably because they featured scenes from movies they did not have the rights to), and YOU'LL SEE (who knows why this wasn't included). I had the same complaint about the Immaculate Collection with its missing videos. What makes it even more aggravating is the fact that a video like LOVE DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE, which was a complete bomb as a single and is one of the most boring videos ever produced, did make the cut. Yes, it is a beautifully SHOT video, and the director is very "in" right now, but it still doesn't deserve a place over some of her bigger hits. For these reasons this collection earns 4 stars. Maybe someday we'll get to see a COMPLETE Madonna video collection.

Madonna - Queen of Videos
Yes, I miss the sorely deleted videos in this collection: "Erotica" (which I think is one of her best, especially the last few syllables in the song when she exerts "Eroti---CA" while coyly tweetering the whip), "You'll See", "Deeper and Deeper" (that opening with her in the Mercedes is classic and very LA) and even "I'll Remember" (yeah, it was a movie tie-in, but what do you think "Beautiful Stranger" is?). But one needs to remember the likewise forgotten cuts from "Immaculate Collection": "Gambler" "Into the Groove" "Justify My Love" Oh well. Regardless, this collection is a testament to Madonna's prowess and uncanny aptitude in making some of our generation's most unforgettable music videos. Her best video here are (in order): Rain, Bad Girl, Frozen, and Drowned World/Substitute for Love. Forget what Warner blasphemed here but celebrate the artist behind these videos!

A quick question and I'll be happy if anyone can answer this
What song/video is it where Madonna is dressed like a Geisha?

Good DVD
Just bought the video recently and this collection is pretty much OK. My favorite video is "Bedtime Story" because of the fact that it is loaded with awesome special effects. Bedtime story is no doubt one of her best videos. The graphics of "Ray of Light" can use a little enhancing. It's a shame that "Deeper and Deeper", and "I'll remember".

The Immaculate Video Collection Continued!
This is a wonderful DVD! I am so glad my favorite Madonna video of all-time, "Bad Girl", was on the DVD! But there were some videos missing on here, like "Deeper And Deeper", "I'll Remember", "You'll See", and "This Used To Be My Playground". But this is still a wonderful collection!

Bad Girl- I love this video! It is so beautiful! 5/5
Fever- Nice video, but not one of her best 2/5
Rain- Another beautiful video! 5/5
Secret- It's okay. 4/5
Take A Bow- My 2nd favorite video of all-time! 5/5
Bedtime Story- Yuck. 1/5
Human Nature- Cool video! 5/5
Love Don't Live Here Anymore- This is another beautiful video of Madonna's! 5/5
Frozen- I always loved this song/video! 5/5
Ray Of Light- Very cool video... This is some of her best work. 5/5
Drowned World/Substitute For Love- I never really liked the sng at first, but one day I decided to watch the video and it was very good. I also like the song now!
The Power Of Goodbye- Beautiful video! 5/5
Nothing Really Matters- I am not really crazy about this video, but it's okay. 3/5
Beautiful Stranger- Very funny video, especially the beginning! 5/5 ... Read more

Reviews (44)

An Excellent DVD !!
This is a must buy for all Madonna fans. The DVD is in standard format and contains 13 tracks. The sound quality is outstanding. The video tracks included are: Lucky Star, Borderline, Like A Virgin, Material Girl, Papa Dont Preach, Open Your Heart, La Isla Bonita, Like A Prayer, Express Yourself, Cherish, Oh Father, Vougue & a live performance of Vouge.

The DVD contains a video selection feature so you can jump right to your favorite video. Unfortunately, several videos were missing off of this collection. They were: Burning Up, Everybody, Dress You Up, Crazy For You, The Gambler, Into The Groove, Live To Tell, True Blue, Who's That Girl and Causing A Commotion.

I guess we will have to wait until Madonna releases a full video archive to obtain the complete collection.

The Ultimate Video Artist
Arguably the most influential video artist of the MTV generation, and the one to benefit most from MTV, was Madonna.
This collection is a companion piece of sorts to her CD of the same name, with a few differences here and there. Conspicuously absent are 'Live To Tell', 'True Blue', and 'Into The Groove'.
Early videos like 'Lucky Star' and 'Material Girl' come off a little dated, though still alot of fun to watch. Though all of the vidoes have a distinctive feel, the clutch of videos she produced for the LIKE A PRAYER album remain a benchmark in her videography, particularly the visually stunning 'Express Yourself' and the highly undervalued 'Oh Father'(which remains a creative high-point to this day). The sterling videoclip for 'Vogue' rounds out the set videowise, followed by an unnecessarily tacked-on (and lip-synched) performance of 'Vogue' from one of the MTV Awards shows. Consider this a primer for whats to come--though her biggest radio hits were in the '80s, her best videos came in the '90s, as displayed in her second video compilation 93:99.

The Ultimate Video Collection!
Lucky Star- Nice video, I like Madonna's outfit. 4/5
Borderline- I love this video! 5/5
Like A Virgin- My favorite video on here! 5/5
Material Girl- Wonderful video! 5/5
Papa Don't Preach- This one is very nice. 5/5
Open Your Heart- I never saw this one, yet, but I have seen a little of it. For now, I will give it a 5. 5/5
La Isla Bonita- Amazing video! 5/5
Like A Prayer- It's okay. 3/5
Express Yourself- Very creative video! 5/5
Cherish- I love this video, and I think the song has a good message. 5/5
Oh Father- Beautiful video. 5/5
Vogue- This video is so cool! 5/5
Vogue (From the 1990 MTV Awards Show)- It's okay. 3/5

An Flawless DVD With No Classic Videos Left Out
Madonna and music videos go together like love and marriage. Madonna was ahead of the game right when MTV started, always coming up with the freshest music videos. This collection of of her best vdeos is truly supreme. Let's go through a quick run - through of the videos.

"Lucky Star" is a cute video. Madonna likes lovely and the dancing is superb. It was her first classic video. I love the black and white intro when Madonna pulls down the sunglasses.

"Borderline" is a very cute video. Madonna plays a fashion model. I love the transistion between black and white and color. And once again, Madonna looks gorgeous. Also, in this video, Madonna vaguely resembles D.J. from "Full House".

"Like A Virgin" was without a doubt the video tha cemented her. I love the scenes in Venice when she's dancing in the gondolla. Never cared for that lion man at the end, though.

"Material Girl" was the one that started the comparisons to Marilyn Monroe, maybe because Madonna wore the same dress that Monroe wore in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" in 1953. It is an excellent video, and the one whose set she met future husband and recent Oscar winner Sean Penn on.

"Papa Don't Preach" I didn't like that much. I don't know if it's because of the way Madonna wore her hair in the video or I'm just not a big Danny Aiello fan, but there's something about this video that I don't like. Great song, though.

"Open Your Heart" gets right back on track. The idea of Madonna as a stripper wooing a young boy into a peep show was perfect. And Madonna's hair is beautiful.

"La Isla Bonita" is my least favorite video. I just don't like the way she looks in the video. I never thought she looked all that good as a brunette, and here is no exception (the "Like A Prayer" video is, but I'll get to that later). Killer dress though, and a good song.

"Like A Prayer" caused a ton of controversy when it was released. And why wouldn't it, what with its burning crosses, interracial love affair nd its depiction of Jesus being black? But when you look past all this, it's really a great video. And Madonna looks so beautiful. And about her being a brunette, she looks good with it in this video. In fact, I think the blackhair was required for the video.

"Express Yourself" is a very sensuous video, especially the scene with Madonna naked and chained to the bed. The ending where Madonna grabs her crotch is really pretty funny.

"Cherish" is a very charming video. Shot in black and white (at least I think it is), Madonna stands on the beach, getting soaked by water and yet singing about the sweet love she owns. A nice change of pace from the racier videos on the dvd.

"Oh Father" I really don't remember, so I'll skip it. I remember it was pretty boring, though. And I hated the song.

"Vogue" is such a great video. It's too beautiful to describe in words. All I can say is that Madonna looks gorgeous.

The live performance of "Vogue" is really good. I reccommend this dvd to all Madonna fans who don't already own it.

Complete Madonna
This is the Madonna DVD to own. If you don't own this, and The Immaculate Collection CD - you are truly missing out. The 'live' version of 'Vogue' at the end of the DVD is the icing on the cake. Highlight Videos: Express Yourself, Vogue, Like a Prayer. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Queen of Pop has done it again and offered her fans and musicimpresarios alike a music performance to be remembered. Drowned WorldTour--filmed in her home town of Detroit on August 26, 2001--is both anamazing pop concert and a visually stunning modern dance and multimedia pieceencompassing all the recent incarnations of this chameleon-like performer. Neverone to shy away from championing new styles in both clothes and music, Madonnais still as raunchy as on her Erotica tour, but Drowned World Tour alsooffers a much more effeminate and intelligent side to her performance, with ageisha/Japanese performance piece during such songs as "Frozen" and dressed as aSouthern-belle line dancer during such songs as "Don't Tell Me." The DrownedWorld Tour, rumored to be her last live show, proves that Madonna stillreigns supreme. --Nikki Disney, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (133)

eight long years
When I read the set list for Madonna's Drowned World 2001 Tour, I, like many others were disappointed. Where was Like A Prayer? Express Yourself? Erotica? Madonna seemed to have discarded hits for album tracks that would be unfamiliar even to her most casual fan. Yet, as we all know, it's unfair to judge something without seeing it first.

I was very pleased with Drowned World, but then again I think Madonna is at her most creative when she's on stage. Unlike so many other performers Madonna is extremely imaginative in creating her live shows. Of course the set design, costumes and lighting are top-notch. But that's not what makes this show work; it's the little touches Madonna adds. Take for example her soulful singing on the acoustic tracks "I Deserve It" and "Gone", which sound rather bland on the album "Music", but resonate on stage. And what about the Spanish version of "What It Feels Like For A Girl" in which Madonna sings completely in Spanish and dances with a group of women that is both gender-bending and sensual? Fabulous. Then there's the warm version of "La Isla Bonita" where Madonna plays guitar and sings and dances cheerfully with her dancers. It seems more than ever that Madonna is concentrating on singing her songs rather than dancing and flashy gimmicks.

However the show is not without its' problems. Some songs seem too short, particularly "Sky Fits Heaven" which is part of the dazzling Geisha section in which Madonna becomes a flying, vengeful Geisha, and the encore of Holiday, which could have been a bit longer. The cowgirl section doesn't always work. Human Nature doesn't seem to fit in with songs like "Don't Tell Me" and "Secret". I think Madonna could have sang "Express Yourself" and/or especially "American Pie". And what a loss to not hear Madonna herself sing "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" live, especially at this point in her career where her voice has never sounded better. Hearing the instrumental version is fine, but to not see and hear Madonna re-enact that stellar moment on the Casa Rosada, well, is unfortunate. I do agree with one of the reviewers who said that some of show's ideas don't always work. I don't think Drowned World is as well developed a show as Blonde Ambition or Girlie Show in terms of its ideas and theatricality, but musically (ie. Madonna's singing and musical gifts), it's just fine.

This DVD exceeds expectations!
The DVD of Madonna's Drowned World Tour unexpectedly exceeded my expectations in every way. I had the pleasure of seeing Madonna's Drowned World Tour live in New York City, and this DVD is the next best thing to actually being there. For those who watched and taped this concert off of HBO, the quality of this DVD is far better and gives a more cinematic feel to the concert. Some complained that HBO's coverage of the concert wasn't that great, but this DVD has been altered in some ways to provide a better viewing experience. For example, some camera angles were improved at key points of the concert. The sound quality is amazing, especially if you have a home theater system. This DVD blows any other that I own away! As for the concert itself, Madonna has a tremendous amount of energy that never dies during her performance. Each of the four segments of the concert are unique and entertaining. I haven't seen her other concerts, but I can surely say that this is Madonna at her best!

Madonna at her finest
This DVD has a lot to offer the true Madonna fan as well as someone who wants to witness an amazing spectacle. As always, Madonna used the then top of the line staging equipment and techniques which made this a very sleak production. The set list was really invaluable and just goes without saying. A cool note to the big Madonna fans is that during La Isla Bonita, you can see Rosie O'Donnell in the front row taking pictures during the concert, which were used for the cover of the DVD. She is credited with photography on the back of the box.

DON'T Waste your MONEY on MADONNA
This Madonna Show came free with my satellite and it was boring as can be. The DVD didn't fare any better. Here is Madonna at her all time lowest on stage. The production numbers are aweful to say the least. Watch Madonna re enact scenes stolen from anime cartoons as she swings like a monkey and faux fights Ninja style. Witness Madonna faux play an electric guitar in a way that would make Santana, Page and Hendrix squirm!!! This isn't far fetched since Madonna is doing this same boring number on her new Re Invention Tour. Maddy dancing with a stick??? Say it isn't so??? This show is an utter waste of time and money no matter what her blind fans will say. There is a time when we have to wake up and admit that some entertainers are over the hill and dried up. Madonna is absolutely no exeption. She is tired, old, very old to be doing this and her best days are completely done. Pack it Madonna we want our money back.

Great Show
What can I say? Very enjoyable, a good show, She's still in the top of the music.

Madonna's Drowned World Tour is very different off all the concerts out there. She's a profesional and put the best on her shows. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Excellent
For 6 years, Mike Myers remained one of "Satturday Night Live's" most versatile cast members, with his assortment of quirky characters and a few memorable impressions of British celebrites. So anyone would be hardpressed to choose 16 of Mike's best sketches to fit one dvd. Fotunatel, it was an easy task for the people at Broadwat Video, who have put together just about every "SNL" anthology. They sketches span from his first season in 1989 to the 1994 - 95 season, the season in which Myers left during the second half.

All of Mike's classic characters are here. Wayne of "Wayne's World" is represented in 2 hilarius sketches, one in which he and Garth (Dana Carvey) are jamming with Aerosmith and another, more popular one in which they enjoy a "wet dream involving Madonna. I also enjoyed some characters who only appeared once or twice or the ones who appeared many times but never became as popular, like Lothar, Simon, Philip and Middle - Aged Man. His passion for Britian pops more than one in the "Hedley And Wyche" toothpaste commercial, "RAF Hospital", "Simon", "Theatre Stories" and his hilarious impressions of Mick Jagger and Ron Wood. Linda Richman and Dieter are also here. I'm glad that his most popular characters are presented in complete sketches. Carvey and Sandler had to have their most memorable characters (Operaman and The Church Lady) butchered to mere montages on their dvds.

The bonus sketches are okay. I especially enjoyed "Wayen's World" and "Update Ito", bu the others weren't as good. Still, this is an excellent compilation of one of the greatest comedians of our time. Since leaving "SNL", he hit it big as a movie star with "Austin Powers" and "Shrek", but he hasn't forotten the show that made him famous. He hosted in 1997, appeared at the 25th anniversary special and made a cameo in last season's Alec Baldwin episode.

Very funny, but are these really the "best" sketches?
One of the difficulties of the "Best of" series is that someone else is deciding what's best. This is no easy task with a performer who was on SNL as long as Mike Myers. Distilling six years of performance to a mere 16 sketches (20 if you get the DVD version) inevitably leaves the serious fan unsatisfied. To be sure, this effort gives us Myers' principle characters, but they're not necessarily in their funniest sketches. The "Coffee Talk" on the tape is definitely not the funniest one he ever did, though it is the one with the biggest stars in guest roles. Likewise, there are funnier "Sprockets" and "Simon" sketches-but the ones included have serious star power. "Best" in this case seems more often than not to mean "the one where (insert famous person's name here) was on the show".

None of this to say that this isn't a funny compilation. It is. The Wayne's World sketches *are* probably the best efforts, and the others aren't dull by any means.

It just would be nice if Broadway Video did serious fans a favor and used the storage capacity of the DVD format to create performer anthologies. I would rather have *all* the sketches of a particular performer and be able to decide for myself which were the funniest. At the very least it would be nice to have the first of each major character's appearances. It would been even better to have some commentary by Mike Myers and maybe the writing staff on how the characters came into being. Now that the show has reached the mature age of 25, maybe Lorne Michaels will produce a more behind-the-scenes, documentarized compilation series in the future.

Until then, the "Best of" series is a good enough substitute. On balance, however, this may be one of the few video products that might be best bought on VHS instead of DVD. Other than the few additional sketches, many of which are drawn from Myers' return hosting of the show and not his stint as featured player, there are no special features on the DVD. The extra sketches ARE funny, and the Judge Ito Apology sketch marks the closest thing to an appearance of Austin Powers SNL has witnessed. But the question is whether these sketches alone warrant the extra price, or whether you can own the VHS but rent the DVD for one-time viewing.

As Wayne Campbell Would Say, "Excellent"
While not as versatile as Dana Carvey or Phil Hartman, Mike Myers had his own comedic charm that made him one of "Saturday Night Live's" most popular castmembers in the early 1990s'. Unlike Carvey and Hartman, Myers was a sort of character actor, relying on his own comic creations rather than impressions. Many of those characters have gone to become some of the best - known in "SNL" history and revived it as a sketch - comedy show.

Even if you don't consider this his absolute best, I find it pretty hard for anyone not to enjoy what's on here. Whether you like Wayne from "Wayne's World" or Dieter, host of the German television show "Sprockets", eveything here will make you laugh. Also, a wealth of unknown sketches are here. The "RAF" sketch with Rob Scneider as Adolf Hitler is funny if a little dated (literally dated - it takes place in 1943). "Philip" and "Lothar Of The Hill People" were two of the most controversial sketchs in the show's history. I didn't enjoy the latter sketch but the former is hysterical. The "Simon" sketch is also very funny. "Dieter's Dream" is an eerie sketch. It's easy to laugh at it (especially Phil Hartman's cameo and the "Electric Company" parody with the German nun), but you can't help but be a little freaked out by it. The "Coffee Talk" sketch features hilarous cameos by Madonna (who delightfully disses herself), RoseannEe Barr and Barbara Streisand. The Material Girl also pops up in "Wayne's Wolrd" in the infamous fanatsy sequence. It's quite gross but very funny to watch Wayne and Madonna tongue - kiss each other and to see Dana Carvey dressed in that balck outfit (the sequence is a parody of the controversial "Justify My Love" video). Also included are his hilarious impressions of Ron Wood and Mick Jagger.

This is a very funny dvd. The extras aren't that great. I enjoyed "Wayne's World" immensely and "Judge Ito" was good to, but the rest didn't do much for me. Buy this for the hilarious regular sketches. Also get Dana Carvey and the other "best - off" collections.

EXCELLENT LAUGHS FOR VALUE
Mike Meyers is one of the brightest stars to come from SNL and this brief but nice overview of some of his more famous characters is a delight. From the Japanese gameshow skit with Chris Farley, the bad British teeth faux ad, and many others faetured, this will give you something to laugh at!

Good stuff, but where are the extras?!
The sketches on this disc are great, and anyone who is a Mike Myers fan knows there are far more where these came from. But like Amazon reviewer Benjamin LeBaron said, the extras listed on the box are non-existent! I was glad to read that post, because I searched all over the internet to find out if they were hidden features or something. The only extras are some extra sketches, which are good, but the outtakes and dress rehearsals promised on these new SNL discs are NOT included on this Mike Myers one. So if you already have the 1999 release, you might as well keep it because judging by the slow static menu, it's still the same disc.
I stil give it 4 stars based on the Mike Myers sketches. As far as the physicality of the DVD itself, I'd probably give it 1 or 2. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Not just a Madonna Movie!
This movie epitomizes the giddiness of the New Wave-bohemian lifestyle of the 80's. I watched this movie as a teenager and was fascinated by the outlandish people and the New York City setting. Today I watch it and am struck by the ultimate sweetness of the characters, particularly Roberta (Rosanna Arquette-this really is her movie) and Dez (Aidan Quinn). I think it is an excellent example of screwball, romantic comedy. It's the kind of movie I can watch again and again and it always seems fresh. The supporting actors are great, including Laurie Metcalf as Roberta's uptight sister-in-law and John Turturro as a sleazy night club host. The acting is understated and not over the top- including Madonna, who just seemed to be reading her lines very carefully, but to good effect. Susan Seidelman did an excellent job at directing, too bad she has not done much more! The settings are used to great effect as well, giving you a taste of the intruiging East Village and it's suburban opposite Fort Lee, NJ. If you enjoy this movie I would highly recommend "After Hours" and "Something Wild" which are in the same NYC 80's bohemian kind of vein, although a little darker in tone.

New Wave Meets Suburbia
An entertaining tale of a bored housewife in Fort Lee, New Jersey who accidentially gets mixed up in the life of a street smart drifter was one of the biggest hits in the 1980's. Not only a hit, this film marked the major film debut of a then rising star named Madonna, and made here a household name throughout the world.

The movie which takes place in New York City circa 1985 revolves around Roberta (Arquette), a disenchanted housewife who is married to the hot tub king of New Jersey. Due to the great amount of free time in her life, Roberta reads the classifieds to follow the movements of Susan (Madonna) who happens to be in the city awaiting the arrival of her boyfriend and his band.

The movie which revolves around a theme of amnesia and a museum heist was an excellent starring for Madonna. Although the film was originally a starring vehicle for Arquette and Aidan Quinn, it was Madonna who stoled the film from the very start. Madonna-mania was sweeping the country at the time, and almost every teenage girl wanted to look and act like her.

Madonna ,who won the role after using smart marketing methods (the producers wanted to cast Ellen Barkin in the role), gave the film many wonderful touches due to her punk look (dirty blond hair, plastic bracelets, lace gloves) and gave me many memories of growing up in New York during the mid-1980's. To further compliment the film, Madonna's hit single at the time "Into the Groove," became the film's anthem, and even today, the song still sounds as good as it did then.

Director Susan Siedelman ("She Devil"; "Cookie"; "Sex & the City") does an excellent job of weaving both script and characters together. Overall this film will appeal to anyone who lived in the Metro New York area during the 1980's, as well as anyone who enjoys the New Wave style of that decade.

The DVD features are great and I was happy to see the original ending that was cut out of the film. It was great to see this, and only the great technology of DVD gives consumers many benefits that VHS doesn't. It was great to see the film's theatrical trailer as well, because trailers then look so poorly produced in comparison to the ones today.

If you are looking for a modern day classic, then this is the film for you. A true classic in '80's cinema.

GREAT MOVIE !!!!
I LOVE THIS MOVIE THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE. THIS IS MY FAVORITE MADONNA MOVIE SHE CO-STARS W/ ROSANNA ARQUETTE . I REALLY DID LIKE THIS MOVIE. THIS MOVIE IS ABOUT A MIX UP WHERE ROSANNA ARQUETTE FOLLOWS THIS PERSONAL AD:"DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN"(MADONNA) AND ABOUT A GUY NAMED JIM. (ROBERTA) ROSANNA ARQUETTE THINKS HER NAME IS SUSAN AND IT IS JUST A GREAT BIG MIX-UP BUT AT THE END THINGS FALL INTO PLACE BUT SOME CHANGES ARE MADE BUT THE MOVIE IS GREAT I LOVED IT AND I RECOMMEND ANY MADONNA FAN SHOULD HAVE THIS VIDEO IN THEIR COLLECTION.

Wacky Fun!
We rented Desperately Seeking Susan and I thought it was a cute wacky movie that was a lot of fun to watch and has a great cast that includes Maddona, Rosanna Arquette, Aidan Quinn and Laurie Metcalf. Rosanna Arquette plays a bored New Jersey housewife named Roberta who is interested in the personals ads she reads between a free-spirited woman from New York named Susan and a guy named Jim so when Roberta goes to New York to meet Susan she winds up getting hit on the head and she wakes up thinking she is actually Susan and gets herself into a lot of wacky situations. It's a fun movie and has great scenes of New York and I recommend it.

Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
Here it is ladies and gentleman, fellow Madonna fans: Madonna's first starring role in a feature film. Desperately Seeking Susan is loaded with fun and games and has become a favorite with most Madonna fans.

Roseanna Arquette plays Roberta Glass, a bored New Jersey housewife, who constantly follows the on-going relationship of Jim and Susan. One day, Roberta decides that she would really like to meet Susan, so she places an add in the paper, telling Susan to meet Roberta at Battery Park in New York City. Susan (played by Madonna) shows up, but is arrested because of cab fair. Roberta is being harrassed by some lunatic. After a bump on the head and a bout of amnesia, turns Roberta into Susan. Susan's boyfriend Jim (played by Robert Joy) askes his best friend Dez (played by Aiden Quinn) finds Roberta, but thinks she is Susan. The two become lovers.

A movie that is considered to be an instant classic and features the hit single, INTO THE GROOVE, performed by Madonna. It's a film that should not be missed. A life so complicated, it takes two women to live it. ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Very Elaborate Concert Captured on DVD
Though I've never been to a live Madonna concert, watching this DVD has made me recognize all the preparation, costumes, coreography, etc. that go into her Girlie "Super" Show. Virtually every song requires a new costume change. The dancing is tight. She performs a rather peculiar rendition of "Like a Virgin", a fun retro version of "Express Yourself", her classic and stylish "Vogue", and other 80's to early 90's Madonna-fan favorites--basically up to her Erotica album.

The sound quality is probably better than being at the show, since you can actually hear her and the band perform over the screaming crowd. With a combination of camera cranes and Steadicam shots, you get a great on-stage perspective of her show.

Madonna fans should not be disappointed with this DVD at all. In fact, you can crank up the volume on your surround-sound home theatre system and lose yourself in the great video and audio presentation of her show.

Sexy and extravagant.
Madonna is well known for her fantastic and extravagant stage shows, and this tour was no exception.

Filmed in Australia in 1993, this was Madonna's last world tour for 8 years (until the Drowned World Tour) and followed her stunning and adventurous Erotica album.

Highlights of this show include the start: a topless dancer climbs seductively down a large go-go pole, and as she disappears into the stage, Madonna appears in sparkly hotpants, top and s&m mask, brandishing a whip as she turns seductively and in time to the sexy single, Erotica. Its a truly stunning and exciting entrance...

She moves through a range of hits, 'Fever', 'Vogue', 'Rain' and in Express Yourself, she appears from the top of the stage on a large disco ball, complete with purple afro, set to a fantastic and energised 70's remix of the song.

More hits follow, 'Deeper And Deeper', 'Why's It So Hard', 'In This Life', 'The Beast Within', until she appears dressed in a mans suit, for the Marlene Dietrich inspired Like A 'W'irgin (yes, I spelt it right).

'Bye Bye Baby', 'I'm Going Bananas' follow, and then a fantastic flamenco dance sequence for La Isla Bonita, followed by tour classic, Holiday (she alters this for every tour).

Justify My Love is extraordinary, as Madonna enters the stage in an amazing outfit (she appears to be 15 foot tall!), inspired by the horse racing scene from My Fair Lady, a truely surreal moment in the concert, with the song turning very 60's towards the end!

She finishes with Everybody / Everybody is a Star, and leaves you wanting more more more...

This is an exciting, sexy show, and even in the humourous moments (I'm Going Bananas) thoroughly enjoyable. It makes me wish I could live it all again! (oh...I can...I have the dvd! ha ha)

(No DVD extras)

it was like this, before the re-invention
This concert only ran exclusively in a limited number of states and countries and only for a short period of time. Yet, die-hard Madonna fans who were not cowed by her Erotica period attended this show and were not disappointed. If you loved the re-invention tour 2004, you will certainly love this spectacle.

The Girlie Show is Madonna's most theatrical, complex, and dramatic live show to date, moreso than the dark Drowned World Tour or the minimalist setting of the re-invention tour.

This concert is simply amazing. The choreography will leave you gasping as this concert, more than any other, displays Madonna and her dancers as acrobatic and gymnastically adroit as ever. The costumes are eye-popping and as varied as they come. There is the dominatrix section, the Thai-goddess section, the disco era section, the German Dietrich Cirque du Soleil section, a strange 1930s section that features Justify My Love, and a weird sequence set to the Bible.

Though played in 1993, this concert is still as fresh as ever.

Good, but not Blond Ambition.
I own DVDs of Blond Ambition, Girlie Show, and Drowned World, and must say that Girlie show ranks third of the three. The show is the weakest because I find the music that Madonna released during this time to be some of the most forgettable of her career. She tries very hard to follow up her "shocking" Blond Ambition Tour with more shock and theatrics, but it just doesn't quite live up to it, and it seems that she tried too hard to shock us. Nevertheless, this is a solid performance. Like another post said, the theatrics and staging aren't as good as the other tours, but this tour was more about music and spectacle (read nudity and mass orgies). Sadly, however, the music just isn't as good. "Rain", "Express Yourself", and "Justify My Love" are the standouts. "Why's it so Hard" and "In this Life" are largely forgettable; "Live to Tell" and "Bad Girl" would have been better suited to this segment, but I am not Madonna, nor am I (...). That may be why it doesn't appeal to me as much. The only segment in which this concert tops Blond Ambition is Madonna's voice. She sings virtually all of the material, something she cannot claim in Blond Ambition, where almost half the numbers performed sport some sort of vocal sweeting, whether it be backing tracks she sings over (Express Yourself) half singing half lipping (Open Your Heart), or just outright lip synching (Vogue). In contrast, only three songs are canned during The Girlie Show, if only the songs she sang were more enjoyable musically. The dancing also had its hits and misses. "Vogue" is no longer "en vogue" with hand movements that must be viewed from row three to see, butlook great when viewed on the DVD, while "La Isla Bonita" is a show stopper. The show begins slowly, "Vogue" or "Bye Bye Baby" should have opened the show, as Erotica is a rather listless way to open a live performance with no vocal oomph, even if she was lip synching. Overall, this was not the best Madonna concert, but she did what she needed to do, and sold out every show. Most of the show is enjoyable with the skip button being used for most of the middle of the show, that's how i view it anyway. I would recomend this concert only if you cannot spot the money it takes to import Blond Ambition from Japan or Europe, or Drowned World is just to dark for your taste. Girlie Show certainly shrouds nothing.

The Girlie Show-Live Down Under (1993)
In 1985, Madonna had gone on her first tour, which was The Virgin Tour 1985, and that was to promote the Like A Virgin album. In 1987, Madonna had put together her second tour, which was called The Who's That Girl Tour 1987, and that was to promote the movie and soundtrack of the same name. In 1990, Madonna went on her third tour, which was called The Blonde Ambition Tour 1990, and that was to promote both the Like A Prayer album and the I'm Breathless album.

Now, it's 1993, Madonna put together The Girlie Show Years Tour 1993, her fourth tour which promoted the Erotica album. That tour was put on this amazing DVD that should be owned by every Madonna fan around the world. This concert is loaded with amazing performances, featuring seven songs from her Erotica album. Each song on the setlist is choreographed and set up in its own unique way and will have you breathless from start to finish. Although it lacks some hits like Like A Prayer, Papa Don't Preach, Cherish, Open Your Heart, etc., this concert is without a doubt amazing.

It starts off with Madonna performing EROTICA. The outfit for this performance is not what you saw in the video. Here, she wears black sleeveless half-top with a black sparkling bikini top underneath, black sparkling shorts, fishnet stockings, black leather high-heeled boots, the black mask that covers only the eyes, and she carries a bouton. The performance of EROTICA is nothing less than amazing. She finishes EROTICA and gets ready to perform the next song. She starts off the second song by walking to the center of the stage, but she walks to the beat of the drums. While doing this, she takes off the mask and the sleeveless half-top, leaving on the shorts, boots, stockings, and bikini top. After she takes off the mask, she gives an incredible performance of FEVER. After FEVER, Madonna comes out with the same shorts, boots, and stockings, but with a different top, which is a black and grey beaded bikini. On her head is a black beaded headdress. With this outfit, she gives an outstanding performance of VOGUE. After VOGUE, Madonna comes out in a long black dress, similar to the one in the RAIN video. She sits on a chair and gives a beautiful rendition of RAIN. While in the middle of RAIN, Madonna breaks into a little portion of JUST MY IMAGINATION, and goes back into RAIN. After RAIN, Madonna goes back for another costume change.

Before she comes out, the band plays a club techno 70s retro version of EXPRESS YOURSELF. Madonna makes her entrance to this one by descending from the ceiling to the stage on a disco ball, wearing a pinkish purple bell-bottomed half-top, sparkling purple shorts, pink 70s high-heel shoes, complete with a blonde afro wig. She steps onto the stage and does a great 70s performance of EXPRESS YOURSELF, which then goes into an incredible 70s Latin flavored performance of DEEPER AND DEEPER. She ends DEEPER AND DEEPER by rolling all over the stage with her dancers while making the most sexual and orgasmic moans anyone has ever heard. That leads into the performance of WHY'S IT SO HARD. After WHY'S IT SO HARD, Madonna performs IN THIS LIFE, a song she had written for two of her friends that died of AIDS.

While doing a costume change, Madonna's haunting THE BEAST WITHIN (JUSTIFY MY LOVE) is played, where her dancers give an amazing dance routine that displays the elements of sex, love, passion, and destruction. Madonna finally comes out dressd as 1930s actress, Marlene Deitrich. With this outfit, Madonna performs LIKE A VIRGIN, but she does not sing it, she speaks it in Marlene Deitrich's German accent. After LIKE A VIRGIN, she goes into lesbian burlesque performance of BYE BYE BABY. After BYE BYE BABY, Madonna takes off the top portion of the tuxedo, revealing a black and white striped shirt, and a bandana on her head, and performs I'M GOING BANANAS. Being that I'M GOING BANANAS is has a Latino-Spanish vibe, she performs LA ISLA BONITA immediately after I'M GOING BANANAS. After LA ISLA BONITA, Madonna has a little chat with her audience. She tells them how she is relieved that it didn't rain, being that it's an outside stadium. After her conversation, she goes back stage for one short costume change, while her dancers come out in military drag. Madonna finally comes out, giving her dancers the military commands, while in military drag. She gives on final command, and starts off HOLIDAY.

The encore performances are JUSTIFY MY LOVE and EVERYBODY. I won't give away those performances. You will all have to see the last two for yourselves by buying this amazing concert. You want a good show? Here it is. Listed below is the whole setlist for the concert, as well as the whole tour.

EROTICA
FEVER
VOGUE
RAIN
EXPRESS YOURSELF
DEEPER AND DEEPER
WHY'S IT SO HARD
IN THIS LIFE
THE BEAST WITHIN (JUSTIFY MY LOVE) Dancers' Interlude (Costume Change)
LIKE A VIRGIN
BYE BYE BABY
I'M GOING BANANAS
LA ISLA BONITA
HOLIDAY
JUSTIFY MY LOVE
EVERYBODY ... Read more

Amazon.com

Norman Mailer may have come up with the title Advertisements for Myself, but in this case, Madonna is the one who really wrote the book. Truth or Dare, an engaging behind-the-scenes look at the pop star's Blonde Ambition tour, is a feature-film advertisement for herself that Roger Ebert cleverly dubbed "an authorized invasion of privacy." How much of it is calculated and how much of it is genuine, what Madonna chooses to reveal about herself and what she actually reveals in the process, are up to the viewer to decide. Patterned in part after the classic D.A. Pennebaker documentary of Bob Dylan Don't Look Back, the black-and-white sections of Truth or Dare offer glimpses into her offstage life, while excerpts from the show are seen in color. Madonna's relationship with her father and brother, the maternal control she wields over her dancers, her giggly friendship with Sandra Bernhard, her crush on Antonio Banderas (later to become her costar in the movie version of Evita), the waning days of her relationship with Warren Beatty (who accuses her of wanting to exist only for the camera)--all of it becomes self-conscious fodder for a fascinating examination of modern pop stardom. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (66)

The Uninhibited Truth
This documentary is a personal look into Madonna's private life, thoughts, and dilemmas behind the scenes. It has clips from the "Blonde Ambition Tour" and black & white footage of her interacting with the crew, dancers, family members & back-up singers. Madonna handles the pressures of technical difficulty, bad weather, moral issues & undeserving fans in the front seats with a funny but sure attitude. You see glimpses of her nature to be like a mother to her fellow dancers as she hugs each & helps them with their dilemmas. You meet her dad, brother, Warren Beatty, & Sandra Bernard. You see a more emotional Madonna when she is talking about her mother's tragic death, and when she cries at her last NY concert that was dedicated to her friend who died of AIDS. She loves people and the stage is her passion. She is a natural, a Marilyn Monroe of this generation! "See the truth, Madonna dares you."

For Madonna's fans only
Madonna's controversive career and publicity mounted at a top point in early nineties following her video release of #1 single LIKE A PRAYER, her appearance in Warren Beaty's blockbuster DICK TRACY, the year 1990's sold-out BLONDE AMBITION world tour, and the subsequently unapologetic music video from self-title studio LP EROTICA. However, to date, no official video remastering has been worked on the VHS of BLONDE AMBITION tour. TRUTH OR DARE is the best recap of Madonna's best onstage performances, rehearsing, and period life spent offstage during the promotion of her multi-million dollars tour across Europe, American, and - Japan!

This documentary captures all the tell-truth interviews and self-reflections of the superstar as much as the roles of the people and her family who were there with her touring at some point. There is a scene where she shrugged off Canada's banning of her lewd concert act and way passed the officials with her background singers Niki Haris and Donna DeLory. There are plenty of laughters, celebrations, and tears too. She also visited Antonio Banderas and the Spanish film giant Pedro Almodóvar when the tour stopped by Madrid. As a matter of fan's interest, the behind-the-scene film also reveals the unusual closeness between Madonna and her seven queer dancers who invented the "House Of Extravagenza" dance culture for her #1 world-frenzy hit VOGUE.

I only hope there could be more recaps of her performaces in Japan especially, when her long blonde ponytail were once making a wave!

TRUTH OR DARE is Madonna's best entertaining work to offer for those who appreciate her artistic musical expressions thoughout the eighties. You'll love this DVD, do not miss it.

One of the worst movies I've ever seen in my life
This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my life. The way Madonna exploited her mother's death for her benefit, well, it was just exploitation at its finest.
Also, the way she treated Warren Beatty and her hairdresser was very self serving.
I suffered through this movie. It stank, imo.

Spectacular and intriguing
As with everything Madonna does, it sets out to be thought-provoking and honest. This documentary is an insight into the world of Madonna on the road and in between, looking at other aspects of her life and personality.
It shows her as a brazen and self absorbed personality, as with all great performers, but you also get to see a very vunerable human behind this exterior.
It's a great idea, especially for an artist such as Madonna, because she's a very interesting artist and performer.
She may come across as self-indulgent and narcisstic, but she's every bit a stunning and talented performer.
Madonna is often complex and often contradictory, I think she had a lot of irony in mind when the concept of this documentary was thought up, but it shows Madonna at her very peak as an artist, a decade where she wasn't afraid to say and do what she pleased. It's essential for every Madonna fan and for any casual fan interested in knowing more and observing her as a performer and personality.

Great Classic Madonna, a keeper!
This is Madonna at her best. Anyone who has growen up with her music will appreciate this movie. I watch it every so often and not only does it bring back happy times, it's an excellent documentry of what it's like t be rich and very famous. Even if you don't have a liking for Madonna, I find it hard to beleive that you would not at least have a better respect for her after watching this DVD. This will always be on the living room DVD case! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Like the other volumes in the acclaimed Director's Series (featuring the work of Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry), The Work of Director Chris Cunningham offers a feast of visual ingenuity, with one major difference: Unlike the relatively playful brightness of Jonze and Gondry, Cunningham wants to involve you in his nightmares. From the urban monstrosities of Aphex Twin's "Come to Daddy" to the limb-shattering weirdness of Leftfield's "Afrika Shox," Cunningham's music videos emphasize the freakish and the bizarre, but they are also arrestingly beautiful and otherworldly, as in the aquatic effects used for Portishead's "Only You," combining underwater movements with ominous urban landscapes. Some of Cunningham's shock effects are horrifically effective (his 'flex" video installation, excerpted here with music by Aphex Twin, is as disturbing as anything conjured by David Cronenberg), while others are cathartic or, in the case of Aphex Twin's "Windowlicker," outrageously amusing. And while the eerie elegance of Madonna's "Frozen" arose from a chaotic production, the signature work in this collection is clearly Björk's "All Is Full of Love," a masterfully simple yet breathtaking vision of intimacy involving advanced robotics and seamless CGI composites. In these and other videos, Cunningham advances a unique aesthetic, infusing each video and commercial he makes with a dark, occasionally gothic sensibility. That these frequently nightmarish visions are also infectiously hypnotic is a tribute to Cunningham's striking originality. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Excellent Collection from a Talented Video Director.
Video directors are a dime a dozen, and only few are able to distinguish themselves with any trace of personality. But Chris Cunningham is among the most talented and the most distinguished. His images are harsh, disturbing, yet elegant, and they wonderfully compliment the music these videos promote. This DVD is a collection of not only his videos, but it also has a collection of short films, commercials, and other clips. The picture quality is amazingly sharp, and the music is presented in a booming 2-channel stereo soundtrack. The highlights? Apex Twin's spooky "Come to Daddy" (banned on MTV) and the hilarious "Windowlicker" show Cunningham at the top of his game (the bleeped version of the latter video is also on this DVD, but make no mistake: my favorite is the original, cuss words and all). Drum-and-bass kings Squarepusher's "Come on My Selector" is an interesting clip set inside a Japanese psychiatric ward, and Leftfield's "Afrika Shok," which features a man who slowly dismembers himself, is quite bothersome yet well made. But one of my very favorite clips is the promo for the PlayStation video game "Mental Wealth." In this weird commercial, Cunningham features a Scottish girl whose face is eerily distorted to resemble a cross between Bjork and a space alien. It's bizarre and brilliant at the same time. Another standout is the clip "Flex" which is simply wonderful. Many complain that this isn't the full version, but I didn't care. All said, this is a hugely entertaining DVD collection for those who aren't fainthearted and have a taste for the alternative. You'll be shocked, amazed, and even disturbed, but one thing is for sure: you won't be bored.

The only way to have Chris over to your house.....
To be honest I didn't find the DVD lacking at all, to consider previous concerns: the videos that are not on the DVD suck. That's the bottom line. You wouldn't want to sit through those videos and they are better left alone to be re-run late at night on MTV2. Again the clip from FLEX is far more enjoyable than the entire film, which I have seen. I think that is is far better to have a sweet taste than to have the magic wear off after 5 minutes. That is the best section of FLEX and the rest is marginal. I think that many people are missing the point of this release. It is hand picked by Cunningham and it is his choice what is to be seen of his work. We are lucky enough to even have this on the shelf or in the player. To be more specific to the concerns above, the clip for the Auteurs 'light aircraft on fire' is terrible and all the best moments are in the stills on the directors file website and in the booklet. All the other videos that are not on the DVD are as bad (good) as your friends first paintings or demo tapes, just that, rehearsals for the real thing. I must agree that the Nissan commercial is a poor addition as the original is AMAZING! The content on this thing is a short cut and even bothering to mention that the music is by Boards of Canada is a bore, I'm sorry, anyone could have made the music to that clip. The booklet is interesting although not a far cry from a glossy magazine interview and offers little to no information on the videos. This DVD is fantastic to say the least although in today's market where we have to learn what size underwear the producer wears from our DVD-info-factoid-pills this DVD is lacking, I am sooooo pleased about this, because there is so little that you can actually learn from this information other than just that, and I don't give a damn what size underwear Cunningham wears. As far as the content from the MTV2 documentary, I mean commercial, Thank God it's not on there! That was the worst junk that I have ever seen! And the interviews with other directors? Oh my! Spike Jonze is the most BORING interview subject in the world! SNORE!!!! and to fill anyone in on the content of those interviews, here is EXACTLY what EVERY interview was like: (subject turns to person off screen) "Hey you remember that video I showed you? The one with the Creepy children?" "No." "Well, uh, that was cool huh huh." That was it! And Spike Jonze is bringing in this cheap looking latina and asking her about the video and she hasn't even seen it! It was a nightmare! Imagine the depth of a boring snooze fest Spike Jonze sitting with some latin goth kids on a sidewalk (one descibes Cunningham like a Slayer video) and spouting this junk.... This is the problem with the DVD addiction and as well the CD reissue craze, sacrificing quality for content. So what, it's missing hours and hours of worthless crap, GOOD!
This DVD is fantastic and do yourself a favour BUY IT! NOW!
Peace.

Here are the exact contents as listed on the case:
Autechre - second bad vibel
Aphex - come to daddy, windowlicker full and bleeped version.
Portishead - only you
madonna - frozen
leftfield - afrika shox
squarepusher - come on my selector
bjork - all is full of love, making of documentary
shorts / commericals - monkey drummer with afx, flex clip with afx, mental wealth (sony), photocopier (levis jeans), Engine (nissan short version), Drukqs clip with afx music.
ENJOY! !!!!!!

Gifted artist
Chris Cunningham's work combines the experimental quality of fine art with the intrigue of cinema. Wow. There is some really awesome, crazy, beautiful, tripped-out stuff in this collection. Aphex Twin's "Come to Daddy" is incredibly intense, disturbing and powerful. Portishead's "Only You" is surreal, beautiful, emotional. Bjork's "All Is Full of Love" is cybersexual bliss. Madonna's "Frozen" is an arctic mystical trip. The stuff from the installations is really amazing too. What a talented artist!

Best one of the Director's Series
Wow. This left me totally speechless. Unlike Spike Jonze or Michel Gondry, Chris Cunningham is all about the visuals. Part Mark Romanek (but really, really disturbing) and part Floria Sigismondi (but slightly less nightmarish and with a dark sense of humor), his music videos are more than just astonishing eye candies -- they are more like mini horror movies. I loved all the videos but the standouts are the 2 Aphex Twin videos (spooky "Come to Daddy" and twisted but hilarious "Windowlicker"), and Björk's "All is Full of Love" which is the best and most realistic CGI I have ever seen.

Instant cult classics!
Two simple words come to mind.....pure genious! Though some of the excess material (Monkey Drummer, Flex) seem to be a little too long and (dare I say this) too weird, the videos are extremely stunning. From Aphex Twin's sci-fi/horror trip "Come To Daddy" to Maddona's captivatingly gothic "Frozen," this is a peculiar dvd that will survive numerous times of extended play. Not for the squeamish, but a milestone in audio-visual production for all open-minded listeners. Innovative to an almost offensive extent.....Again, pure genious! ...