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Accompanied by a menagerie of products, Ken Burns's expansive 10-episode paean, Jazz, completes his trilogy on American culture, following The Civil War and Baseball. Spanning more than 19 hours, Jazz is, of course, about a lot more than what many have called America's classical music--especially in episodes 1 through 7. It's here that Burns unearths precious visual images of jazz musicians and hangs historical narratives around the music with convincing authority. Time can stand still as images float past to the sound of grainy vintage jazz, and the drama of a phonograph needle being placed on Louis Armstrong's celestial "West End Blues" is nearly sublime.

The film is also potent in arguing that the history of race in the 20th-century U.S. is at jazz's heart. But a few problems arise. First is Burns's reliance on Wynton Marsalis as his chief musical commentator. Marsalis might be charming and musically expert, but he's no historian. For the film to devote three of its episodes to the 1930s, one expects a bit more historical substance. Also, Jazz condenses the period of 1961 to the present into one episode, glossing over some of the music's giant steps. Burns has said repeatedly that he didn't know much about jazz when he began this project. So perhaps Jazz, for all its glory, would better be called Jazz: What I've Learned Since I Started Listening (And I Haven't Gotten Much Past 1961). For those who are already passionate about jazz, the film will stoke debate (and some derision, together with some reluctant praise). But for everyone else, it will amaze and entertain and kindle a flame for some of the greatest music ever dreamed. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Reviews (118)

The Best Series on Jazz, Despite Its Flaws
I am a jazz musician, son of a jazz musician, am conservatory trained, and this series stands toe to toe with the best lectures by the best music historians and music theory experts I have studied with. If Ken Burns chose to follow a the pillars of jazz in depth rather than give ten minutes to every musician to come along in the past hundred years, we are better for it. If you want ten minutes on each musician, read liner notes. Mr. Burns series will be remembered precisely because it does go into such depth. Bird, Duke, Pops and Dizzie do not come clear to you without much study. We should be grateful for the fact that this series is anything but shallow. It is true to the art. If this series, because of such depth, asks more of viewers than they want to give, then let such viewers only seeking entertainment seek that. Americans, everything is not entertainment.

Jazz itself, from its outset and to this very day, asks more of you than any other music. A series about it should do no less.

This series is not perfect. Jazz is also imperfect. As Thelonius Monk said, there are no wrong notes. So are there no bad jazz documentaries, as long as they are unflinching, whole, and about the forces that shaped the music. This one is. It's only real flaw is that it is too in love with its own story and the music. That is entirely forgiveable.

If you have any interest in jazz, buy or rent this series and watch each one like a student, and learn in wonder at the extraordinary music brought to us by African Americans. It is one of the glories of American culture, and of the world, and we should join Ken Burns, his historians, critics and musicians in joyously celebrating the collective creation of the geniuses that graced our land in the past 100 years.

"History," "Documentary," "Theory of" are not in the title.
The negative reviews of this series assume that Burns is compiling a documentary, writing a historical survey, or undertaking some theoretical analysis of jazz. Burns is above all a biographer. His primary interest is in the life of a particular artist, solider, athlete, explorer, etc.: the overall trajectory of their lives--the choices they make, the risks they are or aren't willing to take, their sufferings in the face of prejudice, misunderstanding, and failure--and how the individual life fits within the larger social context. Hence his emphasis on annecdote, personal letter and photograph, character analysis, and why he has baseball players and actors and club owners as well as scholars and musicians commenting on these people. And why he traces the entire career of someone like Louis Armstrong or Billy Holiday, rather than devoting more time to contemporary muscians whose story it is still too young to be told. Everything else is secondary to this main concern, and to miss this focus is to miss the point of all Ken Burns' documentaries. To grasp it is to experience life within a wider, wiser, almost epic, context. The so-called jazz expert who is miffed over some apparent omission, or overemphasis, or seeming bias, is like the librarian who has all the books catalogued and all the facts at their fingertips but can't see that they might refer to something outside the four walls of their narrow expertise.

Provides a very useful orientation
Jazz is a relatively recent interest for me--maybe half a dozen years. I'd learned about scattered fragments of jazz, but never developed a systematic understanding, a clear orientation--though a couple of times I'd tried: I bought Gary Giddons' "Visions of Jazz," for instance, which is very good but just didn't capture my imagination.

Ken Burns' "Jazz" gave me what I've been wanting for years--a clear, evocative, comprehensive way into the genre as a whole.

Okay, it may not be the last word on the history of jazz. Yeah, some things really irritated me--like the slighting, mentioned by many, of Bill Evans, and the excessive excision of many white musicians to make the generally accurate point that jazz springs more from the experience of Black Americans. (Hint to Burns: You make your argument stronger by showing how apparently contrary data fit, not by leaving them out.) But over all, I found this a very helpful overview. And I enjoyed getting to know the biographies of, and the personal relations among, the players.

You won't likely get such an orientation from buying a few of the original CDs *instead* of the "Jazz" series. Few of us have the ears or training to discern what's taught in this series. You'd be highly unlikely to realize that, for instance, what was new with Be-Bop is improvising on the underlying chord changes rather than the melody. You'd really have to be perceptive and paying attention to notice what distinguishes Kansas City jazz from New Orleans jazz from New York jazz from West Coast jazz. And *no* album can place *itself* in history. For instance, you cannot learn from listening to an album featuring Coleman Hawkins-or Charlie Christian or Kenny Clarke--that *before* that album people played very differently. In short, you'd have to be far better trained musically and far more observant than most of us are, and listen to dozens (if not hundreds) of albums, to learn what this series teaches.

As I watched over a period of a couple of weeks, I bought several of the CDs that Burns produced to survey the music, and I found them very instructive. No, as listening experiences, they're not as good as some of the various albums on which the cuts originated. But that's not the point: They are very good ways to get an overview, to get oriented, to know where to go next.

After seeing this series and studying the accompanying CDs, when I go into the music store and start perusing the jazz disks, I find that I recognize a whole lot more and can surmise a whole lot better what's what and what would interest me. For instance, tonight I saw "From Spirituals to Swing," a three CD set of Carnegie Hall jazz concerts in 1938 and 1939. A month ago, the list of personnel would have meant near-nothing to me--I probably wouldn't have even known what I was looking at, and I doubt I would have looked at the thing for more than thirty seconds. Now, though, I studied and comprehended the personnel and got all excited--"This I gotta hear." So I bought it, and it's great.

Now, isn't that reason enough to recommend this series?

That the overall interpretive framework of the series may need correction is not a trenchant criticism, in my opinion. To get a comprehensive understanding of anything, you have to start with *some* systematic framework, which you can then modify, maybe even refute, as you encounter further data. Logically, the first such framework you acquire has to come from someone else, unless you are a genius of extremely wide learning.

No, Ken Burns' "Jazz" isn't the only guide to jazz you'll ever need--as others have noted, some of the omissions are glaring. But it's fine place to start.

If you really want to get a sense of jazz, this is an excellent investment, in my opinion. Yeah, it's pricey--but cheaper than, say, an adult education course on jazz appreciation at your local community college (if you include texts and other supporting material). And if you don't want to spend the money--well, you can hint real hard to your significant other that you'd like it for your birthday or Valentine or some such thing.

Postscript: I almost didn't buy this because of the characterization of Wynton Marsalis's role by several other reviewers here. I'd never much liked his music--it always seemed too cerebral, almost architectural, for my tastes--chilly, not very visceral. (That's just my personal taste--I also find most of Ella Fitzgerald--except her duo wok with Armstrong--a bit emotionally distant, unlike Sarah Vaughan or Billie Holiday or Carmen McRae or many others.)

I was skeptical about any documentary that made Marsalis the central story teller.

Well, two things: (1) He just isn't the central story teller here. He does not have anything approaching the majority of commentator air time. It is certainly true that he plays a role analogous to Shelby Foote's in "The Civil War"--he is a unifying presence, especially in the early going and toward the end. This is just good film making--to establish "characters" whose presence throughout helps give unity to the piece. (2) I really liked Wynton in this documentary. He came off as much earthier, more laid back, mischievous, funnier and more fun, than I ever would have imagined. And he is really quite illuminating, especially when he explains various musical concepts--like the "Big 4." (I went back and listened to "Thick in the South," thinking maybe I'd like his music more now. Nope. Still feels too thought-out, too chilly, to me. Oh, well.)

Could have been so much better
I guess it says something that I have gone back and watched Burns' "Civil War" documentary more than a dozen times since I first saw it, and have only watch "Jazz" once since the first time. The Civil War documentary certainly is rife with factual inaccuracies but by & large gets the essential story of the conflict right. "Jazz," on the other hand, treats its subject as though the last 40-50 years never happened. It is as though the Civil War documentary would have lingered over the years 1861-1863 incessantly, then sped through the last two years ("Oh yeah, there were a couple of battles, Atlanta burned, Lee surrendered, the war was over. The end." Something like that) as though they didn't matter.

As I found the documentary going into its umpteenth hour and we STILL weren't out of the 1930's yet, I had a bad feeling about where this was going. You would have thought that Louis Armstrong had been annointed as the Jazz Pope and he ruled over the world of jazz for 40 years. In his proper context, Armstrong is very important, but Burns seems positively fixated on him. He dwells on every facet of Armstrong's upbringing & early career. Unless he planned on making a 60-hour documentary, there was no way Burns could hope to do justice to the more recent history of the genre, and sure enough he basically hits the fast forward button once the be-bop era is coming to a close.

Personally, I cannot stand fushion jazz, but nonetheless some mention needs to made of a style that was dominant in jazz for almost as long as the swing style, for crying out loud. Also, relying almost exculsively on Wynton Marsalis (doing his best impression of a crochety old man on his front porch, railing at a world that has passed him by) really was not a good idea & imbues the entire documentary with a hopelessly retrograde flavor.

I watched it once, and came away disappointed. I watched it a second time, hoping that I could find more to appreciate, but only found that it continued to disappoint. I don't know if it merits any future viewings, and that is indeed a shame, because it is a subject that deserves better treatment than this.

Excellent for what it is
It's surprizing how vociferously some "snobs" condemn "Jazz" simply because it's not as comprehensive as they seem to think it should be. From reading these reviews you would think Ken Burns is a half-step above a holocaust-denier for not including Roland Kirk or Eric Dolphy. "Jazz" is a wonderful, inspiring and, yes, traditional look at the art form. Newcomers shouldn't be dissuaded because it's not as complete as it should be. ... Read more

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Exclamations of religious awe are in order. Legendary and long sought-after, this live Led Zeppelin collection is nothing less than the rock music equivalent of the Holy Grail. Quite simply, this is what all the fuss was about.

Given that they were the biggest band in the world, Zeppelin were notoriously camera-shy in their heyday. Their official filmic legacy until now has been just the fascinating but flawed The Song Remains the Same. While this new set presents some previously unseen footage from the same 1973 Madison Square Garden gigs, its real wonders lie in the earlier (1970) Royal Albert Hall footage and the later Earls Court (1975) and Knebworth (1979) concerts. Everything here looks and sounds new-minted, thanks to painstaking restoration and remastering of both audio and visual sources, a Herculean labor of love on the part of co-producer Dick Carruthers working hand-in-glove with Jimmy Page. Trawling through thousands of yards of previously unseen film and unheard tape recordings--some with missing visuals, some with missing audio--Page and Carruthers have chosen only the best possible footage available. They were also at pains to make the segments segue seamlessly so that the viewer is treated to what feels like a continuous concert--just sample the transition from a grainy Super 8 "Immigrant Song" (Sydney, 1972) to "Black Dog" at MSG.

Highlights? It's not hyperbole to say that every powerhouse minute of this collection (some 230 minutes of concert footage plus another hour and a half of extra DVD material) is a rare musical and visual treat. But hearing Page's violin bow work on "Dazed and Confused" in DTS or Dolby 5.1 is an experience not soon forgotten. --Mark Walker ... Read more

Reviews (438)

AMAZING
Be you a die hard fan or just someone curious about Zeppelin, this two DVD set will absolutely blow your mind. For only the second time EVER, Zeppelin has allowed the release of footage from their concerts to be put onto DVD and distributed. The results are stunning, showing clearly the intimacy between the band members as they played, and the almost electric atmosphere they created as they played to fanatic crowds.

On the first DVD, a 1970 concert including songs from I and II is shown, including Page's famous and utterly amazing violin bow act during "Dazed and Confused" and possibly the best drumming in history from John Bonham in Moby dick, which includes an absolutely mind-blowing 15 minute solo that will have your jaw dropped to the very end.

The second DVD includes concerts from the mid to late 70's featuring songs from III, IV, and beyond. Page is stunning, Bonham shows an energy and talent unmatched to this day, Plant shows his array of talent, from slow meaningful songs such as "Goin to California" to energized lyrics as in "Rock and Roll", and John Paul Jones, although terribly understated, delivers some of the greatest base performances of all time.

If you've never seen Zeppelin, but love their music, this is an ABSOLUTE must but. If you've loved Zeppelin all your life, been to dozens of their concerts, and followed their every step, this is an ESENTIAL to your collection. This DVD shows up close, as if you were on stage with the band, the utter talent and genius of the band, and the unique chemistry between them. The DVD's also include the very few and very rare interviews that the band agreed to do.

5 stars: YOU HAVE NOT EXPIRIENCED ZEPPELIN UNTIL YOU EXPERIENCE THESE DVD'S

An absolute must for any Led Zeppelin fan
This 2DVD set will be monstrous. If you're one of the millions of Led Zeppelin fans worldwide who have always regretted the small amount of available footage of the band that's been made commercially available, then this set is a dream come true.

Comprised of material from both before and after the Madison Square Garden shows in New York City at the end of the 1973 American tour captured in the film "The Song Remains the Same", this collection will include material from the band's home country of the UK in 1970, 1975, and 1979, as well as from Australia in 1972 and Denmark in 1969. Many other surprises (including extra footage from the MSG 1973 shows, and some U.S. 1972 footage) are also in store!

Don't expect note-for-note recitations of the album tracks. This set will be so much more than that! These DVDs will showcase the wild improvisational genius that Zeppelin displayed in the era long before click-tracks, pre-recorded backing tracks for live situations, etc. This DVD set will vividly display the work of four guys who walked up on stage, grabbed their instruments, and let it freaking RIP!

You can't expect visual content of a quality to rival that from concerts recorded in the last few years, but the 5.1 audio mix added to large amounts of material on the DVDs will go a long way toward compensating for the age of the footage. If you don't have a surround sound setup yet, and you're a big Led Zeppelin fan, then this release will probably be enough reason for you to go ahead and take the plunge.

Also, don't miss "How the West Was Won", the 3CD set compiling the two white-hot Led Zeppelin shows from Long Beach and Los Angeles, California on the brilliant 1972 American tour!

Yes it's amazing
this DVD is the most incredible DVD you'll ever slide into your DVD player. I must admit I bought it as a new Zeppelin listener, sure I had heard their hits like stairway to heaven, dazed and confused, etc. and I actually put down the 20-something dollars for the dvds on a complete impulse buy, a whim if you will. I had no IDEA what I was about to experience!!! I have become an avid Zeppelin fan ever since. everyone can enjoy this dvd, heck I've put it into the player at parties I've held and people forget their card games or beer bonging sessions and everyone congregates around the television. If you have ears whether they like classic rock or heavy manson rock, you will love and enjoy this incredible set of dvds. One time I actually misplaced the DVD set and was so adamate about it I almost went out and bought it again!! I would have!! it's that good, but thankfully I found it in my freezer some drunk kid thought it was too hot cuz we played it so long at the party it had to cool off!! haha well I've said my part, this dvd should be owned by everyone on the planet and that's putting it lightly.

words cannot desribe
giving all the compliments in the world does not do this dvd near justice. so im not gonna try to put this into words. each of the members of led zeppelin are or are tied for the best in thier respective instrument(s). and they had such chemstry they could jam forever and it would be listenable adn amazing. this is an almost perfect view of the perfect band.

definition of sublime
this DVD is worth the price for two songs alone: Since I've Been Loving You at Madison Square Garden and Going to California at Earl's Court. If you're already a Led Zeppelin fan like I am, you'll probably watch these two concerts over and over again.

As much as I love the Song Remains the Same, the sound quality from the MSG concert has been radically improved. And I believe this version of Black Dog was a different night from the Song Remains the Same, as the entire band seems more lively and energetic. Misty Mountain Hop and the Ocean round out the incomparable MSG footage.

Earl's Court is the other concert featuring the Mighty Zeppelin at its prime. After opening with Going to California, we are treated to a mellow but beautiful That's the Way and a lively Bron Yr Aur Stomp before the absolutely epic In My Time Of Dying. Followed by an extremely rocking and up tempo Trampled Underfoot and classic Stairway rendition, Earl's Court is without a doubt the Crown Jewel of this DVD.

But in case your appetite for the best rock music of all time has not yet been satisfied, we have a 1979 Knebworth concert featuring some excellent later material. While the band is a bit past their prime, John Bonham steals the show with non-stop energy. Nobody's Fault but Mine is quite rollicking, and the live rendition of Kashmir is amazing to behold.

So, even without mentioning the first disk (I've never fully learned to appreciate 7 versions of Dazed and Confused, each clocking in at a minimum of 17 minutes...) the entertainment value provided here is second to none and an absolute must own. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

I'm glad I bought it...here's why
When I first saw the DVD set in the stores, I thought this was a no brainer to buy. Like many of you, I often look up the Amazon.com reviews first. I was really taken aback buy the poor ratings which made me think twice. Anyway, I had a chance to buy the set new for [a good price] this past week. I've watched 5 of the first 9 DVDs so far. Yes, some of the performances are cut short (not all verses sung). First of all, who cares if Sonny and Cher don't drag out I Got You Babe. I was more saddened at the short versions of Sly's Dance to the Music. Most of those abridged versions were due to programming at the time.

Overall I was quite pleased. I thought the sound and pictures were pretty well mastered. Yes, there is some song duplication, but it didn't kill me. No, I wouldn't pay full price, but I'm really quite pleased. Actually , the most annoying thing is getting the DVDs out of the package. They are in there tight and you have to be careful pushing the middle ring to get the discs out. I can live with this compilation. At least it's not put together by some self indulgent producer who has to put interview footage in the middle of live performances like many do...that's the worst sin of all. Bottom line is this was a rush to watch. Really enjoyed the young Tom Jones and the Association. FYI, one of the Association's hidden harmonies was the Hawaiian singer's brother, who was always off stage with a microphone. Buy it, but get it on sale.

This could have been ten times better...
I'd seen the original Ed Sullivan Shows from the mid-60's to the end, the syndicated versions during the early 90's and the "Ed Sullivan Rock and Roll Classics" episodes on VH-1, so I was ready for a real treat. I wasn't sure what I was getting because the outside box gives very little information concerning any kind of track listing, something you'd expect for a 9-volume set, but I took a gamble anyway. Man was I shocked to find out that this is just a collection of the syndicated "Rock and Roll Classics" episodes, minus commercials. No DVD runs longer than 65 minutes, so I agree that the whole 9 DVD set (which runs less than 9 hours) could have fit on no more than 4 DVDs. There is also no reason why several identical performances are repeated. Each DVD has two or three episodes with the same repeated openings/closings, and all kind of really useless newsreel footage clogging up the set. The performances are sharp and sound crisp, and probably will be a lot of fun if you've never seen Sullivan's show or haven't seen it in a long while. There were so many performances that could have been included in this set from the Bee Gees "Words" to Ike and Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" to Tiny Tim's fascinating rendition of "Earth Angel", but this skimpy, padded box set is just ... If you can rent this, or buy it used it's worth a peep, otherwise don't shell out big bucks for it

You cannot please all of the people all of the time.
Jeez! I cannot believe some of the overly negative and somewhat paranoid reviews of this amazing set.
I mean,where else can you get so many performances of artists from the 1960's in colour? The picture quality is very good and it's all beautifully packaged in a set looking like a 1960's TV with a 3-dimensional image on the front. The set also has comments and film throughout telling us about the history of the times as well as an interview with Ed Sullivan and his wife.
Now some fans may be disappointed for whatever reason,but for a few to give only one star to this magnificent set,with well over 100 performances by some of the world's best artists,is just over-reacting.
It has nine performaces by Elvis Presley plus many performances by artists such as The 4 Tops,The Supremes(6 performances),The Jackson 5,Stevie Wonder,James Brown,The Beatles(6 performances),The Rolling Stones,The Carpenters,Tom Jones,The Beach Boys,Hermans Hermits,The Association,The Animals,The Mamas and The Papas,Johny Rivers,The 4 Seasons,The Temptations(6 performances),The Rightous Brothers,Smoky Robinson and The Miracles,Jerry Lee Lewis,Buddy Holly,Lou Rawls,Sly And The Family Stone,Jackie Wilson,The 5th Dimension,Gerry And The Pacemakers,The Searchers,Fats Domino,Lulu,Sonny and Cher,Paul Anka,Marvin Gaye,Bo Diddley,The Doors,Jefferson Airplane,Creedence Clearwater Revival,Little Anthony and The Imperials,Bobby Darin Jannis Joplin,Santana and others.
And most of these performances are in colour and this is the only set to have this. The early performances by The Beatles and the 1950's artists are in black and white,but it is very rare to see so many of these artists in full colour.
So those few that are disappointed are entitled to their opinions,but I think that this set is fantastic. To counter one poster's comments,the Hullabaloo set is mostly black and white and has only a few colour performances as the rest of the colour versions were lost. The Ed Sullivan Box Set has many more performances in colour.

Not for the serious Motown fan/collector...
The other reviews are all on point, but for those of us who remember the Motown acts that graced the Ed Sullivan show in the 60's, I stand to say for that reason alone, this box set is woefully disappointing. The Supremes debuted You Can't Hurry Love on the show in 1966 to coincide with the next-day release of the single. They would always sing a medley or standard. Every Motown act sang a hit song and then sang a medley of their hits. The Temptations and The Supremes sang a historical medley of each other's hits in 1967. Not that he was with Motown but mentioning anyway, James Brown sang an amazing medley featuring Please, Please, Please. None of these outstanding performances are on this box. Sad, but true. (I'd even settle on Elvis singing Can't Help Falling In Love With You, for that matter, and even THAT isn't on this set.) However, we DO have multiple performances of The Supremes singing Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart and Come See About Me as well as The J5 performing I Want You Back as well as James Brown singing Prisoner Of Love. There are other duplicates and wastes of valuable disc space that could have been spent on other performances. You can find VHS copies of all of the Motown acts on Ed Sullivan, or even all of The Supremes Ed Sullivan's performances on VHS on ebay. Granted, they are bootlegs, but at least you're getting what you want for a lot less money. Word to the wise, SAVE YOUR MONEY! Buy it at a deep discount or used or not at all. I was thoroughly disappointed. True Motown fans will be happy with Marvin Gaye singing Take This Heart Of Mine, but to spend nearly two hundred dollars for one rare performance is robbery. Now, it's not too much to ask for the powers that be to go back and redo, or even produce a separate Sullivan DVD featuring all of the Motown acts in their entirety, is it? I was a fan of Ed Sullivan anyway and even if you take away the Motown acts, this DVD is still lacking in so many valuable and historic performances. His show was a launching pad for many acts; his show was THE variety show of its time. EVERYONE wanted to be on it. Sadly, this DVD doesn't even capture the excitement of seeing these acts for the first time or even again some 40 years later. What is the point in digging out all of this old footage to create what could be an exciting historical montage and then do it wrong? The Hullabaloo discs show a much better time and they're cheaper. It hurts me to say it, but avoid this Ed Sullivan box at all costs. And I only rate this set 1 star because I can't rate it zero.

An eyeopener for a Brit music buff
As someone who in England never saw the Ed Sullivan Shows in the 1950s/1960s or 1970s, this was therefore a brand new experience with little knowledge beyond the stories of the Beatles initial performances helping break them in America and the Rolling Stones falling out with the man, in keeping up their image at the time.

The sheer range of the artistes represented makes it an amazing trip down memory lane and accepting all the restrictions of Sunday evening TV shows and tight time slots, I certainly did not find the layout format with introductory comments so each artiste or song is put into context a problem or that some of the performances are repeated (very few given the sheer number on this boxed set).

Highlights having watched several times are the Elvis and Beatles performances, the amazing range of Tamla artistes appearances though a heavy reliance on the Supremes, Jackson 5 and the Temptations (and their even more amazing stage costumes as the 1960s went on!)which are in turn blown away by the James Brown sets; plus some real great individual sets notably Creedence and Animals. If this box set is representative of what the show represented musically (knowing also that each show had a host of other family entertainment acts) then Ed Sulivan and his producers are belatedly being recognised in a great way for their major contributions in popular music.

In UK the equivalent 1960s show (Sunday Night at London Palladium) was apparently not archived properly so the Beatles, Stones and many other 1960s acts appearances are lost forever making this an even more important release.

Bummers for me were no major Stax/Atlantic artistes; too much Hermans Hermits (even if Ed did like them a lot)and a bias to late 1960s - more 1950s and early 1960s acts would have balanced better but these are small complaints for what has been a real eyeopener and pleasure to watch and listen to.

Now when is Rhino going to get the long deleted (in UK anyway) Tami and TNT video onto a good DVD reissue! ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The Monterey International Pop Festival, the three-day event staged in 1967 that has become one of rock music's most famous and in some ways greatest concerts, gets the royal treatment with this three-disc boxed set.

Material on two of the three discs has already been widely available. Monterey Pop, D.A. Pennebaker's 79-minute, 1968 film, effectively sets the scene for the festival, which took place during the fabled "Summer of Love," when the hippie ethos was in its fullest flower, especially on the West Coast. And while not all the featured performances are thrilling, those that are--principally by the Who, Jimi Hendrix, and the amazing Ravi Shankar--are worth the price of admission, especially in the high-definition digital transfer and new 5.1 mix seen and heard here. The same can be said for Jimi Plays Monterey and Shake! Otis at Monterey, which appear in the boxed set on a separate disc and provide a much fuller look at Hendrix's and Otis Redding's incendiary sets (literally, in the former case).

Those two discs are also loaded with bonus features, including audio commentary by Pennebaker, festival producer Lou Adler (on Monterey Pop), and author Peter Guralnick (Shake!); audio-only remarks by some of the performers; photos; trailers; and other material. There's also a substantial booklet, filled with essays and photos. But it's the third disc, "The Outtake Performances," comprising some two hours of music that didn't make the final film edit, that will be of most interest to many viewers. The disc supplies a taste of some of the artists who didn't appear in Monterey Pop at all (the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Quicksilver Messenger Service), and a more complete look at some who did (the Who, Simon and Garfunkel, the Mamas and the Papas). A nice addition to an already very impressive DVD collection. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (47)

I was there, now you can be, too.
Oh boy, Monterey Pop 1967. I was there and I loved every minute.

2 years before Woodstock, over 200,000 young people descended upon a sleepy California fishing village for a 3 day celebration of music, peace, flowers, and love that heralded the beginning of "The Summer of Love".

If you're goin'... wear some flowers in your hair.

When I found this film, I knew I had to have it. And, I have not been disappointed. It's great. D.A. Pennebraker captured the reality of The First Annual International Monterey Pop Music Festival. (Unfortunately, it was also the last annual.) This documentary is raw, gritty, and filled with sights and sounds you won't find in any Hollywood portrayal of the "hippie movement". Every time I watch it, it takes me back to that wonderfully magic moment in time.

You will enjoy the live performances of Janis Joplin (the weekend she signed a recording contract), The Jimi Hendrix Experience (their USA debut), Canned Heat, The Mamas and The Papas, Hugh Masakela, Jefferson Airplane, County Joe and the Fish, Ravi Shankar, Otis Redding, The Who, and many many others.

You will also get to see some the effect it can have upon a small town when it expands to 8 times its normal size for 3 days with not 1 arrest being made.

This weekend might have set the tone for the Summer of Love, but the music defined a whole new generation, and this film captures both.

Five Stars, for sure, I'd like to give it six.

Stan

"Monterey Pop": A REAL Hippie Music Experience
"Monterey Pop" captures the real essense of a "Hippie" music festival preceding slick commercial "pseudo-Hippie" productions

With often-jerky hand-held cameras, D. A. Pennepaker brings together color, clothing and culture of the Hippie period supported by its musical boundaries.

Present are mainstream Simon & Garfunkel, R&B's Otis Redding, and exotic Hugh Masakela and Marion Makeba's African folk/jazz. Included are Rock's lesser knowns Scott McKenzie, Canned Heat, Country Joe and the Fish and Eric Burdon and the Animals. Featured are "big names": The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Mommas and Poppas, Janis Joplin & Big Brother, Jefferson Airplane. An exciting 18-minute Ravi Shankar raga melds two worlds as a fitting finale.

An undercurrent of the film is how Pennepaker catches a "hippie" vs "mainstream" motif. Capturing Hippie culture: sharing food, offering barely articulate enthusiasms, or presenting an off-the-wall dress code; he compares it with better-dressed, more upscale audience members. With the images, one recognizes music unifing these differences.

It ain't MTV, or fancy camera lens stuff: just straight-ahead documentary; but it's a GREAT way to spend 98 delightful, laid-back minutes.

BLOOMFIELD ON DVD!!!!!!
It is an interesting fact that Michael Bloomfield was the best guitar player to perform at the Monterey Pop Festival. Sure, Jimi Hendrix performed with much talent, but he's a lousy song-writer, and William Hung is a better singer.

As for Bloomfield, I put out the dough for this three DVD set because it contained one live cut of Bloomfield and Electric Flag doing "Wine." Buddy Miles is on the cans, and he's wearing a suit! And I got to tell ya, Nick Gravenites--that's exactly how we people of Chicago's Westside look. Really!

As far as I have been able to confirm, this is the only video clip of Michael Bloomfield in existence. How'd that happen? G.G. Allin has tons of videos out in the marketplace. (Ha! Ha! I just thought that neither G.G. nor Bloomfield are in the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, but Arrowsmith is. And Tiny Tim might be.)

Anyway, the clip does capture an all-too-short solo that still gives the first-time listener something spectacular. If you don't like this clip of "Wine," then you don't like Bloomfield. But for those who saw the clip, who would declare that it was not at least very pleasant?

There's a lot of other cool stuff on these three DVDs. For example, fans of Janis Joplin will see a beautiful young lady. However, be forewarned that Big Brother and the Holding Company is blatantly musically inept. That band is terrible. It's worse than G.G. Allin and the Texas Nazis.

Fans of Tiny Tim will savor four cuts! Yeah! Four cuts of Tiny Tim playing the ukulele! Don't get me wrong, I mean I am glad that Tiny Tim has found a new career as vocalist for The Darkness.

You got to see the clothes The Who is wearing! I mean, it's awful!

So, yeah, this is good stuff. If only Hendrix and Bloomfield jammed together! Man!

The ultimate edition of the greatest concert film ever made
Mere words cannot describe the transcendental viewing experience that is "Monterey Pop", but I'll do my best to try here. Imagine a film of many of the best rock and pop acts of the 1960s performing at or near their peak smack in the middle of 1967's fabled Summer Of Love. Now imagine this concert expertly and emotionally filmed by master documentarian DA Pennebaker, and beautifully remastered 35 years later with crystal-clear sound and video. Now imagine every available surviving outtake from the original '68 film--including the complete Jimi Hendrix and Otis Redding performances (both briefly issued on VHS in the 80s), plus two more hours featuring many acts not featured in the original film--added to the set, most of which is as good or even better than what made the final cut.

"Monterey Pop" should be required viewing--far more than "Woodstock", that's for sure--for anyone interested in what the 60s was really all about. It is more than just an incredible rock festival, the first and still the best of its kind. It is a historical document of the hippie era at its euphoric peak. DA Pennebaker truly earned his credentials here as his camera focuses with incredible grace and sensitivity on each face, be it from audience member or performer. There is one shot during Ravi Shankar's performance where his camera walks down a lengthy aisle and the quasi-religious looks and gypsy-like fashions on the dozens of people he meets along the way is simply breathtaking. That singular mood--which captures a long-lost communal paradise of gentle smiles and laughter, incredibly colorful clothing and painted faces, mind-blowing psychedelic light shows, gods-eye weaves, beads, flowers and of course Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Otis Redding, Country Joe & The Fish, Simon And Garfunkel and many more giving performances more akin to spiritual visions than entertainment--will hypnotize and delight the viewer from beginning to end, and even though there are four hours of entertainment here you will be left wanting more (and usually wishing for a time machine).

With the audience almost as dazzling a sight as the performers, and the light show competing with and complementing the music for one's attention, the film feels like one singular artistic statement which came together like magic, fuelled by the acid-soaked climate of the time. Much interesting historical info is given in the booklet and audio commentaries, although the
real highlight of this re-release are the two extra DVDs featuring all the available outtake footage. Jimi Hendrix and Otis Redding, of course, gave two of the greatest performances of all time at Monterey; nothing need be said of Hendrix's now-iconic US breakthrough, which upped the ante on The Who's stunning set. Much more of The Who's set makes the outtakes disc as well, along with many artists unfortunately cut out of the original film such as The Byrds, Laura Nyro, The Electric Flag, The Blues Project and Buffalo Springfield. The Blues Project give a particularly fine, unexpected performance featuring an inspired flute solo. Other highlights include Big Brother doing "Combination Of The Two" (which crackles with excitement), Simon And Garfunkel dishing out a mesmerizing "Sound Of Silence", Country Joe & The Fish rocking on "Martha Lorraine" (with more classic audience shots), Jefferson Airplane storming their way through "Somebody To Love" (which should have made the official film over "High Flying Bird"), Laura Nyro's dramatic rendition of "Poverty Train", and Crosby and Stills together on stage for the first time while the Springfield do "For What It's Worth".

Films like this need to be preserved and cherished as time capsules of a bygone era that becomes more and more distorted through hazy recollection and warped media images over the years (for starters, not a *single* person in "Monterey Pop" can be seen wearing a tie-dye shirt!). It is my favorite concert film and one of the most enjoyable and even spiritual films I have ever seen, which at times brings a tear to the eye. If you've already seen the original film, the DVD will be "like Easter and Christmas and New Years and your birthday all in one"; if you haven't, and particularly if you are of today's under-21 generation for who the 60s are a distant grandparents' memory, "Monterey Pop" may change your life.

Just buy it for Jimi and Otis!
The wonders of modern technology! Take a concert from 1967 and turn it into something that looks like it was filmed yesterday. How they do that? The video and audio restoration here is just incredible. Anyone with a high quality tv will be amazed. The sound quality is outstanding. The first disc is the documentary and it's a great time capsule of 60's music. The second disc is just Hendrix and Otis Redding. This is worth the price of the dvd all by itself. Without question the greatest pair of performances by ever. And just a few years before their untimely deaths, which makes it even more special. Hendrix was and may forever be the best guitarist and stage performer combined of all time. Otis R was perhaps the best soul singer and performer of all time. This captures them at their prime. The third disc is out-takes, which has some good performances too. But make no mistake, this is Jimi and Otis show. Their likes may never be seen again. An essential dvd! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A Vague Sneak Peak About the King
As a relatively new Elvis fan, I generally speaking liked this selection. There are a lot of performances from Elvis's younger year that I very much enjoyed. The thing that bothered me though, was that the narration was very chopped up.
I liked first two discs well enough. The narrator was much more informative and interesting to listen to. However, I was very surprised, and disappointed when they totally switched to someone else on the third disc.
I felt that wa highly unorganized and strange. White the first two discs have fun performances and even some home movies.
The third I believe was just thrown together and made to make extra money. I personally would get something else for Elvis' performances. However, I'm not so disappointed because like I said I am a new Elvis fan. So I believe it's good for people who want a good introduction to him, but not for long time Presely fans though.

A Wide Variety of Good Recordings
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the same old complaints. "Some songs repeat" or "they showed two songs from the same concert" -- big deal! This is an excellent compilation of footage. From his first TV appearance in 1956, to his last in 1977, these tapes have everything you could ever want to see.

Highlights: "Shake Rattle and Roll" from the Dorsey Shows, "Ready Teddy" from Ed Sullivan, "All Shook Up" from the '68 Comeback, and "Unchained Melody" from Elvis in Concert. Some of the lip-synch performances are good too, as well as songs from his movies. Yes, some songs do repeat, but don't let that drag you down. If you don't like it, fast forward through it the second time.

I should have listened!
I should have listened to the Amazon.com reviews. Many of them said it looked like the same footage on each disc just from a different angle or a different song from the same concert. I didn't want to believe it but its true. However, I would recommend that you buy disc 1 and not the set. It is the best and captures every side of Elvis you will see in the other two. The version of "Unchained Melody" was fascinating. Not only was it very emotional and definitely touched me, but also shocking how heavy he was and was filmed just two months before his death. It may sound crazy but for me it was like a farewell song.

The Nightmarishly Unforgettable Performances
All Elvis fans have had the following nightmare: They buy an attractively packaged Elvis video product with no less a name than "Elvis: The Great Performances," unwrap the product in a blind fury arising from the anticipation of witnessing what Heaven must surely look like, and find . . . gasp . . . heart attack . . . a made-for-late-night-T.V.-edited montage of movie clips featuring Elvis lip synching his songs while his hair does that weird swaying thing that it does whenever he lip synchs his songs in his movies.
We have all had the nightmare, but I had to live it when I bought this set. All Elvis fans with even the most basic senses of music and film appreciation, be advised that this video is nightmarishly bad.

Great but there are some problems
I have to agree with Howard B. Thomas. There are at least three songs that repeated during the three volumes. The songs are Blue Suede Shoes, Don't Be Cruel and Hound Dog. But if you catch any other songs that are repeated during the 3 volumes e-mail me. Another problem I have is, there is a song performed on an Ed Sullivan show that is not perfromed by Elvis Presley. And that song is Bo Diddley. Elvis Presley made 3 appearances on the Ed Sullivan show. The first time he was introuded by a guest host because Ed Sullivan was hurt in a car crash. But was back in time for the two final appearances by Elvis Presley. The final song Elvis Presley sung on the three shows is "Peace in the Valley". Elvis made a qutoe about his christmas on the 3rd show. Which you can read the quote by Elvis in Christmas with Elvis under Christmas Quotes by Elvis. The three volumes are Center Stage, The Man and the Music, and From the Waist Up. There are songs from his movies on here to. And they are Love Me Tender, Teddy Bear, King Creole, Jailhouse Rock, Suspicious Minds, Got a Lot O' Lovin to Do, Trouble, Mean Women Blues, Treat Me Nice, GI Blues, Return to Sender, and Aways On My Mind. After the final song on Elvis Presley's 3red appearance Ed Sullivan said Elvis was a "fine boy". And this is coming from a man who once said "I don't want him on my show. I don't care what anyone says about him - how great a talent he is - he just won't be on my show and that's that. Ed Sullivan said he didn't want Elvis Presley on his show and yet he did. I learned that Ed Sullivan wanted Elvis Presley back on his show. If you love all three volumes you can buy this on video and dvd. The first 2 are narrated by Geroge Klein and the 3rd voume is narrated by Bono of U2. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Along with Fantasia and Fantasia 2000, theanthology set contains a third disc that examines a segment of bothmovies in detail. Each segment has an introduction that has experts(including Leonard Maltin), producer Roy E. Disney, or the animatorssetting up the piece's history. Notes on the music and dozens of designphotos are included on all the segments, although others offer moreintriguing features. Abandoned animation is shown on many segments, asare a few behind-the-scenes shorts; the most intriguing are expertsfrom Walt Disney's hosted documentaries on how his company made movies.As for the photos, they are awkwardly catalogued and only the mostpatient of viewers would want to look at all of them. In some segments,though, these images are entertainingly produced as a "story reel,"presenting these images--rough animation, sketches, pastelpaintings--with the musical accompaniment. For those looking for a morewell-rounded view of the films, the two one-hour documentaries on each film's disc lay the groundwork, but none of the anthology looks at howthe first film was seen through the years or gives time to anyone whowasn't gung-ho about every element of the films. There is hardly amention of embarrassing stereotypes that were matted (and still are)out of the "Pastoral" segment, or the intriguing aspect of the film asa '60s icon for the ultimate head-trip. Disney does let their guarddown to show sequences that were being readied in 1940 for futureeditions (including a recently restored short scored to "Clair deLune"). Most tantalizing is a look at how the special effects were donein the original film. The guide is a scrapbook that one of thetechnicians kept and was discovered only in 1990. Fans can only hope areproduction will be made available someday. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (158)

Fantasia is Brilliant, But 3 Disk Set is Overrated
Walt Disney's 1942 FANTASIA was a groundbreaking film and remains a landmark to this day, a brilliant series of animated sequences set to notable concert music conducted by Leopold Stokowski of The Philadelphia Orchestra. The three disk FANTASIA ANTHOLOGY, however, is extremely overrated.

The first disk is the original FANTASIA, which Disney describes as restored. This is not strictly true. First and foremost, the restoration of visual elements is sloppy at best, with the film plagued by streaks and blips, and at least one sequence ("Dance of the Hours") appears to be slightly cropped. That aside, portions of the Deems Taylor narration have been completely lost, and these have been rerecorded by Tim Matheson--and Matheson's voice is not a good match for Taylor and the sychronization is poorly done. Lastly, one selection ("Pastoral") has been censored: a brief image, which would be considered racist by today's standards, has been deleted from the sequence.

Even so, it is still FANTASIA, and it overcomes all of these liabilities. The animation, which was created by hand and photographed through a number of laborious processes, shows Disney Studios at the height of its powers. Every one is certain to have their favorites among the selections (mine are "Dance of the Hours" and "Night on Bald Mountain"), but every selection is brilliantly conceived and executed, and although the content varies from sequence to sequence the overall style of the film hangs together in a most remarkable way. FANTASIA was, is, and will no doubt will forever remain a touchstone in animation art.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the second disk, FANTASIA 2000. This particular film is extremely uneven, the sequences lack the same cohesive style that held the original FANTASIA together, and the entire film is beset by a series of often obnoxious "celebrity" introductions that give the film the feel of a made-for-TV variety show. Still, some of the visual ideas are very impressive, and while they are too few to offset the portions of the film that do not work, they still make FANTASIA 2000 mildly entertaining.

Both the FANTASIA and FANTASIA 2000 disks include documentaries and commentary tracks on each film. The third disk, called "The Fantasia Legacy," is a bonus packed with interviews, archieval footage, and sketches that show how each sequence in both films was developed and then filmed. Some of this material is redundant, for it is included on the documentaries on the first two disks, but most of it is unique to this disk alone. Disney originally saw FANTASIA as a film that could be re-released with a mix of old and new selections every few years, and the most interesting material on the "Legacy" disk is a restored "Clair de Lune" (made for and then cut from the original FANTASIA) and various storyboard ideas for future sequences.

The only way one can obtain the "Legacy" disk is to purchase this three disk package--and therein lies the rub. The original FANTASIA is brilliant, and even in its so-so state it is worthy of a place in any DVD library. FANTASIA 2000, however, is trivial, occasionally interesting but not greatly memorable and not a piece that one would normally go out of the way to purchase. And the price for the three disk package is quite steep.

If you are a Disney fan who must have every scrap of material available, I would recommend the investment this package requires. But if your primary interest is the original FANTASIA, you are much better off simply purchasing a DVD of that film alone--the other two disks are simply not worth the expense. Purchasers should alos remember that the original FANTASIA does not often appeal to very young children, and if the purchase is being made for a child you are likely to be disappointed in their response. Final thought: the original FANTASIA is brilliant, FANTASIA 2000 is so-so, and the bonus disk is for hardcore fans. This pricey package is recommended to the latter only.

Fatasia is Beautiful - Even Better on DVD!
I saw Fantasia 2000 before a saw the original. And I love both of them, but I think I love the original just a little bit more. After I saw 2000, I wanted to go buy the original. But it wasn't around. When I found out it was coming out on DVD, I rushed out to buy it. The "Making of Fantasia" feature is great!

1. Toccata & Fugue - Rousing music, good choice for opening. But I'm not a big fan of abstract animation.

2. Nutcraker Suite - Although most people like the Sorcorer's Apprentice best, I like this one the best. The music is so catchy! This peice's fantasy characters make me feel like a little kid again.

3. The Sorcorer's Apprentice - Ummm . . . Its O.K. Its good to own since its hisotric in Micky Mouse history.

4. Rite of Spring - This segment rocked! Why doesn't anyone like it? If featured breakthrough technology for the '40s! And the dinosaurs were so accurately drawn according to science at that time!

5. Intermission & Sound Track - Was this stuff necisary?

6. Pastoral Symphony - Great music, mythological characters. I guess it depends on your conscience for wether or not to like this one.

7. Dance of the Hours - LOL! This piece was great! I never knew Fantasia had the "Camp Granada" song! And the hippos and croc are so cool!

8. Night on Bald Mountain - Disney went overboard on this one. It's pretty demonic. It's up to you one wether to watch that one or not. I know he wanted the biggest battle of good vs. but this was too much.

9. Ava Maria - Kinda hokey and religous. It's alright. but the multi-plain camera was put to good use.

A Work of Art
Fantasia is a very unique creation, there has never been another movie quite like it, before or since, and I think it's safe to say there never will be. Disney took a risk with creating something so dfferent from the norm; most of the American public is not likely to sit and listen to classical music for two hours, or watch a movie with no words. However, it was a very worthwhile risk, as Fantasia is a beautiful work of art, and has become a classic.
There is a certain captivating magic when the incredible sounds of the world's best musicians combine with the dazzling sights of the world's best animators. The imagery is full of fantasy, rich color, and graceful beauty. It's impossible not to be dazzled as the music washes over you, and you watch the stories of each of these little worlds unfold.

Misleading box, but it's still a masterpiece.
First, go click on the picture of the box so you can see a larger image. See how it says "Walt Disney's Original Uncut Version" at the bottom? Well, it's not. No, one scene in Fantasia was edited for every single home release as far as I know. It's in the scene "The Pastoral Symphony". When the female centaurs are getting all prettied up and ready for the male centaurs, you'll notice a very fuzzy extreme close up on one of them. What's going on in this scene? There's a black skinned centaur named Sunflower helping that one out. Go do a search for "Disney Sunflower Snopes" and it should show up. Why does Disney do this? Kids watching that part aren't really going to have any racist thoughts regarding the scene, or become a KKK member or anything after watching it. But there you have it, this isn't really "uncut" because of that. And this only enforces that there's a high chance of Disney not releasing Song of the South anytime soon. And this is a shame that they're going so P.C. that we're never going to be allowed to see how everything was originally released. If they can put out the Treasure tin sets, which have a lot of Asian and Spanish stereotypes, why is there such a problem with Song of the South and a black centaur?

Other than that, Fantasia is a masterpiece. While it didn't really help Disney out much financially, the animation that accompanies the music is flawless. You really admire the artists that worked on each short. While it took hundreds to work on one piece at a time, now it'd only take a couple of guys on a computer with the latest animation software a few days. It's funny that most of this looks better than a lot of recent Disney films. The colors, smoothness of the animation, and how it blends with the music is just breath taking.

The picture is as good as you're going to get for a movie this old. There's very little grain and dust on the print, and you'll hardly notice it with all the beauty on-screen. The audio is crisp and clear, so go nuts turning it up.

The special features are ok. The commentary is made up of interviews and clips from Walt and others. When some people speak on it, there's a little bit of static, which doesn't matter since it's taken from an early source. It's not going to interfere with hearing anything they say, but I just thought I'd mention it. It's still a very interesting commentary track. I listen to it from time to time and always learn something new. The documentary is pretty cool too, though a lot of it I've already heard from other Disney specials and such. If you want the real goods as far as extras go, get the Fantasia Anthology edition. The third disc on that sucker is amazing.

So if you're really expecting the "uncut" version, you'll be disappointed. I doubt it'll ever be released unless somehow Leonard Maltin can get that put out too. I mean, if he can get the Donald Nazi short put out in the newest wave of Disney Treasures, he's gotta have SOME chance of giving us the original Fantasia. Pick this up before it's out of print for another 10 years. It's a film to pass down the generations.

classic
This is a classic marriage of two art forms Music and Animation. There are six sets of classical pieces By the Philadelphia Orchestra under the leadership of Leopold Stokowski. Each piece is accompanied by animation that either tells a story or illustrates visually the music. Each piece is a feast for the eyes and ears. The most famous piece is Mickey Mouse as the sorcere's apprentice. He gets ahold of his master's magical hat and decides to take a short cut indoing his chores with disastrerous results. The two pieces that really stand out for me is the "Nutcracker Suite" and "Night on Bald Mountain" This is a great movie for anyone who enjoys classical music. It may be too "High Brow" for children but it could be a good medium to introduce them to classical music. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

The best TF show since Gen 1
I'm not going to bother with giving you a break down of the episodes, since you're looking at this you should know what they are. But rather my flat out opinion of this DVD set.
Beast Wars was a show that like a fine wine, got better with age.
The first season was more for the kids, where this season really got back to the roots of the Transformers for us older fans, and the stories are great. One thing I noticed about Beast Wars was the fact it was not as toy driven as G1, you were introduced to new characters (toys) for the sake of storyline only, not have 10 characters all of a sudden crammed into an episode. Beast Wars stayed primarely with it's starting characters, developing great personalities for each one, you actually cared for these guys. The "Code of a Hero" episode for example.
The voice acting also is top notch, great talent used for this show.
The animation is far much better than the first season and gets even better in the third, my favorite of the three.
It's great to see this series uncut, Fox Kids butchered some episodes, and that definitly ruined the impact of some stories.
My only complaint is the lack of special features on the disc, but that's a small price to pay to finally get one of the best CG series out on DVD. Hurry up Rhino. The fans await season 3.
And I want to give Amazon.com a big "Hooah!!!" for delivering my order and some much needed entertainment to us troops serving in Kuwait & Iraq.

Great 2nd season
The second season of Beast Wars saw the introduction of Trans-Metals. Some first season 'bots saw a Trans-metal transformation, while others died off, only to be replaced with new 'bots.

Episodes included are:
27) Aftermath: The alien machine is destroyed and Optimus went up with it, but the explosion sets off a quantum surge that changes the planet - and several of the robots. In his new, more powerful transmetal body, Megatron hopes to take out the Maximals before they have a chance to regroup and recover.

28) Coming of the Fuzors (1): Two new Maximals awake in Predacon territory, both with bizarre looks and unusual personalities due to the damaged systems in their stasispods. Taking advantage of their confusion, Megatron convinces them they are Predacons, hoping to finally crush the Maximals with these reinforcements. Meanwhile, Blackarachnia returns to the Predacon base with Tarantulas' body, Tigatron and Airrazor go of looking for more stasispods, Rhinox shuts down and connects to the Axalon in an attempt at reaching Optimus' spark, and Dinobot realizes that the aborted armageddon has left the planet looking awfully familiar.

29) Coming of the Fuzors (2): Hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned, Rattrap, Cheetor and Dinobot try to keep the Predacons away from the Axalon where Rhinox lies delving deep into the Matrix, pursuing a faint hope...

30) Tangled Web: Megatron sends out Tarantulas, Blackarachnia and Quickstrike to build an energon refueling station, though the spiders' scheming complicates even the simplest task.

31) Maximal, No More: Dinobot is captured while on a recognizance mission, and surprisingly asks Megatron for permission to rejoin the Predacons, offering the golden disk as proof of his sincerity.

32) Other Visits (1): While out surveying the planet, Airrazor and Tigatron trigger a remaining alien site. While the Maximals scramble to their rescue, Tarantulas is already on his way, determined to thwart the aliens' plans.

33) Other Visits (2): Surviving the energon surge thanks to their new transmetal bodies, Tarantulas sets up a shield around the alien construct and heads inside along with Megatron and Quckstrike. Outside, Optimus and Rattrap try to figure a way in, while the two other transmetalized Maximals return the wounded Rhinox and Dinobot the CR chambers

34) Bad Spark: Cheetor discovers a huge stasis pod, containing Protoform X - a failed Maximal experiment that created an indestructible spark but drove it insane in the process. When Predacons arrive, a fight breaks out over it, setting off an energon storm that leaves Blackarachnia and Silverbolt together damaged, having to fend for themselves - While Protoform X awakens, looking for a victim...

35) Code of Hero: Rhinox discovers that the Trans-Warp wave will soon reach Cybertron, meaning that a rescue may at long last be at hand. Megatron also learns of this, and decides that he will not surrender. Instead, Megatron uses the Golden Disk to destroy key details of the past that would severely alter the future. Meanwhile, Dinobot is still searching for a way to reclaim his lost honor. He gets the chance upon finding out Megatron's new target for destruction: The early human race.

36) Transmutate: A series of earthquakes uncovers a heavily damaged stasispod. Out of it comes a freakish robot - barely sentient, but with extremely powerful weapons. Scoffed at by the others, both Silverbolt and Rampage sense a kindred spirit, each in their own way.

37) The Agenda (1): As the transwarp wave generated by the explosion in "Other Voices (2)" nears Cybertron, the Maximals rejoice, thinking the rescue is on its way. But unbeknownst to them, it is intercepted and diverted by the leaders of the Cybertronian Predacon alliance, who view Megatron as a loose cannon and wants to deal with him quietly, by sending one of their covert operatives.

38) The Agenda (2): Megatron is captured, but the battle used up too much of the cruiser's energon supply for there to be enough for the travel back to Cybertron. While Ravage interrogates Megatron about where they might find more, Primal confronts Silverbolt about his relationship Blackarachnia, leading the Fuzor to go off on his own to find her.

39) The Agenda (3): The Maximals manage to take out the transwarp cruiser and fend of the Predacon attack. But the battle is far from over, as Megatron heads for the now uncovered Autobot Ark - containing the heroes and villains who'll shape the Cybertron where the Predacons and Maximals come from.

This was the greatest show of my childhood
As a younger man, I loved this show, and I have both seasons on DVD, but where is Season 3? I will be extremely upset if there is no Season 3 DVD released soon.

Bring on the Beast Wars!
When I first heard of the Beast Wars series, I was skeptical. So skeptical in fact, that I did not watch it on TV. A few months ago, I purchased both Season 1 and Season 2, and I have been roped. The characters have depth and personality and the story line, especially in the 2nd season, is quite addictive, especially with the Tie-ins to Gen 1. In Season 2, they get far more into the history of the Maximals and the Predacons, which brings us back to the Great War between the Autobots (Maximals Ancestors) and the Decepticons (Predacons Ancestors). I don't want to blow the ending, but it is a seat grabber. For those who are TF Gen 1 fans, lets just say that the planet is revealed to be Earth, 4 million years ago. Anyone remember what happened 4 million years ago with a ship and a volcano?

Buy this NOW
Beast Wars was my favorite cartoon show from 5-10th grade...I'd get up every morning @ 6:30am to watch this! And I had crappy reception at the time, so getting the BEST season of the show in perfect DVD quality is beyond amazing. If you like great plots and characters for kids AND adults, please buy this ASAP!!! ... Read more

Reviews (194)

If You Liked The TV Special, You'll Love This!
This video series is highly recommended for any serious Beatle fan! While I agree that you can't say it all in just 8 hours, all 4 beatles share stuff you won't find in any book on the Beatles.

Tape 1 begins with a video collage of their history, features their youthful beginnings, days in Hamburg, how Ringo joined the band, and their rise to the top in England.

Tape 2 shows their growth as a band, talks on their BBC sessions, performing for the Queen, stories about touring, and some hilarious TV segments!

Tape 3 begins with their introduction into America, talks about their performance on the Ed Sullivan Show, Ringo's tonsilitis, and their 1st movie A Hard Day's Night.

Tape 4 talks about the pressures of touring, drugs, Dylan, the making of Help!, the inspiration for Yesterday, and winning the MBE award.

Tape 5 talks about their Shea Stadium performance, meeting Elvis, Rubber Soul and Revolver.

Tape 6 talks on the events that led to the Beatles' final tour in 1966 (the Philippines and John's remarks about Jesus), Strawberry Fields Forever, Penny Lane,Sgt. Pepper, and their holiday in Greece.

Tape 7 starts with the One World performance of "All You Need Is Love", and talks about the Maharishi, the death of Brian Epstein, Magical Mystery Tour, the opening of Apple, Yellow Submarine, and John's new companion, Yoko Ono.

Tape 8 begins with the White Album, discusses the closing and dissolution of Apple, Hey Jude, Let It Be, Paul's marriage to Linda, John's marriage to Yoko, George and John's drug busts, Abbey Road, and the Free As a Bird video (what? Real Love isn't included! ).

A splendid time is guaranteed for all!

Beatlemania Lives On
The Beatles Anthology originally aired on ABC in November, 1995. The documentary was shown over the course of three days with the big hook being seeing the videos for the two "new" Beatles songs "Free As A Bird" & "Real Love". The series also set the stage for the release of three double-disk Anthology albums that would follow in subsequent months. The documentary itself is a true gift for any Beatlemaniac. It is loaded to the gills with performance footage, behind the scenes looks at their recording process, home movies and old interviews. The best part though is all the living Beatles, at the time, participated in the production and gave current interviews and John Lennon was also liberally featured through archival interviews. Seeing Paul McCartney, George Harrison & Ringo Starr discuss their experiences in the band is a real treat and it's what separates this documentary from the countless others about the group out there. Also, their producer and guide, George Martin provides candid insights that only someone who was so closely linked to the band could provide. The new DVD collection does a tremendous job in providing a sharp picture and the 5.1 surround sound is amazing. The additional footage on the final disk is superb, especially the three Beatles sitting together and reminiscing about old times and their return to Abbey Road Studios where, along with Mr. Martin, they provide some incite on the recording processes used on some their biggest hits.

I wish it would be available in other formats
I wish that this precious collection would have subtitles in spanish and would be available in other dvd formats

At Last
A TV special. Three double albums. An eight video set. One place to find the Beatles' entire musical history. Told through ten hours of present day interviews and totally new footage, this documentary IS the Beatles. Travel around the world with the Beatles and see them in concert at such locations as London, Australia, Sweeden, Japan, and of course, America. This five-DVD set contains highlights of the Beatles' performances from all around the world, plus newsreels, home movies, movie clips, interviews and more! Everything you need of the Beatles all in one place. Amazing.

best documentary ever
The best part of this documentary is that there is no narrator. All parts of the story are described using pictures/sound clips/videos/commentary from the Beatles themselves, which makes for a very inciteful watch.

Plus, because each Beatle has a different personality, you get a mostly objective view. Paul is always trying to smooth arguments and rivalry over, George is cynical about the 60's in general, Ringo is friendly, and John (taken from past interviews) is always inciteful.

It was very interesting and it kept my attention throughout the entire 8 hour film. One thing I wish they had done was focus more time for the later years as a band (IMO when they made their best music), but it is hurried a bit. Of course, that is only relative since they spend 2 1/2+ hours on it. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

WELL WORTH THE CASH!
I'm not going to leave a long-winded review like some others have done. But i do have to say that this DVD set is definitely worth the money. You get a whole lot of music that's for sure. Some of these clips are very rare and hard to find elsewhere. Also, there is a great mix of genres of music and different artists, more than enough to keep you entertained. Bottom line; you get five DVDs, packed with some of the greatest artists of our time, and all for about $50.00. You can't beat that with a stick. BUY IT!

When Music Meant Something
These videos really took me back to a time when music was intertwined with politics and social change. Although some of the footage is black and white, I had never seen Blue Cheer or Steppenwolf in their prime. A few clips are fuzzy, but they appear to be really old; Stevie Wonder looks like he's twelve or so. Most enjoyed the Who live; Otis Redding's last appearance (also live) before his death; a very handsome Ray Davies; Percy Sledge singing When A Man Loves A Woman; and a terrific Ike and Tina. Altogether, a valuable archival product. Casey's really a pretty sympatico presenter.

What a Rip Off !!!!
40 or so minutes per disk of footage mainly taken from German TV. Experimental camera techniques have not dated well. Content is widely available elsewhere at much better value for your money, compilation probably put together by an accountant.

Disappointing quality sound and picture.
This is a disappointing set as a lot of the film clips are poor quality. There are some good ones,like a color film clip where the Who perform live,but the many poor quality ones spoil it.
For example,there is a poor live performance by Cream which has terrible sound and poor picture quality. There is a James Brown clip(filmed in B&W)where he is obviously miming on his own. Compare this to the Ed Sullivan DVDs where James Brown performs live with a huge band backing him and you can see that this is a very average collection of DVDs. I would recommend either the Ed Sullivan,Music Scene or Hullabaloo Music DVDs as they are much better quality than this mediocre set.

If you like lipsinking
If you like lipsinking you will like this set. There are some live performances but most are TV show performances with lipsinking. I was disappointed. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Destined to remain the single most comprehensive record of JudyGarland's latter-day career, The Judy Garland Show Collection is an astonishing treasure of great lasting value. Preserving 14 complete episodes from Garland's rarely seen CBS-TV variety show from 1963-64, the set also offers a wealth of excerpts, outtakes, performances, and supplements packed onto all 8 sides of four DVDs. Of course Garland's established fans must have this set, which is handsomely boxed in a miniature show-biz trunk (to honor Judy's signature stage prop), and includes a paperback edition of Coyne Steven Sanders's definitive book about the show's one-season glory. Better still is the value this boxed set has for those who are unaware of Judy Garland's amazing talent beyond The Wizard of Oz. For anyone with only a cursory awareness of Garland's skill as an interpreter of great songs, this box will be a dynamic revelation.

Here, after all, is a mature performer at the peak of her song-styling craft, and The Judy Garland Show Collection gathers many of her finest performances. Side One of Disc One is "Just Judy"--28 songs that demonstrate Judy's amazing range and her penchant for melancholy, introspective tunes of loneliness and sorrow, brilliantly combined with such trademark showstoppers as "When You're Smiling" and "Keep Your Sunny Side Up." Elsewhere in the set, Judy shares the stage with such luminaries as Mel Tormé, Tony Bennett, Count Basie, Lena Horne, Mickey Rooney, and many others, including her 17-year-old daughter Liza Minnelli, who was then on the cusp of her own stardom.

This was not the most stable time in Judy Garland's life, and she makes mistakes here and there--a show-biz great who'd falter occasionally, only to recover in grand style. But what's most evident is the sheer power of Judy Garland's talent, showcased by the finest musical and backstage talent that TV had to offer (including director Norman Jewison prior to his move to feature films). Watching this 15-hour compilation is a joyous reminder that a TV variety show, in the right hands, was the premier source of mainstream American entertainment. The Judy Garland Show had to struggle for ratings (it competed in the same time slot as NBC's popular series Bonanza), but this boxed set restores its timeless value. Pioneer has done a superlative job in presenting what is certainly one of the most impressive DVD packages ever produced. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (48)

JUDY, JUDY, JUDY ... AND MORE JUDY!
Forget your troubles, c''on get happy! This four DVD set contains 14 episodes from Garland's historic (but ill-fated) 1963-64 CBS TV series -- that's more than half of the 26 programs that were taped. Remastered and restored to pristine brilliance, this is Judy at her very best, singing tunes she made famous and sharing the spotlight with such famous folk as Lena Horne, Ethel Merman, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Ray Bolger, Steve Lawrence, Count Basie, Mickey Rooney and her daughter, Liza. The bonuses are terrific: more than 15 never-broadcast outtakes from all the shows; a paperback edition of "Rainbow's End: The Judy Garland Show;" photo gallery and press shots never before seen and audio commentary with people involved in the original broadcast of the series.

The Greatest Work of Judy Garland's Career
I've heard so many people say that the finest work of Judy Garland's adult career is A Star is Born; as wonderful as it is, I disagree. Her television show of the 1963-64 season is definitely the greatest work of her career. Though Judy had only five years left to live, she is in exceptional voice. Her emotion filled deliveries before live television audiences are awe-inspiring. Knowing that Judy's shows are preserved on DVD is especially a treat for those of us who were not born yet. The Judy Garland Show Collection box set is amazing - 14 of 26 episodes, outtakes, a beautifully written book about the series, an index booklet of guests, shows, and songs, a link to the Judy Garland Database, and a screen saver, all packaged in a very attractive trunk casing. The audio and visual quality of these shows is unbelievable; so clear and crisp you'd swear they were taped yesterday. Some of Judy's guests include Mickey Rooney, Count Basie, Lena Horne, Liza Minnelli and Tony Bennett, to name a few. It's also interesting to see the changes in the style of the shows due to its three different producers. Of coarse, best of all is Judy, as Judy, giving some of the greatest performances of her career. I believe that just as her performance as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz will be remembered as the beginning of her musical brilliance, The Judy Garland Show will go down in history as the final word on the greatness of Judy Garland.

The top of the rainbow
'Spellbound' That's the only true descriptive of my reaction to watching the Judy Garland Show Boxed Collection. The array of talented guests who appear on the show is breathtaking, but ultimately its Judy herself who rivets our attention to the TV screen. The voice is rich and powerful and Judy looks great (having conquered the weight problems, which had plagued her for the last few years). Judy is not just a great singer however. Her whole presence, delivery and unmistakeble mannerisms combine to transcend her to the legend that she has become. Never has this been better demonstrated than through her performances in her show. Thank goodness this TV show was made (even though it is impossible to understand fully why it only ran for one season). It gives us folks, who are too young to have been lucky enough to see Judy in concert at the peak of her powers, a sample of what it must have been like. As far as I am concerned, I could watch all 14 shows again..and again...and again..(and probably will)!!

She shines among the brightest of stars
Just got this box set.. I cannot stop watching it.. I too was born after this series was on TV in it's run... But, seeing the brillant picture and sound I'm sure it looks and sounds better than it did when it was being shown on CBS in it's only season.
My favorite parts of this box set are:
Mickey Rooney and Judy bringing their movie roles that they appeared in together while teenagers, as young 40 somethings in 1963.
Loved seeing Ray Bolger and Judy.. Loved the 1940's Melody by Martha Raye and Judy. You can tell how much June Allyson and Judy loved each other in the show with June in it. Loved the old Hollywood home movies of Ken Murray. Especially the one show featuring Judy and her hollywood friends back when everyone was young, and when times were more innocent before WW2.
Loved the extra of Mel Torme singing Don't get around much anymore... to Judy and June Allyson. June and Judy look like a bunch of teenagers swooning to Mel Torme.
I can't get over the amount of popular songs that are on this collection.. The best of the best.
Loved seeing Liza as a teenager. Too many talented guests only one tv show. Loved the Tea for Two... Steve Allen guest spot on one of the Dvd Bonuses. Would love to see Jack Paar show with appearnaces of the best of his guests which would include Judy. Hard to believe that 40 years ago, this show was ON Tv every week. Great paperback book included in this..
You feel like Judy is singing straight to you.
Loved the 2nd box collection too...
Both box sets combined will make the entire season of Judy's Tv series.