Customer Reviews

The Best of the Blues Brothers

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Well here it is, the complete story of The Blues Brothers Band. The band that played soul, rhythm and blues, and blues. With the brilliant frontmen and performers Elwood and Jake, they quickly rose to fame across the nation. This DVD stars writer Tom Davis, Dan Ackroyd, and Elwood Blues himself. This DVD boasts 14 different musical performances of the band: I'm A King Bee, I've Got Everything I Need (Almost), Can't Turn You Loose, B-Movie Box Car Blues, Soul Man, Messin' With The Kid, Groove Me, Flip Flop & Fly, I Don't Know, Hey Bartender, Jailhouse Rock, Rubber Biscuit, Shotgun Blues, Soul Man (alternative version). This is a unique DVD with an almost Behind the Music type set up. It is one hour long, not bad for thirteen dollars. It is also unique how the viewer is given the thoughts of both Dan Ackroyd and Elwood in this DVD, and how they both reacted to the loss their respective partners. While the last ten minutes or so are an advertisement for the House of Blues, the first 50 are interesting and very good. This video is not for the somewhat fan, but a must for the true fan of the Blues Brothers Band.

If you adore the Blues Brothers, then you may be willing to overlook the poor monaural sound and sub-VHS-quality video on this "Special Edition" DVD just to see one more glimpse of our old favorites.

However, the sound is not just bad, it is like listening to a cheap transistor radio--totally tinny and with zero stereo separation, as shown on my spectrum analyzer, even though the disk is billed as having two channel digital sound. (This is a problem with the DVD standard: You can record a telephone call onto a DVD, and if you use two channels to do it, you can claim two-channel digital sound.)

The picture is not just bad, in many places we're left looking through a dim red fog at a bunch of unidentifiable dancing figures. It is bad, really bad. The worst I've ever seen on a on a commercial video in any format.

Instead of an honest, straight forward interview with Aykroyd, we're given a way-overproduced "mockumentary," within which we are asked to separate the real from the imaginary.

The only honesty surrounding this disk, as limited as it is, comes in the disclaimer in 4 point type at the bottom of the back cover: "There may be some slight visual variances due to the state of the original master."--The understatement of the century.

The main theme of this is: A restaurant, Dan Aykroyd is sitting at a table with an interviewer, waiting for the other person to be interviewed (Elwood Blues) to arrive...He gets there they all chit-chat. The interview begins.... It is mainly focused on Elwood's loss of Jake, and Dan's loss of John. Really deep and really great, recommended of any blues brother fan. It shows old B.B. concert footage, and has a harmonica lesson at the end. A true keeper.......

I'm a huge BB fan but while the DVD was good, it could have been great. Specifically, the audio mixing was lean. The sound was missing the richness that the BB's are known for. Likewise, although I'm not one to crank the bass, the bass was too light.

Another complaint is the goofy discussions with Dan Akroyd between songs. Fairly cheesy. It would have been better to add the discussions with Dan as a Special Feature rather than between songs. Furthermore, the songs tended to abrubtly start during the second or third bar of the song. Why not at the beggining of the song?

Nonetheless, if you're a die hard BB fan you'll enjoy it.

This video contains most of what any die hard Blues Brothers fan would need to know. The origins of the band are talked over by Dan Ackroyd and Elwood. Most of the famous songs are in there including ones from SNL and from their 1978 concert tour. There are downsides though, the interviewer is irritating and interrupts Ackroyd, and much of the older footage has poor quality sound and visuals. However if you like the blues brothers and want to see Jake wearing different sunglasses and in one short a red hat, then buy it!!!

The only negative thing that I have to say about this video is that it's over too quickly. If you are a Blues Brothers fan and (like me) had only just been born when they were singing live, then this is your opportunity to see them in the act. Name your favourite song, and you'll most likely see it performed here. The majority of the songs from 'Briefcase Full of Blues' are on here but I'm afraid those from 'Made in America' aren't.
Still, this video is well worn owning and includes an insightful interview with Dan Aykroyd and Elwood, which becomes very funny towards the end, then all of a sudden, poignant as they consider what effect the absence of John Belushi and Jake has had on the band.
What I especially loved about the Blues Brothers is how they repeatedly acknowledged each individual member of the band. Whenever it's Steve Cropper's or Matt 'Guitar' Murphy's turn (Matt 'Muscle' Murphy if you ask me) for a solo, Belushi and Aykroyd are more than happy to step out of the spotlight and let them take over, whilst they have a cigarette in the corner or lie down and have a rest on the floor! (You'll have to get 'Saturday Night Live - The Best of John Belushi' to see the latter one!...

This is a great video for fans of the blues brothers. Dan Aykroyd plays two roles at once-one as himself, one as Elwood blues. Each gives a story about the band, how it started, how it ended. This video contains hilarious performances, including the "Killer Bee" performance. Just gotta see it!

This DVD is good if you are a big fan of Belushi and Aykroyd but the interviews are poor. This would have been better if the interview had concentrated on either Dan Aykroyd or Elwood but the live performances more than make up for this flaw. Early recordings of their first live performance on Saturday Night Live is not to be missed!! The only other drawback of this was that there was no harmonicia lession as advertised which was disappointing and it's for this reason that I am not giving this a four star rating. Generally, it's well worth buying of you want to see live performances but not worth it just for the interview

If you love The Blues Brothers (and who doesn't) this video would be a great addition to your collection. You get a lot of info about the origin of the band and the creation of the mythology of the characters. However, the best part is that it has a ton of footage from their concerts and tv appearances. Belushi would have been very pleased.

I loved this DVD. All kinds of stuff I have never seed. I loved the stories from the band. Great footage. I don't know why some people are so hard on this. I loved it and if you are a fan of the Blues Brothers you will love it too. Enjoy~I did and will again....