Customer Reviews

Bette Midler's Art or Bust [VHS]

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This one will make you laugh , and it will make you cry. Both. I promise. A spectacular performance. In this concert is Bette at her best, a cross between Barbara Streisand and Janice Joplin, but with her own sense of humor mixed in. The only problem is the bits of old films incorporated into the video. They aren't bad, in fact the one filmed at the United Jewish Appeal is great, but they break up the overall effect of the concert that is the main part of this video.

Bette is truly an international icon!! She is spectacular in "Art or Bust". Bette is captivating, energetic, and fantantic!! You'll go on a roller-coaster of emotions while watching this immaculate piece of art. This video should be renamed "Excellence of Bust". And, of course, she never busts.

This is Bette at her best! Midler sings, in concert and is at her best. If you've ever wanted to see Midler live, see this video. All her charisma shows here. She show us why she is a gigantic multitalent.(She tells a few jokes and then shows film clips of her days at the baths.) One can see why she became so acclaimed when one sees her perform at a New York bath house(a gay hangout in the early 70's). It is truly amazing.

For those of you who have seen Bette's 1980 release, Divine Madness, this is much better than that performance which was marred by Bette's sickness and a dark coloring. THis concert is mainly a redeeming video of Bette as I call it which allows her to clear up the somewhat failure of Divine Madness. Here Bette sings many songs off The Rose soundtrack as well as her 1983 album that had just come out at the time the concert was filmed called NO FRILLS. Bette sings well here and the 1980s New Wave feel can be seen here as there are many strange elements to the performance. However, Midler does sing and perform well i.e. The Rose and a cover called LORD, HERE COMES THE FLOOD which is worth buying the video on its own terms. Better than DIVINE MADNESS but not as good as her 1997 HBO concert DIVA LAS VEGAS.

Superb! Run, do NOT walk to purchase this - performance art at Bette's best!! I'm wearing out my VHS of this as I type!~