Blast! An Explosive Musical Celebration
 
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Blast! An Explosive Musical Celebration (2001)

Blast (Actor) | Rated: NR | Format: DVD
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews) |

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Product Details

  • Actors: Blast
  • Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: Pbs (Direct)
  • DVD Release Date: May 8, 2001
  • Run Time: 115 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00005A45N
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,978 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

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Special Features

  • Alternate-angle viewing on "Bolero," "Villa Borghese," and "Officer Krupke"
  • Documentary: "Music in Motion: The Making of Blast!"

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

If your favorite part of a football game is when the marching band takes the field, then you're going to love Blast. Think of the most rousing, in-sync band that you ever saw, turn them way up, add cool costumes and a black-and-white checkered stage with colored spotlights, throw in a good helping of the Stomp vibe, and you've got Blast.

Color is the theme that threads the different musical pieces together. Beginning with Ravel's Bolero, the audience is pulled into this new music/dance/theatre experience as the band takes the stage marching, twirling, and weaving. The performers aren't simply musicians--they dance, sing, act, and play their brass and drums. "Loss," in the Blue section of the color wheel, is particularly touching. Even the flag team--a very sexy and talented flag team--is represented. The Green section melds into a sober and lovely rendition of "Simple Gifts," then concludes quietly with Copland's Appalachian Spring. In the black light of "Battery Battle," you're pulled into the rhythm of the lone drummer, then dueling snare drums, and finally a row of energetic, blindfolded drummers who never miss a beat. "Medea" combines movement and music in a dramatic interpretation of Samuel Barber's piece, and, set to a dance-club beat, "Lemon Techno" is a flurry of yellow flags, poles, and sensuous movement. A spectacularly sultry "Malaguena" drenched in red ends the program.

It's easy to see why Blast is a PBS favorite. It's an amazing new type of performance--one that every high school marching band member will want to emulate. Included here is a 25-minute documentary, Music in Motion: The Making of Blast, which takes you behind the scenes to the conception of the show and into the ensemble's homes and lives as they perform in London's West End. --Dana Van Nest

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Viva Star of Indiana! January 10, 2001
Format:VHS Tape
I watched this tape a few weeks before I saw the actual show in Bloomington, and although the two were somewhat different, both were WELL worth the time and money spent. I was a little apprehensive when I first heard about the production, "A Drum Corps show on an auditorium stage? Riiight." But, being a fan I went ahead and gave it a chance just to see. Almost needless to say, I was blown away. The show on the video was a work of creative genius. My hat is off once again to Jim Mason and Bill Cook for their ever-outstanding work. I recommend this show, video or live to anyone interested in theatre, music, Drum Corps, marching band, or just having a blast (pardon the pun). There is really nothing like this out there, but the closest comparison I can make would be Stomp (with winds and a guard) or a full out DCI show... An awesome experience!
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
The DVD Version May 10, 2001
By Rob Poe
Format:DVD
I just received my DVD version of Blast! The Show. If you've seen the VHS version (or on PBS, during their fund raisers), then you haven't SEEN Blast!.

They've mixed it in Dolby 5.1, the sound on the DVD is awesome. They were careful about the sound levels, so that the soft parts were soft - the loud parts loud - with no clipping (over loudness). This release really shows off the DVD's capabilities.

The picture is FABULOUS! None of the VHS tape limitations on quality are evident. It is crisp and superb!

The behind the scenes special feature is very interesting. As a musician, I appreciate ALL of the technical things that the performers exhibit while on stage.

I *strongly* recommend the DVD version to any music enthusiast / home theater nut.

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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Visual Music March 19, 2004
Format:DVD
Ballet, modern dance, marching bands, drum and bugle corps, flag dancers, bell ringers, army drill teams and more are what you can expect from this original and fascinating visual display of music.

This collection of music and movement does its best to avoid classification. There is simply nothing like it. Imagine seeing the following:

A drum team with the precision of Riverdance
A trombone player riding a unicycle
Dancers dancing with giant blades of grass
Colorful flag throw across stage in musical precision
Officer Krupke done in a way that makes West Side Story look dull
A xylophonist playing while chasing his instrument
Drum rolls so fact the sound like bees
Beautiful ballet and precision dance while playing instruments
Swords and rifles used for dance and as drumsticks
Blindfolded drummer who change drum sets without missing a beat
Some of the best horn playing around
A dozen tubas gyrating to a rhumba beat
More more more...

There are two themes that thread through all of the productions. The first is the use of color. Flags, lights, costumes and props take the production through the rainbow. The second is that these performers really love what they are doing. Just look at their faces.

The camera work is well done. Angle change to show what is going on without being to spastic like in Lord of the Dance. There is even an intermission where several performers join the audience and use stools for drums.

My only complaint is that some numbers are actually several pieces in a row without their own separate tracks. So when watching the drum battle, if you want to see the precision blindfolds, you will have to watch the pieces before it (at least until you set your own bookmarks).

My whole family really loves this one from my wife and myself to my one-year-old and my four-year-old. The visuals are gripping and unbelievable. While the music itself is great, anyone who just gets the CD is really missing out.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
It's a blast!
I ordered a used VHS copy of "Blast!" It arrived quickly and plays great. The kids in my classroom are enjoying the music as we study musical instrument families.
Published 2 months ago by William Wamser
Highly Recommend!
Was lucky to see the live performance three times, and each time loved it more! The DVD allows me to enjoy the music and performance over and over again ... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Jeanne A. Travaglianti
Blast DVD
The Blast DVD we received was supposed to be NEW. It is not! It was not sealed and there are marks are on the DVD. Ordered November 15th. Read more
Published 18 months ago by sewpro
Blast DVD
This item was ordered and paid for on 11/03/09. It arrived on 12/04/00 after several emails to the shipper. Read more
Published on December 5, 2009 by Merle R. Webster
Great
I bought this for my son who is in a marching band. Everyone who has seen it loves it. Adults and kids think it's fantastic.
Published on January 9, 2009 by Susan P. Collins
Unlike something you have ever seen before! Spectacular!
Taped in 2000 at the London Apollo Hammersmith Theatre, is unlike anything we have ever seen before! It is truly unique and amazing. Read more
Published on July 14, 2008 by (Rizzo) Rizzuto
You'll be out of breath when it ends!
I happened to catch the tail end of a BLAST! performance on my local PBS station and was disappointed not to have seen it in it's entirety. Read more
Published on December 14, 2007 by RocketJay
Good if you like Blast
I bought this to show my students in band class at the end of the year. I enjoy this type of thing but when I saw it through there eyes, I realized that some parts of it are... Read more
Published on June 12, 2007 by JMP
VEY GOOD
This is GREAT Musical video i enjoy a lot IT'S GREAT, FINE, VERYGOOD AND MORE
Published on May 7, 2007 by Yvin Sanchez
Another Gem
I am a veteran marching member of the Drum and Bugle Corps fraternity.

I also had the extreme honor and pleasure of being instructed by Mr. Read more
Published on January 18, 2007 by Lawrence D. Denman
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