Customer Reviews

Halber Mensch

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

To the angry reviewer below who requested evidence that an official version of this DVD will be released by the band, that information is posted on their website under "news". The story about Some Bizarre not paying Neubauten for any of their releases is well established, and the band has made enhanced, remastered editions of those Cds available through their website. This DVD will first be made available on their 25th anniversary tour, then will be open to wider distribution. So my suggestion is, be patient, don't buy this unauthorized version, do the band and the music world a favor and buy the official version when it is released. If they don't get paid for their work, how do you expect them to continue to exist? BTW, my one star rating has nothing to do with the quality of this product... it simply refelcts the fact that it is essentially a bootleg.

This DVD is still from Stevo, now coming out under the Cherry Red label. Which means the band, Einstuerzende Neubauten will likely get no money for it from Stevo, who in the past never paid them any money for their major albums of the 80's under his previous label, Some Bizarre. Stevo ripped off many bands (Coil, Michael Gira) in like style and still profits from their music years later. Any of Stevo's discs, I consider worthy only to clean dead bugs off my windshield!

If a sense of fair play, concerning artists (not corporations) deserving proceeds for their expression, is not enough to sway you, consider that the EN authorized version has a DVD of the film plus an additional audio CD of remastered live music from the film.
Specifically included songs are:
1. Armenia
2. Sehnsucht
3. Abfackeln!
4. Zerstörte Zelle
5. Die Zeichnung des Patienten O.T.
6. Der Tod ist ein Dandy
Check out Neubauten.org for further information on the band and their remastered releases, put out by EN after winning back the rights to their music in a court case against Stevo. Far superior in sound, content and packaging to previous Some Bizarre releases they are well worth the extra inconvenience and the money goes to the band. Wow! What a concept!

After all that is said, Habler Mensch the film, deserves 5 stars as it exquisitely captures EN in 1985, just as they are gathering confidence in the full power of their expression. Raw, physical and spontaneous yet elegantly balancing beauty with fury; EN is like no other band and this video portrays them at what I consider their performing peak. Sogo Ishii was a great choice as director, echoing EN's sonic blasts with equally surreal imargery. This is a real deal film portrayal of a Band whose authenticity is their hall mark.

I urge everyone to avoid this version. The vastly superior official edition is freely available from amazon.de. Not only is the technical quality better and the artists receive payment, but it also comes complete with a bonus audio CD of the live recordings from the movie.
A far better value purchase than this shoddy rip-off version.

I have added information on the neubauten.org news page about the DVD versions. Currently the band's own release of this DVD is available in a tour special edition; in the near future, there will be a worldwide release. Please note that our version will be region free, not to mention authorized by the band and the director.

got very excited when i saw this available,and now am paying for this impulsive purchase -
this disc looks as if it was mastered from a 2nd or 3rd generation VHS copy!!!
i hope that the version released by the band will at least look a little better than this!

As everyone here has stated, the 'official' band released DVD is a superior package. But even though it is region-free it is still in PAL format, so it is unplayable on most North American / NTSC televisions. If you can view European / PAL format DVDs then you should seek out the band-released version, but if you are in North America and don't have a multi-system DVD / TV this is the only way to see this incredible film.

I really don't understand why it's still possible that this guy can publish artists material without their consent and them being paid for it. The official release will be avaible through www.neubauten.org

Check out www.neubauten.org for an official release of this by the the band. It's not available as I write this but it will be soon. it's an awesome video and I've been waiting for ages for it to come out on DVD. The band's release will be of higher quality.. and more importantly the band will actually get paid for it.

Cheers..

Click on the "Help" button of this website and email Amazon. Suggest that they sell the band-released version of this dvd. If you buy the currently-listed dvd, you'll get a dvd that some corporation threw together for you. If you buy the version released by the band, you'll get a piece of art which truly represents the band in every way; philosophy, dvd content and packaging - The REAL Deal.

It is absurd that this abominable immatation is being circulated. It does a considerable injustice to the consumer and to the artists who labored to see it into existence. Amazon.com should remove it immediately and offer instead the authorized and region free version which contains valuable bonus material on audio CD.