Product Details

• Actors: KISS, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Sanctuary Records
• DVD Release Date: September 9, 2003
• Run Time: 219 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000ARSSI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,084 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

KISS SYMPHONY:THE DVD - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Full Length Kiss Concert At Long Last, September 10, 2003

By 

William F. Thompson "Bill Thompson" (Altamonte Springs, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kiss - Symphony: The DVD (DVD)

Finally a full length live DVD release from probably the most visual band in rock history. There are two DVD's included with Disc 2 containing an entire full length Kiss Concert filmed in February, 2003 in front of 40,000 wildly enthusiastic fans in Melbourne, Australia. The concert is presented on Disc 2 in three Acts with Act 3 repeated on Disc 1 following an informative documentary on the preparation for the show including the band's rehearsals with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO). Act 1 is the four band members (Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Tommy Thayer doing a good job filling Ace Freley's shoes) in full make up performing six Kiss classics (See listing below). Act 2 is an semi acoustic set with a string ensemble from the MSO and Act 3 is Kiss on stage with the full MSO.

As far as the positives, the 5.1 sound mix is superb and the video quality is excellent. Kiss is in full makeup with the full stage show Kiss fans have come to expect. All songs are presented uncut and the band performs as well as they ever have although they did seem a little nervous at the beginning of Act 3 when they began playing Detroit Rock City with the full MSO. This quickly changed however and the band settled in to perform a tremendous show. A particular highlight of Act 3 was Kiss performing Great Expectations from the Destroyer Album with The Australian Children's Choir.

The only real negatives were that the video director seemed intent on constantly using all 45 camera angles available and sometimes the angles changed so rapidly as to become somewhat overwhelming. There also may have been a few too many crowd shots although seeing how enthusiastic the crowd was did add to the visual presentation.

Overall I think this a really good live video release and I would encourage all Kiss fans to buy this along with anyone wanting to see one of the best live musical acts in the world.

Here is the Track Listing:

Act One
Deuce
Strutter
Let Me Go Rock and Roll
Lick It Up
Calling Dr. Love
Psycho Circus

Act Two
Beth
Forever
Goin' Blind
Sure Know Something
Shandi

Act Three
Detroit Rock City
King of the Night Time World
Do You Love Me
Great Expectations
Shout It Out Loud
God of Thunder
Love Gun
I Was Made For Loving You
Black Diamond
Rock and Roll All Nite

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The dubbing question answered...yes!, September 12, 2003

By 

Randall M. Benton (Ridgway, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kiss - Symphony: The DVD (DVD)

First, let me say that I really like this DVD. The sound is superb and you can really hear the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra better than on the CD release. The fast-paced edits are a bit much but it keeps with the fast pace of the music...The documentary/making of segment is cool, as well as the TV show appearance. Overall, this is a very entertaining DVD from THE most entertaining band in the world.

I've been a KISS fan for 27 years (seen them live 26 times...so far) and have tons of video (mostly bootleg) of the band live. I notice all the flaws...but, live shows (especially on the scale of KISS) are rarely perfect. At this one-off show they had one chance and one chance only to get it shot and get it right.

In response to the question of dubbing? YES. Absolutely. For whatever reason I found it really easy to notice using Gene as the source. This is why: after spitting blood prior to "God Of Thunder"...you can see parts AFTER that song where he has no blood on him...then he does, then he doesn't...and well, you get the idea.

Especially during "Great Expectations" where they cut to him and he has perfect make-up and NO BLOOD...then cut again and there's the blood...then again NO...then again yes! In addition, notice that he has TWO (2) basses during the song...the ax and signature.

Maybe they shot footage on the stage without the audience and cut it in later? Who knows...did anyone else notice this or am I imagining it all? Just wondering.

So, there is obvious dubbing involved. And yes, sometimes with their mouths covered by the mics you can splice in any part of any song and it isn't really noticeable especially when the shot is quick...which there is a lot of in this DVD. But, in truth...SO WHAT?...everything gets cleaned up and made to be as perfect looking as possible. It's all illusion anyway...movies, tv, even KISS concerts.

With all this it still makes for one helluva DVD from an excellent band that is always fun to watch! So, just enjoy it for what it is: FUN!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Unwatchable....I could only go as low as 1 star., September 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Kiss - Symphony: The DVD (DVD)

I was looking forward to this one, as I already have the CD. Well, the sound of the DVD is great. Just turn off the picture and turn up the surround sound. The video itself is unwatchable. The worst editing in the history of video. I have read where some think this is nitpicking. It's not. When editing takes away from the viewing experience instead of adds to it, then it is a problem.

A brief example: I chose one of my favorite songs, "Shout It Out Loud" and decided to count the number of edits, camera, transitions, etc...196 in a 3 minute song. 196...that comes out to an average change every 1.08 seconds. Now, some shots actually lingered for maybe 2 seconds, and some just popped on screen for a fraction of a second, but 196 in 3 minutes? Also, you will notice that Gene has the punisher bass in some quick shots and the axe bass in others, all in the same song. This is called continuity, or in this case, lack of continuity...We all know Gene does not change basses back and fourth several times during the same song. It is just careless, sloppy editing.

Unwatchable...Sad, because this is a great concert. The editing actually makes me physically sick. I could only watch about half of this thing before a splitting headache made me turn it off. I would love to see this redone with some actual skill applied to editing. Some lingering shots of guitar solos, some wide screen views of the whole band, some scenes that last longer than 2 seconds.

Nitpicking...I don't think so. This is a great video documentary of a historic event by one of the world's greatest bands that has been reduced to unwatchable status by poor, thoughtless editing.