11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Overpriced considering quality of content, November 10, 2007
This review is from: Madonna: Music in Review (DVD)
Those looking for an incisive, exhaustive chronicle of Madonna's work so far will be sorely disappointed with this release.
The DVD consists of a bunch of (mostly) British journalists and critics commenting on Madge's evolution since the early 80s. Their comments really add nothing new to what the devoted fan already knows.
The interviews of Madonna herself are mostly from the 1990-2003 period but are nothing spectacular. The video quality of these is what you would expect from old, dubbed VHS tapes.
The performance footage, however, is appalling. The clips from the Virgin Tour are so bad at times it is hard to tell Madonna from the two male dancers on stage. The MTV Video Awards appearances from 1984 and 1990 fare somewhat better, but the quality (especially the audio on Like a Virgin, which is garbled) is still atrocious for a release with a price tag as steep as this.
I should mention that copyright text appears onscreen during every interview and performance clip on this DVD which can be distracting.
The book, however, is what elevates this release to two stars. It is professionally done (though I did note several typographical errors) and one of the pages was out of sequence.
The reviews of most all the tracks on Madonna's albums were interesting although a little brief.
The photos in the book are of nice quality and printed on glossy paper, so it does make a nice keepsake or coffee table piece.
In conclusion, you will probably watch this once and keep the book around to glance at now and again, but if you're looking for rare performance footage or interviews, you're better off searching Youtube.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Collector's Choice: Stunning & Rare!, August 23, 2011
This review is from: Madonna: Music in Review (DVD)
This is a 72-page full biography with track-by-track analysis of Madonna's studio albums + glossy photos featured with a DVD documentary. Music experts/Interviewees include: Les Davidson [Producer & Musician], Toby Anstis [Radio DJ], Johnny Dee [Music Journalist], Jonathan Wingate [Music Journalist], Matthew Jesse [Film Maker and Writer], and Carol Clerk [Music Journalist]. The culture of America and how it relates to Madonna's music and acting is lightly touched as revealing how controversy definitely played a part in Madonna's shock and cultural awareness to homophobia, ageism, and other topics. This was a fascinating and much entertaining documentary definitely recommended for die-hard fans or for those who would like to get to know who this Super Star Madonna is, how she reached such Iconic status, and earn the title of Queen of Pop!
As the viewer is watching the documentary many rare interview clips start to appear. "Jonathan Ross Presents... Erotica Madonna" is displayed in the beginning. The interviewer Jonathan Ross begins asking Madonna a series of questions about her being a marketing genius, her talents, artistic values, taboo subjects, and shock grabber. Madonna responds and then the entire set starts. The narration is interchanged by the music critics. As their opinions are expressed from subjects that range from Madonna coming to the forefront in a time where the pop world was mainly male dominated [80's], from Madonna's energetic vocals, reinvention, feminist role, overall entertainer, upsetting the church, creating controversy, Sex Era talk, imagery in videos, transformations, contributions to charities, addressing issues of homophobia, ageism, and sexism, setting role model examples to fans, to her success and failures in her acting career and marriages.
All throughout the viewing there are clips aside the Jonathan one like "Wogan Meets Madonna", "Girlie Talk (with Jean Paul Gaultier)", along with brief clips of music performances which include Blond Ambition Tour in Japan performance of "Papa Don't Preach" , Live Aid "Into The Groove", MTV "Vogue" Performance, "Like A Virgin" MTV Video Music Awards, and "Everybody" to name a few. Highlights from songs such as, "Like A Virgin", "Everybody", "Material Girl", "Over and Over", "Dress You Up" and "Papa Don't Preach" are scrutinized.
Many have asked how did Madonna reach such great heights? Critics have pointed flaws, fans have expressed devotions, haters have been hard, and the press challenging. How does Madonna respond? How does she survive all this? What is Madonna's survival instinct? How does she do it? How come she doesn't break down like other music artists? What is the secret? This documentary will answer all those questions and more. Madonna has transformed the music world and reached great heights even reaching the genus book of records. She once said she would like to conquer the world. Has she? Find out in this rare documentary. Madonna speaks in short clips expressing much of these questions many are faced with.
As an overall entertainer, Madonna has reshaped the pop music world. It's evident from seeing this DVD and reading the biography that from her beginnings Madonna displayed a quality of ambition, drive, perseverance, confidence, and creativity definitely striking! She pushed boundaries, opened up issues relating to sexual orientation, used drama and imagery to get the messages out, and created much shock. Why did she do this? Find out here. More than 20 years have passed and Madonna is still causing a buzz. This is a phenomenal viewing to get to know how Madonna reached such fame and ICONIC status and to get key insight on her impact!
*The performances are not in full like the double DVD set titled, "Hits And Legends" or "Music In Review" Pink Cover with Marilyn Monroe artwork. On the later, it has the full performance as a bonus section. "Ultimate Critical" only has clips of the performances as well. This documentary is NOT like Ultimate Critical--very similar but not exact. I recommend the Marilyn cover or this for the book.
*The interview clips are very rare. Not the best quality but they are not found anywhere unless you have a good Madonna contact. I would love to have the full interviews so if anybody has it please email me at the address on my profile.
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