Customer Reviews

Miroir Noir

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I absolutely LOVE Arcade Fire's music. When I got this DVD I was so excited, thinking it would be like the concert I saw in 2007. Unfortunately it's more like a retrospective "give you a glimpse" of concert and behind-the-scenes footage. There's a mix of song clips along with dialogue and messages from their call-in campaign. Overall I think I would have liked this DVD to be just a straight concert, I think their music speaks for itself. The experimental treatment detracts from that. If you're a die-hard fan, it's worth getting. Otherwise, just go see them live. It's worth every penny.

I was introduced to this group through Austin City Limits on PBS. I thought and still think that this is a very talented group of musicians.

This DVD however, is for me a big disappointment. I truly try to understand what the group or the person(s) who filmed and edited this was thinking?

In all honesty, it appear to be a collection of home video, cell phone camera pics and security cam recordings made by a high school student whose ego was greater than his/her ability and whose artistic passion conflicted with an intention to depict the musicians and their music.

The video quality ranges from mediocre to downright bad. The sound ranges from acceptable to music over a bad telephone connection. What was lacking in video quality is "compensated" by "creative" video editing with "artistic distortion" to the point that I found myself very frustrated. My expectation in this purchase was to observe the artists and their music with sound and image. I am badly disappointed.

I am sorry but at fist view, I regret having purchased this DVD, and would recommend against anyone else doing so. To the group Arcade Fire, you are very talented, and your music deserves better than this. In fact, such a DVD may turn potential fans who do not know you, off.

This DVD is something every Arcade Fire fan should own. Every review here seems to be complaining how its not a straight through concert film, and i just want to say thank god (or whatever) its NOT! You can't ever get the same experiece of watching a band like Arcade Fire Live from a film, and you shouldn't try to. I think the film did a great job at capturing the energy of Arcade Fire, but without trying so hard that the viewer eventually gets bored, the film just moves on to the next thing and I really liked that.

Arcade Fire have been known for their elusiveness and I think that's one of the great things about the band, besides their amazing music, and I like that the film doesn't give too much away, it just gave enough. The film has snippets of fottage of them writing or recording Neon Bible, and its moments in the film like seeing Regine playing the organ for Intervention in i guess what's their church, Regine and Win playing 'Windowsill' in an elevator (that part's really amazing), and the whole band playing 'Neon Bible' in a small, cramped elevator and Richard tearing pages from a magazine to make for great backup sound (not a musician so don't know if thats the right term). But its moments like that where you can really see how talented they really are and more importantly how much they are realy true musicians, and are playing music because its there love, not just to make money.

Oh and the recordings of the callers from the Neon Bible phone line, so great, a different mix of people with all different opinions, it's really cool. And they have a caller at the end who is a mother of a 5 year old and says for her daughter's birthday she wanted to see Arcade Fire, it's such a great moment, cause you can see how Arcade Fire really is relatable to anyone. And the concert parts that the film does include are SO FREAKING GREAT that the dvd is worth buying just for that, showing the crowd and their energy in neighborhood # 3(power out) and then going into Rebellion (Lies), what an amazing show, i wish i was at that one! OK just buy it, I think the proceeds go to helping Haiti anyway, so even if your not a fan of the band, at least your helping a good cause.

I too was disappointed, and like others I first learned of Arcade Fire from their brilliant performance on Austin City Limits.

I contacted ACL about a possible DVD release, and was told:

The Arcade Fire episode is not available for purchase at this time. We encourage you to contact our distribution partner New West Records and let them know you'd like to see the show as part of the Live From Austin TX line. Thanks for writing.

[...]

I've written New West Records urging the ACL show be released as a DVD; I now urge all of you to also write them (nice, encouraging, etc) notes to the same effect. IF New West Records is convinced that the dvd would sell, then there is hope we might get what we want

I love Arcade Fire, and was thrilled when I saw video cameras focused on every member of the band during their NEON BIBLE Tour, figuring that it meant a concert DVD was in the works. If one has seen Arcade Fire in concert, then you know that it is an almost religious-like experience.

Unfortunately Win Butler has expressed a general impatience with conventional concert films. To some extent, I can understand this sentiment. However, a great many concert films have not had performers as dynamic on the stage as Arcade Fire. So, in place of a more conventional concert film, we get snippets of songs and a bit of a fly on the wall's perspective of backstage and in the studio. It is stylish in its own way and it does work. That said, I'd really have preferred an entire, uninterrupted concert from this wonderful band.

The bonus DVD is worth getting...and it is worth the few extra dollars to get the deluxe edition of this DVD. Granted, by the time one finishes watching it, one might wonder if "Keep the Car Running" was played on an endless loop (it is featured a number of times on the bonus DVD), but the performances are still unique and lively.

Although nothing will ever take the place of actually being at an Arcade Fire show, I do hope that the band will see fit to eventually release a more conventional (start to finish) concert film.

I had never heard Arcade Fire before, except that song from the "Where the Wild Things Are" movie. Then I saw this DVD. WOW. Awesome. Great concert footage, great style, great cuts and flows from scene to scene and song to song. The footage in the elevator was unique and great. I heard that going to an Arcade Fire concert is like having a spiritual experience - well I had that from just watching this DVD so I can only imagine seeing them live.

If you like the Arcade Fire, you MUST own this DVD. This is coming from an Arcade Fire newcomer...

Arcade Fire is my favorite band and has been for quit a while. I was very excited to purchase this dvd, not exactly knowing what to expect.

It is unique in the sense that it isn't just a bunch of their shows... if you want that, you can create a youtube playlist and search "arcade fire" to watch them perform... it was a feeling and experience. It was better than watching any of their songs played at a show, you could see them played in their church-studio or while being recorder or in the middle of a concert crowd or on an elevator (two times, actually). It really is special and not just a dvd of a show. It's touching and stirring and a great look into a band of wonderful people. To me, it was such a gift to get this footage of a band meaning so much to me, not just them playing but them doing all sorts of things.

It will remain one of my favorite dvds and whenever I'm feeling the need for a pick-me-up, I'll pop it in and either watch a few songs being performed or watch the whole thing through.

I recommend it to anyone who loves Arcade Fire and wants to see more of them in any context.

having seen this film 3-4 times now, i'm floored and in love. reminiscent of [Radiohead - Meeting People Is Easy], this film is a unique cross-section of band's musical experience. miroir noir is not biographical, nor is it a concert video. to my recollection, few if any songs are played in their entirety. but that said, i found my self glowing from the highlights of the band's entire body of work. if you are not familiar with the band, you will fall for them. if you are already a fan, you will enjoy this as a highlight reel and a separate experience.

the sad part is that i finish the video still wanting. could they have released a live album of full recordings to the tracks covered? could they have explored more into the lives of each band member? could they have doubled the length of the film? could they have focused purely on the live experience? the answer to all of these is yes. given that arcade fire has so many "hits" i could just close my eyes and listen to everything from start to finish, but that said, this film gives me a warm feeling inside.

maybe the above desires will be filled eventually by the band's future merchandise, but for now i am humbly appreciative for the experience.

~thank you arcade fire!

Apparently the band has said that this production was true to the band. The band may be satisfied but many viewing this DVD will be unimpressed. Very little connection with the band on viewing, not informative at all, and just isn't interesting most of the time. Some highlights are some clips of live performances from interesting views and the scenes of them in the studio making comments. Other than that, very below average.

This band is simply incredible. and this is no exception. Talent, creativity etc.. buy it.