Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mandatory for any serious fan, September 20, 2005
A preliminary thought. People should not write reviews unless they have actually seen the DVD. Some of the reviews on this page have factual errors. Fact: the video for WFTSC _is_ included (and it's a missed opportunity, IMHO). Fact: There are _no_ original videos of "Temptation" and "Ceremony" in addition to the new ones. Fact: The documentary is NOT a part of this DVD; it is a part of the two-DVD set called "ITEM." Fact: The documentary is 140 minutes, not 70. It is the complete, laser disc-only version of the documentary that was sliced down to 60 minutes for US release on VHS way back when.
Now to the review. The music video DVD contains impeccable transfers of nearly all of New Order's videos, with audio remastered to Dolby 5.1. As with nearly every product New Order has ever released, the quality is state-of-the-art. The visual transfers are clean, and the sound is stunning. This is particularly true of the later videos.
Many of the videos are classic mini-works of pop art. Jonathan Demme's video of "The Perfect Kiss" has never looked or sounded better. Ditto for "Blue Monday," "True Faith," and "Regret." Pick almost any video--and there are a ton of them here--and you'll get the sense that the director salivated at the chance to do his/her best work with this pop cultural icon.
I would not, however, buy this DVD standalone. You should purchase the boxed set, titled "Item," which also includes the extended documentary. The main difference between the extended documentary (included in the "Item" set) and the original, shorter VHS released in the US is the longer play given each music video. That's somewhat redundant, given better prints of the videos on the other DVD in the set. On the other hand, there are some true gems that you don't often see. In particular, there are Republic-era live performances of "Temptation" and "Everyone Everywhere" at the Montreaux Jazz Festival, a gig arranged by Quincy Jones.
For those who have never seen this documentary, there are good and bad points to it. One good thing is that it puts the lie to Tony Wilson's self-serving, perniciously misleading "legend" of propelling so much of New Order's success. That rubbish was, unfortunately, publicized around the world by the otherwise-spectacular film "24 Hour Party People." Setting the record straight, several segments in the documentary--filmed when the wounds were still raw--convey a sense of the smoldering, justifiable hostility some band members had toward Wilson, who seemed to exploit the band more than anything else. The main negative is the narration. Thankfully, it's scarce. But it seems like it was written by the kind of "spotty student" Bernard identifies as a major segment of New Order's fan base.
For any real fan, this DVD set is _serious_ value for money, and it is too long overdue. It's so friggin' good that I'm tempted to buy a second copy to keep as a sealed backup, because I'll never want to be without this stuff. A truly glorious collection.
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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This DVD is titled 'Item' and not 'A Collection', December 14, 2005
I have just received this outstanding two-disc DVD set today, and it is indeed the New Order "Item" product and not "A Collection" as incorrectly listed here on Amazon's product page.
This two-disc "Item" DVD set includes both "A Collection" and "New Order Story."
To reiterate, I ordered ASIN/Amazon product number B000ANVNHQ as listed on this page and received the two-disc DVD set titled "Item."
Below are the contents of each DVD.
Disc 1, "A Collection" contains the following videos:
Confusion
The Perfect Kiss
Shellshock
State Of The Nation
Bizarre Love Triangle
True Faith
Touched By The Hand Of God
Blue Monday '88
Run
World In Motion
Regret
Ruined In A Day
World
Spooky
1963
Crystal
60 Miles An Hour
Here To Stay
Krafty
Jetstream
Waiting For The Siren's Call
Round & Round - USA/Patty
Regret - Baywatch
Crystal - Gina Birch Version
Ceremony
Temptation
Disc 2 contains the documentary "New Order Story."
This is a must-own set for New Order fans.
Repeat: this product is "Item" and not "A Collection."
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53 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally., August 14, 2005
Digitally remastered, 5.1 Dolby surround, twenty-two videos. New Order has produced some of the most visually stunning videos in the past two decades, and while it's certainly taken long enough to compile them, it's well worth the wait. At two discs, we've not only the near-complete videography, but also the "New Order Story" (the entirety of disc two) clocking in at about seventy minutes, which is twice the length of the original VHS release.
After teasing us with the bonus DVD included with the redundant "International," we get the whole shebang.
Videos include:
Blue Monday
Confusion
The Perfect Kiss
Shellshock
State of The Nation
Bizarre Love Triangle
True Faith
Touched By The Hand Of God
Fine Time
Round & Round
Run
World In Motion
Regret
Ruined In A Day
World
Spooky
1963
Crystal
60 MAH (or MPH, whichever you prefer)
Here To Stay
Krafty
Jetstream
Included are two new bonus videos of both "Ceremony" and "Temptation" as well as their original versions.
A must-have for any New Order fan, and it'll fit well on the shelf next to 316 and 511.
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