Product Details

• Actors: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Jack Black, Steve Carell, Rosario Dawson
• Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, Closed-captioned, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Hbo Home Video
• DVD Release Date: April 13, 2010
• Run Time: 206 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0035JHYK2
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,682 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

The historical "We Are One" 2-disc collector's DVD set is the only inaugural release to be endorsed by the Presidential Inaugural Committee. It features the opening ceremony for the 56th Presidential Inaugural-- a celebration to America in song and spoken word which was held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, January 18th 2009 as broadcasted on HBO. In addition, the set includes the Invocation given by Pastor Rick Warren before the concert; Obama’s Inauguration Address and The Neighborhood Ball– which took place on the night of the inauguration. This event marks President Barack Obama’s first public celebration in Washington, D.C. and features some of the biggest acts in the world of entertainment to celebrate our common heritage and our new direction. Features musical performances by Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Jon Bon Jovi, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, Bettye LaVette, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Pete Seeger, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, U2, Usher Raymond IV, will.i.am and Stevie Wonder. Readers of historical passages include: Jack Black, Steve Carell, Rosario Dawson, Jamie Foxx, Tom Hanks, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah, Laura Linney, and Denzel Washington.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Historical Document and great concert - if you didn't have HBO in January 2009, May 9, 2010

By 

Steven I. Ramm "Steve Ramm "Anything Phon... (Phila, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Official Inaugural Celebration (DVD)

At at time when DVDs of major movies are released on DVD within weeks of appearing in theaters, I was surprised to see that HBO took 14 months (!) to release this DVD set. It's not that they created anything new. What is here are two previously aired shows which had their credits attached when they were aired in January 2009. The first - of two- discs contains the 4 minute invocation and then proceeds to the "We are One" Concert at the Lincoln Memorial. It was a great concert - featuring once-in-a-lifetime groupings like Jon bon Jovi & Bettye Levett, James Taylor & Jennifer Nettles & John Legend plus long numbers by U2, Garth Brooks, John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen PLUS Springsteen and Pete Seeger singing "This Land Is Your Land". I didn't have HBO and so I'm glad I got to see it now. There are actors like Jamie Foxx and Steve Carrell who read narratives between the songs. Well done and the reason to get this DVD.

Disc two has the Obama Inauguration speech (19 minutes) plus the broadcast version of the Balls (71 minutes) with performances by Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Mariah Carey and Beyonce among others.

The packaging leaves a lot to be desired. There's not even a DATE for these evebts printed anywhere on package and no insert with track list or at least something about the events. IF HBO had gone a bit further this would be a true historic document to preserve for history. But they are really selling the concert. If you haven't seen the "We Are One" concert, I can recommend this. Otherwise, it's a documentation that is showing its age already as we go through the budget crisis and health care reform at a much slower rate than we thought would happen in January 2009.

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars BEWARE-"Neighborhood Ball" incomplete--.NOOO Shakira!, June 1, 2010

By 

E. Hartmann (Seattle,WA.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Official Inaugural Celebration (DVD)

This is not the broadcast of "The Neighborhood Ball" that was shown on ABC. The great performance by Shakira has been cut, the dj has been cut, the backstage interview with Obama has been cut.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Official Inaugural Celebration, January 5, 2012

By 

mind - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Official Inaugural Celebration (DVD)

Excellent. Most comprehensive version of the inauguration of Barack Obama. Great item to save to commerrate a moment in history that took a long time to happen. Never thought I would live long enough to see a man of color as president