Product Details

• Format: Color, Explicit Lyrics, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony
• VHS Release Date: November 25, 1997
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1573300497
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #330,854 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rage Live: Unbridled Fury, A Must See!, May 19, 2003

By 

Jason Robey "horakhti" (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rage Against the Machine (DVD)

If you never had a chance to see Rage Against the Machine live, you really missed out. There was a time when Zach de la Rocha was the most frightening performer in the land. I caught them twice in '93, just as they were hitting - the shows were incendiary. Zach was wrath in the flesh, a live wire, ready to strike at any moment with unbridled fury. The pit was as wild as any I've ever experienced (I almost had a tooth knocked out!)

I saw them once again in 1999 during "The Battle of Los Angeles" tour. The band was much tighter, and Zach got down, but I felt like they had lost much of their menacing edge. Still, they were absolutely captivating.

This DVD captures Rage somewhere in between these two states. Most of the performances are from 1996/1997, their "Evil Empire" tour, with the exception of a couple from 1994 (pre-"Evil Empire"). Zach comes off as monstrous in '94, and more human in 1996/1997. Throughout, his intensity is at peak, especially on "Freedom" and "Tire Me" where he just goes absolutely nuts. It will give you shivers. Tom Morello is an extraordinary guitar player and is fascinating to watch as well.

The live stuff is the reason to get this, but they've also included six music videos as a bonus. The early videos, like "Killing in the Name", are so poorly dubbed and low budget that they're almost painful to watch. The later videos border on jaw dropping they're so good (my favorite is "Bulls on Parade".)

Unfortunately the special features are a little bland. One, for example, is a reading list. Another is a list of non-profit organizations that the band supports. Noble, sure, but both are already available on the Rage web site, where they are more legible. The best special feature is the ability to view the lyrics during the songs - all music DVDs should have this feature! The biggest thing lacking from this DVD is behind-the-scenes footage. I'm sure it's out there - why not include it?

If you were lucky enough to see Rage live, this DVD will bring back memories and have you pining for a reunion. If you missed them, brother/sister, I can't help you. In fact, you probably should avoid this - your envy for those of us who saw them could easily grow to unbearable proportions. Anyways, if you're a big fan, this DVD is a must-own. Don't hesitate to purchase it.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This shows what Rage Against the Machine is all about!, June 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rage Against the Machine [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This video is amazing. They get the crowd into it like no one I've ever seen before ! The way the crowd cheers at the beginning of "Know Your Enemy" is so cool ; it's right there that you can tell how much the fans love these guys ! All of their best songs are performed live along with some other ones, like the funky "Zapata's Blood" and the outstanding "The Ghost of Tom Joad" ( which is also included with the video on a CD single ) The only complaint is one that I share with several people : instead of other live songs of theirs, the second half of the video is dedicated to their uncensoered music videos, the songs of which were all performed live in the first half of the video. The problem with this is that after seeing "Killing in the Name" live with De La Rocha getting the crowd to chant " f*ck you, I won't do what you tell me ! " , the music video, uncensored as it is, lacks the energy of the live performance, detracting from the viewing experience. That's not to say that the uncensored videos aren't worth watching, in fact, they're excellent, but had they done the music videos on the first half of the video and the live performances on the second half, the overall effect would have been much better. But that's just a minor complaint that is a mere scratch on a dazzling jewel. If you only buy one video of a band in your whole life, let it be Rage Against the Machine ! P.S. If you like this video, check out their imported live CD, "Live and Rare" ! It has more of the band's wonderful live antics. It's also available from amazon.com.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old School RATM Fans, February 28, 2000

By 

Shay Gilmer (Perth, Western Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rage Against the Machine (DVD)

This was one of the first DVD's I bought. I had it on VHS and loved it, this version is even better. If your an old school RATM fan and have liked them since the beginning like me, the you'll love this on DVD or video. It gives a great sense (if turned up REAL LOUD) of what it's like to see Rage live. With a mix of older & newer footage of the band at it's hardcore best. The festival shots give a good appreciation of the popularity of this, still somewhat underground group. The footage in some sets may seem shot poorly but this is done on purpose to enhance viewing pleasure, with the sound still brilliant. This DVD format gives options to skip tracks, have lyrics (for those who don't know them) and other standard DVD features. And if this wasn't enough, all the Rage video clips from R.A.T.M. & Evil Empire are included. So all fans, new or not, young & old, buy this DVD and you WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED! . Also check out Rage's CD's - R.A.T.M., Evil Empire & The Battle Of Los Angeles in the MUSIC section. Rock on! .