Customer Reviews

Rock Star: INXS The DVD

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

So, do I write a review for what this DVD SHOULD have been...or do I review it for what it IS? Yeah, I'm pissed at CBS and Mark Burnett for totally short-shrifting the fans of this show. People didn't watch Rock Star just for the music, we watched it for a behind-the-scenes look at how songs, music and *musicians* get made. This DVD offers NONE of that, and that's a travesty -- SHAME on you CBS!!!!!

However...as a DVD, taken for what it is, the offerings aren't bad for the money -- twenty-some GREAT songs, out-takes, and footage from the un-aired mini-concert with the brand new INXS, all for ten bucks? When CDs these days have 10 songs, eight of which suck, and cost $15? No, this is a pretty good deal.

Here's what's supposedly on the DVD: Bonus features include casting interviews, a backstage tour of the show and a VIP party at the "Rock Star" mansion. Clips include Jordis talking about dedicating "The Man Who Sold the World", the rockers arriving at the mansion for the first time, etc. Also included is a "Too Hot For TV" segment, which includes, among other things, Fortune's birthday celebration. (Woohoo!)

Track listing:
"Suicide Blonde" - INXS (from mini concert after the finale)
"Need You Tonight" - INXS (mini concert)
"Never Tear Us Apart" - INXS (mini concert)
"Don't Change" - INXS (mini concert)
"Pretty Vegas" - INXS (mini concert)
"California Dreamin'" - J.D. Fortune
"Heart-Shaped Box - Jordis Unga
"Losing My Religion" - Suzie McNeil
"Mr. Brightside" - Marty Casey
"Everybody Hurts" - Ty Taylor
"The Man Who Sold The World" - Jordis Unga
"Live and Let Die" - Mig Ayesa
"The Letter" - J.D. Fortune
"Baby One More Time" - Marty Casey
"Bring It On Home To Me" - Suzie McNeil
"No Woman, No Cry" - Ty Taylor
"Imagine" - Jordis Unga
"Creep" - Marty Casey
"Kiss From A Rose" - Mig Ayesa
"Money" J.D. Fortune
"Wish You Were Here" - Marty Casey
"Bohemian Rhapsody" - Suzie McNeil


And who knows, maybe we'll get the whole show in the future -- it must take a while to get the music rights to all those songs. So for now, this will tide me over...but I'm a-warnin' you CBS, this better not be all we get!

Although fans' hopes aren't completely crushed since this DVD is a great mini-concert-retrospective of some of the show's best moments, including performances by INXS as well as the rockers, and key moments such as their arrival and the partying, my expectation was for this to be a collection of all the episodes in the series.

It's a nice montage of memories but one hopes that sometime the whole series, in its entirety, will be released. After all, the past and future of INXS came together on this show as well as a possible launching pad for some great solo careers. Three stars for the music since you do pay more for an album than ten bucks, but I was disappointed.

I was looking forward to the complete series also. To say this is a disappointment is an understatement! I would have gladly paid at least $50 to see the whole thing plus commentary and special features! I was looking forward the the reality segments the most. I hope the producers take note of the reviews here and consider putting out a comprehensive collection.

I didn't see much of the actual show when it was aired, but caught a few performances here and there, and I watched the finale where JD was chosen over Marty. Then we acquired Marty's disc (with Trees among many other good songs) and SWITCH, and I wanted to hear more. This DVD was a decent overview of the show, it seems to me, with some very good performances. My personal favorite is Marty doing Mr. Brightside solo, though there are others I enjoyed as well. I also enjoyed some of the vignettes from the behind the scenes material, and the five song INXS performance with JD was solid. (As an editorial aside, I think JD was the right man for the job, though I wonder if he'll be serious enough or meticulous enough to perform INXS songs the way they will want to do them - by now they've toured and reviews are probably in on his live performances...Marty was my favorite of the contestants though I'm probably biased since I'm from the Chicago area...)

All in all, a good DVD with some really great moments captured.

Although I enjoyed watching "Rock Star INXS" over the summer (America and the band got it right by picking JD Fortune), this piecemeal compilation doesn't cut it with me at all.

The performances were generally fantastic, but some of the extras really stunk (except for the mini-concert). Shame on CBS and Mark Burnett!!!

you get plenty. Yes, I would have preferred the entire season of RS:INXS on DVD with plenty of extras. Buuutt...for $10 this is a great buy. It was worth the $10 just to see the "mini" concert by INXS! (AWESOME!!!!)

Personally, I enjoyed each of the stage performances better this time around (without thinking about the competition). I also enjoyed each of the bonus features, but did find the photo slideshow a bit lacking. My favorite extras were the casting interviews and the Too Hot for TV. (Word of caution to those with children- If your child enjoyed RS:INXS and wants to see this DVD, please screen it first. Some scenes and language are not suitable for children.)

Overall, if you enjoyed the RS:INXS series, you will enjoy this DVD. Even though you'd prefer it all, ten bucks is a bargain for this material.

When I first heard that the band Inxs was going to go the route of "reality show" to decide a new lead singer, I admit I was pretty disappointed. However, since Inxs is one of my favorite bands, I could not help put tune into the series "Rockstar: Inxs". As the days and weeks went on, I slowly but surely got into the show. Much of the reason for my increasing interest was as contestants were being eliminated, the quality of the contestants - and their performances was improving. By the time the final three were reached - Mig Ayesa, Marty Casey, and JD Fortune - I was convinced Inxs had picked the best three contestants. While I did think Casey was the better overall musician - and best contestant in the competition, I did feel Inxs picked the singer with the best fit to be their lead singer - JD Fortune. When I heard, "Rockstar: Inxs - The DVD" was being released, I was hoping that it would capture the essence of the show. While this DVD does have good performances (including the first concert with JD and Inxs immediately following the finale) and some good behind the scenes information, I do feel it fell short to capturing that essence of the show.

The series "Rockstar: Inxs" followed a three day cycle. On the first day, we got behind the scenes information on what was going on in "the mansion" (where the contestants lived during the competition). The second day was when the contestants would perform songs (sometimes covers, sometimes original tunes). The third day was the "elimination" day in which the bottom three contestants (in voting from the second day) would have to perform an Inxs song. Inxs would then decide which person would then be eliminated from the competition. The DVD focuses mostly on performances from the second day and some behind the scenes stuff (some from the first day, some unseen). While the DVD does a good job at capturing the "best performances", it lacks in many other areas. Here are ten points on this:

1.There are no performances of the contestants performing the Inxs songs. You miss the opportunity to hear Marty Casey do "Don't Change" and JD Fortune do "This Time". These were epic performances. I would have also liked to have seen the finale in its entirety. The only original song shown is Fortune's "Pretty Vegas" - and that is shown during the "first concert".

2.There is little interaction with Inxs shown on this DVD. Some of the best moments of the show were when Inxs provided critique and praise to the contestants - as well "coaching" the clinics. In addition, Dave Navarro ("the host") is virtually absent from this DVD - except for some clips, but even those lack spoken words by Navarro. On the positive end, we do get the "jamming" by Inxs and Navarro while the contestants perform.

3.While the DVD does provide an intro clip to each song, the problem is that the DVD doesn't do a good job at telling the story of the competition. As a result, the intro clips are meaningless unless you saw the show in its entirety.

4.The performances are good. They focus on the six finalists - Fortune, Casey, and Ayesa - as well as Jordis Unga, Suzie McNeil, and Ty Taylor. Many great songs are missing like Fortune's "Suspicious Minds" and Casey's "Lithium". The other 9 finalists were very weak and its good they weren't included on the DVD. One thing worth noting is that for the show's purpose many of the songs had the lyrics edited. This was so they could fit on TV - you can't blame the DVD for that.

5.The performances are often as good as the "House Band". In some cases I felt the "House Band" was phenomenal and in other cases I thought they just didn't show up. In most cases, the "House Band" was better than not.

6.I like how some of the performances are re-arranged by the contestants and how others were not. Casey was brilliant re-arranging Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time" into a dark number. At the same time Ayesa was brilliant keeping to the spirit of Seal's "Kiss From a Rose".

7.During the "first concert" that followed the show, Fortune gives an emotional performance of "Never Tear Us Apart". As a tribute to his competitors, they participate in some of the vocals of that song. That was one of the highlights.

8.You can see and hear that during the "first concert" that "Pretty Vegas" was still a work in progress. I think it is admirable that they did "Pretty Vegas", but there was still some re-arranging and tweaking of the song that would follow. It was much more polished when released on the "Switch" album - and even better when I saw it live in concert during the tour. I did like how we saw that it was a work in progress.

9.On the downside, you can see that during the "first concert", Fortune needed to mesh with the band more - and I guess that was to be expected. "Don't Change" the band's traditional finale just didn't live up to standards I would expect. The good news is when Inxs went on tour, this song would be as flawless as ever. Again, there is an element of realism by showing this on the DVD.

10.The behind the scenes clips and extras are excellent. I wish they would had shown the whole radio segment that was filmed.

Overall good performances and good behind the scenes information. However what this DVD really lacks is the story of the competition. I'm hopeful that someday all of the episodes of the show will be released in a boxed set. For now, this will do. Inxs fans and fans of the show may want this for their collection, but I'd stop short of calling this a "must have".

...and the almighty dollar. Don't give the people what they want, but slap together a half-assed DVD of the RockStar series just in time for Christmas. Ah yea, Christmas gift idea to line MB's pockets. Hm. Don't think I'll take them up on this offer.

I cannot express how disappointed I am that they have chosen not to include the whole season with all shows including the VH1 segments and all interviews. I missed the first episodes and did so want to see all of them. And then to have only 2 performances by the most magnificent talent of the whole series-Mig Ayesa-is pure idiocy! I was already saving my money, anticipating the DVD set to be pricey, but was willing to spend almost any amount on the complete set. Now I will not be purchasing it at any price

I have given up looking for the entire season, but this is a decent substitution. The behind the scenes clips are funny, but I would have liked something with the complete season. Oh well...