Customer Reviews

Sting: Bring On the Night

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I just finished watching this DVD. This is great early Sting, taking a risk; Post Police. I really enjoyed the music, from a cast of excellent musicians. This is a documentary, so there are interviews over some (not all) of the music. Within the 25 chapters, there are maybe 12 full concert songs. The rest is rehearsal, with breaks in songs and interviews. Even a few of the concert songs, are split with rehearsal footage. There is the option in the special features to set your favorite song list that I have not tried yet.

The transfer to DVD is superior in widescreen. The .1 bass is great. The 5.1 surround sound is good, but it does not have the obvious separation of the instruments - like a Sax sound from the surround speakers only (As in the Sting DTS DVD music discs).

Overall, this is Sting in the early years and well worth the price of admission.

Version: U.S.A / Region A, B, C
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
MPEG-4 AVC BD-25 / High Profile 4.1
Running time: 1:37:02
Feature size: 18,70 GB
Disc size: 21,69 GB
Total bit rate: 25.71 Mbps
Average video bit rate: 19.98 Mbps

DTS-HD Master Audio English 2412 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 2412 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

Subtitles: English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish
Number of chapters: 25

#Music Video:Sting - Bring on the Night (HD - 3m:44s)
#Sting - If You Love Somebody Set Them Free (HD - 4m:8s)
#Sting - Russians (HD - 3m:55s)
#Photo Gallery (HD - 1m:45s)
#Theatrical Trailer (HD - 32s)

Finally, those of us who have waited for the better part of a decade will have the great satisfaction of seeing and hearing one of the best inside-view videos on DVD. This is a landmark video - a reality video before the genre took off- and a very telling effort that relates the drama that unfolds behind the curtain for one of the most influencial rock musicians of the last couple of decades. An all-star line-up that features some of the jazz world's greatest young lions of the time: Omar Hakim (drums), Kenny Kirkland (piano), Darryl Jones (bass) and the venerable Branford Marsalis (sax). A truly stellar band playing some of the most progressive music of the time. The cd features different versions of the songs from the video release, which, most people who have seen the video will agree, was one of the most heinous crimes in the history of soundtrack releases. Be sure to check out the blazing solos in many of the songs; Kenny Kirkland's solo in the title track, Omar Hakim's drum solo - which seems to disrupt the fabric of time and space - in "I Burn for You," and Branford's smoldering-to-full-on-scorching solos throughout.

I was very pleased to see "Bring on the Night" released on DVD. I remember seeing this movie in the theaters many years ago and always wondered why it hadn't made it to digital, but no more!
The viewer can ignore the "dramatic" subtext of the movie ("Can Sting, risking his career, make it as a solo artist playing with jazz musicians?"; I think that the answer was never in that much doubt)that they try to establish through a series of interviews with Sting and others. Sting is overly stiff and didactic (and, frankly, boring!); the only guilty pleasure is seing Miles Copeland (his manager) run roughshod over evryone who is not Sting.
This movie is about the band and the music that they create. All of the band members are exceptionally strong; you can see and feel the pleasure that they get from playing with each other (check out Omar Hakim's smile as he solos in the middle of "Burn for You"). The set list draws from (for me) Sting's best solo work and some tasty new arrangements of Police hits (the plaintive "Message in a Bottle" stands out). But the best thing in this movie is the FUNKY jazz groove that the band adds to Sting's compositions. Check out the extended jams on "Consider Me Gone" and "Bring on the Night."
In short, if you want to see and hear musicians playing great songs WITH, not against or over, each other (listen to Branford Marsalis' sax support the melody and the message of "Fortress Around Your Heart"), check out this movie.

Directed by the renowned British filmmaker, Michael Apted (Enough, Class Action and Extreme Measures) comes this classic behind-the-scenes look at Sting's formation of his first band after the break up of The Police. We actually see and hear the creation of such great songs as, Fortress Around Your Heart, Moon Over Bourbon Street and We Work the Black Seam. As Sting says at a Paris press conference in the film, this is a film about the beginnings of a rock band; where other music films record "Swansongs", the end of a band's era, Sting wanted to document a band's formation, growth and the trials and tribulations of a group of musical strangers, working to put it all together. And that's exactly what we get. Included are all the great songs from his first solo album, 'The Dream of the Blue Turtles'. Each musician in the band, through the course of the film, is interviewed about their thoughts on the music and their feelings about working with Sting. We also get a look into Sting's working habits as a songwriter and musician, and we discover that he's a perfectionist and quite the taskmaster.

Most of the film is shot in a beautiful 18th century mansion, once owned by Napoleon the III. This gives the film an almost otherworldly ambience. The band rehearses for hours on end, from the early hours until late into the night, preparing for their debut concert in Paris. As they work towards this debut, we come to realize that there's a lot on the line in terms of Sting's career. The record execs are nervous but quietly optimistic as this is Sting's first solo endeavour. The pressure is on to produce and perform a few hits after the mammoth success of The Police - the rest is history. To add a little more drama, Sting's wife, Trudy, is also about to have their first child. All the band members have a bet on the exact date of the infant's arrival, and as it turns out, Sting wins the bet. The timing of the child's birth (which we see) couldn't have been any better.

This film provides great insight into Sting the man and the artist. Despite this film being almost twenty years old, it retains its allure and has withstood the test of time. It should be standard issue for any Sting fan.

I purchased the "soundtrack" to this when CDs first came out in the 80s... now finally I have the DVD and am able to watch this great movie... It is the story of how a band and album are created... The performances are great... the documentary is great... Definite re-playability... Plus it has been mixed in 5.1 and also has some bonus videos... If you have listened to the CD, buy the DVD!

I have no idea why this awesome documentary about Sting is not available on DVD. The music is awesome and the VHS format can't do it justice.

This video answered one main question for me when I first saw it ... will Sting be worth a darn without the Police? The answer was hell yeah!

I believe the jazz roots that Sting hit on with the group of musicians he gathered together for his first solo album was his best. As an artist he's still great, but his musical output is all Sting. I really enjoyed this video because you could tell that his appreciation for jazz and the artists in his band overshadowed his tendancy to control everything. I think eventually that's what lead to guys like Branford leaving, but in the beginning Sting was still like a kid in a candy shop verifying that what he suspected could be done, would be done and he would "help" to orchestrate it. I think the artists had almost as much appreciation for Sting (or maybe just curiousity).

No matter, the video is great and should be available as a DVD.

Gigantic as Sting is, for me, he is still in the TDWR category. This exceptional DVD provides an insight into the genius of Sting as a star, songwriter, singer, musician, guitarist and actor. (And I think he knows a bit about bass too) This is Sting "bridging the chasm", showing his incredibly rich colours as the greatest jazz rock musician ever. Whoa! That's a big claim! Or is it? Does anyone else come close? Well i love Steely Dan, but they don't have the incredible reach of this living legend who has reached ears and hearts in every crevice of the world. And if you count looks, voice and charisma too, then there is no one even remotely close.

This is a promotional film for the "Dream of the Blue Turtles" album and also a documentation of a historic concert tour with a band that is made up of some the finest Jazz players of the 70-80 fusion era. Each one plays within Stings unique version of this genre and excels. It would be hard to compliment any one of these musicians, as each is playing at a mind blowing level. Omar Hakim certainly gets a chance to show his awesome prowess, as does everyone else in varying degrees.

The song line up is the entire DOBT album plus some, ending in what may well have been the first solo version of "Message in a Bottle" that was to become a Sting concert signature. The transfer is well up to Sting's very high standards, in particular, the DTS audio track. Hey! This film was made in 1985 in stereo, on film! The extras are good fun too!

Sting's acting skills are on display as well, for the 'rehearsals' shown here are probably after the DOBT album was released, which would mean that all these musicians, not exactly amateurs, know the music by heart already. Knowing this titbit however, takes nothing away from this film or the music. In fact, it highlights one more facet of the immense talent of Sting. And some of the script, the interviews, well, this is a movie and it looks like a well made documentary. Congratulations here to Michael Apted on an amazing job.

There is even a section showing the actual birth of Stings child, set to a haunting backdrop of "Russians". And a glimpse into the photography of 'Mad' Max Vadukul. I mean, how much more could you possibly ask for?!! The whole concert perhaps. But then you may not buy the cd, which is a 'must have' for any Sting fan. And between the 'rehearsals' and the concert, everything is pretty much covered here. Incidentally, the rehearsals are set in a old and stunning Chateau in Paris. Btw, the concert's in Paris too. (!)

To think that this was just the beginning of a beyond extraordinary career, makes it even more staggering. If you consider that this was his first "solo" tour, so to speak, this is Sting at his musical and theatrical best. If you are a Sting fan, then you already own this dvd. If you aren't...buy it and you will be a Sting fan instantly. And he released 7 more brilliant albums after DOBT! Plus 3 more. Staggering?!!! This Englishman's all over the globe!!

*****

Apu Sista

This DVD is a must for any Sting fan. It gives fans the most revealing view of the singer I have ever seen. The keen insight from Brandford Marsalis was a delight to see and everyone seemed to put their all into the project. I'm proud to finally have it on DVD.

I'd like Amazon.com to open a listing for the DVD, as they have with "Hearts Of Darkness" for instance, so that they can gauge interest for the distributor. I would by this DVD too.